A rare copy of the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book sold for $250,000.

Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird self-published the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic in May 1984. They used a tax refund and a small loan to pay for the printing. Because they had very little money, they could only afford a small print run of 3,275 copies.The comic was printed on cheap newsprint paper with a thin cover. This material damages easily and turns yellow over time. Finding a copy today that looks brand new is very difficult for collectors.In 2021, a copy in nearly perfect condition sold at an auction for $250,000. Even copies with visible wear and tear can sell for $20,000 or more. Collectors look for a specific advertisement for a book called 'Gobbledygook' on the back cover to prove it is a first printing.The success of this small book changed the comic industry. It proved that independent creators could compete with big companies like Marvel and DC. This started a trend where many other artists tried to publish their own black-and-white comics in the mid-1980s.