The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are getting a special birthday present for the 40th anniversary of their creation: a custom manhole cover.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle fans were on Union Street for the unveiling of the TMNT sewer manhole cover, marking the birthplace of the comic 40 years ago this month. TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman spoke about how he and Peter Laird started their turtle odyssey at 28 Union St. pic.twitter.com/3ellCSTrjo
— City of Dover NH (@CityofDoverNH) November 8, 2023
According to Entertainment Weekly, the reptilian crime-fighting mutant brothers were hatched out of Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird’s ideas 40 years ago this month. Then, in 1984, the comic characters would get their debut.
Eastman and Laird were roommates at Dover’s Union Street in New Hampshire, and that is where the heroes in a half-shell were honored on Wednesday.
The city honored these turtle boys with a commemorative manhole cover on 28 Union St., as well as a state historical highway marker placed at Central Avenue.
The sign reads, “In November 1983, while living in Dover, Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird created a cast of ninja-weapon wielding turtles during a late-night drawing session.”
“Amused by the absurdity of the idea, the duo developed the story of four teenage brothers — Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo,” it goes on.
The sign adds, “The one-shot comic, published independently by Mirage Studios on Union Street, debuted in 1984.”
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles soon became a full comic series and ultimately an international multimedia franchise,” it concludes.
City Representative James Lane coordinated the event. He had it crowdfunded and even explained to the Dover Arts Commission that the fearsome fighting team is “a part of Dover’s hidden history that needs to be told.”
This comes just in time for Dover’s 400th anniversary of the city’s founding, but it is unclear whether Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael were at the ceremony due to their continued use of disguises.
Thankfully, the evil shredder did not attack, and so the city was able to cut everyone some slack.
Artist John B. Watson did share some photos on his X, formerly Twitter, account.
Mayor Bob Carrier of Dover, NH honored Kevin Eastman & Peter Laird, co-creators of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, with a State marker & @TMNT manhole cover designed by Kevin! Kevin gave a gracious speech & Peter’s wife Jeannine read heartfelt words from Peter. #tmnt 🐢🐢🐢🐢 pic.twitter.com/o7wSZrsF4q
— John B. Watson (@jbwillustration) November 8, 2023
He noted, “Kevin gave a gracious speech & Peter’s wife Jeannine read heartfelt words from Peter.”