Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Get Commemorative Manhole Cover for 40th Anniversary

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are getting a special birthday present for the 40th anniversary of their creation: a custom manhole cover. According to Entertainment Weekly , the reptilian crime-fighting mutant…

Jessica Marie BaumgartnerNov 9, 20232 min read

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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.

https://twitter.com/jbwillustration/status/1722371724828684298

He noted, “Kevin gave a gracious speech & Peter’s wife Jeannine read heartfelt words from Peter.”