Renaissance of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The term in itself begs not to be taken seriously, and those out of touch with pop culture the past 30 years may guess it's the title of some late-night, low-budget flick on the Sci-Fi channel. But the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, or "TMNT" for short, represent an international, multi-billion-dollar franchise that crosses multiple mediums and have adult and adolescent fans alike.

Like many characters that have gained worldwide popularity, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have humble beginnings. The quartet was created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird in 1984, first appearing in the pages of Mirage Studios' "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" #1. Named after iconic Renaissance artists, each of the four Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles sports their own colorful eye sash and unique personality. There's Leonardo (blue), the diplomatic leader; Raphael (red), the no-nonsense tough guy; Donatello (purple), the quirky intellect; and Michelangelo (orange), the playful partier. The turtles are amidst a sort of Renaissance of their own and will appear again on the big screen this June in "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows," which will also feature several important TMNT secondary characters, including athletic vigilante Casey Jones (being played by Stephen Amell of "Arrow") and mutant baddies Bebop and Rocksteady.

While TMNT as a whole has fans all around the world, it seems that everyone has their own favorite turtle, or one they identify with the most. Some gravitate toward Leonardo while others prefer Donatello. My brother has always favored Michelangelo, and perhaps he'll write about his appreciation for Mikey on this blog in the future, but for this post we'll focus on my go-to turtle, Raphael. With his stubborn fearlessness and cool weapons (a pair of sai blades), Raphael has long been a personal favorite. Yes, he's the a-hole of the TMNT bunch, but he's also the toughest (though my brother may argue otherwise). Here's a look at three collectibles Raphael fans may want to get their hands on.

Raphael #1 (1985)

This terrific "one-issue micro series" by Eastman and Laird also features the first appearance of Casey Jones.

Raphael figure, Playmates (1988)

Part of the TMNT Playmates line, this was Raphael's first appearance as an action figure and includes a display stand and his signature weapons.

Raphael comiquette statue, Sideshow Collectibles (2010)

The rarest and most expensive of the group, this limited edition statue stands 13" tall and displays beautifully alongside the other turtles or as a stand-alone piece.

These goodies are all worth shelling out the bucks for. So tell us ... Who's YOUR favorite turtle? Cowabunga, dudes.