The novel of the 1990 movie: four turtle brothers, a rat sensei, a reporter named April O'Neil, and the ninja gang called the Foot.
A fun, fast nostalgia read with more heart than you'd expect, held back by plain writing and fights that work better on screen. Three and a half out of five.
Every guide comes as a video and a full written article. Pick the one you need: the review is spoiler-free, the ending explained is not.
The whole story of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (the 1990 movie novel) in one video: April O'Neil, Splinter's origin, Casey Jones, the Foot, Danny Pennington, the farm, the campfire vision, and Splinter vs the Shredder.
Is the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles novel by B. B. Hiller worth reading? An honest review of the book of the 1990 movie: the story, the four brothers, what works, what doesn't, content notes and my score.
How the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles novel compares with the 1990 movie: what's the same, what changed (including Shredder's ending and an extra final chapter), and what's next, from Mutant Mayhem 2 to a 2028 hybrid film.
Is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles by B. B. Hiller worth reading? A one-minute, spoiler-free review: the setup, the catch, and my score.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) is B. B. Hiller’s novelization of the first live-action Turtles movie: Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo lose their master Splinter to the Foot Clan, regroup at a farm upstate, and come home to face the Shredder.
Below you’ll find a spoiler-free review, a full summary of the story, and how the book compares with the 1990 film, plus what’s next for the Turtles on screen.
A crime wave is hitting New York, and April is the only reporter asking about the Foot. When the Foot go after her, Raphael rescues her and brings her home to the sewer.
Then Splinter is kidnapped, April's apartment is burned, and the Turtles retreat to a farm to heal. I won't say more, but the second half is all about getting their master back.
Today I'm walking you through the whole story of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the novel of the nineteen ninety movie, by B. B. Hiller. There are full spoilers, including the ending.
A crime wave is hitting New York, and April is the only reporter asking about the Foot. When the Foot go after her, Raphael rescues her and brings her home to the sewer.
A fun, fast nostalgia read with more heart than you'd expect, held back by plain writing and fights that work better on screen. Three and a half out of five. Read it if: you're a young turtles fan; you grew up with the 1990 movie; you want a quick, cozy nostalgia trip. Skip it if: you want the darker original comics by eastman and laird; you've seen the movie and want something new. Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles →
The whole story of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (the 1990 movie novel) in one video: April O'Neil, Splinter's origin, Casey Jones, the Foot, Danny Pennington, the farm, the campfire vision, and Splinter vs the Shredder. Summary: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles →
How the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles novel compares with the 1990 movie: what's the same, what changed (including Shredder's ending and an extra final chapter), and what's next, from Mutant Mayhem 2 to a 2028 hybrid film. Book vs movie: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles →
Yes. B. B. Hiller wrote a short novelization for young readers, published in 1990, that follows the movie closely.
It follows the film scene by scene, but Shredder's ending is gentler (the garbage truck's jaws close on their own) and it adds a final chapter where April pitches her Turtle sketches as a comic book.
The sequel to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is dated for August 13, 2027.
