The Purple Dragons appear in the 1984 Mirage Comics. The Ninja Turtles fight them in the first issue of the original comic in a situation in which the Turtles have their first major skirmish on the surface. In this issue The Purple Dragons insult the Turtles repeatedly, and discover that their guns and knifes are useless against their martial arts. Eventually, the Turtles manage to kill most of them before the police arrive.