I met Kevin Eastman at San Diego Comic Con in 2011 during the peak of my fandom for the turtles, and he couldn't have been nicer. He spoke to my mom and I for a good 10 to 20 minutes while drawing Leonardo and Donatello respectively in two trade paperbacks I bought from him. He drew them full body and told me he had been inspired by comic artists drawing pictures for fans at a French convention. He really took his time and made sure he did the same for everyone in line. He'd ask people who their favorite turtle was and then draw them and he was really easy to talk to especially for a socially awkward and nervous 14 year old. As far as Turtle comics you guys should talk about, I'd like to hear about the Image Turtles comics that were published in the 90s that were pulled from continuity for being too dark. I've always heard them described but it's hard to find any pictures of it online and the story sounds absolutely insane in the best way. It's currently being published by IDW under the title Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Urban Legends, and I'd like an excuse to finally get around to reading it.
I'm 51 years old so my boat sailed long before TMNT broke big and I've never cracked a cover of any of their comics . . . I've had folks tell me I should but for some reason I always resisted, until now. Thank you for piquing my curiosity with this in-depth look at TMNT. I love the black and white outlaw comics but never got that without TMNT that probably outlaw probably never would have been a thing. I love how you talk about the stars being perfectly aligned for TMNT popularity and that they really are an important part of overall comics history despite the fact that everything was essentially against them ever becoming popular. I will now be checking out the original run of TMNT and I thank you once again for broadening my horizons - which is one of many reasons why I love Cartoonist Kayfabe.
I discovered the Turtles in 1984 when I was 16. Like Tom, I had a hard time with the title and it's complexity... but I was quickly obsessed. I loved those comics like few others. I felt so lucky that many years later I would get to work as a character designer in the Turtles CG film "TMNT" that was released in 2007. For me as a OG fan, it was a true bucket list gig for me. Thank you guys for discussing these comics! It really takes me back to that excitement I had discovering those books. :)
32:38 Tom nails it.. I love the original cartoon, movies and toy line.. But when I found the original mirage series.. I was blown away. Literally everything I ever wanted with the Turtles.
Only recently discovered & subbed to this channel and just wanted to say the content you guys put out is absolute Gold. From Alan Moore to AKIRA now to the Turtles, loving it all. Grade A stuff guys.
The portion of the show where you're going through the different iterations of the turtles in print, I gotta say one of my favorite runs is from the Archie series, the Future Shark Trilogy. I know you covered all the serious Mirage and Image stuff, but the later part of the Archie series also had some pretty decent and fun stories. I came into it as a kid and the Future Shark Trilogy was kinda like the TMNT equivalent to the Dark Knight Returns for Batman to my immature mind.
TMNT/Daredevil, sign me up! I remember coming across one of the original comics for the first time in the early 90s and Ralph was hunting down a deer in the woods ... Dark! I think Shredder was a take on pizza cheese.
Do all the things! :) The Image series had 2 fan-funded issues that concluded the story AND brought it in line with what Laird was doing in Mirage vol. 4. Speaking of vol. 4, the Donatello micro-series issue had a sequel of sorts there.
Great recollection and reminiscence about the black & white days. I'd be happy to hear about the Zulli or any other topics on the turtles. I first encountered the turtles in our LCS, and I remember how they went into third, fourth, etc. printings and how in Overstreet they were still escalating upwards in value.
The Mark Bode run is pretty fun and the Archie series got pretty involved in the later issues,the Archie Shredder is one of the best versions of Shredder
I just watched the new The Tick show and was thinking about TMNT and how they started as kinda parodies. My first comic was a Ninja Turtles comic in 1989 or 1990 and it started me on the Collector's Path, so I'm hyped that the 35th anniversary of this is happening when I'm 35 years old!!
Great episode...CARTOONIST KAYFABE definitely has the finger on the pulse of my generation. Not sure when/how I first discovered "The Turtles"....but I know I had all the toys and loved the FIRST movie and cartoon show.
I'm also 42 and I was a "comic book collector" when I was 8 (starting with Marvel Tales starring Spider-man 186) before most of my friends really discovered comics later during the McFarland/Liefeld/Lee era of Marvel comics. My brother, who is 2 years younger, also started buying comics at the time. He had this strange ability to pick out some random comic that would eventually become a cartoon. The first time he did it was sometime in '87. We were at the Collisseum of Comics in Orlando, FL digging thru back issue bins looking for a comic to buy. Our Mom would buy us one comic each. My brother pulled out Donatello #1 micro series. Nobody knew what that was at the time but at the end of that year every kid we knew watched the TMNT cartoon. He did this another time as well when I begged my Dad to order some comic from an ad for New England Comics. My brother only asked for one comic in that order and it was The Tick #1.
The Turtles might have been the first comic I read. I remember watching the cartoon but I didn't really get into them until the movie. My mother took me to it and I enjoyed it so much she then took me to a bookstore to buy one of the comics, which was the First edition volume 4. I still have the big trade paper back that Mirage published collecting the issues 1-11 and the one-shots by Eastman and Laird. One issue you might want to look at would be the last Peter Laird TMNT comic. He self published a few issue of Vol. 4 at his old blog peterlairdstmntblog.blogspot.com/search/label/TMNT%20Volume%204%20%2332 I think it could be interesting to compare the original creators latest work on the project to their earliest.
You guys have made my morning, your channel is great, its something that I wish my local comic shop would do. In regards to Turtles my favourite issue is 10, there is a great double page spread of April's shop with Shredder and the foot clan and an amazing entrance of Casey Jones
Fantastic episode like always. Like a lot of people our generation The Turtles sparked my interest in comics to a large degree and no amount of words could describe what the Ninja Turtles mean to me. Love the wide range of choices the Mirage era Turtles had so here are my choices if you guys go on and do more of these themed episodes. #17 Nov 88 Eric Talbot & Kevin Eastman #45 March 92 Dan Berger #37 June 91 Rick Mccollum & Bill Anderson #44 February 92 Rick Arthur TMNT Special October 92 Matt Howarth I could go on and on and you guys mentioned some really great ones in the episode. Any added Turtles content would be great, or just keep doing videos that are surprises, I love them all. Great great stuff. - Derrick
You get the feeling when you read interviews with Laird that he also feels he wishes that the indie years lasted a bit longer. There were a lot of stories they never got to tell and a lot of their talent that was untapped and undeveloped. Why didn't the Mirage comics end up as a great landmarks of comic literature after the first 10-20 issues? Turtlemania happened and those stories never got told. Eastman seems to have moved on and is okay with everything as it turned out, but you really wonder what might have been if these two had been able to tell the kinds of stories they wanted to tell in the vein of Kirby and Miller. Gotta check out the new story they are collaborating on- The Last Ronin from IDW.
I always love the serendipity on TH-cam. I was just listening to Joe Rogan talk to one of the founder's of Angie's List (Naval Rakitant) and his main point is that anyone can be successful, but to be real financially independent you need to have equity in your work. That is what Eastman and Laird so inspiring for me - they owned their work. These guys were hard working artists and hard working entrepreneurs - a deadly combination. I would also ask the Kayfabe crew to mention the new Eastman comics coming out since a lot of the events that you guys have been talking about will be put to page it seems. They are Drawing Blook, Spilled Ink and Radical Ronin Ragdolls - fan.kevineastmanstudios.com/product/drawing-blood-ronin-ragdolls-set/. Looks very interesting to say the least. Also, I still love the new IDW books. It is, in my opinion, the second strongest series of books that have been by the publisher after Locke and Key. Lots of energy, great pacing and phenomenally consistent art. These are my jam and I was a huge Turtle fan in my youth. Now my kids see the movies and games (original and SNES version) - they can't get enough. It is hilarious how enduring these characters are. Great episode guys!
Hey kayfabers I posted it on the Instagram, but in case you’re not on there, you can own this issue (digitally) for only $1.99 on amazon for your kindle/iPhone/Android... search for “teenage mutant ninja turtles black and white classics” on amazon.com, iPhone users can’t use the app to purchase it, have to use a web browser for whatever reason.
Awesome video guys I love your coverage on the turtles and Eastman got me motivated to do my passion project and be successful with it in every panel a day to a page a week😁💀cheers guys \m/
Sooooooo many copycat books came out as a result of TMNT...Adolescent Radioactive Black Belt Squirrels, Hamster Vice...then the cartoons Street Sharks, Karate Kats, etc. Ghengis Frog, Atilla the Frog
I met Kevin Eastman at San Diego Comic Con in 2011 during the peak of my fandom for the turtles, and he couldn't have been nicer. He spoke to my mom and I for a good 10 to 20 minutes while drawing Leonardo and Donatello respectively in two trade paperbacks I bought from him. He drew them full body and told me he had been inspired by comic artists drawing pictures for fans at a French convention. He really took his time and made sure he did the same for everyone in line. He'd ask people who their favorite turtle was and then draw them and he was really easy to talk to especially for a socially awkward and nervous 14 year old. As far as Turtle comics you guys should talk about, I'd like to hear about the Image Turtles comics that were published in the 90s that were pulled from continuity for being too dark. I've always heard them described but it's hard to find any pictures of it online and the story sounds absolutely insane in the best way. It's currently being published by IDW under the title Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Urban Legends, and I'd like an excuse to finally get around to reading it.
I'm 51 years old so my boat sailed long before TMNT broke big and I've never cracked a cover of any of their comics . . . I've had folks tell me I should but for some reason I always resisted, until now. Thank you for piquing my curiosity with this in-depth look at TMNT. I love the black and white outlaw comics but never got that without TMNT that probably outlaw probably never would have been a thing. I love how you talk about the stars being perfectly aligned for TMNT popularity and that they really are an important part of overall comics history despite the fact that everything was essentially against them ever becoming popular. I will now be checking out the original run of TMNT and I thank you once again for broadening my horizons - which is one of many reasons why I love Cartoonist Kayfabe.
I discovered the Turtles in 1984 when I was 16. Like Tom, I had a hard time with the title and it's complexity... but I was quickly obsessed. I loved those comics like few others. I felt so lucky that many years later I would get to work as a character designer in the Turtles CG film "TMNT" that was released in 2007. For me as a OG fan, it was a true bucket list gig for me. Thank you guys for discussing these comics! It really takes me back to that excitement I had discovering those books. :)
I love this channel. It's like hanging out with friends I don't know.
32:38 Tom nails it.. I love the original cartoon, movies and toy line.. But when I found the original mirage series.. I was blown away. Literally everything I ever wanted with the Turtles.
Only recently discovered & subbed to this channel and just wanted to say the content you guys put out is absolute Gold. From Alan Moore to AKIRA now to the Turtles, loving it all. Grade A stuff guys.
I'd love to see you talk about the Zulli issues, the Veitch issues and Issue 18 done by Mark Bode’ and Kevin Eastman (a love letter to Bruce Lee).
Definitely.
The portion of the show where you're going through the different iterations of the turtles in print, I gotta say one of my favorite runs is from the Archie series, the Future Shark Trilogy. I know you covered all the serious Mirage and Image stuff, but the later part of the Archie series also had some pretty decent and fun stories. I came into it as a kid and the Future Shark Trilogy was kinda like the TMNT equivalent to the Dark Knight Returns for Batman to my immature mind.
It's so great you guys talk about stuff you love. It's a breathe of free air for TH-cam. Thank you for your work!
Alan Moore used the Rat-King concept in 2000ads 'Halo Jones'.
I love the serious tone in wich Ed says "we don't do that here" about enjoying comics ironically
Maybe pound for pound the greatest success story in comics history.
This channel keeps getting better! The NES cover was the first time I realized there is more to the world of tmnt besides the cartoon as well.
The Kirby panel is actually referenced in the 2003 cartoon as well titled “The King”
Noah Van Sciver's five page TMNT sequence is golden.
TMNT/Daredevil, sign me up! I remember coming across one of the original comics for the first time in the early 90s and Ralph was hunting down a deer in the woods ... Dark! I think Shredder was a take on pizza cheese.
I've always loved the first Wingnut and Screwloose issue from Turtles Adventures.
Do all the things! :)
The Image series had 2 fan-funded issues that concluded the story AND brought it in line with what Laird was doing in Mirage vol. 4.
Speaking of vol. 4, the Donatello micro-series issue had a sequel of sorts there.
Great recollection and reminiscence about the black & white days. I'd be happy to hear about the Zulli or any other topics on the turtles. I first encountered the turtles in our LCS, and I remember how they went into third, fourth, etc. printings and how in Overstreet they were still escalating upwards in value.
The Mark Bode run is pretty fun and the Archie series got pretty involved in the later issues,the Archie Shredder is one of the best versions of Shredder
I just watched the new The Tick show and was thinking about TMNT and how they started as kinda parodies. My first comic was a Ninja Turtles comic in 1989 or 1990 and it started me on the Collector's Path, so I'm hyped that the 35th anniversary of this is happening when I'm 35 years old!!
Yes. More Turtles please.
Thank you for sharing this!
Hope all is well,
Looking forward to the next.
Take care.
AJ
Great episode...CARTOONIST KAYFABE definitely has the finger on the pulse of my generation. Not sure when/how I first discovered "The Turtles"....but I know I had all the toys and loved the FIRST movie and cartoon show.
Imagine seeing the creation from comic to movie.
I'm also 42 and I was a "comic book collector" when I was 8 (starting with Marvel Tales starring Spider-man 186) before most of my friends really discovered comics later during the McFarland/Liefeld/Lee era of Marvel comics.
My brother, who is 2 years younger, also started buying comics at the time. He had this strange ability to pick out some random comic that would eventually become a cartoon. The first time he did it was sometime in '87. We were at the Collisseum of Comics in Orlando, FL digging thru back issue bins looking for a comic to buy. Our Mom would buy us one comic each. My brother pulled out Donatello #1 micro series. Nobody knew what that was at the time but at the end of that year every kid we knew watched the TMNT cartoon.
He did this another time as well when I begged my Dad to order some comic from an ad for New England Comics. My brother only asked for one comic in that order and it was The Tick #1.
They're the world's most fearsome fighting team.
Great episode, guys! Very inspiring history of Eastman and Laird.
I Love How Excited You Boys are
I got my break in animation working on the TMNT for Murakami Wolf Swenson. Good times!
Return to New York is an amazing 3 issue run by both Eastman & Laird. And then the river story is the next 3 issues.
The Turtles might have been the first comic I read. I remember watching the cartoon but I didn't really get into them until the movie. My mother took me to it and I enjoyed it so much she then took me to a bookstore to buy one of the comics, which was the First edition volume 4. I still have the big trade paper back that Mirage published collecting the issues 1-11 and the one-shots by Eastman and Laird.
One issue you might want to look at would be the last Peter Laird TMNT comic. He self published a few issue of Vol. 4 at his old blog peterlairdstmntblog.blogspot.com/search/label/TMNT%20Volume%204%20%2332 I think it could be interesting to compare the original creators latest work on the project to their earliest.
You guys have made my morning, your channel is great, its something that I wish my local comic shop would do. In regards to Turtles my favourite issue is 10, there is a great double page spread of April's shop with Shredder and the foot clan and an amazing entrance of Casey Jones
I love this Channel!
Casey Jones says “GOONGALA! GOONGALA!” in the first arc when April’s shop burns down and he busts in to help the Turtles: imgur.com/gallery/gveYOqx
Thank you so much for what you said about irony. I agree 100%!
I'd love to see the triceraton/krang race arc, the Return to New York, the Leonardo one shot, Raph one-shot, or Zulli issues.
live from the sewer. i love it.
Great episode - Shredder always reminded me of the marvel villain Silver Samurai
I really enjoy the Northampton saga. #16 with the Justice Force is a great classic JLA tribute.
Fantastic episode like always. Like a lot of people our generation The Turtles sparked my interest in comics to a large degree and no amount of words could describe what the Ninja Turtles mean to me. Love the wide range of choices the Mirage era Turtles had so here are my choices if you guys go on and do more of these themed episodes.
#17 Nov 88
Eric Talbot & Kevin Eastman
#45 March 92
Dan Berger
#37 June 91
Rick Mccollum & Bill Anderson
#44 February 92
Rick Arthur
TMNT Special October 92
Matt Howarth
I could go on and on and you guys mentioned some really great ones in the episode. Any added Turtles content would be great, or just keep doing videos that are surprises, I love them all. Great great stuff.
- Derrick
great episode!!
Radical and awesome. Thanks!
35th anniversary of TMNT is 4 years ago let’s celebrate 40th anniversary of TMNT in 2024!!!🥷🐢
Fantastic stuff. Fun but also educational.
Wondering what you guys think about the Tales of the TMNT series from the early 2000s. Loved the one-shot story format myself.
That Rat King issue especially rulz
You get the feeling when you read interviews with Laird that he also feels he wishes that the indie years lasted a bit longer. There were a lot of stories they never got to tell and a lot of their talent that was untapped and undeveloped. Why didn't the Mirage comics end up as a great landmarks of comic literature after the first 10-20 issues? Turtlemania happened and those stories never got told. Eastman seems to have moved on and is okay with everything as it turned out, but you really wonder what might have been if these two had been able to tell the kinds of stories they wanted to tell in the vein of Kirby and Miller. Gotta check out the new story they are collaborating on- The Last Ronin from IDW.
I always love the serendipity on TH-cam. I was just listening to Joe Rogan talk to one of the founder's of Angie's List (Naval Rakitant) and his main point is that anyone can be successful, but to be real financially independent you need to have equity in your work. That is what Eastman and Laird so inspiring for me - they owned their work. These guys were hard working artists and hard working entrepreneurs - a deadly combination.
I would also ask the Kayfabe crew to mention the new Eastman comics coming out since a lot of the events that you guys have been talking about will be put to page it seems. They are Drawing Blook, Spilled Ink and Radical Ronin Ragdolls - fan.kevineastmanstudios.com/product/drawing-blood-ronin-ragdolls-set/. Looks very interesting to say the least.
Also, I still love the new IDW books. It is, in my opinion, the second strongest series of books that have been by the publisher after Locke and Key. Lots of energy, great pacing and phenomenally consistent art.
These are my jam and I was a huge Turtle fan in my youth. Now my kids see the movies and games (original and SNES version) - they can't get enough. It is hilarious how enduring these characters are. Great episode guys!
Great talk guys
Yes TMNT and Daredevil. Fuck!! Or TMNT Spiderman!!! You guys are the best
Another great video guys!
Waiting for the next tmnt episode?))
Great overview. Love this informative video.
Awesome episode. I'd recommend covering more of the weirder turtle adventures and collaborations. In the sewer. Always be in the lair.
Yessssssssssssss!!!!!!! Great choice! 🙏
Hey kayfabers I posted it on the Instagram, but in case you’re not on there, you can own this issue (digitally) for only $1.99 on amazon for your kindle/iPhone/Android... search for “teenage mutant ninja turtles black and white classics” on amazon.com, iPhone users can’t use the app to purchase it, have to use a web browser for whatever reason.
Great location
Awesome video guys I love your coverage on the turtles and Eastman got me motivated to do my passion project and be successful with it in every panel a day to a page a week😁💀cheers guys \m/
Urban Legends and Body Count might be worth taking a deep dive. Especially since IDW is has reprinted and finished Urban Legends.
I like the Mark Bode issues.
Mark Martin!!!! And his movie parody.
Do the Rich Heden and Tom McWeeney run!
Few knock offs weren't that bad, at least art-wise (Kangaroos, Hamsters, 5th issue of Chameleons).
I was pushed to read Daredevil, cus of the tie to Ninja Turtles.
Sooooooo many copycat books came out as a result of TMNT...Adolescent Radioactive Black Belt Squirrels, Hamster Vice...then the cartoons Street Sharks, Karate Kats, etc. Ghengis Frog, Atilla the Frog