It's interesting (to me, at least) to note by this sketch that at the time I drew it, I had yet to work out the final design for the Utroms' hand weapons. -- PL
(TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES and all related titles, logos and characters are trademarks of Viacom International Inc. © 2009 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved.) All other material ©2011 Peter Laird unless otherwise noted.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Blast from the Past #150: rough sketch for cover of Volume 1, issue #4
This sketch was done by me to work out the composition for the cover of the fourth issue of Volume One of the TMNT comics. This cover was to be the last of our two-color covers before we moved to the full color ones. (The continuing success of the comic had given us the funds to allow for the more expensive photographic color separation process -- all the two-color covers were created using handmade separations.)
It's interesting (to me, at least) to note by this sketch that at the time I drew it, I had yet to work out the final design for the Utroms' hand weapons. -- PL
It's interesting (to me, at least) to note by this sketch that at the time I drew it, I had yet to work out the final design for the Utroms' hand weapons. -- PL
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This has always been one of my favourite comic covers, and I loved Mike's redo as well (wasn't there a poster available at some point?)!
ReplyDeleteOut of interest, how far along WERE the Utrom designs at that point?
""Tristan Jones said...
ReplyDeleteThis has always been one of my favourite comic covers, and I loved Mike's redo as well (wasn't there a poster available at some point?)!
Thanks, Trist! I've always liked this cover a lot, too. And Mike Dooney's painted version of it was fantastic! (I think I may own that piece of art.) I believe there was a poster made with Mike's art at one time.
Out of interest, how far along WERE the Utrom designs at that point?"
Now that I think more about it, it's possible that I had already designed the Utroms' hand weapons but just quickly sketched in place holders for this layout. I say that because I just remembered that issue #3 ended with the sequence wherein Splinter was captured by the Utroms in their human disguises, then later saw them sitting around a table with their "skins" off, revealing the actual alien Utrom forms. And part of that sequence was a drawing of...
...no, wait. I was about to say there was a drawing of the standard Utrom hand weapon with which one of the Utroms in human guise was about to use to euthanize Splinter, but on further reflection, that was NOT the Utrom weapon I was referring to. So the answer to your question is, I think, that the Utroms in their alien form and in their robot humanoid form had already been designed, but their standard hand weapon had not. -- PL
I like this cover a lot too. Actually, I think my all time cover might be from the original printing of issue 2. I love the turtle reflections in the mouser. I was reminded by that with the issue of Tales that came out last month with the reflection of Raphael in Fugitoid's arm. Classic!
ReplyDeleteThis particular drawing is my favorite piece of TMNT art. I'm sure you're aware that it was used as the cover for the NES game as well. I currently have that Game Case sitting on my desk, along with my NECA Turtle figures, each posed just as they appear in the picture.
ReplyDelete"Zachatello00 said...
ReplyDeleteThis particular drawing is my favorite piece of TMNT art. I'm sure you're aware that it was used as the cover for the NES game as well. I currently have that Game Case sitting on my desk, along with my NECA Turtle figures, each posed just as they appear in the picture."
I'm glad you like it so much. I remember having a blast going crazy with the machinery for the Utroms' transmat -- that was one of my favorite things to do when drawing the comics.
Now that you mention it, I do recall Mike's painted version being used for the game. -- PL
Yeah! I used to have the poster with this art hanging on my wall as a kid. There was so much to look at and examine in the background. Theres another I had (that I still have) that you (Peter) and Kevin did of the turtles inside (I guess) the Technodrome fighting the Shredder. That's another that has a lot of tiny little things in the background. I always loved that about that artwork, so lively and intriguing.
ReplyDelete