The following are my penciled layouts for issue #12 of the original TMNT comic book series. This was -- and still is, I think -- the only full-length TMNT comic book on which I handled all of the art and story chores (the lettering was done, I believe, by Steve Lavigne).
This issue is somewhat significant because it marked the end -- or, perhaps more accurately, the beginning of the end -- of my creative partnership with Kevin Eastman. With the burgeoning success and accompanying stresses of the TMNT licensing program, then (in 1987) kicking into high gear, Kevin and I had gotten kind of sick of working with each other. It had become very difficult to produce an issue of the TMNT comic book without a lot of unpleasantness and disagreements. It got to the point where we both realized that something had to change.
I remember we had a short meeting in Pulaski Park in downtown Northampton, wherein we decided that we should take a break from each other, and alternate issues of the comic -- I'd do one, he'd do the next, and so on. It fell to me to produce the next issue -- I can't remember exactly how we came to that conclusion... perhaps I already had a story, perhaps Kevin was too busy with something else. I don't know. But the long and short of it was that, for the first time, I wrote, penciled, inked and toned an entire issue of the TMNT book, by myself.
It was fun, but a lot of work, and although it was a relief not to have to deal with Kevin on it, I did still miss his input. We did get back together some time later to work on "Return to New York" and "City at War", but it was never quite the same. -- PL
-->> ..there is a disturbing air of realism to this issue as well.
ReplyDeleteToned way way, down when adapted in the animated version. Almost nothing like the original.
Skonk's personality and that of his ' militia ' is a type of mentality i am sadly,fairly familiar with.
Skonk actually may be one of the more frightening TMNT villains out there, and actually at the same time.. there may be just at tinge of sympathy for his cause as well.
That may be another reason to be disturbed and why this may be one of the more ' real ' Turtle tales out there.
Mike of Mikey's TMNT at one time made that the unofficial Motto of the site, at my suggestion.
Don's words ::
" .. .. in this world plagued by terrorism & poised on the brink of nuclear Armageddon..
.. who doesn't want to survive?"
..
>v<
I'm always amazed at how two artists can work as one.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry it came to this, Peter. There is just something that you were both able to create that can never be duplicated. It must have been a hard decision to go your separate ways.
Sometimes though, you have to be able to say "This isn't working anymore" and change things, rather than try and cling to old things that have come to their end.
ReplyDeleteA hard, but very mature thing. Thats been my experiance anyhow.
I really like issue 12 (both plot and art), but it's sad to think of this issue as the official beginning of the end of Eastman & Laird's TMNT. Judging by some of the fan mail published in those pre-Return to NY issues, the fan base was pretty divided on the new artistic direction. Some of them so vague in their bluntness that you just have to look at their writing and laugh (at least I do)!
ReplyDeleteThat said, things change, as do people. And we can't always go home again. I believe the pre-#12 TMNT is one of the best runs in the history of comics. Not that everything since hasn't been awesome (it has!) but there is good reason that the Turtles were able to take the world by storm and become a worldwide cultural phenomenon... the brief but magical partnership of Eastman & Laird. :-D
This is sort of amazing to look at. Do you recall how long it would take you to do an entire issue by yourself like this (lettering aside, of course)?
ReplyDeleteDid the books seem to go faster when you were working with Kevin, or did you find you worked better with less outside input?
(By the way, I don't comment as often as I used to, but I did want to say that I check this blog often, and it's always a highlight whenever I'm having a down day. I'm always glad when you post.)
-Michelle Prestileo
-->> Gee Michelle has a cool name.
ReplyDelete>v<
"Shell Presto said...
ReplyDeleteThis is sort of amazing to look at. Do you recall how long it would take you to do an entire issue by yourself like this (lettering aside, of course)?"
I actually have no firm memory of how long it took me to do issue #12, but I suspect it was at least two months -- that's generally how long it took Kevin and me to do one issue. I probably saved a little bit of time in not having to do really tight pencils, knowing I was going to ink it myself and thus being able to be a little bit looser with some things. -- PL
"Did the books seem to go faster when you were working with Kevin, or did you find you worked better with less outside input?"
I think that in general, working on the books with Kevin made them go somewhat faster. Part of our working method was to first pencil and ink the things we were most comfortable with, so that allowed each of us to play to our strengths and not get too hung up on things we had difficulty doing.
"(By the way, I don't comment as often as I used to, but I did want to say that I check this blog often, and it's always a highlight whenever I'm having a down day. I'm always glad when you post.)
-Michelle Prestileo"
Thanks for the kind words, Michelle. I'm happy to hear that you look forward to reading my blog! -- PL
hi peter thanks for answering my comment ,these pencil drawing are great its nice to see it before it gets inked do you have any of the first few stories? like the fight with shredder on the roof top?
ReplyDeleteHey Peter would you be interested in letting the page with the turtle holding the bow and arrow go?
ReplyDeleteSorry, no. -- PL
Delete