James Avery 1948-2013

Coming home today, listening to NPR, I heard that actor James Avery had passed away. As most TMNT fans know, one of Avery's notable voice-acting jobs was ably providing the voice of the Shredder in the first TMNT animated series.

I offer my condolences to his family and friends. -- PL

Blast from the Past #325: Found sketchbook Part 1

In my continuing, somewhat slightly-faster-than-glacially-paced efforts to go through my STUFF and sort it into piles of things to keep, things to give away, and things to throw in the trash, I still occasionally come across some stuff I'd forgotten… such as this sketchbook, with things drawn in it probably from the mid-to-late 1980's. There are some concepts that I clearly sketched for Playmates Toys, with the hopes that they might find their way into the TMNT toy line. There are I think twenty-four pages in all, and I'll post them in three "Blast from the Past" installments, in the order in which they appeared in the sketchbook.

First up are these somewhat goofy concepts for Shredder vehicles.

Next is this basic pencil sketch of Donatello -- I have no specific idea WHY I drew this.

After that come these two wacky ideas -- wheeled vehicles for the Shredder and the Turtles, and some brief notes on  other ideas for the line. (I like the "Penthouse of Doom" name.)

Then, some ideas for the Turtles' "Secret Hideout" playset, including some disguise concepts for the Turtles themselves.

Next is this concept for a space suit for the Turtles. I think I have drawn several variations on this theme over the years.

Then we have the Shredder's jet-powered "Death Kite" (like that name too!).

And last in this group is an idea for a "Flying Foot Assault Car", as well as some variations on a Foot logo graphic. -- PL

Blast from the Past #289: "Shredator" vehicle concept

I don't think this ever made it into production as a toy, but it could have been a fun vehicle for old Shredhead. -- PL

Blast from the Past #269: The Shredder

Here's another pinup from the early days (1985). I didn't draw the Shredder very often... my pinups usually featured Turtles (probably because they're easier to draw). -- PL

Is that... the Shredder?

It was "new magazine day" at Barnes and Noble two days ago, and I picked up this special issue of "MacLife", mostly because my eye was drawn to one element of the cover.



I can't tell for certain, but that sure as heck looks like a Shredder figure climbing up the front of that G5 tower. If I had to guess, it's the one Playmates made as part of the line for the 2007 CGI movie. -- PL

Blast from the Past #175: Leonardo fighting the Shredder

I did this pinup drawing back in 1986, and probably sold it at a show. Fortunately, I made a copy of it before it disappeared.

It's not bad, but I think either the Shredder it a bit too small or Leo is a big too big. -- PL