Ninja Rap With 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' Co-Creator Kevin Eastman

From MTVGeek By Charles Webb

That's right—I called out The Secret of the Ooze. What are you gonna do about it?

It's been 25 years since four mutated amphibian teen martial arts practitioners crawled out of the sewers and leaped onto the comic page. Now they're coming back in a big way with a new ongoing comic from IDW, written by Tom Waltz and co-written by their co-creator Kevin Eastman. Eastman answered a few questions by e-mail about his return to the characters for which he's most known, the jumbo collected edition coming out this year, and what's next on his plate.

MTV Geek: What’s the appeal of coming back to the Turtles after all this time?

Kevin Eastman: Perfect timing really. I hadn’t drawn the Turtles in comic book form since roughly the mid nineties, and have been a longtime friend/fan of IDW and their publishing program—so when they secured the rights they called and invited me to come play I jumped at the chance—especially when I heard what Tom Waltz and Nickelodeon had in mind creatively!

Besides, I’ve always loved the Turtles and have never been “really” out of touch with them, or the fans. The TMNT fans are the best ever—I always thank them for giving me such an awesome job and a great life! I’m always doing signings, free sketches, answering fan mail—more like Facebook these days—and creatively, I’ve done a bunch of consulting for several of the entertainment projects. Also, through my company Heavy Metal, I published my TMNT Artobiography a few years back, collected the Casey Jones/RaphaelBodycount series I did with Simon Bisley after that, and more recently a “25th Anniversary TMNT Collection” of my favorite turtle tales.

The Turtles are in my blood man!

Geek: Why do you think their popularity has endured with fans after all these years?

KE: Good question! Peter Laird and I always wondered what it was that people liked in the first place, and the fact they keep finding a new audience every few years is mind blowing! I have two boys, a 10 year old and a 5 year old, each time they discovered them and claimed them as their own I’d ask what is it they like about them—it it never had anything to do with me drawing them, it was always summed up [with], “I don’t know—they’re just cool!”

Looking back now, I think it is a couple of things—they’re misfits, or mutants in this case, just trying to fit in and I think a lot of kids out there are trying to do the same fit in. But they have a great sense of family, with Master Splinter—but most of all it is the hero thing—most of us, kids of all ages, want to not only be the one to be the hero when the chips are down and have the cool ninja moves to back it up!

Geek: How has the collaboration been with co-writer Tom Waltz? What do you think he’s been bringing to the process?

KE: Tom is awesome! A huge fan of the original series, and really the pilot of this series—I’m more of a very excited co-pilot! He went all in, did serious research, and came to the table with a truckload creative and interesting concepts that in my opinion, fit perfectly into the original TMNT universe—but at the same time, turned it on its side a little bit.

Geek: The solicitation describes it as a new installment of the original series. What does that mean for the tone and kind of stories you’ll be telling?

KE: What excited me about the entire re-invention for this series was exactly THAT! The spirit and tone are very much like the original Mirage Studios comics—lots of nice dark edges and serious plot lines, tons of action, familiar characters but with several more layers of depth added in, a touch of humor, and most of all—plot options. The groundwork that is being laid down here allows for A LOT of story possibilities—I can see a hundred different directions this could go after the first four issues, and all of them are awesome!

Geek: What are some of the returning elements and characters that we’ll see in this new series?

KE: Well, I don’t want to give too much away—all the basics are there of course, the four guys (with red bandanas!), Splinter, Casey, and April—maybe they won’t all be EXACTLY how you remember them, but they’re there… it takes place in New York City…

Heh—I’m going to stop myself here, Tom will kill me if I blow any of the big surprises!

Geek: How has it been working with IDW?

KE: Terrible really, dreadful bunch of people!

Hah! Seriously, awesome—really AWESOME! Creatively, Tom is the best, a very skilled writer—who brought his A game to the Turtles and nailed it. I expect we’ll see a bunch more awesome work from him outside the TMNT’s as well. Dan is a very professional, very talented artist—who has studied the masters and loves his job. He reminds me a bit of Alex Toth in his line work—and complimented with Rhonda’s beautiful color style—this book seriously rocks!

Editorially, the best I’ve ever seen! From Ted, to Chris, Scott, Bobby, Justin and AnnaMaria—they treat me like family, and work their asses off. I hope to be doing A LOT more work with these guys in the future!

Geek: What can you tell us about the Ultimate Edition coming out this September?

KE: I think that the Holy Grail to all the original TMNT fans is having the complete collection of the first fifteen comic books that Mirage put out, issues #1 to #11, plus the four “One Issue Micro” series Peter and I put out as self-publishers. Those were the issues where we did pretty much everything—sat down and wrote the stories together—at times sharing the same studio space—so even though we might have enlisted some help from the studio arts on the later issues, it was those issues that set up the entire TMNT Universe.

After issue 11, we were running so late on the issues, due to the workload for the TV series and licensing program—we split up the writing chores, Pete would write and draw one, I’d do another—often times working with Eric Talbot, Mark Bode, or Simon Bisley, but we never got back to a “just Peter and Kevin” issue until #50. So basically this will be the first set in the series, collection the entire original stories—with a bunch of behind the scenes commentary and such, done just for this version. Awesome stuff, and just in time for Christmas!

Geek: Any big moments from the series you’d like to tease?

KE: Trust me, I’m bursting at the seams to unload on you, but I really don’t want to blow it for the fans! I will say again the true spirit of the original series is all there—from the writing style, to the art style, and the overall FEEL of it—the flow is wonderful—but there will be a few serious surprises that will get a few tongues wagging and fans a buzzing… in a GOOD WAY!

Hmm… one thing I think I can leak and not blow any secrets—and who happens to be one of my favorite new characters is Old Hob… he’s like a mutated alley cat with and eye patch that likes to fight—and that’s all I’m telling!

Geek: Do you have any other upcoming projects you’d like to talk about?

KE: I have a bunch of stuff in the works, but have put most of them aside for the moment to work on the Turtles for now, and I can’t tell you enough how much fun I am having being back in the mix—working on the comics—it has been far too long!

One project I would like to plug, is War of the Worlds: Goliath a 3D animated feature I have been working on for the past two years with my friends over at Tripod Entertainment—Joe Pearson and Leon Tan. The production was developed and produced in Malaysia, with the main animation completed in Korea—and I think it is FANTASTIC! Pop over to www.heavymetal.com and check out the production blog, you’ll find it on the main page—and the film could be released later this year!

IDW Announces 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' Creative Team

From Comics Alliance by Caleb Goellner
What kind of gig could make a writer shout "Shell yeah!"? I think you know what kind. The all-new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles from IDW and Nickelodeon. Debuting in August, the new series by original Turtles co-creator Kevin Eastman, co-writer Tom Waltz and artist Dan Duncan sets out to reimagine the original TMNT in a contemporary setting. Rather than serve as a port for Nickelodeon's upcoming animated continuity, the 32-page, full-color comics will establish a fresh universe populated by both new and classic characters. What's more, in addition to co-writing, Eastman will contribute page layouts and variant covers alongside artists such as Sam Keith and Walt Simonson. We talked to Waltz to learn about the on the upcoming series. Read our full interview and see loads of new series art by Duncan and Eastman after the jump.

ComicsAlliance: Congrats on the new series, Tom. Can you tell us a little about how you came onboard Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and what it's been like co-writing with Kevin Eastman?

Tom Waltz: Thanks! Bribes-that's how I get all my gigs. That, and blackmail (never underestimate the benefits of knowing your Editor-in- Chief's dirty little secrets).

Seriously, this gig came about in a strange way. TMNT editor Scott Dunbier had been soliciting proposals from other writers and early on I wasn't really involved with TMNT at all, other than the fact that I kept poking my nose into things at the office because I'm a huge TMNT fan. But, honestly, beyond being excited about new TMNT comics as a fan, I didn't expect to be directly involved creatively. Then, in an editorial meeting one day, Scott announced that Kevin was ready to jump back into the TMNT saddle, both as an artist and story co-plotter, and wanted to work with a co-writer who would handle initial story scripts, etc. I was absolutely surprised (and flattered) when EiC Chris Ryall (who-along with IDW CEO Ted Adams and COO Greg Goldstein - has always been very supportive of my writing endeavors) asked me in that same meeting if I had any interest in working with Kevin. In true Turtle fashion, I said, "Shell yeah!"

As it turned out, I had been privately thinking of a way to re-launch the property, one I felt was true to Kevin and Peter's Laird's original spirit, but with some new and modern twists added to the mix. I put a proposal together immediately following the meeting and passed it along to Scott, who in turn forwarded it to Kevin. A few days later, Kevin came down to San Diego for a lunch meeting and, corny as it sounds, I knew right away that things were gonna happen in a good way. We've all been in tune from the start, and Kevin's been fantastic at letting me know what he likes, as well as providing kick-butt input into the plot (and he tells some great stories about the history of the franchise!). Thing is, I'm a huge Turtle fan, but the Turtles are in Kevin's blood (I'll bet it's green blood!), and it's both an honor and a thrill to be working alongside him on this-he's a cool dude who still cares immensely about the property he helped create with Peter. This comic book series will be getting plenty of TLC-turtle lovin' care-I guarantee!

CA: You've written for many iconic properties with enduring fanbases like Ghostbusters, The A-Team, Duke Nukem, Silent Hill and now the TMNT. What do you enjoy most about getting to put your own spin on -- and add something to the canon of -- these kind of cultural mainstays?

TW: Before I tell you what I enjoy, I'll be completely frank - it always terrifies me when I jump into something like this! When I dive into a beloved property like TMNT, as well as the others you listed in your question, the first thing I always ask myself is: Am I a masochistic glutton for fanboy and fangirl punishment? As it turns out, the answer is always, yes, yes I am. Then, I sit down and consider what the property means to me as a fan because that's really what I was before I ever thought about being a creator. I truly believe that if I always remember I'm a fan first, a creator second, then I'll be approaching the property with honesty and love and not with cold, calculated commercial intent.

Look, I know that not everyone is going to like what I do, but I'm at least confident that what I am doing is from my true fan's heart, and that I do it humbly and respectfully. As long as I can look at myself in the mirror and know I've done what I felt was best for the property and characters, then I can deal with the inevitable hate e-mails and forum flame wars to come.

Like I said, I'm positive what Kevin and I are doing-along with uber-talented artist Dan Duncan- will be something many old and new fans will embrace, just as I'm certain many other long-time fans will not. That's just how it goes and I can live with that because I know how important this is to me - and to Kevin and Dan and to all of IDW - and that we are all working our shells off to create new TMNT stories that are genuinely respectful of the stories that have come before, not to mention to the millions of loyal fans who have been a part of the TMNT family from the start.

As for what I enjoy most, I ain't gonna lie: it's an immeasurable rush to know I've been fortunate enough to have had the opportunity in my creative career to put words into the mouths of characters I've adored for so many years - or to inject scenarios and situations I've personally created into long-running canon. I feel it's a privilege to even have the chance to do it - whether it's TMNT or Silent Hill... or any of the awesome franchises I've worked on in the past or may be a part of in the future - and I never take the privilege for granted. I've been very lucky and I'm thankful for that... and I can't wait for my fellow TMNT fans to join me on this ride!

CA: IDW's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has been billed as a kind of brand new take on the TMNT in the spirit of the original comics. What kind of research did you do to get in the vibe for this mix of new and more classic TMNT motifs?

TW: Really, I looked at all the variations of the Turtles throughout the years, focusing on the things I liked best about each version, while paying particular attention to the ideas and characters that have endured through each iteration. For the most part, we are building this latest version atop a solid foundation of all the best and beloved ingredients of TMNT lore, which includes the grittier Mirage run, as well components from the lighter-hearted TV shows and feature films (I'm a huge fan of the 2007 CGI movie). Fans are going to find a lot of things they recognize-but they will also be seeing and reading new additions and new twists along the way, though nothing that strays from the underlying spirit of what has made this such a beloved franchise for so many years.

CA: How would you describe the upcoming comics series to fans who have sampled from all the various versions of the Turtles over the years? Are there any particular incarnations from TV, film, comics or games in particular that might serve as good touchstones for what this new series is about?

TW: Hmm... I guess if I were going to describe it, I'd say what we are doing with the Turtles is very similar to what Marvel did with the Avengers in the Ultimates. We are striving to tell beloved classic tales in new and exciting ways, while never losing sight of what's come before. I would never dare speak for Kevin, but I have to think that this is his opportunity to do what might be called a Director's Cut - a chance to go back and re-explore his creations from the start. As a fan, I'm excited as all get-out to watch him work because it doesn't get more authentic than having one of the original creators on board.

CA: What can you tell us about Dan Duncan's art? How do you think his style meshes with the kinds of stories you and Kevin will be telling?

TW: I was first introduced to Dan by Scott Lobdell, who was writing our Jennifer Love Hewitt's Music Box anthology series at the time. Scott suggested Dan as an artist for the fifth and final issue of the series, and Dan's art came into my email inbox shortly thereafter and I fell instantly in love with his understated, yet electrifying, stylistic pages. He did wonderful work for us on Music Box and, as an editor, I'd been looking for another project for him since. When the TMNT license came to IDW, I immediately asked Dan to send us samples-I really felt his style might be an interesting compliment to the early Eastman/Laird comics. I'm happy to say that I was right, because Dan turned in three or four pages of awesome samples, which all of us, including Nickelodeon, absolutely adored. It was an easy decision from there to bring Dan on as the artist, and we've since had the added bonus of having Kevin do the layouts that Dan is drawing from. C'mon... if that ain't about as authentic and exciting as it gets, I don't know what is.

Click to enlarge preliminary variant cover art by Kevin Eastman

CA: New villain Old Hob is said to be a mutant alley cat. Aside from a devilish name, what makes Old Hob a compelling antagonist for the Turtles?

TW: Although I picked Old Hob's name, all credit for the character's creation goes to IDW EiC Chris Ryall. When I first turned in my proposal, it was Chris who suggested we bring in a new baddy in the first arc- someone (or something) that Master Splinter and the boys are knocking heads with from the start. As for Hob's origin, it was also Chris who said something like, "What if an old alley cat..." WAIT! To tell you more would be too much of a spoiler. Suffice it to say, Old Hob is in the mix from the start and he's got a very personal grudge against our heroes, particularly Splinter. Fans can expect to see Hob up to plenty of bad boy hi-jinks from very early on in the series-as well as other evil doings from some far more recognizable villains, too.