TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES

Q&A WITH CO-CREATOR KEVIN EASTMAN

By Josh Belcher

This year I turned 40 years old, on most days I put on my best adulting persona, tackle the world, be a provider and offer love and comfort and be a protector. For the most part, I am successful, but if you want to see my inner child shine its brightest, mention The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! As fast as you can say Cowabunga, I am an eight-year-old boy again in full Ninja Turtle regalia. No worries or woes, just on the hunt to find out what the evil Shredder and his no-good gang of minions are up to and foil their plans!

For the first time in my life, I’ll celebrate Mother’s Day without my mom. She passed last December after a long period of sickness. Bittersweet seems like a fitting way to describe my emotions. I miss Mom terribly, but rejoice she is in heaven and enjoying eternal happiness.

One occurrence that helped take some of the sadness away is a conversation I recently shared with Kevin Eastman, co-creator of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) and architect of my childhood. Kevin, for almost 40 years now, has been contributing to the TMNT phenomenon. He now has a fresh new batch of turtles for a new generation of fans to enjoy as well as the diehards like me.

In a recent press release, The Last Ronin is set to give a fiveissue follow-up miniseries The Lost Years, IDW and Paramount Consumer Products announced. The Lost Years will be written by Turtles Co-Creator Kevin Eastman and former long-time IDW Turtles writer Tom Waltz. On art, SL Gallant will join artist Ben Bishop.

No spoilers here, other than information about the new young batch of turtles. The foursome has two boys and two girls ushering in heroes that everyone can truly get into! Yi, Odyn my favorite, Uno and Moja. Get ready for the next installment in this acclaimed future saga.

JOSH: Was The Lost Years back story in place during the previous Last Ronin series or was its popularity what spawned this new event?

KEVIN: When Tom Waltz and I were adapting the story, Pete and I wrote into what we call The Roninverse. As we were going thru Last Ronin Volume 1, the first series, we saw places that would be great to go back and visit and explore more if we have the opportunity. Because with Lost Years, we have the journey that Michelangelo took by Last Ronin Issue 4, where he goes to Japan and finds out what happened to Donatello and Master Splinter, and then begins his walking/training journey with Splinter’s journal for about 16 years that takes him back to page one of Last Ronin first issue. The Lost Years is based specifically on that and is our prequel and sequel part of The Lost Years story. It is the introduction of the new turtles shown first at the end of Last Ronin number 5.

JOSH: Yes! That was a fantastic way to end it and we got a fresh set of Ninja Turtles! How did the turtles come to be in The Last Ronin with two boys and two girls?

KEVIN: This is really an idea that Tom Waltz and I originated and put forth because we both are fans of strong female characters in movies over the years from Sarah Connor [Terminator] to Lieutenant Ripley [Alien] plus so many other characters. When we were going thru the original TMNT ongoing series, the evolution and creation of the female turtle Jennika was inspired by an attempt I made earlier with the creation of Venus, but did not go over well. However, the evolution of Jennika, as a character, has been well-received.

JOSH: Are you finding younger children coming with their parents when they meet you at these ComiCons?

KEVIN: We are excited to find out. As you said at the beginning, number one just came out and number two is shipping out shortly, we have number 3 and are almost done with issue 4, so it will be timed almost with the first convention appearance in March. We roll through about 13 conventions this year and it will exciting to see the reception firsthand and talk with the fans!

JOSH: By the way, Annie, my wife, wanted to say thank you for last year’s support to her Anne's Arbor benefit for single moms! You generously donated some concept art with Jennika and the cover of it with her and the guitar. It raised a lot for the single mom Annie selected and that helped us a lot. I was honored you did that, and we wanted to thank you!

KEVIN: Thanks! We really do love our fans. Anything we can do to help because you have given us so much love and support over the years. It means a lot to us as well and we are happy to do it.

JOSH: Speaking of fans, I wanted to mention my mother. My precious mom, and I am 40 years old and have been a fan since the turtles popped out with the cartoons and then with the comic books, passed away last December. She worked tirelessly to make sure I had all the Ninja Turtle stuff my heart desired, and I just wanted to let you know that it is really a fond memory for me. It is an emotional thing to come full circle and get to thank you in person. I wanted to honor my mom and let you know she was one of the good ones.

KEVIN: We grew up very poor and my mom was the same way. Even when we couldn't afford it, she made sure we didn't go without anything from school supplies to eating and even an occasional toy. With all the stories I've heard from fans these last 40 years, the stories never get old. I just love it! I joke in a very positive happy way when someone like yourself says, “When I was a kid, I was a big fan of turtles and had all the toys.” I then say, “Be sure to thank your parents because they are the ones that bought it all. And then apologize to your parents and thank them.” I appreciate the parents’ willingness to do that for their kids. I love you sharing that with me about your mom, that means a lot.

I sincerely hope you enjoyed the interview about how four green prepubescent turtles, skilled in the art of Ninjitsu, can bring back fond memories of my mother, who worked tirelessly as a housekeeper and made sure I was loved and fed and had all the ninja turtle toys and gear my heart desired. Thanks forever and always Mom!