Cowabunga Comic Con: TMNT Co-Creator Discusses Comics’ 40-Year History

San Diego, CA - Comic-Con got a hefty dose of nostalgia as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) fans gathered to celebrate the franchise's 40th anniversary. The star of the show? None other than TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman, who took attendees on a fun trip down memory lane.

Eastman, a self-proclaimed Jack Kirby enthusiast, shared how the legendary comic artist inspired the TMNT universe. "Whatever you could imagine, if you can write it, if you can create it, you can go there," Eastman said, channeling some of that Kirby spirit. He even mentioned his long-standing wish for a TMNT crossover with Kirby's Kamandi. (DC Comics, if you're listening, fans might be into this!)

Hailing from Maine, Eastman recalled his early days, sketching on a lap board in a chair because drawing tables were a bit out of his budget. A casual doodle of a Bruce Lee-inspired turtle, drawn as a joke for his buddy and co-creator Peter Laird, sparked the idea that would become TMNT. Embracing the sheer silliness of ninja turtles, they launched the first edition in May 1984 under Mirage Studios. They were so unprepared for the pop culture phenomenon they were starting, they even killed Shredder in the very first issue (talk about needing a retcon).

Eastman shared some fun tidbits from the early days, including $5 sketches at conventions of the turtles dressed as Marvel characters, the shocking origin of Shredder's look and name—inspired by a cheese grater, and that as Donatello was almost named Bernini. Just spit-ballin' here, but Bernini loving Paninis could've been a hit!

Eastman also gave a shout-out and thanked the many artists who've contributed to TMNT over the years including Jim Lawson, Stephen Murphy, and David Wise. As the comic went from simple brand to a booming business, they relied on a team to help care for and grow the story. He credited Wise for now-quintessential things like “Cowabunga dude,” the turtles’ love for pizza, and their distinct color-coded bandanas (Fun fact: TMNT was first published it was in black and white).

One of the panel's highlights was the discussion about "TMNT: The Last Ronin," a darker, future-set series centered on Michelangelo (of course). Eastman explained that after 100 issues of TMNT, he wanted to finally revisit a story that originated from a 1987 outline. The series now spans five 40-page issues (a detail important to Eastman), with a sequel, "The Last Ronin 2: ReEvolution," already in fans' hands, and a video game and live-action movie in development.

Eastman wasn't alone on stage; David Avallone joined him to talk about their new semi-autobiographical series "Drawing Blood." Originally titled "On the Shoulders of Giants," this meta comic offers a behind-the-scenes look at the comic industry, complete with a TMNT parody called "Radically Rearranged Ronin Ragdolls."

During the Q&A, Eastman fielded questions about future crossovers, revisiting times the team teamed up with Ghostbusters, Batman, and, surprisingly, Stranger Things. He also expressed hope for a possible crossover with Daredevil. When asked about his favorite TMNT villain, Eastman quickly answered: "Shredder, obviously," but he was also quick to mention how much he enjoyed the creation Krang for the 1987 animated show.

Wrapping up, Eastman blamed, err, thanked the fans and creators who've supported TMNT for four decades. Here's to 40 years of turtle power, and many more to come!