Greg Goldstein's Comic Art Gallery

Tag: Kevin Eastman

Erik Larsen — Blasted Idiots

Original Art and The Artists

Savage Dragon #2, July 1993

We continue with our month long celebration of the “Independents” — Independent creators and projects that continue to impact the comic book medium.

Two independent creations collide in the second issue of Erik Larsen’s Savage Dragon ongoing series in 1993, as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles drop in. Literally.

The large top panel of this fun action page inspired the cover for the issue.

Larsen and TMNT creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird share much more than just a passion for all things Jack Kirby. (I would bet that at one time, no one owned more DC Kirby art than the three of them.) They tell their stories with endless energy and panache, something that is often missing from more “mainstream” titles.

Larsen made headlines recently with the announcement that he was relaunching Ant, another Image creator-owned project originally created by Mario Gully. (Larsen purchased the character in 2012, and included her in the Spawn series he wrote shortly thereafter.)

Issue #1 of the new Larsen Ant series launches next month.

Meanwhile, Savage Dragon is now one of the longest running independent creator-owned series of all time. Issue #260 hits the stands in August as well.

Back here next Tuesday (7/20) with Frank Miller. Have a good weekend.

Larsen’s August 2021 releases: Savage Dragon #260 and Ant #1.

Mark Nelson — Shades Of Godzilla

Original Art and The Artists

Godzilla #2, July 1988

Godzilla’s origin generally begins with atomic testing and radioactivity. (You can catch up on all the versions of his origin here.)

So maybe he is getting ready for a nice atomic snack on this great cover by Mark Nelson.

Nelson executed the art on Craftint specialty paper, which used a chemical process to add an amazing level of tone and depth to the art. Artists like Roy Crane, Wallace Wood and Howard Chaykin are among the many who used the paper regularly (and well) to enhance their storytelling.

The paper was readily available to artists in the mid to late 20th century and ultimately discontinued in 2009 with more commercial artists switching to digital.

I believe Kevin Eastman (TMNT) purchased a large supply when he heard the paper was being discontinued. But, like a fine vintage wine, sooner or later, the supply will run out.

A lost art — although you can replicate the effect in Photoshop, and other similar digital programs.

But, unfortunately, at that point, you don’t get a great piece of art to hold in your hands.

The original (1962) King Kong vs. Godzilla featured a somewhat sketchy version of Kong, especially noticeable in the marketing material, but as a kid, I ate it up anyway.

Kevin Eastman — In A New York Minute

Original Art and The Artists

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1, 30th Anniversary Reprint, July 2014 (SDCC)

Continuing a celebration of the TMNT 35th anniversary, with a look back at the 30th.

One Minute Later. 30 Seconds Later. 10 Seconds Later. It doesn’t really matter. If a comic book cover is a snapshot of a moment of time, the idea here was to illustrate what the characters on an iconic cover would be doing just after that moment. Kevin and I spitballed this idea for a few minutes and he ran with it. If the Turtles were ready for action on the original cover, they would be jumping into action a moment later.

They are, after all, the Turtles.

IDW offered two versions of the comic book at SDCC that year. A color version that was penciled by Kevin and inked separately by co-creator Peter Laird on a lightbox copy. (Look carefully to see some subtle but interesting differences.) The second version, more limited, is this one, featuring Kevin’s tight pencils only and printed in black and white. I might be biased, but I think it’s a beauty.

For a look at the all the versions and re-do’s of the original cover, check out this great article. Ironically it omits this specific cover, but hopefully catches all the rest.

Printed Version
Color Version, Inked by Laird
Issue #1, 1984, art by Eastman

Kevin Eastman — To Frank, With Love

Original Art and The Artists

Batman / TMNT, Unused Variant Cover, 2015

Here’s an original to help us celebrate the 80th anniversary of Batman (I know, we said we were finished with that series… but this time we mean it!) and the 35th anniversary of the Teenage Mutant Turtles, launched in 1984.

Kevin Eastman was inspired to create this Frank Miller Dark Knight Returns homage during the first DC / IDW crossover between Batman and the Teenage Mutant Turtles. No surprise, as Kevin cites Miller and Jack Kirby as inspirations for his and Peter Laird’s original TMNT. The piece wonderfully captures the grittiness and weariness of Miller’s Batman; and Michelangelo as Robin? Mad genius. Everyone at both companies loved it.

But the art was formally submitted for approval a bit late in the game — after all the retailer variants and exclusive covers for that series had been determined and solicited, so it missed series one.

Flash forward to series two and three (2017 and 2019) — and now the DC retailer variant program has been virtually eliminated, and there is no logical place for the piece to appear as a cover. Sigh.

That third series is wrapping up now, and I’m assuming there will be collection of all three in a deluxe format at some point. Maybe this piece will appear as a bonus; I think fans would love to see it, and selfishly, I would love to see a color version.

As for how TMNT came to crossover with Batman in the first place? That’s a great tale, but one for another day.

The iconic Miller image from Dark Knight Returns and… An original art gift from Frank Miller To DC EditorJulie Schwartz in honor of his 75th birthday, 1990. I love it, but not as much as Kevin’s take on his own Dynamic Duo.