37

And, a couple more from five.  Some splinter pages!!  I was surprised at just how much fun Splinter is to draw!

36

Like I said this was the first time I got to do some of my own layouts!  So here is a little bit of process on pages 1 and 3 of issue 5!

35

Issue 5 was a total blast, I got to split the issue with Mateus Santolouco, and I got to do my own layouts!  I missed Eastman a lot, but it was still crazy fun!  For the cover they wanted me to mirror Mateus' to fit the theme of the issue.  And here are all the stages!

34

Moving is the worst.  It slowed me down by a few days but no time to catch up like the present.  Here are a couple more pages from issue 4.  One has a very minor change and in the other revision was a little bigger.  Also, the first I should point out that the first image is the original and the second version is what went to print!

Next up issue 5!

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Here are a couple pages that were reworked before printing.  Just trying to improve the pages before they get to you!

Looking at everything I didn't realize how many pages had some sort of second pass, but that just means even more updates!

If you went to SDCC this weekend I hope you had fun, had to pass this year but I'll see you next year!!

32

It would appear that all the files for issue 3 were lost.  Really sucks, but I guess I'll just move right on into #4.  The cover for 4 was a bit of work and even went through 2 final (B/W) versions before it hit stands!

31

Just like with Issue 2 this was a piece I did for spec when I was trying to get hired.  After we worked everything out we used it for the cover of issue 3.  Still one of my favorites, I love what Ronda did with the colors for this one!

30

The schedule on TMNT was demanding, but there were a few times on each issue when I was able to take a second pass at a panel here and there.  maybe what I'll do from now on is show those.  That way there's something here you can't see anywhere else!

Here are 2 versions of page 13 from issue 2!

much cooler!

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Some pages from issue 2!

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Then on to issue 2!  there wasn't a lot of premlinary work on this one because it was actually never intended to be a cover.  This cover and the cover for 3 were part of the pitch I did to get the gig.  But everyone dug them enough that it was decided to just roll with it.  Really cool for me because the work got to be seen by everyone AND it gave me a day or two of breathing room on a tight schedule.

colors by Ronda Pattison

27

After the promotional ashcan all that was left was to do a few more pages and finish off the first issue!

26

Once all that was done we got down to business!  Thankfully they started me out a little light.  It was decided to do the first 8 pages up front to use at SDCC that year.  So I got to convince myself that I was just sort of easing into this whole thing.  Not actually true, but sometimes it's nice to tell yourself things.  These pages and the first four issues were laid out by THE Kevin Eastman.  The big VOL. 1 hardcover has ALL of them!  Here's a little bit of  the first part of issue 1!!

25

While working on that first cover I would send my thumbnails to get approved by IDW and Nickelodeon.  While I waited I needed to try and get a feel for the rest of the cast, and in some cases, like Old Hob, figure out what they would look like!  It was awesome being able to take the first crack at everyone.  There was a lot of pressure for me, but it was only recently when looking at a new issue and seeing my versions still running around did I realize what a responsibility it was.  Thankfully the book was a success and I never received a single death threat!

24

So then they offered me the job (yay!) and one of the first things we had to do was excitedly put together a first cover.  Something big, that we could use to promote the book.  We knew it was going to be a series of variants and that each turtle would get his own space.  That's just commons sense.  My first pass was less action and more candid.  But for a first issue we needed something a little more in your face!  I took another pass that was closer, but I wasn't happy so I tried again!  I was even more excited because I got to color this one too!  one of only a few I got to do from start to finish.

23

After I did that I was apparently the frontrunner and Nickelodeon was ALMOST willing to give me a shot.  But first they asked me to do something a little more fun.   We never used it for anything but we did do a version with no pizza.  Blasphemy I know, but we were just starting out!

22

So about a year ago I ran into Tom Waltz at the Long Beach Con and we were talking about how we'd like to work together on something again.  He said he had some stuff and would contact me.  A couple days later he asked me to draw him some Ninja Turtles that he could pass around the office.

and so I drew him some Ninja Turtles