It was upsetting to learn that the show that I thought of as my own in my formative years started as a joke. 25 years ago, Kevin Eastman co-created the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as a mockery of the ridiculous, over-the-top TV shows and comics of the day. Now a 47 year old father, he discussed the creation and legacy of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, as well as his current projects at his panel at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con (which he has faithfully attended since 1986).
 Eastman pleased the crowed by focusing the majority of the panel on what he’s best known for, the Ninja Turtles. This is despite the fact that he was referencing the characters that inspired so much of the audience’s apparel as the “dumbest thing we could think of”. All of his joking aside, it was inspiring to see him so proud of the characters he created long ago that have gone through so many transformations through just about every form of media. He is now busy with numerous new projects, including owning and publishing Heavy Metal Magazine.
 
Eastman is the Executive Producer of Heavy Metal’s new animated feature, War of the Worlds: Goliath. The movie is a steampunk-inspired story about a crew of soldiers fighting against an alien threat. Completely independent and set for a DVD-only release, the majority of the movie’s production was done in Malaysia. Kevin Eastman barely touched on, to the dismay of fans, the new official Heavy Metal movie, a follow up to Heavy Metal 2000 and the 1981 classic, Heavy Metal.
 
 
For an interview with Kevin Eastman, check out ComicsOnline Podcast Season 9 Episode 11.