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Born in Portland, Maine in 1962 Kevin Eastman began drawing at a very young age copying children’s books and reading comics. Inspired by master storyteller Jack Kirby, and later by self publishing creators Richard Corben, Vaughn Bode, and Dave Sim, all of his early work focused more on Science Fiction influences than traditional Superhero style comics.
In 1982, while trying to sell some of his illustrations to local fanzines, he met Peter Laird in Northampton, Massachusetts and the partnership, Mirage Studios, was formed. Less than a year later in the middle of a late night drawing session, Eastman doodled a new character he dubbed a "Ninja Turtle" to make Laird laugh—several sillier sketches and a final drawing of four characters later "Eastman and Laird’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" had officially entered the universe!
Self published in May of 1984 the first issue sold out of its 3000 copies overnight and quickly became a fan favorite. Catching the eye of Merchandising Agents and Hollywood Producers, Eastman and Laird maintained full control of their creations while guiding them through Toy Licensing, TV Series adaptation, as well as Feature Film exploitation, and by 1989 the TMNT’s were number one in all three categories.
Kevin Eastman resides in San Diego with wife, Courtney (aka First Lady of the Turtles), son Shane, as well as three insane Dachshunds, and two bad kitties. |
