TMNT '90 Producer Kim Dawson, Writer Bobby Herbeck-- Talk Turtles!

 From Scoop:

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ’90 Producer Kim Dawson, Writer Bobby Herbeck Talk Turtles 

 

In 1990, producer Kim Dawson and writer Bobby Herbeck put Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles onto the big screen. The live-action film took the No. 1 spot on its opening weekend and since then has become a beloved modern classic among comic fans and the now-grown kids who saw it in theaters in ’90 and are showing their children. As the cast and crew celebrate the 30th anniversary of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Herbeck and Dawson talked to Scoop about the movie, recounting behind the scenes events that brought the Ninja Turtles to life.
Scoop: Let’s start with how each of you got involved in this movie.
Kim Dawson (KD): In the summer of 1986, I got a call from my partner [producer] Gary Propper that he was in Detroit and had found a comic book that was the first issue of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the black and white. He was a talent manager, managing a comedian named Gallagher playing at the Fox Theatre. He got so excited when he found this comic because he felt it could be the first movie that we made. We did a lot of television projects together, but the first movie we made that could be a live-action picture. He sent me the comic and then the next day I called Mirage Studios, who had just signed a deal with Surge Licensing for treatment and then with the two of them it took us a couple of months to negotiate the deal and we finally put it together. Actually, I misspoke, it was the summer of ’87, so by the fall of ’87 we had a deal in place and that’s when I introduced the project to Bobby.
Bobby Herbeck (BH): I was working for Golden Harvest, I was writing a movie for them, they’re out of Hong Kong, they did the Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan movies. Kim told them “Bobby’s over there working with Golden Harvest, that’s a perfect fit to make the Ninja Turtles.” Which took some time to get my boss to put the dots together. He kept telling me, “Write the movie I’m paying you for and quit bugging me with the pinjin, ninjin turtles.” He gave it a different title, which someday maybe we’ll do the Pinjin Ninjin Turtles. A couple of months maybe, it was going around Hollywood.
KD: It was longer than that because by December that year we had prototype toys from Playmates, and there was a graphic novel by that point, and there was now going to be a cartoon series promoting the toy line. The toy line launched at Toy Fair in February of ’88. Bobby and I and Gary Propper went out to Hollywood and talked to everybody we knew and basically pitched our hearts out. We had the toys, we had the press kit, we had what we thought was a viable package and people weren’t buying at that point. Nobody was interested.
BH: I was literally laughed out of some pitch meetings and after one of the pitch meetings, they called my agent and said, “Who’s the guy smoking pot that came in with this turtles thing?” They thought this was just some stoner trying to sell a movie. It didn’t happen easy, but I kept going back to Tom Gray, my boss at Golden Harvest. Finally, one night we had a drink and it donned on me, he had a 12 year-old kid at home and I said, “Hey Tom…” and he said “Don’t go there.” I said, “Just one more time, you go home tonight and ask your kid about the Turtles because now they’re on TV, building an audience.” By the time I got back to Long Beach that night he’d left me a message to call him and get Kim and meet him for breakfast in the morning. We had a meeting and he was leaving the booth, he calls it he had one butt cheek off the booth when Kim reeled him back in with “You have the best martial arts guys in the world. You just put them in the costumes and dub the voices.” Then he slid back in and the ball started rolling. It took, maybe three months.
Scoop: You said it was a tough sell and I was wondering if you saw any reluctance because of Howard the Duck since that was around the same time.
BH: You are so right my dear. This was Tom Gray’s biggest fear: that it was Howard the Duck. [both laugh]
KD: And there was another comic book that had been a live-action picture called Garbage Pail Kids that had also tanked badly. Howard the Duck was obviously George Lucas, and Lucas was…I think everyone at Universal was stunned that the movie didn’t do better.
BH: And again, this wasn’t what Golden Harvest did. They did these action kick butt martial arts movies; they didn’t do kids movies. They didn’t have a clue at the beginning and I’m sure Raymond Chow, the man that owned the company was like “What are you talking about?” I don’t think he had a clue how you make that movie. As time evolved with the help of Kim and Gary Propper, rest his soul, the other producer we lost last year, really the force behind finding the book and then coming to me, and then working with Tom and putting it in his brain, really – this is how you do this movie. It just started evolving. Everything I tell people, Kim and I – it was all timing. It’s like catching a wave, our timing was perfect. Kids had only had TVs then, they didn’t have iPads and Xboxes and stuff, they got their entertainment on TV. Pong was the game.
Scoop: You mentioned that part of the pitch was getting martial arts actors and putting them in the suits, then dubbing the voices. Did you have any voice or suit actors in mind when you started?
KD: No, here’s how it went down when Golden Harvest made the deal for the rights, they sent Bobby to Massachusetts to work with Kevin [Eastman] and Peter [Laird], they were looking for the right director to do it. We focused in on Steve Barron who had been doing a lot of Michael Jackson videos, he did “Billie Jean” and a few others. I think he was the production designer/art director on Dark Crystal. He just had a real look that they liked, and I felt that would probably be to our advantage. So, when Steve came on board, he was good friends with Brian Henson and together, they convinced Jim [Henson] that the Creature Shop should be the ones to make the costumes. Brian felt that in order to do the movie properly, that the actor inside the costume had to be enough of a stuntman to do a backflip and drop through a simulated manhole cover. So, they had trampolines in the Creature Shop, so they were building suits to make those work, so it was really focused around the puppeteers and the actors that he brought together. The voice actors were an after thought later on. We didn’t replace those voices until well after the movie had been finished.
Scoop: I wanted to ask about the costumes. We’re at the 30-year mark and the costumes still look great. I was curious about the process of getting Jim Henson’s Creature Shop involved. It sounds like they put a lot of thought into mobility as well as the look.
BH: A lot.
KD: It had to be. There were actually two sets of turtle costumes: you had the stunt turtles, the guys who did all the fighting and running, that sort of stuff, then you had the talking turtles, that were the acting turtles. The acting turtles had, under their shells, extensive electronics that were the servo motors that were used to move the facial features. I think what you’re driving at, a key point of the success of the film, is between the puppeteers who used joysticks and also remote control gloves called waldos and the actor inside the suit. There had to be a rapport. Brian was very careful in casting those parts so that those guys could behave the way the characters are written, because Bobby wrote these deep characters that were all differentiated in their words and that had to manifest itself in how they behaved inside the costume with their facial features and everything. So, it was a complex dance, if you will.
Steve Barron was at the heart of it because even as they cast all these characters, he had to be thinking about how they would interact. I think it was that chemistry between the puppeteers, the actors inside the costumes, Steve Barron, and Brian, even the script supervisor, because they were all wired up – could hear one another, talk to one another. So, aside from the fact that the costumes were operating at 110 degrees of non-air conditioned studios, the sweat that built up in the costumes kind of shut them down. It kind of fried those electronics on a regular basis. It took longer to make it than it should have, probably.
Scoop: What story points or background from the comics did you want to include in the movie?
BH: That was all by design. Once Tom Gray said he was in, we were going to go for it. We flew to Northampton to meet Peter and Kevin, to convince them. My job was to convince them that Golden Harvest was the company to make the movie – which we did. I got back, not home two days and was told, “Pack up, you need to go back and sit with Peter and Kevin. They need to sign off on the story for the movie.” That was not a short and easy process, it took some time for them both. I’d do a treatment and give it to them, we’d meet a few days later and I could tell by their body language that one liked it and one didn’t. That went on for a while. I finally said one morning, “How did you guys ever get a comic book done? You can’t agree on anything.” So, they finally agreed and I came back. I’m getting to answer your question, a lot of it came from the graphic comic book, obviously, the characters and then to just delineate them a bit more on screen and some of the story points, plot points were from the comic book. I added Tatsu to the mix.
KD: You added comedy to it and rapport. The original comics are pretty anxious. It’s much darker. I think that we knew we had to make a movie that was PG-13 or PG. We couldn’t make a movie that was dark and an R. We knew that there was an audience of comic fans out there, but Tom Gray was interested in the more youthful audience, which is where New Line felt that they could bring it to the theaters and attract an audience that was kind of bifurcated. We had a youth audience in the afternoon and in the evenings and then later at night we had the cult comic book collectors.
BH: Two things here, first of all, Kim’s the one that brought this up a while ago, Tom didn’t really give two beans about the story as much as the action, because they were an action company. So, it was not always easy with him and writing it, as to what they wanted and didn’t want. Once I was assigned to it, Steve took me to London to write this – which was great to be away from Hollywood with Steve and do this. I looked at Star Wars, the first one, I wanted to count the number of battles and I wanted to see the motivation from Lucas as a writer. I realized each battle had a reason, a theme. It wasn’t just “Hey we need a battle scene here.” But that is part of a template.
So, every time in that movie when the Turtles go up against the Foot, there’s a reason for it. It’s very important in the writing that Splinter says, I’m paraphrasing this “You never start the fight, you only defend.” That was the message. I’m a message guy. I love the scene where he talks to the boys and tells them he loves them and will always be there. My friends, adults who took the kids to the movie back then, one big rugby player guy starts crying and says “Oh, man I took my son to see the movie.” And I asked “What are you crying about?” and he said “My son looked up and said, ‘Are you my friend daddy?’ and I said ‘Yes’ and he said ‘I love you daddy.’ I started crying and said, ‘I love you.’” He’s telling me “You piece of s---, you made me cry in front of my son at the movie theater.” [both laugh]
For Kim and I, this has all been wonderful for us because we’ve been kind of in this bubble. I know when I’m out in the world and someone says, “This guy wrote the Ninja Turtles movie” the reaction I get. We are just blown away by the love and devotion of the fans and how many there are. We had no idea, after all these years. And the second generation. It’s a blessing.
Scoop: What are each of your favorite parts of the movie?
BH: I have several, I like the whole thing because it was a success. I love the opening because kids are at the edge of their seats to see the Turtles like this. Seeing Raphael lifting the manhole cover and knocking the light out and you finally see his face from the cop’s bubble light and the next shot is in the sewer and you see them in silhouette. I get goosebumps every time. I think that was a brilliant thing. The beginning for me.
KD: One of my favorite parts of the movie is the farmhouse. When they go to the farmhouse and the things that happen there. The dialogue between Donny and Casey and certainly the repertoire between Casey and April, I love. The Kodak moment when Raphael wakes up and Leonardo is there is my favorite moment in the movie because it’s like what brothers would do. “Get a grip. What’s the matter with you?”
BH: Two of my favorites scenes are that Kodak moment and the one when they bring April down to the den and she’s passed out and they look at Splinter and say, “Can we keep her?” that had all kinds of connotations to me. I just love that.
Scoop: Did you have any pushback from the studio or censors regarding the fighting in the movie?
KD: It’s interesting. Particularly in certain territories around the world, there was a fair bit of pushback. Norway, I think they changed the name to Hero Turtles. I don’t think it got nearly the traction it could have or should have in Japan or Korea where martial arts are a big thing because they felt it was –
BH: A mockery.
KD: Right. Whereas the guys who played the characters, the stunt Turtles, Pat Johnson was the choreographer and he did all the Three Ninja movies, he was brilliant. He was an amazing fight choreographer. You just can’t say enough. Oddly enough, the second and third film don’t have quite as much violence in them. This was back in a time when violence wasn’t tolerated as much as in today’s world, when you compare movies where they’re blowing the crap out of stuff. There was pushback. We did get some from whatever organization in Washington, DC pushes back on kids’ violence. The truth is, when you look at it, these fights do have a message and all that. The movie’s an allegory for things that are going on in life that are much deeper and richer than a 7 or 8-year-old can understand, I think. There’s a lot of double entendre in the film and that’s all due to Bobby and [co-screenplay writer Todd Langen] and the words that they wrote and built the characters and certainly the direction. But, there was some pushback.
Scoop: The movie has built a legacy. It was No. 1 on its opening weekend, a lot of people consider it among their favorite movies, and the kids who saw it in 1990 are showing their kids now. As the movie is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, what are you feeling as you reflect back on it?
KD: Oh, how blessed we were to be involved. I swear. In life you have those moments where you can go left or right, it’s that Robert Frost poem “The Road Less Traveled” it feels like we arrived in that moment at the right time in our lives. It’s been that sort of thing. It kind of launched a whole new career for me, because I was a television producer up until that time and I’ve been able to produce films since then and I’ve made amazing relationships with people.
So, as I start to build from 30 years ago the things I’ve been able to do as a result of that particular picture, it’s a blessing. When the movie was first released, I’d moved to Orlando to produce The Mickey Mouse Club for Disney Channel. I was out of the Hollywood mix and I’ve been able to stay in Florida as a result of the film because we did three in a row. Two up in North Carolina where it was easy to get to and the third film was made out in Oregon. For me, it was just that seminal moment that broke open a new pathway in what was now a long career. I started in the mid-‘70s in the film and television business. For me, it was just that opportunity where you got to take a path that you never even anticipated. I owe that to GP, Gary Propper was my partner, like I said, he was the manager of Gallagher at the time. We made a dozen specials for Showtime and I’d done a lot of work in entertainment and sports prior to that. Once we started down the path of Turtles, it kind of gave me a new perspective of what the world was about because it was frivolous and it was lightning in a bottle. No doubt about it.
[Editor’s Note: Kim Dawson had to end his portion of the interview at this point for another engagement.]
Scoop: Bobby, do you want to comment on getting pushback from the studio or censors regarding the fighting in the movie?
BH: Like Kim said, we did get that, you always get it, but to go a step further on what Kim was saying about the Asian market, according to Tom Gray who was running the company at the time, he told me a couple of year ago – I was shocked – this movie didn’t really play in Asia at all. They didn’t want it. It played everywhere else in the world. I think he told me there was no Asian market, therefore the foreign numbers weren’t very good, box office-wise. Now, once it was a hit, they started buying into it because it became a phenomena around the world. It just brought awareness to it – this little graphic book that was in a store in Detroit. It just put it on the map and Peter and Kevin.
The other thing, when I was writing the delicate balance I always felt was not to write down to the kids on this movie and to write straight across and keep the parents in mind because you had the teenagers and then you had the younger kids. Like Kim said, there were two groups that went to the movie. I always say that part of the success of the movie is that it was written such that the parents – and I know for a fact because I’ve had parents tell me – they took the kid to see it, kind of begrudgingly, and come home and call their sister or brother or friend and say, “It was really a cute movie. It’s really good, go see it, you’ll enjoy it too.” So that helped.
In the business, they’re making big money on these movies, these tentpole movies, because people are going back to see them again. I’m not a math person, but someday I’m going to ask somebody what they think the box office would’ve been today at today’s price of a ticket, because you remember, tickets were a heck of a lot cheaper in 1990. I’d be curious what that number would’ve been today.
Tom Gray and I had made a bet. We were going to lunch the week before it opened, and he was nervous as hell. He said, “Herbs, I think we’ve got Howard the Duck on our hands.” I said, “No, we have an audience. Howard the Duck fell out of the sky. We have an audience already waiting to see this.” He said, “What do you think it’s going to do opening weekend?” I said, “My money is on $20 million-plus.” And he goes, “From your mouth to God’s ears. If that movie opens to $20 million the first weekend, Golden Harvest will buy you anything you want.” I didn’t go for the house. So, we’re in his car going to lunch in Santa Monica and Wilshire Boulevard where they cross and this beautiful black convertible two-seater Mercedes pulls up and I said, “I want one of those.” And I was about to get married to boot. And he said, “You got it Herbs. If the movie does $23, $25 million the first weekend.” To this day, 30 years later, no I never got the car.
And I say, that is typical Hollywood. They love you at the time and then…next… They didn’t let me write the sequel. I didn’t have a sequel to write. They didn’t let Judith [Hoag] come back for the sequel either to play April. That’s all Raymond Chow because he’s very tight. When you write a movie, if you write the sequel, it’s called your quote – what you got paid to write the first one, they have to up the ante on the second one. He didn’t want to do that. He didn’t let me have the sequel. I was not happy at all. I said to Tom, how can you let this happen, I’m the one that brought you the movie? He said, “Well, my hands are tied.” I did not leave with very good feelings there. Tom was very upset when we won the People’s Choice Award on national TV and Kim and I are on stage thanking everybody and Tom, to this day, has not gotten over that we didn’t thank him.
There’s just so many things to the story. We’re doing a documentary series on this whole history from the beginning of Peter and Kevin to how this movie got made and subsequently what happened during and what’s happened over the years after and the lawsuits and the this and that. The latest chapter after this is the coronavirus. We were all set, 30th anniversary. The virus couldn’t have hit on the 29th or the 31st anniversary – on the 30th the virus hits. We were supposed to do WonderCon and Comic-Con, we were supposed to do a series of autograph shows and other cons. But everything’s shut down.
But, we found a workaround with social media. We’re doing a pizza party on the 23rd of May on our YouTube channel at 8 at night Eastern, 5 Pacific. Judith, bless her, has rounded up not only the cast, but she got Steve Barron, Brian Henson, Kim and I are going to be on it. It’s just a thank you to the fans. No money involved here. This is just a thank you to everybody and our way of showing some appreciation. It’s the first time we will have all been together in all these years.
Scoop: You have the documentary and the pizza party. Are you working on anything else for the anniversary?
BH: We’re going to do a book. We just talked to Neca who had some ideas, because they think it should be a coffee table book with pictures and stuff. They’re going to join forces with us. This guy Randy [Falk] is amazing, the guy that runs that company and his partner, the guy who designs stuff, Trevor [Zammit]. I thought, “this will be a half-hour conversation [referencing a call from earlier in the day], we’ll get to Amanda in no problem.” This thing went on and on. They’re doing a whole line of 30th anniversary toys that are going to be in Walmart and Target in June. When it comes to the Turtles, they do a lot of other action figure stuff, but when it comes to the Turtles, all they are interested in are the early Turtles. Not today’s, they just want ones from our time. They think they’re the original, and I agree.
I’m not a big Michael Bay fan and what he did to the Turtles. I get asked that in a lot of interviews. Frank’s TV interviewed me last year and asked, “What do you think of the Michael Bay Turtles?” and I said, “Not much.” They didn’t change Superman and Spider-Man and Wonder Woman and how Batman looked. Maybe a subtle change, but not a change like that, to a point where there… My grandson jumped in my lap, he was 6 when he first saw the first Michael Bay one and he said “Pop-Pop, why’d you make them so scary?” I said, “I had nothing to do with it.” They are! They’re just not the sweet, fun looking little Turtles.
Scoop: One of the things I like about this movie is that April O’Neil isn’t just a damsel. Raphael does save her, but she has gumption and attitude. Was it important to you to write her that way?
BH: Absolutely. I asked [Judith] what was the hardest scene in the movie, I knew what it was, it was waking up and discovering Splinter and the Turtles and she has to scream and jump up on the couch. She said that was the scene and I said I thought that was the hardest to do. That scene I didn’t like that much, not her fault. I didn’t want her to look like some screeching little… I had a thing in my comedy act that when you look at older movies, the woman when she always fell down. How come the men don’t fall down? I fall down all the time. You see a woman running and she falls, you go “C’mon, with the falling. Stop falling.”
I wanted her to have just a little edge to her because that’s what the ‘90s was, you know. Women were raising a little hell about the glass ceiling and I thought she should not be the atypical woman that they put on the screen. She could carry her own and in real life, she is that way. She’s a tough broad. I love her. I mean it, she’s been a godsend for us, putting this thing together. I said, “You’re our superstar, you’re going to get the Oscar for this – I’m not sure what we’ll call it. Best supporting, that’s for sure.”
Scoop: Before Kim got off the phone, I asked how he’s feeling as he reflects on how popular the movie is and the fact that people who saw it in 1990 are showing their kids now. With the 30th anniversary this year, how are you feeling?
BH: I’m a weepy guy. I’m very sensitive and I cannot tell you…I’m touched. I’m almost going to cry. I’m touched by it all, I’m overwhelmed. When my wife and I go to a public function… I’ll give you a couple quick examples. I go to a wedding last year and there’s people in their 30s, mainly, at this wedding. Someone mentioned, “See the guy over there, he wrote Ninja Turtles, the movie.” So, when I’m leaving, I was stormed by about eight guys going out the door, saying, “Dude, you can’t go” and when they say “dude,” I know they know. “Dude, can we get a picture with you?”
It’s happened again and again to almost the point of embarrassment. I’ve been invited to celebrity events and I used to be a judge at the Pepperdine Songfest that the students put on every year. The first year I went, I was sitting next to Ben Stein and some other faces. Ben was introduced and he got a nice ovation and they go “Bobby Herbeck” and I’m standing up and they say, “The man who wrote the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie” and as I’m standing up – my wife will tell you – the kids jumped up and were screaming like I was Elvis. I shot back down in the seat. This was an auditorium full of kids.
At the intermission, someone came in the green room and asked, “Are you here for the second part of the show?” and I said, “Yes, I’m judging.” They said, “Oh man, you aren’t going to believe this.” There were all kinds of students putting on productions, song and dance. The second number, these four guys come out – they didn’t know I was going to be there – they come out on stage dressed as Ninja Turtles. They’re singing a number and pointing out at me. I look at Tami [his wife] and I got tears, and said, “Can you believe this?” That’s why the kids wanted to know if I was going to stay. And I was mobbed afterwards when the show was over.
I’m just saying, it’s there, it’s been there and now I’m realizing it’s bigger. When we talked to TMNT Minute podcast, I said, “So what do you think, we have several thousand fans?” And they said, “No dude, it’s in the millions.” I said, “You’re kidding me.” And that’s what the Neca guys are saying. That’s what Randy was saying today. I’m just blown away, you know? In my business… First of all, to get a hit like this and it lasts this long, and still has a gravity pull? You just can’t be more blessed than that. I’m serious. We got so lucky. I’ve tried to get another one all along the way, but lightning only strikes once. Now, George Lucas is a different cat, but we’ll take this. The second one did okay, but everybody loves the first movie. I’m blessed. And people like you, I can’t thank you enough for wanting to take your time and hear what we have to say, but beyond that being a fan. That’s why we’re doing this.

  Original Post: 

https://scoop.previewsworld.com/Home/4/1/73/1017?articleID=242751

For more information on convention appearances for Bobby Herbeck and Kim Dawson, contact their booking agent at Eva Ink Artist Group/Pros & Cons Celebrity Booking at evaink@aol.com.

Artist Spotlight-- Sam de la Rosa, VENOM Artist-- Available for Bookings!

Eva Ink Artist Group is pleased to announce the addition of renowned artist  Sam de la Rosa!

Sam's work on VENOM LETHAL PROTECTOR #'s 1-6 is the basis of the worldwide successful billion-dollar grossing VENOM MOVIE! 

Sam de la Rosa has provided finished art and inks for Marvel, DC Comics, Image, Disney and Dark Horse among others. Credits include Spider-man, Venom, Carnage, Iron Man, Captain America, Black Panther, The Avengers, Star Wars, X-Men, Power Rangers and more!

He worked on Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Star Trek, Firestorm and others from DC Comics.

For Dark Horse Comics he worked on the very first Predator comic book.

Sam's favorite work in his own words has always been Venom, Carnage, and the Symbiotes!

What a great well rounded celebrity artist to add to your event. Sam truly has it ALL!

For more information on booking Sam de la Rosa contact Renee at: evaink@aol.com 

New Talent at Eva Ink Artist Group-- Robbins, Leialoha, Clark, Watkins! Contact now for bookings

Hey Everyone-- As 2020 is about to take off, have a look at some of our new talent additions for this year.

-Renee


Jeremy Clark-- (Artist) 

Jeremy Clark is know for his stellar work on  various comic projects for multiple publishers including  IDW (TMNT), Image Comics (Prodigy) (Undiscovered Country), Zenescope Entertainment (Grimm Fairy Tales) (Hellchild) (Day of the Dead) (Escape From Monster Island), Coffin Comics (Lady Death) (La Muerta) (Hellwitch), Source Point Press (Ogre) (Franklin & Ghost) (Salvagers) (Dead End Kids) (Samurai Grandpa) (Broken Gargoyles) (Warcorns: Combat Unicorns For Hire),  Professional artist will at a bit of excitement to any show! 

Show Notes:  Jeremy is always  up for doing a panel on his career or comic art creation.  




Steve Leialoha-- (Artist)

Steve Leialoha has been an artist for Marvel, DC and others since the 70’s,
with runs on: Vertigo’s Fables, Petrefax, Warlock, Howard the Duck, Spider-Woman, the New Mutants, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and the original Star Wars adaptation. 

He has also drawn issues of Dr Strange, the Justice League, Iron Man, the X-Men, the Hulk, She-Hulk, Spider-Man, and Star Trek!  

And also as an inker on: Daredevil, GI Joe (Silent issue), Superman, Batman, Captain America, Captain Marvel, Ms Marvel, the Avengers, Power Man/ Iron-Fist, Secret Wars II, and the Fantastic Four!

Trina Robbins--(Writer/Historian)

Award-winning herstorian and writer Trina Robbins has been writing books,

comics, and graphic novels for over forty years. Her 2009 book, The

Brinkley Girls: the Best of Nell Brinkley’s Cartoons from 1913-1940

(Fantagraphics), and her 2011 book, "Tarpe Mills and Miss Fury," were

nominated for Eisner awards and Harvey awards. Her all-ages graphic

novel, Chicagoland Detective Agency: The Drained Brains Caper, first in a

6-book series, was a Junior Library Guild Selection. Her graphic novel,

"Lily Renee: Escape Artist," was awarded a gold medal from Moonbeam

Chidren’s Books and a silver medal from Sydney Taylor Jewish Library

Awards. 

Trina’s most recent book is Pretty in Ink, her final and

definitive history of women cartoonists. In 2013, Trina was voted into

the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame.

Programming Notes: Trina is available 
for panels highlighting her career as well as panels on women in comics and
the history of comics.

D. Michael Watkins-- (Artist)

D. Michael Watkins is the founder and owner of Highburn Studios. He's also the guy underneath that shiny cowboy hat you see at most cons.

Michael received his lucky break on FEMME-NOIR with Joe Staton and has since went on to work for Marvel, DC, Image, Dynamite, Dark Horse , Upper Deck, as well as his creator owned project GUARDIANS. You've seen his work on titles such as SONIC THE HEDGEHOG, TRANSFORMERS, IRON MAN, AVENGERS ASSEMBLE, PANTHA, VILLAINS SUPREME, and you can see him on film in the blockbuster movie THE DARK KNIGHT RISES.

Outside of comics, Michael is a Voice Actor with roles for Marvel and Disney voicing the characters of: Venom, Scorpion, Mole Man, and Magneto.

Michael is also an avid Martial Artist, studying Hak Dari Shon Hap Ki Do, Kenpo. and several other styles for over 30 years.


Programming Notes:  Michael is available for programming regarding his career in comics, martial arts and creating comics..

Graham Nolan Art/ Stallone & Dixon Story-- Graces New "Expendables" Graphic Novel

The Expendables Face Hell in Graphic Novel 

 

The Expendables are about to face a hellish task in a new graphic novel with story by Sylvester Stallone and Chuck Dixon, and art by Graham Nolan. The trade based on characters from the three-film action series is currently seeking backers on indiegogo.com. Perk levels start at $30 for a copy of the book and a pin-up all the way to $2,500 for variant cover art.

The Expendables are a team of highly trained, full throttle mercenaries based in New Orleans who take the riskiest jobs, often contracted by the CIA. The core team includes Barney Ross, a decorated U.S. military veteran, Lee Christmas, the knife-using second in command, the unpredictable giant Gunner Jensen, martial arts expert Yin Yang, and wrestler turned merc Toll Road.

This time their mission will really be hell. Barney Ross is wounded during a mission and wakes up in Hell. He is joined by the other Expendables and some of history’s most formidable warriors in a fight against Satan himself – and villains from thousands of years of warfare.

The graphic novel includes the 50-page main story with three side quests. In “The Bridge,” Barney finds the soul of his still-living friend Tool in Hell, “Christmas in Hell” sees Lee lured away from the team, and in “Barbarian’s Holiday,” Gunner tries to make the best of a bad situation. Art for these stories are provided by Jason Johnson (Team 7), Kelsey Shannon (Norah’s Saga), and Butch Guice (Doctor Strange).






































The graphic novel comes with a main cover by Shannon with variant covers by Billy Tucci (Shi), Richard C. Meyer (Jawbreakers), Renzo Rodriguez (Desolation Wave), and Johnson.
Those interested in backing the campaign can do so at indiegogo.com.


 For more information on booking Graham Nolan for your event, contact us at: evaink@aol.com

Eva Ink Artist Group Announces New Talent Joining the Group in 2012!--Calero, Meyers, Triano

A New Year brings exciting new updates for Eva Ink Artist Group!

In addition to setting up appearances, arranging sketches, and in some cases fielding assignments for:

Michael Golden
Mark Texeira
Rodney Ramos
Liam Sharp
Renee Witterstaetter
Joe Jusko

We have also just signed several established and wonderful talents, joining Eva Ink Artist Group this year:

Dennis Calero
Matt Triano
Ric Meyers


Eva Ink Artist Group specializes in sequential art needs (including penciling, inking, coloring and lettering) for comics and graphic novels, custom comics, script editing for comics and film, voiceovers, game design and other needs, toy design, product development, storyboards, and much more.

Our sister company, Eva Ink Publishing produces low run and collectible art books for various talent, art history retrospectives and bios, and also serves as a packager of sketchbooks for artists in all fields (inquire for details to: evaink@aol.com)

Be sure to check our soon to be updated website at: www.evainkatistgroup.com for more information on all of the above and all the possibilties therein.

Best,
Renee


Short Bios:






Dennis Calero is the award winning and internationally recognized artist of X-Men: Noir and Legion of Superheroes. He has also leant his talents to CCG Properties such as Magic andLegend of the Five Rings, as well as Dungeons & Dragons. His work includes X-Men Noir : Mark of Cain, X-Factor, 28 Days Later: The Aftermath, Cowboys and Aliens, Dark Tower, Fallen Angel, Hawkgirl, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Supergirl and the Legion of Superheroes, Magic The Gathering, Countdown to Final Crisis, Wolverine: First Class and JSA Classified. During his tenure on X-Factor the title was nominated for the Harvey Award for Best New Series (2006). Calero has also provided illustrations sporadically for role-playing games, beginning in 1996 for White Wolf. He has done interior artwork forDungeons & Dragons books for the Forgotten Realms setting, such as Silver Marches,Faiths and Pantheons, and Races of Faer?n. Calero also co-founded Atomic Paintbrush, one of the first computer-coloring companies working in the comic-book field.





Matt Triano has written and drawn comics for collections and anthologies by publishers such as Moonstone, DC and Atomic Press. He is also known for his storyboard work, motion comic work, and artwork for various ad agency projects developing custom comics for high profile clients. His art can currently be seen in works for Robin Hood Charities in New York, Moonstone (Captain Action), Zenescope (Grimm's Myths and Legends), The Discovery Channel and Marvel Trading cards (Marvel Characters), as well as a Batman story for the "DC Halloween Special."





Ric Meyers: Although declared the “Martial Art Movie Master” by Crash Cinema and “America’s leading Asian action expert” by the Boston Globe, Ric Meyers is a true media maven, having been “Special Media Consultant” for Sony, DreamWorks, Columbia, Tristar, Emperor Movie Group, and Celestial Pictures, as well as ABC, CBS, A&E, Discovery, Bravo, Nickelodeon, and Starz Encore networks. He wrote the first Incredible Hulk novel for Pocket Books, as well as Dirty Harry and Ninja Master novels for Warner Books, two science fiction novels for Questar, three horror novels for Dell Books, and the last Dungeons and Dragons novel for TSR prior to their Wizards of the West Coast buy-out, among others.

His non-fiction include award-winning books on TV detectives, science-fiction and fantasy films, exploitation films, and, of course, his famed volumes on martial art and kung fu films. In addition, he has presented films shows and seminars on breaking into the business, creative writing, living, and thinking to audiences as large as five thousand at conventions and colleges throughout the world.

He is the author of at least two dozen books of both fiction and nonfiction under variations of his name, as well as several pseudonyms, such as Dane Hartman and Wade Barker. His most successful and popular include Doomstar, Fear Itself, Murder in Halruua, TV Detectives, For One Week Only: The World of Exploitation Films, and contributions to The Destroyer, Dirty Harry, and Ninja Master paperback series. Periodicals he has contributed to such publications as Starlog, Famous Monsters of Filmland, The Armchair Detective, and DirectTV The Guide,
as well as contributing to the 60th anniversary issue of Detective Comics.



For more information on booking any of the talent above for assignments, conventions or interviews, please contact Renee at: evaink@aol.com

Gammill, Ramos and Wilson to Appear at SXSW!

South by Southwest Festival x Three (Artists) = Pop Culture Multi-Media Event

Austin--Three artists will be appearing at the South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin, Texas at the Wizard World Booth this weekend, by special arrange with Wizard and Eva Ink Artist Group.... all bringing a little taste of sequential art to the popular music/film event, that is fast becoming a multi-media mecca.

"SXSW is quickly growing to be one of the most important festivals in the US, and each year there is more growth in fanning out to include other types of entertainment," said Renee Witterstaetter of Eva Ink. "I'm really thrilled that our artists will be appearing at this years show in this promotion with the folks at Wizard World."

On hand sketching, signing books, and offering their own unique merchandise will be legendary penciler Kerry Gammill, trendsetting artist and inker Rodney Ramos (recently featured with an exclusive Buffy print at Wizard Miami), and "Hammerlocke" creator Keith Wilson.

Just to tell you a little more about these guys:

Kerry Gammill is renowned for work on such books as POWERMAN AND IRON FIST, MARVEL TEAM-UP, INDIANA JONES and the X-Men spin-off FALLEN ANGELS. His work has also been seen in FANTASTIC FOUR, UNCANNY X-MEN, STAR WARS, SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN, DEADLY FOES OF SPIDER-MAN, SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN, WONDER MAN and DOCTOR STRANGE, and at DC Comics as the regular penciler on SUPERMAN, ACTION COMICS, ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN, SUPERGIRL and two graphic novels, SUPERMAN FOR THE EARTH and SUPERMAN: UNDER A YELLOW SUN, as well as many Superman covers and trading cards. Other work for DC included TEEN TITANS, POWER-GIRL, ELVIRA'S HOUSE OF MYSTERY, HAWK AND DOVE and others.

The 1990's found Gammill also working as a conceptual artist for film, providing designs or storyboards for many sci-fi movies and TV shows including VIRUS, PHANTOMS, SPECIES II, THE OUTER LIMITS, STARGATE SG1, DREAMCATCHER, ALIEN VS. PREDATOR, TREMORS - THE SERIES, G.I.JOE: VALOR VS. VENOM and the video game AREA 51. His book, "KERRY GAMMILL'S MONSTERS AND HEROES FOR FILM AND COMICS" published by Vanguard Productions is now in it's third printing. Gammill also compiled an award-winning book on the art of legendary monster magazine cover artist Basil Gogos which was published in 2006.

Gammill recently joined the team behind Monsterverse Entertainment. Their first comic is the critically acclaimed horror anthology, BELA LUGOSI'S TALES FROM THE GRAVE, for which Gammill is editor-in-chief. Other recent works include cover illustrations for KEEP WATCHING THE SKIES (a massive book on 1950s sci-fi movies) and FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND magazine.

Rodney Ramos has been a professional penciler / inker in the comic book industry for over 15 years. He has worked at Marvel Comics, Marvel .U.K, DC Comics, Valiant, Acclaim comics, Malibu and Continuity Comics with Neal Adams. His inks have graced many titles such as SPIDER-MAN, X-MEN, IRON-MAN, PETER PARKER, BATMAN, WONDER WOMAN, and the critically acclaimed TRANSMETROPOLITAN with Warren Ellis and Darick Robertson. Recently he has worked for DC Comics on 52, COUNTDOWN, GREEN LANTERN, BATMAN, JSA, MAGOG, Vertigo's BANG TANGO and too many to name!

As a comic book illustrator and writer Keith Wilson has worked for Marvel, DC, Harris and many more. He co-created (with Tom Joyner) two comic series: HAMMERLOCKE (Science Fiction adventure) and SCARLETT (a complex tale of vampires) both published by DC Comics. As an animator, his feature film credits include SPACE JAM, QUEST FOR CAMELOT, THE KING AND I, and the television pilot for KING OF THE HILL.

During the mid 80's Keith was Assistant Art Director and Cover Editor for DC Comics, and was responsible for production and the overall look of the covers for the regularly published comic line. He's also had the privilege of working with animation legend Chuck Jones as illustrator for three trading card sets in the popular COMIC BALL series from Upper Deck that featured the Looney Tunes characters teamed with popular sports figures like Michael Jordan. Currently he's teamed with comics legend Kerry Gammill and co-editor Sam Park to create BELA LUGOSI'S TALES FROM THE GRAVE from Monsterverse Entertainment.

Come out and see these amazing creators. Rodney Ramos will be at SXSW March 11-13th, all hours of the show. Keith Wilson and Kerry Gammill will be at the show March 12-13th.

It's not too late to register for SXSW either! Just go to:

www.sxsw.com and check it out.

Once there, The Wizard World Booth, Kerry, Keith and Rodney will be located at Stands 315-317 and 414-416 in the ScreenBurn Arcade Exhibitors area.


For more information contact Eva Ink Artist Group at: www.evainkartistgroup.com

And for more information on Wizard World, their conventions and new digital magazine, visit: www.wizardworld.com

(Above: Why it's the banner of the Lone Star State, along with a genuine Texas Limo, so a saddle up and git to the show.)

Golden to Conduct FREE Storytelling Class at Wizard Atlanta!

Golden and Scott There to Make Your Holiday Shopping Easier!
:-)

Atlanta, GA-- Get out of the crowded malls with folks fighting over sweaters people are going to return anyway, and come to Wizard World Atlanta for some not-so-last minute Holiday shopping, ya'll. And while you are there, drop into Saturday's "Storytelling with Michael Golden," and hear some tips-- both for story and for art--from one of the best in the business.

Wizard World Atlanta is taking place December 4th and 5th at the Cobb Galleria Centre, 10-6 on Saturday and 10-5 on Sunday.

Headlining the guest list is artist Michael Golden, known for his stellar storytelling work in the comics industry on such books as "G.I Joe," "The Nam," "Micronauts," "Batman Family," "Avengers," and far too many to name here. Golden is also the co-creator of numerous characters including Rogue (of the X-Men), Bucky O' Hare, and Spartan X to name a few. Golden's work will shortly be seen on projects that include "Spawn 200," "Two Worlds," and a short story featuring the Rocketeer. Upcoming covers include work on the new graphic novel "Serial," as well as the cover of the children's book, "Kerry and the Scary Things."

Michael will be at Wizard Atlanta both days of the show, and will have prints and new books available for holiday shopping. Get one signed for that special person on your list! He'll also be doing a limited number of sketches at the show.

In addition, Michael will be offering a FREE class in storytelling on Saturday morning! This is a shorter version of Michael's paid course! Don't miss it! The tips that Michael has to share are for anyone interested in any type of storytelling medium.

Joining Michael at the show will be Eva Ink Studio's member Steve Scott, fresh off a popular issue of "Batman Confidential," Steve's work has been seen on numerous books including "Indiana Jones," "X-Men Forever," "Kyle XY," "Marvel Adventures Hulk," "She Hulk," "Razor," "JLA," "The Phantom," and much more. Not only that, but Steve is the only artist tapped to do any work relating to the "Batman Dark Knight" movie, and thus the only artist to draw a sequential art rendition of Heath Ledger as the Joker, in that now famous turn. Being no stranger to media-tie in's, Steve's work has also been featured on the television show, "Smallville."

Steve too will be at the convention both days, offering prints and sketchbooks to the public, as well as sketching original pieces. In addition he'll be offering original art pages for sale, including pieces from "Batman Confidential".

Writer, editor and colorist Renee Witterstaetter will also be with the guys from Eva Ink Artist Group. Renee will be signing copies of all her comics, as well as her recent books "Excess: The Art of Michael Golden," and the new children's book "Kerry and the Scary Things."

Other guests joining Michael Golden and Steve Scott at Wizard Atlanta include: Henry Winkler, Adam West, Burt Ward, Greg Horn, Mike Grell, Bill Sienkiewicz, Arthur Suydam, Joe Linsner, Tony Harris, and many more.

In short! Mall....what "mall?"

For more information on Wizard World Atlanta go to: www.wizardworld.comFor information on Eva Ink Artist Group, Michael Golden and Steve Scott, go to:www.evainkartistgroup.com


(Artwork Above: Michael Golden at the Mosely Gallery in Princess Ann, MD; Cover to "Kerry and the Scary Things," by Michael Golden with story by Renee Witterstaetter; Star Trek piece by Steve Scott.)

NYCC is Back! Golden, Texeira and Scott lead up to the Big Event with Podcast and Gallery Opening!

Hey Folks-- Don't forget all the events this week. Steve Scott's podcast talking about his new Batman issue is on Wednesday night, and we have a gallery show opening at Illustration House on Thursday night, Oct. 7th!

See you at one of the events in the Big Apple! And I know, this kitty has nothing to do with anything, but Michael photoshopped it, it's cute, and it IS in costume. :-)
--Renee


New York, NY-- Get your costumes ready! New York ComiCon is back! This next weekend, Oct. 8-10th, and the Javits Center once again fills up with everything comics and anime! Joining the artistic line-up for the show will be comics creators Michael Golden, Mark Texeira, and Steve Scott, leading up to the big event with a podcast AND a gallery opening!

Michael Golden is known for many titles in his artistic legacy, notably as being co-creator of Rogue, Bucky O'Hare, Spartan X, Marionette, Bug, and more beloved characters. His storytelling work is touted in such books as "The 'Nam," "Doctor Strange," "Avengers," "G.I. Joe," and much more. You can see his recent work on covers for Marvel Comics, and more storytelling is in the works as well, starting off with pages inked over the legendary Neal Adams in their recent Batman collaboration. Michael will be located at table G-1 in Artist Alley.

Fine art painter and storyteller Mark Texeira is known for his stunning covers on so many Marvel comics, it would be hard to name them all. Titles routinely associated with his name include "Ghost Rider," "Black Panther," "Moonknight," and much more. Recently, Mark just completed a Punisher mini-series that will hit stands soon, as well as a few other projects for the Big M. His covers have also recently appeared as frontage for Vampirella and numerous other titles. Mark will be located at table G-3 in Artist Alley.

Artist Steve Scott will be on a special podcast the Wednesday before the NYCC, Oct. 6th, of "Where Monsters Dwell." Go to wheremonstersdwell.ca to find out more, as Steve will be talking about his exciting new Batman project that should be hitting the stands just before the convention! Steve will be located at table G-4 in Artist Alley. Known for his work on "Indiana Jones," "She-Hulk," "Hulk," "JLA," and much more, you can see a preview of Steve's Batman project on newsarama at:


http://www.newsarama.com/php/multimedia/album.php?gid=2549

Writer, editor and publisher Renee Witterstaetter will be joining the guys to sign copies of her new books "Excess: The Art of Michael Golden," and "Tex: The Art of Mark Texeira," both published by Vanguard Productions. She will also have copies of her film book "Dying for Action: The Life and Films of Jackie Chan," as well as copies of her numerous comic book work to choose from, including "Spartan X." Coming up for Renee is the impending publication of her new book "Kerry and the Scary Things." Stop by Renee's table and talk to either Renee or Constance, as well to inquire about commissions from any of the fellas above. Renee will be located at table G-2 in Artist Alley.


AND, don't forget, all three artists are being honored at a gallery opening in Manhattan, and YOU are invited. Eva Ink Artist Group and Illustration House are hosting an opening for Golden, Texeira and Scott at Illustration House on Thursday night, Oct. 7th, from 6-8. The address is 110 West 25th Street.

With podcasts and gallery shows galore, what a great way to lead up to the NYCC. See you there!


For more information on the artists and commissions contact Renee at: evaink@aol.com

Golden and Jusko Interview-- The Artist's Perspective!

While on tour in France, Brussels and The Netherlands in May 2010, Joe Jusko and Michael Golden sat down for a casual conversation with reporters in Brussels, talking about their influences, their approach and life as an illustrator.

The Interview is in French, but easily translatable on line. I found it interesting to sit there and listen to both Joe and Michael talk about their ideas and how they got started in the business of being an artist. Very different ideas, from two guys who are both very successful at what they do.

Plus, they are both just darn nice guys!

Enjoy!

Here's the link:

http://www.bdtour.be/default.aspx?section=interviews&interId=111

--Renee

Happy Holidays from Eva Ink Artist Group!

Wishing all of our friends out there a season filled with PEACE!
i.e. no fighting over that last piece of fruitcake ya'll.
They'll make more. :-)
And a fantastic 2010!

Peace and Love, as Ringo would say--

From the gang at Eva Ink:

Michael Golden
Mark Texeira
Steve Scott
Renee Witterstaetter

Eva Ink Shop--Just in Time for the Holidays!

Be sure to check out the Eva Ink Products folder on our Facebook page for all your holiday shopping, for that comics lover in your life, or for yourself

There is still time for Christmas delivery on all our books, prints and DVD's, the later featuring your favorite artists such as Michael Golden, Mark Texeira, George Perez, Bill Sienkiewcz, Steve Scott, Joe Jusko... and many more!!!!

For orders, contact me, Renee at: evaink@aol.com

Check out the Eva Ink page at:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=197319153658&ref=mf

Best,
Renee

Eva Ink Artist Group
Eva Ink Publishing
evaink@aol.com

Eva Ink Publishing Group on Facebook!

Hi Folks--We've just started a new Group on Facebook for Eva Ink Publishing and Eva Ink Artist Group. This will be the go to place to find out about Eva Ink products such as sketchbooks, portfolios, comic books, prints, art books, DVD's and more! We'll also use this spot to update you on convention appearances of various artists such as Michael Golden, Mark Texeira and Steve Scott. Also, don't hesitate to use the site to inquire about commissions as well.

You can join (and leave) the Group any time you want with a click of a button. Just check out the link below. :-)

Best,

Renee

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=197319153658&ref=mf

(Above illustration is the cover of "Creator Chronicles: Michael Golden," the extensive interview and tutorial with the artist from Eva Ink and Woodcrest Productions.)