STACK #230 December 2023

MOVIE FEATURE

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Kevin Eastman co-created the Teenage Mutant NinjaTurtles with Peter Laird in 1984, and he has witnessed dozens of adaptations and incarnations over the last 39 years. Words Glenn Cochrane T he character designs have changed throughout the years, and it seems each generation of kids knows the Ninja Turtles differently - from the pages of the original comic book to the serialised animated series, six live action movies, new comics, video games, and everything else in between. Chatting with STACK , Eastman reveals his feelings about his original Turtle designs being rejigged and sculpted differently with each new iteration. “You know, it's wonderful,” he says, before pivoting to the latest movie Mutant Mayhem . “Especially when you put it in the perspective of what they conceived and came up with. The latest designs really add some wonderful resonance to the original black and white comics. At that time, Peter and I were just figuring out how to do that,” he recalls of the early years. Of the various designs across different mediums, Eastman explains their evolutions. “Throughout the years and different versions of the Turtles, it's almost like their look was adapted to the story that was being told at that time,” he says, before confessing: “My favourite Turtle movie is the first live-action movie [1990] by Steve Barron and Jim Henson. That one captured the ‘teenage’ aspect beautifully.” Mutant Mayhem presents the rambunctious reptiles in a unique style of animation that

universes that you can create from, but more importantly bring in new characters in ways that thematically and creatively work, and fit within that foundation. And that's what's great about Superfly. You have your Rocksteady and Bebop and Ray Fillet and elements of that mutant universe from past iterations, and Superfly just fits in there like he'd never not been in there.” With Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem ‘s unanimous critical praise, the future looks bright. Jeffrey Rowe has hinted at Shredder's return, and Eastman is thrilled that his baby is in safe hands. “I could not be more happy and more comfortable, and more confident of this creative team,” he beams. “They can do whatever they want, because they've already done such a great job.”

resembles the scribbles and doodles found in most teenagers’ school textbooks. Director Jeffrey Rowe took inspiration from his own previous movie The Mitchells vs. The Machines , as well as Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse , and has received universal acclaim for his audacious take on the material. “I think they got it spectacularly right,” says Eastman. “Our early designs were less muscular, and they looked more like teenagers,” he recalls of the designs from the ‘80s. “They looked younger, with more of an organic feel to them. And I think they captured that beautifully. “My heroes Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg took all the things they love about pop culture, comic book lore, and the Turtles and, with all of their passion, put it into this movie. ”The biggest omission from Mutant Mayhem is Shredder, who was removed from the story in favour of a new character called Superfly, played by Ice Cube. The decision was made so that the story's adversary was also a mutant, and relatable to the Turtles. We asked Eastman how he felt about seeing new characters that he’d never conceived. “I love it!” he enthuses. “I love that over the many years, we've had the opportunity to create a few different Turtle

• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant

Mayhem is out now

The latest designs really add some wonderful resonance to the original black-and-white comics

46 DECEMBER 2023

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