Kevin Eastman talks turtles, Highlander, and Heavy Metal

[Raph's Girl]

Suicidegirls.com has a new interview with Kevin Eastman. In it he talks about his new movie (Highlander:The Search for Vengeance), TMNT (which he still owns and gets revenue from!), and Heavy Metal

http://suicidegirls.com/interviews/Kevin+Eastman/

The most interesting portion of the interview:

DRE: Did you say that you still own the Turtles? I thought you sold the Turtles?

KE:No. That seems to be a continuing, on-going question and it’s due to whatever Mirage is putting out. When I started working on the second Heavy Metal movie and Heavy Metal as a company started growing the Turtles were really in a sleeping period. I told Peter that I wanted to spend more time with Heavy Metal and he said, “Why don’t we do a deal where I’ll buy out your creative control?” I still retain an ownership in the property and I get checks every quarter. Why wouldn’t I, I drew the first Turtles, and I’ve been with that property for 20 some odd years. So we reached an agreement that he would take over creative control. But I still own the Turtles and I still get money and I’m grateful for that because I’ve got bills to pay. A lot of people say, “Why did you sell out on the Turtles?” I say, “First, **** you I didn’t.” They are still very much my characters and whatever is done with them, hopefully Peter pulls together the right people to put together the vision that he and I created together.

[Duke]

That is interesting. I always thought it was weird that he just decided to sell his share of the turtles to Peter. It makes much more since that he still owns his half (or at least a portion) of the property instead choosing to sell only his creative rights. I always knew he was still great to fans, I just didn't know he still owned some of the franchise. I'm glad.

[SavantiRomero]

Definetly not the way people here, or even on other forums, chats portray this, Very happy he said that. He mentions this also on his own heavy metal forums, Pick my brain, btw.

[Andrew NDB]

This just mean he gets money/royalties, not that he has anything to do with TMNT anymore. Which is too bad.

[Drtooth]

That does sound like a pretty good compromise IMO... he didn't want to work on any more of the Turtles, but he still gets revenues from it, as he was a creator. A lot of cartoonists who dealt with big companies would kill for that... especially John K.

[VaughnMichael]

Awsome thank God he finally said something about this.
It's nice to have the truth out there.
It's just a shame that things didn't happen the other way around cause it seems laird sure needs a break right now.

[Kendamu]

Well, it's not like KE can't buy his creative control back if he ever wanted it back.

[odupianist]

So tired of it? Yeah, to a point. But I still have more Turtle stories to tell, but at the same time, I’m really enjoying the more edgy stuff I get to play with, editing Heavy Metal magazine, working with the kinds of artists and the type of material that inspired me so long ago.

I like hearing that personally. I think if PL and KE could get together, even for a few issues, it would be very cool.

[Roseangelo]

Kevin rocks.

[Buslady]

kidna good but kinda sad..lookit the $#!+ Laird's doing to the guys..it's a travesty; i wonder if Kev still had some say in it, if the guys would have ended up in a crap situation.

[VaughnMichael]

Originally Posted by Buslady

kidna good but kinda sad..lookit the $#!+ Laird's doing to the guys..it's a travesty; i wonder if Kev still had some say in it, if the guys would have ended up in a crap situation.

Well I'm glad I didn't have to say it this time thanks Buslady lol

[Roseangelo]

Originally Posted by Putrescent

Well I'm glad I didn't have to say it this time thanks Buslady lol

Ditto

[VaughnMichael]

Originally Posted by Roseangelo

Ditto

hehehe maybe Peter should take a well deserved break for awhile and Let Kevin have his hand at the turtles for a bit.
I don't think anyone would complain all that much.

[ThemanthatwouldbeRaphael]

Originally Posted by Roseangelo

Ditto

....oh wait, that wasn't funny.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by Goongasnootch

Well, it's not like KE can't buy his creative control back if he ever wanted it back.

Actually it's very much like that, unless Laird willingly wants to re-sell half of the creative rights back to Eastman (which, who knows, someday he might if they ever become friendly with one another again).

[VaughnMichael]

Originally Posted by ThemanthatwouldbeRaphael

....oh wait, that wasn't funny.

Just cause it aint funny to you bub doesn't mean it's not to many others.

[Duke]

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

Actually it's very much like that, unless Laird willingly wants to re-sell half of the creative rights back to Eastman (which, who knows, someday he might if they ever become friendly with one another again).

Hmm...Honestly, I don't see Peter ever wanting to sell any back to Kevin. But that's just my feelings on the subject. I'd really like to be proven wrong.

[odupianist]

As much as I hate to say it, I know we'll probably still read it anyways, but I wouldn't be surprised if PL takes the TMNT that just is wrong. How will it be wrong, Ihave no clue, but I guess this kinda echoes what buslady said...

[Time Mistress]

Well, that's the clearest answer I've heard on the subject. Kevin does rock. It's nice to know he still gets the royalties too. That's just smart business.

Just an aside on the Highlander stuff. It's a pretty good movie. My copy arrived yesterday, so I think Kevin's influence on a 3 act story structure was definately felt. Saw a brief clip of Kev in the interviews too, boy does he look different these days, but he's aged pretty well.

[Mecha Cow]

Huh, I had no idea he was involved in the Highlander movie. Interesting.