TMNT CO-CREATOR KEVIN EASTMAN VISITING DETROIT

Cowabunga! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles co-creator Kevin Eastman will be making a Detroit area appearance at the 2025 Great Lakes Comic Con. He will be participating in a panel discussion for event attendees included with the cost of admission on Sunday, February 23 as well as offering autographs and photo ops for fans for an extra charge on Saturday, February 22 and on the 23rd. Autographs are $40 or $80 for his signature with a TMNT remarque. Photos with Eastman are $20.

In the late 70’s and early 80’s, self-published “Mini Comics” became a main artistic outlet, and while soliciting illustration work from local fanzines in Northampton Massachusetts, Kevin Eastman met like minded creator Peter Laird and the partnership studio, 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 Films, and by early 1990 the TMNT’s were number one in all three categories. 

In 2020, based on an original 1987 concept by Kevin and Peter, Kevin adapted and launched The Last Ronin with longtime TMNT Writer/Co-Writer Tom Waltz. The epic tale quickly became the TMNT publishing event of the decade, both a critical success, and a New York Times Best Seller. The series continued with The Last Ronin: Lost Years in 2023 and 2024, The Last Ronin II: Re-Evolution.

The 2025 Great Lakes Comic Con is going on from Friday, February 21 through Sunday, February 23. The event is taking place at Macomb County Community College's south campus' Sports & Expo Center in Warren. Eastman will only be at the event on Saturday and Sunday.

For more information, visit greatlakescomicconvention.com

GREAT LAKES COMIC CON 2025

Be ready to march over to Macomb County Community College's South Campus for a weekend of full of comic books, cosplay and celebrities. The 2025 Great Lakes Comic Con will be taking place February 21 - 23 at the college's Sports & Expo Center in Warren, Michigan.  The event will feature more than 150 vendors and crafters, as well as artists and entertainment personalities who will greet fans, sign autographs, provide photo ops, and participate in panel presentations.

Special guests at this year's Great Lakes Comic Con include Kevin Eastman (Co-creator of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Sam Jones (Flash Gordon [1980] actor), Demolition: Ax & Smash (Three-time WWF World Tag Team Champions), Bill Morrison (former editor of MAD Magazine), Lisa Trusiani (writer for Marvel Comics' Barbie series and Kim D.M. Simmons (official photographer for Kenner Products marketing of Star Wars toys). They will be participating in panel discussions that are included with the show's price of admission and signing autographs and providing photo ops at an additional expense to attendees who wish to interact with them.

Admission costs $55 per person (Children under 10 FREE) for a weekend pass or individual day passes can be purchased for $20 (Friday), $25 (Saturday) and $25 (Sunday). CLICK HERE to purchase Great Lakes Comic Con admission tickets online. This year's event hours are Friday, February 21 (5pm to 9pm), Saturday, February 22 (10 am - 6pm) and Sunday, February 23 (10 am - 4pm). Note that Kevin Eastman will only be appearing on Saturday and Sunday,

Scheduled events for the weekend include:

• Adult Costume Contest: on Saturday, February 22nd at 3:15PM;
• Children Costume Contest: on Sunday, February 23rd at 2:00PM; 
• Gaming – hosted by i-Con Tournaments – Super Smash Bros., Mario Kart; 
• Magic the Gathering and Pokémon – open play on Friday, then tournaments on Saturday and Sunday – hosted by Game Players;
• A Dungeons and Dragons Campaign – No experience necessary! Available all three days – hosted by Game Players; 
• Face Painting by Chantel – bring the little ones, and the older ones, to have their faces painted; 
• The Balloon Sculptor – Witness the talent of Tim Thurmond the Balloon Sculptor.

For more information about this event, visit greatlakescomicconvention.com. The Macomb Community College's Sports & Expo Center is located at 14500 E. 12 Mile Road. Hope to see you there!

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES 100

After eight years of adventures, the heroes in a half shell have shown enough turtle power to reach a milestone issue in their IDW Publishing comic book series. Arriving on store shelves on this New Comic Book Day (Wednesday, December 11, 2019) is TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #100. It wraps up loose ends from a number of story arcs, ends the journey of one significant character, and opens up new directions for the future of other characters as the series moves forward into future issues. This extra-sized 50 page comic book is a must to pick up for TMNT fans and comic book collectors.

Let's flip through the covers leading up to TMNT #100:



Plus check out this cover art created by original TMNT co-creators Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman. It is the first time in decades that the two have collaborated. But this is just the beginning as it has just been announced the two will be co-collaborating on a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles story arc for IDW Publishing coming out next summer titled The Last Ronin. There is a sneak peak at the end of TMNT #100 so make sure to flip through all the way to the back page of the comic book to see it.

There is a lot going on in TMNT #100: CITY AT WAR -- THE END. Shredder has been separated from his head and Karai has replaced the deceased warrior as leader of the Foot Clan. While this is going on a Mutagen bomb has been detonated over New York City by another villain creating hundreds of new mutants. And they aren't all as friendly as the Turtles!

Master Splinter and a bunch of orphaned children are being held hostage in the Foot Clan's headquarters. The Turtles partner with an android named Bishop and his armed force of militants on a rescue mission only to be double crossed. So it is total anarchy as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles must battle through menacing mutants, Bishop's forces, and the Foot Clan in an effort to rescue Master Splinter and the orphans he is caring for. Of course Bebop and Rocksteady aren't going to miss out on this battle royal.

If that isn't enough an immortal witch has created a headless zombie Shedder as part of a magical ritual to summon a giant dragon. As a humongous dragon emerges over New York City have the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles finally met their match? Holy Chalupa! This comic book is certified turtlefied!

I'm not going to give any spoilers as everything I've mentioned has been led up to in recent issues building up to #100. So grab yourself a slice of pizza and pick up TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #100 from your local comic book shop. You can find stores carrying the issue at comicshoplocator.com. You can also purchase print and digital editions online at idwpublishing.com