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

FLASH GORDON MOVIE SCREENING WITH SAM JONES

Detroit area sci-fi fans won't want to miss out on this! In advance of his appearance at this year's Great Lakes Comic Con, Sam J. Jones who portrayed the lead character in FLASH GORDON (1980) will be participating in a special screening of the movie on Thursday, February 20 at Patridge Creek's MJR theatre in Clinton Twp. The event begins at 7 pm and should wrap up around 9:30 pm.

Sam J. Jones will introduce the movie, then after the movie there will be a brief Q and A with him. Autographs or photo-ops are not included with this movie night. Sam J. Jones will then be at the Great Lakes Comic-Con, February 21-23, 2025 for photo and autograph opportunities. The movie night does not include admission to the Great Lakes Comic-Con. Comic-Con tickets must be purchased separately.

Limited seating available for this special movie screening. Advanced ticket sales through Eventbrite only. No ticket sales are offered at the event. CLICK HERE to purchase tickets!

Included with your movie ticket: small-sized popcorn (1 free refill) and pop (1 free refill). Who else is GEEKED about the chance to watch FLASH GORDON with Flash Gordon?!

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!