Peter Laird & Mirage Studios in NH

Colin Solan · Post by **Colin Solan** » Sat Apr 23, 2005 9:00 -0700

On May 22nd, Peter Laird, co-creator of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Mirage Studios will be appearing at the Paperback Bazaar Convention in Portsmouth, NH!!

I just met Mr. Laird and his crew at another show on May 1st and they were very cool. They referred to me as "the Usagi guy" since I requested Usagi sketches from all of them.

Also appearing will be Scot Eaton (SPIDER-MAN), Sean Wang (THE TICK, RUNNERS) Christopher Golden & Tom Siegnoski (BUFFY) and Rich Woodall & Matt Talbot (JOHNNY RAYGUN)

For more info check the website: http://www.pbbz.com/convention/index.shtml

Post by **Todd Shogun** » Sat Apr 23, 2005 10:30 -0700

Awesome sketch! I first met Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman about 20 or so years ago at the SDCC back when I was a kid... haven't seen Pete since. Kev is still a regular as I understand.

Colin Solan · Post by **Colin Solan** » Sat Apr 23, 2005 13:25 -0700

I've actually run into Laird a few times over the past year but not Eastman. He was at the last Big Apple Con but I was unable to attend

Leonardo-san · Post by **Leonardo-san** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 19:32 -0700

Peter started to do some appearances again in the last year or two. But he apparently doesn't like flying? So he doesn't go to any west coast conventions, which is very sad. I haven't had a chance to meet him since 1993. It'd be great to get the chance to get say hello to him again. I've loved the work he's done with getting the new cartoon going!

Kevin is usually to be found at the Heavy Metal booth every year at San D Con, and he has a great "artobiography" he published a couple years ago of his TMNT work. I think he may still have it in print for sale. But he's still happy to sign TMNT stuff or anything he's done for Heavy Metal. And he'll usually still do some TMNT quick sketches, too.

So if you can get to the west coast for San D Con, not only are you likely to get to meet up with Kevin, but how can you pass up Stan Sakai being there, too!!!

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 5:56 -0700

Leonardo-san wrote:Peter started to do some appearances again in the last year or two. But he apparently doesn't like flying? So he doesn't go to any west coast conventions, which is very sad. I haven't had a chance to meet him since 1993. It'd be great to get the chance to get say hello to him again. I've loved the work he's done with getting the new cartoon going!

Yes, after a hiatus from cons, Peter is doing a few appearances again. Anthrocon is the farthest west he's going this year, so I'll be there to see him. He's driving to Philly from Massachusetts.

He and friends motorcycled cross country the last time he went to a San Diego Con.

Colin Solan · Post by **Colin Solan** » Sun May 01, 2005 11:46 -0700

Just got back from the Comic Show. It was very cool, I got some great Usagi sketches from Laird, Michael Dooney, Steve Lavigne and Dexter Vines. I'll upload them to my site tomorrow morning. While digging through back issues the only copy of UY I could find was a #75 signed by Stan going for $25. Damn!

**Please note I've also changed the top message to reflect that the Mirage guys will be doing another show in a few weeks

Post by **Steve Hubbell** » Mon May 02, 2005 10:57 -0700

Some very nice new pieces, I love the Peter Laird one...

Post by **Todd Shogun** » Mon May 02, 2005 13:43 -0700

Awesome idea of getting other pro's to draw Usagi!! And awesome drawings themselves! Hopefully they feel honored and not offended by being asked to draw someone elses's characters

I am curious did you have to pay for the drawings? Great job and thanks for sharing.

Colin Solan · Post by **Colin Solan** » Mon May 02, 2005 19:01 -0700

Generally artists aren't offended if you ask for someone else's character, it's pretty standard for people to sketch at a con and most folsk ask for mainstream characters. One guy yesterday wasn't down with the idea and thus didn't contribute to the Usagi page.

Most people are pretty excited to draw Usagi out of respect for both the character and Stan himself. Plus its a change of pace from the standards people ask for which are Batman, Spider-Man, Wolverine and nekkid women. The great thing about having an Usagi sketchbook is that he's popular enough so that everyone knows who he is but still has enough indie street cred that the high brow "artistes" don't turn up their noses.

Usually there's some price which varies from artist to artist. Peter Laird only charges $2 for head sketches since, in all honesty it ain't like he's hurting for cash. Some folks will do a quick head sketch for free, Walt Simonson and Jim Lee are masters at the quick head sketch, if you're willing to brave the line.

gunblade007 · Post by **gunblade007** » Tue May 03, 2005 21:57 -0700

i hadn't met peter laird but i met mr.eastman in the san diego comic con. i talk to him on heavy metal forum. but i don't read heavy metal magazine i just join to talk to kevin eastman. i got an authgraphic tmnt post card from both mr.laird and mr.eastman. i talk to some of the mirage people i e-mail them a few times to ask questions about tmnts. i bet they hated to hear from me i use to e-mail about every week. now i write to them sometimes. i live in the east cost i like it if mr.laird went to the mid ohio comic con.
-Joe:)

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Wed May 04, 2005 7:37 -0700

gunblade007 wrote:
i live in the east cost i like it if mr.laird went to the mid ohio comic con.
-Joe:)

He may not be going to the Mid Ohio-Con, but he (and I) will be at Anthrocon in Philadelphia in July. A bunch of other Mirage guys will be there as well, though they haven't yet decided who are going.

Post by **Todd Shogun** » Wed May 04, 2005 8:12 -0700

I wish I could go. But two cons in one month is really pushing it!!! I guess the ol' SDCC will have to suffice for now

One question, Stan, will Steve Gallacci be making it out to Anthrocon? If so, will he be missing out on SDCC? I know you said the reason you're going is to see Peter. Otherwise I expect you would have bowed out since it's so close to SDCC (what's up with those Furry guys anyway???)

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Wed May 04, 2005 12:10 -0700

Todd Shogun wrote:I wish I could go. But two cons in one month is really pushing it!!! I guess the ol' SDCC will have to suffice for now One question, Stan, will Steve Gallacci be making it out to Anthrocon? If so, will he be missing out on SDCC? I know you said the reason you're going is to see Peter. Otherwise I expect you would have bowed out since it's so close to SDCC (what's up with those Furry guys anyway???)

Yeah, it's pushing it for me too. I'll be getting into Philly Thursday night, and flying back to LA Sunday afternoon, and leaving for San Diego Tuesday morning. Normally I would not be going, but Peter's a good friend, and I was the go-between that contacted him on behalf of Anthrocon so I feel an obligation to be there.

Steve's been attending Anthrocon, rather than San Diego, for a few years now.

Anthrocon's a pleasant convention, much like how San Diego was at the old El Cortez Hotel--but without all the big name pros like Kirby that you can just stike up a conversation or go off to lunch with.

I'm hoping to go next year as well. It will be much earlier, and the GoH is a good friend of mine. I can't say more about it right now, though. The only snag would be that son Matthew will be graduation junior high school at about the same time.