MIRAGE PUBLISHING :: Note to Tokka from Dorothy Sloan, Former Publishing Assistant at Mirage (( April 12, 1993 ))

 

MIRAGE PUBLISHING ::  Note to Tokka from Dorothy Sloan, Former Publishing Assistant at Mirage / ..letterhead logo (( April 12, 1993 ))

–>> As i set this letter up, keep in mind that i used to go by my birth-name “David”. With the exception of family and certain close individuals i usually prefer not to go by this name anymore as i have been working on legally changing my name to “Tokka”. But in 1993 i was still under my parents care, so it was different time and case.

MIRAGE PUBLISHING ::  Note to Tokka from Dorothy Sloan, Former Publishing Assistant at Mirage (( April 12, 1993 )) ** View LARGE On Black **

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Actually this letter from Dorothy Sloan, the former Publishing Assistant at Mirage Publishing during this time was correspondence sent on my behalf from a letter mailed back East by my Mother. I don’t recall the contents of that original letter nor do i recall my Ma mentioning that she had sent it initially. It may have been a surprise planned on her part. There were times my family played an active role in trying to help me obtain my goals. Maybe this was part of that. Tho’ based on this note, my ma also indicated that we would be going on a trip to Northampton, Massachusetts and the Coast inquiring about vising Mirage Studios itself. That trip would never manifest, well not right away. My Ma may have also stated about my wishes to pursue a work in industry.

Terrorpin -tokka

 

In the 1990s, early on in my career at Cartoon School – many of my own medical issues would collide with my education in the field presenting a constant need for inspiration and direction, advice and counsel as the road ahead for me would be very “Rocky” to say the least. Cliche or not, or whether Dorthy picked up on this need for a little guidance from my Mom’s words — the suggestions in the note are as relevant today as they were over two decades ago. Perhaps an aspiring young comics professional, a student just out of school, or the struggling comics pro or artist in industry may find a little bit of solace from this letter. If anyone ANYWHERE can gain some positive influence and encouragement from it..by ALL MEANS, please do !! Tokka is right there with you. While my career is slightly taking flight, it’s no where it could be.

Rat_King_and_Jim_Lawson_by_tOkKa

Thus, maybe that is the nature of any type of career in the arts field, design, comics, animation ect. But then again in 1993 i had no idea that my past experiences in industry good or bad would manifest the remarkable ways they would have. I have been actively trying to recover Dorothy’s letter for several years now and am happy to finally be able to share it with everyone digitally. On a final note, the ill-fated trip of 1993 to the East Coast to visit Mirage Studios WOULD happen near 20 years later for Tokka in 2012 and we would go to the sites of Mirage Studios and a few other places and landmarks in Northampton. The places that would make up pivotal grounds for the creation of the TMNT, their friends, enemies and stories. Especially in those important early years of the Teens’ comic book development.

~ t

 

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On to the related Notes ::

 

TOYARK ::

 

Prime1MIKEpeek2

ZeroThree-Movie-Leo-peek

Over at Figure Hobby Club, a member there got a tour of the ThreeZero studio. They were allowed to snap a bunch of photos, and they showcase a few new 1/6 scale figures.

 

Nickelodeon::

Bebop and Rocksteady Join Shredder on his Quest to Defeat the Turtles During

a Brand-New Episode of Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Premiering March 8 at 11:00a.m. (ET/PT)

Franchise-favorite villains, Bebop (J.B. Smoove) and Rocksteady (Fred Tatasciore) hit the small screen when brand-new episodes of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles return Sunday, March 8, at 11:00 a.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon.  In the action-packed episode, “The Pig and the Rhino,” Donnie finishes a new batch of retro-mutagen, in hopes of saving Karai, while the Turtles find themselves hunted by Shredder’s new vengeful henchmen, Bebop and Rocksteady. Beginning March 8, Turtle fans can watch the special hour-long premiere “Battle for New York” pre-released on Nick.com and the Nick App through March 15. The episode will premiere on Nickelodeon Sunday, March 15, at 11:00 a.m. (ET/PT).

 

Also beginning March 8, Turtle enthusiasts can participate in “TMNT Mutation Madness,” an interactive bracket-style tournament that will give fans everywhere a chance to cast their votes in four rounds of mutant match-ups counting down to the Ultimate Mutant Champion.  While Nicktoons airs mutant-driven Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles episodes, the tournament starts online with sixteen mega-mutants including: Fishface, Spider Bytez, Tiger Claw, Slash, Bebop and Rocksteady, among others competing for the title of Ultimate Mutant Champion.  As part of Nicktoons’ “Mutation Madness” each round, will reveal the brackets narrowing from 16 to 8 to 4 to 2, with the Ultimate Mutant Champion debuting March 23.  Along with casting a vote every round, fans can enter special sweepstakes for prizes and unlock exclusive content to learn more about each mutant through bios, gifs, images and videos.

 

For more TMNT action, viewers can logon to Nick.com for full episodes, quizzes and games, including “Shadow Heroes” and the recently release, “Mikey’s Day Off.” In the new game, crime has taken the night off, but that doesn’t stop Mikey from relieving his boredom by sneaking around the turtle lair to throw paper balls at his bros.

 

 

GRUNTS #1 :: “THE LESSON” – A TALE OF THE TRICERATON MARINES (( 1987 ))

GRUNTS #1 :: "THE LESSON" - A TALE OF THE TRICERATON MARINES pg.1 (( 1987 ))

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–>> In honour of Veteran’s Day & Week, i’ve uploaded from GRUNTS #1 :: “THE LESSON” – A TALE OF THE TRICERATON MARINES (( 1987 )) .. and ONLY that single, classic story from Mirage’s ’87 anthropomorphic war-anthology one-shot.

Pencils/ script / story by Peter Laird

Inks by Ryan Brown

Letters by Steve Lavigne

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One of my all-time favourite Peter Laird side-stories. ::

GRUNTS #1 :: "THE LESSON" - A TALE OF THE TRICERATON MARINES pg.1 (( 1987 )) ** For your convenience in reading, i’ve given the entire story it’s very own set on the t2z – flickr. **

During a rest break from combat in the dirty barracks within the ZOGNEB ARZAK SYSTEM the overzealous ZAD and a small band of his fellow, young Triceraton Marines are gloating about their strength & might and the weakness of their mammalian enemies.

Ol’ Sergeant Zule soon puts a stop to the brave but naive bands’ smugness with a tale about when he was young Triceraton Marine and a vicious encounter & the hard lesson learned from facing an enemy mammalian URSID.

GRUNTS #1 ::  spot ad ..art by Peter Laird  (( 1987 ))

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** GRUNTS #1

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and all related characters ©2013 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles®, including Raphael®, Michelangelo®, Leonardo®, Donatello®, and April O’Neil® are registered trademarks of Viacom International Inc.
Based on characters and comic books created by Peter A. Laird, Kevin B. Eastman.

“LEONARDO v. TERRORPIN” by Ross Campbell (( 2013 ))

"LEONARDO v. TERRORPIN" by Ross Campbell i (( 2013 ))

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approx. 10 1/2″ x 14″

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–>> Lotta’ kids wake up on Easter morning to chocolate covered bunnies, jelly bean baskets with plastic straw, glittery pastel coloured eggs, and marshmallow chicks.

And some.. well –

CASEY JONES : North by Downeast - "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" V. 2 # 5 ad   //  "TERRORPIN ARISE ! " (( 1994 ))

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..THIS EASTER MORNIN’ .. Leonardo battles it out with Steve Bissette’s monolithic TERRORPIN via
** Ross Campbell !!

~ t

"LEONARDO v. TERRORPIN" by Ross Campbell ii (( 2013 ))

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"LEONARDO v. TERRORPIN" by Ross Campbell iii (( 2013 ))

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"LEONARDO v. TERRORPIN" by Ross Campbell iv (( 2013 ))

MIRAGE PUBLISHING :: ‘MUTATIONS’ newsletter V.2 #2 (( 1994 ))

MIRAGE PUBLISHING :: 'MUTATIONS' newsletter i (( 1994 )) // postmark

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MIRAGE PUBLISHING :: 'MUTATIONS' newsletter ii (( 1994 )) //

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MIRAGE PUBLISHING :: 'MUTATIONS' newsletter iii (( 1994 )) //

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MIRAGE PUBLISHING :: 'MUTATIONS' newsletter iv (( 1994 )) //

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MIRAGE PUBLISHING :: 'MUTATIONS' newsletter v (( 1994 )) //

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Turtle Soup #4 pg.20 ..art by Thibodeaux & JACK KIRBY from the story “TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLE” by Mark Thibodeaux & Guy Romano [[ Mike v. Troll ]] (( 1992 ))

Turtle Soup #4 pg.20 ..art by Thibodeaux & JACK KIRBY from the story "TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLE" by Mark Thibodeaux & Guy Romano  [[ Mike v. Troll // INKS ]]  (( 1992 ))

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“Check out this totally AMAZING PUBLISHED 1990 Jack Kirby pinup! Jack Kirby was close friends with inker Mike Thibodeaux, and as a favor, Jack Kirby agreed to pencil 1 pinup in this 7 page story as a favor for Mike Thibodeaux! This POWERFUL Kirby FULL SPLASH PAGE featuring Donatello ( actually it’s Mikey. ~t )battling a fanged gorilla type monster is signed by Jack Kirby in the artwork and it’s also signed by the inker: Mike Thibodeaux at bottom! Don’t miss it! If you want the entire 7 page story, which has a beautiful page 1 splash and several all out action pages, it can be had for 700 more than the splash price if you want to keep this story COMPLETE! Story is penciled and inked by Mike Thibodeaux (other than this splash of course!)”

–>> ** And this legendary piece can be yours..

for $2500 !!

..special thanks to RyanBrownfor this !!

Turtle Soup #4 pg.20 ..art by Thibodeaux & JACK KIRBY from the story "TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLE" by Mark Thibodeaux & Guy Romano  [[ Mike v. Troll ]]  (( 1992 ))

From 1992’s Ninja Turtle anthology mini-series :: TURTLE SOUP book 4 ..one page of a short story featuring Michelangelo and the Last of the Viking Heroes !!

~t