–>> Reclaimed, retired, skateboards usually around 8 x 16 1/2″ – but the uneven variables on when they were broken means some half-board canvases are going to be larger or shorter than others.
Outside of commissions, the highly-requested ..but currently limited skateboard runs from Tokka are a rare, special treat to take advantage of especially outside of the Southern Colorado area. This is also my first ever traditional representation to the public at a REAL convention outside of SDCC !! If anything check the TMNT skate decks out at the Con and let me know what you think !! !!
–>> Hey, Snapper-Keepers and Turtle Legions – happy Solar Eclipse Day, hope it ECLIPSES Tokka’s grumpy birthday. Been struggling for weeks to come up with as decent post to start this final quarter year of incredible contention off to a decent start. Especially when the final quarter of LAST year ended in such a hostile thud. And that kinda happened to everyone.
In the uncertain cloud of smoke many of us get lost in — in the “War of Words”, it’s a good time for your old snapper-pal here to take stock of the good things past & present while moving forward. I’m not good with mincing cliches, but if they are true – what can ya do ??
That being stated – 2016 wasn’t ALL bad. ’16 marked a pivotal year in many regards for the world, on a personal level – – i personally was given solace in some regards to the difficult path i’ve chosen to continue on into my 20th year in industry.
Specifically with Nickelodeon’s TMNT Animation & Vocal Talent team. Two examples included here are part of that constant distribution of my work to industry talent, writers, designers, acting talents, charity causes, ect. This has to an important aspect on perspective i’m trying top take into 2018. If you reading this can get something inspirational out of this or at least something positive internally, all the better.
The deck posted above was made specifically for Gwendoline Yeo. Many know my obsession with TMNT villain lore, and the latest FOOT CLAN addition to the animated canon is Gwendolin’s Shinigami. Likely taking slight design influence from the FOOT CLAN MYSTICS, Shini is becoming an important foil and ally to both the Teen Turtle Team and the Foot Clan itself. All good, bad, lethal humorous, lovely, and loyal to her best friend, Karai.
Details in the first and second quarters of last year about her character were rather nil at least design wise with her general look. Tho’ SHINIGAMI is an important type of spirit in Japanese culture and in religious beliefs. Also being made popular in Anime & Manga franchises like DEATH NOTE, these “gods of death” seem to have a very mysterious and antagonizing name, so i chose 1/2 and 1/2 portrait of a menacing ONI ( the famous Yokai of Japanese lore ) to face off against Raphael, as a menacing substitute to absence of design reference for the beautiful, funny but deadly Shini.
The second deck here was granted to friend & supporter Sean Astin, who is the recipient of many “TOKKA” works, even a couple to honor his legendary actress of a Mom. The great Patty Duke !!
Another TMNT comic project from the influencial & infamous A. Modeen. His non-canon TMNT, indy-comic stories, particularly this one invites back Mirage Studios talent Jim Lawson, Dan Berger & others – these hypothetical adventures are so close to the creators’ original MIRAGE canon, they become a “Hypothetical – canon” & might as well be CANON. He’s the scoop on his latest project.
From the same team that brought you the Image TMNT conclusion (Vol. 3 #24 & 25) as well as “TMNT: Odyssey” comes a brand new graphic novel. This one takes place after a couple of years after Mirage TMNT Vol. 4, with Donatello leading an excursion to the center of the universe both to save it (an unknown energy is breaking down all life on a cellular level) as well as get answers for himself, his brothers and the others in his group along the way. Answers will be had, secrets revealed and consequences will be suffered.
TOKKA may have missed the draw on this one, as when this post publishes, this Passion Project of TMNT & TICK alumn, Dave Garcia may be up & plumb out of juice. But it’s not like Dave to just up and keel over like a dead horse at a dried up waterin’ hole. I’ll keep you guys updated on further developments & potential re listings of this SCI-FI WESTERN Graphic Novel project, a decade in the making !! **Check out Dave’s site for more info & to read S.O.T.W. yourself !!
Join the Black Ghost and Old Man Coyote “the Trickster” on their perilous adventures. Learn why the Masked Man used silver bullets.
As usual, thanks for your patience !! I’m workin; best i can with my skeleton GGM crew to keep ya updated on the latest n’ greatest & BEST TMNT related news bits as my poor ol’ tiny dinosaurian typin’ tips can tap out on the keyboard !!
Ok – more later. Heysave some of that 7 day old pizza from behind the couch for me and sticka candle in it n’ wish this grizzly ol’ Snapper the Grumpiest of birthdays NEVER !! !!
“The all-ages action continues in this collection of TMNT Adventures! Collects issues #41–44 of the Archie Comics series, including “The Future Shark Trilogy” and Mighty Mutanimals #7.”
–>> .. Post SDCC2017 updates abound, the biggest update of the summer includes an important project my **terrible2z Flickr archive & ihelped contribute to in this TMNT 30th Cartoon Anniversary year !! author & TMNT Toy expert ,Jay Lawrence !! :
“The First Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Action Figure Book. A coffee table book of TMNT figures, vehicles, & accessories from 1988- 2017.”
Still a tiny bit early, but in the coming days, i shall be trying to work with Jay on a top-tier incentive to provide a custom skateboard commission or 2 that are proving to be very popular in industry & Nickelodeon & Mirage Studios alumni including the likes of Greg Cipes, Rob Paulsen,Dave Garcia, Yuki Matsuzaki, Eric Bauza, Gwendoline Yeo, Ciro Nieli, Stan Sakai, The Kevin Eastman Family, Brandon Auman, Varner Studios, Playmates Toys, Kevin Michael Richardson, Sean Astin and then some.
Quick Samples here from Tokka’s 2017 portfolio.
..more updates hopefully within the week, including further development on this project, TMNT comics & more post SDCC updates including TMNT Documentary Volume 2 highlights. LATAAHHH, SNAPPAZ !!
The ” 88 MONDO GECKO” skatedeck will be available at DAVE GARCIA’S TABLE AT IVCC ON SATURDAY .. with a handful of the absolute best skatedeck pieces from the last quarter of 2017 at special pricing exclusivly for the convention !! 
More, quick work examples from this years portfolio :
Most pieces do glow in the dark, enhanced in some shots by black lights.
