TMNT Week moves on at Capes and Tights and for this part of the week, artist Bob Tkacik joins us for a conversation on his work with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Bob Tkacik is a freelance comic book artist who is currently working on finishing up his creator-owned comic book Good Boy Paws. Over the past few years, Tkacik has illustrated a number of TMNT covers including TMNT: The Last Ronin #1 and TMNT: Armageddon Game #1.
Let’s get to know a little more about the TMNT artist, Bob Tkacik!
JS: You are not only a TMNT artist, but a huge fan of the Turtles. What was your original memory of getting hooked on the heroes in a half shell?
BT: My earliest memory of the TMNT is the ’87 cartoon. I was about 4-or-5 years old and would anxiously await the morning cartoons, sitting too close to the TV, with a few figures from the show, who also needed to watch cartoons. After the first movie came out I was 1000% hooked. I realized that I liked both versions and that i really just couldn’t get enough of these characters, no matter the presentation. When I started reading the comics years later, the vastness of the TMNT universe really appealed to me and it’s been so incredible to watch it grow and develop new iterations over the years.
When you first got the chance to illustrate the Turtles professionally, what was that experience like?
Getting the chance to draw anything at all for TMNT was an absolute life-goal moment, but getting to do a cover for the biggest title in the Turtle story line, still kinda blows my mind.
Not only did you get the chance to Illustrate a cover for The Last Ronin, but more recently the Armageddon Game. The latter was along with Jim Lawson, how did this come about and what was that like?
I was at a show with Jim and we were talking about Armageddon Game, at that point he didn’t know about the story line and so I was very excitedly telling him that one of the characters he created (and just one of my favorite characters in general, Rat King) was massively integral to this plot and how cool I thought the development of that character over the years has been. I mentioned that I wanted to do a cover for that book and asked him if he would be interested in teaming up, and doing the colors.
He is one of the nicest dudes and super easy to work with too. He’s also deadly fast! I think it was a day, maybe two before he had the colors back to me and they were solid. It was definitely one of the easiest covers I’ve worked on.
While you have other professional work, some people know you for your ability to draw turtles. Is this something that your enjoy being connected to and what is the best part of being so connected to the turtles community?
To be perfectly honest, it is an honor to be known for this. I think the TMNT community is full of incredible storytellers, artists and enthusiasts, and I can genuinely say, for everyone I’ve met through this connection, I am immensely grateful. I’ve made a lot of very good friends through this work, and I couldn’t be happier.
What are you most excited for as the turtles continue? Are you hoping to do more covers?
I’m so excited for the newer generations of fans getting fresh storylines and new art, that the TMNT universe is only going to keep expanding. I am especially looking forward to The Last Ronin 2, and the continuation of four new Turtle’s storyline. I would be more than happy to contribute literally anything on the newer books, but I love doing covers because they give so much more room for artistic interpretation/expression.
You first issue of Good Boy Paws is going to print, are you excited for this to be in peoples hands?
I am very happy with the final product and I can’t wait for people to get to read it! Its been a learning process and it has undergone many alterations, but in doing all that I had time to put in lots of little easter eggs throughout so it should be pretty fun for people to read a couple times, and get them interested in the continuing story.
Thank you Bob Tkacik for chatting!
Thank you, Justin!
