Co-creator of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, publisher of Heavy Metal
Kevin Eastman is a comic book artist and writer best known as the co-creator the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with Peter Laird. He is also the publisher of the Heavy Metal magazine.
Eastman and Laird self-published the first issue of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in 1984. They picked the company name Mirage Studios because, Eastman said, “there wasn’t an actual studio, only kitchen tables and couches with lap boards.” By September 1985, their first issue had received three additional printings. The comic book was extremely popular. The later television show and movies cemented the Turtles as one of the most popular pop culture franchises ever.
Eastman was a long-time fine of the fantasy magazine Heavy Metal. Eastman purchased the magazine in January 1992, revitalizing it with a new editorial vision. Eastman sold the magazine in January 2014. Eastman continues to serve as publisher and investor in the magazine.
