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Mirage Studios is an independent American
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
 comic book
Comic book

A comic book is a magazine or book of narrative artwork and dialog and descriptive prose. The style was introduced in 1934. Despite the term, comic books do not necessarily feature humorous subject-matter; in fact, it is often serious and action-oriented....
 company founded in 1983 by Kevin Eastman
Kevin Eastman

For the Boston Celtics assistant, see Kevin Eastman Kevin Brooks Eastman is an United States American comic book artist. He is best known as the creator of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles....
 and Peter Laird
Peter Laird

Peter Alan Laird is an United States comic book artist. He is best known for co-creating Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in the fall of 1983 with Kevin Eastman....
, based in Northampton, Massachusetts
Northampton, Massachusetts

Northampton is a city in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 28,978 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Hampshire County....
 and best known for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are a fictional team of four turtle mutants, who are trained by their sensei, Splinter , in the art of Ninjutsu....
 comic book series.

History
With the success of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Eastman and Laird hired a core group of artists to help with the increasing workload. The first addition to the studio roster was Eastman's high school friend Steve Lavigne
Steve Lavigne

Steve Lavigne is an American comic book illustrator best known for his lettering and coloring on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles title for Mirage Studios....
, brought on in 1984 as a letterer
Letterer

A letterer is a member of a team of comic book creators responsible for drawing the comic book's text. The letterer crafts the comic's "display lettering": the story title lettering and other special captions and credits that usually appear on a story's first page....
.

In 1985, Eastman and Laird hired Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio

Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, the most populous county in the state. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately 60 miles west of the Pennsylvania border....
 artist Ryan Brown
Ryan Brown

Ryan Brown is a comic book artist best known for his work on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series. He is a 1980 graduate of Norwayne High School....
 to assist them as an inker
Inker

The inker is one of the two line artists in a traditional comic book, or graphic novel. After the penciler gives a drawing to the inker, the inker uses black ink, usually India ink, to produce refined black outlines over the rough pencil lines....
 for the Turtles.






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Encyclopedia


Mirage Studios is an independent American
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
 comic book
Comic book

A comic book is a magazine or book of narrative artwork and dialog and descriptive prose. The style was introduced in 1934. Despite the term, comic books do not necessarily feature humorous subject-matter; in fact, it is often serious and action-oriented....
 company founded in 1983 by Kevin Eastman
Kevin Eastman

For the Boston Celtics assistant, see Kevin Eastman Kevin Brooks Eastman is an United States American comic book artist. He is best known as the creator of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles....
 and Peter Laird
Peter Laird

Peter Alan Laird is an United States comic book artist. He is best known for co-creating Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in the fall of 1983 with Kevin Eastman....
, based in Northampton, Massachusetts
Northampton, Massachusetts

Northampton is a city in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 28,978 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Hampshire County....
 and best known for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are a fictional team of four turtle mutants, who are trained by their sensei, Splinter , in the art of Ninjutsu....
 comic book series.

History


With the success of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Eastman and Laird hired a core group of artists to help with the increasing workload. The first addition to the studio roster was Eastman's high school friend Steve Lavigne
Steve Lavigne

Steve Lavigne is an American comic book illustrator best known for his lettering and coloring on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles title for Mirage Studios....
, brought on in 1984 as a letterer
Letterer

A letterer is a member of a team of comic book creators responsible for drawing the comic book's text. The letterer crafts the comic's "display lettering": the story title lettering and other special captions and credits that usually appear on a story's first page....
.

In 1985, Eastman and Laird hired Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio

Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, the most populous county in the state. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately 60 miles west of the Pennsylvania border....
 artist Ryan Brown
Ryan Brown

Ryan Brown is a comic book artist best known for his work on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series. He is a 1980 graduate of Norwayne High School....
 to assist them as an inker
Inker

The inker is one of the two line artists in a traditional comic book, or graphic novel. After the penciler gives a drawing to the inker, the inker uses black ink, usually India ink, to produce refined black outlines over the rough pencil lines....
 for the Turtles. Brown would be the first in a long line of artists, other than Eastman and Laird, that would work on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series. In the following year, two new members were added, penciler Jim Lawson
Jim Lawson

Jim Lawson is an United States comic book artist best known for his work on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series. Lawson created the Rat King and also co-created the series Planet Racers with Peter Laird....
 from Connecticut
Connecticut

Connecticut is a U.S. state located in the New England region of the northeastern United States. The state borders New York to the west and south , Massachusetts to the north, and Rhode Island to the east....
 and New Jersey's Michael Dooney
Michael Dooney

Michael Dooney is an United States comic book artist best known for his works on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series. Dooney also created the comic book series, Gizmo in 1986 under Mirage Studios....
 who would paint a number of covers. With the addition of these four core artists along with Peter and Kevin, Mirage's Ninja Turtles output would expand over the next couple of years to include numerous Mirage Studio spin-off titles, as well as a companion comic book entitled Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

In May 1987 in comics, Mirage Studios began publishing Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, with Ryan Brown and Jim Lawson handling the writing and artwork....
.

The Mirage artists operated out of a renovated factory space in Florence, Massachusetts
Florence, Massachusetts

Florence is a village in the northwestern portion of the city of Northampton, Massachusetts, near Westhampton, Massachusetts and Williamsburg, Massachusetts in the U.S....
. This is where the bulk of the creative output was done, such as the Playmates toy designs and the Archie TMNT comic series, until Tundra Publishing took over the building.

Eastman and Laird along with Brown, Dooney, Lavigne and Lawson toured extensively over the years, making personal appearances and attending many comic book conventions in Detroit
Detroit, Michigan

Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Wayne County, Michigan. Detroit is a major port city on the Detroit River, in the Midwestern United States of the United States....
, Chicago
Chicago

Chicago is the largest city in the U.S. state of Illinois and the Midwestern United States, as well as the List of United States cities by population city in the United States with more than 2.8 million residents....
, Hawaii
Hawaii

File:Pahoehoe and Aa flows at Hawaii.jpgThe State of Hawaii is a U.S. state in the United States, located on an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of Australia....
, San Diego
San Diego, California

San Diego is the second largest city in California and the List of United States cities by population, located along the Pacific Ocean on the West Coast of the United States of the Western United States....
, Ohio
Ohio

Ohio is a Midwestern United States U.S. state of the United States. As part of the Great Lakes region , Ohio has long been a cultural and geographical crossroads in North America....
, Boston
Boston, Massachusetts

Boston is the State capital and largest city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is considered the economic and cultural center of the region, and is sometimes regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England." Boston city proper had a 2007 est...
, and Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, New Hampshire in the United States. It is the fourth-largest community in the county, with a population of 20,784 at the United States Census, 2000....
 among many others. As the TMNT went mainstream, later additions to the studio would include Eric Talbot
Eric Talbot

Eric Talbot is an United States comic book artist known for his work on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series under Mirage Studios....
 from Eastman's and Lavigne's old high school, writer Stephen Murphy
Stephen Murphy

Stephen Murphy is an American comic book writer best known for his work on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series. He revamped the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures title for Archie comics beginning with issue number five and created the characters Jagwar, Nova Posse, Snake-Eyes and Sarnath....
, and Brown's friend, Dan Berger
Dan Berger

Dan Berger is an United States comic book artist best known for his work on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series.Berger began his career working on the TMNT Adventures series published by Archie Comics and officially began working on TMNT in August 1989....
, who was brought in from Ohio to ink the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventure title from Archie Comics
Archie Comics

Archie Comics is an United States of America comic book publisher, known for its many series featuring the fictional teenager Archie Andrews , Betty Cooper, Veronica Lodge, Reggie Mantle and Jughead Jones characters by publisher/editor John L....
. With the exception of Kevin Eastman, all the original artists are still with Mirage today and contribute to the TMNT.

In 1988
1988 in comics

Events...
, Mirage Studios participated in the drafting of the Creator's Bill of Rights
Creator's Bill of Rights

In 1988 a number of comic book artists and writers began a discussion on a Creator's Bill of Rights. They hoped that by drafting such a document it would protect their rights as comic book creators and help aid against their exploitation by corporate work-for-hire practices....
 for comic book creators.

Titles


Comics published include:

  • Bade Biker & Orson Amuck by Jim Lawson
    Jim Lawson

    Jim Lawson is an United States comic book artist best known for his work on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series. Lawson created the Rat King and also co-created the series Planet Racers with Peter Laird....
  • Barabbas by Dan Vado
    Dan Vado

    Dan Vado is a comic book publisher and writer, and a fixture of the independent comics community.Vado is the owner, president, and publisher of Slave Labor Graphics....
     and Gino Atanasio
  • Bioneers by A.C. Farley
  • Commandosaurs by Peter Laird
    Peter Laird

    Peter Alan Laird is an United States comic book artist. He is best known for co-creating Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in the fall of 1983 with Kevin Eastman....
  • Dino Island by Jim Lawson
    Jim Lawson

    Jim Lawson is an United States comic book artist best known for his work on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series. Lawson created the Rat King and also co-created the series Planet Racers with Peter Laird....
  • Gizmo
    Gizmo (comic book)

    Gizmo is a black and white comic book series created by Michael Dooney and first published by Chance Enterprises, publisher of Domino Chance, and later published by Mirage Studios in May of 1986....
     by Michael Dooney
    Michael Dooney

    Michael Dooney is an United States comic book artist best known for his works on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series. Dooney also created the comic book series, Gizmo in 1986 under Mirage Studios....
  • Gobbledygook by various artists
  • Grunts by Peter Laird
    Peter Laird

    Peter Alan Laird is an United States comic book artist. He is best known for co-creating Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in the fall of 1983 with Kevin Eastman....
  • Gutwallow
    Gutwallow

    Gutwallow is a comic book series about a gingerbread man. It is written and drawn by Dan Berger and published by Mirage Studios. Dan Berger also wrote the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles....
     by Dan Berger
    Dan Berger

    Dan Berger is an United States comic book artist best known for his work on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series.Berger began his career working on the TMNT Adventures series published by Archie Comics and officially began working on TMNT in August 1989....
  • Hallowieners: Invasion of the Halloween Hot Dogs by Ryan Brown
    Ryan Brown

    Ryan Brown is a comic book artist best known for his work on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series. He is a 1980 graduate of Norwayne High School....
  • Hero Sandwich
  • Melting Pot by Kevin Eastman
    Kevin Eastman

    For the Boston Celtics assistant, see Kevin Eastman Kevin Brooks Eastman is an United States American comic book artist. He is best known as the creator of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles....
     and Eric Talbot
    Eric Talbot

    Eric Talbot is an United States comic book artist known for his work on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series under Mirage Studios....
  • Mirage Mini-Comics
  • Paleo by Jim Lawson
    Jim Lawson

    Jim Lawson is an United States comic book artist best known for his work on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series. Lawson created the Rat King and also co-created the series Planet Racers with Peter Laird....
  • Planet Racers by Peter Laird
    Peter Laird

    Peter Alan Laird is an United States comic book artist. He is best known for co-creating Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in the fall of 1983 with Kevin Eastman....
     and Jim Lawson
    Jim Lawson

    Jim Lawson is an United States comic book artist best known for his work on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series. Lawson created the Rat King and also co-created the series Planet Racers with Peter Laird....
  • Plastron Cafe by various artists
  • Prime Slime Tails
  • The Puma Blues
    The Puma Blues

    The Puma Blues was a comic book written by Stephen Murphy and drawn by Michael Zulli. It ran from October 1986 in comics to somewhere in the beginning of 1989 in comics, stretching over 23 regular issues and a single "half-issue" minicomic....
     by Stephen Murphy
    Stephen Murphy

    Stephen Murphy is an American comic book writer best known for his work on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series. He revamped the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures title for Archie comics beginning with issue number five and created the characters Jagwar, Nova Posse, Snake-Eyes and Sarnath....
     and Michael Zulli
    Michael Zulli

    Michael Zulli is an United States comic book artist best known for his work on The Sandman with writer Neil Gaiman. His work is characterised by detailed realism, a delicate, painterly touch, and a hint of the Pre-Raphaelites....
  • Rockola by Ryan Brown
    Ryan Brown

    Ryan Brown is a comic book artist best known for his work on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series. He is a 1980 graduate of Norwayne High School....
  • Stupid Heroes by Peter Laird
    Peter Laird

    Peter Alan Laird is an United States comic book artist. He is best known for co-creating Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in the fall of 1983 with Kevin Eastman....
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
    Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

    The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are a fictional team of four turtle mutants, who are trained by their sensei, Splinter , in the art of Ninjutsu....
     and related titles by Kevin Eastman
    Kevin Eastman

    For the Boston Celtics assistant, see Kevin Eastman Kevin Brooks Eastman is an United States American comic book artist. He is best known as the creator of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles....
     and Peter Laird
    Peter Laird

    Peter Alan Laird is an United States comic book artist. He is best known for co-creating Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in the fall of 1983 with Kevin Eastman....
  • Usagi Yojimbo
    Usagi Yojimbo

    is a comic book series created by Stan Sakai in 1984.Set primarily at the beginning of Edo period Japan , with anthropomorphism animals replacing humans, it features a rabbit ronin, Miyamoto Usagi, who is partially based on the famous swordsman Miyamoto Musashi....
     (volume 2)     and related titles
  • Wild West C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa
    Wild West C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa

    Wild West C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa is an United States animated television series for children created by comic book artist Ryan Brown, artist for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics....
     by Ryan Brown
  • Xenotech by Michael Dooney
    Michael Dooney

    Michael Dooney is an United States comic book artist best known for his works on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series. Dooney also created the comic book series, Gizmo in 1986 under Mirage Studios....


NOTE: Mirage Studios have produced a lot of titles, although most were not successful enough to remain in publication for more than a few issues.

External links

  • - Official Site