Here it is, the season finale of Under the Shell and it’s a big one! Gavin Smith is the artist of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #140-144, now collected as TMNT Reborn Volume 8: Damage Done, as well as the upcoming main story with Tom Waltz in June’s Alpha One-Shot issue.
Gavin gives us a look at his process as well as hints as to what’s coming up for him in the TMNT world. And keep an eye out for Heartpiercer coming in May from Dark Horse!
Remember Issue #150 is out on April 24th! And make sure your preorders are in for all the new books, there are so many!! IDW is pulling out all the stops for the 40th anniversary!
Please enjoy this interview with the incredible Gavin Smith. It’s one of my favorites!
GateCrashers: Here at GateCrashers, we fancy ourselves to be hard hitting journalists and we start every interview with the heaviest of questions. What is your favorite sandwich?
Gavin Smith: Oh man. I’ve really been digging this Spicy Cubano at this place here in Indianapolis called Palavana Cubano. I also always dig a good Torta.
GateCrashers: How did you first come to work on TMNT?
Gavin Smith: I was finishing up an 8-issue run on Star Trek: The Mirror War, and I noticed that the Assistant Editor (shout out to Vanessa!) on the book was helping out on TMNT for a couple issues. She brought me over to do a couple of covers (an RI for 134 and a B Cover for Armageddon Game) and shortly after that I was offered a tryout for Last Ronin: The Lost Years. My tryout was my cover which they ended up using for the first issue of Lost Years, but they ended up offering me the ongoing series instead!
GateCrashers: It’s the 40th anniversary of TMNT. What is your history with the franchise as a fan? Do you have a favorite character?
Gavin Smith: I don’t remember a time in my life when I wasn’t a fan. I was 2 when the cartoon came out. I collected all of the toys (Never got my hands on a Technodrome though…), I would read the Archie TMNT issues in the grocery stores while my parents shopped, I saw the 1990 movie in theaters with my dad and older brother, it was a huge part of my life, and it’s been a job I’ve been chasing for a long time. And yes I do. I’m a big Mikey guy.
GateCrashers: Tell me about your process. I know some may find it boring but I love knowing the details of what goes into the final product.
Gavin Smith: This may be a boring answer so that’s okay. I usually do a once over on the script, then go through and rough out the whole issue at print size. Sometimes digitally, sometimes traditionally. I blow up my roughs and blue line those and print them out on regular 11×17 computer paper, do a bit of tightening up in my pencils, scan those in and blue line them and print them out on bristol board to ink. I’ll scan that in and size it to the IDW template and do some digital corrections in Photoshop with my Cintiq.
GateCrashers: Is there anything about what you do that you wish more fans knew?
Gavin Smith: Hrmm… I guess it’s that being a comic book artist as a fulltime job requires a lot of juggling. You’ve got to be able to make time for the book, but make time in your life for family, friends, your dog, mowing the lawn, cooking dinner, and sometimes you have to remember to do an interview that’s been sitting in your inbox for a week at 1 am while you’re in a hotel and you’ve got a convention in the morning.
GateCrashers: With four decades and various interpretations of the characters and world, what do you think makes TMNT so lasting and adaptable?
Gavin Smith: Not to cop out too much.. but I think the answer is in your question. The reason it is so lasting is because it’s so adaptable. In the 40 years of the franchise’s existence it’s gone through so many different variations and can run you through an emotional gauntlet. It can make you laugh, it can make you sad, it can be serious, or it can even be silly. It’s wild that something called TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES has lasted 40 years and it all started with 2 guys who were just trying to make each other laugh.
GateCrashers: If TMNT was a close friend turning 40 and they were asking for some life advice, what would you tell them?
Gavin Smith: I feel like any advice I would give them would be counterproductive to the success they’ve already achieved. I’d probably ask them for advice. Or money.
GateCrashers: Since you were announced to be taking over after the end of Armageddon Game, I’ve been a little obsessed with that choice. I think it’s brilliant to have a more realistic artist for that part of the story. For the first time, the Turtles are out in the open in the “real world” and I just loved your work. From the street scenes to the scratchy horrifying scenes with Dr Barlow. I think you perfectly complemented the story that Sophie Campbell was telling. I also love the pants. How was working on those particular issues for you?
Gavin Smith: Hahah, thank you so much! Honestly it was a blast. Couldn’t have asked for a better start to my run on interiors. It honestly just felt like a natural fit from the beginning. The pages were just pouring out of me and Sophie really had the perfect story for the way I draw. Not only that, but I had never worked with a writer who is also an artist, so I feel like Sophie and I had a nice shorthand when working together. I’ll also say the pants have been around, but Sophie throughout her run had the gang in full gis. I opted to just putting them in pants (except for Jennika.. I kept her in a gi and regular clothes at other points) which I think kept in line with what Sophie established, and was reminiscent enough of what the classic turtles look like, while being able to put my own touch on them.
GateCrashers: It was just announced that you are working with Tom Waltz on a 32-page story in TMNT Alpha, the one shot that directly leads into Jason Aaron’s upcoming relaunch featuring an all star lineup of artists. What’s it like working with Tom Waltz?
Gavin Smith: Tom rules. Not only does he write a great script, but he also formats a great script! Panel counts at the top of the page, reference embedded in the script, with continuity notes. What a dream. Also without even asking he’s been super encouraging to let me be a storyteller as far as the art goes. Adding or subtracting details in the panels that I think are necessary. Just a cool dude who I hope I can keep making comics with.
GateCrashers: The cover of the Alpha One-Shot features Old Hob and a rather terrifying creature behind him. What can you tell us about the issue?
Gavin Smith: Not much! I can tell you that Tom and I’s story has Old Hob and a rather terrifying creature in it. I can also tell you that Jason Aaron and Chris Burnham have a story in the book. I can also say that it comes out in June.
GateCrashers: You’ve also teased that you are doing a story for the upcoming TMNT anthology Black, White, and Green. Can you say anymore about that?
Gavin Smith: Oh man.. I wish I could give you something substantial here. I can tell you that my story is called “BUDDYCOUNT” and let you wildly speculate. It’s my IDW writing debut, and I get to draw it!
