Wow, can't believe I haven't made a topic for this one yet... this is going back... August 23rd, 1992 Turtle Con. The only real Turtle Con to date, and I mean that as in the name of the convention was Turtle Con, the theme of the con was Ninja Turtles, the main topic was "City At War" and the booths around the convention was just stuff for Turtle fans to truly enjoy.
I remember we first heard about Turtle Con in the letter pages of Mirage Volume 1, my mother being a Turtle Fan as well, worked with me to make this a family trip. So my mom, dad, sister and brother all came for the ride to what will always be one of those memories I still can't believe happened. We were even staying in the same hotel as the convention... with a schedule hanging up in the lobby.... a one day event man do I wish it was a full three day thing.
I was in line first, sitting down there at 6am I believe... ready to just jump all around the place. Watching them set up down the hall for registration... Ninja Turtle motor cycles arrived outside... at one point we saw Kevin Eastman standing near the door and signing some stuff for the con workers. I was just in shock... I was only 14 years old at this time, and never met him.
As soon as they allowed us in, I went and got in line for Eastman and Laird's autograph, I had them sign a few things in cluding my first movie novel, telling them how I learned to read through that book. I didn't get to talk long to them, but it was great. I have this little bit on video as my dad was following with a video camera. I didn't really know who any of the other artist there were at the time, all I knew was Kevin and Peter... they were the only ones I came to meet... but I met so many more.
I wandered around after leaving them... my favorite booth I found was one with a Stunt Double Michaelangelo from TMNT 3 on display for people to have their photos with. That was right near the entrance of the con room... if you came into the room it would be the first booth to your left. Sitting at the table there was a very nice lady, name Cheryl... she'd be the one to take the money, to her left was the costume which was behind a rope so you could only get close if you paid for the photo and there was a guy there taking the photos. I spent most of my time in that room sitting there talking with Cheryl, she told me she was an extra in TMNT 2 and TMNT 3... she talked about some of the scenes she got to see filmed of TMNT 3... I shared my stories of my collections and even a picture of my home made costume with her... we made friends... and it didn't feel like she was a new friend, it was as if she was someone I've known my full life... I really liked getting to know her.
I did wander other parts of the convention, I went to two panels.. one was a Mirage panel, which I have on video... where my brother asked them where the Turtles got the money to get the pizza in TMNT 1, and they said it was found in the sewer... but their first reactions were great... I got to ask if the actors in TMNT 3 were the same from the other movies... was very disappointed to only hear that Mark Caso was returning out of the Turtles. I was shocked to hear that Michelan and Leif would not be back.
The other panel was a slide show of a Turtle Comic that was just coming out that Mark Bode did, as they showed the slides of the comic they did voices for the Turtles and all. It was a fun panel.
I went back through the autograph line again this time I got all the artist there to signed my books and got Eastman and Laird to sign a few more things. Than I learned that one of the Artist in the Archie area, Ryan Brown, got excited meeting my dad when he learned that my dad was the art director to the Ghoul Show. Ryan is from Ohio and is a big Ghoul fan. So they talked for a little bit about the Ghoul.
I remember going back and talking more with Cheryl... I did look around the rest of the dealer room... and talked to their costumed Turtles (yes they talked back there)
Heh it was funny I remember going up to Raphael and talking to him...
At first it was about Detroit... than Raph goes
"So Schools coming up huh?"
That just weirded me out... I could see Don or Leo talking about school, but this Raphael! I didn't talk long to those in the Turtle costumes, they leaned their head back so you could tell they were seeing through their teeth... they didn't sound like the Turtles they were suppose to be... and the topics were, well a bit off
I got some video and photos from this event, I'll try to dig some up to get on here to share.
Did anyone else go to Turtle Con 1992? If so, please do share your stories and photos here!
