TMNT Prelim Part 03 - Raphael

Don't know why that Partners in Kryme "Turtle Power" song billed Raph as the leader of the group. For me, Raph is the dog of war of the group. The Wolverine to the Turtles X-Men. That being the case I wanted to convey that ferocity. Originally I wanted to have him charging forward, but then thought that the Canucklehead of the X-books still looked fierce while standing with his claws out. But I wanted to show that this guy knew what he was doing with his sais, hence why the butt of the sai in his right hand is facing the camera instead of both bladed ends pointed forward. It's a legitamite martial arts stance as far as I have researched. As with Donny and Leo, I wanted to convey a difference in musculature. Raph's like his buddy Casey Jones in that he's more attitude and muscle than patience and wisdom,, so I made him thicker and bulkier and gave him the most badass grimace I could think of. Here the idea of giving the Turtles white pupils works in that the darkness around the eyes makes them just pop in that comic book way.