CGC Laird, Peter - Donatello TMNT (Eastman Splinter on back)

This set all started back in February of 2009 when I went to NYCC. That was the very first time I met both Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman. Both were extraordinarily friendly and it was a real pleasure meeting them. I asked Peter for a turtle headsketch on the sketch cover and TMNT alum Steve Lavigne was offering to water color the headsketches right next to him. I then took the book to Kevin Eastman and decided to ask for a Casey Jones sketch on the back. Having both TMNT co-creators sketch on one book was an awesome keepsake for me! When I went home that night, my affinity for complete sets kicked in and I decided that I wanted to make it a set with Laird doing the 4 turtles on the front and Eastman doing support characters on the back. I didn't have many chances to see these guys, so I knew this would take some time.

A friend of mine offered to get a sketch from Kevin Eastman for me at SDCC 2010. I asked him for a Splinter sketch. Thanks, Kris, for coming through and thanks to Kevin for doing it!

Fast forward to Free Comic Book Day 2013 and I FINALLY got my chance to see Peter Laird again. By this point, I had all the Eastman pieces done and my Laird Raphael from 2009 to show him. I asked him if he'd finish the set and he graciously agreed! Needless to say, I was VERY excited! Thanks so much, Peter! You really made me a very happy turtle fan!

Why pair Donnie and Splinter? I'd say that Splinter has a unique bond with each of his sons, so he doesn't go better or worse with any of the turtles. I'm a big fan of volume 1 and by the end, Donatello was injured and pretty mentally disturbed from all the violence he had just witnessed. While his brothers went back home with Casey, April, and Shadow, Donatello opted to stay with Splinter to try to regain some semblance of inner peace. While Donatello is a genius in many respects, he was still a teenager at the time and need the guidance of his father to help him pull through the rough spot they were in.