We are proud to announce another guest star for a TMNT related live discussion. Please join us on Friday May 19th @ 6:00 PM EST to chat with Sophie and interact with other fans. She is an inspiring artist and has lots of knowledge for curious minds. All comments appear in real-time on this page.
Sophie Campbell is a comic writer and artist for many different titles, one of which is the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IDW comic series. Her comic portrayal of the ninja turtles really shows them as young teenagers. Campbell has worked with both IDW and Mirage Comics, she currently has a web comic titled Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Secrets of the Ooze. It has been in the works for three years. An interesting female ninja turtle is introduced in this iteration!
208 comments
I love so much that you’re featuring a female comic book artist! Especially in a relatively male dominant genre, both comic books, but also the title… I know several women in the comic book industry, and while some of them are involved in the production of more feminine titles, not all of them are. My daughter loves TMNT as much as I do. And while she’s only almost 7, she’s mentioned before that she wants to draw turtles for a job, but ‘because she’s a girl’ she probably won’t be able to… It’s nice to be able to share with her that there are women on the TMNT squad, and that if she continues to practice drawing, she could eventually be another female artist for the TMNT franchise. 🙂
Eva, we are crossing our fingers for your daughter to follow her passion. People like Sophie are truly inspiring for future artists. We hope to see you in the discussion later today.
Sophie Campbell is an example in many ways, as an artist and as a person who went through such drastic changes towards society.
AW FRICK!!!! I WONT BE ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THIS ONE!!!! Ah well, keep it up guys!!!! the fact that you guys are able to put these on fairly often is amazing!!!!! I can’t wait to see who else is featured!!! Sorry I can’t make it to this one but I will make it to every one i can in the future!!!!
We hope to catch you next time dude!
thanks bro! I’ll do my best!
And how do to participate?
Soon Sophie will be live on here. You are in the right place.
Thanks, man. Its the first time that I go into a forum of this kind. Be “redneck” causes some problems to adaptation.
I’m here!
Hiii! 😀
Welcome!!
Hey Sophie! Thanks for joining us.
A lot of people think it’s easy to make a comic book, but the reality is that it can be very difficult. How much time do you usually spend working on your part of any given project?
It depends on how long the project is, I can usually do 1-2 pages per day so I measure the duration that way.
Yay!!!!
woohoo!
Can you tell us anything about the upcoming Koya story?
It’s soooo goood! I’m working on the second issue now. Koya is all messed up after Leo cut her wings off back in issue #50, so she’s trying to figure out how to deal with not being able to fly anymore. She’s really on edge, more so than usual, and is kind of flipping out all the time and really self-loathing because her whole identity is gone.
Sounds like some good character development. You’re writing and doing the art?
I’m kinda co-writing with Erik Burnham doing the scripts, but I’m writing and drawing the backup stories in each issue which focus entirely on Koya.
That sounds amazing! Looking forward to it!
ZAN ZAN
Would you want to illustrate another major IDW Bebop & Rocksteady story? You draw the most adorbs versions of them.
I totally agree. Bebop and Rocksteady need a little more love.
Aw thanks! 😀 Yeah I’d love to draw them again, they’re super fun. I’d want to do better with Bebop, though, he’s hard to draw.
TMNTbox is showing some love to Bebop and Rocksteady in June 😉
I’m a frustrated the drawing enthusiast I promise more than decade devote myself more … time passes … What’s your advice for those who still have that enthusiasm?
I’m not exactly sure what you mean, do you mean promising more work than you’re able to do? Or taking on too much work?
Sorry, my English is bad and rely on translators. But I mean really who is wanting to start in this area of work
I think I get it! I used to have that kind of enthusiasm, and I think the best thing to do is take full advantage of it and really buckle down and WORK! Comics takes a lot of time and attention and practice, so best to get started as soon as you can, draw your own comics in your free time and go from there.
Are you in favor of digital distribution for comics, or would you rather they remained physical?
I’m totally for digital! I think both digital and physical are good, they can co-exist.
Digital seems great for those people that don’t have a nearby shop!
Yeah! And people who only live close to shops that are creepy.
Ah good point!
Favorite Turtle?
Usually Raph but sometimes Leo! It depends on the version.
Going off that… do you have a favorite verse?
That’s a tough one. Probably Mirage but I also really love the first 2 live-action movies, and IDW of course, aaaaaaaaaaaaaand I actually really really love Out of the Shadows. 😉 But I’ll say Mirage!
I know you did some Mirage TMNT illustration work back in the day. Do you have a favorite Mirage TMNT story?
I love the first 11 issues with all my heart, and a lot of the short stories like New York Ninja and Survival Game. I also really like the Michael Zulli issues, Sons of the Silent Age, and The River.
When did you first know that this was something you wanted to do for a living?
In college. I used to draw comics as a kid but I lost interest when I got older, then I started doing comics stuff again in college but didn’t get serious about it until senior year, believe it or not!
I’m a TMNT-nerd and I absolutely adore your art style. <3 It's very inspiring. My question is: Have you watched any of the TMNT 2012-version? If yes, what are your thoughts? (This version has by far my favorite Splinter)
Thank you!! 🙂 I’ve seen the first season and half of the second season, and a couple episodes here and there since then. I really loved it at first but I felt like the show’s worst tendencies became more and more frequent as it went on, like how it treated April and Karai, and I just lost interest and got frustrated with it. I guess I accepted that I’m not the target audience for it. I love the Turtle designs though! And Leatherhead!
Who is your favorite character to draw?
Pepperoni!!! ;D
If you could make any significant change to the TMNT, what would it be?
A female Turtle and more queer characters.
Venus? XD
Venus, sure! She’d need an overhaul though. But I’d probably put my OC Artemisia in there. 😉
More LGBT characters would be awesome.
I agree! That would be great!
What was your experience participating in the “She Changed Comics” anthology?
Oh god I can’t even remember what I did for that!! O_O
I think you did an interview
I have no memory of it, haha. I’m awful!! I’m sorry!
Just wanted to say I think you’re the best 🙂
We agree!!
You nerd!!! 😉 <3
Love you too 😀
Ok, here’s a few questions:
1. Did you have any TMNT stories you wanted to write during the Mirage era?
2. Thoughts on the Image and Dreamwave TMNT series?
3. Other than TMNT, which characters do you love to draw (that aren’t your own creations)?
4. What do you absolutely HATE drawing; I think you once mentioned in an interview you hated having to draw cars, is that still the case?
5. What’s Rambo up to RIGHT NOW?
1. I had a Shadow Jones story I wanted to do but it never happened. 🙁
2. I’ve never read Dreamwave and only a handful of Image issues, but I wasn’t crazy about them, everything about them was ugly.
3. Gamera!!!
4. Cars, yeah, also bicycles, ferris wheels, motorcycles, guns, hands, and Splinter.
5. Sleeping on a pile of packing paper. 😀
Splinter? Really? lol
I can never figure him out!!
Erik Burnham is live now. You should join
http://www.teenagemutantninjaturtles.com/2017/06/07/live-discussion-comic-writer-erik-burnham/
Why do you think this franchise has had so much staying power?
It’s just a super cool interesting idea, the character designs are awesome and appealing, and the Turtles themselves have really great archetype sort of personalities, everyone will relate to one of them.
How did it happen to start draw TMNT?
I emailed Steve Murphy at Mirage many years ago and got to do some covers for them, then when IDW got the license years later I was vocal about it on Twitter and caught their attention. 😉
Bad Moon Rising, right? Or did you do earlier cover art than that?
Bad Moon Rising, yep! 🙂
We saw a big upswing in TMNT popularity with the 2k12 show and the movies. How do you think we can keep that alive during times when the Turtles are not getting media coverage?
Who is your biggest influence as an artist?
Do you think there’s a chance to see someday an approved printed edition of your “Secrets of the ooze”? Are you interested in doing so in general or do you want the story to remain a web-comic without any pressure, posting whenever you want?
My editor and I have chatted about the possibility a few times, but I’m really wary about that because I wouldn’t want to have to submit the story and every page for approval every time I do something, and I can only imagine it getting destroyed by studio notes. But you never know, right?? Maybe one day if I can work out a good arrangement and Nickelodeon/IDW is actually interested for real.
Understandable.. but maybe being an “alternative universe” they can give you total liberty? (I’m being super optimistic here, I know haha)
And then we could do a Regular Turtles/SOTO Turtles team-up.
YES!! Crossovers!! The animated one are awesome! It would be so cool to do the same with the comics
What are your general thoughts about female and queer artists/writers in comics?
They are awesome and they are the future of comics!!
Do you think the TMNT will be around for many years to come?
Definitely! Every time I think it’s petered out, it comes back.
It is a delicate question, sorry before all….but taking into account your own personal experience, what would you do in TMNT to reach the public still “intolerant”? What message would you like to spend in order to raise awareness?
Hmmm I think having more queer characters is a good step, and having more women and people of color working on TMNT. I don’t think TMNT needs a particular “message” but more diversity in the franchise and behind the scenes would be great for how the franchise presents itself.
I’m intrigued by your April in Secrets of the Ooze with her diverse ethnic background. Have you ever thought of an ideal voice actress (or live actress) to play her, even if it were only ever just in your imagination?
That’s a good question, I’ve thought about voice actors for all the characters too, especially Alopex and Artemisia, but I never found anyone that I absolutely loved for any of them. 🙁
Favorite pizza topping?
I’m boring, I like plain old cheese pizza. 😉 I also like pepperoni and onions but I usually go for just cheese.
Where is your favorite pizza from?
Wegmans pizza!!! I don’t know where you live but Wegmans is a chain of supermarkets and they have the best pizzas.
Who is your favorite villain from the franchise?
Koya!!! >:D
What is your favorite tmnt movie?
I always used to say the 1990 movie hands-down but I really love the 2016 movie. I’M NOT ASHAMED.
Ok, now you have to tell us why!
I didn’t like the first one at all and I went into the sequel prepared to hate it and rip it to shreds, but I ended up LOVING IT. It’s sooooo fun and funny and all the writing for the Turtles is spot-on, and it’s the only movie that gives each of them equal screentime. It’s not like “Raph and those other guys” like a lot of the movies are. The sequel took everything terrible from the first one and fixed it (except for the dumb April in a schoolgirl outfit scene but you can’t win ’em all, haha).
So true. I’ve always said Raph is the Wolverine of the turtles and even though I love the 90s movies, it was definitely like that. I loved the mini-arcs for each turtle in the 2016 movie. But yeah, April school girl outfit… ugh
I usually skip past that scene when I watch the movie.
Same -.-
I like that movie a lot too. It’s really funny 🙂
If you had the chance to share one on one time with any of the Turtles, who would it be and why?
Favorite tmnt show and why?
A) ’87 series
B) ’03 series
C) ’12 series
Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmm I actually don’t love any of the shows but I’ll say 2012 because it has the best character designs!
I totally respect that answer. The 2012 series gets really deep and the character designs are fun.
Do you have a personal collection of TMNT memorabilia?
I have a lot of comics but I don’t have many toys or merch or anything like that. I have a few custom figures that a fan made for me, the four Turtles, Koya, and Pepperoni. I also have TMNT pajamas, haha. I don’t like a lot of the toys they do, but I wish I could get the super expensive Threezero ones of the 2016 Turtles!!
Other than TMNT, what do you like to draw?
Mostly my own characters from my comics Wet Moon and Shadoweyes. I also love drawing Gamera and kaiju stuff, and Tifa Lockhart from Final Fantasy 7.
Do you have a favorite quote from tmnt?
A little TOO Raph.
i love that lol
Outside of tmnt…. Do you have a favorite movie or tv show?
My favorite movie is Alien and my favorite show is Grey’s Anatomy.
You have a way to draw very characteristic, where delicate-looking characters blend into scenes with a lot of action and violence. It’s always been like that or was it something you were developing with the time?
Definitely something I developed over time the more and more I drew and practiced, and the older I got. For me art style is sort of something you keep building on top of.
Have you ever met Kevin Eastman or Peter Laird?
Yeah! I met Kevin at a show a few years ago, and I met Peter at New York Comic Con one year but it was awkward and I kinda lost my cool and ran away.
I hear Peter Laird is not good with people. It’s totally okay. Sorry it didn’t go well in person.
It was around the time when I was doing the Raphael covers for Mirage, so I thought I had the perfect thing to strike up a conversation with Peter about, but it turned out he didn’t even know what Bad Moon Rising was! He wasn’t even involved with that stuff at that point, despite being the publisher. It wasn’t that long before the Viacom sale so I think he was just checked out.
That’s too bad
How many hours would you say you spend creating art each day?
Anywhere between 6-10 hours, I’d say.
Any characters from the shows or other series you’d like to see in the current IDW series?
One of my favorite villains is Bloodsucker from the Mirage story The River, but the author still owns that story so the character is off-limits. But I think he’d be super cool, I always liked how loathsome he was. Also I’m still waiting for Lord Simultaneous to show up in IDW!
How did you think the 2K12 season 3 episode “Within the Woods” compared to The River? Their plots were eerily similar, except with the Creep instead of Bloodsucker.
I haven’t seen that one actually!
It even has the same plot point where Raphael gets his mutagen sucked out and his mutation alters because of it.
Oh wow, no way! Does he de-mutate into a regular turtle??
Well, he [SPOILER]. I’m going to say it’s not a completely identical story and, for better or for worse, it takes some different turns than The River did. But it still involves Raph finally turning back to normal after restoring his mutagen.
The episode’s mutant still comes from a river though.
And puke… 😉
Well, someone puked on a river bank and it seeped into the ground.
Within the franchise, what’s your favorite character? Not counting the turtles
Either Raph or Leo but also Pepperoni. 😉
Have you ever turned down offers to work with major companies or artists? I know some people prefer staying away from mainstream.
Yeah for sure! I’ve turned down stuff like Thor, Hulk, Harley Quinn, Nightwing, some pretty big stuff. Usually I can’t do it because of scheduling, but I also don’t really have a huge interest in those sorts of comics. I only consider it if I really need the money.
That is amazing! You truly are an inspiration 🙂
Thank you! 😀
Have you watched the 2003 TMNT film? That film featured a major scene with Raphael and Leonardo. That type of brotherhood should be featured more.
2007
You mean the 2007 one? The CG one? Or do you mean Turtles Forever?
yes, the 2007 film. Sorry
Ah okay! Yeah, I’ve seen it a few times, I don’t really like it, I’ll be honest. It doesn’t feel like TMNT to me and everyone feels out of character.
What are your views on fan art and fan fiction?
I think it’s great and important! I mean, I do my own fan comic and tons of fanart, so… 😉
Do you get paid for the web comic?
Nope! It’s just for fun. 🙂
Have you ever done a discussion panel at a comic con? Would you participate in one if invited?
I’ve done a few, yeah, they’re fun but I always get nervous before I get up there.
If you ever do the one in San Antonio, Texas let us know. I’d love to meet you!
That’s where my sister lives! :O
Fantastic! Texas rules! XD
My cat is from Texas too, my mom brought him on the plane from San Antonio all the way to New York!
Do his meows have a Texas twang? 😀
Kind of actually…
Are you working on new stuff for your web comic at the moment?
One more question 🙂 Your Northampton arc is hands down my favorite storyline of the entire IDW TMNT series, and I was wondering if there was ever talk of it being given the uber-special IDW Limited hardcover treatment? I’d love to see all the bonus stuff, such as your raw penciled pages, script notes, and so on.
Ooh agreed! I love the Northampton arc!
Aw thanks, James!! ;D I haven’t heard anything about giving it a Limited treatment, no, but I would lovvvve that. Maybe I could get one for the Karai story… Is Secret History the only story so far that’s gotten that treatment?
You’re right, only SHOTFC so far. The IDW Limited stuff works best when dealing with 4-5 issue arcs, so Northampton would be perfect. I hope Tom and Bobby are reading, NORTHAMPTON4LYFE!
I wonder if Secret History will be the only one that gets that.
Any advice for someone wanting to do an IDW cover?
Do up a few really nice fully-finished samples and network until you can get them in front of Bobby the TMNT editor! I wish I had more control over variant covers, I always try to get people I know to do them but it’s usually forces beyond my control.
I’m sure, but that’s good advice though! 🙂 Thanks
what type of music do you enjoy listening to? Also do you listen to music while you work on your comic?
I’m mostly into goth music and synthpop stuff, and some metal. I usually listen to true crime podcasts when I’m drawing. 😀
Do you have any suggestions for young artists wishing to get into the business?
Practice practice practice, draw your own comics and post them online, and network network network! Oh and the number one thing, BE FRIENDLY. 😉
Design how many hours per day? The time is divided between different jobs or start a job and develop until the end to start another?
I work around 6-10 hours a day, sometimes more. Usually I’m doing one job, I’m really bad at juggling different jobs at the same time so I try to avoid that if I can.
Is the Karai story intertwined with Koya or are they separate arcs?
It’s one 4-issue story arc, TMNT Universe #12-15.
Do you like pizza hot or cold? I know its a weird question.
Definitely hot, cold pizza is GROSS!!
Do you exert any influence on the plot or prefer only to draw (which should already give enough work)?
I have some influence sometimes, yeah! They always listen to my ideas, they’re great about it, and I’ve created a couple new characters. I also co-wrote a couple issues, TMNT Universe #9 and #10, and I’m writing the backup stories in the upcoming Karai’s Path story.
Thank you for joining us today Sophia. To everyone here, we only asked Sophia to join us for one hour. Anyone here is welcome to continue chatting.
Thank you for the opportunity 😉
Thank you!
Thanks so much for having me!! I really appreciate it, this was awesome. I’ll leave the browser window open if anyone has anything else they’d like to ask or tell me or anything. 🙂 Thank you for stopping by, everyone!!!
Thank you for spending time with us!
Erik Burnham is live now. You should join the conversation.
http://www.teenagemutantninjaturtles.com/2017/06/07/live-discussion-comic-writer-erik-burnham/
You are amazing. Thank you so much Sohpia. I am really grateful for all the fans that joined this discussion. #TMNT4EVER
Always a pleasure to talk with you a little bit!
I always appreciate you dropping by. 😀
Oh! And say MEOW to Rambo from me! 😀 haha
Haha will do. I’ll have to do another livestream soon.
Can’t wait! 😀
Do you stream art?
I do sometimes if I’m getting more than $400 on my Patreon. I announce on Twitter and Tumblr when I’m about to stream. 🙂
Good to know!
Erik Burnham is live now. You should join the chat
http://www.teenagemutantninjaturtles.com/2017/06/07/live-discussion-comic-writer-erik-burnham/
This was fun.
We will be doing more of these in the future! is there anyone you would like to suggest for the upcoming weeks?
Santolouco or Ben Bishop
Erik Burnham is live now. You should join Dermot
http://www.teenagemutantninjaturtles.com/2017/06/07/live-discussion-comic-writer-erik-burnham/
Favourite beverages?
Black tea and lattes!
Really, really thank you very much for your attention and for what you have dispensed with us.
You’re welcome! Thank you for all the questions. 🙂
For you very successful. Long Live and prosper!!
Erik Burnham is live now. You should join us..
http://www.teenagemutantninjaturtles.com/2017/06/07/live-discussion-comic-writer-erik-burnham/
Thank you Sophie!
Thank YOU! <3
I think we missed it. Due to a tantrum. :/
Thank you Sophie! My kiddo might not have been able to make it, but we will find the back logs! 🙂
Aw that’s too bad! Hope you like it. 🙂
Love you Sophie!
Comments are closed.