INTERVIEW WITH JIM LAWSON
COMICBOOK ARTIST: MIRAGE TMNT


November 19, 2009


RUTGER
Well fans, I'm here today with one of the original Mirage artists, Jim Lawson. Hello Jim! Welcome and thanks for taking the time to do this interview. It’s an honor.

JIM LAWSON
Thank you- it’s my pleasure.

RUTGER
You probably always wanted to be an illustrator or comic book artist. When did you first started drawing and when did you knew this is what you wanted to do for the rest of your life?

JIM LAWSON
You’re correct-my compulsion to draw has been with me for as long as I can remember. In school, I was the kid in the back row that was always drawing and not really paying attention.

Comics were something that I was into as a kid---Spider-man, Werewolf by Night, Ka-Zar, and stuff like that. As well, back then there was this magazine-sized thing called Car-toons. I loved that.I did attend art school (Paier) and although my style was totally cartoony, I wanted to be an illustrator in the vein of Brad Holland (very painterly).

RUTGER
Wow I totally recognize that. Could you tell me a bit about your years in art school? Where did you study?

JIM LAWSON
Paier is located in Hamden, CT- just outside of New Haven. Art school was hard, as I recall. The realities of actually being able to make a career of doing art were daunting. I felt like comic style art was somehow unworthy. I’ve always been a loner, and in art school, I felt especially so. It’s funny, my last semester there, I seemed to finally hit my stride and have some fun.

RUTGER
How did you eventually get involved with Peter and Kevin and the Mirage Studios? And did you immediately draw Turtles for Mirage?

JIM LAWSON
The meeting between Kevin/Pete and me was setup through a friend of mine who knew Pete’s wife. I remember going over there (to Kevin’s apartment) and having my mind blown. There were these guys, just having fun and being silly and making money drawing these wacky creatures. I never knew it could be like that.

I think it was on the spot that they offered me my first inking job-Prime Slime Tales. At about that time, I drew my first Turtles, which was run as a pin-up in the regular book. Then not too long after that my own book, Bade Biker followed.

RUTGER
I read that you were responsible for the creation of the Rat King, an awesome and complex character. How did you come up with him and were there anymore TMNT characters you created?

JIM LAWSON
I’ve always loved writing and one of my favourite things is to get inside a character’s head. I like exploring someone’s thoughts and motives. Rat King I came up with as I thought that it might be interesting to do a story about an individual who was totally delusional. In the story, he sees himself as inhuman, a monster really. It wasn’t until the last page when he discovers that he has a certain rapport with the rats he’s lived amongst. His self-image does a sudden shift at that moment and he becomes the Rat King.

There were other characters, but they were all more secondary. Shadow, Mr. Braunze and the Tackhead Alien are some that come quickly to mind. Not really my character is Dino-Raph. Pete wanted an altered Raph for the comic-to give him a very dinosaur derived appearance was my idea.

RUTGER
What I would love to know is, could you describe a typical workday at Mirage Studios?

JIM LAWSON
The Mirage artists each have their own little offices, or studios. When I first get to work in the morning (around 9), I’ll go online and check my email, that kind of stuff. The Stephanie Miller show is playing on the radio in the background. After internet time, I go to work drawing. Generally, I try to do 2 pages a day, whether that be pencilling or inking. If I finish my pages early, or sometimes if I just feel like it, I’ll try to work on some of my commission drawings. Rarely these days, I’ll draw something just for fun or maybe try to work on Paleo.

At lunchtime, Mike, Dan and I gather. Occasionally, Pete will join us. Conversation often is about movies or TV. 1 o’clock, back at the drawing board.
There’s probably not as much socializing as people might think. Sometimes I’ll go in my room and not see anyone all day. Other times, little impromptu gatherings will form in the hall outside someone’s office. It’s actually a very cool environment.

RUTGER
How long does it actually take to draw an entire TMNT comic?

JIM LAWSON
An entire comic takes probably about 6 weeks- 3 to pencil and 3 to ink.

RUTGER
What is your favourite TMNT comic book that you’ve drawn in the past years?

JIM LAWSON
I was just asked this in another interview and I answered that it was the Leonardo mini-series “Blind Sight”. Just to be different this time I’ll say Tales 15-Hell’s Blacktop. That issue was a frikkin’ blast to draw and I’d do it all over right now, if I could. Definitely one of my favourite TMNT comics. Von Clutch rules!

RUTGER
In your 20 plus years working on the Turtles you’ve seen the ’87 cartoon show, the movies, the Next Mutation, the 2k3 cartoon and the new CGI movie. What did you think of them and which one is your favourite?

JIM LAWSON
Alright, I have to admit that I haven’t been a big follower of the cartoon. With that being said, I have seen the “Turtles Forever” movie and it absolutely blew my mind. Funny, thoughtful and an amazing gesture of thanks to all the fans of the property. That 4kids would make that, particularly after the cartoon had ended, was stunning to me. Kudos to Lloyd Goldfine for getting that project done.

RUTGER
Well if you start to miss TMNT, you'll have alot of catching up to do!
About a month ago you received the news raw on your drawing table that the Turtles were sold. I remember you really needed time to process the news and all. How are you feeling about it now? And what are your future plans? Are you staying with Mirage to work on all non-TMNT comics?

JIM LAWSON
I’ve accepted the reality of it. Pete’s just not in a place right now where he can look after the Turtles anymore. As an artist, I feel bad for him—it must be terrible not to be able to get in touch with that creative thing that compels you and gives you such happiness and joy.

For me, when I finish up the books that I’m currently working on- Tales 66-68-70, then I’m done. I don’t foresee any other comics coming out of Mirage anytime soon. That said, I have yet to sit down with Pete to discuss this. The last time Mirage went into dormancy, we worked on Planet Racers, so who knows?

RUTGER
I'll keep my fingers crossed. Well Jim thanks for your time. It was a pleasure and we Turtle fans will truly miss the good old days we all grew up with. The original comics and the original Mirage team that you were part of. You rock!

JIM LAWSON
Thanks Rutger. I’m very grateful that I was a part of the Turtles. Going to the conventions and meeting the fans was something that I truly enjoyed- I think that’s one of the things that I’m going to miss the most. Without wanting to come across as too corny, it really seemed like we were a family.
Party on!