SDCC 2023: Erik Burnham on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

For most of us, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series is where our shellshocked obsessions began. Now, IDW Publishing returns to this glorious era with their Saturday Morning Adventures offshoot with writer Erik Burnham and artists Tim Lattie, Jack Lawrence, and Dan Schoening busting out all the best Playmates action figures. The new series tickles nostalgic pleasures while keeping itself grounded in the now.

Last week, we unleashed an onslaught of creator content to coincide with the San Diego Comic-Con International. And we are not done. On the west coast, we spoke with numerous comic artists about an eclectic batch of titles. This episode with Erik Burnham is part one, recapping our unique Comic-Con experience while also celebrating Turtle Mania 2023 with IDW and the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem film leading the charge.

Burnham has worked in the Turtle trenches for years, but operating within the Saturday Morning Adventures realm is a tricky balancing act. In addition, since many found their Turtle love with the cartoons, there's an extra sting of responsibility that comes with it. From inside the SDCC IDW Booth, we chat with Erik Burnham about the joys and burdens of playing with these particular toys. We also discuss his new, secret TMNT project and what he'd still love to do within this universe.

We adore any chance to dig deep into the mythology built by Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman. This chat is just the next chapter in an ongoing Comic Book Couples Counseling/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles conversation, one that began with our Kevin Eastman interview and hit hyperdrive with our sibling counseling sessions. CLICK HERE to find all those CBCC/TMNT episodes.

You can continue this conversation with Erik Burnham by following his Twitter, Instagram, and Website. Saturday Morning Adventures: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is now available in comic book shops. Find your local store HERE.

As mentioned above, this episode is part of our San Diego Comic-Con International celebration. Listen to our Day One episode with Paul Cornell HERE. Listen to our Day Two episode with Adrian Tomine HERE. Listen to our Dary Three episode with Chris Condon and Jacob Phillips HERE. Listen to our Day Four Episode with Julie Sakai and Stan Sakai HERE.

And get ready for our upcoming discussions with Jamie Lee Curtis, Karl Stevens, Todd McFarlane, Robert Kirkman, and more. You better get subscribed to Comic Book Couples Counseling.

And, if you haven't already, now's the time to join our Patreon, where superstar cartoonist Daniel Warren Johnson just recorded an epic chat with us about his favorite single-issue comic, The 'Nam #9. It's all part of our new Patreon podcast series, where we ask cool comic book creators to choose their favorite floppy comic.

FINAL ROUND OF PLUGS (PHEW):   Don't forget to grab your tickets for our July 30th Alamo Drafthouse Winchester screening of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies.   Don't forget! Watch the latest episode of The B&B Show, where Brad and Bryan Review the Hottest Cinematic Releases.   And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren.   Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-Star Review on Apple Podcasts.