The Dark Side of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles mean many things to different people, but I do know that while I was growing up, most of my classmates were always talking about “people” like Donatello, Michelangelo, Leonardo, and Raphael. Growing up in a household where TV was a no-no, I simply thought that they were talking about the great artists. Well, until they started talking about Splinter and mentioned turtles.
One thing I know for sure – those turtles are worlds apart from these renditions I have just seen. And while kids back then thought that the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles of their day kicked butt, I am pretty sure that no one will contest that Dave Rapoza’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will trump the good old turtles.
Dave Rapoza showcases his work at DeviantArt ((David Rapoza)), and it blows my mind. I do have this propensity for dark things – although my tolerance for things of the dark is way below other people’s – and Dave’s depiction of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is dark as dark can be. Oh, and not only are they dark, they are so realistic as well! Check them out below, although you may not immediately recognize them except for the colors of their bandannas.
Donatello
Dark Donatello
Raphael
Dark Raphael
I think that this is my pick. Sure, I have always like the fact that Raphael was the one who kept the red bandanna, but this drawing is just fierce. I can’t think of any other word to describe it, can you?
Michelangelo
Dark Michelangelo
Leonardo
Dark Leonardo
Splinter
Dark Splinter
Dave did not limit himself to the turtles. Of course, Splinter had to be included in the mix. And I have to say this: his eyes are just disconcertingly captivating.
Dave does have a whole lot of drawings of other characters, which you can see on his DeviantArt page.
Now it’s not too hard to imagine a movie with the characters being depicted as such, is it?
Fan of Ninja Turtles? Check out the Secret of the Ooze Kickstarted print set on the Forevergeek Kickstarter Store!
