Eastman loved to distract his friend when he was glued to the boob tube, so he quickly sketched something to make Laird laugh: a turtle standing upright wearing a mask and carrying nunchaku.

This article is presented by Paramount Pictures. Approximately 40 years after Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles co-creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird first jokingly sketched a masked turtle ...

Finding the concept funny, he drew a masked turtle standing upright with some nunchucks in its stubby arms, which came out of its huge shell. He showed the drawing to fellow artist, Peter Laird ...

And so I did this drawing of a turtle standing upright with a mask on, nunchucks wrapped around his arms." Co-author Peter Laird was more than onboard with the idea and that became a running gag ...

Those really are giant, brightly colored sea turtles standing on street corners all ... Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. Bonnie Upright, who was behind the Sea Cows for Kids and Big ...