There are always scrupulous jizzbuckets in every field. If there’s a way to make money off of something, chances are someone is looking to take advantage in some capacity. In the comic industry, a big problem that comic artist are facing is people using others artwork and claiming it as their own. There have been numerous incidents in recent years of a scuzzy vendor at a convention getting the boot due to selling prints of ”Original artwork” that does not belong to them. Usually they brighten or darken it or put some effect on it to make it slightly different. They trick unsuspecting buyers into buying something that they stole. It’s a shady tactic and I hate lying scumbags, so anytime I can confront one of these pieces of shit...I take the opportunity to do so and get a mega boner chumping the hell out of these clowns.
I recently came across some screenshots I took from an incident last year. I thought they were funny and that I would share the story with you all. I was wasting precious time on Facebook and came across an individual named Mike Sarandrea posting a particular piece of art I knew very well. It was part of a series of awesome Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles pieces by an artist I follow named Dave Rapoza. This is a series that I LOVE so much that I’m trying to land these as exclusive variant covers for my shop on TMNT books. He initially did them as promotional pieces for Nickelodeon years back and I fell in love with them then.
Anyway, the individual who posted it did so in an art group and claimed that he airbrushed it himself. My bullshit detector was on high alert and was tingling like crazy. So I naturally shot the douche a message. This is how it played out...
Within a minute of the realization that his cover was blown, he removed the post. Naturally I had to follow up through private messages where he at least made me laugh before blocking me. I was hoping we would go back and forth for a while as he at least seemed creative and willing to take chances in the writing department...even if he wasn’t in the ol’ art end of things. I would love to believe that this bag of mashed up assholes (for you @crimsonclad, courtesy of Eastbound & Down) learned his lesson but most never do. These artists work hard to produce something unique and special and then some bottom feeding zilch tries to take credit for it. I detest that and wish my friend Mike Sarandrea a lifetime of swamp ass and vinegar balls. Cheers to that!!!
I guess I’ll just pop up the rest of the series. As I stated before. I am trying super hard to get these as exclusive variant covers for a series of TMNT comics. Would be 15 in all. Wish me luck on that. We got permission from IDW which is the publisher & got the green light from Nickelodeon. All we are waiting on is the man himself, Dave Rapoza to grant permission and we can go forward. He responded once to me saying he’d love to see them as covers and then has yet to answer me again. I’ll get around to bothering him soon again. Wish me luck!!!
Leonardo & the piece in question
Michaelangelo
Raphael
Donatello
Splinter
April O’Neil
Bebop
Casey Jones
Rocksteady
Foot Soldier
Baxter Stockman
Slash
Metalhead
Wingnut & Screwloose
Shredder
So which one is your favorite from here?? Respond and comment below and let me know what ya think!!
Thanks for looking folks,
Blewitt
I have seen these I believe on Tumblr pretty good, funny how the trolls get so pissed when called out and hiding behind a screen, also @blewitt try not to swear it actually gets them more angry when they think your not going to lose your cool lol.
Good point. Speak calmly and let them lose their cool. Will remember that next time.
Keep us posted on these covers! I’d want a set for myself and one for a TMNT super-fan friend!
Oh I hope it happens. I’ve been trying on this forever and it’s so close. One more hurdle to jump. C’mon Dave!!! Let’s do this!! Lol
If you seriously enjoy this kind of art, take a look at the game PoxNora, whilst the game is dying there is an abundance of stunning art on the cards! Some similar in style to this!
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I will definitely check that out. Funny thing is the artist here, Dave Rapoza. He did work on some Magic the Gayhering Cards as well. Wonder if he did any work on PoxNora?
Wow this dude is really fucking talented - Dave, I mean, of course. Not my style, but I have to commend the skills...obviously very good at his work.
Well, you have to admit that 'tough guy cunt boy' does take some imaginative skill...Had to read that one twice and still didn't sound right, but still :)))
You're a cool dude for calling this asshole out ;) Good on you. Hope Rapoza agrees and you get your covers soon!
I hope so as well on the covers. Fingers crossed.
“Tough guy cunt boy” does have a certain charm to it.
nice work calling him out - "tough guy cunt boy" sounds like a great future title!
Lol. That piece will definitely earn!
That Casey Jones piece is FABULOUS! I'd hang that on my wall in a hot second. I'm not normally very into artwork to hang up, but that one speaks to me somehow.
Yeah he was selling prints of them years back. If we get to do what we want to do with the Comics, it’ll be awesome!
....you're learn the ways of the force, young Blewit
Only because it makes sense to post it and I love this memory.
That Shredder is awesome. Actually they all are. My only critique would be that Rocksteady's horn is a bit small ("that's what she said")
Lol. I can see that with the horn but I’ve seen these for ages now and love em all. I love the real gritty approach.
There's always some low life trying to scam people. We need to watch out for that on Steem too. We have bots looking for plagiarism, but some may slip past. This is where the reputation can help as that takes time to build up.
Those pictures are amazing.
YeH his work is outstanding. If ya doodle him you can find his deviantart page with a ton of other awesome work.
Speaking of lowlife dirtbags on Steemit. I had a run in with one. Uh. Kinda. Stay tuned. Going to do a piece on it in the coming days. Lol
Donatello looks cute! :)
If you show Mr. Rapoza how you've defended his art, I'm sure he'll say Yes right away!
Lol. Funny part is he got back to me right away and was interested. Then radio silence. I’ll try to pick it up again and bother him after the holidays to see if we can get this going.
Lol. I defended his honor. At least he might laugh at what the scumbag said about my grandmother. Lol
I really like the Baxter Stockman and Metalhead ones, but I really don't like the Bebop and Rocksteady ones.
Really? A couple others have said that as well but I love em!!! They are a bit different though.
Wow man.. this Dave artist is sweet. Interestingly, his art is very similar to what I made last night. Just a quick sketch, air brush, photoshop, you know, the standard shit, super simple.
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So talented that @redrica is!!!
Don't be jealous bro.. not everyone can have this kind of talent and still live a simple life hahha :P
“Simple”...yes. That sounds a bit like you...
😉
ha! good job sir blewitt for nailing that guy! funny that he immediately removed it! great job and Dave's work is totally amazing!
Yeah the guy knew he was caught and is pure trash. Didn’t stop him from throwing some angry shade at me though. Lol
oh man, I'm sure that his slurs just rolled off you but man what a vile piece of trash talking trash he is! geez. You did good.
I found it more funny than anything else to be honest. He was caught red handed and still decided to stick to his guns and act like a moron. That’s a special kind of stupid.
haha! it WAS funny blubbering all over himself trying to think up names to call you! lol.
I love it. The fact that he just couldn’t admit he was wrong makes and started personally attacking me makes me happy. Lol
Got'im! Got'im gooood! I was just in a back-and-forth on a Facebook post regarding someone falsely accusing Nora Roberts of plagiarism. What is wrong with people? Do something original, stop thieving the work and efforts of others. SMH...
Yeah. People are total scum. I love how my dude kept sticking to his bullshit too even after being outed. What a tool.
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