TMNT:E - Bebop and Rocksteady

Created in Adobe Illustrator in December 2010

EXPLANATION:
TMNT: EVOLUTION is a hypothetical series that would air on Nickelodeon (in a similar vein to Iron Man: Armored Adventures) in the wake of Nickelodeon buying the rights to the Turtles. In this nonexistent cartoon, our beloved heroes in a half shell have been re-imagined into high school students. They must deal with hall passes, homework, and science experiments while fighting the forces of high school bully Oroku "Shredder" Saki and the nefarious Principal Krang.

CHARACTER BIO:
Bebop (real name unknown) and his long-time friend Rocksteady (real name also unknown) were low-level punks until they met Oroku "Shredder" Saki. He was in need of some kids to be his lackeys and Bebop and Rocksteady were always drawn to destructive power. Thanks to Principal Krang pulling some strings, Bebop and Rocksteady underwent an under-the-table experiment by Baxter Stockman. Bebop was transformed into a half-man, half-warthog, and Rocksteady became a half-man, half rhinoceros.

REFERENCES:
Bebop:
- bobbistock's "male fighter 10" served as my photo reference for the body [link] (the model for the series is 5kott [link])
- Drezdany-stocks's "warthog" was my source for the head [link]

Rocksteady:
- orcbruto's "Orc Stock - Guerrilla 10" was my source for the body [link]
- DrachenVarg-stock's "Black rhino front view" served as my photo reference for the rhino head [link]

I wanted Bebop to look like he could have been a boxer, like a brawler who wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty. I also wanted to try to get back to the rougher, more angular style that's present in the earlier TMNT: EVOLUTION pieces.

Rocksteady was a bit of a tough nut to crack, between trying to stay true to the 1987 cartoon and trying to wrap my head around how rhinoceros heads actually look, but I really like him doing a fist-pump in the air. It just feels..."right."

My inspiration for Bebop & Rocksteady was always going to be Bulk & Skull from Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers. In researching the duo, I found out that their human forms basically leant themselves to this comparison anyway.

Don't miss the rest of TMNT: EVOLUTION:
Wave 1:
Leonardo: [link]
Raphael: [link]
Michelangelo: [link]
Donatello: [link]
Oroku "Shredder" Saki: [link]
Principal Krang: [link]

Wave 2:
April O'Neil: [link]
Casey Jones: [link]
Baxter Stockman: [link]

Wave 3:
Splinter: [link]
Bebop & Rocksteady: [link]