MIRAGE PUBLISHING :: Note to Tokka from Dorothy Sloan, Former Publishing Assistant at Mirage (( April 12, 1993 ))

 

MIRAGE PUBLISHING ::  Note to Tokka from Dorothy Sloan, Former Publishing Assistant at Mirage / ..letterhead logo (( April 12, 1993 ))

–>> As i set this letter up, keep in mind that i used to go by my birth-name “David”. With the exception of family and certain close individuals i usually prefer not to go by this name anymore as i have been working on legally changing my name to “Tokka”. But in 1993 i was still under my parents care, so it was different time and case.

MIRAGE PUBLISHING ::  Note to Tokka from Dorothy Sloan, Former Publishing Assistant at Mirage (( April 12, 1993 )) ** View LARGE On Black **

★ ★

Actually this letter from Dorothy Sloan, the former Publishing Assistant at Mirage Publishing during this time was correspondence sent on my behalf from a letter mailed back East by my Mother. I don’t recall the contents of that original letter nor do i recall my Ma mentioning that she had sent it initially. It may have been a surprise planned on her part. There were times my family played an active role in trying to help me obtain my goals. Maybe this was part of that. Tho’ based on this note, my ma also indicated that we would be going on a trip to Northampton, Massachusetts and the Coast inquiring about vising Mirage Studios itself. That trip would never manifest, well not right away. My Ma may have also stated about my wishes to pursue a work in industry.

Terrorpin -tokka

 

In the 1990s, early on in my career at Cartoon School – many of my own medical issues would collide with my education in the field presenting a constant need for inspiration and direction, advice and counsel as the road ahead for me would be very “Rocky” to say the least. Cliche or not, or whether Dorthy picked up on this need for a little guidance from my Mom’s words — the suggestions in the note are as relevant today as they were over two decades ago. Perhaps an aspiring young comics professional, a student just out of school, or the struggling comics pro or artist in industry may find a little bit of solace from this letter. If anyone ANYWHERE can gain some positive influence and encouragement from it..by ALL MEANS, please do !! Tokka is right there with you. While my career is slightly taking flight, it’s no where it could be.

Rat_King_and_Jim_Lawson_by_tOkKa

Thus, maybe that is the nature of any type of career in the arts field, design, comics, animation ect. But then again in 1993 i had no idea that my past experiences in industry good or bad would manifest the remarkable ways they would have. I have been actively trying to recover Dorothy’s letter for several years now and am happy to finally be able to share it with everyone digitally. On a final note, the ill-fated trip of 1993 to the East Coast to visit Mirage Studios WOULD happen near 20 years later for Tokka in 2012 and we would go to the sites of Mirage Studios and a few other places and landmarks in Northampton. The places that would make up pivotal grounds for the creation of the TMNT, their friends, enemies and stories. Especially in those important early years of the Teens’ comic book development.

~ t

 

• •

 

On to the related Notes ::

 

TOYARK ::

 

Prime1MIKEpeek2

ZeroThree-Movie-Leo-peek

Over at Figure Hobby Club, a member there got a tour of the ThreeZero studio. They were allowed to snap a bunch of photos, and they showcase a few new 1/6 scale figures.

 

Nickelodeon::

Bebop and Rocksteady Join Shredder on his Quest to Defeat the Turtles During

a Brand-New Episode of Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Premiering March 8 at 11:00a.m. (ET/PT)

Franchise-favorite villains, Bebop (J.B. Smoove) and Rocksteady (Fred Tatasciore) hit the small screen when brand-new episodes of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles return Sunday, March 8, at 11:00 a.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon.  In the action-packed episode, “The Pig and the Rhino,” Donnie finishes a new batch of retro-mutagen, in hopes of saving Karai, while the Turtles find themselves hunted by Shredder’s new vengeful henchmen, Bebop and Rocksteady. Beginning March 8, Turtle fans can watch the special hour-long premiere “Battle for New York” pre-released on Nick.com and the Nick App through March 15. The episode will premiere on Nickelodeon Sunday, March 15, at 11:00 a.m. (ET/PT).

 

Also beginning March 8, Turtle enthusiasts can participate in “TMNT Mutation Madness,” an interactive bracket-style tournament that will give fans everywhere a chance to cast their votes in four rounds of mutant match-ups counting down to the Ultimate Mutant Champion.  While Nicktoons airs mutant-driven Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles episodes, the tournament starts online with sixteen mega-mutants including: Fishface, Spider Bytez, Tiger Claw, Slash, Bebop and Rocksteady, among others competing for the title of Ultimate Mutant Champion.  As part of Nicktoons’ “Mutation Madness” each round, will reveal the brackets narrowing from 16 to 8 to 4 to 2, with the Ultimate Mutant Champion debuting March 23.  Along with casting a vote every round, fans can enter special sweepstakes for prizes and unlock exclusive content to learn more about each mutant through bios, gifs, images and videos.

 

For more TMNT action, viewers can logon to Nick.com for full episodes, quizzes and games, including “Shadow Heroes” and the recently release, “Mikey’s Day Off.” In the new game, crime has taken the night off, but that doesn’t stop Mikey from relieving his boredom by sneaking around the turtle lair to throw paper balls at his bros.

 

 

LEE’S TOY REVIEW #xx, pg. 36 / “TOY FAIR 2004” , ‘TMNT – 2k3 Peek’ (( March 2004 ))

LEE'S TOY REVIEW #xx, pg. 36 / "TOY FAIR 2004" , 'TMNT - 2k3 Peek'  (( March 2004 ))

** View LARGE On Black **

★ ★

–>> A handful of unproduced prototypes, or at least drastically altered figures to the extent of their final manufactured form appear on this spread. A rare look at a few of them.

LEE'S TOY REVIEW #xx, pg. 37 / "TOY FAIR 2004" , 'TMNT - 2k3 Peek'  (( March 2004 ))

** View LARGE On Black **

★ ★

LEE'S TOY REVIEW #xx, pg. 36 / "TOY FAIR 2004" , 'TMNT - 2k3 Peek' - "QUARRY" early prototype (( March 2004 ))

** View LARGE On Black **

★ ★

–>> The paint on Quarry’s prototype is pretty cool, this is similar to an effect of what was finally produced OVER a year later than when it was originally to be released. I recall a “spitting” action feature announced for this toy. That was not realized on the final figure. I’m not sure if i recall an actual prototype showing that feature. This photo doesn’t seem to show it at all. The proto’s visual is much better ascetically than the final figure.

 

LEE'S TOY REVIEW #xx, pg. 37 / "TOY FAIR 2004" , 'TMNT - 2k3 Peek' - "FOOT MYSTICS" unproduced prototypes  (( March 2004 ))

** View LARGE On Black **

★ ★

 Obviously the same sculpt, only the FOOT FIRE MYSTIC was made for whatever reason.

The more ambitious customizer could hypothetically obtain 3 more Fire Mystic toys and repaint them accordingly. These guys eventually would “manifest” in the MIRAGE comic books.

LEE'S TOY REVIEW #xx, pg. 37 / "TOY FAIR 2004" , 'TMNT - 2k3 Peek' - "SPACE HOPPIN' RAPHAEL" early prototype  (( March 2004 ))

** View LARGE On Black **

★ ★

This EARLY prototype of the ‘Space Hoppin’ Raph’ toy is a more accurate to what appeared in the TMNT 2k3 T.V. show than what was actually manufactured and put into stores. These were the Teens’ stolen TRICERATON space suits in the show, you can see the suit’s “tail” in the back of the toy. The actual manufactured Space Hoppers

 

LEE'S TOY REVIEW #xx, pg. 37 / "TOY FAIR 2004" , 'TMNT - 2k3 Peek' - Unproduced Mouser 6-pack  (( March 2004 ))

★ ★

 No single carded 6-pack of April’s little robot “friends” was produced for this line. However multiple Mousers would come packed in one of the S.W.A.T. multi-figure/vehicle packs in the mid-aughts.

The Nick TMNT line does have a Multi-pack of Mousers.

 

• •

NY TOYFAIR ’15 COVERAGE continues, oi !!  ::

COWABUNGA CORNER :: TMNT-Colorforms-travel90COLORFORMS RETURN WITH TMNT ,interview !! 

More from Pixel-DAN & Playmates  !! ::

Teenage Mutant Half Shell Heroes Figures and Vehicles

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles T-Machines Cars and Playsets

TOY ARK ::

Finally, special thank you to new ally of GGM, the WHITEFOOTSOLDIER ::

LoyalSUBJECTSxTMNTw2 peek

~ t

Michele Ivey’s “Cowabunga Corner” Blog #5 featuring Kevin Eastman’s “Words & Pictures Museum”

–>> A vital, gone but unforgettable piece of  TMNT ( and “Comics as ART”  – well cuz it is ..) history is showcased in # 5 of

Michele Ivey’s “Cowabunga Corner” .

You may wanna tune in !!

** CHECK OUT C.C. # 5 HERE **

Michele Ivey’s New Video Blog

Theres a darn good chance that if you are reading this blog, you know of our friend Michele Ivey. You’ve seen her on VH1’s Totally Obsessed, as well as Fanatical. She is among the most well known personalities in the fandom.

Love her or hate her, she has recently launched a new video blog about herself and the Turtles. Smells like news to us! So here you have it. The first episode of Michele Ivey’s Cowabunga Corner:

Let us know what you think! Better yet, let her know what you think!