2003 – Page 2 – GoGreenMachine.Org

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES – CLASSIC COLLECTION :: ‘RETRO’ SPLINTER (( 2013 ))

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–>> **Second “RETRO” Splinter & TMNT reissue in so many years post the TMNT-25 reissues.

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It’s unclear if Tokka will obtain a set of these to keep on card, or extras for replacement figures & customs.

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That may not happen tho’ considering the 12.99 price point, in some regards that may be a slightly higher price point than the 2009 reissues. I recall those clocking in at about 10.99 a few years back.

Apparently for now these reissues are a TRU exclusive offering, the 2013 reissues seem to offer subtle variations than older releases like the 2009 reissues.

The ‘RETRO’ packaging looks great and is even better executed than the 2009 wave. Splinter’s kimono is of a slightly more ‘flocked’ fabric than the prior reissues and vintage versions.

The foot peg holes in the bottom of the new reissue Splinter here has large ones like the more modern TMNT figs of the past 10 + years so they should fit some modern vehicles, playsets & stands but will present challenges if you are looking for compatibility with more vintage offerings like the classic Sewer playset.

I’ve yet to see any of the Teens or Shredder in this 2013 reissue wave, but i presume the foot peg holes on the bottom of those are large as well. 2013 Viacom Copyright information on these figures have been updated as well to distinguish them from the older releases.

Minor paint applications are slightly different than the vintage releases, but not too different than the 2009 release. For some reason his weapons on this reissue seem ‘studier’ but maybe it’s just me.

By the time i got to TRU this was the last reissue they had so i snatched it. His box got damaged so in part out of curiosity i cracked him open.

This line will prolly be for completists & mega-fans, people that missed out on TMNT toys back in the day or the reissues from a few years ago, or for kids who want a taste of the vintage line their moms & dads played with.

However in some regards at nearly 13 bucks a piece, these are pricier than the regular Nick Turtles line based on the current show. And in some cases these may be more pricier than some actual vintage figures out there of the main cast of TMNT from 3rd party dealers.You may as well get the loose, vintage equivalent figure if you just want one of those for display in your collection or to play with.

Obvious & interesting extensions of this “CLASSIC” line is the reissue AGAIN of the ‘TMNT Party Wagon’ & the reissue AGAIN of the oddball 2003 ‘MECH-WRECKERS’ vehicles for Retro Raph and Leo. Each of those nearing the $50 – 60 price mark. If money’s not an issue and you want/ need all this stuff – by all means go for it.

If not, wait out it for a few months – and hopefully prices will stabilize. If you are perfectly satisfied with your current collection of vintage figures, definitely pass on all this stuff and save some money.

~ t

Nickelodeon TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES :: MUTAGEN OOZE (( 2013 ))

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–>> .. the next generation of MUTAGEN looks really cool. Shake and move the can around and the pearlecent effect looks eerie and neat !! Almost radioactive !! ALMOST LIKE TOOTHPASTE !!

The ooze seems a little tiny bit thicker than the older versions ..but it’s a bit hard to tell.

The colour and play value is just as good ..however the price has jumped to about 7.99 a can. That may be understandable due to inflation. In the 1990s a 4 oz. can of ooze i think was around 2 – 4 bucks. To Playmates’ defense ..you are getting a little bit more product than in the classic cans aside from the little bonus figure.

** View LARGE On Black **

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If maneuvered during shipping or if you shake the can around, the Bonus Turtle inside can be slowly shifted to the edge of the container & you can see which pre-TMNT you’re gona get. This is great if you are going for your favourite Turtle or if you are the collector that wants to get just one of each Turtle without having to buy multiple containers of the Ooze. Good work,Playmates !!

Each display has 12 cans per case, my first purchase was the last 5 of the display case they had from the toy store shelf. Only Leo, Don, and Mikey were available in the remaining cans i purchased. I’ll have to try to get Raph later.

The 2000s INDIVIDUAL cans ( as far as i know ) were only available overseas so i cannot compare prices to the equivalent containers. You could only get those cans at retail with the deluxe Mutations figures.

Trying to recall :: Ooze cans were available individually OUTSIDE of North America in the 2000s. Unless i was missing something, the individual cans weren’t not available in the States. You had to buy the deluxe Mutations Turtle figures to get the Bonus Ooze.

The individual cans overseas did come with an exclusive “bonus pre-mutant turtle”. If i recall.. i think the little figures had moving parts. Not sure tho’. Cannot recall at this time.

The third incarnation the TMNT Mutations toys came out during the 2007 movie era of toys.

Similar concept as the classic Mutations but with improved sculpting and detailing of the “baby turtle” forms and improved articulation of the Mutated forms. Still these toys were controversial with some fans.

Never-the-less each of the teens came with a mini T.C.R.I. can of Ooze with a different colour to match each Turtle. Purple ooze for Don, Reddish ooze for Raph.. ect.

..this stuff really does look like toothpaste.

~ t

PRIME :: TORTUES NINJA porcelain miniature prototypes (( 2009 ))

approx. 3 cm, a little over an inch

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–>> French prototypes from **PRIME, a gift from this past holiday season from a friend. Possibly due to the nature of the items being prototypes, some damage had occurred. Or perhaps with this kind of small item breakage may be common. Not sure.

The trinkets arrived with all the figures intact with exception to Shredder, Standing Raph, and the Sword wielding stanced Leo. Repairs and restorations were made to the broken trinkets with paint applications and glazes reapplied to the best of my abilities.

From what i can tell, the prototypes appear to be almost exactly the same miniatures appearing in French stores,online, in bakeries or what have you. The words “PROTO No 1” or “PROTO MOD1”, however appear on the bottom of the figures’ bases except for the standing Raph one which is blank.

These types of minis can be bought separately for collecting , but the traditional usage of these trinkets are as fèves or “BEANS” for King Cakes in celebration of the Epiphany during the Christmas time from countries like Belgium, France, and Mexico and elsewhere leading up to Mardi Gras & Carnival. At least in countries where it is legal to put non-edible items in food.

The Epiphany ( January 6th ) is looked upon as Christ becoming human on Earth and / or the visitation of the Magi or Three Wise Men to the Christ Child. Growing up Catholic, if i recall correctly this was a feast day and “Holy Day of Obligation” and usually one is required to attend church services, acknowledge the holiday and worship.

The ” 12 days of Christmas ” come from the leading days to Epiphany – starting on Christmas Eve and ending on the Epiphany holiday.

***Pulled from a wiki due to my exhaustion ::

.. “Tradition holds that the cake is “to draw the kings” to the Epiphany. A figurine, la fève, which can represent anything from a car to a cartoon character, is hidden in the cake and the person who finds the trinket in their slice becomes king for the day and will have to offer the next cake.

Originally, la fève was literally a broad bean (fève), but it was replaced in 1870 by a variety of figurines out of porcelain or—more recently—plastic. These figurines have become popular collectibles and can often be bought separately.

Individual bakeries may offer a specialized line of fèves depicting diverse themes from great works of art to classic movie stars and popular cartoon characters.

The cakes are usually sold in special bags, some of which can be used to heat the cake in a microwave without ruining the crispness of the cake. A paper crown is included with the cake to crown the “king” who finds the fève in their piece of cake. To ensure a random distribution of the cake shares, it is traditional for the youngest person to place themselves under the table and name the recipient of the share which is indicated by the person in charge of the service.” .. ..

Growing up an ignorant North American, Catholic white-boy, Tokka doesn’t recall Epiphany being as ‘major’ a holiday as Christmas itself ..at least in my family. However we usually were required to go to church on the holy day. I certainly don’t recall “King Cakes” or little bean-beings being pulled from them in celebrations on January 6th.

However this tradition has been a major device in holiday celebrations overseas and in South America for a VERY long time.

I am sure some areas in North America may also partake in the breaking of “KING CAKE” to guide the Magi to the Baby Jesus and a special porcelain treasure being found by “THE KING or QUEEN for the DAY” in their special cake.