LEE’S TOY REVIEW #xx :: pg.x TOY FAIR ’98 – PLAYMATES’S ‘ZORRO’ & NT: THE NEXT MUTATION. Turtleflage & SHADOW NINJAS (( xx 1998 ))

LEE'S TOY REVIEW #xx ::  pg.x TOY FAIR '98 - PLAYMATES'S 'ZORRO' & NT: THE NEXT MUTATION. Turtleflage & SHADOW NINJAS / Unreleased 'SHADOW NINJA TMNTS' (( xx 1998 ))

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★ ★

LEE'S TOY REVIEW #xx ::  pg.x TOY FAIR '98 - PLAYMATES'S 'ZORRO' & NT: THE NEXT MUTATION. Turtleflage & SHADOW NINJAS  (( xx 1998 ))** View LARGE On Black **

★ ★

–>> .. included on this random page are Varner Studio’s ZORRO and NEXT MUTATION offerings for 1998.

I don’t believe this proposed second ZORRO wave was ever produced. The infamous wave that included fan-fave LADY RAWHIDE.

You may or may not recall : The NEXT MUTATION “Turtleflage” assortment would make to retail for the most part. The basic Turtleflage teens made it to store pegs, tho i never saw the basic CAMO TMNTs myself locally. However, 3 of the four main villains from that wave ( Simon Bonesteel, the Eastman designed Silver the Gorilla, and Vam Mi ) were readily available with the Wave 1 assortment at a local Walmart, i snagged them quickly and the three are now the hi-lights of my collection of figures and dust. Infamously, Dr.Quease – Dragon Lord’s mad scientist, the fourth villain in the wave would not see release.

All this was happening as the Next Mutation’s first and only season was going into hiatus. The remaining months leading to K•B closing out the line of toys seemingly exclusively with the Deluxe TURTLEFLAGE Dragon Lord and Teens, the basic Next Mutation figs, and the popular classic TMNT reissues showing up in the big grated discount bins in front of K•B’s old mall stores.

Important note on this page:: You get a fleeting shot of Dr.Quease here with the basic Camo Teens and bad guys with a faint peek as to what his weapon would have looked like. We also have painted prototypes on the display stands that the young lady is holding at the Playmates booth, the SHADOW NINJAS!! These most impressive figures would into hiding, never to be released. They were due possibly upon the arrival of a hypothetical second season of NEXT MUTATION. That was not meant to be so Varner’s incredible, heavily martial arts themed Teens went back to California and into the Varner vaults seemingly forever. With the exception of Raph, we are given a blurry view of Venus and the rest of the team. I recall publication of more images of the Shadow Ninjas elsewhere ( maybe an older Playmates Catalog ) but that may be just wishful thinking in this ol’ Snapper’s untrustworthy brain. This page was, for me – the only verification that these toys existed. 16 years later at SDCC 2014, at the VARNER STUDIOS booth – the unpainted prototypes from Steve and his team themselves had put the Shadow Ninjas out on display for the public to see in time for the Teens 30th birthday.

LEE'S TOY REVIEW #xx ::  pg.x TOY FAIR '98 - PLAYMATES'S 'ZORRO' & NT: THE NEXT MUTATION. Turtleflage & SHADOW NINJAS / Unreleased 'SHADOW NINJA RAPH' (( xx 1998 ))

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  A pretty good shot and rare image of the unproduced – painted “SHADOW NINJA” Raphael proto.

San Diego CHAOS CONUNDRUM 2014 ::  VARNER STUDIOS Booth, SDCC '14; TMNT protos - Unreleased "SHADOW NINJAS" NEXT MUTATION protos

** Varner Studios inc. **

☣ ☣

San Diego CHAOS CONUNDRUM 2014 ::  VARNER STUDIOS Booth, SDCC '14; TMNT protos - Unreleased "SHADOW NINJAS" NEXT MUTATION protos

★ ★

 I brought these images up to hi-rez best i could, but it didn’t do much good. Well a little bit. Whatever- you get a better grasp at the color scheme of the Teens in their awesome SHADOW NINJA martial arts gear. Varner Studios can make ANY Turtle look really cool.

LEE'S TOY REVIEW #xx ::  pg.x TOY FAIR '98 - PLAYMATES'S 'ZORRO' & NT: THE NEXT MUTATION. Turtleflage & SHADOW NINJAS / Unreleased 'SHADOW NINJA TMNTS' (( xx 1998 ))

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★ ★

 

Varner15

LEE'S TOY REVIEW #xx ::  pg.x TOY FAIR '98 - PLAYMATES'S 'ZORRO' & NT: THE NEXT MUTATION. Turtleflage & SHADOW NINJAS / 'TURTLEFLAGE' asst. (( xx 1998 ))

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★ ★

 Again i attempted to enlarge a portion of the photos in the article. Dr.Quease looks like he may be holding some kind of pincher-like projectile launcher or something. His scalpel-like arm weapon appears to have been a clip-on as it appears on the opposite arm of the prototype pictured from the back of the TURTLEFLAGE packages. The blood-splatter design on his jacket appears a little different than on the package image as well. But it is hard to tell as the article image is a bit blurry even when enlarged.

Still you get some good ideas as what could have been if he was released to retail.

LEE'S TOY REVIEW #xx ::  pg.x TOY FAIR '98 - PLAYMATES'S 'ZORRO' & NT: THE NEXT MUTATION. Turtleflage & SHADOW NINJAS / Unreleased 'Dr.Quease' weapons peek  (( xx 1998 ))

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★ ★

LEE'S TOY REVIEW #xx ::  pg.x TOY FAIR '98 - PLAYMATES'S 'ZORRO' & NT: THE NEXT MUTATION. Turtleflage & SHADOW NINJAS / 'TURTLEFLAGE' Don & Leo's Camo Blitz Bike  (( xx 1998 ))

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★ ★

Finally in the breakdown of the page, here’s a small shot of the cool TURTLEFLAGE LEO and his CAMO BLITZ CYCLE, a really neat bike. I beleive that toy is actually rather sought after nowadays along with the DLX Donatello vehicle from the same series. A good shot of the creepy-cool basic TURTLEFLAGE DON appears too – the article mentions his camo mask lookin’ like it’s from SILENCE OF THE LAMBS .. EEEEEeessh !!

Well just call me Clarice O’Neil .. :{

 • •

RELATED NOTES ::

 

February, 2015
02TMNT Annual 2012 Deluxe Limited Edition HC
25TMNT New Animated Adventures #20; TMNT: Mutanimals #1; TMNT #43

March, 2015
04TMNT New Animated Adventures #21; TMNT: The IDW Collection, Vol. 1 HC
11TMNT Color Classics, Vol. 3 #3
18TMNT: Mutanimals #2
25TMNT #44

April, 2015
08TMNT New Animated Adventures #22
15TMNT #45; TMNT Color Classics, Vol. 3 #4; TMNT Classics, Vol. 10 TPB
22TMNT: Mutanimals #3; TMNT/Ghostbusters TPB

May, 2015
02 – FCBD 2015TMNT Prelude to Vengeance – FCBD 2015

06TMNT Color Classics, Vol. 3 #5; TMNT New Animated Adventures, Vol. 5 TPB
13TMNT New Animated Adventures #23
20TMNT #46; TMNT/Ghostbusters Director’s Cut
27TMNT: Mutanimals #4

TBD
??Secret History of the Foot Clan, Deluxe Workprint Edition HC

Steve Lavigne

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2luUrtwOyo4&sns]

~ t

Tomart’s Action Figure Digest #xx :: pgs.26, 27 TOY FAIR ’97, PLAYMATES “NINJA TURTLES: THE NEXT MUTATION” (( April 1997 ))

Tomart's Action Figure Digest #xx :: pgs.26, 27 TOY FAIR '97, PLAYMATES "NINJA TURTLES: THE NEXT MUTATION / ..early N.M. logo  (( April 1997 ))

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★ ★

–>> Here’s some more Ghosts come to haunt the sewers from Toy Fair’s past !!

This artwork and early N.M. logo was being used by Mirage and Saban early on in the development of the live-action show. I recall seeing it multiple times on the official TMNT website.

Tomart's Action Figure Digest #xx :: pgs.26, 27 TOY FAIR '97, PLAYMATES "NINJA TURTLES: THE NEXT MUTATION (( April 1997 ))

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★ ★

This has been rescanned at a higher rez, and broken down to hi-light a better look at the prototypes and such presented within’ the magazine spread.

There’s a bit going on here including early prototypes of Venus and Dragon Lord, logos, and a very “DARTH VADER” – like, early Shredder prototype that’s quite pointy.

Pink-bandanas on Venus and a really cool paint job on DRAGON SKULL a.k.a The Dragon Lord.

The very comic-book, “DOONEY STYLED” Elite Guard in this line was the first “Shredder Elite Ninja” ever to be sculpted into a toy.

The Elite Guards don’t look like this in the show at all as they do on the fig.

It’s not mentioned much, but the story was supposed to go in that after Venus defeated Shredder and the N.Y. Foot Clan was disbanded, the Shredder’s Elite were to join Dragon Lord’s “THE RANK” army in lieu of the absence of the FOOT. Hopefully when Oroku Saki was to return, they would have rejoined him once again betraying their new Dragon master.

Tomart's Action Figure Digest #xx :: pgs.26, 27 TOY FAIR '97, PLAYMATES "NINJA TURTLES: THE NEXT MUTATION / ..early "VADER-esque" 'SHREDDER'  (( April 1997 ))

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★ ★

Connotations between “SHREDDER” and “Darth Vader” drove me nuts growing up – i heard it many times. But it’s pretty hard not to think of the Dark Lord with this early proto and SHARP version of Saki. The final figure looks immensely cool, one of my all time favourites.

Tomart's Action Figure Digest #xx :: pgs.26, 27 TOY FAIR '97, PLAYMATES "NINJA TURTLES: THE NEXT MUTATION / ..early "pink-bandana" Venus  (( April 1997 ))

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★ ★

Venus’s proto included pupils and a pink coloured banadana and wrappings.

NINJA TURTLES: THE NEXT MUTATION :: VENUS ..card backer ii  ; signed by Mitchell A. Lee Yuen - "RAPHAEL"  in N.M.  (( 1997 ))

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☯ ☯

Tomart's Action Figure Digest #xx :: pgs.26, 27 TOY FAIR '97, PLAYMATES "NINJA TURTLES: THE NEXT MUTATION / ..early "DRAGON SKULL" the 'DRAGON LORD'   (( April 1997 ))

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★ ★

One of my favourites from the Teens’ Rouges Gallery. One has to presume that the Dragon Lord’s final facial look was not ready by the time he went to sculpt. The masked version would be the only version EVER to be manufactured and the same sculpt is used on his TURTLEFLAGE deluxe figure. He never wore the mask in the show, as you may recall. A “sculpted dragon-head” was promised for a future figure, maybe it was even sculpted at one point. But who knows. Again, the line went away after the second wave.

The cool paint wash on this highlights the sculpt a bit better on the prototype than on the manufactured figure. You can even see the upper “GREEN” portion of his face just a bit peaking above the face mask. The final figure just makes it look like he’s wearing a full, white head mask.

NINJA TURTLES: THE NEXT MUTATION :: "CAMO-CAPE TURTLEFLAGE" DISGUISING DRAGON LORD ..card backer ii (( 1997 ))

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☠ ☠

Tomart's Action Figure Digest #xx :: pgs.26, 27 TOY FAIR '97, PLAYMATES "NINJA TURTLES: THE NEXT MUTATION / ..Eastman, vehicles & 'THUNDER THRASHERS TMNT'  (( April 1997 ))

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★ ★

 

Tomart's Action Figure Digest #xx :: pgs.26, 27 TOY FAIR '97, PLAYMATES "NINJA TURTLES: THE NEXT MUTATION / ..early Cycle assortment & 'Mutant Marauder'  (( April 1997 ))

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★ ★

The Biker , MEGA MOTORIN’ “Elite Guard” looks suspiciously like he’s wearing similar looking garb to the Rank Warriors. And none of the villains on the show ACTUALLY get a souped up ride like the cool red n’ purple, stealthy lookin’ speedster. Raph’s bike looks kinda similar to how it looks in the live show.

The big fat Mutant Marauder would be rereleased in the TMNT 2003 line tho’ it was redecorated a bit and didn’t feature in the animated show.

Tomart's Action Figure Digest #xx :: pgs.26, 27 TOY FAIR '97, PLAYMATES "NINJA TURTLES: THE NEXT MUTATION / ..early 'THUNDER THRASHERS' asst.  (( April 1997 ))

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★ ★

Early “T. Thrashers” protos include a pink-bandana Venus again, and she is wearing a top which actually looks cool on her.

For whatever reason, her final DLX Thrasher toy removed the top ( *GASP* ) and e’rythang just all umm — hangs OUT free-flowin’ in the breeze at the skate park.

Tomart's Action Figure Digest #xx :: pgs.26, 27 TOY FAIR '97, PLAYMATES "NINJA TURTLES: THE NEXT MUTATION / ..early 'THUNDER THRASHERS' "pink bandana & tank top" 'BLACKTOP BOARDIN' VENUS" Venus (( April 1997 ))

Tomart's Action Figure Digest #xx :: pgs.26, 27 TOY FAIR '97, PLAYMATES "NINJA TURTLES: THE NEXT MUTATION / ..Eastman in the showroom sewers  (( April 1997 ))..and there’s your buddy wandering his way thru’ the Toy Fair’s very own sewer system.

• •

N.Y. Toy Fair ’15 has wound down, but the hunt is just beginning for the collectors, kids, moms n’ dads EVERYWHERE !! ::

Back at Wonder Festival 2015, Prime 1 Studio showcased all four of their Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2014 Statues. Now we get a close up look at the Donatello Statue. **Prime 1 Studio has posted some official photos and some info for the upcoming release…-

Check out the full gallery on **TOY ARK and click ***Prime 1 Studio here for release info.

~ t

 

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 ))

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★ ★

–>> 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 ))

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★ ★

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

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★ ★

–>> 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 ))

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★ ★

 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

LEE’S TOY REVIEW #xx, pg. 32 / “TOY FAIR 2003 DECLASSIFIED”, TMNT – 2k3 Waves 2 peek (( xx, 2003 ))

LEE'S TOY REVIEW #xx, pg. 32 / "TOY FAIR 2003 DECLASSIFIED", TMNT - 2k3 Waves 2-4 peek; April, Casey, Hun  (( xx, 2003 ))

LEE'S TOY REVIEW #xx, pg. 32 / "TOY FAIR 2003 DECLASSIFIED", TMNT - 2k3 Waves 2-4 peek  (( xx, 2003 ))

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★ ★

–>> Listings for SIMPSONS and PRO ZONE MLB are included on the page. Apparently i did not save those pages with the photos from those lines. I guess Tokka was more obviously focused on preserving TMNT imagery when i culled the rest of the magazine, for whatever reason i did that. Musta been having some manic fit again.
LEE'S TOY REVIEW #xx, pg. 32 / "TOY FAIR 2003 DECLASSIFIED", TMNT - 2k3 Waves 2-4 peek; 'EXTREME SPORTS TURTLES' designs by Michael Dooney  (( xx, 2003 )).. Mike Dooney’s designs !!

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★ ★

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES :: THRASHIN' MIKE  ..card back (( 2003 ))

LEE'S TOY REVIEW #xx, pg. 32 / "TOY FAIR 2003 DECLASSIFIED", TMNT - 2k3 Waves 2 peek; ROLEPLAY, vehicles, Lair Playset (( xx, 2003 ))

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★ ★

 Alright .. the past is the past, and the PAST was’a blast ( for’sum o’ us anyways ) – -but let’s cut straight to the race, with PIXEL DAN’S famous NY T.F. Paper chase.

Let’s go head on in, kids !! Gracias, Dan !!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Playsets at Toy Fair 2015 – Secret Sewer Lair 2.0 & 24″ Leonardo Lair

Playmates Toys Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Action Figures Walkthrough at Toy Fair 2015

Playmates Toys Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Vehicles at Toy Fair 2015 – Pizza Thrower and More!

More from round’ the Toy Fair Web ::

 

~ t

Tomart’s Action Figure Digest #xx :: pg.20, 21 SDCC ’03 TMNT 2k3, Wave 2 peek (( xx 2003 ))

Tomart's Action Figure Digest #xx :: pg.20, 21 SDCC '03 TMNT 2k3, Wave 2 peek (( xx 2003 ))

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★ ★

** UPDATE **

I was alerted that the “Environmental Playsets” were part of a series of TOMB RAIDER, LAURA CROFT toys by Playmates – – so apparently they did see some kind of release.

–>> SDCC ’03 would be my first of the California Cons and Playmates had a nice medium-sized presence to help celebrate of the then, still very new 4kids TMNT T.V. show. Michael Dooney himself was on hand much of the time at Playmates’ booth to sign autographs and sketch. Toy giveaways were were done sporadically and this was my first “official” exposure to the TMNT at a convention post previous independent TURTLE MEDIA convention appearances. Most of my personal photos from this Con & particular were accidentally deleted. However this two page spread highlights the most interesting releases of the second wave of the TMNT-2k3 toy line that were on display. Of note are two deluxe boxed sets that were never sent into production. They were incredibly impressive in person. But they were not to see the manufactured time of day and have gone into the PLAYMATES archives for good. The figures however are merely “battle damaged” repaints.

Tomart's Action Figure Digest #xx :: pg.21 SDCC '03 TMNT 2k3, Wave 2 peek / .. unproduced DLX 'Donatello v. Foot Soldier' boxed set (( xx 2003 )) ** View LARGE On Black **

★ ★

“Battle Damaged” repaints of the basic Foot Soldier & Donatello on a cool, dirty NYC building rooftop base. Tomart's Action Figure Digest #xx :: pg.21 SDCC '03 TMNT 2k3, Wave 2 peek / .. unproduced DLX 'Raphael v. Casey Jones' boxed set (( xx 2003 ))

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★ ★

Repaints of the standard Casey & Raph from waves 1 & 2 of the TMNT – 2k3 line. Casey’s bike and the killer “alley way” base were entirely new.

• •

TF-15-peeksHere’s the first aggregation for NYC TOYFAIR 2015 ::

~ t