Category: Interviews

I know, I know. It’s been a while. But here is is, the latest profile! Even though I have a small queue of more collectors to profile, I’m still looking for more fans to profile so please contact me (click my name in the “Contact Us” section) to see yourself profiled. Thanks!

Jerry

1) Please tell us a little about yourself.
Hello Everybody. I’m Jerry. I’m a huge TMNT fan from New Jersey. I know some of you already think I live in the sewer. I have always had an interest in toys. But the TMNT is what turned me in a toy collector.
I make my living as a lineman for the local telephone company. That just means I spend most of my days about 20 feet off the ground. I’m married and have been for over 10 years. We don’t have any kids, but we do have 2 large dogs that we rescued from the pound. Luckily my dogs have no interest in my toy collecting and never bother with anything that gets left out.

 2) How long have you been collecting TMNT and what prompted you to start?
I have been a TMNT collector since the day Playmates released the toys in ’88. I’m a little older than most Ninja Turtle collectors today. I was 24 years old when the toys were released. Almost my entire collection was purchased right off the store shelves. I have bought a few things that I paid alot of money for, but mostly everything came right out of the toy store and into my home.
I remember being on vacation in Florida back in the mid-80’s. I got up one morning and flipped through the TV channels. As I watched this strange cartoon, I remember thinking ” what is this??? Those are turtles and they’re ninjas”. Well for the rest of that vacation, I got up early each morning and watched this cartoon. Once I got home, I told some friends about this show I was watching. They all laughed and told me I was an idiot. Because the cartoon had not reached New Jersey yet or we had never seen it, all my friends thought I was on drugs. And bad ones at that. Soon after that the cartoon began playing and they all also loved the show I had been telling them about. I really enjoyed the original cartoon and was always in the toy store. I just happened to be in the local Toys R Us when the stock people were putting out the toys for the very first time. They clearly had no idea what to make of these new toys and were making fun of each and every figure that they pulled from the box. I went over and picked out one of each of all the figures they had. That’s what started my TMNT collection and it continues today, over 20 years later.

3) What specifically do you collect (toys, comics, etc.) and how large is your collection?
I mostly collect the toys from Playmates and I prefer to have the figures MIB or MOC. But I have been known to pick up almost anything that is related to the Turtles.
I used to think my collection of TMNT was very very large. But after talking to a few members, I realized some people’s passion is stronger than mine! I currently have all the vintage figures carded, maybe I missing 3 at the most. If it was released in the stores, it was my mission to find it. I always liked them, but never really collected the vehicles from the line. Now that would really take up alot of room!!

4) What is your favorite piece in your collection and why?
Favorite piece in my collection??? I don’t know if I could narrow it down to just one. I liked having things that are difficult, but not impossible, to find. I have most of the Japanese figures. And have full cases of much of the figures from the end of the vintage line, such as MutantMasters, Mutaforce, Dino, Coil and Eggs. I really like the Shredder Mail-away. I also have the gold 5th anniversary Turtle and a Toyfair 1989 Promotional wristwatch. Both are limited numbered editions and I was lucky enough to aquire #00005 for each item. But probably the centerpiece to my collection is something some people liked and others hated. I am lucky enough to own probably the last full body costume from the ’90’s live action stage show “Coming Out of Our Shells”. My costume is of Leo from the stage performance. If you would like to see it, The moderators of this great site have posted pictures of my TMNT and toy collection. You can see it there.

5) How do you store/display your collection at home?
Luckily I own my own home with a full basement. The basement is my toy haven. My wife, who supports my hobby, rarely goes down those stairs because of how much stuff is displayed all over. One corner is boxes that I must still sort through, but the rest is all displayed on shelves and in glass cases. Check out the pictures!!

6) What are your top five most wanted TMNT collectibles?
Right now, I am searching for one Japanese Super Turtles. I need Raph #56 to complete my set. Probably the only other thing I would really want to have is the store opening costume. Back in the day, when stores opened or just if it was a special occasion, sometimes the Turtles made an appearence. Usually only 2 at a time were availible. I want one of those really great costumes that I remember. It was very short and stocky. It was probably about 5 and a half feet tall and near 3-4 feet wide. The best part is that it was very reminisent of the FCF Turtles. I always thought that those costumes were very well made. I’ve been looking for decades for any of those and have never even seen them or pictures of them again. They probably went out with the trash along time ago. I hope not.

7) Anything you would like to say in closing?
I just want to say that I really enjoy TMNT collecting. I have met alot of great people over the years who share my interest and they all have my respect. Some, I’ve known for many, many years and others I just met a short time ago. Collecting is alot of fun as long as you don’t take it too seriously. I want to thank the moderators of this site. They seem to think I’d be interesting enough to do a profile of. I sure hope they weren’t disappointed. Again, my pictures are all listed over under the jwiz154 collections. I’d really like to know what anyone else thinks about my stuff. Thanks for looking.