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

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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.

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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.

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

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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.

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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.

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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 ))

..and there’s your buddy wandering his way thru’ the Toy Fair’s very own sewer system.

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

With Baxter-Fly, Turflytle, and Karai Serpent slithering onto Ebay; as per the pattern every quarter new toys invade stores – and as ol’ Tokkie always warns:: .. stay calm and bide your time as you hunt the pegs at your favourite brick & mortar store or online retailer. Avoid ebay at first if at all possible to maximize your spending power. The prices for figs at first on ebay are absolutely insane ..and are only for the most desperate.
Toy Ark :: ..on the higher end of the hunt – –
PRIME 1’s Donatello Statue

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.

FLICKERING MYTH:: While we’re on topic with the movies .. UK Home Media release of the TMNT film brings an ..

Interview – William Fichtner talks Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, not playing Shredder and returning for the sequel
We have one more “GHOST” from Mutations & Toy Fair’s distant history set to publish for this time ’round. I’ll try to get to that in 24 or so. Plus i’ll try to squeeze in Rich’s Comic news. Stay Mean, Lean – and Turnip Green, my young friends !!

~ t

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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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

COWABUNGA CORNER :: COLORFORMS RETURN WITH TMNT ,interview !!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles T-Machines Cars and Playsets

TOY ARK ::

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

WFS, via his instagram has a shot of Joe Allard’s “LOYAL SUBJECT X TMNT” wave 2 focusing more on the original TMNT T.V. show this time, the return of Bebop and Rocksteady’s designs ( updated to match the classic show a bit more ), and surprise fan faves – Leatherhead and Slash ( chase figs? ).
WFS also has peeks of LOYAL SUBJECTS exclusives for SDCC and retailers; MIRAGE-esque Turtle Vinyls & Glow-in-the dark figs !!
** Hey,if you wana follow Tokka’s b.s. schizophrenic SNAPPER shenanigans on instagram, check it here.. if you like getting migraines on your IG feed.
Anyway , more as it develops – – and more from TOY FAIR’S PAST and a TANK TOPPED Venus !! Watch this space..back in about 24. ;p

~ t

Nickelodeon TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES :: MICHELANGELO ..rejected noggin; sculpt by Stefan Varner (( 2012 ))

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–>> Iconic toy sculptor, STEVE VARNER of ** VARNER STUDIOS crafted all 4 of Nick’s initial 2012 TMNT figure wave bodies and all, with one noted exception.. Michelangelo.

Stefan Varner, son of Steve and fellow toy designer at VARNER was in charge of creating Mikes noggin. Four ( or more ? ) attempts were made to get Mikey’s face just right. The fifth head passed Stefan’s and Nickelodeon’s expectations and that is the current noggin you’ll find on main Mikey figures in production worldwide. This particular sculpt is etch signed by the artist.

..the rejected head set atop the manufactured PLAYMATES Mike body.

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TARA returns with a new Collector’s case for Playmate’s NICK TURTLES !!

PARAMOUNT’s TMNT & Tohoru Masamune, THE SHREDDER & Minae Noji’s KARAI ( & more ) feature prominently in the latest issue of VENTS MAGAZINE.

~ 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.