TMNT Tuesday: Portrait of Genghis Frog

On TMNT Tuesday, I share a scanned image from my classic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles collection.    Here's another package I failed to keep in its entirety, but I certainly hopped on clipping and collecting the card.  Enjoy!

TMNT Tuesday: Portrait of Ace Duck

On TMNT Tuesday, I share a scanned image from my classic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles collection. 

Unfortunately, as a kid, I didn't always keep the whole package backing from each figure, but rather actually clipped and collected the character cards and tossed the rest away!  At least I have this Portrait of Ace Duck to remember that brilliant package art by . . .

TMNT Tuesday: Raph's Foot Rub

On TMNT Tuesday, I share a scanned image from my classic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles collection.

This image from Tattoo's box doesn't feature Tattoo at all -- just Raphael fulfilling his choking Foot fetish.

Legends of Batman: Future Batman

I've been posting the clip-and-collect newspaper details from Toy Biz's DC Superheroes action figure packages these last several Thursdays -- and I'll continue the look at old DC toys with this, the card that came with Kenner's Legends of Batman Future Batman.  That's right -- before Batman Beyond was a glimmer in Paul Dini's eye, this Future Batman donned "an armored cowl and mask, pop-up wings . . . and a laser blaster!"  This figure remains on my display shelf, because the design isn't too different from either the Batman we see in Kingdom Come or the robot bats in Grant Morrison's recent issues of Batman, Incorporated.

Toxic Tuesday: Kids Against Pollution

In addition to TMNT Tuesday, this month I'll be featuring Toxic Tuesday, with card art from the action figure series The Toxic Crusaders!  Like the Ninja Turtles, Playmates produced these toys, too, so the layout on the back of these packages was very similar . . . for example . . .

The Toxic Crusaders also had a fan club, but it embraced a higher calling alongside Kids Against Pollution, adding a bit of awareness and responsibility to the whole action figure line.  Take that, Captain Planet!  I Googled KAP, and their website looks fairly inactive; still, their message lives on here -- and what better way to end Toxic Tuesday!

Extra! Extra!

From Toy Biz's DC Superheroes action figure line.

Toxic Tuesday: Stay Clean or Play Dirty!

In addition to TMNT Tuesday, this month I'll be featuring Toxic Tuesday, with card art from the action figure series The Toxic Crusaders!  Like the Ninja Turtles, Playmates produced these toys, too, so the layout on the back of these packages was very similar . . . for example . . .

Here's the roster of figures in this first (and only?) wave of Toxic Crusaders.  I think my brother and I had Toxie, Major Disaster, Dr. Killemoff, Psycho, and the Radiation Ranger . . . and while they weren't as beloved in our collection as the Turtles, their sculpts were super detailed, and the figures were fun to play with.  If I find them in any loose bins in the near future, I may need to "collect them all!"

Extra! Extra!

From Toy Biz's DC Superheroes action figure line.

TMNT Tuesday: Tattoo, part 2

On TMNT Tuesday, I share a scanned image from my classic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles collection. This week, I'm still making it up to poor Tattoo for my assumption that he was a member of the Foot Clan.  No, he's a good guy, and I just put my foot in my mouth!

Here's the "Portrait of Tattoo" that explains it all!

Finally, here's the Accessories Close-up that offers a better look at the tattoo decals that came with Tattoo.  Comparing this to the decal sheet I posted last week, it looks like a younger me was partial to the lion and the lobster.  That makes sense -- I'd hate to see what would happen if that "Mom" tattoo came to life in a fight!

Extra! Extra!

From Toy Biz's DC Superheroes action figure line.

* The writer should change his text to: "He alone held the stunning secret of Kryptonite . . .," because now all of Metropolis knows, you idiot!

TMNT Tuesday: Tattoo, part 1

On TMNT Tuesday, I share a scanned image from my classic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles collection. I've always displayed Tattoo on Shredder's side of the shelf, but after taking a look at his package -- I mean, his box -- I realize he's one of the good guys!  To make amends to the Turtles' fatty friend, I'll be giving him a two-parter . . . one post just wouldn't accommodate his carriage.

Here's Tattoo removing one of his tats, which, according to his bio, "come to life!"

And here are the tattoos themselves!  As a kid, I wasn't really into decorating my figures, so this decal sheet is nearly in tact!

February Bonus: Toxic Tuesday!

In addition to TMNT Tuesday, this month I'll be featuring Toxic Tuesday, with card art from the action figure series The Toxic Crusaders!  Like the Ninja Turtles, Playmates produced these toys, too, so the layout on the back of these packages was very similar . . . for example . . .

Here's the token origin strip, explaining how the Toxic Crusader came to be!

Interestingly, if the card had been punched on the pegs in the store, the reader of this little strip would've missed the flies buzzing around poor Melvin's head!

TMNT Tuesday: Enter the Shredder!

On TMNT Tuesday, I share a scanned image from my classic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles collection.   This image from the original Shredder's package borrows its pose from old Shred Head's first appearance in the Mirage comic that started it all!

Extra! Extra!

From Toy Biz's DC Superheroes action figure line.

TMNT Tuesday: More Slicin' 'N Dicin'!

On TMNT Tuesday, I share a scanned image from my classic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles collection. In this package detail, Slice 'N Dice Shredder is hot on the heels of Mondo Gecko with his "sicko sickle."  Gnarly!  

Extra! Extra!

From Toy Biz's DC Superheroes action figure line.

TMNT Tuesday: Slash!

On TMNT Tuesday, I share a scanned image from my classic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles collection.   Here's a detail from Slash's box.  

Slash was my favorite TMNT bad guy.  He's like a Bizarro ninja turtle, and since the turtles were always about brotherhood, Slash has a real psychological advantage.  I dig that he came with a twisted version of each of the turtles' weapons.  Imitation is the greatest form of flattery -- when you're out to flatten turtles, that is!  (I know -- I really should've written the bios for these guys . . .)

Sunday Funday

On Sunday Funday, I post whatever I want -- usually a collection of inspirations and finished projects from the previous week.  To wit:

I have two new pieces up at Nerdvana this week: one, an article about this very blog, the other, my Fun Find Friday about a Mr. T puzzle!  Check 'em out!

My biggest fanboy obsession this week has been Turtles Forever, the cartoon movie from 2009 that teamed up the Fred Wolf Turtles with the 4Kids Turtles -- and I may have already lost you, but, believe me, the story is very meta.  What amazes me more than the film itself is the idea behind it -- Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman are truly the Siegel and Shuster of our generation, having created a worldwide superhero franchise from their humble dreams of publishing a unique comic book.  Interestingly, for as many TV shows, movies, and comic book series the Turtles have inspired (and for just 30 years, it's been a lot), these different incarnations just end up telling the same story of four brothers, committed to each other, trying to make their father proud.  Sticking to this theme may be the secret to their success.

Also, I've been reading and enjoying The Reticent Heart and Other Stories by Gilbert Hernandez, which I picked up at Half Price Books a few weeks ago for six bucks.  The tales are short and poignant, and especially "An American in Palomar" has that kind of ending I like -- the story is over, but the emotional context lingers, leaving the characters changed and still changing from the experience.

This is why I love MeTV.  I'll probably talk about MeTV a lot on Sunday Funday, but I'll only reference it here because many of the classic TV shows on that channel embraced the power of "the end."  Sure, the episode is over, but it's just one beat short of complete finality, which makes me, the viewer, want more.  For example, I wasn't a huge fan of Mission: Impossible, but I ended up watching a whole episode a week or so ago.  In it, toward the end, Jim Phelps is driving a car rigged to kill him, but he jumps out just in time.  His enemies see the car explode and think their mission accomplished, but in the next scene, Phelps is walking down a hallway with his agents, triumphant.  He opens the door, the camera freezes on his face, and -- the episode ends.  Nothing said -- just that look of perpetual determination.  From that moment on, I've been hooked.

Perhaps perpetuity is the most endearing trait of all --

Extra! Extra!

From Toy Biz's DC Superheroes action figure line.

TMNT Tuesday: Groundchuck Strikes!

On TMNT Tuesday, I share a scanned image from my classic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles collection.  Here's a detail from Groundchuck's box. Dig that Turtle kneepad!  Did he pick that up from Spencer's or what?