TMNT

Very cool, haven't seen one of those prints in ages!

Adam, my man!! And absolute perfect description and a big part of why I love it so much. You know, I though about that

Yes, they are glass display cases. It's hard to see since the case is black and the knob is black, but what's cool is that in the front you pull the knob, and it levers up the front facing glass to slide whatever in. Hard to explain, easier to show. I'll try to remember to snap a pic of that. This pic is a little older, but it does show the 2 cases side by side. And overall shows this side of my Sewer. I've got stuff wrapping around the room but these are the only 2 of these cases I have. I love them because they fit 4 magazine or 5 regular CGCs without issue, so perfect for the first 4. Found them in a local shop and had to buy them. Added some lights and they were good to go

Hey guys! Haven't been around the boards of late (which I hope to change...) but just wanted to share this recent pickup. This is my 3rd #11 in 9.8 though the years, I'm thinking this one will finally stick. Happen to be doing some rearranging of the wall art as well when this arrived so figured it was a great time to snap a pic of its with the cover art.

It's so funny seeing my letter in there from 2018... This piece was made after Raphael #1. Eastman told me back then and is still saying as much in the HA. The pen and ink were then photocopied and used in comics interview and later in Turtlemania. The actual pen and ink board was then painted sometime in 85, possibly in 86. The painted image as seen above has never been actually published, only it's B&W pre paint version was. I can't say I agree at all with HAs description. But at least they kept my letter and put Eastmans thoughts as well so hopefully the buyer just really liked the image. It is an early piece, just not the first published artwork as purported. In my eyes, if we're talking "firsts" : 1. First drawings of Casey 1984, various sketches exist as they worked out the final look. 2. First published appearance period, Raphael #1 Cover. Has his classic hockey mask on and bat. 3. First published appearance in story, was Raphael #1, pg 7 where we see him maskless on his couch watching TV before donning his gear 4. First painting, this piece we've been talking about (unpublished as a painting)

It was frequently the case where the original paintings appear much brighter in person than what was actually published on the comics so I wouldn't worry about that. Its interesting though, that I have specifically seen that "purple disappearance" on a finished painting vs the published image twice now with this piece. Where the original looks almost grey but the published is brighter purple. That said, doesn't take away at all from this amazing piece. So few of these covers ever see the light of day.

Good summary of the cover situation, Chuck. I'll only add that cover size for the published early E&L issues 1-11, much like the interior pages themselves, were generally of various dimensions. They did seem to get bigger as the years went on. Regarding some of the larger wrap around covers from this period: The TMNT Adventures RPG cover was 13 X 20: the issue 1-11 Omnibus cover was a bit bigger at 13 X 27: and issue #11 was the largest at 18 X 24. These are the finished images, boards a bit bigger.

Went up through at least issue #5

Yes it seems like the "two originals" one pencil/inks the other paints phase stopped around 1985 as there a couple of covers out there like that. However, seeing this one from 1986 all on one board, and knowing mines from 1986 - 1988 are all on one board, and knowing of another 1986 all on one board, makes me think they made the switch around that time.

By complete chance, I've picked up a few Rat King pieces recently, including toys, art and a couple cels from the show I need to take a pic of. He was always a favorite villian of mines in all iterations. Here's the toy: It's been a blast picking these up again, coming full circle to what started my collecting in the first place. Only this time, having graded versions that present so nicely. Just a few more figures and I'll have all of Series 1 and 2. Then I stop!

Speaking of Tales #4, featuring the first appearance of Rat King, check out this cool page I picked up recently

Yes, the Fan Club softs are the absolute originals and the most sought after. There's been some controversy in the community regarding the legitiamacy of some figures that have popped up with Fan Club inserts. Namely, the other figures from that first wave like Shredder and April, etc. Some say just the Turtles have them, others say all of them did at one point, perhaps in extremely limited print run. Doesn't help that if you are conniving and industrius enough, you can carefully squeeze an insert into the package as there is a natural small gap in the bubble along the bottom. That said, if you get a Turtles figure with Fan Club you are probably OK. But before plunking down 20K that a recent seller was seeking for a supposed Foot Soldier Fan Club, may want to do your due diligence...

Yes, the original 10 figures of TMNT were soft plastic heads, except for Foot Soldier and April. Then production switched to hard plastic heads. Most people as kids had those hard plastic, unless you happen to have gotten in early in the line or some stragglers still on shelves. The soft are more valuable nowadays. While there are some color differences that help, generally looking for a seam on the head indicates a hard head. No seam = soft. The last pic shows my childhood hard vs a soft

Man you had some gems!!