TMNT

Those look pretty great. I've actually just started this build... going to take me a while.

The Shredder Sideshow Collectibles from a number of years back. The evolution of this statue can be traced back to a cheese grater (i.e. a shredder) which inspired Eastman to create the character when he put the grater on his hand. You can also see the alternate heads next to an actual shredder which was signed and sketched by Eastman. Little known fact, Shredder was originally called "Grate Man" (from that cheese grater inspiration...) Glad they changed the name! From that humble beginning, we get to this splash from issue #10. Which finally was used as reference in making this statue.

Wow... I mean, I can get the run up in issues 1 and 2, especially considering the print run. But this book, just like issues 4,5 were up to 60K print run already. So supply is definitely not an issue. Is the demand for Caseys first appeance REALLY that much higher than say April's first appearance in #2? Raphael is a classic cover but the cover to #4 (which came out as roughly same time) in particular is no slouch either. In ranking by 9.8 values, seems that this book is basically just behind issue 1st print and around 2nd print, then ahead of everything else (issues 2 and so on)

Yes it does. Was gifted to him by Dooney. Pete doesnt sell art as is, no way hes selling a gift. So I'd say zero chance we ever see this come to light, unless through family estate way down the road. But I agree, itd do crazy well at auction.

1st I've seen of one of those, pretty great stuff there

Removed

Yup. I would love to get a graded sealed NES Turtles 1 game. I have a nice cib but slabbed one would be cool for the collection and display

I do wonder how many NES Turtles fans/collectors actually know that it's also the 2nd print of TMNT #4... And then care enough about that info to drop serious coin on a graded copy?

If only there were a cookbook out there to answer all your questions...

Good question. I haven't submitted myself yet, these are ones I've just bought already graded. And Fugitoid was also a big time favorite of mine, frequently getting captured and saved by the Turtles in playtime sessions. That loose figure of him, along with the rest of the loose seen, are all my original toys. Was actually surprised to see how many of the accessories I managed to keep through the decades! And yes, I love that cel too, especially the big pizza. Have a few of the season 1 - 3ish cels on the walls around the room. Here's another shot of some of my figs and vehicles I took before placing them in their various displays. No desire to complete the entire toy line, but definitely trying to get a number of childhood favs.

So I'm watching the Ravens Bills game and finally got around to finishing up a couple of Mega Bloks sets that I've been meaning to build for a while now. Made a few tweaks, and was actually able to combine them into a nice scene. There's tons of cool details, like the Fugitoid wanted poster in the wall, but the coolest has got to be they came with fingernail size copies of TMNT 1 and Raphael! So for all you completionist out there...

Hey guys! My plastic crack of choice is generally TMNT flavored and it's great to see some fellow Turtle lovers out there. Here's a fairly recent display pic to give an idea though I've added a few more AFA to the collection of late. Been having a lot of fun recollecting the figures from my childhood on card again

No original artwork here. This process was used for some of the graphic novels where they colorized the original black and white stories and added some backup stories. Different publishers used slightly different processes and I've seen many slight versions, but the take away is that there are no original pencils or inks on any of that materiel you've posted. They are neat parts of the publication process and have some historical value, but nowhere near what the originals would fetch.

Ha! Yes please post pics regardless how they come out!

How about another vintage toy to start the new year? RAY FILLET Another great character heavy in the bathtub play sessions. In truth, I didn't have this 1st edition version seen but as an adult I can be a bit more picky. So there were 5 versions of this bad boy. These different printing show the gradual realization that Playmates made that making this color change Toy was expensive and so ultimately they took that feature away. - 1st version = "Awesome Mutant Color Change" starburst, Purple Chest with Red V. This is my AFA figure below. It let the kids know on the front and back that this guy changed color. Primarily done by dunking in water, he also changed color if he got too hot or too cold. How cool is that?! - 2nd version = "Awesome Mutant Color Change" starburst, Red Chest Purple V. It's a subtle difference, but they flipped the colors of the chest and V. Two likely reasons: a manufacturing error or they were testing cheaper manufacturing of the figure with colors switched being slightly cheaper to make. - 3rd version = No starburst, Red Chest with Purple At this point they wanted to get away from the expensive feature. So they took away the Starburst announcing color change. Some of these figures still changed but fazing out. - 4th version = No starburst but color change Ray image on front cover and rear profile card, Yellow Chest with Blue V 44 Back By this point, they changed the actual figure to a cheaper yellow and blue. And this figure did NOT change colors. The card art didn't have the starrburst but it did show the mutli colored Ray on it. - 5th version = No starburst, Yellow Chest with Blue V (non color change Ray on the card and profile card) 44 Back. At last they got everything right. No Starburst, no smaller colorful images of the changing Ray on the front and back. And the figure itself did not change colors. This cheapest version is probably the more common one seen today. And if you were a kid like me who bought this version (seen below) , you likely had no idea there existed the much cooler versions before! For those of you who woke up today wondering, hmmm, I wonder how many versions of Ray Fillet there are... You're welcome!

Purty book! That's basically the grade of book I'd like to get...if only I could find someone who would accept payment in ART!

It's actually a good point. While the assumption is that he made those additional 10 around 2012 sounds like its possible he actually did so earlier. And Kevin definitely sold Gobbledygook sets himself around that time frame and beyond. I'm not saying Kevin would intentionally do such a thing (everyone who has met the guy can tell you how genuinely nice is and how much he loves his fans) but it's also true he has people sell his items for him. Is it possible something could have been mixed up at some point, especially with how close in appearance the printings appear to be...? Of all people, Kevin knows the storied history of counterfeits of GG and TMNT 1 and seems a bit dangerous for he himself to run off another 10 that are so identical that could confuse uninformed buyers. If these were to always be a legit "personal use" set then sure, no problem. But clearly at least one set is out there. And honestly, if you yourself were to try pass these off as 1st prints and sell them, I bet you'd be able to without much issue. Which is kinda scary IMO

A few questions: I can't help but wonder why create a 2nd printing? I mean, did the first printing sell so well... you go back and create 10 more? When (what year) were these created? Were these made available for sale at any point? Or for personal use only?

Absolutely! They completely nailed it back then and are my favorite statue set as well. Though I have been enjoying the recent PCS ones based off the cartoon as well

Ive had this similarly happen one time to me. A page from issue 10 arrived in just a Manila envelope, not even a backing board. From Europe. Somehow it made it just fine with minimal bend and appears to have arrived better than yours... So sorry, my man. Relatedly, I did just make my two complete stories available for sale this weekend, one early Mirage and also my TMNT Adventures #2 book, if you have an interest and want more Adventures art. Feel free to poke around my CAF to see them

Yup, I remember those days when Scratch was so cheap! MOC/MIB were sort of my original taste of collecting en masse. Started with wanting to get my original toys...then everything else! For years I collected and stored away. Then one day I pulled them out and was shocked. In one sense, it was awesome seeing everything out, all my years of collecting. But in another sense, I realized I had so much "stuff", which stuff for me are those items with little to no real meaning to me. So thus began my first ever sales, which took forever, where I basically sold it all to focus on those things that really did hook me (comics and art...then ultimately art!). So now, I'm coming full circle a bit with getting carded figs. But this time will be much more focused and disciplined and will ONLY get figs and vehicles that I fondly remember from childhood and only in certain conditions. So alas, Scratch/ Hot Spot will not make the cut cuz I never had him as a kid. But I did have and love Sandstorm so on the lookout for him. And yes, they do take up more room, but in my little display setup and for the volume I plan on getting, should be doable. More than anything, collecting these guys is FUN which is exactly what I'm looking for. Those Mondo and Shadows are pretty sweet. They really are making some great toys nowadays. With great paints, poseabilities, etc. But I just CAN"T, I simply REFUSE, to go down that rabbit hole...

And lastly... MERDUDE Not a mermaid, not a merman. A merDUDE. Plus he actually floated so a must have for bathtub play sessions. You're jealous of my childhood, aren't you?

To battle metal you've got have metal, so who better to meet that challenge other than METALHEAD Another figure in heavy rotation, so much so this is one of the few that I've somehow lost my original, so loving him back in the collection now

Next up CHROME DOME , an absolute menace to the Turtles in my play sessions. Loved the all metal action and the wings on the back in particular as a kid

Merry Christmas everyone!! And in that spirit, let's mix it up a bit. I've started picking up some graded toys, of some of my faves from childhood, and recently treated myself to a few gems. Been having a blast collecting these. It's takes time as I'm being uncharacteristically super picky about grade and card condition, but when I do find the right ones, pure magic So here's a couple Christmas toys (I won't be unwrapping!) that just came in this week or so: SLASH One of my faves as kid, played with this guy so much and still have my original with most accessories somehow after all these years. Had just about every figure as well on the back of this card