I’m starting to wonder if anything is going to be left for Toy Fair itself. Yesterday, MTV Geek revealed a bunch of the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles toys, which was another of the lines I was most looking forward to coming out of Toy Fair.If you haven’t seen them yet, you can see them here. Go ahead. Go take a peek, and then come back here.
Frankly, I think they look fantastic! Both the new stuff, and the Classic line based on the old Fred Wolf cartoon from the 80s. Great looking stuff. Playmates is really showing their “A” game here!
I’ve been eagerly anticipating seeing what Playmates had planned for this new line. I’ve been a TMNT fan since the original comic. I remember flipping through the first issue at Comics & Fantasies in San Jose, California back in the day. Unfortunately, I didn’t pick it up then and they sold out and the phenomenon began. I still remember seeing the first ad for the original toys in the back of one of the comics.
I was excited when IDW acquired the comics license for the TMNT. I haven’t read any of the new stuff yet (waiting for the trade), but IDW always rocks the reprints of previous material. They recently released a georgeous hardback of the earliest Mirage material and did their usual bang up job. The plan, according to Turtles editor Bobby Curnow, is to release everything that has come before…over time, of course. The Mirage books, the Archie TMNT Adventures, and even the short-lived Image series. Fantastic!
Plus, there’s the new CGI animated series starting later this year on Nickelodeon. Nick now owns the TMNT, having purchased the rights to the property from Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird back in 2009. This new series is the impetus for the bulk of Playmates offerings to come. I’ve got my fingers crossed that the new series is good. Good or not, it looks like I’m going to be enjoying those toys!
There’s also supposed to be a mini figure line of some sort. So, I’m looking forward to seeing pictures of that from Toy Fair in less than two weeks now!
“Nick now owns the TMNT, having purchased the rights to the property from Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird back in 2009. ”
Just a minor detail correction — Viacom, Nick’s parent company, purchased the rights from me — or, to be more technically correct, I suppose — from my company Mirage Studios in October of 2009. Kevin had previously sold his ownership interest in the TMNT to me, and was not involved in the sale. — PL
I hope these do well enough so that enough characters get the classic treatment. Bring on Chrome Dome!
Peter, are you involved at all anymore, even on a consulting level?
If I recall correctly from Peter’s blog, Nick’s offer was attractive because he wouldn’t have to do approvals or the like. IDW does have Eastman involved so I’m sure if Peter ever wanted back in, they’d let him. Plus I think he has the right to make a certain number of Turtles comics per year based on the Mirage continuity.