Happy Thanksgiving!!

Thanksgiving gets mutated

Pizza Points

Anybody else totally into thisRise of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Pizza Points system from @PlaymatesToys ? Can't wait to collect enough to earn that Muckman action figure! BTW, I already entered the codes in the pic.

Rise of the TMNT Toys!

Kids went to Target with their Mom today and came home with the Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles toys! COWABUNGA!!

Giant Turtles Display

Cleaning up my office today and rediscovered this HUGE TMNT: Out of the Shadows cardboard display piece I got a few years ago! It's so huge, I have nowhere to put it!!!

Halloween Comicfest 2018

Tomorrow is Halloween Comicfest! Don't know what Halloween Comicfest is? Here is a quick rundown: In 2012 Diamond Distributors started the Halloween Comicfest event. This event is similar to Free Comic Book Day. Kids dress up in there costumes and are given free comics at their local comic shop. Even if you are not a kid trick or treating for comics is still allowed for the adult collectors. Each comic given away has some sort of Halloween twist to it and range in ratings from Mature to All-Ages. My kids and myself love this promotion, not only because it gives them an extra day to go out and show off their costumes but because it is FREE! My family will be attending and these are the comics I am most excited to pick up!

TMNT RISE OF THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reinvent the meaning of "fast food" as they chase after the diabolical Meat Sweats who has just stolen a pizza truck!

(W) Dale Malinowski (A) Andy Suriano, Ida Hem, Brandon Cuellar

In Search of The Goonies Novelization

Every once in a while I like to challenge myself to find a piece of my childhood that will bring back great memories of my amazing childhood. This time around I have found myself on a quest to find and purchase the novelization of my favorite movie of all time...The Goonies! This book search didn't happen just out of the blue, but thanks to some of the guys I follow on Twitter like Shawn Robare of Branded in the 80s fame. I've read some of these adaptations of movies and sometimes they contain altered events and deleted scenes that never made it into the movie. I am hoping this is the case with The Goonies. So I searched online...

but the prices were a little out of my range. After that didn't go as planned I ran another search, this time for used bookstores in my neighborhood. I found 3 of them in the area! It looks like I am now on my own Goonie adventure, but instead of looking for rich stuff I was hoping to uncover a wealth of  fantastic fiction. I have journeyed to 2 of the bookstores so far, but no Goonies novels were to be found. Instead I picked up some other great literary works of art based on a few awesome characters that were popular back in the day. Here is what I scored for under $5!

TMNT: The Storybook Based On The Movie (Random House, 1990)

Not a bad haul overall. At least I found something to bring home and read to my kids before they head off to bed for the night. But it wasn't what I was looking for, it wasn't The Goonies. Well, I still have one more shop to check for my paperback white whale! Wish me luck and pray I don't end up like Chester Copperpot!

Turtle Shelfie

Attempted to get a panoramic shot of my newly constructed Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Shelf, but it didn't turn out so well!

Got me some issues

Been trying to upload pictures of my NECA Ninja Turtles for a post to my blog today, but the damn things don't want to load for some reason! Oh well, maybe I'll have it ready for next week?

Cookie Time!

Oh hell yes! I know what I'm doing with the kids tomorrow! TURTLE FACE COOKIES!

Wax Pack Revolution #4

A recent obsession of mine has been collecting old wax packs of trading cards from the 80s & 90s. Sure, I have a ton of these non-sport cards from when I was a kid, but the artwork and design of the packaging is something I missed. When you would buy one of these packs you would tear it open and throw away the wrapper. Never giving it a second thought. Seeing these again brings back memories of feeling the slick paper in your hands, seeing the simple artwork and the smell of bubble gum. Let's dive into a few of these packs that I have on display...AGAIN!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3 (Topps, 1992)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3 may be my least favorite of all the TMNT movies, but I actually dig these cards! I like the borders of the base cards, the backs are nice looking and the art cards subset is a very cool addition. I only picked up a few packs of these when I was younger, but I look to rectify that error soon. I would like to add this set to my TMNT collection.

TMNT Alliance Video VHS

About a week or so ago, a coworker of mine was having a yard sale and said he was selling a bunch of movies for about $1 a piece. He is a big movie aficionado, so I was curious to see what flicks he was selling. I dug through his DVDs and grabbed a few. Nothing too great, but he did throw in about a dozen more of his picks for me to watch for free. On the way back to my car I noticed a box of VHS tapes stashed under a table. Something told me to take a look. I noticed the familiar box of the 1990 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie box and took it out. Something was different about this box though. It was a lot slicker and was missing the familiar FHE logo. Also, the Turtles on the front were flat, not embossed as usual! What the heck was this?

I took a closer look at the sides and noticed some more slight differences. Once again the FHE logo was replaced by an odd Alliance Releasing Home Video logo and a small Ninja Turtles cartoon head was placed under the picture of Donnie.

I took a look at the other side and noticed the same thing along with the addition of an MCA logo at the bottom of the box. I pointed these differences out to my coworker who never noticed these irregularities before. As a collector himself, I thought he was going to take the tape back, but he let me keep it. I asked if he knew where he got it from and he could not remember.

I took the VHS Turtles home and excitedly told my not so excited wife what I had found and noticed a few more things were awry on the back of the box! The first critique was not highlighted in red and the info on the bottom of the back was different too.

Finally I pulled the tape out of it's box, now this is where the differences were the most noticeable. This was a rental copy complete with green "Family" sticker and "BE KIND PLEASE REWIND" notice plastered to the tape. I love finding things like this. I wanted to see if anything was different with the actual movie recorded on this tape, so me and the kids popped it in and got ready for some radical action! The movie was exactly the same, except the commercials that ran before the movie were missing entirely!

Later that night I did what I should have done as soon as I got home and Googled "Alliance Releasing Home Video". It turns out this is the Canadian version of the TMNT Movie VHS tape! Who knows how it ended up in my buddy's yard sale, all I know is I am glad I have it! Now the question is, should I start seeking out all the other countries versions of one of my favorite movies of all-time?

Comic Book Pick: 7/18/18

This week the comic book I am most excited to read is...

RISE OF THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #0

A new age of mutant madness begins with the Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! This special zero issue is your very first look at the new adventures the guys in green will be getting into this fall! Will the TMNT be able to master their new weapons, or will the weapons master them?!

(W) Matthew K. Manning (A/CA) Chad Thomas

SRP: $3.99

Synopsis provided by PreviewsWorld.com

Ninja Turtles Animation Cel

I would always see this advertisement to purchase authentic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animation cels in the pages of the Archie published Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures comics. I always wanted one, but never could find them in any store near me. I just accepted defeat as a youngster and moved on with my life, until I was doing a search on eBay and stumbled upon some listings for TMNT animation cels.

I made a few bids on some of the cels, but only won one of the auctions. It was a scene with April calling from a phone booth. I know it's not the greatest example of animation art, but it is from one of my favorite properties of all time and it's mine!

Here is a closer look at the artwork. This is the first animation cel that I have purchased and I can really see myself starting a collection of these one of a kind works of past pop culture. Next on my list is an actual cel of the Turtles themselves!

I didn't pay much more than what these were actually going for back in the 90s at your local Toys R Us store. I'm glad the price sticker is still on this piece. The price tag itself is now a piece of pop culture history since we will never see these again on any toy packaging again!

The April O'Neil piece did come with a Certificate of Authenticity from Murakami Wolf Swenson Inc stating that this cel was used exclusively in creating the animation for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles TV series! 

I love the packaging for this item. It has this great illustration of Mikey drawing the Shredder! Pretty cool! I will probably have this framed, so I can add it to my TMNT collection. Right now I am working on putting together a specific section in my basement dedicated to only the Mean, Green Machine and this will be a nice addition to my medley of mutant merriment! TURTLE POWER!

One of a kind...

My daughter crocheted this Donatello doll for me as a Father's Day Gift! I have to find the right way to display it now.

Ninja Turtle Ice Pops!

This past week I organized the second of four Cookouts that my job puts on as a fundraiser for our local American Cancer Society. Each year we raise approximately $5,000 for the cause, but this year I was looking for a way to earn some extra donations when my wife stumbled onto the Facebook page of a local woman who runs an ice cream truck! I checked out her page and saw she had done some previous ACS events and looked at her pictures. I saw this...

She had Ninja Turtles, Sonic The Hedgehog, Batman and Minions ice cream pops available! I immediately messaged her and we were able to have the ice cream truck show up for the latest Cookout and she agreed to donate a portion of what she made to the American Cancer Society!

I was so excited to indulge in a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ice cream bar! I had not had one of these in decades! Mikey was cherry flavored sherbet with gumball eyes. Holding this really took me back to when I was a kid and my Dad would let us get some ice cream at the local general store. It was the same general store that was used as a filming location in the original Friday The 13th film!

More often than not myself and my brother would choose a Good Humor Fat Frog bar.

These things were amazing! They were made of green colored vanilla ice cream with candy eyes. I'm pretty sure they disappeared from freezers in the mid to late 80s. After that I would enjoy a Choco Taco, Bubble O'Bill, Flintstones Push Up or Strawberry Shortcake bar from the local ice cream truck.

So finally I was happy to have that feeling again of being a little kid in the summer holding an ice pop shaped like one of my favorite cartoon characters. On a side note the ice cream truck owner donated half of what she made to the American Cancer Society! Very generous of her! Now in honor of ice cream peddlers everywhere, let's take a look at a classic commercial! 

My Faves: Figure Collection #8

I have a fairly big collection of loose figures from the 80s & 90s. I would like to share a few of my faves with you at this time. These are a few of the toys I re-discovered while cleaning out my basement closet this past weekend. Here we go!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Slash (Playmates, 1990)

Ask almost any kid from the 90s who their favorite bad guy was from the TMNT Playmates line and you'll most likely get the answer SLASH! He was so cool, like a mix of the Turtles and their arch nemesis the Shredder. When me and my brother played, Slash was stronger than the Turtles, but not as smart. He was brainwashed by the Shredder to do his bidding and when the mighty TMNT had to face this powerful foe, they had to use more than brawn...they had to use their brains. This led to many great battles and traps set up on our bedroom floor. Man I miss those days!

Comic Book Pick: 5/23/18

This week the comic book I am most excited to read is...
TMNT URBAN LEGENDS #1

This is it, fans! You demanded it, and IDW Publishing listened! The entire Image Comics TMNT run (a.k.a TMNT Volume 3) reproduced for the first time ever in full, four-color glory! Join creators Gary Carlson and Frank Fosco as they take the Heroes in a Half-Shell on some of their most amazing and dangerous and bizarre adventures ever... culminating in three brand-new issues (#24-26), written and drawn by original creators Gary Carlson and Frank Fosco, completing this long-beloved storyline at last! In this premiere issue, the TMNT and Master Splinter are attacked in their lair by a of group of cyborgs led by the female ninja called Pimiko. Before the attack is over, one family member will fall... and one will be lost! Don't miss your chance to get in on the ground floor of the entire TMNT Image experience! Colors by IDW TMNT veteran Adam Guzowski (TMNT Color Classics)! Featuring new cover art by Frank Fosco and TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman!

(W) Gary Carlson (A/CA) Frank Fosco

SRP: $3.99

Synopsis provided by PreviewsWorld.com

Comic Book Pick: 5/16/18

This week the comic book I am most excited to read is...
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #82

"Kingdom of Rats," Part 2. Rat King's sinister influence spreads, and New York City's most vulnerable are at risk! The Turtles search out the Rat King's family in a desperate attempt to find a way to stop him!

(W) Tom Waltz, Kevin Eastman (A) Brahm Revel (CA) Dave Wachter

SRP: $3.99

Synopsis provided by PreviewsWorld.com

TMNT Adventures Postcard

One of the first comic books I ever received was an issue of the Archie published Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures. I loved that series! It was like we would receive new episodes of the TMNT cartoon every month. The artwork from Ryan Brown and Chris Allan was exceptional and the stories written by Dean Clarrain aka Stephen Murphy were captivating. I gazed at every inch of those issues and finally decided to write in to the Turtle Tracks page at the end of each book. And guess what? I got a reply postcard!!!

I of course told them how much I enjoyed the comic and was wondering where I could purchase some back issues that I was missing. Here was the response...

I was so excited to receive this from the TMNT team, I didn't even care what they had written! I still wonder why this card came postmarked from Northampton, MA and not from NY where Archie Comics headquarters were. Was Mirage handling the letters? If so, I wonder who wrote back to me? Was it one of the people who worked on the book or an office assistant? I will probably never know the answers to these questions, but I do know one thing...this is a prized possession in my Ninja Turtles collection! Still to this day I re-read those early Archie TMNT Adventures comics and it takes me back to a time when the Turtles were on top, to a time when TURTLE POWER ruled the world!

Retro Reading Corner: TMNT ABC's for a Better Planet

Since this Sunday is Earth Day, I figured that I would bust out this Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles book from 1991 and give you guys a few pointers on how to help make the Earth a better place.

This book is chock full of great tips and ideas from the greenest guys I know on how to be a responsible inhabitant of our planet. Below are some of my favorites. Enjoy!

F is for Fast Food

I is for Ivory

L is for Litter

P is for Pesticides

R is for Remember to Recycle Rubbish

Hopefully these lessons will help you have an eventful Earth Day this year. Now get out there, plant a tree, enjoy the nice weather and always remember the lesson Ya Kid K taught us to be green and keep it clean!

A Trip To Bones Arcade

Every now and then I like to take my son out on what we call a "Dude's Day". This is a day for just me and my son to go out without the girls and do the things he wants to do. Last week he planned the day out for us and off we went! 

We played a few more games of Crossy Road, Pac-Man and Mario Kart we hit up our favorite games in the place. Mine was Turtles In Time! Yes, I have played this game many times over the years, but not on a stand-up arcade cabinet. There is just something about playing a game this way that makes it 100 times better. My son's favorite game was a huge version of Space Invaders. This game was incredibly fun. It was like original Space Invaders with a twist. Each level had it's own unique challenge and there were mega power ups to use against the never ending rows of alien intruders. We made it to level 6 together and had a blast doing it!

Arcade time

Me and my son discovered an awesome arcade this weekend! I'll post highlights on my blog this week!