TMNT WITH A DASH OF MONSTERS
NOT MY PHOTO - CARRY ON
Happy October! We’re in the thick of it now! And, since we’re in the season, it feels like the perfect time to mention Turtles…. If you noticed the photo above (again, not mine) you already know we’re about to ponder the unlikely intersection of Halloween and TMNT and the series of action figures that perfectly embodies this odd pairing.
The year was 1993. Bill Clinton had just taken office, the Dallas Cowboys triumphed over Buffalo in the Super Bowl, and I, at the tender age of four, was about to encounter something that would leave an indelible mark on my young psyche: my beloved sewer-dwelling reptiles masquerading as classic movie monsters. I didn’t know shit about the Universal Monsters but it didn’t stop me from wanting to own yet another iteration of my favorite characters - a perfect-for-Halloween set at that.
For those born in later years, the concept of horror-themed TMNT figures marketed to children might seem bizarre. But trust me, in the context of the early '90s, it made a strange kind of sense. TMNT was at the height of its popularity, while Universal Monsters were experiencing a resurgence, appearing on everything from postage stamps to Pizza Hut and Pepsi promotions. A collaboration between these franchises seemed almost inevitable.
The initial wave included Leonardo as the Wolfman, Donatello as Dracula, Michelangelo as Frankenstein's Monster, and Raphael as the Mummy. True to form, Playmates Toys equipped each figure with a unique character biography and a close up weapons list on the packaging. I've taken the liberty of photographing these for posterity. They're worth a read, if only to appreciate the beautiful absurdity of concepts like "bolt-handled nunchucks" and Donatello's newfound "thirst for the blood of foolish Foot villagers." If all that wasn’t enough, these dudes GLOW IN THE DARK!
The line must have found some success because a second set was released the following year. The 1994 batch featured Invisible Man Michelangelo, Creature from the Black Lagoon Leonardo, The Mutant Raphael (a somewhat redundant concept), and April as the Bride of Frankenstein. I'll admit to feeling a twinge of disappointment that Donatello was excluded from this round, but the novelty of seeing April with that iconic white-streaked beehive somewhat makes up for it.
In recent years, we've seen similar monster-hero hybrids from Nickelodeon's 2012 series and the ongoing NECA line both bringing a fun vibe to the table in their own way. But let's be real - how can you beat the originals? You can’t.
So here's to you, Monster Turtles. You taught us that it's okay to be both hero and monster, that creativity knows no limits, and that sometimes, the best ideas are born from the craziest collisions of pop culture.