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No, this isn't a shot from the original animated series -- this is the original Bebop & Rocksteady in a modern TMNT crossover! Image Source: Paramount Home Video, Nickelodeon.
NewsTV/Cartoon News

Upcoming Bebop & Rocksteady Episodes Will Include 80’s TMNT Crossover

by Justin W
written by Justin W

When Playmates revealed the TMNT toy lines they had planned for 2017, I was curious about what it all meant. At the time, they unofficially announced that each set would be based around one of the “tales” that would be told during the final season of Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. This was big news, because we still didn’t know exactly what to expect from the upcoming season. Two of the action figures they revealed were Bebop & Rocksteady wearing gear from the original animated series, but they wouldn’t tell us anything else about this design.

Thankfully, we can now safely assume what they were going for with the retro motif. Various screencaps have been surfacing online over the past few days, revealing significant details about the upcoming tale featuring Bebop & Rocksteady. These pictures confirm without a doubt that the episodes in question will serve as yet another crossover into the alternate dimension of the original animated series. Not only will we get to see the original turtles once again, but the original Shredder, Krang, Bebop & Rocksteady will all be making their own appearances as well.

Unfortunately, there is one thing we can confirm for certain: Shredder will not be voiced by his original actor. Sadly, James Avery passed away in 2013 and took his iconic voice with him. Although there will never be another voice quite like his, I’m certain that Kevin Michael Richardson will do an excellent job with the role. Kevin currently voices the 2012 Shredder, and he has now been tasked with taking on the role of 80’s Shredder. If Rob Paulsen can do two voices in one show, I’m sure Richardson is also capable of that feat.

The 80's TMNT are back once again in another crossover event! Image Source: Paramount Home Video, Nickelodeon.

The 80’s TMNT are back once again in another crossover event! Image Source: Paramount Home Video, Nickelodeon.

Cam Clarke, Barry Gordon, Townsend Coleman and Rob Paulsen will once again reprise their roles as the 80’s TMNT. Pat Fraley was also brought in to reprise his role as Krang, so you can rest assured that most of the characters will sound almost exactly the same as they did three decades ago. Although Trans-Dimensional Turtles was definitely awesome, it’s nice to see that they’re giving fans yet another crossover in 2017 – the 30th anniversary of the original animated series.

Wanted: Bebop & Rocksteady will hit the air on September 17th, 2017, roughly a week after being released on DVD. That’s right – you can actually see this “tale” of the TMNT ahead of time by purchasing the DVD when it comes out on September 12th! This release includes episodes 15, 16, 17 and 10 from the fifth season. It might seem like an odd pairing, but the tenth episode was actually Lone Rat and Cubs, which was its own individual tale. Episodes 15-17 will serve as an epic three-part crossover featuring the retro turtles and villains alongside their modern counterparts.

Although I am disappointed that Nickelodeon has chosen to break with tradition by releasing these episodes out of order, it’s clear that this release offers some serious value. Not only do you get an episode written by Kevin Eastman, but you also get a three episode crossover event with significant 80’s TMNT heroes and villains. The Wanted: Bebop & Rocksteady DVD also includes the Ice Cream Kitty music video, something a lot of fans have been hoping to see for quite some time.

Even in another dimension, Shredder and Krang still plot the destruction of our favorite heroes in a half shell. Image Source: Paramount Home Video, Nickelodeon.

Even in another dimension, Shredder and Krang still plot the destruction of our favorite heroes in a half shell. Image Source: Paramount Home Video, Nickelodeon.

Say what you will about Nickelodeon’s decisions regarding this release, but at least they’re giving you several reasons to pick it up. No matter what you decide to do, it looks like these episodes are going to be a lot of fun. By now, it should be clear that creators Ciro Nieli and Brandon Auman decided to go out with a bang. Finishing up this season with a three-part crossover is the perfect way to show some love and appreciation to the fans, and I can’t wait to see how it turns out!

UPDATE: There have been contradictory reports about when these episodes will air. As of now, we can assume one of two things:

  • 1. Nickelodeon will release these episodes a week earlier than originally scheduled (September 10th instead of September 17th) in order to make room for the monster episodes that will most likely hit the air during October.
  • 2. Nickelodeon will push these episodes to the end of the season, airing them sometime after October.

Whatever they decide to do with the schedule, we’ll do our best to keep you informed.

Will you be picking up the Wanted: Bebop & Rocksteady DVD upon release, or are you going to watch these crossover episodes as they air on Nickelodeon? Are you happy to see the show crossing over with the 80’s TMNT once again? Share your thoughts and plans either in the comments below or on facebook/twitter.

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July's TMNT Box had at least one amazing item, but there was a lot left to be desired. Images: Justin W.
BlogOther

Heroes and Villains TMNT Box Review – July 2017

by Justin W
written by Justin W

Another month has passed, which means it’s time for yet another TMNT Box review! I can’t say this is the most impressive box yet, but it definitely wasn’t a disappointment. Although past packages have been far more interesting, some of the items included this time around were still pretty cool. If there is a theme, it appears to focus on both our heroes in a half shell and their enemies. Whatever the case may be, let’s take a closer look at everything that was included in this subscription box!

All four turtles look great on this stylish TMNT shirt. Image Source: Justin W.

All four turtles look great on this stylish TMNT shirt.

Stylish TMNT Shirt

The TMNT Box usually includes a TMNT t-shirt of some kind, but I have to say that this might be one of my favorites. The design reminds me of the types of shirts that kids wore in the mid 90’s, with colorful stripes and a bit of an edge. Each stripe features one of the turtles, and they are appropriately represented. Although Leo and Raph are somewhat similar, you’ll note that Donnie is sporting a pair of goggles and Mikey is wearing sunglasses. If you ask me, this shirt made the entire package worthwhile.

Bebop and Rocksteady Stickers

Although I can confirm that these are high quality stickers, they are essentially the kind of item you could get from a vending machine. Both items are very soft and look quite nice, but they aren’t necessarily anything special. To be fair, the design of each sticker is pretty decent, and I’m sure that younger TMNT fans will love them. Unfortunately, even if these items are unique and only offered in the TMNT Box, they’re not exactly what I would describe as “valuable.” This would have been a nice addition to the package if there were something besides a t-shirt and a button to go along with it, but as the second notable item in the box, it’s somewhat forgettable.

Although the stickers are kinda cool, that button leaves a lot to be desired. Image Source: Justin W.

Although the stickers are kinda cool, that button leaves a lot to be desired.

Shredder Button

While past boxes have included high quality hand crafted pins, this TMNT Box features a rather plain and unimpressive button of Shredder from the 2k3 series. If there were some kind of background to go with the button, it might have been an interesting addition; instead, they chose to give us a bland and uninteresting picture of the villain with absolutely nothing to make him stand out. I can understand if they didn’t have enough money to add anything else to the package, but they could have at least chosen a different image for this item.

Final Thoughts

Despite a few unimpressive components, this TMNT Box was still pretty decent. I can honestly say that I would have paid at least $15 for the shirt alone, and everything else was worth at least $3-$5 more. That puts the value of this subscription box at around $20, which is still far more than the $10 monthly fee. Having said that, I really hope that this is the rare case where some of the items included were fairly unremarkable. From what I have heard, they have a lot of great things planned for the future, so I won’t judge them too harshly for this month’s box. Here’s hoping August brings something a little more interesting!

What do you think? Would this selection of items make you want the TMNT Box? Are you hoping for something better next month? Share your thoughts either in the comments below or on Facebook/Twitter.

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Bebop & Rocksteady smash their way onto DVD this September. Image Source: Nickelodeon.
NewsTV/Cartoon News

Nickelodeon Announces Wanted: Bebop & Rocksteady DVD Release

by Justin W
written by Justin W

It has only been a few months since the release of the last Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles DVD. At the time, we praised Paramount for giving fans four episodes from the newest season of the show. These first few episodes from Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were airing at about the same time that the DVD set hit the market, making the physical release a pretty good value. Unfortunately, their latest efforts in this arena definitely leave something to be desired.

Wanted: Bebop & Rocksteady hits DVD on September 12th. Pre-order today! Image Source: Paramount, Nickelodeon.

Wanted: Bebop & Rocksteady hits DVD on September 12th. Pre-order today! Image Source: Paramount, Nickelodeon.

Wanted: Bebop & Rocksteady includes only four episodes from Tales of the TMNT. Although these episodes have yet to air, chances are that we will see them at around the same time that the DVD set hits store shelves. Sadly, it would appear that Nickelodeon has elected to skip over the Usagi Yojimbo installment for the time being. We don’t know when or if they will release this “tale” at a later date, but for now it seems that we won’t be seeing these Miyamoto Usagi episodes on a physical format anytime soon.

That being said, there may actually be some value behind this release after all. In addition to the four episodes included, this DVD set will also feature the Ice Cream Kitty music video. I know there are some fans out there who have been wanting to see that, so it’s nice to discover that they will have the opportunity to check it out very soon. Wanted: Bebop & Rocksteady is slated for release on September 12th, 2017. Although its MSRP is $21.99, Amazon currently has a pre-order available for just over $15. Something tells me that price will drop even more by the time the DVD is officially released.

As a fan, I wish there was a bit more value behind this release. I’m also a little disappointed that they’ve skipped over the Usagi Yojimbo episodes, but I’ve got a feeling those won’t be left in limbo for long. With all of that in mind, this DVD set might still be a good value for some of my fellow shellheads. The music video is definitely an awesome special feature, but I’m not sure it’s enough to supplement the four episodes included on this set. I guess time will tell whether or not this was a wise decision from Paramount and Nickelodeon.

What do you think? Will you be picking up Wanted: Bebop & Rocksteady? Is this DVD set worth the MSRP? Share your thoughts and feelings in the comments below or on Facebook/Twitter.

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Good Smile's Rocksteady statue is looking very polished. Image Source: Good Smile, Toy News International.
NewsToy/Action Figures

Good Smile Unveils James Jean Inspired Rocksteady Statue

by Justin W
written by Justin W

This probably won’t come as a surprise if you’ve been paying attention to Good Smile’s products, but they’ve finally revealed the finished design for their Rocksteady statue. Until now, the only point of reference we had for this collectible was the artwork created by James Jean. Now that we can see the fully painted figure for ourselves, it’s clear that they did quite an excellent job of recreating the character. Needless to say, this is going to make for an excellent addition to the crew of bad guys released by this company.

Get a good look at this awesome Rocksteady Statue inspired by the artwork of James Jean! Image Source: Good Smile, Toy News International.

Get a good look at this awesome Rocksteady Statue inspired by the artwork of James Jean! Image Source: Good Smile, Toy News International.

For those who didn’t know, this is actually the third TMNT villain collectible released by Good Smile. The first two products in this line were Shredder and Bebop, so it makes perfect sense to see Rocksteady follow his partners in crime. As you can see, the design of this Rocksteady statue is based on his appearance in the original animated series. Heck, he’s even sporting a boombox rocket launcher on his shoulder!

Despite taking elements from this earlier iteration of the character, it’s clear that James Jean went for a more realistic look when creating the artwork that inspired this figure. The results are quite spectacular, and it’s fair to say that this collectible figure is going to look fantastic next to the other baddies in the line. This makes seven total statues based on the work of James Jean, and they all look absolutely beautiful. Whether you’ve already started to collect them or you would like to start a collection now, this Rocksteady statue is now available for pre-order.

All three baddies lined up together and ready to crack some turtle shells! Image Source: Good Smile, Toy News International.

All three baddies lined up together and ready to crack some turtle shells! Image Source: Good Smile, Toy News International.

Are you impressed by this awesome Rocksteady Statue? Did Good Smile do a good job of recreating James Jean’s artwork? Share your thoughts and plans either in the comments below or on facebook/twitter.

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Slash joins forces with Raphael in an exclusive 2-pack of TMNT vinyls being sold by The Loyal Subjects at SDCC 2016. Image Source: The Loyal Subjects.
NewsToy/Action Figures

The Loyal Subjects Reveals Plans for SDCC 2016 Exclusives

by Justin W
written by Justin W

San Diego Comic-con is literally just around the corner, which means that several toy manufacturers are announcing their plans for exclusive Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles merchandise. We’ve already seen plans from Playmates Toys, Mega Bloks and Kid Robot, so it’s about time that we heard from The Loyal Subjects as well. Thankfully, their plans for SDCC 2016 have finally been announced, and they all look very promising. Although some of these figures are simply variants of previous models, others are variants of brand new vinyl collectibles that have yet to be sold in stores.

One of the most notable exclusive sets planned for SDCC 2016 includes both Raphael and Slash, which is definitely a match made in heaven. As you can see from the images provided, the Slash figure is slightly larger than Raphael, which is definitely by design. Fans will recall that Slash has almost always been a bit bigger than the Ninja Turtles, so it makes sense that the model for this vinyl collectible would be properly scaled. The paint job for this particular variant of the character appears to be based on his original characterization from the 1987 animated series, which I’m sure a lot of fans will appreciate.

An alternative variant of Slash will be sold alongside Leatherhead in another 2-pack of vinyls from The Loyal Subjects being sold at SDCC 2016. Image Source: The Loyal Subjects.

An alternative variant of Slash will be sold alongside Leatherhead in another 2-pack of vinyls from The Loyal Subjects being sold at SDCC 2016. Image Source: The Loyal Subjects.

Even if you aren’t interested in this particular set from The Loyal Subjects, it’s worth noting they will also be selling a Slash and Leatherhead 2-pack. The paint job chosen for this variant features a turquoise blue color, which hearkens back to the original Slash toy that Playmates once sold in stores. The Leatherhead figure features a light green tint, which is probably in reference to his original appearance in the 1987 animated series. Needless to say, both of these sets are pretty awesome. It’s always nice to see characters such as Leatherhead and Slash getting some love from the toy manufacturers.

The Loyal Subjects will also be selling an individual Donatello and Michelangelo variant based on their previous TMNT vinyls. As if that weren’t enough, they have decided to produce an awesome variant of their Bebop and Rocksteady vinyl figures as well. In total, there will be 8 different Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles figures being sold at the Loyal Subjects booth this year, and they will all be sold at different time periods. If you’re headed to SDCC 2016, check their calendar and make sure to arrive on time for the exclusive TMNT collectibles that you want.

Bebop and Rocksteady are looking pretty stylish with an awesome new paint job from The Loyal Subjects. Image Source: The Loyal Subjects.

Bebop and Rocksteady are looking pretty stylish with an awesome new paint job from The Loyal Subjects. Image Source: The Loyal Subjects.

Will you be picking up any of these awesome SDCC 2016 exclusive vinyl figures from The Loyal Subjects? Let us know your thoughts on these collectibles either in the comments or on facebook/twitter.

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