A History of Re-Releases and changes {for S or anyone else)

[VaughnMichael]

Originally Posted by The S

I just got my carded Warrior Metalhead Michaelangelo and uncarded-but-still-came-with-card Robotic Foot Soldier today, and noticed some bizarre things about the card backs.

With Warrior Metalhead Michaelangelo (W.M.M. for short), It shows a completely different coloured W.M.M on the back, kind of a silver-ish with lime green arms. Furthermore, standard Metalhead is listed as "Metalhead Michaelangelo" (without the warrior part). Also, there are a number of figures presented that I know for a fact were never released - Demolition Specialist Donatello, Convert Specialist Raphael (who looks exactly like Raph, the Green Teen Beret from the photo), Communications Specialist Leonardo, Submergence Specialist Michelangelo, Warrior Rahzar with Fur, and Warrior Rocksteady. Furthermore, there is a repainted Robotic Bebop that is named Warrior Bebop. Was Warrior Bebop not the Warriors of the Forgotten Sewer figure? And finally, Sergeant Bananas is listed as a villain.

With Robotic Foot Soldier's card, the front looks exactly like W.M.M.'s in design (the last, if I recall correctly, basic card design, with Don swinging from a rope on top-left, Leo climbing the wall below him, Mike below Leo swinging his nunchaku on the ground, and Raph on the sewer ladder on the top-right). However, the flip side, except for the bottom third, looks exactly like the old 10-backs.

I'm pretty sure this is all common knowledge to most of you, but this is all news to me.

Good lord that's allot off post there buddy but lets see what I can tell you.
Yes starting with the first generic rereleases in 1992 they have been using the Pizza back card.
The robotic foot soldier card back you have is from 1994 and has a huge list of characters some that have never seen a rereleases ever in playmates history.
1995 was the last year for these and that is where these warrior metallized figures come from Warrior Rocksteady was indeed released as I own one.
Warrior bebop the robotic version was never released and was simply just a red and gold repaint of robotic bebop.
They had planed to release many figures in 1994 with collector cards that had never been rereleased before as well as new figures but never did, the same goes for these 1995 figures that came with the collector coins.

Ah ic reading your last part what you have there is the second release of the robotic foot soldier that came out in 1999 the very last releases of the line, the way many people tell these apart from others is that on the from of the blister card there is a green warning label, the 1995 rereleases all had purplish color warning labels.
Here are some images hope this helps:
1992 (1st generic rerelease packaging)

1993 (2nd version still using the old punch hanging method, old pizza back from the 1992 rereleases but this is when the new front starts and this is right before figure started coming with collector cards.)

1993 (3rd version still using the old punch hanging method, note the generic collector cards and them not being mentioned on the back of the box.)

1993 (4th version is strictly to the Shogun figures first releases, note that it uses the genric 1992 card back again just like the above tokka figure does and does not yet have the Shogun figures listed on the back, the only shogun figures that came this way are the 4 turtles, splinter, & april, also note all first release shogun figures have generic collector cards, also all shogun figures use purple clip and collect bios on the back unlike the rest of the normal series that use yellow.)

1994 (5th version the blister card has now switched to the modern hanger type, not the back of the box has added more figures to the list and now acknowledges the collector card, also note that these come with the first collector cards still there are 2 versions.)

1994 (6th version is pretty much like like the third but you will notice they changed the collector cards to a much nicer design.)

1994 (7th version, now this is only for the Warriors of the forgotten sewer and the only changes are the front of the box has art specific to this series & on the back of the box is the addition of Gatekeeper Rocksteady and it shows the Statue and comic instead of a collector card.)

1994 (8th version, this one adds 2 characters to the back of the box Robotic Foot Soldier and Shogun Triceraton, also note that the image of shogun splinter has changed, No figures have been taken off at this point.)

1994 (9th version, I believe this one is only for shogun shoate which is odd because right after his card he is taken off the back for version 9 which is shogun triceraton and robotic foot soldier, you can understand the confusion with shoates card because he still has the normal triceraton, usagi and space usagi on the back of his box but after his card they're gone for the rest of the releases.)

1994 (10th version, now this one no characters have been added but 3 characters Triceraton, Usagi, & Space Usagi have been taken off the back, Note: I think this card back only was used for Robotic foot soldier and Shogun Triceraton.)


1994 (11th version, adds krang's android body to the back of the krang's android blister card, no other changes, sorry no photo of the back for this one, and the card is only set up this way for this figure.)

[VaughnMichael]

1994 (12th version, and last before the switch to the collector coins, there are a few differnt blister card variants only because of the series they come from applo 11, universal Monsters, & undercover turtles. The slogan on the back also changes with this blister card back change to "It's a race to see who can collect the most!", and a decent amount of new toys are added to the back including: Krangs Android Body, Creature Leo, Invisble Mike, Bride April, Mutant Raph, all 4 Apollo 11 turtles, 4 undercover turtles, and normal triceraton is added back.)

1994 (13th version, this is when it starts to get tricky with the box changes, these ones come with both second edition collector cards and a coin, but the front has a collector card only sticker on the front and the back only shows it coming with a collector card also.

1994 (14th version, pretty much the same as the last one only this version has a collector coin sticker on the front of the blister, but the back still only shows a collector card.

1995 (finally! 15th versions, collector cards are no longer being released and only collector coins come with figures.)

1995 (16th versions, this is exclusive to the adventure tmnt which has it's own single collector coin, also note a huge amount of characters are now gone from the back of the box and a few new ones have been added including deep sea diver leo, safari mike, arctic don, while 3 characters made it over to the bad guys side Genghis frog, rat king, and Sergeant bananas(none of which ever got rereleased besides Rat King in 1993). A few figures are listed that never got rereleased and those are: Crazy Cowboy Don, Green Barrette Raph, Delta Team Don(who did get rereleased in 1999), Lieutenant Leo, Navy Seal Mike, & Head Droppin' Raph (which did not get rereleased until the ninja power line in 1996).
The slogan also changes from one back to 2, the good guys is: "Join up with all the good guys for an adventure of a life time!" and the bad guys says: "Only a whimp collects just the good guys!"

1995 (17th version, this ones almost like the last one but it's for the 2 Sumo Turtles Raph and Mike, the back is about the same besides they added the 2 sumo Turtles and Metal Head Mike.

1995 (18th version, this one is for the release of the Warrior Figures and the last new releases of the line, it's pretty much like version 16 but the sumo turtles are now gone and what's been added is: Warrior Winged Leo and don, warrior metalhead michaelangelo, Warrior Robotic Rocksteady, Warrior Robotic Bebop (never came out), Warrior Rahzar with fur (never came out), & Warrior Chrome dome.
They also changed the names of the 4 army turtles on the back of the box but still they never rereleased them ever.

1995 (19th version, ok this version is pretty much just for Warrior Metalhead Michaelangelo, while the front card and name sticker call him by this you may notice he do not have his coin and the back makes note of this by changing the accessories section and the bio section to that of the first Metalhead figure but using the image of Warrior Metalhead Mike.)
So S I'm not sure if this answer's your question or not but there are 2 box variants of this figure.

1995 (20th version, in 1995 a large number of figures had been rereleased to Wal-mart stores with the purple warning lable in the upper left hand corner of the blister card. The backs to these figures used the 1994 rereleases back but the only change is that there is no collector cards in the accessories section and the date has been changed to 1995 in the information.

[VaughnMichael]

1996 (1st version, Playmates changes things up a bit and rereleases some of the old mutations and other turtle figures that have sort of action feature for the 10th anniversary. They switch the front to that of the old sewer background from the 1990 figures and the back of the blister card is a new generic one. The series includes: Mutations, Pizza Tossin', Headdroppin', Sewer Spitting, & Ninja Action. All figures in this Ninja Power packaging series had been released besides: Mutatin' April, & Mutatin' Rahzar.)

1996 (2nd version, keeps the generic insert in the front of the blister, gains a sticker saying what it does on the blister, the front of the blister card changes to an ugly design which is used on allot of other TMNT figures series around this time like Coil Force, and Mutaforce.
The back remains exactly the same, no new figures have been added.

1996 (3rd version, about the same as the second version but they've added a new insert using nice old art or photos infront of the blister. The back is the same as it's been from the start.

1996 (4th version, the box front remains the same, the blister keeps the new paper inserts from version 3 but loses the sticker, in this last release of the Ninja Power series we get the addition of 4 more characters: Kung Fu Donatello, Kung Fu Michaelangelo, Kung Fu Rocksteady, & Kung Fu Raphael (all 4 saw release in the Ninja Power series.)
Now the back of the blister card for this last release of the Ninja Powers changes a bit to make way for these 4 figures and a logo is added for Playmates new website at the time.


1997 had no rereleases only Next Mutation, Dino Turtles, & Mutant Masters.

1998 we began to see rereleases again for the last time in small shipments to KB Toys and Biglots. These rereleases have a Green warning label on the front of the blister card and sport a generic back that looks like the very first release of the turtles figures.
But unlike the first releases some of these do not have color clip and collect cards, but most do.
The other way to tell these are rereleases besides the obvious generic 1994 blister card front and the green warning lable is the Playmates website logo on the back of the blister card.


1999 the end of an era! Playmates rereleases it's last batch of figures at KB Toys & Big Lots stores. The box's are the same as the 1998 series of rereleases but the date on the back says 1999 nothing else has changed. the only odd thing about these last issues is that it's the only time some of these figures had ever been rereleased.

[Ninjinister]

Good show! I wanted to wait until the end of the presentation before commenting You sir, get the ultimate gold star in my book.

-My Warrior Metalhead Michaelangelo is similar to the one ye have pictured, except it does have a coin, and has the full name and information of W.M.M. on the back.

-My Robotic Foot Soldier is of the variation of your pictured Krang.

Anyway, I had follow-up questions to your original post, and I would add it here, but I should have been in bed hours ago. See, Vaughn, your posts were so important, I stayed up late just to see it through to its completion!

[VaughnMichael]

Originally Posted by The S

Good show! I wanted to wait until the end of the presentation before commenting You sir, get the ultimate gold star in my book.

-My Warrior Metalhead Michaelangelo is similar to the one ye have pictured, except it does have a coin, and has the full name and information of W.M.M. on the back.

-My Robotic Foot Soldier is of the variation of your pictured Krang.

Anyway, I had follow-up questions to your original post, and I would add it here, but I should have been in bed hours ago. See, Vaughn, your posts were so important, I stayed up late just to see it through to its completion!

hah thanks I'm sure some joe smo will come along and dissagree with me but I was there for all of this, and I'm sure some one will correct me if I missed something.
But thanks S, I loved this line allot in my younger years and sadly sold most of it off last year, but that doesn't mean I don't have everything catalogged.

Does your Warrior Metalhead have the story of Warrior Metalhead? or is it the story of just Metalhead like this second release of him has? If so then damn there's yet another variant I didn't know about.

Yeah your Robotic Foot Soldier is from his second release which I'd say is better even if it doesn't come with a collector card, simply because the paint done on this one is better than the first release which has lighter metalic paint.
I should have been in bed hours ago also I wanted to do this little bit of info for you and others though, but I'm glad you enjoyed it and others do to!

[tOkKa]

-->> i thoroughly disagree with you and furthermore .. i disagree with you on the robotic Foot Soldier. He sux cuz he can't hold his weapons correctly without having to smash open his hands with a hammer.. let alone he can't go to the bathroom without crouching on all fours like a llama trying to take a crap in a urninal !!

I am nothing but apauled at your lack of knowledge about llamas and alpaca farms !!


My Gawd !!
Who died and made you Alpaca king !! ?

[Jon]

Wow! That is a great run down on the card variations.

I remember way back, when the 'individual' cards (ie: 1st cards, with each character having their own pics on the card front) were given a variation run down in a magazine I got (mainly for changes to the back, of course). And this is just as grand (heck, maybe even more so).

[tOkKa]

-->> ..wait what makes a card ' generic ' .. !?

[Jon]

Originally Posted by tOkKa

-->> ..wait what makes a card ' generic ' .. !?

The card front (and back, though that can be in-itself some times) being the same. Unlike what I noted (with the original run of TMNT figures having differing cards, with images of the specific character).

[GK Punk]

great post, stickied.

[tOkKa]

Originally Posted by Jon

Wow! That is a great run down on the card variations.

I remember way back, when the 'individual' cards (ie: 1st cards, with each character having their own pics on the card front) were given a variation run down in a magazine I got (mainly for changes to the back, of course). And this is just as grand (heck, maybe even more so).

-->> ..for some reason , i purchased this re-realease of Toon Mike.

I like the original much better, a nice ' pearl ' coat of paint on him makes him look really glossy and toony.

And the stickers on his pizza disc blades and the lenticular T.V. made that figure so fun.

They really went and crapped out everything leading up to 1999 ..

[tOkKa]

Originally Posted by Jon

The card front (and back, though that can be in-itself some times) being the same. Unlike what I noted (with the original run of TMNT figures having differing cards, with images of the specific character).

-->> o i see.

[VaughnMichael]

This isn't murphs blog tokka, you damn thread terrorist.

Originally Posted by tOkKa

Who died and made you Alpaca king !! ?[/FONT]

The Alpaca's

Originally Posted by Jon

Wow! That is a great run down on the card variations.
I remember way back, when the 'individual' cards (ie: 1st cards, with each character having their own pics on the card front) were given a variation run down in a magazine I got (mainly for changes to the back, of course). And this is just as grand (heck, maybe even more so).

Thanks Jon, I've been thinking of making a book of everything but I'm sure I'd have to get mirage and playmates permission to do so.

Originally Posted by tOkKa

-->> ..wait what makes a card ' generic ' .. !?

I used to go to Alpaca shows when I lived in Texas
Generic (that's JEN-a-rik!) is used for these because unlike the first releases they don't have their own original art work.

Originally Posted by GK

great post, stickied.

Thank you GK! If I come across anything else I'll post it.

[CudleyCowlick]

Originally Posted by VaughnMichael

Does your Warrior Metalhead have the story of Warrior Metalhead? or is it the story of just Metalhead like this second release of him has? If so then damn there's yet another variant I didn't know about.

I've also got the same variation you're talking about here, with coin, and full name and info for "Warrior Metalhead Michaelangelo: The Mechanical Master of Metal" not just the info recycled from Metalhead. The coin is also pictured on the back with the accessories.

[VaughnMichael]

Originally Posted by CrazyCowboyDion

I've also got the same variation you're talking about here, with coin, and full name and info for "Warrior Metalhead Michaelangelo: The Mechanical Master of Metal" not just the info recycled from Metalhead. The coin is also pictured on the back with the accessories.

Yes, that is the first release.

[Ninjinister]

My W.M.M. has his own story on the Portrait, not the standard Metalhead's.

I'm actually very honoured that my question spawned such a topic (with my name in the title & everything ) Last time an entire topic dedicated to something I did was made on a message board, it was to question my sanity.

[tOkKa]

[Ninjinister]

I've always wondered since Playmates was re-releasing action feature figures for the Ninja Power line, why they didn't release the Wacky Action figures. In addition to being the first action feature figures of the line, they had all four Turtles, the first silver-armour Shredder figure, the only Mouser toy released until 2003's April, and interesting designs for Splinter, Rocksteady, and Bebop.

[VaughnMichael]

Originally Posted by The S

I've always wondered since Playmates was re-releasing action feature figures for the Ninja Power line, why they didn't release the Wacky Action figures. In addition to being the first action feature figures of the line, they had all four Turtles, the first silver-armour Shredder figure, the only Mouser toy released until 2003's April, and interesting designs for Splinter, Rocksteady, and Bebop.

I agree with you S those are some of my favorite figures as they are some of the best designs of the characters since they almost look like they did on the Toon.
But I'm sorry to say I've got no idea why they skipped on those and other figures that had action features.

[Ninjinister]

Would've also remedied the oversized cards from their first release....