TMNT – 1989

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – 1989

Playmates Toys was posting massive sales numbers in 1989, with stores selling out all over the country. The animated series was scoring huge ratings and there were now two different companies producing TMNT comics, with Mirage and Archie Comics. Playmates Toys released ten new characters in 1989, along with a new “Wacky Action” series. In addition, the iconic Sewer Playset, six new vehicles and the “Crazy Artillery” accessory line were also released.

 

For more information about Playmate’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles line from 1989, see bottom of the page for a complete summary.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1989): Figures

Like the first wave the year before, the second wave of figures for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles line contained 10 figures in total. There were 6 good guys, and 4 bad guys for them to fight.

Ace Duck

Market Value:
Carded $70 – $95
Loose $20 – $35

Ace Duck
Accessories: Service Pistol, Weapons Belt, Egg Grenades, Plug in Wings, Pilot’s Cap
Years Released: 1989, 1990
Scarcity Factor: Moderately easy to find
Notes: Ace Duck is the “Aero-Dynamic Adventurer”, who is part regular duck and part fighting ace pilot, Ace Conrad……It’s a long story. Ace fights on the side of the good guys now and comes up with some very neat looking accessories.

Baxter Stockman

Market Value:
Carded $90 – $120
Loose $20 – $35

Baxter Stockman
Accessories: Anti-Turtle Swatter, Detachable Fly Wings and Arms
Years Released: 1989, 1990
Scarcity Factor: Moderately easy to find
Notes: Believe it or not, Baxter Stockman is actually a mutated fly, which you would never know by his very normal sounding name. Baxter is part human, part house fly and acts as a mad scientist type for the armies of Shredder and his band of bad guys.

Casey Jones

Market Value:
Carded $90 – $120
Loose $20 – $35

Casey Jones
Accessories: Broken Bats, Golf Club, Golf Bag
Years Released: 1989, 1990
Scarcity Factor: Moderately easy to find
Notes: Known as the “Battering Vigilante Sportsman”, Casey Jones is one of the most popular characters in the TMNT universe that is not a turtle. Despite the fact that he looks like a serial killer, Casey became an instant fan-favorite from the moment he made his first appearance.

General Traag

Market Value:
Carded $70 – $95
Loose $15 – $30

General Traag
Accessories: Laser Blaster, Stunlaser Rifle, Anti-Turtle Combat Knife
Years Released: 1989, 1990
Scarcity Factor: Moderately easy to find
Notes: General Traag is a “Rock’em, Sock’em, Rock Soldier” who fights on the side of Shredder against the turtles and their allies. Traag is the leader of the Rock Soldier armies and is, of course, made of rock. He is also the faithful right hand rock man of Krang.

Genghis Frog

Market Value:
Carded $70 – $95
Loose $15 – $30

Genghis Frog
Accessories: Tongue Gun, Radical Razor-Sharp Boogie Board, Surfin’ Shades, Beach Bandolier, Cola Can Grenades
Years Released: 1989, 1990
Scarcity Factor: Moderately easy to find
Notes: Described as ” The Tubular Surfin’ Dude” , Genghis Frog used to be a bad guy on the side of Shredder until he realized the error of his ways and joined the good guys. Genghis fits in perfectly with the turtles with his love of partying, fun and surfing.

Krang

Market Value:
Carded $70 – $95
Loose $15 – $30

Krang
Accessories: Brain Drain Gun, Mobile Life-Support System, Turtle Grasping Mechanized Arms
Years Released: 1989, 1990
Scarcity Factor: Moderately easy to find
Notes: Krang is the “Bodiless Burbling Brain” and the master planner for most of Shredder’s schemes and plans. He is an alien from another dimension who decided to choose Earth as his home. Krang is also the “brains’ behind Shredder’s Retromutagen formula.

Leatherhead

Market Value:
Carded $70 – $95
Loose $15 – $30

Leatherhead
Accessories: Turtle Trap, Swamp Gun, Jumbo Gumbo Belt
Years Released: 1989, 1990
Scarcity Factor: Moderately easy to find
Notes: Described as a “Swamp Stompin’, Ragin’ Cajun Gator”, Leatherhead is not to be confused for Metalhead, who is a robot. Leatherhead is a Cajun gator from the swamps who just happens to hate turtles as much as Shredder does, so he joined up with him to battle the good guys.

Metalhead

Market Value:
Carded $70 – $95
Loose $15 – $30

Metalhead
Accessories: Radical Robo-Chuks, Portable Party Pack, Radar/Foot Blaster, Utility Belt
Years Released: 1989, 1990
Scarcity Factor: Moderately easy to find
Notes: Described as “The Original Party Robot”, Metalhead was originally a bad guy, until the turtles were able to capture him and re-program him to be……well, like them. Metalhead is a valued ally to the turtles now and can always be counted on to jump into the fray.

Rat King

Market Value:
Carded $70 – $95
Loose $15 – $30

Rat King
Accessories: Royal Ratbow, Rat Hook, Snakebelt
Years Released: 1989, 1990
Scarcity Factor: Moderately easy to find
Notes: This guy is actually creepy looking. The Rat King controls….you guessed it, all the rats from the sewers. This obviously puts him in conflict with our favorite pizza eating turtles, so he’s a big time enemy and even challenges Shredder for evilness.

Usagi Yojimbo

Market Value:
Carded $70 – $95
Loose $15 – $30

Usagi Yojimbo
Accessories: Naginata, Wazizashi, Tanto, Katana, Wacky Weapon Rack
Years Released: 1989, 1990
Scarcity Factor: Moderately easy to find
Notes: Usagi is actually an ancient samurai warrior who was brought to modern times through time travel. He originally fought the turtles, but eventually came to join them as an ally. Usagi comes with all kinds of cool looking weapon accessories to go on his weapons rack.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1989): Wacky Action Figures

Playmates released four action feature figures in 1989, including 3 of the turtles (sorry Leonardo) and a new character called Mouser.

Breakfightin’ Raphael

Market Value:
Carded $35 – $50
Loose $8 – $15

Breakfightin’ Raphael
Accessories: Garbage Can Gyro-Lid with Turtle Tools, Rat Bola, Anti-Foot Stars
Years Released: 1989, 1990
Scarcity Factor: Moderately easy to find
Notes: Raphael gets a 2nd figure with this Breakfightin’ version. He is part of the wacky action figure series and comes with a new sliding ninja spin feature that allows Raphael to spin around when you wind up his power pack.

Mouser

Market Value:
Carded $90 – $120
Loose $20 – $35

Mouser
Accessories: Punch-Out Card of Various Creatures
Years Released: 1989, 1990
Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but getting tougher each year
Notes: So instead of giving Leonardo a 2nd version to go with the rest of his brothers, we get Wacky Walkin’ Mouser. A creation of Baxter Stockman, the Mousers are robotic eating machines that consume everything in their path.

Rock ‘N’ Roll Michaelangelo

Market Value:
Carded $35 – $50
Loose $8 – $15

Rock ‘N’ Roll Michelangelo
Accessories: Swiss-Army Sewer Cover, Nunchukus, Sewer Snakes
Years Released: 1989, 1990
Scarcity Factor: Moderately easy to find
Notes: Michelangelo gets a 2nd figure with this Rock ‘N’ Roll version. He is part of the wacky action figure series and comes with a new rotating wrist action that spins all the way around when you wind up his power pack.

Sewer Swimmin’ Donatello

Market Value:
Carded $35 – $50
Loose $8 – $15

Sewer Swimmin’ Donatello
Accessories: Scuba Jet, Foot Seeking Spear
Years Released: 1989, 1990
Scarcity Factor: Moderately easy to find
Notes: Donatello gets a 2nd figure with this Sewer Swimmin’ version. He is part of the wacky action figure series and comes with a new swim kicking leg feature that lets Donatello swim away when you wind up his power pack.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1989): Accessories

Playmates released three accessory sets that were labeled as the Crazy Artillery line, along with refills of the Retromutagen Ooze.

Double Barreled Plunger Gun

Market Value:
Boxed $80 – $110
Loose $15 – $30

Double Barreled Plunger Gun
Accessories: Launching System, Spring Loaded Plungers, Telescope w/ Cross Hairs, Turtle Shields, Safety Belt, Seat
Years Released: 1989
Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but getting tougher each year
Notes: The Double Barreled Plunger Gun were “Twin Plungers of Pounding Force” that the turtles would use to kick some Foot Clan backside.

Flushomatic

Market Value:
Boxed $80 – $110
Loose $15 – $30

Flushomatic
Accessories: Tower Base, Flusher Handle, Toilet Seat, Torture Tray, Control Panel, Jar of Retromutagen Ooze
Years Released: 1989
Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but getting tougher each year
Notes: This “High-Tech Turtle Torture Trap” was used by Shredder and company to capture and torture our favorite heroes.

Retrocatapult

Market Value:
Boxed $80 – $110
Loose $15 – $30

Retrocatapult
Accessories: Turtle Armor, Garbage Can Launcher, Launching Arms, Turtle Seat, Jar of Ooze, Tripod
Years Released: 1989
Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but getting tougher each year
Notes: The original “Airborne Ooze Assault Weapon”, this nasty weapon was used by the turtles to launch garbage cans of ooze towards the enemy.

Retromutagen Ooze

Market Value:
Sealed $300 – $400
Loose $50 – $80

Retromutagen Ooze
Accessories: Green Gel, Pre-Mutant Figure
Years Released: 1989, 1990
Scarcity Factor: Tough to find on the secondary market
Notes: You just can’t have a proper turtle adventure without a jar of some green ooze. The green gel slime was the stuff that used to mutate regular turtles into mutant ninja types, along with various other animals and even humans. Each jar of ooze came with a mini figure that could be a turtle or rat.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1989): Playsets

Playmates released their first large scale playset for the TMNT line in 1989 with the iconic Sewer Playset.

Sewer Playset

Market Value:
Boxed $450 – $600
Loose $100 – $150

Sewer Playset
Accessories: Manhole Cover, Tube, High Voltage Battle Swing, Telephone Poles, Alley Fence, Ventilation Drain, Fire Hydrant, Sewage Passageways, Sewer Control Center, Turtle Computer, Post Battle Recover Room, Fire Hydrant Sewerscope, Turtle Wreck-Reation Room, Meditation and Workout Mat
Years Released: 1989, 1990
Scarcity Factor: Tough to find on the secondary market
Notes: This “Double -Decker Hangout and Hideout for the Turtles” was the secret headquarters of our favorite pizza eating heroes and featured a ton of accessories. One of the really neat things about the Sewer Playset is that it featured a section of street, above the ground and then you had the Turtle’s sewer base underneath. This was a big playset that was very well designed for maximum playability. This thing had it all and is now a highly sought after item from the TMNT line.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1989): Vehicles

Playmates released six different vehicles for their second wave in 1989, including two that were part of a Sewer Tubes sub-set.

Footcruiser

Market Value:
Boxed $300 – $400
Loose $50 – $75

Footcruiser
Accessories: Steering Wheel, Eye Spy Missiles, Gatling Gun, Foot Turret w/ Cover, Running Boards, Foot Hubcaps, Wheels, Turtle Grill, Ooze Blasters, Antenna, Windshield, Flag
Years Released: 1989, 1990
Scarcity Factor: Tough to find on secondary market
Notes: Even the bad guys need a cool ride to get around with, so bring on the Footcruiser! This 1957 Chevy turned into a turtle death machine is the perfect way for the Foot Clan gang to run down their enemies.

Footski

Market Value:
Boxed $80 – $110
Loose $15 – $30

Footski
Accessories: Radar Console, Steering Throttle, Sewer Searching Beams, Harpoon Gun w/ Turtle Harpoon, Intake Valve, Vinyl Leeches, Torpedoes, Leech Patrol Pennant, Flag Pole
Years Released: 1989, 1990
Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but getting tougher each year
Notes: Described as a “Brain Sucking Sewer Machine”, The Footski was a futuristic jet ski used by Shredder’s army to battle the turtles and it was said to run on turtle brains for fuel (seems kind of specific).

Pizza Thrower

Market Value:
Boxed $125 – $175
Loose $30 – $50

Pizza Thrower
Accessories: Pizza Transport, Oven Launcher, Disc Loader, Flying Pizza Discs, Stickers, Foot Mover, Fire Button, Escape Ladder, Rotating Claws, Pizza Pennant, Pizza Box Seat
Years Released: 1989, 1990
Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but getting tougher each year
Notes: Who wouldn’t want a turtle assault vehicle with all the works? The Pizza Thrower was one of the bigger vehicles made for the TMNT line and came with a lot of great accessories.

Turtlecycle

Market Value:
Boxed $100 – $135
Loose $30 – $50

Turtlecycle
Accessories: Handlebar Slingshot, Handlebar, Headlights, Garbage Can Shield, Side Pipes, Saddlebags, Removable Sidecar, Turtle License Place, Gas Tank
Years Released: 1989, 1990
Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but getting tougher each year
Notes: The Turtles needed a cool ride to get around the sewers, so why not give them a “Mutant Sewer Cycle with Sidecar”. The Turtlecycle had a working slingshot and reversible sidecar that could detach from the bike.

Sewer Army Tube

Market Value:
Boxed $80 – $110
Loose $15 – $30

Sewer Army Tube
Accessories: Sewer Tube, Decals, Mutant Toxic Mine, Mine Holder, Party Pennant, Control Panel, Double-Barreled Machine Gun, Foot Finder Sight, Side Pipers, Oars
Years Released: 1989, 1990
Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but getting tougher each year
Notes: Described as an “Awesome Assault Craft and Spy Ring”, the Sewer Army Tube was a floating tube used by the turtles to fight bad guys or just lounge around and do some relaxing.

Sewer Party Tube

Market Value:
Boxed $80 – $110
Loose $15 – $30

Sewer Party Tube
Accessories: Sewer Tube, Decals, Foot Finder Gun Sight, Rotating Pump Blaster, Sewer Lights, Party Pennant, Detachable Footnet with Jointed Arm
Years Released: 1989, 1990
Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but getting tougher each year
Notes: Described as an “Awesome Assault Craft and Spy Ring”, the Sewer Party Tube was a floating tube used by the turtles to fight bad guys or just lounge around and do some relaxing.

After a very successful launch of their toy line the previous year, Playmates Toys was beginning to find its stride in 1989. Since many of their main characters had now been introduced in action figure form, kids were starting to realize that the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were pretty darn cool. Toy sales were really picking up steam, and moving into the “difficult for parents to find” category. The toys and action figures weren’t the only thing doing extremely well either, the animated series was going into another full season in 1989 and scoring huge ratings with the kids. It seemed like every new episode was becoming an event. On the comic book front, there were now two different companies producing TMNT comics. The original publisher, Mirage Studios, was still producing the regular turtles comic created by Eastman and Laird, but a new series was also being published by Archie Comics that was based on the animated show with a more cartoony vibe. As fate would have it, the Archie Comics version was now passing the original version due to the massive success of the animated series. Turtle merchandise was also spilling out of the action figure realm and into many other items that were popular with kids at the time.

Just like the previous year, Playmates Toys gave us ten brand new characters in 1989, which would all come to play hugely important roles in the shaping of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Universe. For the good guys, we got Ace Duck, Genghis Frog, Metalhead, Usagi Yojimbo and the fan-favorite Casey Jones to all join the side of the Turtles. Joining Shredder’s army was Baxter Stockman, General Traag, Leatherhead, Rat King and the super brain Krang. Also, brand new action feature figures were released in the form of the Wacky Action Figure sub-series. This series included three of the previously released turtles and a new bad guy robot called Mouser, all with special action features. In addition to some fantastic figures, we also got one of the most iconic playsets in the TMNT line with the Sewer Playset. This amazingly cool playset gave the turtles a place to call home with lots of neat accessories. Playmates also released six new vehicles and a new set of accessory weapons called the Crazy Artillery line.

Like the previous year, the packaging for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle line was just like the characters themselves, attention grabbing and kind of all over the place. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle logo sat at the top of the card, just above the series catch phrase, “Heroes in a Half Shell”. There were multiple pictures of each character in three of the packaging corners with the figure itself in a bright, easy to see bubble on the center/right side. Overall, the packaging card was very busy looking but it definitely works for these pizza eating and fun loving ninja turtles and friends.