TMNT – 1990

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – 1990

In 1990, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles boasted the most successful animated show on television, two hugely popular comic books lines, and a new live action movie on the big screen. Playmates Toys released 13 new figures for this wave, along with three more sub-sets, including the Disguised Turtles, Giant Turtles and a 2nd wave of Wacky Action Figures. Also released were six new vehicles, flying mounts, several accessories and the Technodrome playset.

For more information about Playmate’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles line from 1990, see bottom of the page for a complete summary.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990): Basic Figures

The new wave for 1990 saw a new record high releases with 13 new action figures. We got 6 good guys, 6 bad guys and one kind of neutral character in Muckman & Eyeball.

Donatello
(w/ Storage Shell)

Market Value:
Carded $70 – $95
Loose $15 – $25

Don, The Storage Shell Turtle
Accessories: Killer Pizza, Fish Knife, Slingshot, Hatchet, Bo, Ninja Stars
Years Released: 1990, 1991
Scarcity Factor: Fairly easy to find
Notes: Donatello becomes the first of the turtles to get a spiffy new storage shell feature, so he can store all of his neat looking accessories and weapons.

Fugitoid

Market Value:
Carded $60 – $85
Loose $15 – $25

Fugitoid
Accessories: Electro-Stun Stick, Machine Gun, Grappling Claw, Scanner
Years Released: 1990, 1991
Scarcity Factor: Fairly easy to find
Notes: Fugitoid is an alien robot who ended up on Earth and now assists the turtles with creating new technology and fancy gadgets.

Mondo Gecko

Market Value:
Carded $60 – $85
Loose $15 – $25

Mondo Gecko
Accessories: Turbo-Charged Sewer Skateboard, Tail Skate, Label Sheet
Years Released: 1990, 1991
Scarcity Factor: Fairly easy to find
Notes: Described as the “Rip Roarin’ Skateboardin’ Reptile”, Mondo Gecko is a loyal friend and ally of the turtles with a shared brain bond with Michaelangelo.

Muckman & Joe Eyeball

Market Value:
Carded $80 – $110
Loose $20 – $30

Muckman & Joe Eyeball
Accessories: Removable Skullcap, Muck Gun, Muck Pack
Years Released: 1990, 1991
Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but getting tougher
Notes: This guy is just gross, Muckman is a “Garbage Gathering Ghoul” and Eyeball is his parasite pal. Muckman is neither good or bad, but more of a neutral character who just wants to be left alone.

Mutagen Man

Market Value:
Carded $100 – $125
Loose $25 – $40

Mutagen Man
Accessories: Mutagen Machine Gun, Gooey Garbage, Life Support System, Skull Plug
Years Released: 1990, 1991
Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but getting tougher each year
Notes: Mutagen Man is a creative looking new character and powerful foe of the turtles. He is a heavily mutated former human who now depends on the Mutagen Ooze to live and now does Shredder’s bidding to get it.

Napoleon Bonafrog

Market Value:
Carded $60 – $85
Loose $15 – $25

Napoleon Bonafrog
Accessories: Foot-Swatter, Serpent Slasher, Sewer Gas Shield, Flyboy Mutant Fly Friend
Years Released: 1990, 1991
Scarcity Factor: Moderately easy to find
Notes: Napoleon Bonafrog is Genghis Frog’s brother (starting to see a historical name pattern) who also loves to sewer surf and kick some Foot Clan backside.

Panda Khan

Market Value:
Carded $60 – $85
Loose $15 – $25

Panda Khan
Accessories: Dragon’s Claw Sword, Battle Axe, Fusion Blaster, Gou Hook
Years Released: 1990, 1991
Scarcity Factor: Moderately easy to find
Notes: Panda Khan is the leader of a bear tribe from a thousand years in the future and also, a generally fun-loving guy (panda). He now fights on the side of the turtles against Shredder and his evil forces.

Pizzaface

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

Pizzaface
Accessories: Pizza Peg Leg, Clever Cleaver, Pizza Box Shield, Two Propelling Pizzas
Years Released: 1990, 1991
Scarcity Factor: Moderately easy to find
Notes: Described as the “Psychotic Pizza Chef”, Pizzaface fights for Shredder’s evil army against the turtles, who also just happened to save Pizzaface’s life, so much for good deeds……

Ray Fillet

Market Value:
Carded $60 – $85
Loose $15 – $25

Ray Fillet
Accessories: Ray Gill Gun, Scarfish, Fish Stix
Years Released: 1990, 1991
Scarcity Factor: Moderately easy to find
Notes: Another good guy who fights with the turtles against Shredder, Ray Fillet lives in the ocean, of course, and got his powers when a toxic leak combined a human scientist and a manta ray.

Scumbug

Market Value:
Carded $60 – $85
Loose $15 – $25

Scumbug
Accessories: Bug Pack with Hose Assembly, Turtle Exterminating Gun
Years Released: 1990, 1991
Scarcity Factor: Moderately easy to find
Notes: Scumbug, which is an awesome name, was a regular exterminator who was transformed into……..what he is now. Scumbug now fights alongside Shredder to track down and destroy the turtles and their allies.

Slash

Market Value:
Carded $80 – $110
Loose $20 – $35

Slash
Accessories: Nasty Nunchukus, Mutant Mace, Razor-Spiked Gnarly Knife, Psycho Sai
Years Released: 1990, 1991
Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but getting tougher each year
Notes: Fresh from Dimension X, Slash is an evil version of our heroes. He’s a mutated ninja snapping turtle who just so happens to eat other turtles. He of course is a valued member of Shredder’s army.

Triceraton

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

Triceraton
Accessories: Neutron Neutralizer, Laser Phaser, Unearthly Utility Belt
Years Released: 1990, 1991
Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but getting tougher each year
Notes: Triceraton is another alien who somehow ended up on Earth and unfortunately, happens to really hates turtles. He now works for the Foot Clan to hunt down the turtles and their allies.

Wingnut & Screwloose

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

Wingnut & Screwloose
Accessories: Screwloose The Mosquito, Bat Gun, Plasma-Propelled Bat Wings, Utility Bat Belt, Bat Bomb
Years Released: 1990, 1991
Scarcity Factor: Moderately easy to find
Notes: Despite that he’s basically a vampire, Wingnut and his faithful mosquito companion Screwloose are good guys who fight alongside the turtles against Shredder and his army.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990): Disguised Turtles Figures

In addition tot the Wacky Action Figures, we got a 2nd sub-set of Turtles figures with the Disguised Turtles series. This was all four of our heroes in different outfits to better blend in with the world above them.

Don, The Undercover Turtle

Market Value:
Carded $65 – $90
Loose $15 – $30

Don, The Undercover Turtle
Accessories: Hi-Energy Pizza Snack, Detective Disguise, Briefcase, Revolver
Years Released: 1990, 1991
Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but getting tougher each year
Notes: Donatello goes old school private investigator with his new undercover turtle disguise. Complete with detective trench coat and hat, Don is ready to crack some cases and some Foot Clan skulls.

Leo, The Sewer Samurai

Market Value:
Carded $55 – $80
Loose $15 – $25

Leo, The Sewer Samurai
Accessories: Samurai Suit, Samurai Sword, Sheath, War Banner, Shield
Years Released: 1990. 1991
Scarcity Factor: Moderately easy to find
Notes: It looks like Leonardo finally gets Samurai status and a crazy cool looking set of armor to go with it, along with all the appropriate weapons a Samurai would need to kick some Foot Clan backside.

Mike, The Sewer Surfer

Market Value:
Carded $55 – $80
Loose $15 – $25

Mike, The Sewer Surfer
Accessories: Surfboard, The Crab, Sewer-Shark Buddies, Water Wheel, Belt
Years Released: 1990, 1991
Scarcity Factor: Moderately easy to find
Notes: Described as a “Wet N’ Wild Wave-Ridin’ Reptile”, Michaelangelo goes full surfer dude status with his sewer surfer outfit. Complete with his trusty surfboard and friends, Mike is ready to catch some sewer waves.

Raph, The Space Cadet

Market Value:
Carded $55 – $80
Loose $15 – $25

Raph, The Space Cadet
Accessories: Satellite-Slicin’ Space Sword, Detachable Helmet, Laser Luger
Years Released: 1990, 1991
Scarcity Factor: Moderately easy to find
Notes: Turtles in Space!!! or at least just Raphael. Raph finally realizes one of his dreams and gets to head into the great beyond above with his new fancy space suit and space weapons.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990): Giant Turtles Figures

Sure, regular sized turtles are great, but what about GIANT SIZED turtles? That’s exactly what Playmates thought, so they created these four beauties.

Donatello

Market Value:
Boxed $150 – $200
Loose $50 – $75

Donatello
Accessories: Bo Staff
Years Released: 1990, 1991
Scarcity Factor: Tough to find on secondary market
Notes: Standing at a hefty 13″ tall, Donatello comes complete with his signature Bo Staff.

Leonardo

Market Value:
Boxed $150 – $200
Loose $50 – $75

Leonardo
Accessories: Katana Blade
Years Released: 1990, 1991
Scarcity Factor: Tough to find on secondary market
Notes: Standing at a hefty 13″ tall, Leonardo comes complete with his signature Katana Blade.

Michaelangleo

Market Value:
Boxed $150 – $200
Loose $50 – $75

Michelangelo
Accessories: Nunchukus
Years Released: 1990, 1991
Scarcity Factor: Tough to find on secondary market
Notes: Standing at a hefty 13″ tall, Michelangelo comes complete with his signature Nunchukus.

Raphael

Market Value:
Boxed $150 – $200
Loose $50 – $75

Raphael
Accessories: Sai Blades
Years Released: 1990, 1991
Scarcity Factor: Tough to find on secondary market
Notes: Standing at a hefty 13″ tall, Raphael comes complete with his signature Sai Blades.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990): Wacky Action Figures

Playmates released three brand new action feature figures in 1990, with Leonardo finally getting his Wacky Action version. We also got action feature Shredder and Splinter figures.

Creepy Crawlin’ Splinter

Market Value:
Carded $35 – $50
Loose $10 – $20

Creepy Crawlin’ Splinter
Accessories: Tail Mace, Sewer Searchlight, Radar, Ninja Knife, Rat Lantern
Years Released: 1990, 1991
Scarcity Factor: Easily found on secondary market
Notes: Splinter gets a 2nd figure with this Creepy Crawlin’ version. He is part of the wacky action figure series and comes with a new crawling and slithering action that that allows him move when you wind up his power pack.

Slice ‘N’ Dice Shredder

Market Value:
Carded $35 – $50
Loose $10 – $20

Slice ‘N’ Dice Shredder
Accessories: Serrated Sword, Sickle, Slice N’ Dice Armor, Detachable Blades
Years Released: 1990, 1991
Scarcity Factor: Easily found on secondary market
Notes: Shredder gets a 2nd figure with this Slice ‘N’ Dice version. He is part of the wacky action figure series and comes with a new spinning blade feature that lets his hand spin around when you wind up his power pack.

Sword Slicin’ Leonardo

Market Value:
Carded $35 – $50
Loose $10 – $20

Sword Slicin’ Leonardo
Accessories: Wacky Whip, Silly Sword, Menacing Mace
Years Released: 1990, 1991
Scarcity Factor: Easily found on secondary market
Notes: Leonardo finally gets his Wacky Action figure with this Sword Slicin’ version. He is part of the wacky action figure series and comes with a new rotating arm action that spins around when you wind up his power pack.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990): Accessories

Playmates released four accessory sets in 1990 that were broken down into two different sub-sets, Wacky Weapons and Mega Mutants.

Oozey

Market Value:
Boxed $65 – $90
Loose $15 – $30

Oozey
Accessories: Trash Brick Bunker, Ooze Filled Trash Can Projectile, Trapdoor, Can of Ooze, Pennant Pole, Monitor, Foot Cannon, Laser Sight
Years Released: 1990, 1991
Scarcity Factor: Moderately easy to find
Notes: Described as the “Pretend Pizzeria with Ooze Shooting Cannon”, Oozey is the perfect trap to capture our pizza loving heroes. Looks like the Foot Clan is starting to find the turtles’ weaknesses.

Sewer Seltzer Cannon

Market Value:
Boxed $55 – $80
Loose $15 – $30

Sewer Seltzer Cannon
Accessories: Binoculars, Turtle Armor, Rims, Tires, Plunger Support Post, Water Bulb Blaster, Clear Sewer Seltzer Bottles, Pennant Pole, Searchlight
Years Released: 1990, 1991
Scarcity Factor: Moderately easy to find
Notes: The turtles get a new toy in the fight against the Foot Clan with the the Sewer Seltzer Cannon. This cannon even shoots real water when it’s loaded up.

Needlenose

Market Value:
Boxed $200 – $300
Loose $60 – $85

Needlenose
Accessories: Wing Blasters, Foot Rest, Air Raid Radar, Bug Shield, Control Handles, Tongue Seat, Plasma Engine, Moveable Wings, Rotating Tail Gunner
Years Released: 1990, 1991
Scarcity Factor: Tough to find on secondary market
Notes: Another creation from the dreaded Dimension X by Krang, Needlenose is a giant blood sucking mosquito that is used as a hideous mount for the Foot Clan soldiers.

Killer Bee

Market Value:
Boxed $200 – $300
Loose $60 – $85

Killer Bee
Accessories: Attack Antenna, Criminal Cap, Banner, Seat, Drone Gun, Gun Turret, Moveable Wings, Mad Money Bags, Ball & Chain, Chain Saw, Handcuffs, Pollinator Pistol
Years Released: 1990, 1991
Scarcity Factor: Tough to find on secondary market
Notes: Another creation from the dreaded Dimension X by Krang, Killer Bee is a giant Stinging Bee that is used as a hideous mount for the Foot Clan soldiers.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990): Playsets

Playmates released another fantastic playset in 1990 with the Technodrome set.

Technodrome

Market Value:
Boxed $550 – $700
Loose $225 – $325

Technodrome Playset
Accessories: Eyespy Radar, Connection Bridge, Firing Platform, Jail Wall, Weapons Rack, Mutation Mat, Mutation Manacle, Control Bar, View Screen, Portal Cover, Escape Hatch, Foot Stabilizer, Spring Loaded Brain Scrambler, Dome Laser, Rock Blaster, Mutation Chamber
Years Released: 1990, 1991
Scarcity Factor: Tough to find on the secondary market
Notes: The bad guys finally get their own headquarters with the massive Technodrome playset. This was a giant double decker mobile fortress for Shredder, Krang and the gang to get around and throw down some serious turtle smackdown. This was a big playset that was very well designed for maximum playability. Like the Sewer Playset, this thing had it all and is now a highly sought after item from the TMNT line.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990): Vehicles

Playmates released six different vehicles as part of their third wave in 1990, including two different sub-sets, the Pizza Powered Vehicles and Wacky Action Vehicles.

Mutant Module

Market Value:
Boxed $225 – $300
Loose $70 – $100

Mutant Module
Accessories: Dirt Digging Drill, Clear Canopy, Lasers, Foot Claws, Turbine Engines, Exhaust, Rotating Radar Shooter, Detachable Rock Blasting Missiles, Hatch
Years Released: 1990, 1991
Scarcity Factor: Tough to find on secondary market
Notes: Now the Foot Clan had a way to burrow through the ground and get into the sewers without the turtles ever see them coming. The Mutant Module was a large sized vehicle that was a perfect accessory piece for the baddies.

Turtle Copter

Market Value:
Boxed $150 – $225
Loose $35 – $65

Turtle Copter
Accessories: Searchlight, Snake Rotor, Pilot’s Pew, Control Console, Boxing Glove Skids, Bottom Blaster, Tri-Bug Blasters, Machine Gun, Side Gunner, Garbage Can Bombs
Years Released: 1990, 1991
Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but getting tougher each year
Notes: Described as the “Gooey Green Gunship”, this mean lean turtle machine had all the bells and whistles, and came with a bunch of guns and accessories to blast the Foot Clan right out of the sewers.

Psycho Cycle

Market Value:
Boxed $125 – $175
Loose $20 – $35

Psycho Cycle
Accessories: Cycle, Skull Headlight, Turtle Tank, Buzzard, Pennant, Pipes, Fuel Tank, Land Shark Missiles, Hover Pads, Pizza Flywheel, Rip Cord
Years Released: 1990, 1991
Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but getting tougher each year
Notes: Part of the Pizza Powered Vehicle Line, The Psycho Cycle is described as “The Turtle Terrorizing Turbo Trike”. It’s truly the coolest way for the Foot Clan thugs to get around town and chase down the turtles.

Sewer Dragster

Market Value:
Boxed $75 – $100
Loose $20 – $35

Sewer Dragster
Accessories: Double Blower Mutant Engine, Tank, Sewer Pipe Chassis, Foot Spikes, Control Handles, Spoiler, Pennant, Fuel Tank, Flywheel, Rip Cord
Years Released: 1990, 1991
Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but getting tougher each year
Notes: Part of the Pizza Powered Vehicle Line, the Sewer Dragster is the turtles newest cool looking ride . This speedster would take off when you ran the rip cord through the flywheel on the bottom.

Sludgemobile

Market Value:
Boxed $75 – $100
Loose $20 – $35

Sludgemobile
Accessories: Sewer Snake, Windshield, Snowball Launcher, Mutant Snowballs, Pennant Pole, Ice Blower, Exhaust Pipes, Tractor Treads, Sewer Skids, Handlebars
Years Released: 1990, 1991
Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but getting tougher each year
Notes: Part of the Wacky Action Line, The Sludgemobile is described as the “Supersonic, Sludge-Skidding Snowmobile”. It was made to cut through sludge or snow with their super designed skids and sewer snake.

Toilet Taxi

Market Value:
Boxed $60 – $80
Loose $15 – $25

Toilet Taxi
Accessories: Sewer Tube, Decals, Foot Finder Gun Sight, Rotating Pump Blaster, Sewer Lights, Party Pennant, Detachable Footnet with Jointed Arm
Years Released: 1990, 1991
Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but getting tougher each year
Notes: Part of the Wacky Action line, The Toilet Taxi is “The fastest flusher to fight the foot”. The latest in turtle technology, the Toilet Taxi is the fastest way to get around the sewers in “style”.

By 1990, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were really starting to hit their stride. They had one of the most successful animated shows on television, two hugely popular comic books lines from different studios, an ultra successful toy line, and merchandising licenses for just about everything a logo could fit onto. As if all of that wasn’t enough, the world was about to be introduced to the TMNT on the big screen as well, with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles live action movie being released by New Line Cinema. The movie was made for a modest budget and went on to massive international success, by becoming one of the top grossing films of the world in 1990. The movie was actually the highest grossing independent film ever made at the time. Toy sales were reaching a fever pitch and the popular figures and accessories were getting very difficult to keep on toy shelves. Turtle merchandise was also spilling out of the action figure realm and into many other categories that were popular with kids at the time, such as clothing, backpacks, school supplies, lunch boxes, ornaments, fast food, decorations and a whole line of role play accessories so kids could imitate their favorite pizza chomping turtles.

We got a record number of new figures and releases from Playmates Toys in 1990 with many new characters being introduced. Some would come to play hugely important roles in the shaping of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Universe. For the good guys, we got Fugitoid, Mondo Gecko, Napoleon Bonafrog, Panda Khan, Ray Fillet, Wingnut & Screwloose and a new Storage Shell version of Donatello. Joining Shredder’s group of misfits were Mutagen Man, Pizzaface, Scumbug (my personal favorite name), Slash and Triceraton. Another figure, Muckman & Joe Eyeball were released as a neutral character. In addition to the basic assortment, we also got three more sub-sets, including the Disguised Turtles, Giant Turtles and a 2nd wave of Wacky Action Figures. Also released was the wonderful Technodrome playset for the Foot Clan, six new vehicles and new accessories and flying mounts.

Like the previous years, 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 character’s name. The tagline, “Heroes in a Half Shell”, was eliminated from the card front. 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.