NECA Mirage Comics line

Oh man, Bottleneck Gallery is doing the concept Bebop and Rocksteady I've long hoped NECA would do. They also did the sketch turtles in vinyl before NECA did, so maybe I can hope they're setting precedent again here.

bottleneckgallery.com

TMNT Firsts: BEBOP & ROCKSTEADY Vinyl Figures by Kevin Eastman & Peter

This Friday, we’re diving deep into the historical sewers of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles lore and fishing out figures of the dynamic duo, Bebop and Rocksteady! Our TMNT Firsts series with ISH focuses on bringing the original character designs from Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird character designs...
bottleneckgallery.com bottleneckgallery.com
 
Just had my shipping notification for Image Raph & Don and Mirage Nobody from NECA.

Updated to add just had notification for City at War Karai as well.
 
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Got the first volume compendium from IDW of the original Mirage series for Christmas. Reading these issues now for the first time and loving it.

I see that NECA’s Mirage line is still mostly available on Target’s site for retail price. I’m assuming there will be some sort of sale in the next month or so for toys. Hopefully, I can pick up a bunch for a big discount.

Are the original Turtles in the style of the early issues really only available in an NYCC box set from 2008? If so, has NECA ever mentioned a redo?

And, somewhat related, the Usagi Yojimbo comic Turtles haven’t been put up for order yet, right?


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The OG Mirage turtles were in the multipack for a con, but then got single releases in a tube like package.

You might be able to find any number of knock offs that have been produced over the years on AliExpress or eBay at this point.
 
SalemCrow said:
The OG Mirage turtles were in the multipack for a con, but then got single releases in a tube like package.

You might be able to find any number of knock offs that have been produced over the years on AliExpress or eBay at this point.
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Yeah, I saw some knock-offs but was hoping NECA would do some sort of re-release given it’s been almost 20 years, and the Mirage line seems very active.

My experience with knock-offs in general has been that they actually are worse quality and have a weird smell.


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Happy to see someone else fall in love with the Mirage comics! The early issues are fun enough, but when they move to Northampton, that's when I consider it to have really found its form. From there to the end of the original publishing run (counting all the minicomics and backup stories from reprints) are some of my favorite comics ever.

I believe NECA has stated they won't be reissuing the early style Turtles, but I forget which interview I saw it in. Personally though, I'm still waiting on them making non-Lawson style Turtles.
 
Niko (protozoalord) said:
Happy to see someone else fall in love with the Mirage comics! The early issues are fun enough, but when they move to Northampton, that's when I consider it to have really found its form. From there to the end of the original publishing run (counting all the minicomics and backup stories from reprints) are some of my favorite comics ever.

I believe NECA has stated they won't be reissuing the early style Turtles, but I forget which interview I saw it in. Personally though, I'm still waiting on them making non-Lawson style Turtles.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I somehow missed them entirely during my first run of Turtle fandom that started with the ‘87 cartoon and included the original Playmates line, the movies, the Archie comics, the video games, even the Hostess pies.

Ironically, what got me into TMNT again was watching the ‘87 cartoon with my daughter.

Excited to work my way through the three IDW compendiums and then read “The Last Ronin.”


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Yeah NECA has repeatedly said they aren’t interested in reissuing the original Mirage turtles, probably because they no longer have the molds, but that’s just a guess. I could see them eventually doing them again from scratch, they’ve grown a lot as a toy company since. I’m not entirely sure what the market is like these days, and a lot of people have the bootlegs at this point, but it seems like the four bros in neutral adaptations sell well.

By the by - the new Mirage bootlegs that came out last year and are sold in the clamshell cases (as opposed to the tubes) are a return to form. The OG bootlegs were great, but each wave kinda got worse and worse over the years until for a while all the “new” bootlegs were ugly and poorly made. Then for some reason they got good again. Just read the reviews on Ali before you buy. I’ve had the originals, one set of bootlegs (which I returned because they were so bad) and the new bootlegs. The new bootlegs are really close to the authentic ones.
 
gpmartin414 said:
Got the first volume compendium from IDW of the original Mirage series for Christmas. Reading these issues now for the first time and loving it.

I see that NECA’s Mirage line is still mostly available on Target’s site for retail price. I’m assuming there will be some sort of sale in the next month or so for toys. Hopefully, I can pick up a bunch for a big discount.

Are the original Turtles in the style of the early issues really only available in an NYCC box set from 2008? If so, has NECA ever mentioned a redo?

And, somewhat related, the Usagi Yojimbo comic Turtles haven’t been put up for order yet, right?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
When in doubt, Haulathon.
 
AgentHemlock said:
Yeah NECA has repeatedly said they aren’t interested in reissuing the original Mirage turtles, probably because they no longer have the molds, but that’s just a guess. I could see them eventually doing them again from scratch, they’ve grown a lot as a toy company since. I’m not entirely sure what the market is like these days, and a lot of people have the bootlegs at this point, but it seems like the four bros in neutral adaptations sell well.

By the by - the new Mirage bootlegs that came out last year and are sold in the clamshell cases (as opposed to the tubes) are a return to form. The OG bootlegs were great, but each wave kinda got worse and worse over the years until for a while all the “new” bootlegs were ugly and poorly made. Then for some reason they got good again. Just read the reviews on Ali before you buy. I’ve had the originals, one set of bootlegs (which I returned because they were so bad) and the new bootlegs. The new bootlegs are really close to the authentic ones.
Click to expand...


a.aliexpress.com

NEUE NECA 4th Genera 2008 Anime Figur Teenage Mutant Ninja Straße Licht Turtles 14 CM Modell Puppe Für Geschenk Geburtstag sammlung - AliExpress 26

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com
a.aliexpress.com a.aliexpress.com

Are these the ones you mean are better quality?


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The Mirage turtles were originally released in clamshell single packs, then as a box set, then in the tubes, and then as a four pack in black and white. They do hold up well aesthetically, they just feature some limited articulation, mostly the ankles and they probably wouldn’t do that hinge in the lower neck if making them today. Randy is the one who said awhile back they wouldn’t be redoing them. I don’t think they sold very well (Randy’s takeaway for a long time was no one wanted comic turtles they just wanted the cartoon) and they’ve been bootlegged to hell and back. I wouldn’t be shocked if they eventually redo them, but that could still be a long time from now and who knows what happens with the license between now and then?

I loved those figures when they came out and still like them. I preordered a set as soon as I could and I think they were my first NECA figures. My sister got me a giant Crow figure which may have come first- I can’t remember. I was so impressed with those figures that I’d buy them as birthday presents for anyone I knew with even a passing interest in turtles. I wonder if any of them have since sold them?
 
gpmartin414 said:
Yeah, I somehow missed them entirely during my first run of Turtle fandom that started with the ‘87 cartoon and included the original Playmates line, the movies, the Archie comics, the video games, even the Hostess pies.
Click to expand...

I had a bit of a stranger upbringing with bits of the 2003 show every now and then, some of its toys and games, and then primarily watching the original two movies. I watched the first movie so much that its VHS tape disintegrated, and we had to get it on DVD. I then wore out two DVDs of it. When I first got into middle school I got gifted the original Ultimate Collection by my parents, and it was aaaaaall about Mirage from then on.

Still gotta get the IDW compendiums, but they're just too damn expensive for my blood. Nowadays I also got all the films on bluray and a backup of the first movie on my PC for the somehow common "Oh you've never seen this one? Time to sit down and behold, buddy." rewatches.
 
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