The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles first appeared as comic book characters in 1984 and quickly gained cult status. When the franchise was adapted for the big screen in 1990, it took the world by storm. The 1990s saw the Turtlemania surge, with a vast array of TMNT products, from pizza-munching action figures to Shell Sackers colored candy.
But not all the Turtles figures of the ’90s were as lovable as Michelangelo and Raphael. Here are twenty-one of the most ridiculous (and seriously problematic) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles figures of the ’90s.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Workman Mike: A cross between a SWAT team and Turtle power, Workman Mike was Mikey’s blue-collar alter-ego. He came complete with a hard hat and toolbox, as well as a handful of tools. Aside from the sheer terror of being in a workplace with a Ninja Turtle, Workman Mike represents some stereotypes and traditional gender roles, as he was marketed as being “tough, strong, and hard-working,” adjectives that are more commonly associated with men.
Space Turtles: The space-faring half-shell heroes featured in the 1992 TMNT live action movie, the Space Turtles were considered the cooler, edgier version of the TMNT. They had articulated joints and a “radiating energy,” but with their domed helmets, they made them look downright goofy.
Shannen Doherty as April O’Neil: From the ’90s live-action movies, this April O’Neil doll came with its own Shannen Doherty head and hair. You also got a set of ’90s clothing to complete the look. It wasn’t a great toy; the head was especially disconcerting, given that the figure has only a rudimentary, plastic body beneath.
Taco Bell Ninja Turtles: What do you get when you combine everyone’s favorite half-shell heroes with everyone’s favorite fast-food joint? The Taco Bell Ninja Turtles: Leo, Mikey, Don, and Raph. As part of a promotional campaign, Taco Bell released a set of limited-edition action figures in 1995 that featured the reptilian heroes dressed up in caps and uniforms.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Laser Tag Set: In the mid-90s, the Turtles’ laser tag set was all the rage. It included four laser guns and vests and game cards for traditional game play, as well as an electronic game (called “the Cave”). The vest accessories were bulky and not particularly suited to action figure play, so they felt like an afterthought.
Mesmerizing Michaelangelo: Michaelangelo was the embodiment of wild child antics, which is why the Mesmerizing Michaelangelo figure was troubling. It featured Michaelangelo wearing a meditating-buddha-like pose and had light-up eyes that were meant to look “hypnotic,” but instead came off creepy.
Party Mike: Mikey dealt with issues ranging from simple pranks to dire kidnappings in the ’90s cartoon, but none of this stopped Playmates from releasing a Party Mike figure in 1998. Instead of wielding nunchucks, the figure came complete with party favors, a party hat, and a microphone for shouting slogans.
Robo-Raph: Raphael’s alter-ego in the ’90s TV show was Robo-Raph, a robotic doppelganger created by Shredder. Robo-Raph featured a helmet that was filled with turquoise-colored “robo-guts,” and though it sounds awesome, the figure likely conjured some terrifying nightmares for children of the ’90s.
Crime-Fighting Pizza Eater Turtles: This set of figures, released in 1991, featured the Turtles wearing metallic uniforms and fighting off a giant slice of pizza. The idea of pizza-eating turtles was enough to make us question the logic of TMNT in the first place.
Michaelangelo’s Music-Playing Magic Mobile: Mikey’s “magic mobile,” released in 1991, allowed your Turtles toy to perform some pretty incredible music. The inside had two spinning discs with TMNT-themed songs that could be heard when the Turtles toy was removed from the vehicle and placed on it.
Monkey League Turtles: Beastly ninjas never really worked with the Turtles and in 1993, Playmates decided to make it literal. The Monkey League Turtles fused the Turtles with monkey body parts, turning the Turtles into some (sort of) recognizable simians. It was undoubtedly one of the most ridiculous toy-lines ever issued.
Glow-in-the-Dark Turtles: This set of six glow-in-the-dark figures was released in 1991 and featured a greenish-yellow skin tone. Despite being “an electrifying way to fight crime in the night,” the light-up Turtles looked more like zombies than heroes.
Tommy Turbo Turtle: Tommy Turbo Turtle was a fighter jet-riding action figure that debuted in the ’90s. It featured a shell shaped like a fighter jet, complete with twin “turbos.” For some reason, turtles just don’t mix with planes, and the thing was kind of gross-looking.
Turtlecopter and Turtle Blaster: While some T-Machines had cool designs, the Turtlecopter and Turtle Blaster toys were far from being hits. The Turtlecopter was a chicken-nugget-shaped helicopter with two spinning blades, while the Turtle Blaster featured a large gun with a strange white orb on the end that was meant to represent a blast of energy.
Flipper: Flipper was an all-Atantis action figure that came complete with a purple bathing suit and a set of tiny flippers. What is it? Why is it? The jury’s still out, but we all agreed it never should have been released.
Rocksteady and Bebop: Fan reaction to the mutant rhino and warthog figures who served as Shredder’s henchmen in the 1990 movie was uniformly negative. With their bulky arms and giant heads, they were simply unappealing toys.
April O’Neil Fridge Magnets: April O’Neal was as important as any of the Turtles in the 1990s cartoon and live-action movie, so it was only natural for Playmates to give her some love with a set of fridge magnets. The magnets looked more like aliens than humans and badly missed the mark.
Leatherhead and Fishface: This pair of figures from the Secret of the Ooze movie took perhaps the weirdest turn for the Turtles franchise. Leatherhead became a half-man, half-alligator mutant, while Fishface was a fish-man hybrid.
Sewer Skiing Mike & Ski Patrol Don: The Turtles had many adventures above ground, but it was the sewer-based activities that got them into trouble in the 1990s cartoon. These figures, complete with skis and ski poles, multiplied the danger.
Kirby the Flying Turtle: In the early 1990s, TMNT caught the attention of video gamers with their equally popular Super-Show cartoon. One of the characters introduced was Kirby, the flying ninja turtle. His awkward figure featured a jetpack, win-flapping wings, and some really bad expression.
Party Rockers: Michelangelo and Raphael brought the party wherever they went and that’s why the Party Rockers figures from 1992 were so unfortunate. The bulky figures featured a combined Michelangelo/Raphael duo with a pair of huge boomboxes to create some booty-shaking beats.
It’s safe to say that some of these Turtles figures of the ’90s barely hit the mark in terms of Turtle marketing. However, there were plenty of great action figures to come out of the era, from Technodrome playsets to Sliver Sacks candy. As we look back on the ’90s Turtle craze, however, let’s enjoy this slice of turtle nostalgia, warts and all!
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