- Wednesday, July 27, 2016 9:15 AM
- DisneyDan
Hello everyone,
In this next part of my ongoing review series for the TMNT Mega Bloks range, I am going to take a close-up look at the newly released Classic Comic Book line.
This brand new range was released just last week in Canadian Toys R Us stores, and online in the US. This new line focusses on the original classic comic book TMNT, depicted in black and white, with the odd splash of colour for effect (such as the distinctive red face masks which have always set the original comic book TMNT aside from all their decedents and spin-offs).
The line consists of six sets - two main scenes and four character packs. Let's start by looking at the character packs. Since they are all extremely similar, I will share the photos of all of them first, then give my thoughts afterwards (as opposed to doing each set individually as I normally do).
First up, Leonardo. The set contains 38 pieces, including one minifigure, and is set number DPD86.
The front and the back of the box:
The contents of the box:
The completed set:
The front and back of the minifigure:
Next up, Donatello. The set contains 37 pieces, including one minifigure, and is set number DPD84.
The front and the back of the box:
The contents of the box:
The completed set:
The front and back of the minifigure:
Third we have Michelangelo. The set contains 42 pieces, including one minifigure, and is set number DPD85.
The front and the back of the box:
The contents of the box:
The completed set:
The front and back of the minifigure:
Finally, Raphael. The set contains 38 pieces, including one minifigure, and is set number DPD87.
The front and the back of the box:
The contents of the box:
The completed set:
The front and back of the minifigure:
The completed sets all together:
I would give these sets four and a half out of five. I have to say, once again, as I have said continually throughout this ongoing review series, I am quite impressed with Mega Bloks' willingness to provide the fans and collectors with something that is really very special and unique. Let's face it, no child is going to want these sets. They look nothing like the new Nickelodeon TMNT that they are used to seeing on TV, they are in black and white, and honestly, if I were a child, I would think they looked ugly! However, as a fan and collector, these are really great. I love that they all have the red face masks, and that the images on the sewer pipes behind depict various classic comic book scenes. The rough style of them is true to how the original comics look, too. My one and only "problem" (and it isn't really the fault of Mega Bloks as much as it is just how the comic book TMNT were drawn originally) is that they all look identical. I feel perhaps that they could have been given something, anything, to just distinguish them from each other. If you dropped them in a bag without their weapons attached, you would never know which one was which, which I think is a slight shame. With all that said, I still think they are awesome!
Next, let's take a look at the Rooftop Combat set. The set contains 399 pieces, including two minifigures, and is set number DPD80.
The front and the back of the box:
The contents of the box:
The completed set:
The front and the back of the minifigures:
I would give this set five out of five. I love that it has Shredder in it, complete with grenade (if you know the comics, you know why that is important). The zip line adds a little depth to the set, allowing Leo to swing around. The Chet's Toys sign is another cool nod to the original comics, and Eastman and Laird's inclusion of that name in many issues, spanning many years. One of the neatest things about this set though is actually the smallest - the tiny little comic book that reprints the original issue cover and one of the scenes from inside! Someone obviously knew their stuff when they designed this set, and as a fan and collector it is nice to see the little details being paid attention to. It is worth noting that the Leonardo figure in this set is a different colour than the one in the minifigure pack that I reviewed above. It's good that they decided to differentiate the design between the individual packs and the bigger sets.
Finally, we come to the Street Showdown set, which contains 171 pieces, including two minifigures. The set number is DPD79.
The front and the back of the box:
The contents of the box:
The completed set:
The front and the back of the minifigures:
Again, I would give this set five out of five. Once again, Raphael, like Leo, is a different design than from the character pack sets, which is good, and of course we get Casey Jones. Casey and Raphael first meet in the Raphael one-shot early on in the series, and become good friends - and guess what? That one-shot issue, like the set above, is reprinted in miniature form here! The Second Time Around shop of course is from the comics, too, and is April's home at the start of the series. On the wall inside the shop there is a really cool nod to the original Eastman and Laird concept drawing of the TMNT, once again showing somebody at Mega Bloks cares about the details on behalf of the fans. I love the Casey Jones figure, and the fact he comes with three different sports clubs, which actually fit in the golf bag on his back. Of all six sets in the range, this is my favourite one by far.
That's it for this review. Next week I hope to finish up reviewing the TMNT Movie sets from Mega Bloks, and then later next month some more Nickelodeon sets; so look out for those!
Have a great day everyone,
Dan.