Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Wave 1 Action Figures Review – Playmates Toys

With the brand new Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series currently airing on Nickelodeon, Playmates Toys is right there to satisfy your collector needs. The Rise of the TMNT action figures wave-1 packs a lot of detail and articulation while boasting a very affordable price point.

I provided free samples (four turtles and a villain) from Playmates Toys. The opinions are my own. I bought the rest of the figures from wave-1 myself.

One of the things I enjoy about the Rise of TMNT animated series is the brand new character designs. I love how every turtle is inspired by an actual turtle species. Playmates Toys has done an impressive job of capturing each turtle’s unique look. Even their heights vary!

The Rise of the TMNT action figures wave-1 includes Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, Michelangelo, Splinter, April, Meat Sweats, Baron Draxum, and Origami Ninja (Foot Ninja). Each figure looks like the animated counterpart, which many collectors and kids will appreciate. All of the figures come in cool-looking packaging with details about them on the back. The front has the name of the figures on the left along with a single line describing who they are.

Furthermore, with the Pizza Points system being back, each figure in the current toy line allows you redeem points for prizes. The points you get depend on the figure. The two memberships are the ‘Basic Ninja Membership’ and the ‘Ninja Warrior Membership’. Head on to the official website to check out all the members-only items you can get.

Coming to wave-1 and talking about the turtles, they are repainted from the San Diego Comic-Con 2018 figure exclusives. The retail versions also differ in the accessories they come with.

Let’s begin with Raphael, the leader in the current version of the TMNT franchise. He is the tallest (5-inches) and the bulkiest of the brothers. He is a snapping turtle.

The head sculpt has a red bandana. The bandana is supposed to rest on his left shoulder. So, it looks a bit weird when Raph isn’t looking straight ahead. The figure is wearing a belt. There are also white bandaids (in the shape of an X) on the upper right corner. He is wearing sculpted pads to give himself more definition. The belt can be used to hold his weapons. If I have to select the favorite part of this figure, for me it is the back of the shell.

Articulation wise, you get a lot for a toy at the $8.99 point. Raph has a ball jointed head, swivel-hinged shoulders, swivel-hinged elbows, swivel wrists, swivel-hinged hips, swivel-hinged knees, and swivel-hinged ankles. I like how the knee joints are sculpted in a manner to hide the said joints from the front.

Raphael’s accessories include two tonfas, two charged tonfas (that his fists go into), and two throwing stars.

Leonardo, approximately 4.5 inches tall, wears a blue mask. With Leonardo being a red-eared slider, you can see red stripes on each side of his face, both above and below the eyes. His shell isn’t lumpy as Raph’s. Leo is wearing a blue chest harness and a belt. The odachi sword goes in the clip on the back. He is also wearing gauntlets.

Leo’s articulation includes a ball jointed neck, swivel-hinged shoulders, swivel-hinged elbows, swivel-hinged hips, swivel-hinged knees, and swivel-hinged ankles.

His accessories are an odachi sword, a charged odachi sword (generating a blue aura), two throwing stars and a blue translucent skateboard with rotating wheels. The skateboard also has a peg which can go into one of the holes under Leo’s feet depending on how you wish to pose the figure.

Donatello, my favorite, is a softshell turtle. He stands roughly a bit more than 4.5 inches. Similar to Raph, his head sculpt is mostly covered in a purple bandana. However, staying true to the animated version, there are binoculars on top of his head. He also has a purple belt and is wearing a computer screen on his left arm. Donnie has a flat shell with some sculpted lines and details. To protect his soft shell, Donnie comes with an armor piece which goes over his back. His drone (Sheldon), made from translucent purple plastic, clips to the armor piece.

His articulation includes a ball jointed neck, swivel-hinged shoulders, swivel-hinged elbows, swivel wrists, swivel-hinged hips, swivel-hinged knees, and swivel-hinged ankles.

His accessories are a bo staff, a purple translucent bo staff which is emitting purple energy to look as if it is spinning, a drone and two throwing stars. There is no place to attach the bo staff to Donnie if he isn’t holding it in his hands.

Michelangelo, the box turtle, is the shortest of the brothers at around 4.15 inches tall. He is wearing an orange mask. Mikey’s shell looks similar to Leo’s, but with beveled edges. He is wearing a chest harness. There is a clip to hold a weapon on the front. With Mikey being the artist of the team, the front of his shell has a splatter of pink and blue paint. His knee pads also have faces on them.

His articulation includes a ball jointed neck, swivel-hinged shoulders, swivel-hinged elbows, swivel wrists, swivel-hinged hips, swivel-hinged knees, and swivel-hinged ankles.

The accessories are a long nunchuck, two weapons inspired by the Kusari-fundo with objects such as a boxing glove and mace made of orange translucent plastic on one of the ends, an orange skateboard, two throwing stars, and some fun-looking stickers.

Master Splinter stands shorter than 4 inches. His face is gray with sculpted hair. The feet and arms are a shade of pink while the tail is brown. He is wearing a traditional piece of clothing with flowers on it. He is a very different Splinter than what we have seen from the TMNT franchise and I like it!

The articulation includes swivel-hinged shoulders, a very limited rotating head, 360-degree waist rotation, and legs which can move backward or forward. His right hand is closed in a fist. So, you can also use his left hand to hold stuff.

The accessories are two throwing stars, and a wooden cane which can open up to reveal a hidden blade.

As for April, I love her in the new animated show and the figure does a good job of capturing her likeness. She almost as tall as Mikey. This April figure is wearing black pants, a yellow T-shirt, yellow boots, and a green jacket. I appreciate how her clothes are streetfight-ready. Her glasses (which look like sunglasses) reset on top of her hair.

The articulation includes a ball jointed neck, swivel-hinged shoulders, swivel-hinged elbows, swivel-hinged hips, and swivel-hinged knees.

Her accessories are a green baseball bat and a powered up green baseball bat. Mayhem, her little companion, has no articulation.

Now, let’s begin with the villains featured in the Rise of the TMNT action figures wave-1.

Meat Sweats is one of the brand new villains introduced in the current series, and he looks awesome. His design is very classic TMNT. Meat Sweats is a chubby figure, a bit under 5 inches tall, and has a menacing look. His entire body features light and dark shades of pink. The arms have sculpted lines to give the figure more definition. He is wearing blue pants and an apron. The right hand can be removed for an interchangeable arm attachment.

His articulation includes a swivel head, ball hinged shoulders, swivel-hinged elbows, swivel wrists, swivel waist, and hinged-swivel hips.

His accessories are a meat tenderizer and a removable arm attachment. Also, turns out the arm attachment has a variant. Certain Meat Sweat figures have a removable tendril arm.

Then we have Baron Draxum. He has a very interesting character design. He has a sculpted golden helmet with two horns. Baron wears black pants with his hooves showing. His clothes are made from thin plastic. Two little creatures, which can’t be taken off, rest on his shoulders.

The articulation includes limited head movement due to the hairpiece, swivel-hinged shoulders, swivel-hinged elbows, swivel-hinged hips, and moveable knees.

The accessories are two tiny black creatures (no articulation) and two Ozzesquitoes which can clip on to other figures.

The last villain in the current wave is the Origami Ninja (Foot Ninja). This figure wears sculpted gray clothes. There is an orange footprint on the face. The articulation includes swivel-hinged shoulders, swivel-hinged elbows, rotating torso, and swivel-hinged hips.

The accessories are three, small, origami pieces and a sickle/blade-like weapon.

Now, do the figures survive my test where I “accidentally” drop them from a table? I am glad to report the figures are made from durable plastic and are able to withstand rough playtimes. Even the skinnier April and Foot Ninja figures are strong (even if they might not look like it to you).

As far as my opinion goes, the Rise of the TMNT action figures wave-1 is great. For just $8.99 a figure, you get highly-detailed and articulated toys. The entire wave is currently available for purchase from retail stores.

Are you a fan of the Rise of the TMNT animated series? What did you think of the Rise of the TMNT action figures from Playmates Toys? Let us know.

Author: Farid-ul-Haq

Farid has a Double Masters in Psychology and Biotechnology as well as an M.Phil in Molecular Genetics. He is the author of numerous books including Missing in Somerville, and The Game Master of Somerville. He gives us insight into comics, books, TV shows, anime/manga, video games, and movies.

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