TMNT The Last Ronin - YI!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin (IDW) - Yi - NECA 2026

One of the exciting things about the new generation of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles that was introduced in The Last Ronin storyline was their secondary mutations. The secondary mutations are a side-effect of Michelangelo's DNA being infused into their Mutagen. April utilized the original mutagen and Michelangelo's DNA to ensure the legacy and spirit of the Hamato clan. Unbeknownst to April, Michelangelo had been irradiated when travelling through the radioactive plains of Mongolia after a nuclear fallout - and this affected his DNA. The mutagen in the systems of the four new Turtles is now continuously mutating as a result of this contamination. Therefore, the turtles begin developing secondary mutations at puberty - exhibited as unique powers/abilities (often debuting in times of great stress). The first to exhibit this change was Odyn who turned to stone mid-battle, but soon after Yi exhibits electrokinesis wherein she can emit sparks and generate an electrical barrier to protect her and her family. 

TMNT The Last Ronin - CASEY MARIE JONES!

TMNT The Last Ronin: Lost Years - Casey Marie, baby Uno & Odyn - NECA 2026

In the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin comics, Casey Marie Jones is the adult daughter of Casey Jones and April O'Neil. She is a skilled martial artist and leads the resistance against the occupying clans in this futuristic dystopian New York City. She also plans a major role in raising the four young members of the new Ninja Turtles: Uno, Yi, Moja, and Odyn. She received an action figure last year as a younger masked version wearing purple and black and riding a motorcycle. This pack caught my eye in the stores, but I never purchased one and therefore never learned much about the character. But then this Lost Years version was announced that included the second two baby Turtle pack-in figures and I knew I would have to get her. Typically straight-up martial arts characters don't thrill me, but in person I quite like this figure. Her color palette is somehow both muted and vibrant, and I really love the dynamic sculpt of her hair and her tough demeanor. Overall I'm glad to add her to my collection.

TMNT The Last Ronin - MOJA!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin (IDW) - Moja - NECA 2026

For fans of classic 80s and 90s toylines, you would be remiss not to read (or at least be aware of) modern comics based on these properties. I can only assume that the writers are longtime fans, just like me, and the love and respect shows. Boom, Image, and IDW Comics have all advanced these story canons in fun and interesting ways. I especially love the addition of new characters that fit nicely into the existing lore. Some personal favorites have been Dawn Moreno Snake-Eyes (G.I.Joe), Ranger Slayer (MMPR), Solila (Void Rivals/Energon Universe), Jennika (TMNT), a slew of female Transformers (Victorion, Nautica, etc), and of course the new generation of Ninja Turtles in The Last Ronin storyline. When I first saw Uno, Yi, Mojo, and Odyn on some random social media post, I was instantly drawn in. Their varied physical appearances and genders, while instantly looking like they belonged in this universe, appealed to me greatly. I've been hoping for a full Neca lineup ever since. Let's check out Moja below!

TMNT The Last Ronin - GRANNY APRIL!

TMNT The Last Ronin: Lost Years - Granny April, baby Moja & Yi - NECA 2025

I told myself a long time ago that I would never buy an April O'Neil figure unless she was wearing her signature bright yellow jumpsuit. This was both because I display characters in groups (and I love visual uniformity) and also so I could avoid trying buy any odd variations or blue-suited comic versions. But tempting figures keep coming out that I just can't resist. I thought I would certainly be skipping this Granny April figure. I never read the Last Ronin comics, she isn't in her signature yellow, and utilitarian-looking characters just don't appeal to me.  But I somehow missed the announcement that she would be coming with mini figure of young Yi and Moja, the two sisters in the second generation of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I'm rather obsessed with these new turtles. Their varying body types/species, genders, and secondary mutations are fascinating and very visually appealing. I bought Granny April as soon as I saw her and her adorable pack-ins. Let's check out Granny April, Yi, and Moja below!

April O'Neil as THE FIFTH TURTLE!

TMNT (Archie) - April O'Neil as the Fifth Turtle (and Customization) - NECA 2025

When I first started collecting action figures seriously (about 25 years ago), I was obsessed with finding female characters from all the iconic properties of my youth. I was especially intent on finding a female Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. This is when I discovered Venus de Milo and Mona Lisa. But I also learned about this infamous 1994 issue of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures Special #11 wherein April O'Neil became the Fifth Turtle for a single 26-page story. April had infiltrated a lab to get some Anti-mutagen for Splinter's birthday (she wrongly assumed he wanted to return to his human form). But she was captured and turned into a turtle by the aliens secretly running the lab. In the end, there was only enough Anti-mutagen to return her to human form (and defeat the mutated alien enemy). It was a simple one-off story, but it notably had the first female turtle (three years before Venus). The comic issue is notoriously hard to come by, regularly fetching hundreds on eBay in good condition.

NECA Ultimates - BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN!

Universal Monsters Ultimates -  The Bride of Frankenstein - NECA 2023

I don't know why I waited two years to open this figure. I was very excited to get her back in 2023 and faked an appointment to leave work midday when my local toy shop posted that they got her in. But then time got away from me and I never circled back to her until I picked up the SDCC GITD version of her this Summer. She is really a great action figure. I especially love a Bride figure when there is an alternate mummy look to display, I think the last mummy head included was way back with the 1998 Sideshow figure. When I first saw this NECA Ultimates Bride, I was confused by her brown hair. I always assumed her hair was black in the (black and white) movie and every piece of Bride of Frankenstein merchandise I own sports raven hair with a shock of white hair. But I've come to terms with the fact that the true color is auburn (Elsa Lanchester's natural hair). Plus I really like how it pairs with the off-white color of her robes and her brown-hued makeup. She looks great. Let's check out the Bride below!

Toony TV Classics - J.B. FLETCHER!

Toony TV Classics - Murder, She Wrote - Jessica Beatrice Fletcher - NECA 2024

Murder, She Wrote is an iconic show from my youth. I didn't have cable in my early years and it was a staple on one of the four television channels we had access to. It started when I was 6 years old and ended when I graduated High School, so it was quite literally a constant presence in my formative years. But the funny thing is, for zero reason, my siblings and I hated it. We would be gleefully watching the A-Team or Knight Rider but would utter a collective groan when that tinkling piano music began and a waving Angela Lansbury glided by on her bicycle. But as an adult, I find it quite comforting. Jessica Fletcher is a famous crime fiction writer who constantly gets pulled into real life murder investigations in her sleepy town of Cabot Cove (or when on the road for book signings - a frequent occurrence). This Toony Classics figure is the first non-horror Toony figure I've purchased (although she's kind of an honorary spooky character). She is delightfully kitschy and I can't wait to see what characters NECA makes next.

Toony Terrors - BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN!

Toony Terrors - Universal Monsters Series 2 - Bride of Frankenstein - Neca 2025

I'm pretty obsessed with the Toony Terrors line from NECA. I can admit that most of the male figures are not to my liking. True to the line's name, they looks a bit too cartoonish and silly for me. But there is something about the way that NECA treats the female characters that really appeals to me. The first figures I picked up, the Grady Twins, don't even look "toony." I thought that was a fluke, but then the next figures I bought, Elvira and Vampira, were also pretty great. I tend to focus on retro characters so I skipped M3GAN, Ghouliana, Wednesday & Enid (Netflix), Hocus Pocus, Nadja (WWDITS), and Lydia, Astrid, & Dolores (Beetlejuice). That is a lot of female representation in a relatively short time. I feared I wouldn't ever get another classic lady to add to my collection. But eventually they announced this amazing Bride of Frankenstein. Now I just need Morticia Addams and Lily Munster to complete my classic spooky Femme Fatales. Fingers crossed for both of them. Let's check out the Bride below!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - RENET!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Mirage) - Renet the Timestress - NECA 2022

The NECA Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles toylines have introduced me to a lot of new characters over the years. When I see those annual visual checklists I'm always amazed at the breadth of the character selection. Renet is an apprentice Time Master and ally of the Turtles who first appeared in the pages of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #8 (Mirage) in 1986. I had never heard of this character, but I remember the fan reaction when this toy was revealed to be ecstatic. I've since learned that she has appeared in numerous iterations of TMNT comics (including the current Turtles of Grayskull crossover series), two animated series, and numerous games (CCG, Video Games, and HeroClix). It's amazing that such a cool-looking character with such longevity had escaped my notice for so long. I originally planned to swap this figure in favor of her blue Walmart variant. But in retrospect, I prefer the red outfit because it seems to match the overall Mirage palette better than the blue. Let's check out Renet below! 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - APRIL O'NEIL!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Mirage) - April O'Neil (v2) - NECA 2025

April O'Neil has had a lot of very distinct looks since her comic debut over 40 years ago. Even in the initial Mirage Comics run before the cartoon ever began, she had several drastic changes in appearance. You would never know it was the same character year-to-year based on looks alone. For a while, she had an appearance that many casual readers might have interpreted as African American (she was not). But the half-tone print of the black-and-white comics made her complexion darker and her (very 80s) perm (which was a plot point) combined to to give her a racially ambiguous appearance. I've heard that this era was even the inspiration for some of the modern interpretations of April as a young black woman (or child) in properties like Rise of the Teenage Mutant Turtles or the Mutant Mayhem film. This NECA figure perfectly captures this early look. Ironically, the original NECA April figure looks completely different, but that's just how the comics were. Let's check out April O'Neil below!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - KARAI SHREDDER!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Mirage) - Karai as The Shredder - NECA 2024

I don't know very much about the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. When I was a kid I was very turned off by cartoon properties that overused stereotypical "hip" language like "radical" and "cowabunga." I was in elementary school but a little beyond my years and I felt that shows like TMNT and The Simpsons were made by adults who were pandering to kids in a cheap way. I may have disapproved, but I was pretty much the only one because shows like this were always wildly popular and impossible to ignore. I knew there was a rich history from the early Mirage Comics, but I never explored that history. The Karai I know from later animated iterations of the TMNT franchise is sometimes the daughter of Shredder and sometimes just raised by him. I was unaware that she actually ever became The Shredder until leaked images of this toy hit the internet last Summer. I love female versions of existing iconic male characters, so this was a figure I was instantly obsessed with. Let's check out Karai below!

The Munsters - LILY MUNSTER!

The Munsters Ultimates (2022 Rob Zombie Film) - Lily Munster - NECA 2024

I never really watched the original The Munsters TV show (1964-1966). I was somehow always aware of it (as well as The Addams Family, but they just never played on my childhood stations (I only had 4). So, that said, I didn't have any nostalgic scrutiny making me overly judgmental when I watched The Munsters (2022) film. I found the movie to be fun, and Lily Munster was a standout for me. It reminded me vaguely of the comic Gloom Cookie that I was obsessed with in the late 90s - specifically in how dating in the goth world can be comically frustrating. Sheri Moon Zombie (Rob Zombie's wife) played Lily with a bubbly vampy tone that set the her apart from other similar characters (like Morticia). Sheri is not new to the toy world either. Her characters in House of 1000 Corpses and Devil's Rejects both got the action figure treatment. Whether you liked the movie or not, this toy is pretty spectacular. The faces are great and the mix of soft goods with sculpted drapery creates a unique effect.

Dungeons and Dragons - SKYLLA!

Dungeons & Dragons: The Lost Wave 4" - Skylla (Evil Wizard) - NECA 2022

In 2002, NECA released a great SDCC exclusive set of four Dungeons & Dragons figures called "The Lost Wave."  I don't know if these figures were actually ever intended to have action figures in the vintage 80's LJN line, but that was the implied theme - a canceled final wave released 38 years late. I had vague memories of seeing the lone female character, Skylla, in PVC form when I was kid, but I never owned her. These new figures look amazing, like the original toy artists were brought out of retirement for a last hurrah. The vintage LJN line wasn't perfect. The sculpts could be awkward, and the scale was all over the place. But they were charming and fun, and NECA has recreated that feeling to perfection. I thought the nostalgic throwback with Super7's Sorceress figure couldn't be beat, but this one is probably the top contender now. It just took me a couple years to finally open her and acknowledge that. Now let's get her in 7" form. Let's check out Skylla the Evil Wizard below!

Toony Terrors - VAMPIRA!

NECA Toony Terrors Series 8 - Vampira (Maila Nurmi) - Neca Toys 2023

I thought I would kick off Halloween month with my favorite recent purchase, the NECA Toony Terrors Vampira. In 1954, model and actress Maila Nurmi found her niche in Hollywood and became the first late night horror host as Vampira. Her look was modelled after Snow White's Evil Queen, Dragon Lady, and Charles Addams' macabre matron (later named Morticia Addams in 1964 - who ironically by then was taking cues from Vampira). Vampira was also the character model for Maleficent in 1959. And obviously, she was major inspiration for Elvira in the 80s. However, for me Vampira was a character that only existed in static imagery. But just last month I watched Ed Wood's Plan 9 From Outer Space for the first time and was mesmerized by Maila and her famous character. My fascination with Vampira was piqued and literally the next day I found this figure. She has had very little (if any) merchandise produced but NECA and Super7 are making up for lost time. Let's check out Vampira below!

Gargoyles - ELISA MAZA!

Disney's Gargoyles - Ultimate Action Figures - Elisa Maza - NECA Toys 2023

A common staple of a fantasy-based story is to have a touchpoint character to lead the audience into an unworldly tale. This character has to be both relatable and unique enough to remain interesting as a main character. This character in Disney's Gargoyles was Elisa Maza, a Detective with the 23rd precinct in Manhattan who first discovers the Gargoyles and ends up being their main contact to the human world. She is a strong and competent character who protects the Manhattan Clan from the humans who would fear them. Her Native American and African American heritage plays a role in her character development throughout the series and makes her even more interesting. I often shy away from buying action figures of plainclothes characters, but something about the sculpt and presentation of this figure drew me in and I had to get her. Plus it helps that she wore this outfit very consistently so it's pretty iconic in its simplicity. I can't wait to see what this line gives us next. Let's check out Elisa!

Gargoyles - ANGELA!

Disney's Gargoyles - Ultimate Action Figures - Angela - NECA Toys 2023

When the Demona figure was released last year in Neca's Gargoyles line, I honestly expected her to be the only female character. I know there are lot of females in the show, but Demona is the token female for the first half of the series alongside a lot of prominent males. So I expected a second female figure to be a distant dream. Angela is easily the second most popular female Gargoyle. She was introduced halfway through Season Two as the daughter of Goliath and Demona, having been raised by humans from stolen eggs in the magical realm of Avalon (where time runs differently, hence her appearing almost the same age as her mother). She's a great character that provides an interesting "outsider" perspective when she joins the Manhattan Clan. The new comics from Dynamite feature Angela on the covers a lot - enough for me to comfortably say that she is the new token female of the series. That said, there are a lot of cool characters who could also use this buck. I'm optimistic! Let's check out Angela below!

TMNT Cartoon - LOTUS BLOSSOM!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Chakahachi & Lotus Blossom - NECA 2023

In Season 3, Episode 28 of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in 1989, Krang once again prompts some villainous in-fighting by introducing the kunoichi Lotus Blossom to challenge and overthrow Shredder for leadership of the Foot Clan. She is successful, but in a very typical plot point for female characters in this show, her romantic interest in one of the turtles prompts her conversion to the good side. In this case, Leonardo is the lucky ninja who shows her the light. Lotus appeared in only two episodes of the original series roughly a year apart, but in both episodes she was a focal character and even had her name featured in the episodes titles (Beware the Lotus and Farewell, Lotus Blossom). Despite being a repeat character, I think this action figure caught everyone by surprise. NECA has been showing no restraint with the deep-dive characters in their cartoon TMNT line, and I am here for it. I can't even imagine who the next female figure will be, but I'm excited for the reveal. Let's check out Lotus below!

TMNT Cartoon - MONA LISA!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Dirk Savage & Mona Lisa - NECA 2023

One of the main reasons I never fully bought into the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise was due to the lack of costumed (read:mutated) female characters. The main female (in my opinion) was Mona Lisa, a mutated human physicist (mutated into a salamander) who appeared in a single episode of season 4 ("Raphael Meets His Match"). The setting of the episode is a costume party where the Turtles think Mona Lisa is a human in costume. By the end of the episode they all reveal their true identities and a romantic tension with Raphael is formed. An action figure was made of her a few years later in 1993 (which incorrectly labels her as a lizard). This original toy was my first exposure to the character and I never saw her episode until recently. Different versions of Mona Lisa have appeared in the turtles franchise since those early days, but this figure is only her second piece of merchandise made. I'm excited to see what other TMNT ladies NECA might highlight in the future. Let's check out Mona Lisa below!

Neca Ultimates - ELVIRA!

NECA Ultimates - Elvira Mistress of the Dark 40th Ann - NECA Toys 2022

I need a neverending supply of Elvira merchandise in my life. I grew up after the time of Vampira, the Munsters, and even the Addams Family (before they all came back in my teens) so my first exposure to a vampy female character was the Mistress of the Dark herself, Elvira. The interesting thing is, I can't even remember how I first saw her. I grew up with four staticky television channels, and I can't imagine any of them playing horror shows or her movie. Yet somehow I was very aware of her. I credit her with getting me over my squeamishness of all this dark and creepy. She was bubbly, and funny, and was a great gateway into a genre that I likely would have avoided otherwise. Until a few years ago, I only had a single Elvira figure in my collection, but Funko and NECA have really stepped up and suddenly I have seven. Now she has proper representation in my collection alongside Bride of Frankenstein and Lily Munster. This Ultimates Elvira is pretty great, but I still want more. (I looking at you, Super7).

April O'neil as BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN!

TMNT vs Universal Monsters - April O'neil as Bride of Frankenstein - NECA 2022

I get really overwhelmed with the amount of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles products coming out these days. Between NECA, Super7, and Loyal Subjects, I am constantly seeing new figures and it's hard to keep track of them all. Thankfully (for me) there are very few females in the mix so I'm not nearly as tempted as the average collector. In the 90s, Playmates Toys created countless thematic variations of the TMNT gang: Samurais, Cavemen, Farmers, Surfers, Troll Dolls, and even Star Trek. I would be willing to bet, however, that the most popular was the Universal Monsters line. Even as a non-collector, I was very aware of these toys. That's why when NECA announced it was producing the same mashup, I knew it would be a hit. And their decision to base the aesthetic off the movie sculpts was very smart. I have no recollection of the TMNT movies personally, but the realism of these sculpts works very well with a Universal Monsters mash-up. Let's check out April below!