Thursday, December 11, 2008

One Man's Trash...






Here we have the junkyard theme. Two designs from 1990, both curiously called Junkman, one by Mike and the other by Jim. Playmates passed on both.


A third design, submitted to Mirage in the fall of 1991, featured a junkyard robot made from cast off stereo equipment. Mirage passed on that one.






Playmates even went so far as to have their rendition sculpted up for presentation.



They would do this sometimes when they felt particularly strong about a certain character. Still, no deal.

15 comments:

Roseangelo said...

So would that last one be "Radio Boy"?

Steve Lavigne Ryan Brown said...

Yep. My paperwork doesn't give it a name though. The description is as I posted it. The name Radio Boy is not mentioned, I don't know where that came from.

Roseangelo said...

The guy who has that sculpt is a fishy person in the first place; I wouldn't be surprised if he just made it up himself.

All of this art is so fantastic. I know it's reiterating comments in another thread and it's all just hopeful wishing with no real hope, but gee would I love all of this collected in book form. Of course, we can't even get that for published TMNT work...

I'd go for the actual toys, too, but IMO the design art is just as worthy for production as any of the would-be toys.

~ tOkKa said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
~ tOkKa said...

-->> ..thinkin' the excact things, Rosie when i first saw the thumbs.

I guess Steph's mystery has finally been solved.

You tell him yet ??

>v<

Adam Riches said...

I'm in love with all of these designs you've been unveiling. Did this concept have anything to do with "Muckman and Joe Eyeball" down the road? I know the last one is obviously the "Radio Boy" sculpt thats been on ebay forever, but I could sort of see how the garbage motif evolved in to Muckman as well.

Anyways regardless of if Mirage ever collects this art in some form, I'm eternally grateful for you sharing it with us here, I had no idea how many cool things were passed up on. It really makes me value the original Playmates line that much more knowing how much work went in to it.

By the way, I have to get it scanned but I found something I think you might enjoy seeing Ryan (if you don't already have it that is!) I'll try and get it done tonight or tomorrow and e-mail them to you.

Vaughn Michael said...

So awesome, and "Radio boy" is the exact kind of bad guy that should be coming out with playmates music themed tmnt that arives next year.

Adam said...

Wow, another character from Mirage short stories come to life (almost!). First the Alien Turtle and now Junk Man. This is certainly a plug for TMNT fans to search out the Shell Shock TPB special to check out the source material!

Ectopaul said...

"radio boy" is really growing on me. Unfortunately that guy on eBay has the only sculpt or half the work in making him for the forgotten toy line would be done.

Steve Lavigne Ryan Brown said...

I just don't see any value in this rejected prototype.


If it was a character created by Kevin and Pete then yeah, I could see it.

~ tOkKa said...

-->> ..why ??

Ectopaul said...

The value would be that it is a part of the lost toy line! But yeah no way it's worth 5k or whatever that guy wanted for it. Can't blame Mirage for passing on it but it's still cool.

Of course Junkman and Rusty would have been cool.

Adam Riches said...

From a personal fan's standpoint, I can see the worth in owning any TMNT prototype released or not. From a historical significance and monetary value standpoint with the exception of maybe the original 10 figures, but more specifically the Turtles and Shredder, it would be next to impossible to justify spending that much money on any prototype TMNT toy.

Neil Vitale said...

Hey Steve and Ryan, Do you happen to remember who drew the model sheets for the Technodrome? Speaking of toys?

Was it someone at Mirage, or Fred Wolf? I'd love to talk to someone who was involved in designing it to see if they can spot what is wrong with my latest 3D Model's perspective.

Also, as of 2008, who are the guys at Mirage currently dabbling in 3D software, and what do you guys use?

www.heroesinahalfshell.org for the first post image..

Thanks :)

Steve Lavigne Ryan Brown said...

We'd have to guess that it was a Fred Wolf design.
No clue about 3D software at Mirage.
That Technodrome is cool!