REVIEW: Playmates TMNT - Bebop and Rocksteady

[JeffSaylor]

The Famous Mutant Warthog and Rhino Hit Toy Shelves...

The classic Foot Clan baddies are finally back in Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon this coming January and with the presence of the iconic Bebop and Rocksteady. Toys are sure to follow right? In this case, the toys have hit first. Wal-Mart has an exclusive run of the famous mutant warthog and rhino for the remainder of 2014, while other retailers will get it in 2015.

Bebop and Rocksteady are packaged as a standard single carded figure and no extra exclusive packaging has been made for Wal-Mart, they’re just getting an earlier shipment. If you’re a carded collector, these will match up perfectly with the rest of your collection.

Both characters have taken some familiar cues from their vintage counterparts but are completely reinvented for the new show. Bebop is still a warthog, still has a purple Mohawk, shades, and an open vest. Rocksteady is still a rhino in military fatigues.

I haven’t been able to check out Bebop and Rocksteady in their cartoon appearance so there’s not all that much to compare with just yet, although there is some CG art of the characters on the packaging. These 5” figures seem a bit short compared to Shredder and even the Turtles, but the sculpting is pretty decent.

The detail on Rocksteady’s skin texture is pretty strong, but his articulation is a little lacking with eight points. Standard cut joints make him a little on the stiff side.

Bebop has a bit more articulation, but not much, totaling ten joints. Where Rocksteady gains in his wrists, Bebop has much better hip/leg articulation but is missing joints elsewhere.

Paint on these guys are pretty limited but relatively clean all around. Rocksteady could use an extra dab on his iris and Bebop seems to be missing some TRON-like markings on his legs and arms.

Each mutant comes with two accessories. Bebop comes with a flash bomb and a sticky bomb. Both are painted black and can fit into his hands. Bebop also has a wheel on his back and wheels on his feet. He doesn’t roll around easily but I suppose it’s part of his array of gadgets to be seen on the show.

Rocksteady comes with a sickle and a hammer, each fit into his hands very tightly.

Bebop and Rocksteady should retail for about $9.99 each and can currently be found exlusively at Wal-Mart during 2014, everywhere else in 2015.


Review and Photography by David Yeh

Bebop & Rocksteady Courtesy of Playmates Toys

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[Slaargorath]

Went looking for these guys last weekend but they're not in my local Walmart yet.

[genefactor]

The biggest issue I have with Playmate's TMNT figures are the scale. I can deal with the lack of paint apps but there's no reason characters such as Spike, large as he is on the show, should be shorter than The Turtles. Same goes for Bee Bop and Rocksteady. It's just crazy. Shame too because for what it's worth, the figures aren't half bad.