The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles go back to their roots in new Sideshow statues

10:00 AM on 09.21.2009   |   Jason Millward

See that guy up there? That's Donatello. Don't argue with me. I don't care what color his headband is. That is Donatello. That whole multi-color bandanna thing was a construct from the cartoon to help differentiate the characters and make them more marketable. Back in the old comic book days: four turtles in masks of red.

And that is what I love about this statue, the first in a series of four. It hearkens back to their comic book roots to celebrate the 25th anniversary of our favorite anthropomorphic ninja heroes.  The comics were much, much darker the the cartoons. The characters were much deeper and more fleshed out, not goofy and slapstick like the show that made them a phenomenon. Not that I've got anything but love for the 'toons. That was my childhood. 25 years, though... damn, that makes me feel old.

These badass, 16" statues of Donatello are currently up for pre-order at Sideshow Collectibles. They ship during the second quarter of 2010, and will run $190. If you're still ticked off about the purple/red thing, better get on the waiting list and cross your fingers. The exclusive version with an interchangeable headband sold out within minutes.