Contradicting title is contradicting. How can they be "Mutatin" variants if they can't mutate?
The obvious answer is to have certain variants that are Important to the lore. So, I'm skipping the Turtles themselves, Tokka and Rahzar. Wouldn't mind getting their accessories as extras with other figures, but that's not the point here. The point is that I'm looking at the Humans and the Foot Soldier as viable variants for Super7 to tackle.
Let's start with possibly, the most expensive figure on the set: Foot Soldier...
Battle Damaged Foot Soldier:
The changed name is to differentiate this from the original release.
This one would be the closest to the Mutatin figure, but the ability should be made by part swaps.
It would require new head(s), Torso, arms and thighs.
The new torso is for 2 reasons: swapabble head and arms, and to accept the battle damage/fixed plug in pieces.
The thighs would be new for the battle damage and to accept the pluggable thigh covers.
The arms are new for interchangeability reasons.
There would be 3 sets of arms:
-undamaged arms
-damaged arms (with more damage than the vintage toy)
-Endoskeletal arms that also pop off at the elbow and wrists.
The heads would be 3:
-Normal head
-full cyborg skull
-"Terminator styled" partial skull.
For the hands we only need fist, Jutsu, and open undamaged extra hands, since grip hands would be the default.
Endoskeletal extra hands should be open and fists in addition to the default grip. The new torso pieces should be the shirt plug in pieces. Damaged and undamaged.
Sparks and electric effects should be used for holes and pegs throughout the figure.
This COULD bump thenprice of the figure to $65 but it should be worth it.
Bebop:
Here I wish we could get more inspiration from the cartoon, because the Caucasian Bebop toy looks meh...
He would be 100% new tooling. He would be normal human sized. NO DRILL FEET!! He needs more weapons than the weird ones from the toy. I want to give him a sawn-off shotgun, a steel pipe and a chain to use as a whip, because 80s punk gangbanger.
All he needs is hands and heads:
Hands:
The usual set of extra hands, but with an extra set of slightly oversized hands in partial mutation. The right hand's knuckle duster should have cracks and show that it's breaking due to the changes on Bebop.
For heads, the normal head and one in partial mutation into a hog.
Rocksteady:
He would get a similar treatment to Bebop. Having "partially mutated parts" to simulate the "Mutatin", giving him extra weapons. A Machete styled after his knife in Rhino mode seems like a good idea, a normal knife, a few handguns, because they fit his "military nut" vibe.
April the Cheetah:
Normally I'm not a fan of cat April... BUT since I'm making a case for the Mutatin figures, I have to include her. First, the obvious:
This figure shares stuff with April II. So, we should exploit this in order to have parts ready for April II:
Both figures would share: Upper torso, upper arms, lower legs. The head,crotch, thighs, lower arms, hands, and feet would differ between them.
Playmates did the cat parts with little detail, looking smooth. Personally, I'd use sculpted fur on the thighs, feet, forearms, hands, and head. For her torso, a neckpiece like Jackalman's would suffice. The backpack on the Mutatin figure would be removable here, because reasons.
She'd get the standard hands in addition a set of partially mutating hands.
She'd get 2 extra heads:
A more ferocious Cat April head and a partially Mutatin head. It could be used on this figure as she reverts back to human or on April II as she turns into a werecheetah.
Hamato Yoshi:
This one is obviously based on Mutatin Splinter.
No plastic robes... I know I've said that I hate cloth clothes, but in this case we need them. Articulation being the main reason. The other is part interchangeability.
He should get the usual hands, as mentioned in the other figures, a partially mutating set of hands and head are needed. Like the other figures, he should get extra accessories. Personally, I'm thinking of a second walking stick resembling Zatoichi's blade more than the vintage cane. I want 2 sleeved robes for him. One based on the vintage toy for Yoshi. The second one similar to Yoshi's but made for the Splinter toy. Including a slit for the tail. Last but not least he needs a removable Hakama. Those who want vintage accuracy can have Yoshi pantsless. I feel uncomfortable with yoshi wearing his robe without pants... also I demand a fundoshi as Yoshi's undergarments.
Finally, we have reached the end of this list...
Oh yeah, I forgot Uncle Phil...
Oroku Saki:
Like Hamato Yoshi, his clothes should be Cloth for the sake of Articulation and interchangeability.
For the accessories, the usual hands and a Pair of Left hands (grip and fist) with Shredder Claws. While this is a nod to the movie, it helps to make it more appealing to some collectors by making a more "Mirage inspired" Shredder... because once again, screw shirtless Shredder.
He would be made mostly suing Shredder's lower body with Casey Jones upper arms and new forearms. If possible, a new torso based on Shredder's Mutatin figure without the shoulder spikes.
The figure would always have the Spiked Shinguards (covered by the robe) he would get slip on spiked bracers and a neck piece with the shoulder spikes based on the Mutatin figure. He needs 2 heads (Saki and Shredder) also a separate Shredder helmet and mask.
Here the Toy weapons should suffice.
While not able to fully Mutate, I tried to make a reasonable substitute to the gimmick for them.
Some may criticize that Oroku Saki is not accurate to Mutatin Shredder, but it's NOT a Mutatin Shredder figure. It's an Oroku Saki figure that can "change into a Shredder" that is INSPIRED by the Mutatin figure.
Yes, TMNT has become my ranter's block go to because of Mattel heading into territories that I find unappealing for MOTU.
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