Playmates Toys had a small booth at this year's San Diego Comic-Con International where the company showed off prototypes of some new Simpsons figures (including the super buff Duff Man) as well as a resin Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Leonardo Figure, which is being sold exclusively through Diamond Comics.  The resin proved to be a harbinger of things to come.  The recently announced Fox Box lineup put together by 4Kids Entertainment that will be shown on Saturday mornings on all Fox Stations includes the brand new TMNT cartoon series -- and the first new line of TMNT action figures will be out by the end of the first quarter of 2003.

 

During the 1990s, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles line of action figures and play vehicles was one of the most extensive and popular of the decade -- and was in part responsible for Playmates becoming a major player in the toy industry.  Can lightning strike twice?  It appears somewhat unlikely that the TMNT could ever reach the heights of popularity they enjoyed a decade ago, but it all depends on the cartoon series and whether it resonates with today's kids.  Just another reason to pay attention to the ratings the new series generates on the Fox Box this winter.