If the '90s had a theme it would have been the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Raphael, Michelangelo, Leonardo, Donatello and Master Splinter defined the decade and beyond -- seriously, those crime-fighting turtles are still thriving. The TMNT fandom’s growing success is a mystery that we’re grateful for, but there are still a few mysteries about the TMNT’s '90s era, such as what happened to the TMNT collectible cards and those Hostess Ninja Turtle Pudding Pies?
In the early '90s, Topps manufactured collectible sketch cards from three different live-action TMNT films. No fandom is complete without decades of memorabilia that still feels cathartic today, and the Ninja Turtles even had Turtle Pies. Since new cards are on the way this year, this has us venturing down recollection road and wondering why the heck aren’t those sugary, radioactive-looking turtle pies making a comeback too? You’ve trained for this, so resurrect your best Donnie impression, grab an oversized trench coat and get ready to forge ahead into nostalgia.
Introduced in 1989 and perpetually sold out until the early 2000s, the TMNT had themed trading cards. Each new series had a movie theme, special cards and new art. From featured movie moments to the brothers’ bond, the real excitement kicked in during every major TMNT anniversary.
At just under 60 cents, you could buy a pack of 11 cards and one sticker. Somewhere in your long forgotten shoe boxes, you may have a horde of Leonardo cards, each featuring the hero in various fighting stances -- that is, if those shoe boxes survived a dozen yard sales. If you were lucky enough to collect special edition sets (any of movie-related limited edition offers), then you probably still have them. They’re just somewhere in a protective container... for safekeeping.
Each card collection had its quirk. The 1992 TMNT cards have a time travel theme, according to the Cardboard Connection. However, the Topps TMNT cards had inconsistent releases. Topps only consecutively released a new card series every year from 1989 to 1992. Then, there was an 11-year gap before the Topps TMNT III trading cards debuted. Again, another 11-year hiatus before the trading cards had another resurgence.
The 30th Anniversary Sketch Cards were some of the most memorable trading card comebacks -- and not just in the TMNT fandom. As the name suggests, various IDW artists sketched the cards. The unique design made it a competitive collector’s market. Seriously, the limited collection only sold 320 cards, with one card per pack. Unlike the 11 cards or five cards per-pack bundles, the 30th anniversary changes the game a bit.
Complete with a stick of gum, the traditional trading cards packs were best enjoyed with a slice of greasy pizza. Thankfully, we won’t have to wait over a decade for a resurgence in our Ninja Turtles trading card nostalgia. If you missed out on 2014’s IDW 30th Anniversary Sketch Cards, you’ll have another chance to collect some comic-inspired cards this year.
Topps is reintroducing a new TMNT trading card series with new card designs and some iconic comic panels. You know, to help us relive that strange phase in our childhood when we wanted to become human-sized turtles when we grew up. We can't actually morph into one of the Ninja Turtles (unfortunately), but we can collect all their card incarnations, so it's a good thing Topps isn't done making TMNT cards.
As Cardboard Connection notes, Topps will release a 2019 TMNT card series on Sept. 20. If you loved the aesthetic from the 2014 collection or you missed out on that opportunity, this year’s limited series changes the things yet again. Even the 100-card box set is guaranteed to include one sketch card and one autographed card. Overall, you have a chance to collect new cards with 73 possible comic covers, and 27 with completely new artwork. We’re still wondering if this year’s series will include a stick of gum.
By this point, you’re likely proactively budgeting for how many boxes you’re going to buy. While you reminisce about the nerdy '90s when TMNT trading cards were in there prime, the TMNT fandom still has a prevalent enigma on its hands. Why hasn’t Hostess reintroduced those delicious but suspiciously green Turtle Pies? Unfortunately, there's no tangible answer. Many people still aren't accepting that fate, though.
There are Twitter accounts, dedicated Facebook groups and even petitions. All these social media cohorts have one mission in mind: Bring back the Hostess Turtles Pies. No, we’re not talking about the traditional, decadent pecan-encrusted turtle pie you make every holiday. We’re talking about that overly sweet bright green processed dessert that overflows with vanilla pudding.
On the surface, you might think the Ninja Turtle Pudding Pies and the trading cards don’t have anything in common beyond the titular turtles. However, that’s where you’re wrong. Beyond their coordinated fight sequences, the turtle brothers all share a perfectly synchronized marketing strategy. Every trading card Hostess packed away in its Turtle Pies guaranteed a lifetime of turtle pie cravings. Whenever you opened a box of pies, there was a card waiting. Thus, every newly opened card pack reminds us of those discontinued pies. It’s such an evil plot from a fandom about heroic turtles.
This marketing scheme ensures our taste buds would crave a Hostess snack we can’t buy whenever Topps release a new trading card series. It might not be the work of a villainous syndicate, but it’s still evil no less, and it makes sense why so many people are still begging for these green-crusted pies to make a comeback. At least we have time to try some homemade Ninja Turtle Pie recipes before the new TMNT trading cards launch in September.