Redeeming Pizza Points One Last Time

A few months ago I received an e-mail from Playmates toys letting me know that they were discontinuing their Pizza Points reward program that was a promotional tie-in for the new Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles toys. If you are not aware of the Pizza Points program, it goes a little something like this: You buy a Rise of the TMNT toy, inside is a slip of paper with a unique Pizza Points code, you go to the Playmates Toys website to enter the code and use the points from said code to redeem for premium products.

My kids and I had amassed quite a few points and I didn't want the opportunity to disappear, so I went to the web, entered our final codes and we had enough to redeem for their Rewards Pack #1. This only cost us 50 Pizza Points plus $8 shipping. We waited and in 4 to 6 weeks our box finally arrived in the mail!

The neon green box was unmistakable. This was going to be AWESOME! What was in the box you ask? Well, keep reading as we open this baby up and see what was received fresh from the sewers!

There were 2 sheets of these Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles stickers...

a cool cloth Leonardo ninja mask...

this pretty big Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles poster...

and finally this incredible Muckman action figure!!! I remember collectors going crazy for this figure when it was first released in 2017. At that time it was pretty hard to find and people were paying top dollar for it on auction sites like ebay. Even now, I can't find one online for less than $16. I know that's not a crazy amount of money, but it just makes me appreciate the value we got in this $8 box of green machine goodness.

This message was printed on the inside cover of the box and it makes me sad. This was a fun TMNT promotion and as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. I just wish this lasted just a little bit longer. I was hoping to save enough points to get their Rewards Package #3 that consisted of a set of 4 classic 1992 "Secret of the Ooze" movie action figures featuring authentic accessories and personalized sewer lid name base plates. Maybe the next reboot of Turtles will resurrect this once great program. Thank you Playmates!

To see what was in the last TMNT Sewer Squad box my family received from Playmates Toys, click HERE!

Comic Book Pick 2/26/20

This week the comic book I am most excited to read is...

TMNT JENNIKA #1 (OF 3)

Trying to acclimate to life as a mutant, the newest Turtle Jennika embarks on a solo adventure that will force her to come to terms with both her troubled past and conflicted present. Not to mention a brand new villain! Brahm Revel (Guerrillas) returns to reveal more of Jennika's backstory from his acclaimed TMNT Universe tale "What is Ninja?"!

(W) Brahm Revel (A/CA) Brahm Revel

SRP: $4.99

Synopsis Provided By: PreviewsWorld.com 

Throwback Jam of the Week: 2/24/20

Throw on your wetsuit and head to the Deep Blue Sea as we take you back! Without further ado, here is the 20 Years Before 2000 THROWBACK JAM OF THE WEEK...

Artist: L.L. Cool J

Song: Deepest Bluest

Album: Deep Blue Sea: The Soundtrack (1999)

Peak Billboard Hot 100 Position: N/A

Bonus Fun Fact: This song was the only single off this soundtrack album. L.L. Cool J was quoted as saying "This was my finest shark-related song ever. I can't believe it didn't chart."

SEGA Game Gear Manuals

Recently my son has been on a Legend of Zelda video game kick. He goes through phases so fast. One week it's Kirby the next it's Godzilla. This past week it was Zelda. He wanted to play the Wii game "Link's Crossbow Training". That was fine by me, but he would not play it unless we found the Wii Zapper attachement. I looked everywhere for that thing and still have yet to find it, but while on the hunt I did come across mine and my wife's old SEGA Game Gear systems. Mine is the black and hers is the blue. In the same box were a few games like Sonic, Lion King and Football. Also included were the original manuals and advertising papers included when my wife got her Game Gear as a gift back in 1992! I scanned a few of these papers and had to take photos of the others due to size. Looking through these was a trip back in time and now I would like to share them with you.

I hope you all enjoyed this look back into the early 90s when SEGA and Nintendo waged a battle against each other in the great video game wars. Of course we all know who came out on top, but back then it was a blue streak of sassiness vs. the plucky plumbers from Brooklyn. Let's relive a little bit of that rivalry with this SEGA ad below:

Comic Book Pick 2/19/20

This week the comic book I am most excited to read is...

BATMAN #89

Batman must stop Deathstroke from killing the mayor of Gotham City! But to do so he has to figure out who ordered the hit in the first place. If his four main suspects aren't 'fessing up to the crime, then is there someone even more sinister lurking in the shadows waiting to deliver the coup de grâce? Whoever it is, one victim will fall under their attack!

(W) James TynionIV (A) Guillem March (CA) Tony S. Daniel

SRP: $3.99

Synopsis Provided By: PreviewsWorld.com 

Throwback Jam of the Week: 2/17/20

Throw on your Hippie Shades and head to Canada as we take you back! Without further ado, here is the 20 Years Before 2000 THROWBACK JAM OF THE WEEK...

Artist: Snow ft. MC Shan

Song: Informer

Album: 12 Inches of Snow (1992)

Peak Billboard Hot 100 Position: #1

Bonus Fun Fact: This song is about Snow being wrongfully accused on 2 counts of murder and spent 7 weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. This song won a Juno Award in 1994 for "Best Reggae Recording".

My Old Sticker Book: Part 3

While visiting my family back in New Jersey this past October, I took it upon myself to wander into my Mom's attic to see if some of my old stuff was still up there. To my surprise, she had not thrown anything out! So away I went, searching through bins and boxes looking for things that I could take back with me or at least get pictures of to share with you guys. One of the things that was uncovered was my old sticker album. Let's stop this chit-chat and continue with part 3, which will be the final look at these old stickers...shall we?

 Nintendo Puffy Stickers

Puffy stickers were AWESOME and these are no exception. I really dig the old school Mario, Zelda and Punch Out artwork. Look at King Koopa from the early days of Nintendo. One could argue he is even more cool looking than the version we have today!

 Random Holiday Stickers

The vast majority of the stickers on this page were compiled from stickers that were placed on worksheets or tests that I did well on. Teachers used to spoil us with neat stickers when we did well back in the day. Now when my kids come home with good grades they get drawn on smiley faces or stars. Appreciated, but not as exciting as stickers!

 Ghostbusters II and Skateboard Candy Stickers

The top Ghostbusters II logo sticker came from a Troll book order. It was rare that we got to order from these school issued order forms, but I'm sure I convinced my Mom to get something, just so I could get the free Ghostbusters II sticker. I am trying to remember, but I think the smaller stickers on this page came from a candy in the 90s that had a skateboard shaped container? I believe it came with these stickers so you could customize it your way. I may be totally wrong on this one, so please feel free to correct me in the comments below!

Simpsons Stickers

Here are more Simpsons stickers from the same trip to Showbiz Pizza with our Aunt. They are fantastic and remind me of a time when the Simpsons was still fresh, funny and new.

 Ninja Turtles Prism Stickers

Speaking of that epic trip to Showbiz Pizza...here are the real winners from the sticker machine. Yes me and my brother got rolls of quarters to play games and remember I told you in the last post that we spent the majority of that money on a single game? Well that game was the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Arcade Game! We plunked down quarters while kids watched over our shoulders until we defeated the Shredder and became local legends! Then the remaining quarters went to stickers, glorious prismatic TMNT stickers!

 Random Stickers Page

The stickers on this page are represented by a sweepstakes Ace card, Dinosaur stickers, an extra TMNT metallic machine sticker from the A&P supermarket and a freakin' Rude Dog Sticker! This Rude Dog sticker came with some shirts my Mom had bought us and lived on our bed headboards for a while until I decided to rip it off and post it into this book for posterity! So glad I did that so I can share it with you today!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Sticker Sheets and Bookmark

Yes, that is my original sticker sheet that came with my Mondo Gecko action figure back in the early 90s. His skateboard already came with the skull sticker on it, so I saw no need to add anymore. The other sticker sheets, I can't really remember where they came from, but there are 3 sheets still in the pack. Finally, the bookmark was actually supposed to be a gift for my brother, but I decided to keep it for myself. I just couldn't give away this great piece of TMNT merchandise!

Well, that's it! We are done taking a look at this sticker book and let me tell you, it was AMAZING to relive all the memories that came from these colorful pieces of my childhood. Thank you for taking this journey with me, I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. See you next week with something non sticker related!

Comic Book Pick 2/12/20

This week the comic book I am most excited to read is...

HARLEY QUINN & BIRDS OF PREY #1 (OF 4)

DC Black Label Prestige Plus 8.5" x 10.875"

The creative team that transformed Harley Quinn forever returns to shake up her world once more-and this time, the gloves are off!  Harley Quinn has avoided Gotham City ever since she broke up with The Joker and found a home, and a kind of family, in Coney Island. But when she gets an offer she can't refuse, she has no choice but to slip back into the city as quietly as she can, hoping to be gone before anyone - especially her ex - learns she's been there. But for Harley, "as quietly as she can" is plenty loud... and before she can say "Holee bounty hunters, Batman," The Joker's sicced every super-villain in the city on her pretty ombré head-and the only team tough enough (or crazy enough) to come to her defense is the Birds of Prey! The foul-mouthed, no-holds-barred sequel to one of DC's raciest runs is here! Get on board early, before we come to our senses!

(W) Amanda Conner, Jimmy Palmiotti (A/CA) Amanda Conner

SRP: $5.99

Synopsis Provided By: PreviewsWorld.com 

Throwback Jam of the Week: 2/10/20

Throw on your Old Timey Wig & Gold Chain and head to college on a surprise visit as we take you back! Without further ado, here is the 20 Years Before 2000 THROWBACK JAM OF THE WEEK...

Artist: Biz Markie

Song: Just A Friend

Album: The Biz Never Sleeps (1989)

Peak Billboard Hot 100 Position: #9

Bonus Fun Fact: This song went platinum on April 12th, 1990 and samples the song "(You) Got What I Need" by Freddie Scott.

My Old Sticker Book: Part 2

While visiting my family back in New Jersey this past October, I took it upon myself to wander into my Mom's attic to see if some of my old stuff was still up there. To my surprise, she had not thrown anything out! So away I went, searching through bins and boxes looking for things that I could take back with me or at least get pictures of to share with you guys. One of the things that was uncovered was my old sticker album. Let's stop this chit-chat and continue with part 2 of this look at old stickers...shall we?

 Vending Machine Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Stickers (Page 2)

Looking back now, I think me and my brother may completed the whole set of the metallic Turtles stickers? We got all the characters available to us, but we wanted to collect both the Silver & Gold versions. Even back then I was a hardcore completist! Also, if you look to the bottom left corner of the page you'll see the sticker that was included with the TMNT movie soundtrack tape that I purchased in 1990 when I was 10!

Simpsons Stickers

I remember getting these stickers while me and my brother were being baby sat by our Aunt. She took us to a Showbiz Pizza in NY and gave each of us several rolls of quarters. Most of the money was spent on one video game and the rest was spent on the shiny Simpsons stickers you see above. The Lisa and Marge stickers at the bottom of the page were taken off of a few sports disks we won at the fair. They were carefully removed and placed lovingly in this book for generations to enjoy.

 Batman Stickers

These stickers, like a majority of the stickers in this book, came from a vending machine at our local A&P grocery store. My Mom would have to take us when she did the shopping and if we were good, we got to chose a machine prize as our reward. I vividly remember spotting that Batman logo sticker on the ground of the parking lot at the A&P and picking it up for myself. It looked like it had been run over a few times, but hey, Batman was huge back then and it had to be mine!

Topps Ghostbusters II and Desert Adventure Stickers

The Ghostbusters II stickers came from packs of Topps Ghostbusters II cards, but the Desert Adventure stickers were given to me by my 4th grade teacher as a reward for helping tutor another student in English. She wanted to give me a Charms Blow Pop, but I wasn't having it, I wanted those stickers!

More Nintendo Stickers

These all came from random places. Some from friends, some from vending machines and some were bought. Those Mario vending stickers are pretty cool though as they included a scratch off Tic-Tac-Toe game. Looks like I won one and lost the other.

Darkwing Duck Sticker Sheet

Included in the sticker album were a few sheets of unstuck stickers. One of those sheets was of Darkwing Duck. I believe these were given out to subscribers of Disney Adventures Magazine as part of a "Thank You" pack that came with your first issue? Not sure on that one, but I am sure that Darkwing Duck was AWESOME!

That's it for Part 2 of a look through my old sticker book. Stay tuned for Part 3, coming next week!

Comic Book Pick 2/5/20

This week the comic book I am most excited to read is...

SHE-RA GN VOL 01 LEGEND OF FIRE PRINCESS

 

Don't miss the first epic She-Ra and the Princesses of Power graphic novel, based on stories by showrunner Noelle Stevenson! Even after everything that's happened, the world outside the Horde's walls is still a strange one to Adora. Each day she's learning more about her growing powers as She-Ra, including something new: the ability to heal corrupted runestones. Runestones are the magical source from which princesses like Frosta, Mermista, and Perfuma draw their power, but Glimmer knows of another runestone - one with a dark past. Long ago a fire princess ruled the lands to the west, until her thirst for power corrupted her, and led to the ruin of her kingdom. Glimmer thinks the lost fire runestone could give the Rebellion an edge in the fight against the Horde, but claiming this ancient power won't be easy... especially not when the Horde has their eyes set on the same prize. Don't miss this original graphic novel based on stories by She-Ra showrunner and New York Times bestselling author Noelle Stevenson, with script by Gigi D.G. and art by Paulina Ganucheau! Available in Softcover and Hardcover editions!

(W) Gigi D. G. (A) Peterschmidt, Paulina Ganucheau

SRP: $12.99

Synopsis Provided By: PreviewsWorld.com 

Throwback Jam of the Week: 2/3/20

Throw on your Kobe Bryant Jersey and head to the blacktop as we take you back! Without further ado, here is the 20 Years Before 2000 THROWBACK JAM OF THE WEEK...

Artist: Brian McKnight ft. Kobe Bryant

Song: Hold Me

Album:  Bad Boys: Anytime (1997)

Peak Billboard Hot 100 Position: #35

Bonus Fun Fact: This song was off McKnight's third studio album and contains samples from "I Get Around" by 2Pac, "Computer Love" by Zapp, "Step in the Arena" by Gang Starr and "Impeach the President" by The Honey Drippers.