It’s a great time for us Turtles fans, as we keep getting new characters in NECA’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles line, everything from core show characters to even some that you almost never see made into toys. Mondo Gecko comes with Kerma, who is an ally of the Turtles and an Alien Turtle of the Turtleoid race from the planet Shell-Ri-La.
Mondo Gecko is based on the Season 5 episode “Michelangelo Meets Mondo Gecko.” He would also appear in a later episode Dirk Savage: Mutant Hunter, where Mutants were being captured and taken prisoner by Dirk Savage. Kerma appeared in more episodes, including “Planet of the Turtleoids, Part 1,” “Planet of the Turtleoids, Part 2,” “Return of the Turtleoid,” and “Escape from the Planet of the Turtleoids.”
Thank you to NECA Toys for providing their Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mondo Gecko & Kerma Figures for review.
Availability: August 2021 – Target Exclusive
Mondo Gecko are packaged in a window box with an opening flap, with artwork inspired from the classic cartoon series and also inspired from the VHS cassette tape packaging that we all remember. On the cover is an image of Mondo Gecko, riding his skateboard in the sewers. The sides include logo’s and the homage to the VHS packaging, and the back includes images of the figures, artwork of the characters, and a description of each. The opening flap includes an image of Mondo Gecko, and the figures are packaged in a window box with a plastic tray for safe keeping.
Mondo Gecko and Kerma are given excellent figure sculpts that fans will surely go nuts over. NECA’s team continues to get it right by each new character, and these two are perfect examples of that. Mondo Gecko is given both light green skin in the front, and a darker green in the back to bring the 2D design into reality. The sculpted pattern on his chest, and bottom of the tail is nicely done and painted the same color. He is sculpted in a yellow shirt with a design on the front, with the lower half ripped as are the sleeves. He also has purple pants, purple elbow pads with a spike, a red knee pad with a spike, and a knee pad with a skull on it. The shoes are nicely done and painted in red, purple with the black lines, and white laces. His head sculpt features a great likeness, including the backwards purple hat, hair sticking out the front and back of his head underneath the hat, and nicely sculpted and painted facial details, including the eyes and mouth.
His articulation includes a ball jointed head, hinged jaw, ball hinged shoulders, swivel-hinged elbows, swivel-hinged wrists, ball jointed torso, ball jointed tail, ball jointed hips, swivel-hinged knees, hinged and rocker ankles.
Kerma is a bonus accessory in this set, but more accurately this is really a 2-pack. The likeness on him is equally as impressive and they did a terrific job brining this character to form, for the first-time in Turtles history. Every aspect about this perfect is perfect, including the sculpt, deco and overall quality. He comes in a purple robe with a blue and purple belt, with black lines as part of the design. The skin is painted in a dark green, with black circles that likely indicate lumps, light grey finger and toe nails. The head sculpt includes nicely done facial details, including a large nose, eyes, and a mouth.
His articulation includes a ball jointed head, ball-hinged shoulders, swivel wrists, and swivel hips.
All of the accessories go with Mondo Gecko, including his skateboard that is just so spectacular. It features flames on the top, and given dark green deco on the bottom and more of a blueish-green on the top. It also has jets in the back, and rotating red wheels.
Also included is his compliance cuff that is from the episode “Dirk Savage: Mutant Hunter” that was used to force mutants to behave and comply when they were captured. Also included is a loot bag from his days as a criminal, a blaster, and a bomb. All of these look amazing and the deco and attention to detail is something truly special here.
A pre-mutanted Gecko is also included, which mutated into Mondo Gecko. This is a non-articulated figure, but features a great likeness.
Both Mondo Gecko and Kerma can stand on the skateboard, which also has a peg joint for Mondo’s foot.
Overall, this is another solid release from NECA Toys and they continue to offer such great characters in this line. Getting Money Gecko was probably inevitable as he’s not only a fan-favorite, but also just a really fun design overall. Kerma is a gift here as this is a character that you never thought would make it in any figure line. Make sure to get this set while you can.
Purchase:
Target Stores in the U.S., and can also be found at Zavvi – U.K.
Additional figures are available on Entertainment Earth, BigBadToyStore, Hobby Link Japan, Things From Another World, Zavvi – U.S./Canada and Zavvi – U.K.
The figure comes with a skate board, blaster, baby version of himself, dynamite, and more.
