Issue 33: My Wish List

ISSUE 33: MY WISH LIST.

Nickelodeon has served up a solid premiere season of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Our favorite reptiles have momentum back on their side. What seems like an endless supply of episodes (in high definition!) has once again brought TMNT merchandise to store shelves. Stand back and take it all in. Does this mean we are on the cusp of another TMNT golden age? Fingers crossed, but that remains to be seen. With at least two more seasons hitting the airwaves, there will be plenty more ninja nonsense from the green guys.

There are other areas to be conquered for a complete Turtles' takeover. There are specific things that proved successful in the past and solidified the Turtles as pop culture icons. If these guys want to relive their glory days, I have a Wish List that will make it happen. This Top Ten is a blueprint to their triumph - tapping into the essence of what kids love about TMNT. Nickelodeon, turn these wishes into a reality, and you've got gold. Nostalgic fans and young guns too.

Ring in a new era of ninja with a blast from the past.

Issue 32: Cowabunga Clean

ISSUE 32: COWABUNGA CLEAN.

Bathrooms are boring. From place to place, the space doesn't vary much in terms of decor. Bed, Bath, and Beyond can only spruce up your water closet so much. But have no fear, The Sewer Den will roundhouse kick some cool into your bathroom with TMNT accessories.

As we all know, the Ninja Turtles phenomenon took the world by storm back in the late 80's. They conquered the toy market, had a clothing line, and even found themselves in grocery stores. Why not hit the bathroom? I previously showcased a heap of TMNT cleansing gear, but couldn't resist returning to my arsenal. These items may be dusty, but they're sure to keep you squeaky clean!

Issue 31: Sentimental In The Sewer

ISSUE 31: SENTIMENTAL IN THE SEWER.

Roses are red, violets are blue, the sewers are sweet, so please read this through.

Pucker up, Valentine's Day is here once again - throwing pretty flowers, tasty chocolates, and mushy greeting cards all over the month of February. In the past, The Sewer Den has covered 2 sets of TMNT Valentine's Day cards - the classic cartoon series of the 80's and their latest movie released in 2007. Although hailing from completely different TMNT eras, both sets featured our heroes shelling out their hearts while using a variety of silly expressions and wretched puns. With Valentines like these, it's understandable why these mutants are single.

Issue 30: Gratitude, Dude.

ISSUE 30: GRATITUDE, DUDE.

Well, it's over. Once again the holiday season has come and gone. Santa took his annual trip down the chimney, the menorah burned bright, and we all rang in the new year. Time to look ahead and embrace what 2013 has to offer. But before grabbing the bull by the horns, let's look at what new TMNT goodies made their way to The Sewer Den during the holiday season. I must have been incredibly good this year because Santa was especially generous. My friends and family certainly weren't penny-pinching. The end of the year brought on an onslaught of ninja gifts - heaps of TMNT gold were thrown into The Sewer Den collection. If my sincere "thank you's"weren't enough in person, let's strike up another stroke of gratitude right here.

Issue 29: Collecting Cool

The Sewer Den, the room where my collection of TMNT goodies are on display, has sprouted from an exciting idea into a major success. Not long ago, my Ninja Turtles treasures were stowed away in a dingy basement, out of sight and gathering dust. But now, these prized-possessions have morphed from hoarded nostalgia into priceless trophies - on display for the world to enjoy.

The stockpile of TMNT valuables has eaten up the vast majority of wall space. From floor to ceiling, the green machines reign supreme. The Ninja Turtles lived gloriously in their heyday - hailed as a phenomenon from the late 80's to mid 90's. Most of my collection is from this golden era. But in 2003, the brothers returned to TV for an encore. Their new series proved successful and my TMNT collection continued to grow as a result. With new episodes, came new purchases. When that cartoon ended in 2009, my TMNT collection found stability. The Ninja Turtles went back into their shells, and in some ways, I did too.

Issue 28: Turtle Tapes

Do you remember that feeling? It was just a simple push of a button, but it was the most tedious of tasks. Occasionally it was quiet, but usually the thing mimicked a fighter jet taking off in your living room.

Rewinding a VHS tape. A process that would leave the kids of today dumbfounded. It was sad ritual that wasted countless moments of your life during the 1980's to the mid 90's. If you were fancy, you had one of those high-tech tape rewinders to save some time. But if you were like me, you were spooling those VHS tapes in your struggling VCR.

Issue 27: Monsters and Mutants

Trick-or-treat. Halloween is the ultimate opportunity to get your ghoul on. Not into the scary stuff? Fear not, this holiday is for everyone. From pumpkins to princesses, you can don any costume your heart desires.

There was never any question about it for me. A few snips from a piece of cloth, maybe a hint of green face paint, and the costume was born. For that one glorious day each year, I was a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle.