TMNT Leonardo (1988)

Leonardo — the disciplined leader of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles — was released as part of Playmates' original 1988 action figure wave. He's the serious one, the strategist, armed with his twin katana swords and sporting his blue mask. Leo's figure has a focused, battle-ready expression that sets him apart from his more laid-back brothers. As the de facto leader, he's the figure many collectors start with.

Leonardo from the first Playmates wave is a cornerstone of any TMNT collection. The 1988 originals are distinguished from later reissues by the card back variations — the earliest 10-back cards (showing only the first 10 figures) are the most collectible. Leo was a popular figure and saw huge production numbers, but finding one that wasn't played into the ground is the real challenge thirty-plus years later.

For a complete Leonardo, you need both katana swords, the belt, and the weapons rack accessories. The katanas are the most commonly missing pieces — kids loved sword-fighting with them and they snapped or vanished accordingly. Check for the soft-head vs. hard-head variant; the softer rubber head is from the earlier, more desirable production run. Look for clean blue mask paint and minimal shell wear. Carded specimens on the original 10-back card are premium collectibles — check that the blister is firmly attached and the swords are visible inside.