Donatello

Why Donatello matters to collectors

Donatello is the reason the turtles have a vehicle fleet, a working lair and an answer for every piece of Krang technology. Every version of the franchise quietly makes him the engine of the plot, because someone has to explain the device. Collectors like him for the gear: his releases usually carry more props and detail than the other three, and the bo staff gives sculptors a strong vertical line to build a pose around.

Key issues and milestones

• TMNT #1 (Mirage) (1984) - The debut issue, where the brothers are still visually identical apart from their weapons.
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series (1987) - Purple mask, the catchphrase about machines, and the role of team engineer locked in.
• Playmates Turtle Van and vehicle line (1989) - The Party Wagon and the rest of the vehicle range, all of them Donatello's work in fiction.
• TMNT (2003 animated series) (2003) - The 4Kids run returns to the darker comic tone and gives him a more serious technical role.

Collecting Donatello through the years

Donatello's collecting story runs through the accessories more than the figure. The 1988 Playmates release came with a bo staff that is among the most commonly lost pieces in the whole line, so complete examples matter. The vehicle range is where he really lives for collectors: the Party Wagon, the Turtle Blimp and the rest were large boxed items that people threw away, which makes boxed survivors far harder to find than the carded figures. On the comics side, the Mirage micro-series Donatello one-shot from 1986 is a well-regarded book in its own right, and the usual first-print identification rules apply.

Donatello on VeVe

VeVe has released Donatello through TMNT character figure series and the Dojo Discipline series, with sculpts that make use of the staff for height and silhouette. Some series lean on the comic art style while others follow the animated look, so his releases vary more than a single character line usually would. Drops are scheduled in the app with tiered rarities and a scarcer premium edition topping most releases.

TMNT figure series releases and the Dojo Discipline series. Check the drop calendar for upcoming TMNT releases - drops sell out in minutes, and reminders keep you ahead of them.

New to digital collecting? Start with what VeVe is and why first appearances are the rookie cards of comics.

Before you collect Donatello

• Claim your free US$10 - new collectors start with credit toward a first piece, no card required.
• Is VeVe legit? - our honest review, including the parts VeVe would rather we skipped.
• How to start on VeVe - signup through first drop, step by step.
• Are VeVe collectibles worth it? - who genuinely enjoys this hobby, and who should pass.

Donatello collector FAQ