In 1984, cartoonists Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird published the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book and introduced the pizza-loving heroes in a half shell to the world. To celebrate the 40th anniversary of TMNT in 2024, adidas Originals is dropping a special collaboration with the franchise, fittingly on the adidas Superstar, which are known in the streets as “Shelltoes.”
This Superstar pays homage to the how the turtles appeared in their original comic books, with all four turtles wearing a red mask around their eyes instead of them each having their own color. As such, the side stripes come in red, as does the mask lace jewel. The majority of the upper comes in a wrinkled green leather that matches the ninja turtles’ skin, while the iconic white shell toe features a hexagonal pattern that matches the turtles’ shells. A shell graphic has been added to the right tongue, opposite the standard adidas Trefoil on the left. Also, the adidas branding on the heels has been stylized to match the font used in the TMNT comic books. Other neat details include double-sides insoles with pizza graphics on one side an OG TMNT artwork on the other, hidden sewer manhole covers under the insoles, and “SHELLTOE” gold foil branding on the lateral instead of the standard “SUPERSTAR.” As an added bonus, the shoes come in blister case packaging, just like how TMNT action figures are packaged, and they also come with their own TMNT x adidas comic book.
The TMNT x adidas Superstar “Shelltoe” drops March 22nd via adidas.com and select retailers such as Finish Line and JD Sports. Check out the official images below.
Update: BAIT will be hosting a launch party for the TMNT x adidas Superstar at their Melrose Ave store location in Los Angeles on March 14th ahead of the official release on March 22nd. They have also release a campaign starring Ernie Reyes Jr. and François Chau, the actors who played Keno and Shredder in 1991’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze. Check out the photos below.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x adidas Superstar “Shelltoe”
Color: Craft Green/Pantone/Shadow Green
Style Code: IF9280
Release Date: March 14, 2024 (BAIT Melrose)
Release Date: March 22, 2024 (Global)
Price: $130 USD
Photos via BAIT:
Official Images:
