#63: LEGO Ghostbusters - Ecto 1 & 2 (75828)

Rounding out all the toys I picked up from the Ghostbusters, here's the LEGO set featuring Ecto 1 and Ecto 2. Naturally, the main attraction here is the new Ecto 1, which is based on a hearse rather than the classic ambulance version. It's a pretty detailed build, with a lot of small pieces. This improves on the original LEGO Ecto 1 by having enough room to seat two figures side by side and having opening doors, although it is apparently at the expense of side windows. The stripes along the side are broken up because the printing doesn't extend across the entire brick, which is kind of disappointing. Overall though, it's pretty cool.

The minifigures naturally include all the team, as well as Kevin. There is also the "mayhem" ghost that they fight in the theater. All the human characters have two faces on their heads. The proton packs do make them somewhat back heavy, but they can stand up while wearing them if they are leaning forward. The Ecto 2 is there for Kevin to ride as well. It's not super involved, but there are some tech bits on the back.

#62: Ghostbusters - Rowan

Marvel Legends has been the most successful use of the "build a figure" gimmick. Mattel has used its own version, collect and connect, mostly with its superhero lines, and they have used it for the Ghostbusters line as well. Since I was getting the whole team anyway, I also ended up with this Rown figure. It has very limited articulation that only uses swivels, and has a kind of awkward pose (the legs are only articulated at the ankles). It's basically a free figure, so I can't complain too much, but it is hardly the most impressive example of a collect and connect figure. Interestingly, there was a regular Rowan figure available to purchase in the lower priced section of the line. It has more articulation, and I believe it has the same light up feature as Mr Stay Puft. So if you're looking for a Rowan figure, that might be the better choice.

#61: Ghostbusters - Patty Tolan

While all the Ghostbusters figures are unique sculpts (although I suspect that Patty and Erin share hands), they're all the same in articulation, paint general likeness quality, etc. So now that I'm on to the fourth one, there's nothing really to add. But now that I have a Leslie Jones figure, I can enact my own Saturday Night Live Undercover Boss sketch reunion with Kylo Ren. Sometimes the metatextual aspect is more fun than the figures themselves.

#60: Ghostbusters - Abby Yates

While the Abby figure at my local Target was of questionable quality, it was in stock online, so I took a chance on an unseen figure for clearance price. Fortunately, it was okay in the QC department. While it's not the best likeness, I have a Melissa McCarthy figure. Sometimes, I think half the fun of action figure collecting is the actor rather than the character. What I like about this line is that Mattel didn't cheap out, so all the characters have unique sculpts, reflecting their varying body types.

#59: Ghostbusters - Erin Gilbert

About a week before the movie was released, Target was randomly clearancing out the Ghostbusters toys. Since I had the Holtzmann figure already, I figured I'd complete the team. My local store had Erin and Abby in stock, but the Abby had some weird stuff going on paint-wise on her face, so I only bought the Erin figure there. Erin comes with both of the legs for the Rowan figure, but mine had two left legs. I contacted Mattel's customer service, but they couldn't give me a replacement. Instead, they sent me a voucher for a Mattel product, in the amount of a figure. So that's pretty cool.

#37: Ghostbusters - Stay Puft Balloon Ghost

When I saw the Mr Stay Puft figure in the new toy line, I wasn't sure if it's because the big guy was appearing in the new movie, or if it was just a throwback for the toys. Turns out, it is in the movie, but in balloon form. Hence the balloon ghost name. It's a pretty nice looking representation of everybody's favorite marshmallow mascot. It's from the cheaper segment of the Ghostbusters toy line, so it has reduced articulation, as well as a light up feature. The head swivels, the shoulders and hips have swivel hinges, and the wrists are either swivels or very restricted ball joints. The light up feature is activated by pushing the knot in his scarf, which cause his torso and head to light up with a red light. Not the most exciting action feature, but it's not obtrusive either, so I'm okay with it. If nothing else, I'm glad I finally got a Mr Stay Puft action figure.

#35: Ghostbusters - Jillian Holtzmann

Since I'm so far behind on my blog updating, I actually bought this figure at least a month before the new Ghostbusters movie came out. Based on the trailers, I figured Holtzmann would be the character I liked best (I was right) so I just bought her figure. It looks pretty decent, and the articulation is pretty typical for Mattel figures, so no real surprises here. That weird mismatch on the legs at the thigh swivels is something I never noticed until looking at this picture. Upon closer examination, it is only very slightly noticeable to the naked eye under normal lighting conditions. The neutrino wand is connected to the proton pack by a cable, and can hang off its side. It looks like the entire pack is removable, but I'm not planning to try and take it off. This is a toy blog, not a movie review blog, but I will say that I really liked the new Ghostbusters. The whole cast was hilarious, but Kate McKinnon really steals the show as Holtzmann.

#61: LEGO Ghostbusters - Ecto-1 (21108)

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the original theatrical release of Ghostbusters, so it's fitting that LEGO is releasing an Ecto-1 set now. Ghostbusters is the first film I have memories of seeing in a theater, and it's remained a favorite throughout my life. I think it turned out looking pretty good, especially compared with the BttF DeLorean, which doesn't have the right angularity. The Ecto-1 ends up with some curved sides and enough angles in the right places to avoid being too rectangular. It's a pretty fun build, with a ton of small pieces. Particularly on the roof gadgetry, there are a lot of single studs involved. There aren't any functional doors, but the roof is removable, and there is room for two minifigures to sit inside. There's room in the back for proton pack storage, as well.

The set includes minifigures for all four of the Ghostbusters, including a display stand. Sadly, the Slimer that was part of the LEGO Cuusoo (now LEGO Ideas) pitch didn't make it to the final product. Each Ghostbuster includes a proton pack, and there are also a couple of walkie talkies and a trap included. It would have been cool if there were proton streams to attach to the neutrino wands as well.

#113: Ghostbusters Minimates Dr. Peter Venkman and Energized Terror Dog

Over a year ago when I got my first Ghostbuster Minimates, I said that I would prefer an unslimed Venkman. Finally I got one. At last, my Ghostbusters team is complete. It's nice that every Minimates Ghostbuster includes a proton stream, unlike Ghostbuster figures currently made by another company. The other half of the set is the energized terror dog. I guess terror dog is the official name for them, but that's never how I thought of them. Because this is the energized version, it's mostly semi-translucent plastic. What's neat about the terror dog is that it's a regular Minimate body in there, with a bunch of additional parts to give it that canine appearance. I'd have preferred a regular version,, but weird variant terror dog is better than none.

#38: Hot Wheels Ghostbusters Ecto-1

I finally found it! After fruitlessly looking for the Ecto-1 the past few months, I was beginning to think I would never find one. Then one day I was at the grocery store, and there was a stand-alone cardboard display of Hot Wheels where the Easter candy had been. Figuring it was worth a shot, I searched through the entire display and found the only Ecto-1 contained within. The display was pretty full, so I wonder if that was the only one included. I've heard the Ecto-1 was shortpacked, and if it's only one per shipment, that's insane. I'm not sure if this is significant in any way, but the packaging seemed to be the international version, with the warning printed in three different languages on the card. Either way, it's the toy inside that's of interest to me, so I'm glad I finally got my hands on one, because it's a cool one. The Ecto-1 looks pretty good in scaled down form, although the ladder on the side is just solid black plastic. Some painted detail on the black plastic on the top would have been nice, but for a buck I'm not complaining too much. There is some equipment inside, but it's hard to make it out through the small windows. If you're on the hunt for one of these, then good luck!

#138: Ghostbusters Minimates box set series 2

I pre-ordered this set a few months ago, and almost forgot about. Then it arrived in the mail yesterday, and I didn't even know it had been sent. Yay for surprises! I got this set mainly because at the time, the only Winston that was available was the Ghostbusters 2 version, which has a different colored uniform, and is clean shaven. I definitely prefer the original Winston with a 'stache. Also, it includes both of the Ghostbusters I needed to complete the team, and both forms of Gozer from the movie.

So this set comes with Ray and Winston. Winston is Winston, he has a 'stache. He's solid. Ray comes with a trap, so my team finally can actually trap ghosts. He also has goggles which help him look more "Ray" because the face really isn't the best likeness of the bunch. And as usual, they come with detachable proton streams.

Gozer's body does its Minimate best to replicate the odd covered in bubbles look seen in the movie and does a pretty decent job of it. The flattop 'do is in place, so this is unmistakably Gozer itself.

20 years ago, if you wanted Ghostbusters toys, they were all based on the cartoon. Fortunately, the Stay-Puft marshmallow man made a couple appearances in the cartoon, so he got a toy. I had one way back then, but since I don't have it any more, this is a fun replacement. Ol' Stay-Puft is basically a handless and footless Minimate body with a bunch of attachments to cover it up. They bulk him up a bit so that he is noticeably taller than other Minimate figures, although they also hinder the articulation a bit. But it looks good, so I am not complaining.

I'm glad to finally have the team completed, although I am still thinking about getting a regular, non-slimed Peter. I think Stay-Puft is only available elsewhere as an "exploding" variant, so if you want him or Gozer, this is the set to get.

#76: Ghostbusters Minimates slimed Peter Venkman and clear Slimer

I'm not exactly sure how it happened, but Slimer became more popular than the Ghostbusters themselves through his appearances in the cartoon. I actually thought he was kind of annoying. I prefer the movie version, which has limited screen time, but makes good use of it.

Anyway, this set represents one of the iconic moments from the movie, so Venkman is splattered with slime. This interaction between him and Slimer became a running gag in the cartoon. He also has a look of shock/horror/disgust on his face. Unless I get a reguler Venknam figure, he'll perpetually be the screaming guy on the team. I think I may do that, because one can never have too many little plastic Bill Murrays. Like Egon, he has the proton pack and a detachable proton stream. Instead of a PKE meter, he comes with some little black thing. I think it might be a walkie-talkie.

I like the Slimer. The packaging specifies that it is clear Slimer, and since this is an exclusive set, I'm guessing that means there will be a more opaque Slimer being released later on. I prefer the clear version, as I think it makes it look more ghostly. If I remember correctly, he was somewhat transparent in the movie as well. The packaging and the promotional pictures show him with food inside his stomach, but the actual toy doesn't have that. I'm actually glad that didn't make it to the final product, I think it looks better this way.

#75: Ghostbusters Minimates Dr Egon Spengler and Library Ghost

One of the first movies that I can remember seeing in a theater is Ghostbusters. In fact, I clearly recall seeing it more than once. I loved it, and my family even had the VHS copy. My brother and I had a bunch of figures from the cartoon line. Coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the first movie there is a new video game, and a couple different lines of movie based toys. Since I refuse to pay Mattycollector's exorbitant prices, I am getting the Minimates line.

The first set I picked up is Egon and the librarian ghost from the first movie. The librarian is a nice translucent plastic, lending her a more spectral appearance, and she comes with a book that can be kind of hard to keep balanced in her hand. Egon is the star of this set, and he deserves to be. He has cool accessories like the proton pack, a PKE meter, and even a detachable proton stream. Neat!