The Fright Features versions of the Ghostbusters from Hasbro's Ghostbusters Kenner Classics line seem to be pretty well distributed at Target as I've seen all four figures multiple times at various locations. I believe they're exclusive to Target until late spring, then they should be making their way to other retailers and e-tailers. Today I'm looking at Ray Stantz, the heart of the Ghostbusters, and his companion Jail Jaw ghost. I found Ray and
Peter Venkman at the same time back in early February and quickly picked them up (I have all four of the Ghostbusters now, but I'm making my way through them a bit slowly). I really think Ray might have been the first of the vintage Fright Features figures I had. I had them all but I see, remember getting Ray first, Peter and Egon together, and then finding Winston, who seemed to be more difficult to find. Considering these guys came out in very late 1987 and early 1988 when I would have only been four, my recollection might be a bit fuzzy, but I don't think I'm too far off. Let's check out the Fright Features Ray Stantz & Jail Jaw Ghost after the break...
The Facts:
Height: 4 3/4ths inches
Articulation: Swivel hips and swivel shoulders.
Accessories: Fork Lift weapon and Jail Jaw ghost companion.
Non-Scalper Price: $15 dollars
The Positives:
* Out of all of the Fright Features outfits, I think I like Ray's the best. While the orange and teal color scheme isn't something from the films or the animated series, it does look the most like a Ghostbusters outfit to me. The color of the Fright Features uniform doesn't feel too far off from a standard suit and I do like the added protective gloves and boots. There's also a clip of some sort hanging from the left shoulder, presumably for carrying an extra piece of equipment. Ray's jumpsuit isn't zipped all the way, which is something you see in the films from time to time, so he looks a bit casual. He's also sporting a white t-shirt with the Ghostbusters logo.
* While I knocked the fact that
Fright Features Peter's face has a weird, kind of ventriloquist dummy-like look to it, Ray's isn't as bad. The eyes are a little odd but not terrible. I like the expression; it fits the sweet, easy going Ray. I actually went to grade school with a kid who looked like this figure. I also like the
Ecto Goggles. I remember as a kid thinking it was pretty impressive when the gear from the cartoon and movies made it into the toyline, which really wasn't that often. The goggles are just painted solid grey, but they look pretty accurate.
* The Fright Features feature for Ray is that his hair (and the goggles) launch up into the air, making his eyes appear quite large, while his ears pop out to the sides. How bizarre! I mean, it works well, but it's really crazy looking. It's definitely like something out of Loony Tunes, but it does work and it's memorable. It also makes Ray look like the alien (MAC) from the 1988 film
Mac and Me).
* Hasbro has done a nice job with these remakes and they feel just like the vintage toys as best as I can recall. Ray has the standard four points of articulation for this series, as because of the action features in his head there is no neck articulation, but that's true to the vintage figure and most other Kenner figures at the time.
* Dr. Ray Stantz comes armed with the Fork Lift, a purple weapon with a small particle thrower on one side and a gripper like device on the other. I've never thought about it before, but the weapons from the Fright Features series kind of remind me of the weapons from the 1986 Filmation's Ghostbusters toyline by Schaper.
* Ray's companion ghost is Jail Jaw. He's always been one of my favorites as he always looked like a ghost you actually would have seen in the animated series. His teeth have a cage like look to them, thus giving him his name. He's a funny guy who was remolded in glow-in-the-dark plastic in the vintage line for the Ecto Trap and with the Ecto-Glow Egon figure.
* While it's a bit silly to physically catch a ghost, I have always liked that the Fright Features series weapons can actually capture the included ghosts. Surely they're some sort of special devices created in Egon's laboratory. The prongs of the Fork Lift fit between the teeth of Jail Jaw, keeping him firmly in place.
For $15 dollars, this is a pretty nice reissue of a classic vintage action figure. Whether you keep the figure on the card or remove Ray from his plastic and cardboard containment unit, the nostalgic quality of the figure holds up well. While I do think the Fright Features figures are pretty goofy, Hasbro has really done a fantastic job of recreating the toys in a way that feels very true to the originals. The vintage Fright Features Ray figure doesn't really sell for too much more than this guy, but this one is neat and clean and if you're not at all concerned about having a true vintage figure, you'll be quite happy. This is a Great and a 1/2 figure and probably my favorite of the Fright Features line.
yeah this was always my fave of them too. Just had a neat look and bold colours and the cool shirt.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like Ray just got woken up and had to run out as quickly as possible to but some ghosts. Didn't even have time to zip of his flight suit all the way.
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