Glow-in-the-Dark No-Ghost Collect & Connect Ghostbusters Classics (Mattel)

Today I give you the finale of my Ghostbusters Spotlight.

This "figure" is more of a statue and came piecemeal with the Ghostbusters Classics Figures. I tried to get shots of him glowing but that was tricky especially since it was daytime. I love all things glow-in-the-dark. When I was younger I was going to build a "glow-in-the-dark space farm" but wanted to make it mobile and not just stuck to my wall or ceiling and never quite finished it... C'est la vie I suppose.

Peter Venkman Ghostbusters Classics (Mattel)

The incomparable Bill Murray brought the sarcastic Dr. Peter Venkman to life. Venkman is the wry, flirtatious, "party animal" of the group. The Venkman character was originally written for John Belushi who sadly died before the film could be made. Murray's star power in part increased Peter's role in the film at the expense of Winston's. This figure differs slightly from the others in that Venkman doesn't tuck his pant legs into his boots like his colleagues but rather slips them over his boots. Maybe this is to show he's a bit more casual than the others but I have no idea. Nor am I a big enough Ghostbusters nerd to know in what scene(s) in the movies he sports this look.

Egon Spengler Ghostbusters Classics (Mattel)

The brainiest Ghostbuster, Egon Spengler was played by the late, great Harold Ramis. He invented and built most of the Ghostbusters' equipment and collects spores, moulds, and fungus. Egon also has the most ridiculous and therefore best name of all the Ghostbusters. Seriously if it wouldn't be so much of a teasing target I'd name a kid Egon. If asked as a child I'd probably have picked Dr. Spengler as my favourite Ghostbuster as he fit the brainy stereotype I gravitated toward (like Donatello, Newton Gimmick, and the Mighty Morphin' Blue Ranger). He's still probably my fave though I'd have a harder time definitively saying so today (I'm less decisive as an adult). Egon's articulation is the same as all the other figures. That weird clear tube still kind of gets in the way sometimes. The proton packs are gorgeous though.

Ray Stanz Ghostbusters Classics (Mattel)

Dan Aykroyd, the mastermind behind the Ghostbusters played Ray Stanz the slightly goofy parapsychologist but arguably the most committed to the team. Ray is central to what is probably the most forgotten scene in the original Ghostbusters film that upon rewatching the film with their kids parents have that "oh crap I hope they don't get it" moment. You'll know it when you see it and then you get have that "I can't believe I watched this as a kid" moment. It's good family fun. Aykroyd's original concept had a bunch of inter-dimensional and trans-temporal travel that would've killed the budget but would've been super sweet.

Winston Zeddemore Ghostbusters Classics (Mattel)

Winston Zeddemore (played by Ernie Hudson) gets no respect. Well that's not entirely fair. In the earlier drafts of the script Winston has a much deeper backstory and was originally the one who got slimed by Slimer at the hotel as chronicled by Brian Cronin here. To make matters worse Ernie Hudson auditioned to play the role of Winston on "The Real Ghostbusters" cartoon and lost it to Arsenio Hall. So in a small way to show my appreciation for Winston and Mr. Hudson I've elected to have his figure come first in my posts of the classic team. Winston was also the central character in my most watched episode of "The Real Ghostbusters" that was on a VHS tape of cartoons taped from TV when I was very small. (The episode in question is Boo-Dunit, and may also have contributed to my interest in murder-mysteries)  These Ghostbusters Classics figures seem to be fairly identical apart from the heads and name-tags but slightly different toolings from the new female Ghostbusters.

Rowan Ghost Ghostbusters 2016 (Mattel)

Rowan North (played by Neil Casey) is the villain of the film who at one point turns into a ghost reminiscent of the one in the Ghostbusters logo. This figure has a bit more articulation and a different face and hand sculpt than the Collect-and-Connect figure who came with the individual Ghostbusters.

Mayhem Ghostbusters 2016 (Mattel)

Mayhem is the ghost encountered at the concert and is the first ghost to be trapped by the new team of Ghostbusters. This figure is cast in a fun translucent red plastic. The articulation in the head, arms, and wings is good but the legs are at a weird angle. I attempted to recreate a scene from the movie at the end of the gallery. You can decide how successful I was. There's also a fun light-up feature.

Jillian Holtzmann Ghostbusters 2016 (Mattel)

Kate McKinnon plays Dr. Jillian Holtzmann, Ph.D perhaps my favourite character in the film. She fills the Egon role by being the main inventor and (most) misunderstood genius of the group. She's manic and zany and pure awesome. Her hair is inspired by the animated version of Egon.  Unfortunately the unique sidearms she invents for each 'buster are not included with any of the figures which is a bit sad. Holtzmann's goggles look a bit better than Abby's glasses.

Patty Tolan Ghostbusters 2016 (Mattel)

Patty Tolan (played by Leslie Jones) is an amateur New York historian and transit worker who joins up with the fledgling Ghostbusters earlier in the film than poor Winston did in the original. She has some great one-liners and her knowledge of New York is instrumental in identifying the key building for plot reasons. (That made it sound way lamer than it is but I don't want to spoil anything) One of her great scenes in the trailer I'll recreate later.

Erin Gilbert Ghostbusters 2016 (Mattel)

Kristen Wiig plays Erin Gilbert the co-author of "Ghosts from Our Past: Both Literally and Figuratively: The Study of the Paranormal" who abandons her search for the paranormal but gets drawn back in to investigate a potential haunting. She is closest in temperament to Peter Venkman from the original movie.  Her flirtation with the Ghostbusters' secretary Kevin makes for some funny moments. Though it's not fair to isolate a single bit, the whole movie is hilarious. And these figures are pretty good too. Articulation is decent and the paint is not bad. Not great but not bad.

Abby Yates Ghostbusters 2016 (Mattel)

Abby Yates (played by Melissa McCarthy) is the co-author of "Ghosts from Our Past: Both Literally and Figuratively: The Study of the Paranormal" and the one who pursued paranormal studies. She is the analogous to Ray Stanz as the slightly goofy one. She's also a bit more of a leader. The figure's glasses are kind of wonky but it's difficult to do glasses on figures well. The Proton Pack was a bit annoying remove so I've elected to leave it on for the other Ghostbusters. It's not hiding anything interesting anyway.

Rowan Ghost Collect-and-Connect Figure (Mattel)

After my unofficial run of DC-centric posts I decided to do a theme week on purpose. Well more than a week but less than two so "Frightening Fortnight" as a name doesn't work. "Ghostbusters Gala" sounds like a dance or a fundraiser. So wharves. Here are some Ghostbusters figures.

Rowan was the antagonist in the 2016 Ghostbusters movie which I quite liked. I thought it was a fun take and unfairly maligned by misanthropes on the internet. This is the Collect-and-Connect figure from the 6" line tying into the film. He's got limited articulation but a funky facial expression.

Collection Corner Part 2: The Lower Shelves

Last time on Collection Corner I showcased the top half of the cabinet of curious collectibles in my living room.  Today I bring you the lower shelves which sound much more sinister than they actually are.

Again I remind you that I have virtually zero photographic skill and this is just me dipping my toes into this type of blogging. So wharves (whatevs) let's get to it.

Shelf Four is the shortest shelf and thus has no really big figures and is mainly devoted to Super Sentai and Kamen Rider.

First up Juken Sentai Gekiranger Sentai Hero sofubi (soft vinyl) figures: Super GekiRed, Master Sha-Fu, Super GekiYellow, Geki Violet, Geki Blue, GekiChopper, GekiYellow, and Geki Red