Well, I have to come clean, I have delayed this First Look at the not-slimed Peter Venkman figure shipping in November. I know, I know, we usually try to get you pictures as fast as possible, but I decided it would be more fun for the not-slimed Egon to arrive from Matty Collector. It’s a double feature! More importantly though, we can now show you the entire Ghostbusters team in all of their clean jumpsuit glory! Egon, Pete, Ray and Winston are together at last and ready to do some ‘bustin. I makes them feel good, you know?
I know we have actually had the whole team since this past June, but really, this is what I have really been waiting for since the line’s debut at the 2009 New York Comic Con (man, that seems like such a long time ago, right?). Really, just having the four this way is a longer time coming than that, I count myself amongst the many that have been waiting for this collection since the mid-eighties. Oh, and you also get with them a PKE Meter (finally), a stack of books, a proton stream (also finally) and a Ghostbusters logo base.
Now when it comes to the accessories, you will most likely get a varying range of satisfaction depending on your likes. Personally, as thrilled as I am to get the PKE Meter, my favorite new accessory is the proton stream that comes with Peter. I need three more, pronto. I really wish these had been included since day one because they did a very nice job with it. I know the Club Ecto-1 exclusive figure (Marshmallow Mess Ray) comes with one too, but I really hope we can get a couple more in 2011 as well. Peter also comes with a Ghostbusters logo base, and it is fine for what it is, if not a little too small for my tastes. I think I am going to actually use mine for the Ghostbusters sign on my modded vintage Firehouse (when I get around to actually doing the modifications for movie accuracy. If you are a person that likes displaying figures on stands though, this is serviceable, but again, you are still three short.
Egon includes his essential PKE Meter and the stack of vertically-stacked books from the memorable library scene. The PKE Meter is actually very detailed for as small as it is, so I am glad to have it. The books, on the other hand, leave me a little cold. I can see that they can make for an appropriate accessory, but they just aren’t exciting to me. I personally would have loved to have gotten another ghost instead. Furthermore, I think the books look a little big too.
More than the accessories though, is that we do have our standard Egon and Peter. Egon is, for all intents and purposes the same figure as the 2009 SDCC slimed exclusive figure, without, of course, the slime. He also has better overall paint applications (to my eye) and his glasses have been improved too; they seem to sit better on his face and the paint on the rims is much cleaner. Thus, I call Egon an improvement over the original, but not a big departure.
Peter, on the other hand, is my favorite figure from this line thus far. Again, from the collar bone down, he is the same as the slimed figure without the slime, but his new head makes all the difference. I really like the Bill Murray likeness here, and while it is slightly cartoonish like the rest of the characters, it works really well. Plus, it is Pete Venkman. I mean, he looks lazy cool in his action figure, just like on screen.
Come November you will finally have your four movie one figures in their classic (and clean duds). I think this is the pinnacle for a lot of people so it will be interesting to see what figures Mattel will offer past Louis Tulley next year. I am keeping my fingers crossed for my Vigo and Dana, but I think there is still a lot to do with this line. Towards that end, I would REALLY like to see all of the Ghostbusters figures start to come with four accessories: a unique ghost, a proton stream, the figure stand and a small accessory. I think that would make for a great package each time.
If you have not gotten Egon yet, you are too late for now as he has sold out on Matty Collector, but be there in November to get your mitts on Pete, he really is best of the line (so far).
*Thanks to Toy Guru for sending along Peter for this First Look. Thanks to you too for hanging with us through this latest round, hope to see you back soon!
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