Phoebe Spengler w/ Bonesy [Fright Features/Frozen Empire]

Rounding out the Fright Features figures from Frozen Empire is Phoebe Spengler, arguably the main character of the new movies. Phoebe is a little older in Frozen Empire and her Fright Feature uses the larger body mold and a new head sculpt instead of reusing her Afterlife figure. She still has the same amount of articulation and Neutrona Wand/Proton pack we're all used to by now. Her ghostly partner to hunt, Bonesy, is a real standout. Bonesy is a Class III. Distinct Human Form, meaning he's a straight up traditional scary ghost. A skeletal ghoul with big bugged out eyes in a very pleasant blue color with the Ecto-Stretch Tech gimmick allowing him to be squished and squeezed all over the place.

He's probably my favorite ghost from this group of Fright Features toys. I really wish the other characters from the movie would get new Fright Features figures as I really do enjoy the line. It's got a solid modern take on the classic Real Ghostbusters figures and everything just hits the right notes. Hopefully the upcoming animated series will be cause for some down the line.

Callie Spengler with Possessor (Fright Features/Frozen Empire)

We met Egon's daughter, Callie, in Ghostbusters Afterlife. She makes her Fright Features debut in the current Frozen Empire batch of figures. In Frozen Empire, the Ghostbusters have become something of a family business. Callie finds herself busting ghosts with the gang. As a figure, Callie has the standard Hasbro Fright Feature body with a new head sculpt. She has the same proton pack as well, the current Fright Features are a bit uniform I suppose. However her partner ghost to bust is Possessor, whose actually quite a menace. Possessor is a Class VIII. Full Possessor ghost meaning he can posses and fully control any inanimate object. Without intentionally spoiling anything, Possessor cause the team a lot of trouble.

I enjoy his partner ghost sculpt. Like all Hasbro Fright Features toys, Callie and Possessor have an old school charm and are very similar to Kenner's The Real Ghostbusters figures. Possessor is an Ecto-Strecth Tech toy and can stretch all over like other similar figures. Like the other Ecto- Stretch Tech ghosts, he can be placed over Callie (or any other figure) to slime or possess. This is a fun little line and I hope more toys come in the future. Especially with the upcoming cartoon.

Gary Grooberson with Pukey (Frozen Empire/Fright Features)

Getting back to our look at the Frozen Empire Fright Features figures is Gary Grooberson! Gary is Phoebe and Podcast's teacher from Afterlife who was a fan of the Ghostbusters that was all but ready to join the team and date Callie (Trevor and Phobe's mom). Gary was played by Paul Rudd, who felt like a really natural choice for Ghostbusters. I kinda want to pair this figure up with my Toony Terrors Michael Myers so the two can have a rematch. Gary is your standard Hasbro Fright Features figure. There's nothing really new to talk about with him other than it's good to see him as a figure... I liked Gary. This feels natural. I do wish these newer Fright Features toys had more life outside of a movie release. I'd love to see variations of them like the original Kenner toys.

This Gary figure would be a natural Ecto-Glow Heroes release. Gary has the standard Proton Pack accessory and comes packaged with Pukey. Pukey is a newer ghost and a Class V. Full Roaming Vapor like Slimer. Pukey appears in Frozen Empire and has a variety of merchandise on the way. I'm looking forward to seeing him on screen as I enjoy his Ecto-Stretch toy. As an Ecto-Stretch ghost, Pukey can be pulled or mashed around or placed over a Ghostbusters head for Ecto-Stretch fun. He's a cool looking ghost and like Slimer is oddly sculpted kinda scary compared to Gary. Not complaining about that! Gary and Pukey make for a fun release and have me gearing up more for the new movie. Which by the time your reading this will be out. I'm holding off seeing it until this following weekend in a double feature with Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire on my birthday during my Empire of Old weekend. Waiting that week will feel like an eternity.

Trevor Spengler with Slimer (Frozen Empire/Fright Features)

The newer Ghostbusters films intentionally have the flavor of The Real Ghostbusters (with a healthy dose of original movie love) with the newest film, Frozen Empire, made specifically to feel like an episode of the classic cartoon. It's only fitting that Hasbro named their tie in toy line Fright Features as a callback to the Kenner Ghostbusters toys based on that same show. Unlike the original Fright Features, these newer figures themselves don't contain a gimmick. Their partner ghosts, however, do. Frozen Empire's Fright Features ghost gimmick is Ecto-Stretch Tech.

This makes the ghost a rubbery, stretchy little ghoul that's fun to play with and can also be stretched over the figure's head simulating being slimed, possessed, or other ghostly interactions. The figures themselves are basic 'core' style action figures that come with a standard proton pack. Trevor returns from Afterlife a little older, but still the teenage grandson of Egon Spengler. From what I can tell, Trevor seems to be a straight reprint of the Afterlife figure paired with a Ecto-Stretch Tech Slimer. Like the prior Hasbro Fight Features figures, Tevor is 4" with five points of articulation. Obviously a fairly basic toy, but considering all you get in the box for $9... not bad. Not to mention, the stylized sculpting paired with the basic articulation gives it a strong Kenner flavor. It works. Trevor includes the same Proton Pack used in the Afterlife Fright Features toys.

It's a decent version of the weapon with the Pack attaching firmly via a per and the Neutrona Wand that can either mount on the pack or be held. Slimer is pleasantly sculpted to match his movie appearance. The Ecto-Stretc Tech ghosts are actually quite scary compared to their human counterparts. That's pretty neat, I would have understood them being more cartoony. Slimer is very rubbery and can be squished and stretched. He's also hollow and thanks to an opening on his back, can fit over Trevor's head and be stretched over. It's a silly gimmick that's fun to fiddle with. I feel like this is a fun way to 'slime' the figure without making a mess. I'm excited to see Frozen Empire and Trevor is a fun start to a new series of Fright Features figures. There's a new vintage series of the classic Real Ghostbuster toys running along side these for additional Ghostbusting. Looks like we have a fun Spooky Spring in store for us Zone Base readers!

I tried to think of the most harmless thing

I finally found the new Fright Features Stay Puft Marshmallow Man last week. I say finally because it took a long time. I know that's obvious, but sometimes you really have to explain things. Now got to find Winston with Slimer and the kids! If I was really crazy, I'd look for the Ecto-1 with alternate box art. Not doing that, it's literally the same toy in the same box with the same art(just slightly different). Toys can be weird. What's weird in a good way is Stay Puft's Fight Feature. In fact... it's a little morbid. If you squeeze together those marshmallow man legs, his upper torso spins upwards while raising arms. Now the ghost has been pulled apart showing marshmallow cream seemingly made of Mini Pufts (potential spoiler?) and a spinal column made of jumbo marshmallows. I never knew the intestines of a Sumerian deity could look so tasty!

Stranger Features with Frightening Things

What do you get if you combine a spooky television show heavily flavored with nostalgia and then make action figures heavily inspired by an older toy line? You get one of the best surprises of 2021, that's what. Bandai has began making Stranger Things action figures (awesome). The new Target exclusive series is a direct homage to The Real Ghostbusters Fright Features figures of legend. I don't mean that lightly, these are practically lost figures that seemingly found release. Sculpted identically and even in the same scale. Series one is Eleven and Dustin as you can see in the pictures about and below. Each kid comes with a build-able Demogorgon part for extra fun. The packaging is even reminiscent of the originals. Bandai really nailed it.

Eleven who's Fright Feature is the use of her powers. Squeeze her legs together to raise her arm and open her mouth as he nose bleeds. Pushing a button on Dustin's backpack causes Dart to pop out from under his ball cap causing him to scream in terror. Bandai also has larger figures of the Demogorgon and Demodogs available as well as a more realistic Stranger Things line and even a Premium series. I'm definitely sold on the monsters even though they're straight forward figures and not Fright Features style... imagine if they did that. The future of this series will contain the rest of the kids and I can't wait. This is the perfect set of figures with the perfect gimmick. I love it so, I hope the rest of the cast get the Fright Features treatment.

Slimer wants my Spooky Snack

It's hard to eat healthy during a holiday known for it's sweet tooth. Just ask Slimer, he wants my little spooky snack. That's my new Fright Features Slimer BTW. We hung out all Sunday. He's more of a throwback to The Real Ghostbusters toys than the other new Fright Features toys by Hasbro. To me anyway. Slimer's known for floating, so there's a pool of slime dripping from his body that serves as a base. There's a button on his back that when pushed causes him to spring up arms in the air saying BOO! While doing so, his giant mouth opens super wide. So wide that you can see his back bone as his giant tongue rolls out. Slimer's Fright Feature means to scare the shit out of somebody... which it did when I showed my Mom. The action startled her. He's not always cute I guess. I know Fright Features is a movie tie in line, but I really hope it goes on for awhile. I love it.

Ghostbusting Machine

I have pretty fond memories of read a-long story books, had quite a few. Various He-Man, Transformers, and others. Hardee's had a great Gremlins set that I coveted back in the day. This Ghostbusters one has a great original song... probably due to Peter Pan books only licensing the bare minimum. I got more enjoyment out of the gangs calling their Proton Packs laser guns than I should have. Owing more to my enjoyment of games like Meikyuu Hunter G or Laser Ghost that have the same idea (Meikyuu Hunter G did get converted into The Real Ghostbusters after all). Since we're here talking Ghostbusters, check out my new Fright Features figures! I found Muncher the other day, just need... the rest.

What Did You Do Ray?

Ever since first learning of the new Ghostbusters Fright Features figures, I've been wanting them. A spiritual sequel of sorts to the Real Ghostbusters figures is an easy sell. Of course the pandemic pushed things back several times and they're just now hitting store shelves. They've actually been out for a few weeks, but I've just finally found them for myself. Stopping by Target for a new Galaxy watch, I swung by the toys and there was just one Ray Stantz and a million Ecto-1s. 

I skipped on the Ecto-1 for the moment (don't worry, I'll be picking it up soon) and snatched up Ray before heading to the electronics department. The first wave of these is the classic team, you know who. They all seemingly share the same body type mold with different heads for each character. Considering the 10$ price, there had to be a little wiggle somewhere. They're all wearing the same outfit, it's not a big deal. The Afterlife kids have two different body type molds for the younger and older kid Ghostbusters.

I've been comparing these to Kenner's The Real Ghostbusters and you can probably see it in the picture. Same articulation and comes with a ghost to bust. These are just a little taller than the classic Kenner figures and the sculpting is different. Though I'm sure you could still pair them up together well enough. It's clearly what Hasbro was going for with this being the 'core' toy line and the Plasma series being the higher priced and more detailed toys. It really works for me, these guys are pretty fun.

The proton packs are made of a softer, almost rubbery material. It plugs into the Ghostbusters back snugly and in all is one piece. The cord is flexible enough to put the Particle Thrower into either hand or stored on the pack via a peg. It's pretty simple, and simple is often the best solution. The original Fright Features figures had the Ghostbusters collectively loosing their shit.

However in the new Fright Features, the included ghost (for bustin') will change into a more frightening version of itself. Ray comes with this pink weirdo who splits open to show his gross mouth and freaky multiple eyes. The larger Ghost figures have various gimmicks similar to the Kenner larger ghosts. It's pretty great and so are these. I was a fast fan before they were released, and a steady one now that I can actually buy them. Ray was at my side all weekend getting played with constantly, I can't wait to get the rest.

On Fright Features Night

At this point I feel like I've been waiting for Hasbro's Fright Features toys since the 90's. Spiritually I have as they're a follow up to the Real Ghostbusters toys. Since The Real Ghostbusters are the exploits that the movies are based off of, these would be those toys in cartoon world. So in theory, if we were living in a cartoon produced by DiC, these actually would be The Real Ghostbusters toys. I should probably stop myself before going any further... we might open a worm hole in reality or something.

After a year of covid-19 based delays, Ghostbusters Afterlife is finally getting released this November. With it is a slew (that's right, a damn slew) of various tie in merchandise. You already know the Fright Features line is the most interesting to me. A spiritual follow up to Kenner's classic Ghostbusters toy line is just the perfect thing. Sure, there's things like Plasma series and other neat stuff. Just nothing feels as right as these, THIS is what goes through my mind when I think Ghostbusters action figures. The kids from Afterlife will be featured in wave 2 with some familiar looking ghosts. I hope this goes on past wave 2. I'd love wacky variations like the original Kenner line, or even the girls from the 2016 movie. While we're at it there's Janine and Louis. There's no limit to where they could go with these. Or at least no limit I want them to hit.

Fearsome Flush Ain't Taking Crap

When The Real Ghostbusters get scared, they flip the crap out. That's fair enough. Think about it, if you or I saw a ghost, we'd probably run away screaming. These dudes, they literally deal with ghosts all the time. So when they get scared, it's pretty serious business. That leads us to this commercial.

Happening upon a werewolf in a junkyard scares Ray so much that he has to take a shit then and there. Right in front of Winston. Fortunately there's a random toilet just laying there. It's probably not connected, but at least it's better than making a Fright Feature in his pants. Unfortunately, the toilet is FEARSOME FLUSH! The demonically possessed toilet!

I'm not sure if a sudden mouthful of poop is what pisses him off so much or that he's just being a scary ghost. Who's a toilet. Either way it sends Winston and Ray packing as other ghosts kiss their back causing them to display new Fright Features gimmicks. I'll be honest, this is a pretty weird commercial. Also, what happened to the Werewolf Monster? Was the plan all along to send them to Fearsome Flush? Or did he just leave?

Fearsome Flush will be re-released at Walmart this summer. I'm pretty happy more Real Ghostbusters toys are on the way. It's a nice way to lead into the all new Fright Features figures coming soon. Not to mention, who wouldn't want a ghost toilet? Just think if it was a Conjuring movie. Ed and Lorraine Warren have this old toilet in their basement museum... it's evil is truly unknown until Judy make a terrible mistake on Taco Tuesday...

Stay Puft Temper Tantrum

A couple of weeks ago I picked up this new Stay Puft Marshmallow man figure by Hasbro. He's part of PlaySkool Heroes, so I assume (hope) more Ghostbusters toys in this range are on the way. However he's also the right size to fight your other Ghostbusters figures, so don't let the specific line hold you back. It's impossible not to love it. He's the physical manifestation of an eldritch abomination hell bent on destroying the world... and super adorable. Just look at those cheeks!

Stay Puft doesn't have a ton of articulation. You can move his arms and twist wrists. For some reason his top half can rock sideways at the hips. It doesn't serve a purpose, but it is fun to bop back and forth. It's like they intended a child to play with it or something. The main feature is a face changing gimmick. With a push of the button atop a marshmallow man's head, the face of the destructor changes from happy to angry.

Doing this is literally hypnotic. His mood swings are far more entertaining than they have any right to be. One minute he's sweet and asking for you to donate to his patreon. The next he's pissed off that you wouldn't and told him to get a job. You've got some nerve. This is a great figure and fun to play around with. He matches pretty well with whatever set of Ghostbusters figures you pair him with. Seeing as Afterlife was recently moved to a November release from a Summer release, I expect (hope) the toys to start hitting stores sometime soon.

Stay Puft has a figure in the upcoming Fright Features line (a spiritual follow up to The Real Ghostbusters toys) but I can see this toy being intended to pair with those as well. It's generally with the other GB action figures and not the Playskool toys on store shelves. Even if he's an odd marshmallow man out among the other toys, it's a fun toy to play around with. Who thought mood changes could be so fun?

Bustin' Makes A New Week

It's an all new week here on Zone Base and I'm pretty disappointed that Ghostbusters Afterlife has been delayed again. Fortunately it's just a few months, but I'm hoping the merchandise doesn't get delayed as I freaking want the new Fright Features figures SO BAD. What isn't delayed is this week, which has got a whole slew of new posts for your eyeballs! 

I don't know how used to these 'new week' posts you are. I hope not a whole lot, because while I appreciate you reading and sharing with your friends, but this is going to be the last one. There's something new coming to Zone Base starting soon that'll come out every Monday (normally) that I'm going to introduce to you in this space next week.