Ghostbusters – 1988

The Real Ghostbusters – 1988

Kenner released two different waves in 1988. Wave 3 included the Fright Feature Ghostbusters, and several accessories, including an expanded series of different colored Ecto-Plazm and a Proton Pack. The coolest item see release in Wave 3 was without a doubt, the Firehouse Headquarters for the figures. Wave 4 saw a new series of “Haunted Humans” figures, along with a fifth Fright Features figure, Janine Melnitz. Also released were two vehicles, a Gooper Ghost Slimer, and two action feature ghosts.

 

For more information about Kenner’s Real Ghostbusters line from 1988, see bottom of the page for a complete summary.

WAVE 3

The Real Ghostbusters (1988 – Wave 3): Figures

The third wave for the Real Ghostbusters line contained 4 new versions of the main hero Ghostbusters with brand “Fright Features”. These new features basically let the figure look scared in a cartoony kind of way.

 Egon Spengler (Fright Features)

Market Value:
Carded $80 – $115
Loose $15 – $30

Egon Spengler (Fright Features)
Accessories: Soar Throat Ghost, Ghost Zapper
Years Released: 1988
Scarcity Factor: Can be found but getting tougher each year
Notes: This is a brand new version of Egon Spengler with the new “Fright Features”. This basically let the figure look scared in a cartoony kind of way by raising his neck, dropping his jaw and watching his tie flip up when you you squeeze his arm. Egon comes with the Soar Throat Ghost.

 Peter Venkman (Fright Features)

Market Value:
Carded $80 – $115
Loose $15 – $30

Peter Venkman (Fright Features)
Accessories: Gruesome Twosome Ghost, Ghost Zapper
Years Released: 1988
Scarcity Factor: Can be found but getting tougher each year
Notes: This is a brand new version of Peter Venkman with the new “Fright Features”. This basically let the figure look scared in a cartoony kind of way by raising his hair, bugging his eyes out and dropping his jaw when you squeeze his arm. Peter comes with the Gruesome Twosome Ghost.

Ray Stantz (Fright Features)

Market Value:
Carded $80 – $115
Loose $15 – $30

Ray Stantz (Fright Features)
Accessories: Jail Jaw Ghost, Ghost Zapper
Years Released: 1988
Scarcity Factor: Can be found but getting tougher each year
Notes: This is a brand new version of Ray Stantz with the new “Fright Features”. This basically let the figure look scared in a cartoony kind of way by raising his hair, bugging his eyes, and extending his ears when you you squeeze his arm. Ray comes with the Jail Jaw Ghost.

Winston Zeddmore (Fright Features)

Market Value:
Carded $80 – $115
Loose $15 – $30

Winston Zeddmore (Fright Features)
Accessories: Scream Roller Ghost, Ghost Zapper
Years Released: 1988
Scarcity Factor: Can be found but getting tougher each year
Notes: This is a brand new version of Winston Zeddmore with the new “Fright Features”. This basically let the figure look scared in a cartoony kind of way by dropping his jaw and watching his head spin around when you you squeeze his arm. Winston comes with the Scream Roller Ghost.

The Real Ghostbusters (1988 – Wave 3): Accessories

Kenner released several new accessories to be used with the action figures in 1988, including a new series of mini ghost figures, and an expanded series of different colored Ecto-Plazm slime containers. We also got a new role play item with the super cool Proton Pack.

 Mini Goopers

Market Value:
Carded $120 – $170
Loose $30 – $50

Mini Goopers
Accessories: Brain Blaster, Stomach Stuff, Ecto-Plazm Jar
Years Released: 1988
Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but getting tougher
Notes: The Mini Goopers were part of the Mini Action Ghost set released in 1988. The Goopers came with a jar of slime to pour into the figures and give them that other world ghost look.

 Mini Shooter

Market Value:
Carded $60 – $85
Loose $15 – $25

Mini Shooter
Accessories: Boo-Zooka, Boo-Lets
Years Released: 1988
Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but getting tougher
Notes: The Mini Shooter was part of the Mini Action Ghost set released in 1988. The shooter would launch the mini ghosts out of his mouth when you squeeze him.

Mini Traps

Market Value:
Carded $85 – $125
Loose $20 – $30

Mini Traps
Accessories: Purple Trap, Orange Trap
Years Released: 1988
Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but getting tougher
Notes: The Mini traps were part of the Mini Action Ghost set released in 1988. The Traps set came with two different colored ghost traps that would latch onto the Ghostbusters figures.

Ecto-Plazm (Blue)

Ecto-Plazm (Purple)

Ecto-Plazm (Red)

Ecto-Plazm (Yellow)

Market Value:
Boxed $150 – $300
(Depending on color and condition)
Loose $50 – $75

Ecto-Plazm
Accessories: Plastic mini ghost x 1
Years Released: 1988, 1989, 1990
Scarcity Factor: These jars are tough to find unopened and will cost you
Notes: A jar of Purple slime had been released during the previous year, but now we got three brand new colors of slime. In addition to the standard Purple, Kenner now gave us Blue, Red and Yellow to use with our action figures and accessories. The Yellow slime is the hardest to find. Like the previous year, each jar contained one mini plastic ghost. There were actually four different ghosts to search for with each color, for a total of 16 possible mini-ghosts.

Proton Pack

Market Value:
Boxed $200 – $300
Loose $60 – $90

Proton Pack
Accessories: Proton Pack, Nutrona Blaster w/ Cord, P.K.E Meter, Arm Band, ID Card
Years Released: 1988, 1989
Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but getting tougher each year
Notes: Since we already got the Ghost Popper and Ghost Zapper, getting a Proton Pack was most definitely needed for kids wanting a total role play experience. It just so happened that the Proton Pack was actually extremely cool and pretty realistic looking. It came with a Pack, Blaster, PKE Meter, Arm Band and ID Card certifying you as an official Ghostbuster! This is a very sought after item for collectors of the Real Ghostbusters line.

The Real Ghostbusters (1988 – Wave 3): Playsets

Kenner released their first action figure playset in the third wave with the iconic Fire House Headquarters Playset.

Fire House Headquarters

Market Value:
Boxed $500 – $650
Loose $110 – $160

Fire House Headquarters
Accessories: Ghost Containment Unit, Trap, Fire Pole, Goop Grates, Ghostbusters Sign, Doors, Hatch, Jar of Ecto-Plazm
Years Released: 1988, 1989
Scarcity Factor: Tough to find packaged on the secondary market
Notes: The Fire House Headquarters Playset was, without a doubt, the coolest item to come out of Wave 3, and remains one of the most sought after pieces from the Real Ghostbusters line. It’s of course modeled after the iconic headquarters building from the classic Ghostbusters movie, as well as the animated show. The playset featured three levels of fun, along with the roof. It came with a Ghost Containment Unit, Fire Pole, Jar of Slime, Goop Grates and of course, the iconic Ghostbusters sign.

The Real Ghostbusters (1988 – Wave 3): Vehicles

Kenner did not release any vehicles as part of their third wave in 1988.

WAVE 4

The Real Ghostbusters (1988 – Wave 4): Figures

The fourth wave for the Real Ghostbusters line contained six new Haunted Human figures, along with Fright Features Janine Melnitz, who was originally supposed to be released in wave 3, but was pushed back to wave 4.

Granny Gross Ghost
(Haunted Humans)

Market Value:
Carded $60 – $85
Loose $15 – $25

Granny Gross Ghost (Haunted Humans)
Accessories: None
Years Released: 1988, 1989
Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but getting tougher
Notes: Granny Gross Ghost is part of the Haunted Humans line. Watch as a sweet little granny changes into Granny Gross.

Hard Hat Horror Ghost
(Haunted Humans)

Market Value:
Carded $60 – $85
Loose $15 – $25

Hard Hat Horror Ghost (Haunted Humans)
Accessories: Work Axe
Years Released: 1988, 1989
Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but getting tougher
Notes: Hard Hat Horror Ghost is part of the Haunted Humans line. Watch as a simple construction worker changes into the Hard Hat Horror.

Mail Fraud Ghost
(Haunted Humans)

Market Value:
Carded $60 – $85
Loose $15 – $25

Mail Fraud Ghost (Haunted Humans)
Accessories: Mail Bag
Years Released: 1988, 1989
Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but getting tougher
Notes: Mail Fraud Ghost is part of the Haunted Humans line. Watch as a simple Mailman changes into Mail Fraud.

Terror Trash Ghost
(Haunted Humans)

Market Value:
Carded $60 – $85
Loose $15 – $25

Terror Trash Ghost (Haunted Humans)
Accessories: None
Years Released: 1988, 1989
Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but getting tougher
Notes: Terror Trash Ghost is part of the Haunted Humans line. Watch as a simple garbage man changes into Terror Trash.

  Tombstone Tackle Ghost
(Haunted Humans)

Market Value:
Carded $60 – $85
Loose $15 – $25

Tombstone Tackle Ghost (Haunted Humans)
Accessories: None
Years Released: 1988, 1989
Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but getting tougher
Notes: Tombstone Tackle Ghost is part of the Haunted Humans line. Watch as a simple Football player changes into Tombstone Tackle.

X-Cop Ghost
(Haunted Humans)

Market Value:
Carded $60 – $85
Loose $15 – $25

X-Cop Ghost (Haunted Humans)
Accessories: None
Years Released: 1988, 1989
Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but getting tougher
Notes: X-Cop Ghost is part of the Haunted Humans line. Watch as a simple motorcycle cop changes into X-Cop.

Janine Melnitz (Fright Features)

Market Value:
Carded $80 – $115
Loose $15 – $30

Janine Melnitz (Fright Features)
Accessories: Tickler Ghost, Ghost Zapper
Years Released: 1988
Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but getting tougher each year
Notes: We finally get a Janine Melnitz figure for the Real Ghostbusters! This one comes with the new “Fright Features”. This basically let the figure look scared in a cartoony kind of way by raising her hair, bugging out her eyes and ears, and dropping her jaw when you you squeeze her arm. Janine comes with the Tickler Ghost.

The Real Ghostbusters (1988 – Wave 4): Accessories

Kenner released one brand new Gooper Ghost set for Wave 4, along with two more action feature ghosts to be used with the Ghostbuster action figures.

Brain Blaster Ghost

Market Value:
Boxed $60 – $85
Loose $20 – $30

Brain Blaster Ghost
Accessories: Ghost Figure, Mini-Lobe Ghosts x 4
Years Released: 1988
Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but getting tougher
Notes: The Brain Blaster Ghost was one of the action feature ghosts to be used with the figures. Brain Blaster shoots out the Mini-Lobe ghosts when he is pushed on the floor.

Green Ghost (Gooper Ghost)

Market Value:
Boxed $250 – $350
Loose $60 – $90

Green Ghost – AKA Slimer (Gooper Ghost)
Accessories: Ghost Figure, Activator, 5 oz. jar of Ecto-Plazm
Years Released: 1988, 1989
Scarcity Factor: Can be tough to find packaged
Notes: The Green Ghost (AKA Slimer) was another one of the Gooper Ghosts that could be used with the figures. It came with a jar of slime that would be poured into the character, that would ultimately be used to slime our favorite ghost busing heroes.

Pull Speed Ahead Ghost

Market Value:
Boxed $85 – $125
Loose $15 – $25

Pull Speed Ahead Ghost
Accessories: Ghost Figure, Pull Cord
Years Released: 1988
Scarcity Factor: Can be tough to find packaged
Notes: The Pull Speed Ahead Ghost was one of the action feature ghosts to be used with the figures. Pull Speed Ahead shoots along the floor when you pull the cord through.

The Real Ghostbusters (1988 – Wave 4): Playsets

Kenner did not release any playsets as part of their fourth wave in 1988.

The Real Ghostbusters (1988 – Wave 4): Vehicles

Kenner released two brand new vehicles to be used with the action figures in Wave 4, including a nifty flying vehicle called ECTO-2 and cool new hot rod that just happens to be haunted.

ECTO-2

Market Value:
Boxed $90 – $140
Loose $30 – $45

ECTO-2
Accessories: Propellers, Winch w/ Line, Bomb, Wheels, Steering Wheel, Seat
Years Released: 1988, 1989
Scarcity Factor: Can still be found, but getting tougher each year
Notes: The ECTO-2 was a flying vehicle for the Ghostbusters to battle ghosts with. A trigger activates the propeller, along with the winch which actually worked fairly well. The vehicle also includes a small missile/bomb on the bottom side of it.

Highway Haunter

Market Value:
Boxed $90 – $140
Loose $25 – $40

Highway Haunter
Accessories: Silver Motor Ghost, Tires, Opening Doors, Windshield, Trunk
Years Released: 1988, 1989
Scarcity Factor: Can still be found, but getting tougher each year
Notes: The Highway Haunter was a new vehicle for the Ghostbusters to use, but there’s a catch………it’s haunted! The vehicle changes for a cool looking yellow hot rod into a car monster by pushing down on either of the seat rests in the back seat. Included is a silver motor monster that goes in the trunk.

Since the Real Ghostbusters toy line launched in 1986, Kenner saw sales and demand steadily climb with each wave, so they decided to launch two separate waves in 1988. This would allow Kenner to put out more new products and still be able to space them out according to the release dates. Since the Real Ghostbusters animated show was also proving to be a huge hit on the small screen, kids were really all-in with the Ghost Busting bandwagon. The toys and action figures weren’t the only thing doing extremely well either, the animated series was going into another full season in 1988 and scoring huge ratings with the kids. With the Masters of the Universe and Thundercats lines winding down, Ghostbuster merchandise was spilling out of the action figure realm and into many other items that were popular with kids at the time, such as lunchboxes, bed linens, school supplies and room decorations. Overall, this was a great time to be a Ghostbusters fan!

After two successful waves over the previous two years, Kenner gave us two different waves in 1988. Wave 3 saw the release of new versions of the Ghostbusters human characters but now with Fright Features. Also released were a new series of Action Ghost figures, an expanded series of different colored Ecto-Plazm slime containers and a new role play Proton Pack. The coolest item to be released in Wave 3 was without a doubt, the Firehouse Headquarters for the figures. Wave 4 saw a new series of six “Haunted Humans” figures, along with a fifth Fright Features figure, but this time with a brand new character, Janine Melnitz. This was the first human character to be made besides the actual Ghostbusters. Also released were a Gooper Ghost Slimer figure, along with two action feature ghosts. Two vehicles were also released in Wave 4, with ECTO-2 and Highway Haunter.

The packaging for the third and fourth waves of the Real Ghostbusters line was essentially the same as the previous waves. It was basic but still eye catching and attractive. The iconic Ghostbusters logo sat prominently at the top left of the card, just above the figure bubble. There was a wonderful illustration of each character in action on the top right of each card. The figure bubble itself stretched out across the entire card, with the actual figure on the left side and all the other accessories, including the ghost, on the right side. Overall, the packaging for the Real Ghostbusters line was bright and easy to see, with a large bubble showcasing the figure and all accessories. It was definitely a user-friendly card and worked very well for the line.