Ghostbusters – 1989

The Real Ghostbusters – 1989

Kenner released three different waves of new products in 1989. Wave 5 included a Monsters series, new “Screaming Heroes” Ghostbusters, Ghost Spooker and two new Haunted Vehicles. Wave 6 saw two new action ghost figures, with one of them being Slimer, as well as several new roleplaying items, such as the Water Zapper and ECTO-Goggles. Wave 7 saw a new series of the “Super Fright Features” Ghostbusters figures, as well as an ECTO-3 vehicle and a cool looking Ghost Trap.

For more information about Kenner’s Real Ghostbusters line from 1989, see bottom of the page for a complete summary.

WAVE 5

The Real Ghostbusters (1989 – Wave 5): Figures

The 5th wave for the Real Ghostbusters line contained two brand new lines, with the Monsters and Screaming Heroes. The Screaming Heroes were a new version of all five Ghostbusters characters with a new screaming feature, while the Monsters were a new group of bad guys for the heroes to fight based on the classic Universal Monster characters. This was the largest single wave release of the Real Ghostbusters line.

Monsters

Dracula Monster
(Monsters)

Market Value:
Carded $90 – $120
Loose $20 – $30

Dracula Monster (Monsters)
Accessories: Cape
Years Released: 1989
Scarcity Factor: Moderately easy to find
Notes: The Dracula Monster is one of the new Monster series figures. When you squeeze his knees together, his mouth opens wide, exposing his vampire fangs, and his arms open out.

Frankenstein Monster
(Monsters)

Market Value:
Carded $60 – $90
Loose $15 – $25

Frankenstein Monster (Monsters)
Accessories: None
Years Released: 1989
Scarcity Factor: Moderately easy to find
Notes: The Frankenstein Monster is one of the new Monster series figures. When you squeeze his knees together, his arms raise up and his mouth opens wide.

Mummy Monster
(Monsters)

Market Value:
Carded $60 – $90
Loose $15 – $25

Mummy Monster (Monsters)
Accessories: Mummy Mask, Arm
Years Released: 1989
Scarcity Factor: Moderately easy to find
Notes: The Mummy Monster is one of the new Monster series figures. When you squeeze his knees together, his mask and arm falls off, revealing his inner mummy head.

Quasimodo Monster
(Monsters)

Market Value:
Carded $60 – $90
Loose $15 – $25

Quasimodo Monster (Monsters)
Accessories: Chains
Years Released: 1989
Scarcity Factor: Moderately easy to find
Notes: The Quasimodo Monster is one of the new Monster series figures. When you squeeze his knees together, his mouth opens and arms spread out to break his chains.

Wolfman Monster
(Monsters)

Market Value:
Carded $80 – $110
Loose $20 – $30

Wolfman Monster (Monsters)
Accessories: None
Years Released: 1989
Scarcity Factor: Moderately easy to find
Notes: The Wolfman Monster is one of the new Monster series figures. When you squeeze his knees together, his head rears back, his jaw closes and his arms spread open.

Zombie Monster
(Monsters)

Market Value:
Carded $60 – $90
Loose $15 – $25

Zombie Monster (Monsters)
Accessories: None
Years Released: 1989
Scarcity Factor: Moderately easy to find
Notes: The Zombie Monster is one of the new Monster series figures. When you squeeze his knees together, his hair raises up, his eyes spin and arms reach out.

Screaming Heroes

Egon Spengler
(Screaming Heroes)

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

Egon Spengler (Screaming Hero)
Accessories: Squidsqueal Ghost, Ghost Zapper
Years Released: 1989
Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but getting tougher
Notes: This is a new version of Egon Spengler for the Screaming Heroes line. When you wind Egon up with his accompanied ghost, he spins around and screams.

Janine Melnitz
(Screaming Heroes)

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

Janine Melnitz (Screaming Hero)
Accessories: Swineywhine Ghost, Ghost Zapper
Years Released: 1989
Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but getting tougher
Notes: This is a new version of Janine Melnitz for the Screaming Heroes line. When you wind Janine up with her accompanied ghost, she spins around and screams.

Peter Venkman
(Screaming Heroes)

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

Peter Venkman (Screaming Hero)
Accessories: Ghoulgroan Ghost, Ghost Zapper
Years Released: 1989
Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but getting tougher
Notes: This is a new version of Peter Venkman for the Screaming Heroes line. When you wind Peter up with his accompanied ghost, he spins around and screams.

Ray Stantz
(Screaming Heroes)

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

Ray Stantz (Screaming Hero)
Accessories: Vermoan Ghost, Ghost Zapper
Years Released: 1989
Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but getting tougher each year
Notes: This is a new version of Ray Stantz for the Screaming Heroes line. When you wind Ray up with his accompanied ghost, he spins around and screams.

Winston Zeddmore
(Screaming Heroes)

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

Winston Zeddmore (Screaming Hero)
Accessories: Houndhowl Ghost, Ghost Zapper
Years Released: 1989
Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but getting tougher each year
Notes: This is a new version of Winston Zeddmore for the Screaming Heroes line. Wind him up with his accompanied ghost, and he spins around and screams.

The Real Ghostbusters (1989 – Wave 5): Accessories

Kenner released a brand new roleplay accessory in 1989 with the voice changing Ghost Spooker.

Ghost Spooker

Market Value:
Boxed $150 – $200
Loose $30 – $45

Ghost Spooker
Accessories: Ghost Spooker (Trap), Ghost Speaker, Cord
Years Released: 1989
Scarcity Factor: Can be tough to find packaged
Notes: The Real Ghostbusters line was famous for their fun roleplaying items and we get another one with the Ghost Spooker. This was basically a voice modulator that made your voice sound like different scary ghosts. The Ghost Spooker looks just like a Ghost Trap, so this is the closest we came at that point to getting one of those. It was a fairly simple set-up but this remains a fun accessory for kids at the time.

The Real Ghostbusters (1989 – Wave 5): Playsets

Kenner did not release any playsets as part of their 5th wave in 1989.

The Real Ghostbusters (1989 – Wave 5): Vehicles

Kenner released two brand new Haunted Vehicles for their 5th wave in 1989 with Air Sickness and the Wicked Wheelie.

Air Sickness

Market Value:
Boxed $70 – $100
Loose $25 – $40

Air Sickness
Accessories: Pilot Ghost, Winged Ghost, Motor Ghost, Seat Ghost
Years Released: 1989
Scarcity Factor: Moderately easy to find
Notes: The Air Sickness was a haunted vehicle that allowed the pilot, along with his plane, to transform from a regular flying plane into the spooky Air Sickness. There are actually four separate ghosts that make up this set, Pilot Ghost, Winged Ghost, Motor Ghost and Seat Ghost.

Wicked Wheelie

Market Value:
Boxed $70 – $100
Loose $20 – $35

Wicked Wheelie
Accessories: Rider Ghost, Motorcycle Monster
Years Released: 1989
Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but getting tougher
Notes: The Wicked Wheelie was a haunted vehicle that allowed the rider, along with his motorcycle, to transform from a regular bike into the spooky Wicked Wheelie. The rider and motorcycle actually separate to form two separate ghost creatures.

WAVE 6

The Real Ghostbusters (1989 – Wave 6): Figures

The 6th wave for the Real Ghostbusters line contained two new action ghost figures, with Fearsome Flush and a new version of Green Ghost (AKA Slimer) with a proton pack.

Fearsome Flush

Market Value:
Carded $40 – $60
Loose $10 – $17

  Fearsome Flush
Accessories: None
Years Released: 1989
Scarcity Factor: Moderately easy to find
Notes: The Fearsome Flush Ghost was one of the action feature ghosts to be used with the Ghostbusters figures. Fearsome’s action feature was that his lid would raise up and down when pushed along the floor, revealing the fearsome ghost inside.

 Proton Pack Green Ghost (Slimer)

Market Value:
Carded $300 – $450
Loose $80 – $120

Proton Pack Green Ghost (Slimer)
Accessories: Proton Pack, Ghost Zapper
Years Released: 1989
Scarcity Factor: Tough to find on the secondary market
Notes: This is a brand new version of the Green Ghost, who we all know better as Slimer the lovable ghost. Slimer came with a new fright features type action that allowed Slimer to look scared in a cartoony kind of way by watching his eyes bug out and jaw drop with activated. This version of Slimer now comes with his own Proton Pack and Ghost Zapper.

The Real Ghostbusters (1989 – Wave 6): Accessories

Kenner released three new roleplay accessories for Wave 6 in 1989, with the ECTO Goggles, Nutrona Blaster and Water Zapper. a Finger Pop Friends accessory was also released to be used with the action figures.

ECTO-Goggles & ECTO-Popper

Market Value:
Boxed $125 – $200
Loose $35 – $55

ECTO-Goggles & ECTO-Popper
Accessories: Goggles, Popper, Foam Pops x 4, Target
Years Released: 1989
Scarcity Factor: Tough to find on secondary market
Notes: We have yet another version of the ghost zapper, except this one shoots foam pops at a Stay Puft Marshmallow Man target. It comes with a pair of ECTO Goggles to store the foam poppers.

Finger Pop Friends

Market Value:
Carded $275 – $375
Loose $70 – $100

Finger Pop Friends
Accessories: Finger Pop Friends x 3
Years Released: 1989
Scarcity Factor: Tough to find on secondary market
Notes: The Finger Pop Friends was probably the simplest designed accessory that designed for the Real Ghostbusters line. You basically squeezed them and then watch them pop away.

Nutrona Blaster

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

Nutrona Blaster
Accessories: Blaster, Foam Stream
Years Released: 1989
Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but getting tougher
Notes: The Nutrona Blaster was another version of the regular ghost zapper, but had a foam stream attached to the blaster. It would spin around with a handle.

Water Zapper

Market Value:
Boxed $70 – $100
Loose $20 – $35

Water Zapper
Accessories: Water Blaster
Years Released: 1989
Scarcity Factor: Moderately easy to find
Notes: The Water Zapper was basically a ghost zapper that shot water up to 20 Feet. All you had to do is fill it with water, pump the barrel and blast away.

The Real Ghostbusters (1989 – Wave 6): Playsets

Kenner did not release any playsets as part of their 6th wave in 1989.

The Real Ghostbusters (1989 – Wave 6): Vehicles

Kenner did not release any vehicles as part of their 6th wave in 1989.

WAVE 7

The Real Ghostbusters (1989 – Wave 7): Figures

The 7th wave for the Real Ghostbusters line contained five new “Super Fright Feature” versions of the main hero Ghostbusters that basically let the figure look scared in a cartoony kind of way.

Egon Spengler
(Super Fright Features)

Market Value:
Carded $75 – $100
Loose $15 – $25

Egon Spengler (Super Fright Features)
Accessories: Slimy Spider Ghost, Ghost Weapon
Years Released: 1989, 1990
Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but getting tougher
Notes: This is a new updated version of the Fright Feature Egon Spengler figure that was released the year before. Egon goes from a regular look to a scared look by pushing the lever on his back. His helmet actually opens up to show his new scared head mold.

Janine Melnitz
(Super Fright Features)

Market Value:
Carded $75 – $100
Loose $15 – $25

Janine Melnitz (Super Fright Features)
Accessories: Boo Fish Ghost, Ghost Catcher
Years Released: 1989, 1990
Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but getting tougher
Notes: This is a new updated version of the Fright Feature Janine Melnitz figure that was released the year before. Janine goes from a regular look to a scared look by pushing the lever on her back. Her head actually spins around with the new scared head mold.

Peter Venkman
(Super Fright Features)

Market Value:
Carded $75 – $100
Loose $15 – $25

Peter Venkman (Super Fright Features)
Accessories: Snake Head Ghost, Ghost Detector
Years Released: 1989, 1990
Scarcity Factor: Can still be found but getting tougher
Notes: This is a new updated version of the Fright Feature Peter Venkman figure that was released the year before. Peter goes from a regular look to a scared look by pushing the lever on his back. His head actually pops upwards through the top of his helmet.

 Ray Stantz (Super Fright Features)

Market Value:
Carded $75 – $100
Loose $15 – $25

 Ray Stantz (Super Fright Features)
Accessories: Monster Mouth Ghost, Ghost Detector
Years Released: 1989, 1990
Scarcity Factor: Can be found but getting tougher each year
Notes: This is a new updated version of the Fright Feature Ray Stantz figure that was released the year before. Ray goes from a regular look to a scared look by pushing the lever on his back. His head actually spins around with the new scared head mold.

 Winston Zeddmore (Super Fright Features)

Market Value:
Carded $75 – $100
Loose $15 – $25

 Winston Zeddmore (Super Fright Features)
Accessories: Meanie Wienie Ghost, Ghost Weapon
Years Released: 1989, 1990
Scarcity Factor: Can be found but getting tougher each year
Notes: This is a new updated version of the Fright Feature Winston Zeddmore figure that was released the year before. Winston goes from a regular look to a scared look by pushing the lever on his back. His head actually sinks down into his chest and can be viewed by opening the flap on his chest.

The Real Ghostbusters (1989 – Wave 7): Accessories

Kenner released one brand new roleplay accessory in Wave 7, and that was the much anticipated Ghost Trap.

Ghost Trap

Market Value:
Boxed $225 – $325
Loose $80 – $110

Ghost Trap
Accessories: Trap, Foot Pump, Cord, Plastic Ghost
Years Released: 1989
Scarcity Factor: Tough to find on the secondary market
Notes: This was the first true Ghost Trap roleplay accessory that Kenner made and it was pretty awesome looking. Unlike the Ghost Spooker, which only resembled the Ghost Trap, this worked the same way the real thing would in that you would step on the foot pump and the trap doors would open to catch the ghosts. It came with a small plastic ghost that is almost always lost.

The Real Ghostbusters (1989 – Wave 7): Playsets

Kenner did not release any playsets as part of their 7th wave in 1989.

The Real Ghostbusters (1989 – Wave 7): Vehicles

Kenner released one brand new vehicle to be used with the action figures in Wave 7, and that was the ECTO-3.

ECTO-3

Market Value:
Boxed $70 – $95
Loose $20 – $35

ECTO-3
Accessories: Vehicle, Galloping Ghoul Ghost, Giant Paddles, Ghostbusters Flag
Years Released: 1989, 1990
Scarcity Factor: Moderately easy to find
Notes: The ECTO-3 was a new vehicle for the Ghostbusters to catch ghosts with. A trigger activates the paddles to move and snatch up small ghosts along the way. The paddles were controlled by squeezing the mufflers together and could be stored in the up position when the vehicle was in regular driving mode.

Since the Real Ghostbusters toy line launched in 1986, Kenner saw sales and demand steadily climb with each wave released. By 1989, the Ghostbusters toyline was a smashing success, so much so that Columbia Pictures released a second Ghostbusters live action film in June of 1989. The movie went on to gross over $200 Million internationally and was considered a financial success, but it was a different story with moviegoers. Many felt the movie was a bit of a letdown with no real bond with the fans and public that made the first movie so iconic. Despite the lack of critical praise, Kenner capitalized on the Ghostbusters craze by releasing three separate waves of new toys in 1989. This allowed Kenner to put out more new products and still be able to space them out according to the release dates. The Real Ghostbusters animated show was still a huge hit on the small screen, and kids were really all-in with the Ghost Busting bandwagon. Ghostbuster merchandise was still the rage in 1989, with the Ghostbusters logo being slapped on just about anything companies could get it on. Overall, this was just a good time to be a Ghostbusters fan!

Kenner gave us three different waves of new products in 1989 with waves 5, 6, and 7. Wave 5 saw the release of two new sub-sets with the Monsters series and new versions of the Ghostbusters human characters called “Screaming Heroes”. Also released in the wave were a Ghost Spooker and two new Haunted Vehicles. Wave 6 was much smaller and only saw two new action ghost figures, with one of them being a new version of the iconic Slimer character. Also released were several new roleplaying items such as the Water Zapper and ECTO-Goggles. The final wave of 1989 (Wave 7) saw a new series of the classic Ghostbusters figures with a “Super Fright Features” theme. These were just newer versions of the original Fright Feature figures but with extra twists. Also released were an ECTO-3 vehicle and an extremely cool looking roleplay Ghost Trap.

The packaging for the fifth, Sixth and seventh waves of the Real Ghostbusters line was essentially the same as the previous waves with each sub-set getting its own logo (Monsters, Screaming Heroes, etc.). 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.