Kenner The Real Ghostbusters Toy Line (2024)

The Real Ghostbusters Toy line was created by Kenner from 1986 through 1991. It was mostly related to the Animated Series, however the Ecto-1a and ECTO-Charger where both related to the Ghostbusters II Film. Filmation's Ghostbusters had a line of toys as well, produced by Tyco.

Currently, Hasbro is set to reissue wave 1 figures in the Spring of 2020 as a Wal-Mart exclusive.

The Kenner line of The Real Ghostbusters first hit the stores fulfilling Christmas pre-orders in 1986 (notably the 1986 first print sold out in pre-orders). Later, the toys began to be put on shelves in January of 1987. The line continued being made and sold til the spring of 1991. It had ten waves of toys (based on card rearrangements) with at least one more planned. Notably the line ended during the Kenner and Hasbro merger in 1991.

In 1979, Kenner released "Finger Pops", which were foam cylinders that could be projected in the air. A similar type of product to Nerf like foam products, it was Kenner's answer to Parker Brothers Nerf line. The concept was brought to the Real Ghostbusters line with "Finger Pop Fiends", which along with having the same function also share the name "Finger Pops".

Also in 1979, Kenner released a second toy in the line called "Finger Pops Popper". This item as well was in many regards a precursor to the "GhostPopper", which would be able to fire foam pops. GhostPopper also shares the name Popper and refers to the ammo as "ghostpops" or "pops". The foam pops were also used with the "ECTO Popper & ECTO-Goggles", which uses the same idea and adds temporary storage on the goggles.

The list is based on packaging back cards of the American version line. For releases in other countries/regions please see the Foreign Market Releases section of this article. Sometimes the toy was released with other toys but wasn't included on the back card, in which case its included but noted. A few items were released that didn't have back cards and were not shown included with a wave. Educated guesses are used in those cases.

It is believed that the first wave toys were released during the Christmas season in 1986, mostly to fulfill layaway orders. Officially, the first advertisem*nts appeared, done by Toy's R Us in the newspapers around the end of January 1987. The toy line first wave first printing is believed to have been all the figures, but not the Ghost Zapper or the Plush Toys. Second printing which was released with additions from wave 2 was done sometime in the spring of 1987. A third printing was most likely done for the Christmas season of 1987. Later in Spring 2020, Hasbro is set to reissue all six of the first wave figures.

The Action Ghost "Green Ghost" incorrectly was printed in the first and second printing with item number #81020. The toy was given the correct item number on the third pressing.

The second wave was released sometime in the spring of 1987. The Action Ghost assortment (started wave 1) had additions of three ghost action figures. A second pressing for the three Action Ghosts was made for the Christmas season on 1987.

The third wave was likely first released to fulfill layaway orders in the Christmas season of 1987. The first public promotion for the wave didn't happen til mid January of 1988. Initially Fright Feature Janine Melnitz was not released as she wasn't listed on back of card. She was later released in the fourth wave.

The three Mini Ghost toy sets were released with their assortment number of "80400" mistakenly printed on the front of the card as the item number. All three also share the same bar code on the back. The Canada line printed corrected item numbers.

The Fright Features Heroes are the most common of the Hero sets released. They were released in all major foreign markets toy lines, including being the exclusive hero line for Brazil's Caça-Fantasmas released by Estrela.

Wave four was like wave two released in the late spring 1988. Janine saw a release for the first time as a add on toy to the Fright Line from wave three. Along with Haunted Humans, there was two ghosts released that ended up with two printings with errors.

Haunted Humans saw a sequel of sorts in Kenner's Beetlejuice line with Neighborhood Nasties group of four figures in late 1990.

Some sites merge this wave with five or seven, however going by packaging cards it is a clearly released batch of toys during spring/summer of 1989.

This wave is assumed to have been released late spring around May, much like wave four and two. It is unclear why they didn't release this as part of wave seven a few months later, but one of the toys released in the wave didn't appear on the back card til the next wave card.

Wave seven most likely was released sometime in August or September, and included a new group of hero toys.

Besides America, there were seven other lines produced and released. America and the UK releases seemed to be their own lineages from which other lines based their toy packaging and elements on. Also, some of these lines also imported in toys made for other markets.

During the time of The Real Ghostbusters merchandise wave, many companies had released licensed products based on the cartoons promo art and design sheets. However, in a few causes the merchandise itself was based on the Kenner toy series exclusively.

Note that some of these are more based on solely the show in spirit. But likely are still aiming to take from the Kenner market, therefore are competing for market space unfairly.

On page 9 of Ghostbusters Volume 1 Issue #1, the Fearsome Flush makes a non-canon cameo in the bathroom of Jim Silver.
The Gulper Ghost from Classic Hero Figure Egon appears on the Second Printing cover of Ghostbusters Volume 1 Issue #2.
In Volume 1 Issue #2 page 9, in the opposite lane is the Highway Haunter.
The Bad-To-The-Bone Ghost makes a non-canon cameo on Ghostbusters Volume 1 Issue #9 Cover RI-B, P.P.F. Comics.
The Action Vehicle Ecto-1's Blaster seat makes a non-canon cameo on a special sketch cover of Ghostbusters Volume 1 #9.
On page 20 of Ghostbusters Volume 1 Issue #11, the Fearsome Flush is referenced on one of the store signs outside the cafe.
On page 2 of Ghostbusters Volume 1 Issue #12, the Ecto Headgear and Radar makes a non-canon cameo being used by Winston Zeddemore.
On page 9 of Volume 1 Issue #12, the Wicked Wheelie is parked outside of KBIB.
On page 19 of Volume 1 Issue #12, a sticker on the front door of Seattle City Hall features the pizza, pork chop, and watermelon that came with Kenner's Green Ghost toy.
On page 10 of Ghostbusters Volume 1 Issue #14, a can of Ecto-Plazm makes a cameo on the table.
On page 12 of Volume 1 Issue #14, in panel 1, the mascot on the hot dog cart is based on the Meanie Wienie Ghost that comes with Kenner's Super Fright Features Winston figure.
On Cover RI of Ghostbusters Volume 1 Issue #15: **Grabber Ghost from Classic Hero Figure Peter makes a non-canon cameo.
- Wrapper Ghost from Classic Hero Figure Ray makes a non-canon cameo.
- Gulper Ghost from Classic Hero Figure Egon makes a non-canon cameo.
- Chomper Ghost from Classic Hero Figure Winston makes a non-canon cameo.
On page seven of Volume 1 Issue #15, on the helicopter dashboard is the Haunted Vehicle Air Sickness.
In Ghostbusters Volume 2 Issue #1, the new Ghostbusters go after a ghost based on Fright Feature Ray's Jail Jaw Ghost.
On page 6 of Volume 2 Issue #1, the Green Ghost's food makes a non-canon cameo in the refrigerator.
On page 19 of Ghostbusters Volume 2 Issue #2, the Haunted Humans (except Tombstone Tackle) make a non-canon cameo as people outside the Pequod's.
On page 23, in the back up story of Volume 2 Issue #2, several ghosts are based on:
- Granny Gross
- Hard Hat Horror
- Tombstone Tackle
- Mail Fraud X-Cop
- Terror Trash
- Bug-Eye Ghos
- Orange Mini Trap
On pages 3-5 of Ghostbusters Volume 2 Issue #16:
- The Fright Features Peter design is used as the look of the future version of Peter.
- The Fright Features Egon design is used as the look of the future version of Egon.
- The Fright Features Ray design is used as the look of the future version of Ray.
- The Fright Features Winston design is used as the look of the future version of Winston.
On page 10 of Ghostbusters Volume 2 Issue #17, a can of Ecto-Plazm makes a non-canon cameo in the Firehouse's R&D lab on top of the mini cabinet.
On page 12 of Volume 2 Issue #17, the ghosts that come with Ecto-Plazm make a non-canon cameo among the Hart Island Ghosts.
On page 20 of Volume 2 Issue #17, the Action Vehicle Ecto-1 makes a non-canon cameo on top of the footlockers. The Real Ghostbusters: Play Shaving Kit" was on top the footlockers.
On the subscription cover of Ghostbusters Volume 2 Issue #18, Gulper Ghost from Classic Hero Figure Egon makes a non-canon cameo.
On page 15 of Volume 2 Issue #18, a Fright Features Egon and Proton Pack toy makes a non-canon cameo on the shelf above Peter.
On page 1 of Ghostbusters Volume 2 Issue #19, the GhostZapper toy makes a non-canon cameo on the shelf.
In Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Ghostbusters Issue #1, page 10-11, the ghost is visually based on the Bug-Eye Ghost.
On page 7 of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Ghostbusters Issue #3, the picture that comes with the Ghost Zapper is on the white board.
On page 1 of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Ghostbusters Issue #4, the Ghost Zapper makes a non-canon cameo once more on the white board.
On page 18 of Ghostbusters: Get Real Issue #1, on the white board, in the upper left is one of the Kenner booklet pages with the Proton Pack and Firehouse toys.
On page 11 of Ghostbusters: Get Real Issue #3, the Proton Pack appears in the upper left of the white board.
On page 11 of Ghostbusters: Get Real Issue #4, the Firehouse playset box makes a non-canon cameo in panel 1 and 2, on the middle shelf of the shelving on the left.
On page 11 of Get Real Issue #4, the Toy Weapon's box makes a non-canon cameo in panel 1 and 2 on top of the shelving on the left.
On page 6, panel 3, of Ghostbusters Annual 2015, the Ecto Goggles used are visually based on Ecto-Popper and Ecto-Goggles toy. Later, on page 8, in the Ecto-Goggle POV, one of the readings is "1989 MHz" - a possible nod to Ghostbusters II, which released in 1989.
On page 11, panel 2, of Annual 2015, in the hallway, is a Kenner Real Ghostbusters toy line up in the big picture frame. The Terror Trash Ghost is visible on the corner.
On page 27, panel 2, of Annual 2015, the vehicle behind Peter Venkman and Winston Zeddemore appears to be visually based on Ecto-500.
On page 16 of Ghostbusters International #1, in panel 2, left of the boxes is the Kenner Ecto-Blaster from the Weapon Action Figure Toys 5 set.
On page 17 of Ghostbusters International #1, in the observation tank is the Gulper Ghost from the Classic Hero Figure Egon action figure.
In Ghostbusters International #3, on page 6, in panel 5, on the newspaper, to the left of the Ghostbusters ad is an ad for Kenner's Fright Features line seen in the Schenectady Gazette on June 29, 1988. ^[2]
In Ghostbusters International #3, on page 8, in panel 4, the box for Kenner's Ecto-Charger Pack toy is on the far right under the table.
In Ghostbusters International #3, on page 19, in panel 3, still in the containment tank is the Gulper Ghost. The box for Kenner's Proton Pack toy makes a non-canon cameo right of the table
On page 2 panel 2 of Ghostbusters International #4, Kevin Tanaka is carrying a box marked "Fire Station Headquarters," a nod to the U.K. printing of the Kenner Firehouse playset.
On page 18 of Ghostbusters International #7, the Paranormal Containment Research Tank's pedal is visually inspired by the Kenner Trap's. The Justin walkie talkie box makes a non-canon cameo in panel 3.
On page 4 of Ghostbusters International #8, once again the Concept 2000 Solid State Walkie Talkie box makes a non-canon cameo, this time right of Special Agent Melanie Ortiz.
On page 7 of Ghostbusters International #8, the Squisher ghost is based on the Gooper Ghost Squisher figure.
On page 17 of Ghostbusters International #8, in panel 2, the Kenner Ecto-Charger Pack box makes a non-canon cameo on the white cabinet.
On page 11 of Ghostbusters International #8, the ghost is visually based on the Granny Gross Ghost figure.
On page 21 of Ghostbusters International #11, the nature of the Bronx case, a toilet-eating dog, appears to be a nod to the Fearsome Flush.
In Ghostbusters Annual 2017, on page 44, in panel 2, the Fright Feature Figure: Egon Spengler's Terror Tweezer is standing up to Pagan's left.
On page 7 of Ghostbusters 101 #1, in panel 3, on the shelf behind Ray Stantz is the Ecto-Plazm box.
On page 12 of Ghostbusters 101 #2, in panel 1, on shelf left of Zoe Zawadzki are two Ecto-Plazms.
On the Subscription Cover of Ghostbusters 101 #3:
- The Kenner Ecto-2 is driven by Peter in his animated counterpart's Screaming Heroes suit.
- The Kenner Highway Haunter is driven by Janine Melnitz in her animated counterpart's Screaming Heroes suit.
- The Kenner Ecto-3 is driven by Egon and Ray in their animated counterpart's Screaming Heroes suit.
- The Kenner Ecto-500 is driven by Winston in his animated counterpart's Screaming Heroes suit.
On page 1 of Ghostbusters 101 #3, in panel 1, the ghost is visually based on the Soar Throat Ghost from Kenner's Fright Features Egon Spengler figure. In panel 3, Ms. Zeigler's Proton Pack is visually based on the Kenner Proton Pack. Her Trap is visually based on Kenner's Trap toy.
On page 1 of Ghostbusters 101 #3, in panel 4, in front of Cait is the Kenner Ecto-500.
On page 6 of Ghostbusters 101 #4, in panel 5, in Egon's box, the blue object is Kenner's Nutrona Blaster toy and the text on Egon's box references the Ecto Glow Heroes figures. In panel 6, on the corkboard is Kenner's Real Ghostbusters toys/Ghostbusters II in theatre ad.
On page 18 of Ghostbusters 101 #4, the Ecto-4 is visually based on Kenner's unreleased Glow Copter Vehicle.
On the Subscription Cover of Ghostbusters 101 #5, below Kylie Griffin is the Ghost Sweeper Vehicle and the Fire Frighter Vehicle.
On page 1 of Ghostbusters 101 #5, panel 1:
- The Green Ghost's watermelon accessory is the last beer tap on the right.
- The purple Mini-Trap makes a non-canon cameo as the beer tap between the two word balloons.
- The Brain Blaster makes a non-canon cameo as the second to last beer tap on the right.
On page 19 of Ghostbusters 101 #5, panel 2, Erin Gilbert's box references Kenner's Highway Haunter.
On page 2 of Ghostbusters 101 Issue #6, the blonde girl is wearing Kenner's prototype Ecto-Charger Pack.
On page 3 of Ghostbusters 101 Issue #6, in panel 3, Garrett Parker is wearing the Ecto-Goggles from the Ecto-Popper toy.
On page 7 of Ghostbusters 101 #6, in panel 2, the cardboard box atop the white locker references the Fire House Headquarters playset.
On page 1 of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Ghostbusters Volume 2 Issue #1, the entity that grabs the woman's leg is visually based on the H2 Ghost.
On page 3 of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Ghostbusters Volume 2 Issue #1, The Meanie Wienie mascot is based on the Meanie Wienie Ghost that comes with the Super Fright Feature Winston figure.
On page 18 of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Ghostbusters Volume 2 Issue #5, in the lower left corner are the H2 Ghost, Brain Matter from the Mini Ghost Figure: Mini Gooper set, and Banshee Bomber from the Gooper Ghost Figures. In the upper right are the Bug-Eye Ghost and Sludge Bucket from the Gooper Ghost Figures.
On Cover B of Ghostbusters Annual 2018, between Egon and Janine is the Bad-To-The-Bone Ghost. Janine is in her New Ghostbusters flight suit and blows a bubblegum bubble like her animated. Kylie wears Kenner's Ecto-Goggles and Ecto-Popper.
On Page 35 of Annual 2018, in panel 2 is a ghost from the Kenner Ecto-Plazm. In panel 3 are three ghosts from the Kenner Classic Hero figures: Grabber Ghost from Peter, Wrapper Ghost from Ray, and Chomper Ghost from Winston. On the right is the Gulper Ghost from Classic Hero Egon.
On Page 36 of Annual 2018, in panel 1, on the left are Tombstone Tackle, Gulper Ghost, and Wrapper Ghost. In panel 1, on the right are X-Cop, Terror Trash, Hard Hat Horror, Pull Speed Ahead Ghost with its T-Stick Ghost, The two Mini-Traps, Fearsome Flush, Brain Blaster Ghost, and Bad-To-The-Bone Ghost.
On Cover RI-B of Ghostbusters Crossing Over #1, the Wrapper Ghost from Kenner's Classic Hero Ray appears.
On Cover B of Ghostbusters Crossing Over #2, Erin and Ron have the Kenner Ghost Poppers. Pull Speed Ahead Ghost with its T-Stick Ghost and X-Cop from Haunted Humans also appear.
On Page 20 of Crossing Over #2, Kevin Tanaka's box in part references the Firehouse playset.
On Cover A of Ghostbusters Crossing Over #3, Rookie is piloting Kenner's Ecto Bomber.
On Cover B of Crossing Over #3, the Spectral Janine has the Tease Ray weapon from the Kenner Fright Feature Janine.
On Page 16 of Crossing Over #3, in panel 4, on the upper right is the screen used for Kenner's The Real Ghostbusters P.K.E. Meter, but without the ghost icon.
On Cover B of Ghostbusters Crossing Over #4, the human form of Granny Gross appears in the frame on the upper level.
On Cover B of Ghostbusters Crossing Over #5, there are Ecto-Plazm and three ghosts that came with it, a P.K.E. Meter that came with the Proton Pack toy and the unreleased Egon's Lab Toy.
On Page 2 of Crossing Over #5, in panel 5, Slimer 68-R has a watermelon visually based on his Kenner toy accessory.
Cover B of Ghostbusters Crossing Over #7 is a nod to Kenner's Classic Hero Ray packaging with Kylie Griffin as the toy. The orange KB Toys price tag is changed to "IDW 7 Cover B". Kylie, Pagan, and Braided Hair Ghost from The Real Ghostbusters are in place of Ray and Wrapper Ghost. The cover artist's last name "Lattie" appears in place of "Kenner". The grammar is changed slightly from "I ain't 'fraid of no ghost" to "I ain't afraid of no ghost". "Ghostbusters Crossing Over" replaces "The Real Ghostbusters" The bottom of the packaging still has the "Action Zapping Ray with Nutrona Blaster". The Proton Pack has a purple proton stream instead of Ray's orange proton stream.
Cover B of Ghostbusters Crossing Over #8 features the van and motorcycle are from 1986 unused concept art.
On Page 17 of Crossing Over #8, in panel 4, the ghost attacking Jenny is visually based on Kenner's Mail Fraud Ghost.
In Ghostbusters 35th Anniversary: The Real Ghostbusters:
- On Page 7, the ghost caught on Wednesday is Mail Fraud from Kenner's toyline.
In Ghostbusters 35th Anniversary: Extreme Ghostbusters:
- On the regular cover is the Kenner Firehouse set.
- On Page 4, in panel 1, in the frame is the human form of the Kenner Granny Gross figure.
In Ghostbusters Year One Issue #2:
- On Cover RI are two parts from the Kenner Ecto-1 toy, in the lower left is the Ghost Claw and in the upper right is the Gunner seat. The floor and turquoise tile wall is based on the Fire House set.
In Ghostbusters Year One Issue #4:
- On Cover RI, Janine is wearing a Flicky Flasher Watch from 1988.

As seen in Ghostbusters Volume 2 Issue #16

Non-Canon Cameo in Ghostbusters: Get Real Issue #1

Non-canon cameo of ad for Fright Features in Ghostbusters International #3