For Ghostbusters fans, June 15th, 2010, marked the end of a long wait – twenty-six years to be exact. After all this time, we finally have action figures representing all four Ghostbusters in their movie likeness! The “slimed” Peter Venkman figure has arrived on Matty Collector, completing the team and causing considerable excitement in the collecting community. As a long-time Ghostbusters enthusiast, the anticipation for this figure has been immense, and the relief of finally having the full team in plastic form is palpable.
Like many, Ghostbusters holds a special place. Countless hours have been spent watching the movie, and the Real Ghostbusters cartoon and toy line were also a significant part of childhood. This widespread love and nostalgia are why the arrival of a complete set of movie-accurate Ghostbusters figures is such a big deal. The journey to get here wasn’t easy; for a while, it seemed uncertain if Mattel would even be able to produce a Peter Venkman figure. Bill Murray’s well-known reluctance regarding likeness rights added to the suspense. However, at San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) the previous year, those fears were put to rest, and now, finally, the Ghostbusters team is complete.
Image showcasing the Ghostbusters Peter Venkman action figure bio card, detailing his Ph.Ds in Psychology and Para-Psychology.
Close-up image of the Ghostbusters Peter Venkman action figure card, highlighting the character’s details.
Image of the back of the Ghostbusters Peter Venkman action figure card packaging.
This “slimed” Peter Venkman is the first in what fans hope will be a series of Venkman figures. Mattel chose to represent the iconic scene from the Sedgewick Hotel, the Ghostbusters’ first professional job. These scenes are among Peter Venkman’s most memorable, featuring his hilarious encounter with Slimer. Venkman gets covered in slime, adding to his perpetually put-upon demeanor, before eventually getting his revenge on the mischievous ghost and earning a cool $5,000 in the process. This “slimed” version perfectly captures that moment.
Full shot of the Ghostbusters Peter Venkman “slimed” action figure, showcasing the overall design.
Detailed close-up of the Ghostbusters Peter Venkman action figure’s head sculpt and “slimed” effect.
The slime effect on the figure is well-executed, reminiscent of the “slimed” Egon figure from the previous SDCC. It’s just the right amount to convey that Venkman has been slimed without being overly exaggerated. He still looks like Peter Venkman, perhaps just having had a particularly rough day of ghostbusting. While some initial images showed a heavier slime application, the final production version features a more subdued yet effective look, which is definitely a positive design choice.
Image depicting the Ghostbusters Peter Venkman action figure in a pose, possibly referencing his “Come in RAY!” line.
Another pose of the Ghostbusters Peter Venkman action figure, highlighting the articulation and slime detail.
If you own the Egon Spengler, Ray Stantz, and Winston Zeddemore figures from this line, you’ll notice that they share many parts. Peter Venkman also shares some of these core components, but he also features unique elements that differentiate his uniform. The most noticeable difference is that Peter’s pants are not tucked into his boots, a detail accurately reflecting his more relaxed approach to uniform regulations. For the Sedgewick Hotel scenes, he also sports new forearms and gloved hands. Rumors and images from online auctions suggest that gloved hands might be coming for the other Ghostbusters figures as well, which would be a welcome addition.
Close-up image of the Ghostbusters Peter Venkman action figure’s face, emphasizing the likeness to Bill Murray.
Action shot of the Ghostbusters Peter Venkman figure, showcasing the proton pack and uniform details.
The remaining parts of the figure are consistent with the other Ghostbusters, including the proton pack and jumpsuit. However, the yellow tube running from the pack to his leg is a brighter yellow and sits flatter than on previous figures. These subtle improvements are appreciated and hopefully will carry over to future Ghostbusters releases. Since he is wearing gloves, the figure does not include the folded gloves accessory that came with other figures in the line.
Detailed image focusing on the gloved hands of the Ghostbusters Peter Venkman action figure.
Image of the Ghostbusters Peter Venkman action figure, possibly referencing a scene with the EPA.
Like the Egon figure, Peter Venkman comes packaged with Slimer. This version of Slimer features a new expression with his tongue sticking out and is made of translucent plastic. While it’s a re-release, the updated sculpt is a nice touch. Slimer and his stand are the only accessories included, aside from the non-removable proton pack. While Peter Venkman is certainly a compelling figure on his own, the lack of a removable walkie-talkie is a slight disappointment, especially considering his famous “Come in, RAY!” line. However, 1:12 scale walkie-talkies are readily available from other toy lines, offering a workaround for those wanting to recreate the scene.
Close-up of the new Slimer accessory included with the Ghostbusters Peter Venkman action figure.
Image comparing the new Slimer accessory with a previous version, highlighting the differences.
This Peter Venkman figure is a significant release for Ghostbusters toy collectors. On its own, it’s a great figure with a good likeness to Bill Murray (though the un-slimed head shown at SDCC ’09 looked even more promising for future releases). It’s also well-articulated, allowing for dynamic posing and scene recreation. Most importantly, this figure finally completes the core Ghostbusters team in action figure form after a 26-year wait. This is a moment of relief and celebration for many fans. However, this shouldn’t be the end. Hopefully, Mattel and the Four Horsemen will continue this line. A “We’re ready to believe you” Ray Stantz is next, but fans are eager for un-slimed versions of Egon and Peter, another Ray with Ecto Goggles, and gloved versions of all the Ghostbusters. Beyond the core four, there’s a vast roster of ghosts and supporting characters to explore – Vinz Clortho, anyone? There’s still much potential in this line, and hopefully, Mattel will keep the momentum going and make it a major success.
Image showcasing various poses and angles of the Ghostbusters Peter Venkman action figure.
Thanks to Toy Guru and Mattel for providing this Peter Venkman figure for review.
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Image of all four Ghostbusters action figures together, celebrating the completion of the team.
Image referencing a quote from Ghostbusters, potentially related to future figure releases or ghosts.
