Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Ninja Ghostbusters (review)

Nothing speaks more to the childhood belonging to the ’80s than some bomb cartoons. Some of the most action-packed and violent stuff geared for kids came out during this era, and we all loved it! From G.I. Joe battles to the Rambo cartoon series (yes, I meant THAT Rambo), violence was just as accessible as it is now. Some of the great attributes to our unique upbringing were the cartoon/comic combos of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and The Real Ghostbusters.

These cartoons and comics were some of the best stuff ever! Spawning a lifespan of over 30 years, thanks to Playmates Toys, both of these properties have traversed into the realm of our youth’s playtime, and created an arc that we’ve only dreamed of: a Ninja Turtle-Ghostbuster amalgamation! As an exclusive for Target stores, these figures are the pinnacle of trying to attach the proton packs from the old Ghostbusters toys to the Ninja Turtles as a kid. But are they worth the buy? Let’s take a closer look and check out what could be some incredible fun!

First, let’s look at the contents in each package. I think it’s pretty obvious from the get go, but just to state the obvious, each figure is made to slightly resemble the male Ghostbuster counterparts. Each figure, standing at a little over 6 1/2″, comes set with a PKE Meter, a ghost trap, a proton pack and a ghost unique to the franchise (Leonardo as Stanz with Library Ghost, Michelangelo as Venkman with Subway Ghost, Donatello as Spengler with Zuul Dog, and Raphael as Zeddemore with Slimer).

One of the first aspects you notice is that each figure is that they are wearing the iconic jumpsuit from to the Ghostbuster franchise, only with their own names on the tags. The detail is ok, as some of the names are a bit difficult to make them out. The iconic logo on each of their arms is lacking, to say the least. The faces look good, considering they’re created as a combination of the male Ghostbusters and the corresponding Turtle. The feet, although a little large, make for a good foundation for the figures to stand up straight.

The accessories have decent detail to them. The hazard lines on the ghost trap really help to distinguish the item, but the PKE Meter has no distinguishable stickers or moveable parts. I wasn’t expecting much in terms of who the demographic this toy is marketed for, but I think it would help the overall experience if kids who got this knew what this item was without having to google it. I only say this because the highlight of the accessories is the proton pack. This bad boy has a great design with detailed features. I can totally distinguish this item, even though it’s a solid plastic piece, by the detail on the pack and the blaster. The rotate action on the blaster add a fun dynamic to the piece, giving you the visual of the proton pack actually firing. And speaking of firing…

The movability of the figures are interesting. Out of the four figures I received, two of them had sticky joints, causing me to force the movement of the toy until it felt fluid. I’m chalking this up to just first play adjustments. Each head on the toys were very difficult to turn, both after I rotated them thoroughly and once the proton pack was attached. The tale of each mask needs to be turned so that the pack can be added, and unfortunately some of the figures can’t turn their heads back once the pack is in place. The proton packs look so great when they’re attached, but if you’re looking to do some head turns from your toy, you may be a bit dismayed with some of these guys.

The real big thumbs down to this item is its hands. The image on each of the boxes give a visual of the Turtles blasting some ghostly butt with their proton packs, but after handling the toys, I’m left wondering: how do you get these things in their hands?! I couldn’t, for the life of me, fit the blasters in each of the toy’s hands, and I’m a grown man! I had to use a wedge to pry open the fingers so that I could -with difficulty- squeeze the blaster in each hand. It took some strength and ingenuity, but what I’m thinking is if this product is for ages 4 and up, are they expecting these 4 year olds to be bodybuilders?

All in all, these toys aren’t bad. They have their flaws, but since they are built and marketed for a younger demographic, I won’t hold too much of this against them. I’m a huge fan of both of these franchises, and an even bigger fan of IDW’s crossover comic sequel for this nerd’s dream. I love the idea of the Dragon Ball Z fusion happening with these two powerhouses, and I feel like if this continues, we may see other things from our childhood be resurrected. Although I was hoping for a bit more detail and care, these toys will bring a smile to any child who just wants to answer that age-old question: who you gonna call? The answer: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Ninja Ghostbusters! Phew, that was a mouthful.

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Ninja Ghostbuster figures retail for $19.99 and can be found exclusively at Target stores near you!