Hasbro were confirmed as the new licensee for Ghostbusters in 2019, and would be the fourth major figure company to cover the line after NECA, Mattel and Diamond Select. The first wave of the Plasma Series was announced as the four Ghostbusters and figures of Dana Barrett and Gozer.
The Hasbro Ghostbusters are presented in a square box format with a spine down the left and the base of the window and the window then wrapping the top of the box and the right hand side. The design is that of the Ghostbusters uniform, both in colour but also with details like a zip visible and the name of the figure in the same style as the name tags of the Ghostbusters uniform.
The left hand spine uses a generic, stylised, image of our four Ghostbusters against a red backdrop. There is no specific art for the figure in the box as we have seen on other lines like Marvel & Star Wars.
The back of the box moves to a black finish with some hatching around the top. Rather than the background text we see on other figures, Dana simply gets a quote from the movie...
"THERE IS NO DANA, ONLY ZUUL"
Beneath this is a checklist of the figures in the wave and a picture of the Build-A-Ghost, Vinz Clortho, and confirmation of what parts come with which figure.
It is noticeable that the window for the figure is quite loose and not tight fitting to the box. You can almost push your fingers in the sides and round the back. The reason for this is apparent when you open the figure and find the figure tray and the window are not attached to the box and slide out as one piece. Behind them is a very nice red and black card back featuring blue prints of the Ghostbusters Proton Packs and ECTO-1.
3.0
Like the Star Wars Black Series and Marvel Legends MCU figures, the Ghostbusters Plasma Series figures utilise face print technology to enhance the sculpt and likeness to the base character. Unlike these other lines, the Ghostbuster figures have not yet hit their stride and while the facial print on Dana is good - with dark shading around the eyes and shaping given to the cheekbones - the sculpt beneath is not the best Sigourney Weaver likeness particularly driven by the width of the lower jaw.
The hair piece doesn't quite work either as it is one solid permed piece and not swept or blowing back from the face as seen in the movie.
The outfit is well recreated with a sheen to the dress without the sheer look. The sash is included tied around the waist and both dress and sash are sculpted in a flowing, blowing motion with good creases and ripples in the fabric. I was pleased to see the sleeves are done so not to be dictated by position - an issue you do see with other flowing robes figures - and that the arms can be moved into any orientation and still have the fabric flow naturally.
The exposed arms and legs are cast in a simple flesh tone without and details. The joints are more unsightly on these where they are exposed.
3.0
Other than the BAF part, there are no accessories included with Dana. Considering the other figures include numerous alternative parts, there is a level of value for money missing with Dana and it would have been nice to see an alternative head or a stand of some kind for her levitation pose.
N/A
Dana Barrett does get a full set of articulation in keeping with the rest of the line with a total count of 16 points of articulation, including double joint knees which are not necessarily needed considering the legs are enclosed by the dress.
Head : ball joint neck
Body : ball joint waist
Arms : ball joint shoulder, single rotating elbow, wrist pivot
Legs : ball joint hips, thigh swivel, double jointed knees, ankle rocker
Dana does not partake in overly dynamic posing in the movie, and the figure replicates most of what you would want including a number of arm gestures. The waist and legs work well to arch the back if you want the levitating pose which can be achieved with the help of an aftermarket display stand.
One pose out of reach is the seated pose on the stone table of the rooftop, and while the legs could get into position, the use of plastic for the dress prevents this. This was an issue with the DST version also. I wonder if we ever came close to a soft goods lower section from Hasbro?
3.5
Despite having full sight of the highs and lows of the Diamond Select Ghostbusters line to look at, Hasbro are going down a very similar route to DST and that was always going to be an issue for characters like Dana who in their single release are very much peg warmer material.
There is nothing materially wrong with the Hasbro Dana Barrett. Yes, the head is not 100% but it is still a better likeness than Diamond and the articulation and execution of the body are also an improvement. The issue is that she is just not that dynamic as a character - and like Louis Tully - it is her Terror Dog form that is most desirable to fans. While Hasbro packed a Terror Dog BAF with this wave - I wonder if the better option would have been 2-packs putting Dana and the Terror Dog Zuul in one set, and Louis Tully and Vinz Clortho Terror Dog in the second.
In the wider wave of Hasbro Ghostbusters figures she is the least value added and really needed an additional head or levitation stand to line up with the other four Ghostbusters and Gozer. I score the Hasbro Ghostbusters Plasma Series Dana Barrett a total score of 3.0
About Me : As a child of the 70's and 80's I grew up in a golden age for action figures and in my youth bought and sold myself through collections of Star Wars, G.I. Joe (Action Force) and M.A.S.K. while also dabbling in He-Man, Transformers and Ghostbusters. Roll forward and I am now reliving that Youth with the action figures of today and am a collector and fan of the larger 6-8 inch figures from my favourite movie and TV licences - including the ones mentioned above, but also the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Who and the Aliens. I launched The Mephitsu Archives in 2015 with a view of creating a UK focused site or these figures where fans can pick up the latest action figure news, read reviews and get information on where to buy their figures and what is currently on store shelves. I hope I am delivering that to you guys...
action figures, reviews, review, articulation, hasbro, ghostbusters, plasma series, dana barrett, slimer, marshmallow man