| Ghostbusters | |
|---|---|
 Peter Venkman andRay Stanz of the Ghostbusters battle a ghostly animatedTyrannosaurus skeleton. FromThe Real Ghostbusters Vol.2 #4. FromNOW Comics. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics Now Comics 88MPH Studios IDW Comics Dark Horse Comics[1] |
| Schedule | Monthly |
| Format | Ongoing series |
| Genre | |
TheGhostbusters franchise spawned various comic books published by various comic book companies through the years starting in 1988 and continuing to the present day. These comics have ranged from being based onThe Real Ghostbusters animated series, to the1984 film.[2]
The very first comic book addition to theGhostbusters franchise wasThe Real Ghostbusters. It was acomic series based on theanimated series of the same name.NOW Comics andMarvel Comics shared the comic book rights to the property. NOW Comics had the rights for publication in North America, while Marvel had the rights in Europe. Marvel published the series in Europe through theirMarvel UK imprint. Some of the Marvel UK issues reprinted material from the NOW Comics series, and vice versa. Publication of the series began on March 28, 1988.
NOW Comics began their series in August 1988. The series ran for two volumes, two annuals and one special. The first volume ran for 28 issues.[3] The series was primarily written byJames Van Hise, with the exceptions being issue 4 byLa Morris Richmond and issue 21 which featured Marvel UK reprints due to production delays.John Tobias,Phillip Hester,Evan Dorkin andHoward Bender were among the pencilers for the series.
The series was on hiatus for a time due to the publisher's financial difficulties, but was subsequently re-launched. The second volume ran for four issues,[4] one special (The Real Ghostbusters Spectacular 3-D Special[5]) and two annuals (one regular[6] and one 3-D[7]). The series had a main story that ran from the 3-D Special through issue 4, followed by back-up stories reprinted from the Marvel UK run. They also contained game pages and health tips for kids and parents. Several issues of volume 1 and the main issues of volume 2 used covers taken from the Marvel UK run.
NOW Comics also published a 3 issue miniseries in 1989 calledReal Ghostbusters Starring in Ghostbusters II[8] that was collected as a trade paperback.[9]
A spin-off series of the popular Ghostbusters characterSlimer was also published.NOW Comics published a series that ran 19 issues from 1989 through 1990,[10] as well as spawning a one shot special calledThe Real Ghostbusters 3-D Slimer Special.[11] Some of these issues were reprinted as a tradepaperback in 1991.[12]
WhenIDW Publishing licensed the comic book rights to the Ghostbusters property, they began to reprint theNow Comics series in a multi-volume series of trade-paperbacks calledThe Real Ghostbusters Omnibus.[13] beginning in October 2012.
Marvel UK published a magazine-sized comic for 193 issues[14] that also spawned 4 annuals[15] and 10 specials. The series started its run on March 28, 1988, starting five months before the NOW Comics series. Each issue contained three to four comic stories, a prose story alternating from a regular tale to one narrated byWinston Zeddemore, a prose entry ofEgon Spengler’s Spirit Guide typically discussing the entities in the comic, a bio of a character or ghost that appeared in the series, and a short Slimer strip. The comics featured a rotating line-up of creators, includingJohn Carnell,Dan Abnett,Andy Lanning, Brian Williamson,Anthony Williams,Stuart Place,Richard Starkings, andHelen Stone.
The series ran weekly and eventually began to feature reprints from the American comics as well as stories that appeared previously in the series. The American comics were often broken up into four to five parts, and incorporated the failed Slimer! series beginning with issue 121. The last original story ran in issue 171 with the remaining issues beingreprints from the earlier comics and the American books.
Four annual comics were produced in ahardcover format. Each book contained several comic strips, full-page Slimer strips, and prose stories. The books also included game and activity pages, and reprints of bios found in the regular books.
Some of these issues were collected byTitan Books intotrade paperbacks. These include:
Marvel UK also reprinted NOW Comics' tradepaperbackReal Ghostbusters Starring in Ghostbusters II in 1989[20] as well as reprinting various issues as a compendium calledThe Real Ghostbusters: The Giggling Ghoul and Other Stories[21] also in 1989.
Outside of the ongoing title, the Ghostbusters were also featured in the 32-issue[22][23][24] run ofThe Marvel Bumper Comic. It was an anthology style comic that was published by Marvel UK from 1988–1989, and that featured strips adapting different characters and properties. The first 13 issues were published bi-weekly, with issues 14-31 being released on a weekly basis. There was also a "Holiday Special" issue released in late 1988.
Like Now Comics, Marvel UK also published a 19 issue series revolving aroundSlimer.
The publishing companyWelsh Publishing Group Inc publishedThe Real Ghostbusters Magazine. A 7 issue[25] magazine that ran from 1989 to 1991 and reprinted a few of the issues from both theNOW Comics andMarvel UK comic series.
Over ten years after the end ofThe Real Ghostbusters comic books, the property returned to comics courtesy of the Quebec-based comic company88MPH Studios. 88MPH published a 4 issue[26]mini-series titledGhostbusters: Legion that ran from February through May 2004. It was written by Andrew Dabb with pencils by Steve Kurth and inks by Serge LaPointe. Unlike the previous comics, this title (as well as future titles by other publishing companies) would be presenting the characters the way they were portrayed inthe original 1984 film but set in 2004 instead of 1984, more serious themed and less cartoonish thanThe Real Ghostbusters series.
The storyline ofLegion saw the return of the fourGhostbusters and the principal cast from the movie. Set six months on from theGozer incident (in this universe having occurred in 2004) the series was designed to follow the Ghostbusters as their initial fame faded and they returned to the regular chore of busting ghosts on a daily basis. The series sees the team run ragged as a spate of supernatural crimes and other related occurrences plague the city.
Prior to its release, the miniseries featured 5 pieces of promotional artwork featuring all 4 Ghostbusters. Two other pieces of promotional artwork were also featured on the back of the comic books once the miniseries had begun. These featured a promo of a meltingStay Puft Marshmallow Man featuring the phrase "S'mores Anyone?" and a promo ofSlimer featuring the phrase "Vermin Problems?"
A special 'Christmas card' was created specially for the site, drawn by well-known Ghostbusters prop member Sean Bishop and colored by one of the comic production staff.
Outside of the 4 issue series a "#0 issue" was planned. Featuring a story entitledThe Zeddemore Factor, it was to have been released before theLegion mini-series, but was eventually released as a convention exclusive atSan Diego Comic-Con stall operated by 88MPH Studios to help promote the comic.[27]
Originally planned for a June 2004 release to coincide with the 20th Anniversary of the movie, the ongoing series of the comic was to officially start in the Summer of 2004 with three known stories. The following synopses have been collected from the official site:
Due to the varying problems with finance and publishing, Sebastien Clavet announced that the ongoing Ghostbusters series would be going into indefinite hiatus with three issues planned and three covers released.[28][29][30]
In early 2005 Sebastien Clavet announced the officialtrade collection of the series which would include a coloured version ofThe Zeddemore Factor one shot, concept art, 'Ecto-Logs', a foreword by Ghostbusters creatorDan Aykroyd and a proposed afterword by an as yet unknown actor related to the film. The cut-off date for pre-orders was extended several times, while a firm release date had never been announced. This trade would have been a hardcover collection that was supposed to be released via aDiamond Comic Distributors "Previews" exclusive.[31][32]
However, it would appear that financial problems have plagued this venture despite hundreds of paid pre-orders. Clavet has since closed his own company's message boards and removed contact information from 88MPH Studios website, leaving many disgruntled fans to level claims of fraud against Clavet. A post made on January 14, 2007 on the new 88MPH Studios website states that pre-orders placed with them andGraham crackers are guaranteed and that more information will be posted shortly. Posts entered onto the Weaver Hall forum on January 17 reference Clavet's intent to offer the hardcover to fans via the 88MPH Studios online store. But this never came to fruition.
Presently, a version of theLegion Trade in Soft Cover has been released for commercial purchase. It reprints all 4 regular issues and a colorized version ofThe Zeddemore Factor; however, it lacks the foreword by Aykroyd and the concept art. The book is available in theUnited Kingdom and was published byTitan Books.[33]
Tokyopop published a one-shot[34] black and whiteManga comic in 2008 calledGhostbusters: Ghost Busted. The comic comprised six mini-stories.
IDW Publishing obtained the comic books rights to theGhostbusters in 2008 and began publishing a series of one shots and miniseries based on the property. IDW then announced plans to publish an ongoing series starting in September 2011.[35]
A 4 issue[36] miniseries that ran from October 2008 to January 2009. It was written by Keith C. Champagne with artwork by Tom Nguyen. It was collected as a trade paperback in May 2009.[37]
Another 4-issue[38] miniseries that ran from September 2009 to December 2009. It was written by Scott Lobdell and illustrated by Llias Kyriazis. It was then collected as a trade paperback in April 2010,[39] and spawned aHundred Penny Press edition in 2011.[40]
A one-shot that was published in December 2009.[41] It was written by Rob Williams with artwork by Diego Jourdan Pereira.
A one-shot published in February 2010.[42] Written by Dara Naraghi with artwork by Salgood Sam.
A one-shot published in June 2010.[43] It was written by Jim Beard and Keith Dallas and featured artwork by Josh Howard.
A one shot published in October 2010.[44] It was written by Peter Allen David with artwork by Dan Schoening.
A tradepaperback[45] published in November 2010 that collects the various one-shots. These includePast, Present, and Future,Tainted Love,Con-Volution andWhat in Samhain Just Happened?!. It also includes a brand new bonus story calledGuess What's Coming to Dinner?.
Released in September 2012, this omnibus contained collections of various one shots and mini-series. Includes the following;The Other Side,Displaced Aggression,Tainted Love,Con-Volution,What in Samhain Just Happened?!,Guess What's Coming to Dinner?, andPast, Present, and Future.[46]
In October 2012 to coincide withHalloween, IDW released this one shot which collects various issues.[47]
A one-shot reprint published in October 2012 for theHalloween Comic Fest.[48]
A 2-issue[49] miniseries published from January to April 2011. It was preceded by an ashcan edition calledClassified Secrets of Infestation[50] that was published in November 2010. It also featured a sketchbook[51] that was published in January 2011. This miniseries formed the framing device of a large zombie-themed crossover storyline event that featured several of the IDW-licensed properties such asG.I. Joe,Star Trek,Transformers and of courseGhostbusters. The entire series was collected as a hardcover in December 2011.
A 2-issue[52] miniseries published from March 9–23, 2011, as part of theInfestation storyline. It was written by Erik Burnham with artwork by Kyle Hotz.
A one-shot comic published in January 2013, written by Erik Burnham with art by Jose Holder, featuring a crossover between thecartoon versions of the Ghostbusters andMars Attacks. Variant covers of this issue featured the Martians battlingChew andMadman.[53] This issue was reprinted in the one shotMars Attacks IDW trade that April.[54]
This one-shot written by Erik Burnham with art by Salvador Navarro (published January 2014), was issue #2 of a six-issue series combining several of the IDW licenses withThe X-Files property. This particular issue spotlighted the Ghostbusters.[55]
This 4-issue miniseries by Erik Burnham, Tom Waltz, Dan Schoening, and Luis Antonio Delgado (published between October 2014 and January 2015) has the team having an in-continuity crossover/teamup with theTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.[56] The miniseries was collected in a single volume in April 2015,[57] and a special "Director's Cut" version of issue #1 featuring bonus materials and creator commentary was released.[58]
In November 2015, IDW published a Ghostbusters annual one shot in prestige format. This annual featured multiple short stories involving the various characters in the Ghostbusters universe. It was reprinted in theGhostbusters: Interdimensional Cross-Rip hardcover in September 2017.
A 4-issue miniseries published from June through September 2015 featuring a crossover between the established Ghostbusters and the cartoon counterparts fromThe Real Ghostbusters.[59] The series was collected as a trade paperback in December and again as part of theGhostbusters: Interdimensional Cross-Rip hardcover in September 2017.
In March 2016, IDW published a bunch of one shots called "Deviations". These one-shots explored established story lines from their licensed properties that had an alternate outcome much in the vein ofMarvel'sWhat-If comics. In this issue it focuses on what happens had the Ghostbusters not crossed the streams to defeatGozer at the end of the1984 film.[60] The entire series was collected as a trade paperback in July 2016 asDeviations: In A World Where Everything Changed.
In February 2017, IDW published a Ghostbusters annual one shot in prestige format. This annual featured multiple short stories involving the various characters in the Ghostbusters universe.
From March through August 2017, IDW published this 6 issue series which featured a crossover between the1984 team and the2016 team.[61] The series was collected as a trade paperback in December calledGhostbusters 101: Everyone Answers The Call.
A one-shot published in May 2017 that featuredFunko versions of the characters. This one shot was reprinted in theFunko Universe trade paperback in September.
A one-shot reprint published in October 2017 for theHalloween Comic Fest.
A 5-issue series beginning in October 2017, based on the2016 team.[62] The series was collected as a trade paperback in June 2018.
In November 2017, IDW published a weekly 5 issue series as a sequel to the 2014 series once again featuring the talents of Erik Burnham, Tom Waltz and Dan Schoening.[63] The series was collected as a trade paperback in March 2018.
In February 2018, IDW published a Ghostbusters annual one shot in prestige format. This annual featured multiple short stories involving the various characters in the Ghostbusters universe.
In April 2018, IDW began publishing an 8 issue miniseries featuring all the various Ghostbusters teams crossing over in an epic event. These include theoriginal team, theAnswer the Call Ghostbusters,The Real Ghostbusters, theExtreme Ghostbusters, and theSanctum of Slime Ghostbusters.[64] The series was collected (along with the 2018 annual) as a trade paperback in January 2019.
A one-shot set 20 years in the future was published in January 2019, spotlighting the young Ghostbusters team fromGhostbusters: Sanctum of Slime.[65]
4 weekly one-shots published throughout April 2019 spotlighting different Ghostbusters teams. Theoriginal team,the Real Ghostbusters, theAnswer the Call Ghostbusters and theExtreme Ghostbusters.[66] The four issue series was collected as a trade in October 2019 calledGhostbusters: 35th Anniversary Collection.
A five-issue miniseries was published beginning in June 2019, again written by Erik Burnham with art by Dan Schoening and Luis Antonio Delgado. The miniseries is a crossover between theGhostbusters andTransformers franchises in celebration of their shared 35th anniversary, and features a new Transformer named Ectotron, anAutobot who transforms into the Ecto-1.[67] The series was collected as a trade in February 2020.
A four-issue miniseries that was published from January to April 2020. The miniseries features stories about the team shortly after the events ofthe first film.[68]
From September 2011 through December 2012, IDW published an ongoing series that ran 16 issues, written by Erik Burnham with art by Dan Schoening and Luis Antonio Delgado.[69] In March 2014, the entire series was collected as a hardcover collection calledGhostbusters: Total Containment.[70] The first 12 issues were published as a trade paperback calledGhostbusters: Spectral Shenanigans Volume 1 in November 2018, with the rest in Volume 2 in November 2019.
From February 2013 through September 2014, after a hiatus for the "Mars Attacks Real Ghostbusters" one shot, IDW published a new ongoing series at first titledThe New Ghostbusters. The series, also by Burnham, Schoening, and Delgado, ran 20 issues.[71] In July 2015, the entire series was collected as a hardcover collection calledGhostbusters: Mass Hysteria.[72] An annual was published in November 2015.[73]In March 2012, IDW began reprinting both series as a 9 volume trade paperback collection.[74] In June 2016, the first issue was reprinted as a $1 comic calledThe New Ghostbusters #1 IDW’s Greatest Hits Edition[75] The first 8 issues of the series was reprinted inGhostbusters: Spectral Shenanigans Volume 2 in November 2019.
From January through November 2016, IDW published a new ongoing series calledGhostbusters: International which takes the team to different International locales and out of the United States.[76] They reprinted the series as a two volume trade in June 2016,[77] and again as part of theGhostbusters: Interdimensional Cross-Rip hardcover in September 2017.
Dark Horse Comics publishedGhostbusters: Back in Town from March through June 2024.[1] They began publishingGhostbusters: Dead Man's Chest in May 2025.[78][79]
A 4 issue miniseries that takes betweenGhostbusters: Afterlife andGhostbusters: Frozen Empire was published from March through June 2024.[1][80][81][82]
Originally solicited under the titleGhostbusters: Skeleton Crew; A 4 issue miniseries that takes place afterGhostbusters: Frozen Empire that began being published in May 2025.[83]
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