Covers
Incentive Cover
by Tristan Jones
Cover A (art and colors by Dan Schoening and Luis Antonio Delgado) was inspired by spaghetti westerns, particularly "For a Few More Dollars" and Clint Eastwood, as Schoening confirmed on September 4, 2012. Cover RI (the retailer incentive) was drawn by Tristan Jones as a homage to one of the movie posters for "Taxi Driver." Jones separately noted his RI cover was based on the second introduction title sequence for The Real Ghostbusters. Diamond order code: AUG120339.
Development
The creative team shared notes publicly throughout 2012 as the issue came together.
- May 14, 2012: Tristan Jones revealed his cover for Issue #14 would be based on the second introduction title sequence for The Real Ghostbusters.
- June 1, 2012: Jones tweeted that the newly completed cover was, pending approval, his new favorite piece of work.
- June 5, 2012: Jones posted a preview of Cover B, describing it as a "Taxi Driver" movie poster homage.
- July 13, 2012: The solicitation was released with the first look at Cover A.
- August 2, 2012: Erik Burnham tweeted he was having fun writing a "civil" scene between Peter Venkman and Walter Peck.
- August 17, 2012: In an interview with The Big One Comic Podcast, Burnham revealed Slimer would appear and be "blown up" by Egon for research purposes.
- September 4, 2012: Dan Schoening posted a Cover A preview and confirmed its spaghetti western inspiration.
- September 16, 2012: In an interview with Guys With Pencils, Schoening confirmed he was nearly finished penciling Issue #14.
- September 17, 2012: Burnham confirmed the issue would be set in "full on fall."
- September 23, 2012: Burnham hinted that Walter Peck would say exactly what he thinks about Ron Alexander and the Ghost Smashers.
- October 30, 2012: A preview of both covers, the credit page, and the first 7 pages of the main story were posted.
- October 31, 2012: Luis Delgado posted non-lettered versions of pages 14 and 19.
- July 14, 2013: Dan Schoening posted roughs of unused covers for Issue #14.
- December 8, 2015: Dan Schoening posted pencils of page 14.
Trivia
The issue is densely layered with references to The Real Ghostbusters animated series, the Ghostbusters films, and other pop culture.
Page 1: In his dream, Ray re-enacts the final act of "Spies Like Us" as Austin Millbarge, the character played by Dan Aykroyd in that film. The dialogue from the two men on sleds chasing Ray nods to the Neo-Nazis' second-in-command from "The Blues Brothers."
Page 2: Ray refers to the Wilhelm Scream, a famous stock sound effect that became an inside joke among sound editors. Near the cliff is a copy of the Codex of Saint Theophilus from The Real Ghostbusters episode "Apocalypse -- What, Now?" To the right of the Spirit Guide is the black ice block containing Hob Anagarak from "Cold Cash and Hot Water." Ray's Spirit Guide references Gozer and the events of Issue #4.
Page 4: Part of the Vigo painting is visible to Janine's left. The periodical Janine is reading references the relic that served as Samhain's prison from the episode "When Halloween Was Forever." Peter dealt with Vigo's Carpathian Kitten Loss by drawing a cat on one arm. A note on the front desk phone asks Ray to call Aunt Lois, a relative of the animated Ray Stantz from The Real Ghostbusters. On the front desk's card holder is Artie Lester's business card from the story "What in Sam Hain Just Happened?!" Two of Samhain's goblin minions appear in the newspaper Peter holds, and the newspaper corner also features Louise from "Janine's Day Off" with the headline "Attacked By Imps," along with a headline for the Celtic exhibit Janine was reading about and a corner featuring Lynn Stacy from "The Halloween Door." As Peter goes upstairs, Janine is reading a Celebrity Magazine from the episode "The Devil in the Deep," which features Elvis, who was referenced in the first film.
Page 5: A large version of the fuse label commonly seen on top of the Proton Pack is present on the back of the research tank. A box of Cheez-It, visible in the first film, is in the kitchen area. An Imp from "Janine's Day Off" sits on the coffee pot. On Egon's stopwatch is colorist Luis Delgado's recurring "15" easter egg.
Page 6: On the shelf beside the tank is a schematic of Samhain's fortress from the episode "Halloween II 1/2." On the top shelf are Slimer's prop glasses from the same episode. On the bottom shelf is Gregor's treasure chest from "No One Comes to Lupusville."
Page 7: On the ground near Walter Peck is the B.U.F.O. Receptacle from the episode "Big Trouble With Little Slimer." Denise is first seen and named in this issue; she was first heard in Issue #4 when she buzzed Peck's intercom to announce the Mayor was on line one. Denise appears to be visually based on Andrea Martin's Edith Prickley character from SCTV. The framed Pacific Monthly references the B.U.F.O. and Jack Hardemeyer from Ghostbusters II, as it did in Issue #4.
Page 8: Peter uses "Hizzoner," New York slang for the Mayor. Blinkers from Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Realistic Version) appears on Peck's computer screen. In the last panel, the bottom of the framed article contains an email address for Cynthia Crawford, a reporter from The Real Ghostbusters.
Page 9: Janine uses a Ghostbusters thermos to bring Egon his coffee. Egon's device is visually based on the Ethereal Solidifier from the episode "Once Upon a Slime." Behind it appears to be the Electronic Positronic Anti-Halloween Machine from "The Halloween Door." The satellite array around the roof is based on Dr. Crowley's setup in the same episode. Schematics of Samhain's fortress appear on the Solidifier's screen.
Page 10: The Ectomobile outfitting section from the Activision Ghostbusters video game appears on the Ethereal Solidifier's screen. On the desk is the Pimple Detection Device from "Three Men and an Egon," the Seiko brand stop watch/printer combo used by Doc Brown at Twin Pines in the first Back to the Future film, and a Kenner Ecto-Plazm toy. Janine and Egon discuss Roger Baugh, noting he shares similarities with Egon because he is based on the Extreme Ghostbusters version of the character. Egon's batteries feature Killerwatt from the episode of the same name.
Page 11: Egon mentions Yonkers, a city in New York located on the Hudson River. Slimer's fairytale book from "Once Upon a Slime" sits on top of the Ethereal Solidifier, matching its position in that episode.
Page 12: Mr. Howard from "The Collect Call of Cathulhu" appears on the bench near a vendor. The hot dog vendor is from the first film; in the movie he was startled to find Slimer inside his cart eating his food. Ray mentions Tiyah Clarke from the "Tainted Love" one-shot. The mascot on the hot dog cart is based on the Meanie Wienie Ghost from Kenner's Super Fright Feature Figure: Winston Zeddmore set. The vendor sells Ghost in a Can, Ecto-Cooler, Yuppie Water, and Ghostbusters Ectoplasm Energy Drinks; Yuppie Water appeared in the episode "Short Stuff" while the other three are actual merchandise. Peter and Ray are positioned across from The Dakota, the former home of John Lennon before his death.2
Page 13: When Ray attempts to share a P.K.E. reading with Peter, Peter invokes a classic Lassie line in response.
Page 14: The ghost appears at the Strawberry Fields memorial of John Lennon in Central Park, with the Imagine mosaic clearly visible. Among those running away from the ghost is a cameo appearance of James Rolfe, better known as the Angry Video Game Nerd.3
Page 18: Jenny appears concerned about Ray and Peter in two panels. Since Jenny is visually based on actress Donna Dixon, this may be a nod to the real-life marriage of Dixon and Dan Aykroyd.4
Page 19: The arcades visible in the scene reference Power Guy from the episode "Station Identification" and multiple video games, including Ghostbusters for Sega Genesis, the Ghostbusters II game, and New Ghostbusters II. Two Goblins from "When Halloween Was Forever" appear in the upper left portion of the tack board, with the Zone Dewbies slang they used written beneath their photo. The Infinity Symbol used to free Samhain in "When Halloween Was Forever" is in the lower left, alongside a photo of Samhain marked Class 11. A newspaper clipping from the final panel of Issue #13 is pinned near a sketch of Ron's Proton Pack. On the table are a miniature Electronic Positronic Anti-Halloween Machine, half of the Containment Rock Crystal from "If I Were a Witch Man," and a miniature Robo-Buster from the episode of the same name. Near the Robo-Buster on the board is the anti-Ghostbusters logo seen in a TV advertisement and a photo of the Pig Snouted Demon from "Robo-Buster" marked Class Five, with the "unlawful entity" line from that episode. The "Exorcism" book Ray uses in "If I Were a Witch Man" is in the lower right corner. Photos of the Mandala from Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Realistic Version) appear on the tack board, and near the board appears to be a bucket of Psychomagnotheric Slime. The Power Guy arcade shows the planet Peternia, Power Guy's home from "Station Identification."
Page 22: There is no Lindon Street in Brooklyn, though there is a Linden Street at the given address. The rejection letter references GBI, standing for Ghostbusters International. Part of Issue #9's Cover B is visible in the left corner.
Page 23: Photos of Lincoln Center's Metropolitan Opera House and the Phantom of the Opera from Issue #13 are visible. The Ghost Smashers logo appears in the upper right corner. A photo of the Phantom Truck Driver from "Who Killed Laura Parr?" is in the lower left.
Comic
