Equipment appearing in this issue includes the Proton Pack (with Winston wearing a pack confirmed by Dan Schoening to be based on the Extreme Ghostbusters-era updated design), Ghost Trap, Containment Unit, NES Advantage Controller, Megatrap, Paranormal Containment Research Tank, Ecto-1a, Spates Catalog, Ghost Gun, Particle Thrower, Proton Pistol, and Boson Pack.
Development of Issue #3 was documented through social media posts from the creative team across mid-to-late 2011.
In June 2011, Tristan Jones revealed he would provide a variant cover for the issue, later clarifying it would depict the creature central to the story and would feature Gozer rather than the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. On July 6, Erik Burnham tweeted that Walter Peck would appear in both the main story and the supplemental material. Two days later, Nick Runge's variant cover was revealed: an homage to the band Queen.
On July 30, Burnham noted that new equipment would debut in the issue, describing one entirely new piece and two partially new pieces. On August 1, he confirmed the issue would address some backstory on the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man's capture prior to the events of Ghostbusters: Infestation. On August 16, Jones unveiled Cover RI, featuring Gozer, a new entity, and Ray Stantz.
Dan Schoening finished pencils by September 5. Jones had already hinted at a "Gozerian Terror Bear" on September 1, and on September 13 Schoening posted completed cover art providing the first public look at the creature. On September 23, Burnham teased that the Rookie from Ghostbusters: The Video Game would receive a mention in the issue.
On October 30, Jones revealed that Schoening had drawn Jones, Tom Waltz, and Burnham as civilian cameos in the main story. On November 9, IDW announced a second printing with new Schoening cover art spotlighting Idulnas, available December 21, 2011.
Following publication on November 16, Jones posted art from the P.C.O.C. section and Luis Antonio Delgado shared unlettered pages. On November 19, Burnham confirmed Ron Alexander's debut was deliberate and that the character would return. On November 23, Schoening confirmed Winston's pack near the end of the issue is definitively based on the Extreme Ghostbusters updated Proton Pack design. On July 14, 2013, Schoening shared roughs for unused alternate covers for Issue #3.
Incentive Cover
by Tristan Jones
The following easter eggs and references are noted page by page in the main story.1
Page 10 (second printing note)
Page 23 (P.C.O.C. / Further Notes)
Some content on this page was researched using the Ghostbusters Wiki on Fandom.
Ghostbusters: Volume One: The Man from the Mirror, Part 3 (Spotlight, a division of ABDO Publishing, August 15, 2016). ISBN 978-1-61479-487-5. Library binding reprint of Ghostbusters #3.
"Robin Shelby," IMDb, accessed 2026-06-13, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0623123/
"Ray Stantz Voice - The Real Ghostbusters (TV Show)," Behind the Voice Actors, accessed 2026-06-13, https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/The-Real-Ghostbusters/Ray-Stantz/
"The Ghost Busters," Wikipedia, accessed 2026-06-13, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ghost_Busters
