Cast
The following characters appear in this issue. Dimension designations are given where the character is not from the prime dimension.
Prime Dimension
Dimension 68-R (The Real Ghostbusters)
- Egon Spengler of 68-R
- Ray Stantz of 68-R
- Peter Venkman of 68-R (possessed)
- Winston Zeddemore of 68-R
Dimension 68-E (Extreme Ghostbusters)
Dimension 80-C (Ghostbusters 2016)
Dimension 50-S (Sanctum of Slime)
Dimension 00-D
Supernatural / Other
- Giant Murder Clown
- Hungry Manitou
- Death
- Fire Goblins
- Moose Ghost
- Ellen Gold
- Wander Hills Children
- Headless Horseman
- Senta
- Peter's Spirit Guide
- Ghostbusters of Dimension 68-M
Equipment
Locations
- Circus Dimension
- Helsingor Brewery of 75-B
- Wander Hills Orphanage
- Central Park of 00-D
- Jimmy's Apartment
- Warehouse
Covers
Three cover variants were published for this issue.
Cover A by Dan Schoening and Luis Antonio Delgado. Features Patty Tolan from Dimension 80-C, Ron Alexander, Ray Stantz from Dimension 68-R, and Ecto-1 from Dimension 80-C.
Cover B by Tim Lattie. A large ensemble cover featuring characters from across the dimensions, including Jillian Holtzmann and Roland Jackson in the upper left, Zoe Zawadzki and Evan Torres (each holding Marshmallow Fun Company 2014 Stay Puft Series items) in the lower left, both Kylie Griffin variants at center, Janine Melnitz with the Compact Pack and Garrett Miller from 68-E in the upper right, and Egon Spengler of 68-R, Melanie Ortiz, and Erin Gilbert of 80-C in the lower right.
Cover RI by Brian Shearer. Depicts Slimer, Egon, Ray, and Kylie Griffin from the prime dimension sharing an elevator with Winston and Peter Venkman from 68-R, and Holtzmann and Erin from 80-C. The cover quotes the "Going up?" line from the Sedgewick Hotel elevator scene in the first Ghostbusters film.
Development
The cover for this issue was developed over early 2018, with Brian Shearer inking his Cover RI on February 6, 2018, posting a coloring video on February 7, and Tom Waltz sharing the work-in-progress on February 8, 2018.
On May 23, 2018, the August 2018 solicitations revealed the issue's logline, initial crew credits, the Cover RI, and confirmed the return of Louis Tully as a story element.
In the weeks before release, the creative team shared several teasers: Tom Waltz posted three of Dan Schoening's work-in-progress images of Rachel Unglighter on July 9, followed by three Ghostbusters-in-trouble teasers on July 12. Erik Burnham shared a teaser of Louis on July 17, and Tom Waltz posted a finished panel of Bridget Gibbons and Roland Jackson discussing Star Trek on July 25. Dan Schoening posted a teaser of Peter Venkman on August 28, 2018. A full cover, credits, and five-page preview were posted on September 4, 2018, the day before release.
After publication, Luis Antonio Delgado posted an unlettered version of page 8 on March 7, 2019.
Trivia
- The jack-in-the-box seen on page 1 is visually based on one used by the Toy Ghost in The Real Ghostbusters episode "Ghosts R Us."
- Ron Alexander alludes to his team, the Chicago Ghostbusters, who volunteered to monitor the Containment Unit in Issue #3.
- Janine Melnitz mentions the Ghostbusters' capture of the Hungry Manitou at Fantastic Land in Schenectady, first shown in IDW Volume 1 Issue #7, and the creature's stated goal of consuming souls.
- The Hungry Manitou references Garrett's adrenaline-chasing nature (from Extreme Ghostbusters) and his ambitions, likely referring to the Extreme Ghostbusters episode "Deadliners."
- The Helsingor Brewery design is again a loose nod to Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory.
- The chess pieces seen at the brewery are again based on those used in Ingmar Bergman's film "The Seventh Seal," which famously features Death playing chess. The film also stars Max Von Sydow, who later played Vigo in Ghostbusters II.
- Death alludes to Egon's resurrection as established in Ghostbusters International Issue #11.
- Egon Spengler tells Winston the Fire Goblins were captured while he was on vacation. This detail was first disclosed in Virtual Trading Card #44, released July 18, 2018.
- Bridget Gibbons and Roland Jackson discuss Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Bridget partially quotes Spock's "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few," and Roland references Spock's katra transfer into Dr. McCoy.
- Egon of 68-R modifies his thrower on page 6 with a red-handled screwdriver, echoing a moment from The Real Ghostbusters episode "Mrs. Roger's Neighborhood."
- Roland's proton stream on page 7 is colored to match the distinctive look from the Extreme Ghostbusters episode "Darkness at Noon, Part 2" and at elevated power as seen in "The Pied Piper of Manhattan."
- Page 8 features the Phantom Craftwork from Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Stylized Versions). The craftwork also appeared in Wander Hills' kitchen in Ellen Gold's first appearance in IDW Volume 1 Issue #2.
- The zombie Eduardo on page 12 is one of the fear manifestations from the Extreme Ghostbusters episode "Fear Itself." The design of the other two fear forms is consistent with that episode's aesthetic.
- Garrett's new wheelchair on page 12 is visually based on the unreleased Trendmasters toy.
- The possessed Peter Venkman of 68-R on page 13 has a look based on his possession in The Real Ghostbusters episode "Mrs. Roger's Neighborhood."
- Erin Gilbert alludes to the De-Possessor device from Ghostbusters: Answer The Call #1, which Holtzmann used to exorcise Abby Yates of Doctor Kruger.
- Rachel Unglighter previously starred in IDW's second mini-series, Displaced Aggression.
- Louis Tully of Dimension 00-D is visually based on Rick Moranis' Tom Monroe character from SCTV.
- Several of Louis 00-D's lines parallel prime Louis's lines from the original film, including a reference to getting "a great deal" (on Trap Orbs vs. cedacelacytic acid in the movie) and asking Peter Venkman 68-R who does his hair (vs. asking the Ghostbusters who does their taxes).
- Peter Venkman of 68-R quickly fixes his hair after the quip. Virtual Trading Card #40, released July 5, 2018, had revealed that Egon of 68-R devised a hair gel to cope with frequent slimings.
- Rachel Unglighter's warning on page 19 is overlaid with prime Winston Zeddemore, a callback to his sacrifice in IDW Volume 2 Issue #20.
- Page 19, panel 5 includes Bob and Doug McKenzie's mountie mug from the Great White North album cover amid the explosion. Luis Antonio Delgado's recurring "15" easter egg also appears on a mug.
- The Fire Goblin on page 20 is about to call the two Winstons "hosers," another Great White North / Strange Brew callback, as the Fire Goblins are visually based on Bob and Doug McKenzie.
- The 50-S dimension designation for Alan Crendall's team was first revealed in Virtual Trading Card #4, released March 1, 2018.
- Dumazu is mentioned in Alan Crendall's Dramatis Personae section on page 21, along with the approximate 20-year gap between the Sanctum of Slime timeline and the prime timeline.
- Alan Crendall's bio mentions his uncle Janosz Poha and Vigo, and his meeting with Winston Zeddemore parallels his prime counterpart's introduction in IDW Volume 1 Issue #1.
- The photos of Alan, Samuel, and Gabriel in the Dramatis Personae section are from Ghostbusters Get Real Issue #3, page 9, panel 2. Bridget's photo is from the same issue, panel 3.
- The "What Came Before" text at the end of this issue closes with a play on "There's something strange in the neighborhood."
- The end of this issue previews the Cover RI for Issue #7 rather than Cover A.
References
- IDW Publishing, Ghostbusters: Crossing Over #6 (September 2018). Written by Erik Burnham; art by Dan Schoening; colors by Luis Antonio Delgado; letters by Neil Uyetake.
- Ghostbusters Fandom Wiki, "Ghostbusters Crossing Over Issue #6."
