Story Arc: The Man From The Mirror
The four issues collected here form the first complete story arc of the IDW ongoing series, a title Erik Burnham had used in his original pitch for the series. The arc establishes a continuity distinct from the two films, most notably by omitting Winston Zeddemore's doctorate.
Psychokinetic energy is rising across New York and business is booming for the Ghostbusters. Ray Stantz is haunted by a prophetic dream suggesting an impending apocalypse. A mysterious figure named Idulnas is working behind the scenes, manipulating events and a creature called the Gozerian Terror Bear in a scheme to reform Gozer using a chosen Destructor form. As the team investigates an unusual haunting at the Crendall household and confronts escalating paranormal activity, they come to realize Idulnas intends to capture Ray and use him to influence Gozer's reformation. The arc concludes with the Ghostbusters racing to rescue Ray and prevent Gozer from manifesting again over Manhattan.
Ron Alexander, a rejected franchise applicant who attempts to copy the team's equipment from stolen schematics, makes his debut in Issue #3. Walter Peck also plays a role through the newly established Paranormal Contracts Oversight Commission.
Issues
Ghostbusters #1 -- Released September 28, 2011. Psychokinetic energy is on the rise; Ray is troubled by a prophetic dream as the team investigates a new client, Alan Crendall. Introduces Idulnas and the Paranormal Contracts Oversight Commission under Walter Peck. The issue had 15 cover variants and received a second printing on November 23, 2011.
Ghostbusters #2 -- Released October 12, 2011. Winston and Peter handle the Crendall household haunting while Ray receives a mysterious visitor at the firehouse connected to the prophetic dream. Introduces Ellen Gold and the Gozerian Terror Bear. Received a second printing on December 21, 2011.
Ghostbusters #3 -- Released November 16, 2011. Ray comes face to face with "The Third," revealed to be Idulnas, as Gozer's reformation nears. Introduces Ron Alexander, a would-be rival ghostbuster. New equipment including Winston's prototype pack (based on the Extreme Ghostbusters-era design) appears. Received a second printing on December 21, 2011.
Ghostbusters #4 -- Released December 21, 2011. The climax: Gozer's energies coalesce over Manhattan and Ray is captured by Idulnas in an attempt to influence the Destructor's form. The team, aided by Walter Peck, mounts a rescue at 550 Central Park West.
Bonus Content
Beyond the main story, the trade includes:
- An introduction written by Brian Clevinger
- The Paranormal Contracts Oversight Commission (P.C.O.C.) backup stories by Tristan Jones, which support the main storyline and were included because of their narrative relevance
- Ghostly Galleries (character and design material)
- A cover gallery (the nine retailer exclusive cover variants from Issue #1 are not reproduced)
Issue #1 Retailer Exclusive Covers
Issue #1 featured a "Be a Ghostbuster" promotion in which nine comic book stores received unique variant covers featuring custom Ghostbuster characters on the cover art. These retailer exclusives are not reprinted in the trade paperback. Participating stores included Austin Books and Comics (Austin, TX), Challengers Comics and Conversation (Chicago, IL), Clem's Collectibles (Fort Wayne, IN), Comickaze (San Diego, CA), Curious Comics, Books, and Games (British Columbia, Canada), Matt's Cavalcade of Comics Cards and Collectibles (Corvallis, OR), Past Present Future (West Palm Beach, FL), The Lair (Bronx, NY), and Third Eye Comics (Annapolis and Prince Frederick, MD).
International Editions
The volume has been licensed and translated into four languages:
| Language |
Publisher |
Title |
ISBN |
| French |
Delcourt |
SOS Fantomes |
978-2-75605-020-1 |
| Russian |
AST |
Okhotniki za privideniyami |
978-5-17098-058-1 |
| Italian |
Ed.Flamival |
Ghostbusters - Acchiappafantasmi |
979-1-09689-001-9 |
| Spanish |
Fandogamia Editorial |
Cazafantasmas |
978-8-41705-801-2 |
Development
Erik Burnham announced a trade collection for March 2012 on November 23, 2011, the same day the second printing of Issue #1 shipped. The foreword by Brian Clevinger was in place by December 2011, and Burnham confirmed each trade would collect four issues, with the note that strong sales would make IDW more likely to approve longer story arcs and consequently longer trades. The $17.99 price point, 104-page length, and ISBN were announced on December 15, 2011. The trade uses Issue #2 Cover B on its front cover. Nick Runge's variant covers for the individual issues each homaged a classic album: Issue #1 referenced KISS's Destroyer, Issue #3 referenced Queen, and Issue #4 referenced U2's The Joshua Tree.
References
- IDW Publishing, Ghostbusters Volume 1: The Man From The Mirror (2012)
- IDW Publishing, Ghostbusters #1-4 (2011)
Comic
