Plot
Louis Tully was an average accountant until the day that Vinz Clortho, Keymaster of Gozer the Traveler, possessed him in service of ending the world. Now, with news reports confirming that New York is once again at the center of Sumerian supernatural activity, Louis should want nothing more than to steer clear. But something is drawing him back.
Louis returns from out of town, picked up at the Marine Air Terminal by his cousin Sherman (a character created for Ghostbusters II but cut from the final film). En route, Louis wrestles with memories of his possession by Vinz Clortho and his brief career as an honorary Ghostbuster. Meanwhile, Dana Barrett encounters pink Psychomagnotheric Slime seeping through her neighborhood and is seized by monster arms before being possessed by a servitor of Tiamat, echoing her experience in the original film.
At Ray's Occult Books, Kylie Griffin and Special Agent Melanie Ortiz compare notes with Eduardo Rivera, connecting the Cult of Gozer and the Cult of Tiamat's ancient conflict, drawing on lore from Tobin's Spirit Guide and the events recorded in Ghostbusters: The Video Game. Back at the Firehouse, Peter Venkman briefs the team using a map of Manhattan that traces the converging paranormal activity to Dana's address at 550 Central Park West. Walter Peck is also pulled into the situation. Winston Zeddemore has custody of one of the talking pigeons from the previous issue, and Egon Spengler monitors the situation from the lab. The Ghostbusters mobilize in the Ecto-1b alongside the Ecto-5, a motorcycle-based vehicle.
Louis's journey leads him to a bar scene coded with Rick Moranis references, where he encounters Tiamat directly and impulsively asks his classic question from the first film: "Who does your taxes?" By the issue's end, Louis is once again possessed, this time in service of the new convergence.
Covers
The regular cover, by Dan Schoening and Luis Antonio Delgado, depicts Louis Tully's day planner with notes, appointments, and Easter eggs referencing his appearances throughout the Ghostbusters films (see Trivia section for a full breakdown).
The subscription cover, by Tristan Jones, features Louis Tully alongside Slimer, the Boogieman, and the Pizza Ghost from The Real Ghostbusters, the last of whom appeared only in the show's second introduction sequence.
A retailer incentive cover by Roberto Goiriz was also available.
Development
On November 12, 2013, artist Tristan Jones teased that he had found a loophole regarding one of the subscription covers, and that fans would be surprised. He followed up on November 16 noting the loophole had led to something cool within the comic itself, and on November 30 he revealed rough cover art showing the animated Louis Tully, Slimer, and the Boogieman.
On November 13, 2013, writer Erik Burnham cryptically hinted at "a return of an accountant" somewhere in the Mass Hysteria arc. On December 31, 2013, Burnham confirmed in an interview that Louis Tully would appear in Issue #15 and that the story would explain where he had been.
On December 3, 2013, Jones shared final line art for the subscription cover with digital ink tests, noting the grey tones were a lighting guide for colorist Delgado. He posted a finished cover preview on December 15.
On January 15, 2014, IDW released the regular cover online. On January 17, Burnham posted a shot of the completed Issue #15 script alongside the April solicitations.
On February 19, 2014, Burnham announced he had turned in the script and posted a deleted scene between Peter Venkman and Walter Peck. On February 21, Dan Schoening posted a work-in-progress of Vinz Clortho.
On February 24, 2014, Harold Ramis passed away. On February 26, Burnham confirmed a Harold Ramis tribute would be included in Issue #15. On March 14, Schoening posted a work-in-progress preview of the Ecto-5 (also referred to as the Ecto-M).
On April 18, 2014, Schoening posted a teaser of Louis Tully in honor of Rick Moranis's birthday. On April 28, he posted another teaser showing Louis alongside Sherman Tully. On April 29, a cover, credits, recap, cast list, and a seven-page preview were released.
On June 24, 2014, colorist Luis Antonio Delgado posted an unlettered version of page 8.
Trivia and Page Notes
Regular Cover
The day planner depicted on the regular cover is turned to Wednesday, April 30 (the release date). Its appointments and notes are packed with references:
- 8:00 entry notes "Tom Monroe," a nod to a cover song singer portrayed by Rick Moranis on SCTV.
- 12:00 notes "G. Todd," referencing Moranis's character from The Gerry Todd Show SCTV sketch.
- 1:00 notes "toaster stock," likely a nod to the Animated Toaster from Ghostbusters II.
- 2:00 mentions chamomile tea, established as Janine's favorite in a cutscene before Central Park Cemetery in Ghostbusters: The Video Game.
- 3:00 mentions "Crazy Hy's RE Order," a nod to a Moranis spoof commercial on SCTV.
- 4:00 mentions smoked salmon at full price, a nod to a line from Louis's party scene in Ghostbusters.
- 6:00 mentions Milk-Bones, referencing Louis attempting to feed Vinz Clortho outside Tavern on the Green.
- 6:00 also mentions generic aspirin, another reference to Louis's party scene.
- A Post-It note has a "15" Easter egg and a reminder to call his mom; the "Southfork" reference reinforces Louis's line in Ghostbusters II about his mother being in Florida, where Southfork has a retirement community.
- Louis's letterhead confirms he is both an accountant and a lawyer.
- Above a receipt is a slip of paper with the Delgado's Gym symbol, the gym named after colorist Luis Delgado seen periodically throughout Volume 1.
- The gym paper mentions a "20 minute workout VHS," referencing the workout routine Louis describes to Dana at the start of Ghostbusters.
- "The Great North Whiteout" is a nod to the Great White North sketch from SCTV, in which Moranis played Bob McKenzie.
- "Stay Fit, Keep Sharp, Make Good Decisions" was a mantra Louis repeated to himself when he left the Firehouse suited up in Ghostbusters II.
Pages One and Two
Louis arrives at the Marine Air Terminal, a 1939 Art Deco terminal originally equipped for seaplanes. The airplane visible overhead is visually based on Trans American Airlines as seen in the 1980 comedy "Airplane!"
Posters around the terminal reference The Real Ghostbusters episodes "Troll Bridge" and "Three Men and an Egon," as well as the Orb of Moldova from the Extreme Ghostbusters episode "The Unseen."
Sherman's station wagon is visually based on the Family Truckster from National Lampoon's Vacation, which in the film was sold by a character played by Eugene Levy. Louis's flashback memories in the car draw from both Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II: fleeing Vinz Clortho through Central Park, opening Gozer's gateway while possessed, Peter's courtroom scene in GB2, the museum slime battle, and Louis breaking up with Janine while wearing his blue tracksuit from the first film.
Page Eight (Ray's Occult Books)
The exterior of Ray's Occult Books carries several fliers with layered references:
- A psychic flier bearing "I.L.M." is a nod to Industrial Light and Magic, which handled primary visual effects for Ghostbusters II.
- The Natural History Museum flier references the level in Ghostbusters: The Video Game.
- A Stay Puft Marshmallow Man flier titled "Catch Me If You Can" references a Ghostbusters iron-on transfer that came with Shreddies cereal in early 1985.
- A "Hulkaburger" flier and a "Big Toe" reference are nods to Stripes, starring Bill Murray and Harold Ramis.
- A "Basic English Using the Ziskey Method" flier references Ramis's character in Stripes.
Inside the shop, bookshelves contain volumes from Extreme Ghostbusters ("Casting the Runes," "The Luck of the Irish," "The Sphinx"). The Archangel's Gallbladder from Ghostbusters: The Video Game Realistic Versions sits on the front desk. Pages of Tobin's Spirit Guide visible in the scene show Tiamat (from The Real Ghostbusters episode "I Am the City") and Gozer in its Destructor Form from the Past, Present, and Future one-shot comic, with both names rendered in Gozerian alphabet.
The Molecular Phase Amplifier from The Real Ghostbusters episode "Egon's Ghost" is visible near the counter. The Bird of Kildarby doll from The Real Ghostbusters episode "The Bird of Kildarby" appears behind Melanie. Business cards from Volume 2 Issue #11 are still displayed, including one from Louis Tully.
Kylie refers to Eduardo by his nickname "Eddie," which was commonly used on Extreme Ghostbusters.
Pages Nine Through Eleven
The Ghostbusters-and-Oscar portrait from the end of Ghostbusters II is visible in the Firehouse. Tobin's Spirit Guide open on page 9 shows the Gozerian circle seen in the Library ghost room in Ghostbusters: The Video Game. Luis Antonio Delgado's "15" Easter egg appears on page 10 as the ABS News station number; the news ticker quotes Egon's assessment of the Firehouse from the first film.
Page 10 places Louis in Bob's Country Bunker from The Blues Brothers, a bar that also appeared in Volume 1 Issue #3. Moranis-specific references populate the scene: a "Hose Head" neon display (a SCTV Great White North slang term), an "It's Milla Time" display, a "Tub Shower Baths" sign from the Blues Brothers, and the Festrunk Brothers from Saturday Night Live (played by Dan Aykroyd and Steve Martin). A framed drawing of the Blues Brothers "Jailhouse Rock" by Dan Schoening hangs near the door.
Louis asks Tiamat his famous question from the end of the first film: "Who does your taxes?" He drinks Elsinore beer from the Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas film Strange Brew. An obscured Huber Beer neon sign is also visible.
Pages Twelve Onward
Peter Venkman's doctoral degree is visible in his office, as in Volume 2 Issue #1. The Manhattan map in his office marks a wide range of locations from across Ghostbusters films, the animated series, and comics. Peter's copy of "The End of the World" from Ghostbusters II remains on his desk, along with a bag of Wise Natural Potato Chips.
Page 15 shows Janine reading a Celebrity Magazine from The Real Ghostbusters episode "The Devil in the Deep." The Skull of Ivo Shandor from Ghostbusters: The Video Game Realistic Versions holds its usual position in Peter's office. The Ecto-5 is visually inspired by the Ghost Blastin Buster Bike toy from the Trendmaster Extreme Ghostbusters Figures and Vehicles set.
The bums Robert Learned Coombs and Harlan Bojay, characters deleted from the first film, appear outside Dana's apartment on page 17, alongside a Jack and Jerry's Cafe reference from Stripes. Page 18 features the mail bin and envelope By-Products of Dreams from The Real Ghostbusters episode "Mr. Sandman, Dream Me a Dream" running down the sidewalk.
Page 20 has a crossover consequence noted in Ghostbusters 101 #3: when Peter tries to enter Dana's apartment, a visual effect from this issue is revisited with Jillian Holtzmann's hand reappearing through the portal above her arm.
References
IDW Publishing, Ghostbusters Vol. 2 #15 (April 30, 2014). Story: Erik Burnham. Art: Dan Schoening. Colors: Luis Antonio Delgado. Letters: Neil Uyetake. Editor: Tom Waltz.
