Stories
New Ghostbusters Part One
The original Ghostbusters, Peter Venkman, Ray Stantz, Egon Spengler, and Winston Zeddemore, are separately abducted and transported to a limbo dimension by a group of extradimensional beings called the Collectors. With the Ghostbusters missing, Janine Melnitz works to organize a replacement team: herself, Kylie Griffin, Ron Alexander (a former Ghost Smasher recently released from Rikers Island), and FBI Special Agent Melanie Ortiz, who witnessed Venkman's abduction while visiting New York. The New Ghostbusters respond to a call at an apartment building (the same building used as Dana Barrett's address in Ghostbusters II), where they tangle with a ghost modeled on the Jail Jaw Ghost accessory from Kenner's Fright Features toy line. Meanwhile, Walter Peck arrives at the firehouse with the authority to investigate the Containment Unit, and Vigo's tapestry remains visible in the background. The issue ends with the original Ghostbusters stranded in the Collectors' limbo dimension, which is visually based on the Gozerian dimension designs from the first film.
In The Box Part One
The backup story, colored by Andrew Harmon, takes place inside the Containment Unit. An Icon Ghost encounters Peter Venkman and Ray Stantz, and the sequence ends with Ralph coming face-to-face with Samhain, who addresses him as "little one." The coloring of the other-dimensional setting was a subject of discussion during production: an earlier plan was to render the backup in black and white, like The Twilight Zone, but full color was used in the final version.
Covers
The issue was published with four regular covers (A through D) by Dan Schoening and Luis Antonio Delgado, an additional cover by Xermanico, and a subscription variant cover. The subscription variant is a homage to Avengers #16 and was described by IDW as exclusive to loyal subscription box customers. A seven-page preview, along with cover art and credits, was posted on February 12, 2013.
Development
The "New Ghostbusters" concept grew from several threads. Tristan Jones had hinted as early as October 2011 that Kylie Griffin, introduced in Volume 1 Issue #5, would figure prominently in future stories, with a comparison to the Extreme Ghostbusters situation, where additional helpers join the team. Erik Burnham had separately hinted in July 2012 that the FBI agent introduced in Volume 1 Issue #11, Special Agent Ortiz, might reappear.
By August 2012, Burnham acknowledged a "replacements" team story as a possibility. IDW officially unveiled the concept in October 2012 with an advertisement headlined "The New Ghostbusters," and the team lineup of Janine, Kylie, Ron Alexander, and Ortiz was confirmed by name in November 2012. Burnham noted that the issue would provide in-story reasons for the new uniforms and that Ortiz witnesses Peter's abduction in New York, which motivates her to help find him.
IDW's November 14, 2012 press release confirmed Burnham, Schoening, and Luis Antonio Delgado on the title. Dan Schoening turned in page one in late November 2012, prompting Burnham to note on social media: "Ron Alexander has no hat. Mel is badass."
Originally, Jenny Moran (a Ghost Smasher from Volume 1) was planned as the fourth member of the replacement team rather than Ron Alexander.
Andrew Harmon colored several pages of Issue #1, including Page 16. He posted an unlettered version on February 13, 2013. A writer's commentary and annotations by Burnham were posted February 15, 2013.
Trivia and Easter Eggs
The issue is densely packed with references to the films, The Real Ghostbusters animated series, Extreme Ghostbusters, and the Ghostbusters video game. Key items:
- Cover (Subscription Variant, Front Desk area): Janine is wearing a classic outfit from The Real Ghostbusters. The background includes a proton pack from the animated series, the lamp from Peter's desk in the first movie, and a Valentine's Day card from Roger Baugh (who called Janine "Twinkle" in Volume 1 Issue #8). File cabinet labels reference client names from several RGB episodes.
- Cover (Subscription Variant, Shelves): Behind Janine is a bag of Wise Natural Potato Chips as seen in the first movie. Photographs on the wall are taken from specific panels in Volume 1 Issues #1-16, with characters identified by issue.
- Page 1: The Post-It note references Egon's nickname "Spookums" from The Real Ghostbusters and his mother Mrs. Spengler.
- Page 2: The Ritz Cafe is a reference to the Slimer! animated spin-off and doubles as a stand-in for the Tavern on the Green from the first movie. The arguing married couple from Ghostbusters II appears as witnesses to the kidnapping.
- Page 3: The entity that abducts Peter is visually based on one of the Peoplebusters from the RGB episode "Flip Side"; its pack and thrower are also from that episode.
- Page 5: Behind Egon are Nintendo Ghostbusters II and New Ghostbusters II arcade cabinets. Winston is taken from his apartment, the first time that location appears in any medium (previously referenced in Ghostbusters: The Video Game, Realistic Versions).
- Page 6: Ecto-1a is parked at 325, the address of Dana Barrett's apartment building from Ghostbusters II. The ghost is modeled on the Jail Jaw Ghost from Kenner's Fright Features line. Items near the ghost include the watermelon, pork chop, and pizza from the Kenner Green Ghost toy.
- Page 10: Officers present are Bav and Neal from Volume 1 Issue #5, the Police Commissioner from the first movie, Lieutenant Frump from The Real Ghostbusters, and others from the films. Police cars bear the Generous Motors emblem from the RGB episode "Don't Forget the Motor City." The license plate BDR529 is the Bluesmobile plate from the Blues Brothers.
- Page 11: Peck's folder is labeled "Project Proteus Unlimited," referencing Proteus' office name from the RGB episode "Janine Melnitz, Ghostbuster."
- Page 12: Peck's technical report on the Containment Unit credits D. Aykroyd, H. Ramis, and I. Reitman as co-authors alongside Peck, dated March 1, 1994.
- Page 15: The limbo dimension is based on the Gozerian dimension designs from the first movie ("Making Ghostbusters") and the "Checking out the Library" level in Ghostbusters: The Video Game. Peter references Rod Serling and The Twilight Zone.
- Page 18: Outside the firehouse is a Noble's Salvage tow truck (from the RGB episode "Lost and Foundry"). The Interdimensional Communicator from RGB episode "Flip Side" appears on a filing cabinet. Next to Ortiz is a box of contaminated uniforms from the RGB episode "Citizen Ghost." The Skull of Ivo Shandor from Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Realistic Versions) sits on the table. Behind Peck is Peter's Psychology Doctorate from Columbia University, dated June 14, 1980, with the signature of Slavitza Jovan (who portrayed Gozer).
- Page 22: Ray refers to Egon's trip inside the Containment Unit from the RGB episode "Xmas Marks the Spot."
- The "Waltz Calls Vote" headline on a newspaper on the subscription variant cover references IDW editor Tom Waltz.
- On page 8 of Ghostbusters 101 #3, boxes reference the events of this issue.
- The Ghostbusters: Spectral Shenanigans Volume 2 trade paperback reuses the subscription variant cover as its front cover.
References
Comic
