Stories
New Ghostbusters Part Four
The original Ghostbusters have broken out of the Collectors' limbo, but the Collectors themselves are not willing to let the jailbreak stand. Both teams -- the returning originals and the replacement squad of Janine Melnitz, Kylie Griffin, Ron Alexander, and FBI Special Agent Melanie Ortiz -- must combine their resources to hold off the Collectors and keep Ray Stantz, Peter Venkman, Egon Spengler, and Winston Zeddemore anchored to the correct dimensional plane. The issue also involves Janosz Poha and the entity Idulnas, with action centered on Parkview Psychiatric Hospital, the institution from Ghostbusters II where Vigo's painting was stored. Equipment on hand includes the Ecto-1a, Proton Packs, Particle Throwers, a P.K.E. Meter, and the Compact Pack. The Gozerian Alphabet appears as an item of note. Page one opens with the Collectors revealing their true forms, which the issue had been building toward through the preceding three chapters. The Zombie Taxi Driver from the original film makes a brief appearance as Ron Alexander's driver.
In The Box Part Four
The backup story concludes its four-part run set inside the Containment Unit. The Icon Ghost and Ralph are present, and Samhain and the Boogieman both appear alongside a Seven Eyed Ghost.
Covers
The issue was published with a regular Cover A by Dan Schoening and Luis Antonio Delgado and a retailer incentive Cover RI by Freddie E. Williams II.
Development
Dan Schoening tweeted on March 3, 2013 that he had begun work on Issue #4. Around the same time, Erik Burnham confirmed in a Crossing the Streams roundtable (recorded in February 2013) that he was in the middle of writing the script. Schoening previewed the regular cover on March 15, 2013, and Burnham revealed the following day that the Collectors' true forms would be visible on page one of the issue.
Burnham confirmed on April 6, 2013 that the issue was finished. Cover RI artist Freddie E. Williams II posted three work-in-progress versions showing the progression of his cover on May 7, 2013. Schoening posted three thumbnail sketches of cover ideas on May 14, 2013.
On May 21, 2013, IDW's Chris Ryall posted black-and-white versions of pages one and four, along with a full seven-page preview that included the covers and credits. Luis Antonio Delgado posted unlettered versions of pages four and sixteen on May 24, 2013. On May 31, 2013, Schoening posted his initial character design art for the Collectors. On July 14, 2013, he posted rough versions of unused cover concepts for the issue.
An earlier preview of Cover RI had been posted by Proton Charging on January 18, 2013.
Trivia and Easter Eggs
This issue closes out the "New Ghostbusters" arc and is dense with references to the films, the Ghostbusters game, and The Real Ghostbusters animated series.
- Page 1: The Collectors reveal their true forms. Four disguises previously used by the Collectors are John Cabot, Agatha Christie, Jimmy Hoffa, Camilo Cienfuegos, and Amelia Earhart.
- Page 2: The Zombie Taxi Driver from the original Ghostbusters film serves as Ron Alexander's driver. Winston Zeddemore exits a car based on the vehicle used by his animated counterpart in the Real Ghostbusters episode "Night Game." Janine emerges from a car based on the pink Volkswagen used by her animated counterpart in The Real Ghostbusters. The Gozerian dimension sketches from the first movie are still visible on the walls.
- Page 4: The man in the wheelchair at Parkview Psychiatric Hospital is based on a Possessed Human enemy type from Ghostbusters: Sanctum of Slime (Parkview level). The Book of Annoying Beings, open to the Mimes page, appears on the floor.
- Page 7: Ron Alexander invokes the Scooby-Doo habit of splitting up to cover more ground. Ray Stantz alludes to Louis Tully being possessed by Vinz Clortho, and the issue notes that Louis Tully has since left New York.
- Page 8: A dormant Electroshock Construct from Ghostbusters: Sanctum of Slime stands to the left of Janine Melnitz. Peter Venkman references the Rookie and Chicago, last seen in Volume 1, Issue #13, and compares the Rookie to a Junior Birdman of America (a club for boys interested in building model airplanes).
- Page 9: A sketch of Vigo appears on the wall, appropriate given the Parkview setting.
- Page 10: A book with the Real Ghostbusters logo and cast on its cover appears to the left of Ron Alexander; it is based on an old Carnival storybook but with art inspired by the RGB episode "Flip Side." Magic Spells from the RGB episode "Look Homeward, Ray" also appears. Kylie Griffin references the 1950 film Harvey, about a man whose best friend is an invisible rabbit of the same name.
- Page 14: The painting of Dumazu's dimension (from the final level of Ghostbusters: Sanctum of Slime) appears between Winston Zeddemore and Melanie Ortiz.
- Page 17: Janosz Poha refers to his former servitude to Vigo, as depicted in Ghostbusters II.
- Page 18: Peter Venkman invokes the climactic standoff from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
- Page 20: Luis Antonio Delgado's recurring "15" easter egg appears on a paper visible behind Ron Alexander.
References
