From NOW™ – August 1990

Carnival

Story: James Van Hise

Pencils: Neil Grahame

Inks: Jim Brozman

Colors: Suzanne Dechnik

Letters: Joseph Allen

Art Director: Michele Mach

Editor: Katherine Llewellyn

Editor-in-Chief: Tony Caputo

Cover: Neil Grahame

Scanned and restored in March 2012 by Richard Roy

“The circus is in town and the Ghostbusters are chasing a shape-shifting spook. Little do they know that elsewhere, Denita escapes a small town ruled by Master Cosmos and goes in search of help. She finds the Ghostbusters and explains to them her problem. The Ghostbusters must travel back with her to her village and release the souls of the tortured inhabitants from the power of Cosmos. But first, they need to get past his killer circus!”

1. Reference: Pg. 3 The ghost takes a similar form of comic strip character Little Orphan Annie.

 

1. Goof: Pg. 3: Winston’s “no ghost” logo is incomplete, no slash, no ghost, and no color.

The Real Ghostbusters Issue 24. (Ghostbusters Firehouse)

From NOW™ – July 1990

The Strength To Dream

Story: James Van Hise

Pencils: Neil Grahame

Inks: Jim Brozman

Colors: Suzanne Dechnik

Letters: Patrick Williams

Art Director: Michele Mach

Editor: Katherine Llewellyn

Editor-in-Chief: Tony Caputo

Cover: Neil Grahame

Scanned and restored in March 2012 by Richard Roy

“The Ghostbusters have some downtime and Winston decides to take his date to the Rialto Theater for a showing of “The Deathless Image.” Monsters come off the screen and abduct a rude patron, but Winston believes it to be just an innovative 3-D movie…until one of the abducted shows up at the firehouse! Now, the Ghostbusters must figure out the deadly secret behind the old movie and what Sergio Fernandez has to do with it.”

1. Goof: Pg. 13: Egon and Winston’s ghosts in the “no ghost” logo aren’t colored in.
2. Goof: Pg 19: Ray’s “no ghost” logo is on the opposite arm. All The Real Ghostbusters are missing the ghosts in the “no ghost” logos.

The Real Ghostbusters Issue 23. (Ghostbusters Firehouse)

From NOW™ – May 1990

Three Fabulous Stories!

Story: John Carnell (first story), Phil Elliott (second story), Andrew Brenner (third story)

Pencils: Andy Lanning (first story), Phil Elliott (second story), Anthony Williams (third story)

Inks: Stephen Baskerville (first story), Phil Elliott (second story), Cam Smith (third story)

Colors: Louise Cassell (first story), Dondie Cox (second & third story)

Letters: Hel (first & third story) Phil Elliott (second story)

Editor-in-Chief: Tony Caputo

Cover: Uncredited

Scanned and restored in March 2012 by Richard Roy

 

1. Info: Because of the artistic situation around the time of Issue 20 (that concluded with Issue 22) this issue featured reprints from Marvel’s UK The Real Ghostbusters.
2. Issue 21’s cover is the same as Marvel UK’s The Real Ghostbusters #50. Ecto-X is also a story in it.
3. The cover is either a tribute or parody to Robocop’s poster.

Ecto-X!

“The Ghostbusters are busy as hell and can’t take the pace much longer. Egon, instead of enlisting more help, builds more help in the form of Ecto-X; a mechanical Ghostbuster that can track, blast and trap a spook. Soon, however, Ecto-X’s outstanding performance soon casts the Ghostbusters out of the limelight. And, if that wasn’t bad enough, it eventually turns on them!”

1. Goof: Pg. 4: Ecto-X’s bill added up to $625.50. The total amount listed was only $125.50. An error with the original math or was a conversion done from pounds to dollars.

Reference: Pgs 7,8: Rotten Fruit Computers is either a tribute or parody of Apple Computers.

1. Goof: Pg. 7: “It’s Egon! He took Ecto-X to a computergeist bust in Silicon Valley this morning…”

Silicon Valley is in California, of course Ghostbusters pretty much work in New York.

1. Goof: Pg. 8: “It took possession of Robo-Buster’s memory circuits…” – Egon

Robo-Buster is a 4th season episode of The Real Ghostbusters. The character of Robo-Buster is a ghostbusting robot (equipment info stolen from the Ghostbusters’ files) built by Grossjuck Industries.

The Spooked Suit!

“The Ghostbusters get a call to deal with a ghost turning a man’s suits plaid every time he puts them on. Egon takes the suit for analysis, but realizes the spook may be more challenging than he thought.”

1. Info: The Spooked Suit! is a story in Marvel’s UK The Real Ghostbusters #15.

 

1. Goof: Pg. 1: Egon and Winston’s “no ghost” logo patches are on the opposite arm.
2. Goof: Pgs 2,3: Egon’s uniform isn’t colored in 100%.

Neanderthal Nightmare!

“The Ghostbusters respond to a call that a caveman is loose in a local store. They investigate, but arrive too late.  Or, so they thought as they emerge to find Ecto-1 smashed up outside. More reports of cavemen pour in around the city, leaving the Ghostbusters with some big problems.”

The Real Ghostbusters Issue 21. (Ghostbusters Firehouse)

From NOW™ – June 1990

Wild In The Streets (Part 2 of a 2 Part story)

Story: James Van Hise

Pencils: Mark Braun

Inks: Brian Thomas

Colors: Suzanne Dechnik

Letters: Patrick Williams

Art Director: Michele Mach

Editor: Katherine Llewellyn

Editor-in-Chief: Tony Caputo

Cover: Brian Williamson & Bambos

Scanned and restored in March 2012 by Richard Roy

“Ecto-4 is destroyed, and the teleporter is with Nurtog in the Ghostbusters’ world leaving them effectively stranded. Nurtog uses his superior powers to stomp through a defenseless New York with no one but Janine and the Crime Patrol to face him. The only chance is if the Ghostbusters can use the experience of the stranded pilots in the core to help them all return home and stop Nurtog once and for all.”

1. Info: Janine wears a Ghostbusters uniform similar in color to Egon’s. Instead of pink, the collar and cuffs are orange.

The Real Ghostbusters Issue 22. (Ghostbusters Firehouse)

From NOW™ – April 1990

War At The Earth’s Core (Part 1 of a 2 Part story)

Story: James Van Hise

Pencils: Phillip Hester

Inks: Jim Brozman

Colors: Suzanne Dechnik

Letters: Joseph Allen

Art Director: Michele Mach

Editor: Katherine Llewellyn

Editor-in-Chief: Tony Caputo

Cover: Phillip Hester

Scanned and restored in March 2012 by Richard Roy

“Nurtog is back, and he has Spike held captive! Spike manages to contact the Ghostbusters through one of Egon’s devices, and they quickly get ready to return to the Earth’s core to help him. With the Crime Patrol put on alert to handle the spooks of New York, the Ghostbusters teleport to the Core…and into the middle of a war!”

Just say no to ghost logos.

1. Cover: Egon’s “no ghost” logo is missing.
2. Pg 1: “No Ghost” logo is colored wrong. Also, it appears on a different section of Ecto-4 then the rest of the issue.
3. Pg 4: Peter’s “no ghost” logo is on the wrong arm.
4. Pgs 9,10,11: Ray is missing his “no ghost” logo patch.

Pg. 12: Egon’s hands are colored wrong. Or he’s wearing gloves.

1. Pg 12: Ecto-4 is missing a ghost in its “no ghost” logo.
2. Pg 14: Ecto-4 is missing its “no ghost” logo entirely.
3. Pg. 17: Ecto-4’s logo returns without a ghost.

Info: Due to some kind of artistic problem around this time, the story in issue 20 concluded in issue 22. The next issue on Ectocontainment™ will be issue 22.

The Real Ghostbusters Issue 20. (Ghostbusters Firehouse)

From NOW™ – March 1990

Zoned Out

Story: James Van Hise

Pencils: Phillip Hester

Inks: Jim Brozman

Colors: Suzanne Dechnik

Letters: Joseph Allen

Art Director: Michele Mach

Editor: Katherine Llewellyn

Editor-in-Chief: Tony Caputo

Cover: Martin Griffiths

Scanned and restored in March 2012 by Richard Roy

Four tales of the Ghostbusters!

Ray returns to Toad Island after 25 years to visit some old friends in the Freak Show, but ends up saving the day.

Peter and Irena have a romp in the park playing a game of cat and mouse.

Egon and Janine take a visiting Shannon to the circus, only to discover one of Samhain’s minions now works there. However, he’s far from happy and begs Egon for help.

Winston takes advantage of his night off by going out on a date. Unfortunately, a group of gargoyles aim to ensure he has an unpleasant evening. So, it’s up to his guardian Slimer to ensure the Ghostbuster isn’t busted!

1. Info: Marvel UK’s Real Ghostbusters #29 has the same cover as Issue 19.
2. Info: The beginning of Issue 19 begins like an episode of The Twilight Zone.

The Real Ghostbusters Issue 19. (Ghostbusters Firehouse)

From NOW™ – February 1990

Creeping Suburbia

Story: James Van Hise

Pencils: Phillip Hester

Inks: Jim Brozman

Colors: Suzanne Dechnik

Letters: Joseph Allen

Art Director: Michele Mach

Editor: Katherine Llewellyn

Editor-in-Chief: Tony Caputo

Cover: Phillip Hester

Scanned and restored in March 2012 by Richard Roy

“With everything that’s happened to the Ghostbusters lately, Winston feels its time for a vacation. He takes a trip down to a small town in Florida for some R&R, until he learns that trouble has once again followed him. It seems as if the entire town is populated by a race of aliens at war with another race of aliens bent on their destruction.  And, of course, Winston gets caught in the middle!”

1. Goof: Egon’s “no ghost” logo is missing on the cover.

TV Dinner (Page 8)

1. “Maybe they’ll run a Leave It To Woodchuck marathon.” – Winston

Leave It To Woodchuck is a play on the ‘50s TV series, “Leave It To Beaver.”

The Real Ghostbusters Issue 18. (Ghostbusters Firehouse)

From NOW™ – January 1990

Samhain Chanted Evening

Story: James Van Hise

Title Suggestion: Alex Newborn

Pencils: Phillip Hester

Inks: Rich Rankin

Colors: Now Comics Staff

Letters: Joseph Allen

Art Director: Michele Mach

Editor: Katherine Llewellyn

Editor-in-Chief: Tony Caputo

Cover: Phillip Hester

Scanned and restored in March 2012 by Richard Roy

“Samhain, the spirit of Halloween, finds a way to break out of the containment unit and begin his reign of Halloween terror on the world once again. But, this time, the Ghostbusters are nowhere nearby to oppose him as they return home from their adventure at the Earth’s core. Confronted by goblins in the air and hit with the realization that next week is Halloween, the Ghostbusters put the pedal to the medal to get home quickly. When they arrive, however, they’re in for a surprise to find the city mutated with an army of the undead, and their friends in the clutches of Samhain!”

1. Goof: (Cover) Winston’s “no ghost” logo has a missing ghost.
2. Goof: (Pin Up Poster) Cover art work is reversed. Winston’s “no ghost” logo is now on the opposite arm and backwards.

King of Halloween

1. Samhain first appeared in The Real Ghostbusters first season, episode 8. It’s titled “When Halloween Was Forever.”

The 5th Ghostbuster

1. Issue 17 is the only time Louis is in the regular comic series.

The Good Ship Enterprise

1. Pg. 4 “Aye, aye, Mr. Spock!”

For those that don’t know Mr. Spock is a character from Star Trek played by Leonard Nimoy. Mr. Spock is the half human, half Vulcan science officer (and second in command) from the original USS Enterprise, captained by James T. Kirk.

The Real Ghostbusters Issue 17. (Ghostbusters Firehouse)

From NOW™ – December 1989

The Land Unknown (Pt. 2 of a 2 part story)

Story: James Van Hise

Pencils: Jim Wisniewski

Inks: Rich Rankin

Colors: Staff

Letters: Dan Nakrosis

Art Director: Michele Mach

Editor: Katherine Llewellyn

Editor-in-Chief: Tony Caputo

Cover: Jim Wisniewski

Scanned and restored in March 2012 by Richard Roy

“The Ghostbusters travel through the arctic hole into Spike’s realm where they hope to face off against and defeat Nurtog. Unfortunately along the way, their disguised zeppelin is compromised and Nurtog snatches Spike from their protection. The Ghostbusters must now journey into the lair of the demon and defeat him for the life of Spike and the safety of his kingdom!”

1. Reference: (Page 3)

Egon: “…It’ll give you more time to spend with Louis…”

Janine: “Egon!  Can’t you see?  Louis is sweet, but he’s harmless! He just happened to be there while you were too wrapped up in saving the world to pay any attention to anything else!”

Egon brings up a scene in Ghostbusters II when Janine had an “interest” in Louis.

1. Reference: (Page 16)

Unknown: “Cause we be fast and he be slow!”

Most of that dialogue was quoted by the Ghostbusters after they trapped the Scoleri brothers in Ghostbusters II. It’s worth noting that Ghostbusters II had been re-released (pretty sure officially) in November 1989 and NOW’s Ghostbusters II adaptation was created earlier in the year and sold in three parts during October, November, and December 1989.

The Real Ghostbusters Issue 16. (Ghostbusters Firehouse)

From NOW™ – November 1989

Spike (Pt. 1 of a 2 part story)

Story: James Van Hise

Pencils: Jim Wisniewski

Inks: Jim Wisniewski

Colors: Suzanne Dechnik

Letters: Dan Nakrosis

Art Director: Michelle Mach

Editor: Katherine Llewellyn

Editor-in-Chief: Tony Caputo

Cover: Jim Wisniewski

Scanned and restored in March 2012 by Richard Roy

“Spikorouleus, or Spike for short, is on the run from a dangerous enemy to his realm at the center of the Earth, Nurtog. He retreats to the surface world for help, but Nurtog follows and nearly kills him. Meanwhile, the Ghostbusters are at a function by request of both the tourism committee and the city when they get a page.  Egon and Ray go to investigate and find Spike being held by immigration and the NYPD. Unfortunately for them, Nurtog has found him too, leaving Egon and Ray caught in the middle of their feud!”

1. Reference: Pg. 8.

Homeless 1: “I wish they’d quite makin’ movies where I’m tryin’ to walk!”

Homeless 2: “Could be worse.  ‘Member that ghost movie tied up traffic for miles?”

During the filming of Ghostbusters ( “Shandor Building” ) Central Park West was closed off. It created a massive traffic jam on the island of Manhattan. – Ghostbusters DVD audio commentary.

1. Previous Issues: Pg. 9

First police officer: “There’s just no rest for the wicked!”

Second police officer: “That’s what ya get for lettin’ that werewolf trash your car last year!”

The second cop is referring to the werewolf The Real Ghostbusters encountered in issue 5.

Everything isn’t uniform.

1. Goof: Peter and Ray are missing their “no ghost” logos on the cover and pin up.
2. Ray is also missing a “no ghost” logo on page 1.
3. Goof: Egon has a “defective” “no ghost” logo on page 6. The slash is angled the wrong way and the ghost is missing.
4. Goof: Peter also has a defective “no ghost” logo on page 7.
5. Goof: Missing “no ghost” logos on both Ray and Egon’s uniforms on page 11.
6. Goof: Ray’s “no ghost” logo has switched arms and is missing its ghost on page 12.
7. Goof: Egon’s “no ghost” logo has switched arms and is missing its ghost on pages 13 and 14.
8. Goof: Ray and Egon’s “no ghost” logos are missing on page 20.
9. Goof: Not to be left out of the new uniform code Peter’s “no ghost” logo switched arms and is missing its ghost on page 22.

Eye for an eye.

1. Egon and Boyett have the same eye color as a background on page 12.

The Real Ghostbusters Issue 15. (Ghostbusters Firehouse)

From NOW™ – October 1989

The Lost and the Lonely

Story: James Van Hise

Pencils: Howard Bender

Inks: David Mowry

Colors: Suzanne Dechnik

Letters: Dan Nakrosis

Art Director: Michele Mach

Editor: Katherine Llewellyn

Editor-in-chief: Tony Caputo

Cover: Howard Bender

Scanned and restored in March 2012 by Richard Roy

“A ghost named Laurie flees from a terror with her friend, Michael. Unfortunately, their fear catches up to them and recaptures Michael, but Laurie escapes, allowing her to find help for her friends underground. Meanwhile, Ray receives an invite to his Junior High School reunion. It’s not long after he leaves that Laurie appears at the firehouse and informs of the Ghostbusters of the creature she escaped from. And to make matters worse, this creature, the Soul Catcher, resides underneath the abandoned hallways of Ray’s school!”

1. Info: Janine wears a Ghostbusters uniform in this issue. It doesn’t match a color scheme she had in The Real Ghostbusters.
2. Goof: (I think) PKE Meter wings seems to work and look different on page 17.

The Real Ghostbusters Issue 14. (Ghostbusters Firehouse)