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Ghostbusters Annual 2018 is the third Ghostbusters annual issue by IDW Publishing.

Plot[]

When urban miners discover what appears to be a centuries-old, man-made chamber 600 feet below the streets of New York City, they unwittingly unleash an unnamed entity with designs on dominance... an entity that will soon answer to the name SAMHAIN. Join the original Ghostbusters in this double-sized annual that will also sow the seeds for Crossing Over! [1]

Cast[]

Murdock the Miner

Ray Stantz

Peter Venkman

Winston Zeddemore

Egon Spengler

Connla

Bat Spectral Constructs

Jenny Moran

Ron Alexander

Kylie Griffin

Connla's Army

Janine Melnitz

Murdock

Peter Venkman/Animated

Kylie Griffin

Jillian Holtzmann

Patty Tolan

Garrett Miller

Eduardo Rivera

Doctor Kruger

Mike the Golem

Samuel Hazer

Bridget Gibbons

Slimer/Animated

Alan Crendall

Gabriel Sitter

Egon Spengler/Animated

Abby Yates

Erin Gilbert

Roland Jackson

Chicago Ghostbusters

Dani Shpak

Lou Kamaka

Winston Zeddemore/Animated

Ray Stantz/Animated

Rookie

Equipment[]

Proton Pack

Particle Thrower

Giga Meter

KUD meter

P.K.E. Meter

Ecto Goggles

Proton Pistol

A Book of Pagan Rituals

The Old Book of Magic

Ecto-1

Kylie's P.K.E. Meter

Proton Grenade

Trap

P.K.E. Meter/Animated

  • Both

Dream Analyzer Helmet

Remote Portal Access Band

Proton Pack/Animated

  • Both

Particle Thrower/Animated

  • Both

Proton Pistol/Animated

Proton Pack (2016)

Proton Pistol (2016)

Upper Arm Remote Trigger

Proton Cannister

Trap/Animated

  • Both

P.K.E. Meter (2016)

Trap (2016)

Proton Pack/Realistic Version

Environmental[]

Yellow Slime

Psychomagnotheric Slime

Items[]

Toaster of Sights Unseen

Statue of Liberty

Locations[]

City Water Tunnel No. 3

Firehouse

Grand Central Station

Manhattan City Bank

Ray's Occult Books

Liberty Island

Pequod's

Dick's Pizza

Development[]

On June 26, 2016, in an interview, Erik Burnham confirmed some ghosts that appear in the Tobin's Spirit Guide (Insight Editions) could also appear in an IDW comic in the near future like Samhain. The details about Samhain in the guide would be used by Burnham in the comic. Samhain was planned to appear in the International arc but there wasn't any more room as the writing went on. [2]

On October 19, 2017, Tom Waltz posted a preview of a new cover and teased February 2018. [3] Erik Burnham confirmed the IDW version of Samhain is returning. [4] Burnham later confirmed it was a new annual but he had to cut two pages from the script already. [5]

On October 31, 2017, on the weekly Turtles Tuesday, Erik Burnham revealed the story started to become a little more of a focus for Kylie Griffin. [6] The annual will set up the next story arc, an eight issue max-event titled "Ghostbusters Crossing Over" starting in March. [7]

On November 2, 2017, Tom Waltz posted a WIP of the Extreme Ghostbusters, the Prime Ghostbusters, and Prime Kylie in the middle of a bust. [8] Dan Schoening posted a WIP of Samhain. [9]

On November 16, 2017, Cover A and B were previewed. A February 15 release date and a logline were also revealed. [10]

On November 18, 2017, Erik Burnham revealed there would be a prelude for the Crossing Over maxi series in the Annual. [11]

On November 22, 2017, February solicits corrected the release date as February 14. [12]

On December 6, 2017, Dan Schoening posted a WIP of the P.K.E. Meter from The Real Ghostbusters. [13]

On January 5, 2018, Tom Waltz posted three WIPs by Dan Schoening of several Ghostbusters in action. [14]

On January 6, 2018, Dan Schoening posted a WIP of Holtzmann. [15]

On January 8, 2018, Erik Burnham teased "a quick, throwaway one-panel character in the Ghostbusters 2018 annual may or may not steal your hearts." [16]

On January 9, 2018, Tom Waltz posted a colored panel of several Ghostbusters in action. [17]

On January 10, 2018, Erik Burnham posted part of a colored panel of Egon throwing a Proton Grenade. [18] Burnham teased the annual has his new favorite Peter Venkman lines. [19]

On January 25, 2018, Erik Burnham posted part of three colored panels. [20]

On January 26, 2018, Tom Waltz posted a finished panel of (Prime) Egon looking at a P.K.E. from The Real Ghostbusters and noting readings were high and climbing. Waltz also confirmed the issue would be 40 pages and the new release date is February 28. [21]

On January 28, 2018, Dan Schoening confirmed he drew all of the interior pages. [22]

On January 29, 2018, IDW Publishing posted two finished pages. [23] Erik Burnham hinted a character named Mike will appear. [24]

On January 31, 2018, Tom Waltz posted a finished panel of Kylie startled by something and the annual's back cover. [25] Dan Schoening posted a teaser of Samhain. [26]

On February 6, 2018, Erik Burnham confirmed the annual is 99% prime Ghostbusters but teased there's a key page. [27] Tom Waltz posted a finished page. [28]

On February 8, 2018, Tom Waltz posted two panels of a helicopter flying to Statue of Liberty, a breach in the sky, and Egon, Kylie, Ron, Winston, Peter, and Egon's pilot friend. [29] Erik Burnham teased, Egon gets Ron with a sick burn instead of choking his neck again. [30] Waltz also posted a panel teaser of tentacles wrapping up the Ghostbusters, Kylie, and Ron. [31]

On February 9, 2018, Tom Waltz posted another finished panel of Ron, Garrett, Patty, Ray and Holtzmann. [32]

On February 28, 2018, Erik Burnham revealed the annual will be included in the first Crossing Over trade paperback. [33]

On March 5, 2018, Erik Burnham revealed the Ghostbusturtles were going to have a cameo but they couldn't be used then a silverback gorilla mutant was considered as a stand-in but scrapped and ultimately led to the creation of a new character named "Mike". [34]

On March 7, 2018, Dan Schoening posted a panel of Kylie, Peter, Egon, Winston, and Ray. [35]

On March 21, 2018, in an interview, Erik Burnham revealed he considered Cathulhu as the main threat after he decided on the final scene. [36]

On March 7, 2019, Luis Delgado posted an unlettered version of page 37.[37]

Trivia[]

  • The Diamond Order Code is DEC170466.
  • Cover A
  • Cover B
  • Dramatis Personae
  • What Came Before
  • Page 1
    • Water Tunnel No. 3 is the largest capital construction project in New York City history.
  • Page 2
    • In panel 3, carved atop the pedestal is the Wheel of the Year. One circle represents life and the other represents death. Joined, they become infinity.
    • A powerful paranormal event caused by an unwitting construction worker is similar to the episodes "Knock, Knock" of The Real Ghostbusters and "Darkness at Noon, Part 1" in Extreme Ghostbusters.
  • Page 3
    • Ray mentions there were plenty of accidents in the Water Tunnel. Historically, there have been 24 construction-related deaths in Water Tunnel No. 3 but none since 1997.
    • The Ghostbusters are in their construction outfits from the 2015 Annual, based on the ones seen in Ghostbusters II.
  • Page 4
  • Page 5
    • Connla refers to the power in a name. In mythology, knowing the name of a magical creature meant having control over it. An example of this is Rumplestiltskin.
  • Page 7
    • Peter does his "Dah!" from the first movie.
  • Page 8
    • The portly worker in red and slim worker in green are nods to Nintendo characters Mario and Luigi.
    • Peter refers to Connla as "Great Pumpkin," a nod to the Charlie Brown Halloween special "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown".
    • The portly worker insists they have a schedule to keep. In reality, the tunnel started work in 1997 and is slated to finish in 2020.
  • Page 9
    • In panel 1, the microwave from Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Realistic Versions) is on the left.
    • Jenny alludes to 'home' - implying Ray might have his own home or apartment.
    • In panel 1, Luis Delgado's 15 easter egg appears on the Days since last incident sign from Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Realistic Versions).
    • In panel 1, on the Employee of the Month board from Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Realistic Versions) are:
    • In panel 1, two arcades are visible:
      • The left arcade is Scary House is based on Midway's 1972 Haunted House arcade.
      • The middle arcade is
    • In panel 2, the Mercury poster from Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Realistic Versions) appears.
    • Jenny has a copy of "A Book of Pagan Rituals," an actual book from 1978 by Herman Slater. It was a collection of rituals, practices, and exercises drawn from ancient sources.
    • In panel 2, the art posted on the refrigerator is of a child's costume seen at the start of The Real Ghostbusters episode "The Halloween Door".
    • In panel 2, on top of refrigerator is the bowl of candy from the start of The Real Ghostbusters episode "Halloween II 1/2".
    • In the book Jenny presents:
      • On the left page is the antlered figure from the Gundestrup Cauldron, an artifact found in Denmark with scenes allegedly from Celtic mythology.
      • On the bottom of right page is Samhain from the Extreme Ghostbusters Intro sequence.
    • Ray mentions the festival of Samhain. It takes place the evening of October 31 to the evening of November 1.
    • In panel 4, Ray looks at "The Old Book of Magic," an actual book from 1918 by Lauron William De Lawrence. It was a precise history of magic, its procedure, rites, and mysteries contained in ancient manuscripts and embellished engravings of charms and talismans.
    • Ray mentions how the druids never wrote anything down. They passed things down orally.
    • In panel 5, on the floor is Hohman's Black Low-Rise from where it goes after Rookie collects it in Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Realistic Versions) .
    • In panel 5, by the Hohman's is the washtub used in The Real Ghostbusters episode "The Magnificent Five".
    • In panel 5, atop the microwave is UFO Pizza from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987) episode "The Case of the Killer Pizzas".
    • In panel 5, left of the microwave is:
  • Page 10
    • Ron mentions the Containment Unit.
    • In panel 2, on the billiards table is the Toaster of Sights Unseen after Rookie collects it.
    • In panel 5, right of Jenny on the counter is a miniature of the relic Samhain was freed from in The Real Ghostbusters episode "When Halloween Was Forever".
    • Ray alludes to the pardon Walter Peck arranged for Ron so he could leave Riker's Island and join the New Ghostbusters in Volume 2 Issue #2.
    • In panel 5, Ron is holding an 8-ball - a nod to the "Be the Ball" mantra from "Caddyshack" featuring Chevy Chase whom he's visually based on.
  • Page 11
  • Page 12
    • In panel 1, Lagerfeld's is a reference to the fashion designer.
    • In panel 1, Rambeau's House of Fashion is from chapter 6 of Tokyopop's Ghost Busted Manga.
    • Kylie uses the P.K.E. Meter visually based on the Extreme Ghostbusters version. She first used it in Volume 2 of the ongoing series.
    • In panel 5, Ray stands by the East 42nd Street and Park Avenue signs where Grand Central is located.
    • In panel 5, the branch of Manhattan City Bank from the first movie is a stand-in for a branch of TD Bank.
    • Ray's 'We have a date with a ghost' line is similar to Peter's line to the crowd in Chapter 25 "Working the Crowd" as they prepare to go into 550 Central Park West in the first movie.
    • In panel 5, on the far right is a sign for CM Cola. It was one of the products advertised near the end of The Real Ghostbusters episode "You Can't Teach an Old Demon New Tricks".
      • The style of the advertisement is visually based on one from Coca Cola.
  • Page 13
  • Page 14
    • Ray brings up Peter's tendency to name things and people.
    • Ron tells Ray he's not pronouncing Samhain right, as was the case in The Real Ghostbusters.
    • Ron mentions they are weeks away from Halloween.
  • Page 20
    • Ron uses the higher setting on the Particle Thrower to atomize Connla. This feature was confirmed in the 101 Class Notes in Ghostbusters 101 #4.
    • Ron calls Kylie by the "Spooky" nickname he gave her in Volume 2 Issue #4 page 15 panel 3.
    • Ray mentions Walter Peck.
  • Page 21
    • The opening panel of chapter 2 is based on the street used for filming the "Thriller" music video.[38]
    • Egon has the P.K.E. Meter from The Real Ghostbusters.
    • The ghosts are visually based on Samhain's Midnight Army in The Real Ghostbusters episode "When Halloween Was Forever".
  • Page 22
  • Page 23
    • In panel 4, Kylie wakes up in the Ray's Occult office - the first time it has appeared.
    • In panel 4, on the cardboard box is Luis Antonio Delgado's 15 easter egg.
      • The cardboard box, itself, is the box Blitzway shipped their 1/6 scale figures in if you purchased the "Special Pack."
    • In panel 4, on the book shelves are "Ghosts Walk Among Us" and "Government Cover Up: Ghosts" - two books Kylie had in her stack near the end of the Extreme Ghostbusters episode "Darkness at Noon, Part One".
  • Page 24
    • In panel 2, on the Post It note on the left is a reference to Elon Spengler and the Wastebusters from The Earth Day Special.
    • Egon's line about taking dreams seriously dates back to Ray's dream in Volume 1 #1.
    • In panel 4, Peter's toy is based on the gold car his animated counterpart dreamed of in The Real Ghostbusters episode "Mr. Sandman, Dream Me a Dream".
    • Janine's top is based on her animated counterpart's.
    • Peter alludes to the events of Volume 2 #3, #5, and #6 with the Draugar.
  • Page 25
    • In panel 1, the Dimensional Inverter part from The Real Ghostbusters episode "When Halloween Was Forever" is in its usual place on the bottom shelf.
    • On the table are the 2 jars of Psychomagnotheric Slime from Ghostbusters II.
    • On the same table, on the other end, is a drawing of two The Real Ghostbusters P.K.E. Meters.
    • Peter refers to the Aha! Moment (aka Eureka Effect) from detective shows.
    • In panel 3, next to the box on the self is:
    • The box Egon digs through references Playmobil.
    • Egon gets out a Remote Portal Access Band from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Ghostbusters Volume 2.
  • Page 26
  • Page 27
    • In panel 2, Winston's mechanic suit is visually based on his animated counterpart's uniform.
    • In panel 4, in Winston's locker are:
      • A baseball cap with the logo of Good's Baseball Team from The Real Ghostbusters "Night Game".
      • A baseball and catcher's mitt, a nod to his love of the sport.
  • Page 28
    • In panel 1, in the background, is the Twin Towers.
    • Egon alludes to the two Statues of Liberty that appeared in Ghostbusters 101 #3.
    • Winston mentions the Mayor.
    • Winston alludes to when they animated the Statue of Liberty in Ghostbusters II.
    • Egon's friend from Volume 1 #4 and #15 once again transports them via helicopter.
    • Peter pronounces Samhain correctly.
  • Page 29
    • Kylie jokes about Rumplestiltskin. In similar fashion, he was defeated when his name was discovered.
    • Kylie mentions the Scottish warrior half-god, Cuchullain.
    • In panel 4, the toy plane is based on the Skeleton Pilot Ghost from The Real Ghostbusters Pilot and Milton Bradley board game.
  • Page 30
    • Ron brings up Ray's bad math skills.
    • The ghosts emerging from the mist is similar to the mist in the Times Square battle of the Ghostbusters (2016 Movie).
    • Once again, the ghosts are based on Samhain's Midnight Army.
  • Page 31
    • In panel 1 are:
  • Page 32
    • Peter once again yells Dah!
  • Page 35
  • Page 36
  • Page 37
    • RGB Peter brings up Holtzmann's visual likeness to his Egon.
    • The ghost above Holtzmann's who is from the end of The Real Ghostbusters episode "Venkman's Ghost Repellers". It's one of the Parallelogram Ghosts harassing Peter's dad.
    • The bulldog-pufferfish ghost is from The Real Ghostbusters episode "Mr. Sandman, Dream Me a Dream".
    • The orange winged ghost is also from "Mr. Sandman, Dream Me a Dream".
    • Above Patty's left shoulder is the fish headed ghost also from "Mr. Sandman, Dream Me a Dream".
  • Page 38
    • In panel 1 is Dr. Kruger from the Answer The Call mini-series.
    • In panel 1, both the "biological hazard symbol" and "poison symbol" can be seen on the back and side, respectively, of Patty's pack.
    • Holtzmann refers to Ron as Inspector Gadget, a DiC animated property, who have similar hairstyles.
    • The Ghostbusturtles were originally going to cameo but it was not approved. Burnham thought about a silverback gorilla but nixed it and Mike the Golem was created.
    • Egon only states Mike is from the Village.
      • On March 22, 2018, the Crossing Over Virtual Trading Card #10 revealed he's from the Greenwich Village of Dimension 68-V, where that version of the Ghostbusters are based out of. [39]
    • In panel 3, RGB Slimer makes a cameo in a pumpkin shape like in The Real Ghostbusters episode "The Halloween Door".
  • Page 39
    • In panel 4, it is now clear 26 Ghostbusters participated in the bust.
      • The 4 Prime Ghostbusters
      • The 4 Real Ghostbusters
      • The 4 Extreme Ghostbusters
      • The 4 Sanctum of Slime Ghostbusters
      • The 4 Chicago Ghostbusters
      • The 4 Answer The Call Ghostbusters
      • Kylie
      • Mike
  • Page 40
    • In panel 1, the coffee chain Pequod's appears.
    • In panel 1, next to Pequod's is Dick's Pizza. A pizza chain that first appeared in Volume 1 #13.
    • In panel 2, the Ghost Smashers' logo appears on Ron's hat.
    • In panel 2, in the frame is classic art depicting Anzu from Mesopotamian myth, a bird-like sky god.
    • Holtzmann alludes to her counterpart, Special Agent Holtzmann of the FBI Boston Field Office. Melanie introduced the two over her cell phone in Ghostbusters 101 #6.
    • Holtzmann's civies are from Chapter 13 of the 2016 movie when possessed Abby tried to throw her out the window.
    • In panel 4 are two frames of Moby Dick. A ghost based on it was trapped by Holtzmann in Ghostbusters 101 #5.
    • Holtzmann fell in love with the Interspatial Teleportation Unit in Ghostbusters 101 #3. In Ghostbusters 101 #6, she hinted to Ray she would build her own.
    • On page 46 of the Ghostbusters Crossing Over TPB, which is page 40 of Annual 2018, the dialogue box from the original printing is excised and reveals another 15 easter egg on the small paper standee on the table.
  • Page 47
  • The events of the end of Annual 2018 are summarized on the what came before page of Ghostbusters Crossing Over Issue #2.
  • On page 2 of Ghostbusters Crossing Over Issue #2, Ron refers to his conversation with Egon and Ray in Annual 2018 while they headed out to Grand Central Station.
  • On the What Came Before of Ghostbusters Crossing Over Issue #3, Ron meeting Holtzmann in Ghostbusters Annual 2018 is mentioned.

Also See[]

References[]

  1. Annual 2018 Previews World 11/22/17
  2. 6/26/16 Crossrip Podcast "#227 - Andrew Shaffer/"Ghosts From Our Past" and Erik Burnham "Tobin's Spirit Guide" - June 27, 2016" 2:29:37-2:30:04 Erik Burnham says: "All the stuff in there, uh, I wrote to work with the comics. So the version of Samhain, for example. The details I put in there. If I were to use Samhain, that's the details I would use. And I, uh, yeah, I did -- I did think at one point last year that we're gonna sneak him into International but not going to be any room for him in International but I still want to use him at some point."
  3. TomWaltz Tweet 10/19/17
  4. erikburnham Tweet #1 10/19/17
  5. erikburnham Tweet #2 10/19/17
  6. IDW Publishing Facebook 13:46-13:54 10/31/17 Erik Burnham says: "The story kind of surprised me a bit, it kind of started to become a little more of a focus for Kylie which is another who who's always fun to write."
  7. IDW Publishing Facebook 15:10-15:24 10/31/17 Tom Waltz says: "So this is going to be an eight issue big crossover event that is coming out of the annual. So the annual counts. The annual is the set up for the big crossover series and we're going to be calling it drum roll Ghostbusters Crossing Over."
  8. TomWaltz Tweet 11/2/17
  9. Dapperpomade Tweet 11/2/17
  10. SyFy Wire "Exclusive: Get a scary-good sneak peek at IDW's upcoming Ghostbusters Annual 2018" 11/16/17
  11. erikburnham Tweet 11/18/17
  12. Comic Book Resources "IDW Publishing Solicitations for February 2018" 11/22/17
  13. Dapperpomade Tweet 12/6/17
  14. TomWaltz Tweet 1/5/18
  15. Dapperpomade Tweet 1/6/18
  16. erikburnham Tweet 1/8/18
  17. TomWaltz Tweet 1/9/18
  18. erikburnham Tweet #1 1/10/18
  19. erikburnham Tweet #2 1/10/18
  20. erikburnham Tweet 1/25/18
  21. TomWaltz Tweet 1/26/18
  22. Dapperpomade Tweet 1/28/18
  23. IDWPublishing Tweet 1/29/18
  24. erikburnham Tweet 1/29/18
  25. TomWaltz Tweet 1/31/18
  26. Dapperpomade Tweet 1/31/18
  27. erikburnham Tweet 2/6/18
  28. TomWaltz Tweet 2/6/18
  29. TomWaltz Tweet #1 2/8/18
  30. erikburnham Tweet 2/8/18
  31. TomWaltz Tweet #2 2/8/18
  32. TomWaltz 2/9/18
  33. erikburnham Tweet 2/28/18
  34. erikburnham Tweet 3/5/18
  35. Dapperpomade Tweet 3/7/18
  36. FreakSugar "Erik Burnham on Samhain, "Crossing Over," & All of the Ghostbusters!" 3/21/18
  37. luisdelgado deviantArt "Ghostbusters Annual 3 page 37" 3/7/19
  38. dannyschoening Tweet 11/19/2022
  39. TomWaltz Tweet 3/22/18


Gallery[]

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