Sammy Velez[1] is a student at Zeddemore Academy and friend of Phoebe Spengler.
History[]
Before Ghostbusters: Dead Man's Chest[]
Sammy's father always said they were descended from the pirate Captain Kidd but Sammy never believed it.[2] Dan accepted his son changing pronouns from "he" to "they/them" but came off as too analytical and asked too many questions, some Sammy did not have an answer for yet and made it feel like they did something wrong. Sammy just wanted to be accepted for what they were. Things became strained between the two.
Ghostbusters: Dead Man's Chest[]
During lunch one day in December of 2022, Phoebe sat at Sammy's table and asked, "Do you know why the comedian bombed at the art show?" Sammy replied, "Because the jokes got sketchy." Phoebe was impressed and introduced herself. Sammy Velez was aware who Phoebe was and noted she was kind of a celebrity. Phoebe hoped not because celebrities were like French Bulldogs, cute but died young. Phoebe pointed out the three mean girls and noted they did not like her very much. Sammy thought they were toxic and was not convinced they even liked each other.
When Phoebe inquired about the lack of friends present, Sammy joked in a robotic, monotone voice that "friend" did not compute then apologized for being lame. Phoebe thought it was funny and asked if they were into the occult. Sammy joked about having an on-again/off-again relationship with Satan. Phoebe clarified she meant ghosts and the afterlife. Sammy admitted they always thought ghosts were kinda cool and thought busting them must be wild. Phoebe boasted it was badass. A boy tried to call Phoebe over for his livestream. Phoebe decided to leave before she was turned into a meme then invited Sammy to Ray's Occult Books where she and Ray Stantz would be recording her other friend Podcast's podcast in the evening. Sammy keyed on his name being "Podcast." Phoebe found it to be an unlikely cypher. Sammy asked her what was a pirate's favorite element. Phoebe replied it was a tie between "Carrrrbon" and "Arrrrgon." Sammy added "Arrrrsenic" would also have been accepted.
Sammy called out and entered the bookstore's basement, saying the trains were all late. Phoebe introduced Ray to Sammy. Sammy noticeably reacting when Phoebe said she told Ray about him. Ray offered to share his latest research on space slugs. Phoebe claimed he was joking then told Ray she would see him Thursday. Ray asked if she could come on Wednesday and help him testing a shipment of Tibetan spirit stones. Phoebe downplayed her life of busting ghosts and recording podcasts in the basement of a spooky bookstore. Sammy thought that sounded cool. Phoebe admitted it did. She asked if she said something wrong in front of Ray. Sammy told her it was not her fault not knowing but they were interrupted by the mean girls from school. They called them desperate for friendship and noted nerds of a feather flocked together. One of the girls joked her sixth sense was tingling because she saw lame people. Sammy countered and sarcastically complimented her haircut. She called Phoebe "Ghost Girl." Phoebe remarked she was waiting for the insult. She called Phoebe a robot. Sammy produced an old saber from their backpack and recited the inscription on the blade, "Let me, who wields this cursed saber, fall within the captain's favor." The ghost of Captain Kidd appeared behind Sammy and took away the saber. The mean girls ran away screaming. Kidd flew away. Phoebe asked if the ghost of Captain Kidd just got released. Sammy had no idea that was going to work.
Sammy and their father got into a disagreement about something. The next day, Sammy was absent from school. At Ray's Occult, Ray, Phoebe, and Sammy went over Captain Kidd's history. Sammy was stunned to see to a resemblance to one of Kidd's children. Even Phoebe found it uncanny, for a seventeenth century painting. Ray called William Kidd the most puzzling of pirates and gave them a summary. Ray cut to the chase and pressed Sammy about having the saber. Sammy revealed the saber hung over the family fireplace for a long time and was taken down a couple years ago by Sammy's father so he could hang a photo of the Horsehead Nebula. Phoebe and Ray agreed it was a good one as far as nebulas go. Sammy admitted to digging the saber out of the basement and carrying it around for protection after getting bullied at school but had no clue about the inscription or it being able to summon Kidd. Phoebe recited the inscription.
Ray wondered what Kidd's endgame was. Phoebe and Sammy suggested it was to take revenge, find his true love, reclaim his buried treasure, or see a Broadway show. Ray noted "The Pirates of Penzance" was running but he suspected the answer was simpler: he wanted to go home. Ray presented an image of Kidd's home near present-day Wall Street. Phoebe got a text from Callie about the Kraken Ghost attacking the Statue of Liberty. Ray doubted that was a coincidence. Phoebe added Callie wanted Sammy to come along since Sammy's father was with her. Sammy became alarmed and suggested staying at the shop, going home, or hanging out somewhere else to Phoebe's befuddlement. Phoebe grabbed her backpack and asked Ray to text her the location of Kidd's old house then declared she and Sammy would track down Kidd and the saber. Ray pointed out Callie and Gary would almost certainly want her help with the ghost. Phoebe was confident they could handle it and left with Sammy.
Phoebe and Sammy walked to the Earthy / Crunchy Health Foods at Wall Street and Pearl Street in the Financial District. Based on Ray's findings, the supermarket was the location of Captain Kidd's former home. Sammy joked he pegged Kidd as more of a Red Lobster guy. Phoebe suggested Long John Silver's. Sammy agreed but asked what they were looking for. Phoebe believed it would be a "know-it-when-we-see-it" scenario. Sammy asked, "Do you know why pirates are so good at saving money?" Phoebe answered, "Because they treasure it." Sammy admitted she was good at jokes. She saw a bag of chips on the floor and asked, "What's a pirate's favorite snack?" Sammy thought of "Goldfish" but Phoebe suggested Pirate's Booty. They saw bags and boxes of snacks near a sleeping pirate ghost in the Salty Snacks, Natural Chips, Popcorn and Candy aisle. They sneaked into the back room and looked around. She found an out of place chimney that looked original. Upon further inspection, she noticed a plaque dedicated to Captain Kidd. Sammy was amazed by how many Gummi Bears were stored in the room and never saw so many before. Phoebe keyed on "Father" in the inscription and was reminded of Sammy being related to Kidd. She took a photo of the plaque with her phone and speculated the family connection must have allowed Sammy to release Kidd from his saber. She wondered why now and what Kidd wanted. Sammy hoped it was buried treasure but some cans fell out of their box and made noise. The ghost phased into the room.
They ran out the emergency exit. Callie and Gary were waiting for them aboard a ghost ship and trapped the ghost. Dan tried to ask how Sammy was but Sammy only replied "Fine" and went into the car. Gary tried to downplay it as kids being kids. They all returned to the Firehouse to come up with a plan. Phoebe found Sammy up on the roof. She asked, "Do you know why pirates prefer shallow water?" and answered, "They can't fathom going any deeper." Sammy remained silent. Phoebe half-joked there was a non-zero chance of them falling through the roof. Sammy was fine with those odds. She tried to ask what was going on with Dr. Dan. Sammy was not sure but admitted Dan was too analytical and asked too many questions, some they did not have an answer for yet and made it feel like they did something wrong. Sammy just wanted to be accepted for what they were. Phoebe thought the best thing Sammy could do was talk to their dad. Sammy thought they would just be put under the microscope again. Phoebe admitted Callie did the same, too, but it was because she cared. She mused she would be more worried if Dr. Dan was not trying to find some theorem to explain the "mysterious Sammy Velez." Sammy liked being called mysterious. Before they could head back downstairs, Captain Kidd appeared through the roof. Phoebe pointed out Kidd should be defending his summoner and not standing in their way. Kidd agreed and stated Sammy would have the captain's favor then kidnapped them aboard his phantom ship. Sammy called out to Phoebe as the ship sailed off.
Kidd kept them prisoner on the third floor of a corporeal manifestation of Kidd Mansion. Captain Kidd looked at a family portrait then asked Sammy if they knew what everyone called him when he stood on the gallows. Sammy guessed he was called a kind and benevolent sea captain who would never dream of hurting a child. Kidd revealed it was "traitor" even though he was loyal to the crown and plundered their enemies and gave every prize to the King. He went about how he was betrayed, called a pirate, put through a faux trial, lost everything, including his home, life, and family, but as he swung through the doorway to death, he vowed to return and reclaim what was stolen. Sammy reminded Kidd they knew what it was like to be misunderstood and they were a descendant but definitely not his kid from the portrait but did not think taking over Lower Manhattan was the way to clear his name. Sammy suggested he get back into his cursed sword instead of destroying New York. Kidd repeated he was going to have what was taken from him. Sammy took that as a "no."
The Ghostbusters fought their way to Kidd and Sammy. Phoebe demanded Kidd to let go of the kid. Trevor thought it sounded weird. Phoebe admitted she knew it did as soon as she said it. Kidd vowed they would not take his son away from him again. Callie taunted Kidd and called him Blackbeard. Gary missed it was an insult. Sammy shouted they were not his son or anybody's. Phoebe repeated herself then threw her Proton sword into Kidd's right shoulder. He reacted in pain and Sammy got away. Phoebe untied Sammy. Sammy shared their observation that Kidd never put the saber down one time and speculated they needed to separate him from it. Phoebe already ascertained that, ran to a window, and gave Lucky Domingo the signal then yelled at everyone to get down. Lucky fired several cannonballs from the ghost pirate ship and blew a hole into the mansion. Kidd looked around for the saber but Sammy had it. Kidd declared it was his and grew larger and angrier. Sammy stabbed him in the chest with it and he screamed. Ray operated the Drone Trap outside and trapped Kidd. The mansion reverted back to the Earthy / Crunchy Health Foods store but the big gaping hole remained. Dan asked Sammy if they were okay. Sammy mused they would live. Dan apologized for not being there for them and promised to figure things out together. Sammy told him they did not need to be figured out and just needed him to come along for the ride. Dan promised he would and they would always be his kid. They hugged.
Appearances[]
References[]
- ↑ Sammy Velez (2025). Dark Horse Comics- "Ghostbusters: Dead Man's Chest Issue #1" (2025) (Comic p.8). Sammy Velez says: "Sammy Velez."
- ↑ Sammy Velez (2025). Dark Horse Comics- "Ghostbusters: Dead Man's Chest Issue #2" (2025) (Comic p.14). Sammy Velez says: "My dad said we're descended from Captain Kidd, but I never really believed him."
Gallery[]
