Mars Attacks The Real Ghostbusters
Written by Erik Burnham
Art by Jose Holder
Colors by Jeremy Colwell
Letters by Neil Uyetake
Edited by Tom Waltz
Covers by Ray Dillon, Roy Guillory and Mike & Laura Allred
IDW Publishing
Release Date: January 16, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99

This weeks chapter in IDW Publishing’s Mars Attacks crossover is Mars Attacks The Real Ghostbusters! TONS of fans have been waiting for a Real Ghostbusters comic, and I’m happy to say, it’s here and it doesn’t disappoint!

Writer Erik Burnham steps flawlessly from the monthly Ghostbusters title to this long-anticipated one-shot. First off, I can’t believe Sony let IDW do this, but I’m sure glad they did! Anyone who’s watched the Real Ghostbusters cartoon knows and loves these classic characters. They’re not quite as dead-on to the movie characters that Burnham writes so well on the monthly. But, they are true to the spirit of the cartoon, and it’s fantastic. Burnham comes up with a great way to involve the Martians into a modern day job for “the boys”, and it works on a lot of different levels. What’s especially pleasing is the winks and nods to the old Real Ghostubsters comic published in the ’80s. There’s the talking “No Ghost Logo” and what would a Real Ghostbusters comic be without SLIMER?! Wrong, that’s what. This is a fun, old-school read from start to finish!

Ghostbusters #16
Written by Erik Burnham
Pencils by Dan Schoening
Colors by Luis Antonio DelGado
Slimer Pin-Up by Tristan Jones
Letters by Neil Uyetake
Edits by Tom Waltz
Covers by Dan Schoening & Chris Madden
IDW Publishing
Release Date: December 12, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

Hidden in Ghostbusters #16 is a honest to God, heartwarming romantic story. No, seriously. C’mon, I’m not joking!!! And can I just say that’s it a nice treat to have a Christmas issue of a comic? Because, it is.

This month, Erik Burnham gives us an issue spotlighting Winston. We don’t get enough Winston. So, while this isn’t a SOLO tale by ANY means, it’s a nice issue that totally revolves around him. Don’t worry, he still gives us the patented Erik Burnham “meanwhile, he’s some things that are going to cause trouble down the line” moments. Back to this issue, though, it revolves around Winston and his girlfriend, a ghost from Winston’s past, and him being trapped alone in a creepy old house. For the first time that I can recall, we get some inner monologue, which is really nice and very entertaining. This issue also sets up some VERY cool stuff, that I can’t even imagine what it’s leading up to or how it’s going to pan out, but I’m really excited to see where this all goes. All in all, a really nice, charming and funny issue.

Ghostbusters #14
Written by Erik Burnham
Art by Dan Schoening
Colors by Luis Antonio DelGado
PCOC Pages by Tristan Jones
Letters by Neil Uyetake
Covers by Dan Schoening & Tristan Jones
Edits by Tom Waltz
IDW Publishing
Release Date: October 31, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

Ghostbusters #14 continues the streak. It’s the 14th awesome issue in a row with the SAME creative team! In today’s comic world, that’s a record. Not to mention, it’s pretty damn awesome.

Erik Burnham was BORN to write this comic. Hey, Hollywood, THIS is the guy that you want to write Ghostbusters 3. There is no one who writes these characters better than him. He’s got every character spot on. No exceptions. This issue has the Ghostbusters taking on the Ghost Smashers, and they find themselves hooking up with a VERY unexpected ally. He’s got about three or four subplots going on at the same time, and none of them are confusing or muddled and they all get you excited for upcoming issues. THAT is some good comics writing, folks. Not to mention that the comic is full tilt fun from beginning to end.

KISS #5
Written by Chris Ryall
Art by Wagner Reis
Colors by Romulo Fajardo, Jr.
Letters by Shawn Lee
Edited by Tom Waltz
Covers by Sam Shearon, Jamal Igle & Romulo Fajardo, Jr.
IDW Publishing
Release Date: October 24, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

KISS #5 is a game changer. Seriously, folks. It takes the whole concept of KISS and turns it on its ear. Two words, kids: KISS GIRLS. That’s right, you wanted hot girls, you GOT hot girls! Not to mention The Phantom of the Park!

Writer Chris Ryall takes everyone’s “favorite” movie, KISS Meets The Phantom Of The Park, and puts a WHOLE new spin on it. The basics are still there, like the evil Abner Devereaux and, of course, the amusement park. I can’t tell you what a refreshing change of pace this is, and Ryall proves with this issue that the sky truly IS the limit when it comes to this comic. So far, it’s been very enjoyable, going from different eras in time watching the group take on the henchmen of the evil Destroyer, but this issue he makes everything fresh and totally different. Don’t get me wrong, we all love the group, but it’s nice to get a total 180 once in awhile. This book is something that you’re going to want to read at least a couple of times – it’s that good – and you’re going to make sure that you don’t miss anything. Maybe it’s my love of KISS or my love of KISS Meets The Phantom of the Park movie (c’mon, it was fun), but I honestly can’t remember enjoying a comic this much in a long time.

Ghostbusters #13
Written by Erik Burnham
Art by Dan Schoening
Colors by Luis Antonio DelGado
Letters by Neil Uyetake
Edits by Tom Waltz
Extra Story by Tristan Jones
Covers by Dan Schoening & Tristan Jones
IDW Publishing
Release Date: September 19, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

Ghostbusters #13 is, so far, the most interesting and plain-out exciting issue in the series so far. Not that the previous year’s worth of stories have been boring by any means, but it seems like the creative team really threw the rule book out the window with this issue.

I think writer Erik Burnham had a little too much caffeine while writing Ghostbusters #13. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, either. There is SO much going on in this issue, that it takes a second read to let your brain absorb all that’s going on. After a long road trip, the boys finally return back to New York City, where they find things are, let’s just say, different. There’s no business in the ghostbusting business, and by the end of the issue we find out why.