History Comicbook / Ghostbusters

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Over the years, there have been several comic series based on the ''Franchise/{{Ghostbusters}}'' franchise, mostly based on ''WesternAnimation/TheRealGhostbusters'' cartoon. In 2008, Creator/IDWPublishing acquired the comic book rights to the franchise, primarily focusing on the original films.

After some miniseries and one-shots with different creative teams, a full series began in 2011 which picks up a few years after ''Film/GhostbustersII'', sometime after ''VideoGame/GhostbustersTheVideoGame''. The first issue opens with Dr. Raymond Stantz having a nightmare that may prove prophetic...

This series ran from September 2011 through December 2012 for 16 issues. It returned as ''The New Ghostbusters'' for a 20-issue run from February 2013 through September 2014. A third ongoing, ''Ghostbusters: International'', ran for 11 issues from January 2016 through November 2016. There were also annuals in 2015, 2017 and 2018.

Through miniseries, they met the [[ComicBook/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesIDW IDW versions]] of the Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles in 2014, and again in 2017, ''WesternAnimation/TheRealGhostbusters'' versions of themselves in 2015, the ''[[Film/Ghostbusters2016 Ghostbusters: Answer the Call]]'' stars in 2017, and ''every Ghostbuster ever'' in 2018.

Written by Erik Burnham and illustrated by Dan Schoening, the series are littered with plenty of callbacks for long-time fans of the franchise to spot. The comics and their volume collections often feature supplementary material, such as the P.C.O.C. pages by Tristan Jones. Before a full crossover happened, some issues of the comic also had backup stories set in the continuity of ''The Real Ghostbusters''.

The ''Answer the Call'' stars received a miniseries of their own in 2017, written by Kelly Thompson with art by Corin Howell.

For the character page, see [[Characters/GhostbustersIDWComics here]].
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!!Who ya gonna trope?:

* AbbeyRoadCrossing:
** [[http://www.idwpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/JAN120478_11.jpg This cover]] to one of the collections.
** ''Ghostbusters 101'' has a form of this with [[Franchise/{{Ghostbusters}} Egon Spengler, Ray Stantz, Winston Zeddmore, Peter Venkman,]] [[Film/Ghostbusters2016 Abby Yates, Erin Gilbert, Jillian Holtzmann and Patty Tolan.]] Yes, all eight live-action Ghostbusters appearing together. It even includes [[WesternAnimation/ExtremeGhostbusters Kylie]] appearing amongst them.
* ActorAllusion:
** All over the place in the [[ComicBook/{{Ghostbusters}} comic book]] from Creator/IDWPublishing. In the first issue alone we have Ray being visited by the ghost of [[Film/TheBluesBrothers Joliet Jake]] and [[Film/{{Caddyshack}} Peter talking about golf]].
** One of the results of the photo shoot in issue two of "The New Ghostbusters" has Ron Alexander (who's based on Creator/ChevyChase) [[Film/NationalLampoonsEuropeanVacation in a pig suit]].
** Ray's preference for deep-dish pizza is probably a nod to his ''Film/TheBluesBrothers'' and ''Series/{{SCTV}}'' roots. (Pizza is SeriousBusiness for New Yorkers, and liking Chicago's is tantamount to treason.)
** In ''Ghostbusters 101'', it's revealed that Jillian Holtzmann (of ''Film/Ghostbusters2016'') has a counterpart in the 1980's universe who's [[Recap/TheSimpsonsS25E1Homerland an FBI Agent]]. Plus Jillian eventually introduces Peter to her mentor, Dr. Rebecca Gorin, who was played by Creator/SigourneyWeaver, and he asks Rebecca if she's ever been turned into a dog.
** It's also mentioned that in one of the alternate universes the Ghostbusters visited via their portal, Peter's counterpart [[spoiler:[[Film/{{Caddyshack}} blew up a golf course]]]].
** In the second crossover with the Ninja Turtles, Peter and Michelangelo end up in an AlternateUniverse populated by FunnyAnimals -- including turtle Ghostbusters. Each is named after the actors who played their counterpart in the original films and ''The Real Ghostbusters''; for example, Ray's counterpart is [[Creator/DanAykroyd Dan]] [[Creator/FrankWelker Welker]].
* AlmightyJanitor: Janine, technically their receptionist and secretary, falls increasingly into the load of being the Ghostbusters' coordinator and manager as events become crazier and crazier, especially when the team disappears for a while. Eventually, everyone starts unquestioningly treating her as their boss, second to Peck. There's even a bit of official art that depicts her drinking out of a "World's Best Boss" mug.
* AndAllIGotWasThisLousyTShirt: Referenced but not given out in the fourth issue of the [[ComicBook/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesIDW Ninja Turtles]] crossover. Peter says they'll have to get the turtles a souvenir shirt that reads, "I fought the minions of an uppity Class 7 and all I got was this lousy t-shirt."
* AndThenJohnWasAZombie: [[spoiler:And then Jenny Moran was a ghost]], at the end of ''Ghostbusters International''. [[spoiler:She stays.]]
* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: Inverted by Winston in the first issue of "The New Ghostbusters":
-->'''Winston''': Y'all invented a whole new technology, outsmarted Sumerian deities, and managed to never ''once'' try to seriously kill Pete here... Those are some big achievements, and it's time to top yourselves, guys.
* ArtShift:
** In ''[[Comicbook/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesIDW Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]/Ghostbusters'', the two teams live on alternate Earths and are illustrated by their respective artists from their series. When one team crosses over to the other's world, they're drawn in that world's style.
** The same happens in ''Ghostbusters: Get Real'' with Schoening illustrating both worlds (Burnham doubled as artist for the earlier backup stories).
** In fact, every time WesternAnimation/TheRealGhostbusters appear, they're lovingly done in a perfect reproduction of their art style. Ditto for the WesternAnimation/ExtremeGhostbusters.
* TheBadGuyWins: How the second volume ends. Luckily for the world, [[spoiler: Tiamat was only interested in thoroughly kicking her brother Gozer's ass (she does), and checking out/screwing with the humans that did it themselves once before (does she ''ever'' - see the BittersweetEnding entry above). When all is said and done, she just...leaves, satisfied with her work.]]
* BeardOfEvil:
** Referenced in ''Get Real''. IDW Peter feels like one of their counterparts ought to have a goatee.
** And in ''Ghostbusters 101'', Patty references ''Franchise/StarTrek'''s take on this trope as an explanation for [[spoiler:their universe noticeably overlapping with that of the 1980s Ghostbusters]]. Jill reminds the rest of her team that "this isn't anything like a TV show" and after they look in her direction, that they'd "better not be looking for facial hair."
* BearsAreBadNews: The boys have to deal with a possessed bear (specifically, the Wall Street bear statue in NYC) that's running through Times Square.
* BerserkButton: Don't deprive Egon of junk food. "I told you not to eat the rest of his twinkies. If he blows something up, it's on you."
* BewareOfHitchhikingGhosts: During the "Haunted America" arc, there's a multi-issue side story where Peter picks up a young woman named Laura whose car was totaled by a haunted 18-wheeler that's been terrorizing a certain non-New York local road. He captures the ghost trucker and drops Laura off at her house, though she disappears without getting out of the car. And when he goes to her house, her elderly mother says that [[spoiler:Laura was killed in an accident on that road twenty years earlier.]] Then again, the [[SpoilerTitle ending was essentially spoiled already by the story's title]], [[spoiler:"Who Killed Laura Parr?"]].
* BigApplesauce: Like the movies.
* BittersweetEnding: The world is safe at the end of the second volume... only because [[spoiler: Winston ''kills himself'' as a sacrifice to Tiamat. Then Tiamat decides that's "too easy," ''brings him back to life,'' almost kills his wife Tiyah, but then gets an even better (to her) idea. She makes Tiyah, and the entire world - except Winston, forget they were ever married!]]
* BorrowedBiometricBypass: Gozer wants his lost power back, and possesses Ray, trying to use him to open the containment unit. This also happened with Peter back in ''WesternAnimation/TheRealGhostbusters'', although this time, the Ghostbusters have security measures in place to prevent this.
* BroadStrokes: While the movies are the main basis of this continuity, the events of the 2009 video game which had different versions for different consoles and some stuff from the ''Real Ghostbusters'' cartoon are also part of the backstory.
* CanonWelding:
** The different versions of the Rookie from the different versions of the 2009 video game are all acknowledged as existing in the comics, though the realistic version's Rookie ([[CanonName given the name]] Bryan Welsh) is the only one who gets more than a passing mention.
** Kylie Griffin from ''WesternAnimation/ExtremeGhostbusters'' is employed at Ray's Occult Books and later becomes part of the "New Ghostbusters" team. Eduardo Rivera from the same show (sporting [[AdaptationDyeJob black hair instead of brown]]) later fills in for her at the store. Later, the actual ''Extreme'' continuity is revealed as an AlternateUniverse in ''Get Real'', seperate from ''The Real Ghostbusters''.
** Among the alternate universes glimpsed in ''Get Real'' are ''WesternAnimation/FilmationsGhostbusters'', ''WesternAnimation/HulkHogansRockNWrestling'' (which did a ''Ghostbusters'' parody at one point), ''Manga/TokyoESP'' (which featured knockoffs of the Ghostbusters as one-off characters) and numerous ''Ghostbusters'' video games.
* ChildHater: Ron Alexander, who ''[[WouldHurtAChild throws chairs]]'' at elementary school kids when a school appearance goes poorly.
* {{Crossover}}: Thrice and counting.
** ''[[ComicBook/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesIDW Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]/Ghostbusters'', running from October 2014 to January 2015.
** ''Ghostbusters: Get Real'', from June through September 2015, with ''WesternAnimation/TheRealGhostbusters''.
** ''Ghostbusters 101'', beginning March 2017, with ''Film/Ghostbusters2016''.
* CrossThrough: 2011's ''Infestation'' was one between ''Covert Vampiric Operations'', ''Zombies vs. Robots'', IDW's ''Franchise/{{Transformers Generation 1}}'' (circa [[ComicBook/TheTransformersIDW the 2009 ongoing]]), IDW's ''[[ComicBook/GIJoeIDW G.I. Joe]]'', the Franchise/StarTrekExpandedUniverse (specifically, the ''Original Series''), ''Ghostbusters'', and ''Pocket God Comics''. Zombies from the ''Zombies vs. Robots'' universe invade the ''CVO'' universe, through which they spread out into other universes and attempt to obtain these universes' native powers via assimilation; in the ''Ghostbusters'' universe they sought out Gozer's essence. IDW used this as the introduction to their ''Ghostbusters'' comics.
** 2013: The ''Film/MarsAttacks'' characters invaded other IDW universes, albeit with no real explanation, including ''The Real Ghostbusters'' thanks to fan demand.
** 2014's ''X-Files: Conspiracy'' had Series/TheLoneGunmen investigating the Ghostbusters, the Ninja Turtles, a present-day version of ''Transformers: Hearts of Steel'' and ComicBook/TheCrow for clues to help stop a powerful virus from destroying Earth.
* CrypticConversation: The ghost that speaks to Ray in his dreams, but only when he's warning Ray that something bad is about to happen. "The Third is coming."
* CuteMonsterGirl: Jenny Moran, after she dies. As befitting everyone's SeenItAll mentality, the only people who bat an eye about it are the interns.
* DeadpanSnarker: Drs. Peter Venkman and Egon Spengler, as usual.
* DopeSlap:
** Peter gives one to Ray in the third issue of the "Haunted America" arc:
--->'''Peter:''' And how did you know [[spoiler:telling the aliens they weren't aliens]] would work, Ray?\\
'''Ray:''' That? Oh, I didn't. I just guessed.\\
'''Peter:''' ...*THWACK*
** And Egon gives a rather ironic one to Peter in the first issue of "The New Ghostbusters" after [[spoiler:all four of them have been kidnapped and sent into limbo]]:
--->'''Peter:''' And the first person to make a "[[WesternAnimation/TheRealGhostbusters Peoplebuster]]" comment gets a whack to the back of the--\\
'''Egon:''' *THWACK*\\
'''Peter:''' --Hea-OW!
** In issue 4 of "Mass Hysteria", Peter gives one to Ron after he [[TemptingFate says "Get her!" twice]] while the Ghostbusters are blasting Tiamat and she knocks them back with ease.
--->'''Peter:''' There's a reason we ''never'' say "Get her!"
* DreamSequence: The opening of the first issue. It may not seem too suspicious that the Ghostbusters are on a talk show hosted by Janine, but the minute Gozer stands up in the middle of the audience (in the form "he" was first seen in) and raises her hand, it's far too surreal to be believed.
* FantasticRacism: Averted when Egon tries using a gris-gris bag from New Orleans to save [[spoiler:Janine's soul]] from Viking ghosts and one of said ghosts accuses Egon of using magic against them.
-->'''Egon:''' I didn't use magic, I was merely concerned that an ''evil spirit'' may have ''bewitched'' [[spoiler:the woman]] and brought forth a protective talisman as a precaution.\\
'''Viking Ghost:''' Do we look like evil spirits to you, Sorcerer?\\
'''Egon:''' That would be ''profiling''.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: While researching the park case in issue 6, Kylie gets a fortune cookie fortune that reads, "Much happens to the west." Three issues later, the "Haunted America" arc begins, where the Ghostbusters travel westward across America to deal with urgent out-of-state cases.
* FriendToAllChildren: Winston. He does free investigations and captures for them frequently, which exasperates Venkman.
* FunnyBackgroundEvent: In issue 3 of the [[ComicBook/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesIDW Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]] crossover, when a spectator tries calling for help during a ghost attack, the human versions of [[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles1987 Bebop and Rocksteady's '80s incarnations]] are behind him.
* HisNameIs: [[DownplayedTrope Downplayed]] and PlayedForLaughs in the 2015 annual. After their encounter with the Sandman, Egon (who's been eschewing sleep more than usual) says the entity was correct about one thing. When Winston asks him what, Egon doesn't answer, because he's just fallen asleep.
* HoistByHisOwnPetard:
** Ron Alexander competes with the Ghostbusters by claiming his Ghostsmashers will ''destroy'' ghosts, thus removing the need to spend time and money on containment equipment. He honestly believes he's improved on the Ghostbusters' tech to do this, but it's the end of the Ghostsmashers, as well as the start of Ron's jail sentence, when it not only doesn't work but leads to a major catastrophe.
** Bryan Welsh finds his "Rookie" name tag is a great way of handling angry clients. Ron later finds that Bryan's "Rookie" nametag is a great excuse to pretend ''he's'' the boss in front of clients. Later loops around to bite Ron back when Bryan, tired of Ron's [[{{Jerkass}} attitude,]] goes on a rant about it during a bust... comically unaware that Ron has been swallowed whole by the ghost.
** Idulnas eventually possesses Janoz Poha and uses him as a means of summoning the demonic Collectors to [[spoiler:send the Ghostbusters into limbo.]] Much later, Kylie eventually drives a wedge between the two and [[spoiler:Janoz changes the painted spell so that the Collectors abduct Idulnas instead]].
* HulkSpeak: Egon, in response to Venkman's request to use small words:
-->'''Egon:''' Energy '''big'''. Make ghosts on steroids. Me and Ray am have to adjust packs.\\
'''Peter:''' Thank you, Professor Franchise/{{Tarzan}}.\\
'''Egon:''' Ungawa.
* INeedAFreakingDrink: During the events of "Crossing Over", this is Walter Peck's reaction to finding out about multiple Ghostbuster teams from across the multiverse currently in his home dimension.
-->'''Peck:''' And... And how many of them are Peter Venkman?\\

* InkSuitActor: The characters' likenesses are patterned after their actors from the original movies (Creator/BillMurray, Creator/DanAykroyd, Creator/HaroldRamis, Creator/ErnieHudson, etc.) unlike in ''The Real Ghostbusters'', with the exception of Janine who takes more after her cartoon design than Annie Potts. Dana Barrett and Louis Tully also appear in the second series with the likenesses of Creator/SigourneyWeaver and Creator/RickMoranis. This is also exploited for new characters who are modeled after actors associated with the Ghostbusters cast:
** Ron Alexander is modeled after Creator/ChevyChase, specifically his appearance in ''Film/{{Caddyshack}}'', which also starred Murray and was co-written and directed by Ramis. Chase was part of the original ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' cast together with Aykroyd and when he left he was replaced by Murray. The series presents Ron and Peter as rivals; Chase and Murray notorious had a bitter feud and, on one famous occasion, came to physical blows backstage during an ''SNL'' appearance by Chase as guest host.
** When Ron starts the rival Ghost Smashers, two of the members are modeled after Donna Dixon and Vanessa Angel who appeared alongside Chase and Aykroyd in ''Film/SpiesLikeUs''. (The fourth member is based on Creator/HalleBerry.)
** Ray's spirit guide looks like Creator/JohnBelushi as he appeared in ''Film/TheBluesBrothers'', which starred Aykroyd and Belushi as brothers Elwood and Jake.
** In ''Ghostbusters Get Real'' #4, the desk clerk at the U.S. Embassy in UsefulNotes/{{Tokyo}} looks like Gilda Radner's Emily Litella character from [[Series/SaturdayNightLive SNL]].
** This gets a hilarious LampshadeHanging in Ghostbusters 101, when Patty Tolan mistakes Winston for a younger version of [[Creator/ErnieHudson her uncle...]]
* KilledOffForReal: Played with. After a DisneyDeath storyline involving Egon, Jenny stops the godlike being who brought him back from forcing them to give it an ArtifactOfDoom. In outrage, the being obliterates her, but instead of passing on she continues to help the Ghostbusters as a [[CuteMonsterGirl Class 4 spirit.]]
* LoopholeAbuse: How the UsefulNotes/{{Chicago}} franchise finally gets another pair of hands - Bryan can't hire locally, so he's sent [[{{Jerkass}} Ron,]] who is employed by the main office in New York.
* TheMenInBlack: FBIAgent Melanie Ortiz and her partner play this role when the Ghostbusters investigate alien ghosts in Roswell. To everyone's disbelief, she hits it off with Peter. Later she becomes a member of the "New Ghostbusters".
* {{Multiverse}}: Alternate universes were introduced with the Ninja Turtles crossover and the Real Ghostbusters crossover cements it, with stuff like the Filmation cartoon, the Extreme cartoon, the promo-pilot for the Real cartoon (which had different uniform colors and character design for Venkman), and the ''Slimer!'' {{Retool}} of the the Real cartoon making an appearance. Interestingly, according to Joliet Jake, the entire multiverse only has one afterlife. The reason he's been helping Ray is because he's the alternate universe counterpart of his brother, Elwood.
* MythologyGag:
** When Bryan and Ron, the Chicago branch, do a school visit, the kids are not impressed; they were expecting the ''[[WesternAnimation/TheRealGhostbusters real]]'' Ghostbusters.
** During the talk show portion of Ray's dream in the first issue, Gozer appears in the audience and asks Ray if he's a god. Having learned his lesson from the first movie, Ray says "Yes"... but gets called a liar and sent flying anyway.
--->'''Ray:''' There ''is'' no right answer to that question!
** Janine briefly dates a man who looks exactly like Egon's cartoon counterpart (specifically the older version from ''WesternAnimation/ExtremeGhostbusters''). Egon calls her out on picking men who resemble him to make him jealous. This gets a CallBack when they meet the actual cartoon Egon (the ''Real Ghostbusters'' version).
** The fourth issue of "The New Ghostbusters" has a subtle nod to Louis Tully from the movies (who eventually appears in person) combined with a ShoutOut to ''Franchise/ScoobyDoo'' when Egon says the group has to split up:
--->'''Ron Alexander:''' Do you guys also have a talking dog?\\
'''Ray:''' Not since our accountant left New York.
** One of the cover variants for the second issue depicts the "We're ready to believe you" part of the first movie's in-universe commercial in the comic's style, framed by a TV. Winston is included in an inset, adding [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall "...monthly!"]] to the line.
** The comic also contains numerous references to Dan Aykroyd's original script and other cut content, including:
*** The man with the dogs whose room Ray bursts into as he tries to trap Stay Puft is the original version of Louis Tully as played by Creator/JohnCandy.
*** The name of rival ghost hunting company, Ghost Smashers, was originally a working title for the first film.
*** The ghost in Ray's dreams is based on Creator/JohnBelushi, who was supposed to play Peter Venkman before he died.
** Despite the fact that ''WesternAnimation/TheRealGhostbusters'' takes place in a separate continuity, Dan Schoening sneaks in a lot of these:
*** Ray's prophetic dream features Buster the Ex-Tooth Fairy (Episode 206: "Buster The Ghost") and Shanna O' Callahan (Episode 233: "Banshee Bake A Cherry Pie") in the audience.
*** Ray sleeps with a dog plushie (Episode 106: "The Boogieman Cometh").
*** The toilet ghost in Jim Silver's bathroom was from the official toyline, although it never actually appeared in the show.
*** When the Ecto-1 needs to have its tire changed on the bridge, there's a troll on one of the wires in the background (Episode 105: "Troll Bridge").
*** When the [[spoiler: bear statue]] is rampaging through Times Square, there's another picture of Shanna, an ad for a BrandX version of Hi-C Ecto-Cooler, an ad promoting a performance of "Ride of The Valkyries" (Episode 231: "A Fright At The Opera"), and two advertisements for Jim Venkman's various scams, including the unmeltable black ice with Hob Anagarak inside (Episode 232: "Cold Cash and Hot Water").
*** The ghost containment unit is the same design as in the cartoon, although Ray's new mega-trap has the design from the sequel series, ''WesternAnimation/ExtremeGhostbusters''.
*** In the first issue of "The New Ghostbusters", Peter threatens to DopeSlap the first person to make a "Peoplebuster" (Episode 402: "Flip Side") comment.
** References to ''WesternAnimation/FilmationsGhostbusters'' abound. Janice dares Peck to "replace them with a talking gorilla", and Creator/SpencerTracy is the protagonist of a movie she and Roger watch briefly.
** When travelling to Ellis Island, Patty Tolan is listening to Winston, and states that he sounds and looks very similar to her uncle, but vastly exaggerates the age difference.[[note]]The IDW comic is set in around 1997-98 at this time, and the Answer The Call Ghostbusters are from roughly the present day...[[/note]]
* NoodleIncident: "C'mon, Eeg. Pop caught me up. He told me what you do for a living now. . . you tryin' to tell me this is the weirdest thing you ever came across?" "No, that involved an emu."
* ObstructiveBureaucrat:
** Walter "Dickless" Peck is ''still'' this. The kicker: he finally acknowledges that the Ghostbusters are not frauds, and outright states that he simply can't ''stand'' them. One of his conditions for not confiscating all the equipment and shutting down the business after the Ghostbusters go missing is that Janine and her replacement team can't take "time off" to search for them, they have to ''keep the business running as normal'' while trying to figure out what happened, which is already enough of a challenge for amateurs trying to fill the Ghostbusters' shoes. Another condition is that they have to comply with a marketing consultant he soon hires to make their image easily sellable, so the city can make money off of merchandising, special events, etc.
** The Chicago franchise has to deal with one that would make Peck proud: the franchise, in fact, consists ''solely'' of [[VideoGame/GhostbustersTheVideoGame Bryan Welsh]] for awhile because he's deliberately waylaid with absurd regulations preventing him from hiring anyone. He has to improvise whenever he gets a job he can't do solo. This also means he's ''way'' too busy to leave Chicago and help Janine when the Ghostbusters go missing.
--->'''Bryan:''' I'm not allowed to hire locally until there's a training program, which I'm not allowed to start. [...] I got a couple temps out of Minnesota, for when something big comes up. And I hire some schmucks to sit around as bait every once in a while when I need that, so I make do.
* TheOneGuy: Ron Alexander is the only guy in both the Ghost Smashers and New Ghostbusters.
* OutOfCharacterAlert: In the third issue of "''Mass Hysteria''", Peter takes a phone call for help while discussing the current problem with Walter Peck and immediately leaves via motorcycle without a word, much to Peck's surprise. Considering the caller was [[spoiler:Dana Barrett]], it's understandable.
-->'''Walter Peck:''' Ms. Melnitz, after taking that phone call, Peter Venkman ran out of here without a ''single smart-assed remark.'' That kind of character inconsistency is, in my experience, the ''reddest'' of red flags.
* PerkyGoth: The comic's version of Kylie.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Jim Silver of F.Z. Foods, pre-possession.
* SassySecretary: As always, Janine Melnitz.
* ShoutOut: Among others:
** After a possessed giant monkey statue is blasted in half and both halves get back up:
--->'''Peter:''' That's not an Indian curse -- it's the friggin' [[Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail Black Knight]].
** To ''Film/TheWizardOfOz'':
--->'''Peter:''' ''[to the phantom of the park]'' We come loaded for bear.\\
'''Ray:''' And monkeys.\\
'''Egon:''' And horses.\\
'''Peter:''' Oh, my.
** After Egon uses a boson dart to finish off a possessed bear statue, Peter says, "Well, I think we [[WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes found that kaboom]]."
** The same bear statue appears to flip [[Series/KnightRider K.I.T.T.]] in a news broadcast after it is first animated.
** A clown at a haunted amusement park is identical to [[Literature/{{IT}} Pennywise]].
** Series/TheATeam pass the 'Busters on the bridge, and B.A. Barracus yells "You suck!" at them.
** Egon notes that a paranormal phenomenon that can make buildings BiggerOnTheInside is referred to as "the [[Series/DoctorWho TARDIS]] effect".
** Two of Nick Runge's covers for Volume 1 are homages to ''[[Music/TheBeatles Abbey]] [[Music/AbbeyRoad Road]]'' and "[[{{Music/Queen}} Bohemian Rhapsody]]".
** One of Tristan Jones' covers for Volume 1 is an homage to the poster for ''Film/ArmyOfDarkness'', with Egon as Ash, and Janine [[LegCling clinging to his leg]].
** One of Erik Burnham's covers for Volume 1 is a reference to the opening credits for ''Series/TheBradyBunch'', with the boys, Janine, Slimer, Walter, Idulnas, and the Logo Ghost.
** In September 2013, several of IDW's comics used "animation" as a cover theme, so Dan Schoening drew ''WesternAnimation/TheRealGhostbusters'' in a pose from the TitleSequence of ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooWhereAreYou''.
** In May 2014, the boys, Janine, Slimer, and Stay-Puft were drawn as characters from ''VideoGame/AngryBirds'' on the cover of that month's comic, to celebrate the release of IDW's first issue of the licensed ''Angry Birds'' comic.
** From the 6th issue of "Mass Hysteria", regarding [[spoiler:Ray being possessed]]:
--->'''Winston:''' He's got wings now.\\
'''Peter:''' Well, he always did like ''[[Music/PaulMcCartney Paul]]'' [[Music/{{Wings}} best]].
** In the first issue of the [[ComicBook/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesIDW Ninja Turtles]] crossover, a fly pesters the scientist working the teleporter controls and Casey remarks, "Uh, Dude, I seen [[Film/TheFly1958 this movie]] before. It don't end so good."
** In the fifth issue of "Mass Hysteria", while they're trying to figure out how the ghosts escaped containment, Melanie says, "So let's just [[WesternAnimation/TheScoobyDooShow get involved til the mystery gets solved."]]
** In the first issue, when Peter and Winston take a call at a haunted apartment building, the former tries to figure out which apartment the ghost moved to and references ''Series/LetsMakeADeal'':
--->'''Peter:''' Okay, you messy little bugger. Which door is it? Door Number One? Door Number Two? Maybe I should just keep what I've won, Monty.
** The 2017 annual has Dan Schoering appearing on a cameo chased by the monsters of the opening sequence of ''WesternAnimation/TheRealGhostbusters''.
** There's a rather subtle example toward the bottom of the Las Vegas FBI case file featured in Volume 2 of ''Ghostbusters International'': A secondary report is mentioned, saying that while most of the untrapped ghosts faded away, a particular ghost described as "[[Film/{{Beetlejuice}} crazy hair, and wearing a black and white suit]]" promised to return in the near future to "shake things up."
** In ''Ghostbusters 101'', Peter asks where "that little blonde gremlin" (Jillian Holtzmann) is and if he has to "[[Film/{{Beetlejuice}} say her name three times or what]]".
* StartMyOwn: Ron Alexander starts his own "Ghost Smashers" team solely for financial gain, building his own gear from stolen specs. When a mission goes wrong, he's put in jail, but later he's employed by New York as part of the "New Ghostbusters" team when the originals go missing.
* {{Stripperiffic}}: Invoked, but downplayed. The marketing consultant doesn't deny that the new (mandated) outfit for the female Ghostbusters is to make then "look better," but the actual outfits are basically the coverall tops with really short shorts. Janine initially assumes they're costumes for photo shoots... and then it turns out the consultant has had the coveralls sent to storage so they ''have'' to wear the short shorts as uniforms. Naturally, Janine pointedly makes a good argument on why such a design for her, FBI Special Agent Melanie Ortiz, and Ray's assistant[=/=]employee Kylie Griffith is impractical for their line of work after coming back from an unexpected bust with cuts all over their legs.
* TheTapeKnewYouWouldSayThat: Invoked in one issue of ''Ghostbusters International'' when we see Egon making an audio recording of his research regarding part of what the others are dealing with overseas.
-->'''Egon:''' I believe someone has found... ...''The Rauoskinna''. At this point of the recording, Venkman will likely make a '''comment''' about the book's name or pronunciation, with an outside possibility he's referenced the Norwegian flight attendant who punched him out in grad school. Get it all '''out''' of your system, Peter. This is ''quite'' serious.
* {{Technobabble}}: Named by Venkman, although Egon was using jargon with actual meaning at the time.
* UnsatisfiableCustomer: Bryan gets enough of these to warrant a mention; he deals with them by never replacing [[GoodLuckCharm his "Rookie" nametag;]] irate customers see it and stop yelling at him so they can call and yell at his non-existent supervisor.
* WeHelpTheHelpless: Janosz's nephew can't pay the fee for a de-ghosting, so the kid's mother sends along an entire box of her delicious baklava instead. Winston gratefully accepts.
* YouSayTomato: The variant version shows up in Issue 7 of the initial run when Peter is arguing with the Phantom of the Park [[spoiler:inside his own mind]] over whether or not the latter has built up a soul addiction over the centuries. The phantom repeatedly denies his need to feed on souls is an addiction, to which Peter says, "Well you say potato, I say spud."
----

* OOCIsSeriousBusiness/OutOfCharacterAlert: In the third issue of "''Mass Hysteria''", Peter takes a phone call for help while discussing the current problem with Walter Peck and immediately leaves via motorcycle without a word, much to Peck's surprise. Considering the caller was [[spoiler:Dana Barrett]], it's understandable.

* AndThenJohnWasAZombie: [[spoiler:And then Jenny Moran was a ghost]], at the end of ''Ghostbusters international''. [[spoiler:She stays.]]

* {{Stripperiffic}}: Invoked, but downplayed. The marketing consultant doesn't deny that the new (mandated) outfit for the female Ghostbusters is to make then "look better," but the actual outfits are basically the coverall tops with really short shorts. Janine initially assumes they're costumes for photo shoots... and then it turns out the consultant has had the coveralls sent to storage so they ''have'' to wear the short shorts as uniforms. Naturally, Janine pointedly makes a good "argument" on why such a design for her, FBI Special Agent Melanie Ortiz, and Ray's assistant[=/=]employee Kylie Griffith is impractical for their line of work after coming back from an unexpected bust with cuts all over their legs.

** Ron Alexander is modeled after Creator/ChevyChase, specifically his appearance in ''Film/{{Caddyshack}}'', which also starred Murray and was co-written and directed by Ramis. Chase was part of the original ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' cast together with Aykroyd and when he left he was replaced by Murray. The series presents Ron and Peter as rivals.

Over the years, there have been several comic series based on the ''Franchise/{{Ghostbusters}}'' franchise, mostly based on ''WesternAnimation/TheRealGhostbusters'' cartoon. In 2008, Creator/IDWPublishing acquired the comic book rights to the franchise.

This series ran from September 2011 through December 2012 for 16 issues. It returned as ''The New Ghostbusters'' for a 20-issue run from February 2013 through September 2014. Through miniseries, they met the [[ComicBook/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesIDW IDW versions]] of the Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles in 2014, ''WesternAnimation/TheRealGhostbusters'' versions of themselves in 2015, and the ''[[Film/Ghostbusters2016 Ghostbusters: Answer the Call]]'' stars in 2017. A third ongoing started in 2016, called ''Ghostbusters: International''.

* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: In the third issue of "''Mass Hysteria''", Peter takes a phone call for help while discussing the current problem with Walter Peck and immediately leaves via motorcycle without a word, much to Peck's surprise. Considering the caller was [[spoiler:Dana Barrett]], it's understandable.

** In fact, every time WesternAnimation/TheRealGhostbusters appear, they're lovingly done in a perfect reproduction of their art style.