Ghostbusters, Volume 3: Haunted America

Ghostbusters (IDW Collected Editions)

by Erik Burnham, Dan Schoening (Artist)

New York City doesn't have a monopoly on the supernatural, and it was only a matter of time before apparitions in other areas were enhanced by the expansion of psychokinetic energy! Haunted America finds the Ghostbusters venturing out far beyond the comfortable confines of the Empire State. This ghostly tour has stops in Detroit, New Orleans, Roswell, and Seattle.

Collects issues 9-13.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Ghosts, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Science Fiction, Fantasy

124 pages, Paperback

First published December 4, 2012

About the author

Erik Burnham is a Minnesotan writer and artist that first broke into comics with a series of humorous short stories in the Shooting Star Comics Anthology. These stories featured his original creation, Nick Landime, and culminated in a one-shot: Nick Landime vs. the World Crime League, published by Shooting Star in 2005.

Off and on, in this same time period, Erik also produced a short run of an online strip, The Down Side, until technical issues wore him down. He aims to return to the strip one day.

In 2007, Erik found produced work for two other anthologies – a short humor piece for History Graphics Press’ Civil War Adventures #1, and a horror story for Gene Simmons’ House of Horror #3, produced by IDW Publishing.

This lead to several other projects for IDW, up to and including his critically acclaimed run on the ongoing GHOSTBUSTERS comic book.

Erik has worked on other projects not related to comic books, and hopes one day to share those with the public at large. In the meantime, he still lives quietly in Minnesota; any rumors about this being because he’s completely afraid of the forty-nine other states (and Canada) remain unverified at this time.

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

This third volume of IDW's Ghostbusters series is more episodic than the first two, with the boys being sent on a road trip across the US to various spooky locations. Each issue takes them to a different city (or town... US geography's not my strong suit) where they face a variety of supernatural phenomena.

There's even a guest appearance by a very familiar (yet legally distinct) pair of FBI agents who are well known for investigating 'spooky' phenomena.

Despite the change in format, I still got a kick out of reading this, especially spotting all the references. I particularly appreciated the shout out to Andrew Wood in the Seattle issue. D'ya ever hear the story, of Mr. Faded Glory? Say he who ride the pony must someday fall...

[Campo Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 this book was not in the same class as the first two volumes but it's still fun in its own way. the biggest issue I had with this book is that all the stories are along one road trip but share 0 continuity. imagine you had a 5 part movie series that all had the same characters and story lines but had nothing to do with each other that's how it feels. the book is still good it's just not good enough and kinda takes away from the series.

[Mangrii · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,75 / 5

Nuestro intrépido grupo de héroes viaje fuera de la Gran Manzana hasta ciudades y lugares emblemáticos para enfrentarse a nuevos peligros: Detroit y un ejercito espectral, Nueva Orleans y una antigua reina vudú, Roswell y su famosa base aérea y Seattle, donde un musico maldecido esta terminando con la ciudad. Burnham no sume en un ligero viaje episódico, donde nos encontramos con personajes históricos como el General Anthony Wayne, la famosa reina vudú Marie Laveau y la mítica base Roswell.

El tercer volumen de Cazafantasmas se vertebra como una serie de historias cortas y cierto cariz independiente, repletas de guiños, como cierta pareja de agentes especiales del FBI que rondan la base Roswell. Un tomo que mantiene el tono realista y gamberro de la serie, con todos esos diálogos envenenados y teorías de base científica. Un tomo atestado de referencias a la cultura de lo sobrenatural en América, donde a veces las resoluciones de los casos son un poco simples, pero ello no evita el puro disfrute.

Redondea la jugada, una vez más, el dibujo de Schoening de estilo más cartoon y los colores de Luis Antonio Delgado. El estilo de serie de animación, con mucho color y definición, son el complemento perfecto para la serie. Lo que menos me ha gustado del tomo, ha sido el complemento extra. Se trata de una quinta historia, creada y dibujada por Tristan Jones, titulada ¿Quién mato a Laura Parr?, que se aleja tanto del estilo de la saga que parece sacada de contexto. Una pena.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Volume 3 of IDW's Ghostbusters Ongoing series. Another 4 full issues with an extra story added as well.

This was very episodic, to the point it actually made me think of the old Real Ghostbusters cartoon. The guys are "touring" around America picking up a case in each of the four locations.

This time round there wasn't anything that really stood out. They rolled into town, solved the case and moved on. There was some witty banter along the way but there was nothing terribly memorable.

The extra story was one I was happy to see. Set between issue 3 and 4 in this trade it was nice to see one of the guys out and about on his own. The conclusion was very clichéd but not in a bad way. It was quite touching and a different kind of story than usually told.

This story is plodding along and as much as I'm not hating it I'm not feeling it's anything amazing. I'll continue the series but not until next year when I get round to buying another volume.

Fans of Ghostbusters will find some charm in this and no doubt the nostalgia will carry them through. I'm personally hoping for a big overarching plot (I think I've mentioned this in all 3 reviews) as this is something I like in a series I read / watch. Give me that and I'd start rating these books higher. As it is they're just average in my eyes.

[Kyle Warner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as the previous volumes. Vol. 3 has the gang on a road trip, visiting Detroit, New Orleans, Nevada, and Seattle, meeting various ghosts and weird happenings along the way. It's more episodic than the first two books, and the threats are less threatening. I enjoyed the Nevada bit, though -- GB meets an FBI agent who looks suspiciously like David Duchovny and keeps ranting about aliens.

[Will Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid episodic romp through famous supernatural towns across the US. While I was digging the overarching plot the series has been building up, I enjoyed the different flavors of supernatural shenanigans that we couldn’t have had in New York (the New Orleans issue was the stand out in that regard). Lots of fun stuff teased next volume when the boys get back to New York and continue the plot. I’m really digging this series.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun graphic novel continuing the adventures of the Ghostbusters, but this time they are on a road trip across the country and saving the day in multiple states! In addition there is a fun little short story at the end of the graphic novel.

[James Bowman · Rating 3 out of 5]

A neat storyline taking the Ghostbusters out of New York and into the wider world, with some nice references to regional supernatural lore. (B+)

[kelsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

think this has been my favorite volume so far :’)

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ghostbusters have been sent forth from New York to clear up supernatural situations around America. They trap Mad Anthony Wayne in Detroit, deal with a voodoo ghost in New Orleans, alien ghosties in Roswell, and a Musical ghost (no not Kurt) in Seattle. And while they are out touring what is brewing in the Big Apple? read the next volume and find out!

[Ian Williamson · Rating 3 out of 5]

After the high standard that the first two volumes set, this third volume felt a little disappointing. The idea was sound but having only stand alone storylines here took away the strong narrative that Burnham had started in the previous volumes. There are some great moments to enjoy, and continues the character development started in earlier storylines. Personally it felt as though these stories could have been single filler issues between setting up different storylines. The artwork here is still as strong as the previous issues, and potentially with the Seattle storyline may even have surpassed itself with the one page showing the demise of the ghost. There are further Easter eggs sprinkled throughout to enjoy, the highlight of this issue been Michael Jackson and his zombie entourage from Thriller.

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This team continues to capture the magic of Ghostbusters with a series of fun adventures as the Ghostbusters travel across America, busting ghosts in several states. I appreciated the nod to my local history when General Wayne (whose name was given to Fort Wayne, Indiana) showed up. I could see this or a similar plot working well in a TV mini-series or as a film script, with PKE readings building up towards something big as the team tries to research their way to the bottom of local haunting mysteries.

[Luna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this collection. I've seen some reviewers of previous volumes complain about the short tales at the end of each issue. I haven't agreed with that perspective and can't see how anyone could feel that the multi-issue short in this volume wasn't on par with the rest of the stories. This is what Supernatural could have been, it is a shame that show had an escalation fetish.

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO MUCH FUN, and so many little jokes layered in the artwork. I mean yes, I'm kind of contractually obligated to like the Roswell segment (big fan of the Belda'r Cafe), but my favourite overall was the Detroit segment thanks to old Mad Ant.

[P. · Rating 2 out of 5]

more episodic than the first volume.

[Brian]

a cross country trip takes the 'busters out of New York and to some stereotypical ghosts across our country

[sixthreezy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my favorite volume so far solely for the fact that the single issues were each a story of the Ghostbusters trip across America. Very fun.

[Amanda [Novel Addiction] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still in love.

[Liz Stoneking · Rating 2 out of 5]

Volume 3 bummed me out mainly because the first two were so great. This one paled in comparison. It was a bit disappointing.

[Lucas Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love this series but this volume was bit of a let-down. It was short, easily concluded stories that posed no challenge for the ghostbusters. Hope the next volume is better.

[Kim Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed seeing the Ghostbusters in new locales battling the supernatural. I picked this up randomly but I'm looking forward to reading more.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Ghostbusters go on a tour of America, helping out cities that have specifically asked for their services. There's a lot of standalone fun stories here, I particularly liked the one where an FBI agent was keen to blame the ghosts on aliens. A fun, good read.