Ghostbusters, Volume 4: Who Ya Gonna Call?

Ghostbusters (IDW Collected Editions)

by Erik Burnham, Dan Schoening (Illustrator)

The Ghostbusters arrive back in New York, expecting a backlog of cases to clear through. Instead, things are strangely quiet on the supernatural front, and it’s all thanks to the city’s newest paranormal investigation and elimination service! But the science behind their methods is making Egon nervous. Can the Ghostbusters talk their competition off a potentially dangerous road? Collects Ghostbusters #13-16.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Ghosts, Fiction, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Comic Book

104 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 10, 2013

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

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is without a doubt one of the most fun comic series I have ever read.

[Campo Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 rounded up. still not back up to the standards of the first two volumes but I did enjoy this one and it is a step up from volume 3.

[James Bowman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun ideas in this volume, centered around a competitor to the Ghostbusters, whose shortcuts bring about some serious trouble (a riff on the Real Ghostbusters episode "Robo-Buster"). Unfortunately, the whole thing is resolved a little too quickly, and it ends another promising subplot while it was at it. Good while it lasted, but wish it lasted longer. (B+)

[Will Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good volume, but one that I feel wrapped up all the main plot points a little too quickly. I feel like we could have had another whole volume dealing with the ghostbusters knock-off and we especially needed another moment with Egon’s friend. I needed another scene or two showing why he was so willing to release death after stubbornly refusing to give up his new life.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continuing the adventures of the Ghostbusters, this graphic novel reaches back to the second movie and brings back some characters as well as referencing earlier graphic novels. An enjoyable quick read for a good escape!

[Ian Williamson · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a slightly disappointing third installment, the fourth volume goes back the the tried and tested formula of volumes one and two. Burnham keeps the fun maxed up, and again proves he has the ability to give believable dialogue to all the busters. A hanging story thread is resolved, though a bit too quickly and neat for my liking, and seeds for further storylines are been sowed. A lovely touch tying into the videogame having the rookie make an appearance. The artwork remains at it's impeccably high standard Schoening has set. My personal highlight of this volume was seeing Ray get out the 2 man chopper I owned as a toy when I was younger.

[Mike Jozic · Rating 4 out of 5]

This continues to be one of my favourite comic series ever. I love Burnham and Schoening's take on the characters and their world. They are so respectful of what came before and build on it so skillfully. Heck, they even brought back the rookie from the video game for a cameo and it worked perfectly. I hope this book never goes away.

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE THIS SERIES. New stories, but so many callbacks to older canon (they incorporate a little of EVERYTHING), and more little jokes and pop culture references than you can count. Brilliantly written and beautifully drawn and colored. Keep up the good work, guys.

Also conveniently the length of one session on the exercise bike.

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid Ghostbusters story but nothing sensational. The Ghostbusters return to NYC to find out there is a rival team taking out ghosts. However their method is just dispersing the ghosts which will allow them to eventually come back. Dan Schoening's art is very cartoony. I'm not a big fan.

Received an advance copy from IDW and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ghost Smashers hit NYC while the Ghostbusters were on a Midwest sweep. But the ghost smashing did not work as advertised and a huge upsurge in supernatural phenomena ensued leading to the arrest of the Ghost Smashers and the elevation of the Ghostbusters back into the NYC's good graces. This volume sets up the situation for Ghostbusters: The New Ghostbusters. Enjoy!