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Ghostbusters: Ghost Busted
Looking for a manga packed with ghoulies and guffaws galore?
Who ya gonna call?
GHOSTBUSTERS, of course!
Find out what's been happening since the Ghostbusters last saved New York City as Peter, Ray, Egon, Winston and the rest of the gang make their first manga appearance! The phrase "Everyone's a critic" takes on a whole new meaning when the crew is called in to help out a troubled Broadway production. Later, Ray learns that being a Ghostbuster isn't always the thrill-a-minute job he'd imagined it would be. And Egon has a touching interlude with a former instructor who still has a thing or two to learn about the afterlife. Then it all comes down to the ultimate showdown between our heroes and a team of peeved poltergeists!
The Ghostbusters are about to be Ghost Busted!
Who ya gonna call?
GHOSTBUSTERS, of course!
Find out what's been happening since the Ghostbusters last saved New York City as Peter, Ray, Egon, Winston and the rest of the gang make their first manga appearance! The phrase "Everyone's a critic" takes on a whole new meaning when the crew is called in to help out a troubled Broadway production. Later, Ray learns that being a Ghostbuster isn't always the thrill-a-minute job he'd imagined it would be. And Egon has a touching interlude with a former instructor who still has a thing or two to learn about the afterlife. Then it all comes down to the ultimate showdown between our heroes and a team of peeved poltergeists!
The Ghostbusters are about to be Ghost Busted!
192 pages, Paperback
First published October 7, 2008
2 people are currently reading
69 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
October 20, 2021
I picked this up for two bucks during a sale on RightStuf, because I've been a fan of Ghostbusters pretty much since I could walk. I've seen all of the movies (yes, all of them) multiple times, watched the cartoon religiously, read what I could of the IDW comics (which were out of print, before I knew about them)--hell, I even had a toy proton pack when I was a kid. I love this series, and discovering that a manga-styled graphic novel had slipped under my radar appealed to the completionist in me.
The end result is...mweh. There's a lot wrong with it, but it isn't wholly without merit. There's some heavy-handed moralizing in the final chapter, the plot of the main section of the book isn't even internally consistent (the ghosts are wielding physical weapons, yet we see one emerge from a trap with a weapon that's far too big to have fit inside that space, etc.), and the art it...uh...very hit-or-miss. But despite that, there are glimmers of the chemistry, the humor, and the storytelling that has made me a fan for over thirty years. Sadly, those moments are the exception, rather than the rule, and most of this is rather disappointing. I'm not sad that I own it (unlike the unfortunate Mystery Science Theater 3000 graphic novel), but I could only recommend this book to die-hard fans and completionists.
The end result is...mweh. There's a lot wrong with it, but it isn't wholly without merit. There's some heavy-handed moralizing in the final chapter, the plot of the main section of the book isn't even internally consistent (the ghosts are wielding physical weapons, yet we see one emerge from a trap with a weapon that's far too big to have fit inside that space, etc.), and the art it...uh...very hit-or-miss. But despite that, there are glimmers of the chemistry, the humor, and the storytelling that has made me a fan for over thirty years. Sadly, those moments are the exception, rather than the rule, and most of this is rather disappointing. I'm not sad that I own it (unlike the unfortunate Mystery Science Theater 3000 graphic novel), but I could only recommend this book to die-hard fans and completionists.
April 26, 2018
It really is like they took plot lines from the Real Ghostbusters TV show and then some Manga flare and BOOM! you have Ghostbusters: Ghost Busted.
They stay true to the characters that we know and love and some old faces are brought back in ghoulish ways.
It came, I read, its was a damn good time
But why no ugly little spud???? Why???
They stay true to the characters that we know and love and some old faces are brought back in ghoulish ways.
It came, I read, its was a damn good time
But why no ugly little spud???? Why???
February 6, 2022
Manga.
Comics and graphic novels that originate from Japan. Often printed in black & white for either economic reasons, aesthetic purposes; or both! Based on Japanese scrolls from the 19th Century, most manga is read from right to left. The artwork is highly stylized and sometimes a characters emotions or a scenes overall theme might result in the characters looking totally different for a panel or two. While a majority of manga is based on popular Japanese franchises or an all-new idea, a manga set to a licensed property from the West has become a growing trend in the past 50 years. Batman, Star Wars, Star Trek (Original Series and Next Gen.) and the Marvel Universe have all received the manga treatment.
Ghostbusters.
A doomed labor of love from Dan Aykroyd to create a project to help keep best friend John Belushi out of trouble, resulted in the birth of a comedy horror franchise. In 1984, the world was introduced to the Ghostbusters. Ray, Peter, Winston and Egon. These four heroes work to free New York City from the threat of the demonic Gozer and it's army of ghosts and demons. After a not-as-good sequel, an amazing ABC Saturday cartoon series and toy line and a handful of video games ranging from god-awful (Sega) to epic, the Ghostbusters were turned into a manga in 2008.
Ghost Busted is set a couple of years after the events of Ghostbusters II. Reinstated by the mayor of New York, the guys set about ridding the world of spectral threats. But instead of just blasting every ghost they run across, the Ghostbusters have also gotten into the medium business.
Realizing that many spirits are just the deceased trying to right some wrongs before heading over to the other side, the fellas now try to solve the Big Apple's ghost problem peacefully. However, should things get out of hand, the Ghostbusters are not afraid to use their nuclear powered proton packs.
While the Ghostbusters continue to investigate the paranormal to great success, a character from the team's past hasn't had it so good. A plan of revenge is brewing. Allies are being recruited. Soon, a new team of busters will wall the city streets. A team of the undead. Meet the Ghostbuster-busters!
This Manga might not be all that traditional. The publisher, Tokyopop isn't Japanese. It's an L.A. based company whose Manga division was based in Germany. Up until 2011, Tokyo pop published German translations of Japanese comics as well as original English language Manga for American markets. The company now focuses strictly on Japanese properties.
Also, this book reads left to right like a traditional English language text. The panels also rotate clock-wise instead of counter. But the artwork is definitely traditional manga. When a character gets emotional, they become angelic chibis or hyper-sensitive emojis.
So Ghostbusters: Ghost Busted wasn't very true to the manga genre. However, I'm not your average manga reader. The number of manga I've read compared to traditional comics and graphic novels looks like the electoral college numbers between Reagan and Mondale. With exception of the cat-centric What's Michael?, I don't think I've read anything manga that wasn't based on an American property.
Plus, I love Ghostbusters. I didn't realize how much I needed them until COVID. With being lockdown and then bogged down, I counted down the days to the true sequel of the franchise Ghostbusters: Afterlife. Even after being pleasantly surprised with that 2021 film, my hunger for Ghostbusters continues to gnaw. Consider my appetite sated. But I'll be hungry for another round of my favorite ghost hunters soon! Because CRUD! No Slimer!!!
Comics and graphic novels that originate from Japan. Often printed in black & white for either economic reasons, aesthetic purposes; or both! Based on Japanese scrolls from the 19th Century, most manga is read from right to left. The artwork is highly stylized and sometimes a characters emotions or a scenes overall theme might result in the characters looking totally different for a panel or two. While a majority of manga is based on popular Japanese franchises or an all-new idea, a manga set to a licensed property from the West has become a growing trend in the past 50 years. Batman, Star Wars, Star Trek (Original Series and Next Gen.) and the Marvel Universe have all received the manga treatment.
Ghostbusters.
A doomed labor of love from Dan Aykroyd to create a project to help keep best friend John Belushi out of trouble, resulted in the birth of a comedy horror franchise. In 1984, the world was introduced to the Ghostbusters. Ray, Peter, Winston and Egon. These four heroes work to free New York City from the threat of the demonic Gozer and it's army of ghosts and demons. After a not-as-good sequel, an amazing ABC Saturday cartoon series and toy line and a handful of video games ranging from god-awful (Sega) to epic, the Ghostbusters were turned into a manga in 2008.
Ghost Busted is set a couple of years after the events of Ghostbusters II. Reinstated by the mayor of New York, the guys set about ridding the world of spectral threats. But instead of just blasting every ghost they run across, the Ghostbusters have also gotten into the medium business.
Realizing that many spirits are just the deceased trying to right some wrongs before heading over to the other side, the fellas now try to solve the Big Apple's ghost problem peacefully. However, should things get out of hand, the Ghostbusters are not afraid to use their nuclear powered proton packs.
While the Ghostbusters continue to investigate the paranormal to great success, a character from the team's past hasn't had it so good. A plan of revenge is brewing. Allies are being recruited. Soon, a new team of busters will wall the city streets. A team of the undead. Meet the Ghostbuster-busters!
This Manga might not be all that traditional. The publisher, Tokyopop isn't Japanese. It's an L.A. based company whose Manga division was based in Germany. Up until 2011, Tokyo pop published German translations of Japanese comics as well as original English language Manga for American markets. The company now focuses strictly on Japanese properties.
Also, this book reads left to right like a traditional English language text. The panels also rotate clock-wise instead of counter. But the artwork is definitely traditional manga. When a character gets emotional, they become angelic chibis or hyper-sensitive emojis.
So Ghostbusters: Ghost Busted wasn't very true to the manga genre. However, I'm not your average manga reader. The number of manga I've read compared to traditional comics and graphic novels looks like the electoral college numbers between Reagan and Mondale. With exception of the cat-centric What's Michael?, I don't think I've read anything manga that wasn't based on an American property.
Plus, I love Ghostbusters. I didn't realize how much I needed them until COVID. With being lockdown and then bogged down, I counted down the days to the true sequel of the franchise Ghostbusters: Afterlife. Even after being pleasantly surprised with that 2021 film, my hunger for Ghostbusters continues to gnaw. Consider my appetite sated. But I'll be hungry for another round of my favorite ghost hunters soon! Because CRUD! No Slimer!!!
June 25, 2021
If there's something strange in your neighborhood who you gonna call? Ghostbusters!
The boys (and Janine) are back in a manga from a time Tokyopop thought it was a good idea to license multiple non-anime titles so they can bring even more people into the manga fandom. Whether or not this lead to their temporary halt of production (Come back to us Sergeant Frog...I miss you) or something else like bad management is not something I care to look up but these books still exist for those of us that are curious how well TV shows and movies work as manga.
The manga is split into three stories split between six chapters. the first and third story are written by Matt Yamashita and the second story is written by Nathan Johnson (which although it is split into four chapters including the cover named Ghost Busted seems to still only be about half the book.) For those use to the same mangaka doing art for the whole book you might be in for a shock too seeing as several artists (as well as ink and tones people) worked on the different chapters with the exception Michael Shelfer doing the art for at least three of the six chapters. Also just in case you are curious this book while not flipped (being not originally from Japan) is read from left to right like any normal comic should be read so if you are expecting the right to left style commonly associated with manga I fear you may also be disappointed in that. :)
All in all the manga is a tribute to the spirit of the Ghostbusters having elements of snark and ghosts as well as each character's unique personality (but dang...Winston has an impressive non particle accelerator gun) so if you like the Real Ghostbusters cartoon or the movies then you will probably like this manga too. :)
The boys (and Janine) are back in a manga from a time Tokyopop thought it was a good idea to license multiple non-anime titles so they can bring even more people into the manga fandom. Whether or not this lead to their temporary halt of production (Come back to us Sergeant Frog...I miss you) or something else like bad management is not something I care to look up but these books still exist for those of us that are curious how well TV shows and movies work as manga.
The manga is split into three stories split between six chapters. the first and third story are written by Matt Yamashita and the second story is written by Nathan Johnson (which although it is split into four chapters including the cover named Ghost Busted seems to still only be about half the book.) For those use to the same mangaka doing art for the whole book you might be in for a shock too seeing as several artists (as well as ink and tones people) worked on the different chapters with the exception Michael Shelfer doing the art for at least three of the six chapters. Also just in case you are curious this book while not flipped (being not originally from Japan) is read from left to right like any normal comic should be read so if you are expecting the right to left style commonly associated with manga I fear you may also be disappointed in that. :)
All in all the manga is a tribute to the spirit of the Ghostbusters having elements of snark and ghosts as well as each character's unique personality (but dang...Winston has an impressive non particle accelerator gun) so if you like the Real Ghostbusters cartoon or the movies then you will probably like this manga too. :)
December 20, 2023
I was thinning out the manga collection to give to The Carolina Manga Library and found this which must have been a gift from a friend knowing I love Ghostbusters as I know I didn't buy it. I'm glad I didn't because this was just...mediocre. Honestly, the Saturday Morning cartoon had better plots and art. Even though this is put out by TokyoPop I classed it as a graphic novel not manga because it's very obviously American artists/art style driven.
Speaking of the art, yeah it's pretty bad. Sorry, it just is. It's often hard to tell Venckman from Ray. Winston is barely used in the storylines and the humor is a bit on the juvenile side (are men in women's clothing really funny any more?)
The storylines aren't memorable either, there was something about a theater production with a producer who insisted on aircraft, a woman's clothing line was strangling the wearer, the rather awful mentor of Egon whose story could almost be touching and then the idea of something coming for all three ghostbusters (but not winston, leaving him to the rescue).
At least I can put it in the donation pile without regret.
Speaking of the art, yeah it's pretty bad. Sorry, it just is. It's often hard to tell Venckman from Ray. Winston is barely used in the storylines and the humor is a bit on the juvenile side (are men in women's clothing really funny any more?)
The storylines aren't memorable either, there was something about a theater production with a producer who insisted on aircraft, a woman's clothing line was strangling the wearer, the rather awful mentor of Egon whose story could almost be touching and then the idea of something coming for all three ghostbusters (but not winston, leaving him to the rescue).
At least I can put it in the donation pile without regret.
November 14, 2024
It's funny that this was written so long after the original movies. Some of this is fluffy, some of it is an overarching story. There are a few different artists who have different styles and imagined the characters differently. It didn't really bother me much, but it may others.
September 27, 2020
The black and white Manga style is a bit dreary, but the stories are good.
February 21, 2025
Entertaining and cleverly connected to the themes and threads of the original two movies.
June 10, 2013
This was a very creative use of the characters and concepts from Ghostbusters. We're treated to a nice variety of art styles and stories that do very unexpected things that even the wonderful animated series never did. A couple of the stories here are not-too-subtle commentaries; but the underlying messages do not detract from the fun. Plus I can't say that I disagree so much with the messages.
The storyline connecting chapters II through V was so great in its implications, that I hope the current Ghostbusters comics pick it up where it left off (or pick up the ideas) and give us more.
The storyline connecting chapters II through V was so great in its implications, that I hope the current Ghostbusters comics pick it up where it left off (or pick up the ideas) and give us more.
July 26, 2009
A fun little read for me. I grew up watching the movies and the animated series. My only beef with this was the art work. Since I am not a comic art critic, all I can say is that it just didn't fit my taste. Story wise, the book was concise with characters true to there original counterparts.
March 20, 2011
Characters very like the films, stories are fun. Its just in a manga style artwork.
May 28, 2011
Got this for my birthday. I was a little worried because it was Manga. I don't like the art usually. This was a lot of fun though. Just wish Slimer was in it.
October 2, 2012
It was interesting to see another chapter of the Ghostbuster story, but it was very weak.
June 24, 2013
Loved the different art styles and how the humor was close to the movies. Not for every Ghostbusters fan, but I certainly enjoyed it!
February 14, 2014
Some compiled stories of the Ghostbusters post-Marshmallow & Statue of Liberty foray. Funny, some more insight into some of the characters.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews