MAKING THE CALL: CLAVET & DABB ON GHOSTBUSTERS

[MattBrady]

by Benjamin Ong Pang Kean

There is definitely something weird in the neighborhood. Who ya gonna call? There’s something strange and it don’t look good. Who ya gonna call? Are you afraid of ghosts? Well, fear not as the real boys in grey return with their proton packs and ghost traps in an all-new adventure in February’s Ghostbusters, a four-issue limited series entitled ‘Legion’ from 88MPH Studios.

Written by Andrew Dabb with art by Steve Kurth, the new Ghostbusters comic in 2004 marks the 20th anniversary of the popular original box-office hit movie. Newsarama got in touch with sole owner of 88MPH Studios and project manager-art director-editor-president-coffee maker Sebastien Clavet and writer Dabb for more on this revival.

“Who else would you call?,” Clavet asked.

“Obviously I am a hard core GB fan, so for me it’s very important that we produce a book that reflects the flavor and feeling of the first movie. Not that I dislike the second or the cartoon series, but the first had something very special about it that we’ll try to duplicate in comic book form. These aren’t superheroes, they’re basically paranormal janitors who have a job to do. A hard, dirty, slimy job.”

“’Legion’, the initial four-issue mini-series, picks up six months after the end of the first movie,” Dabb explained. “Peter, Egon, Ray and Winston are the stars. Ray is the focus of ‘Legion’, but the other guys get their own little subplots. We’ve really tried to give everyone screen time – er, page time? - and take them a few steps beyond where they were in the first movie; Ray isn’t always happy go lucky, Egon shows signs of actually having emotions, Peter gets serious and Winston has a sense of humor. We’re not making any dramatic changes yet, but we didn’t want to tread the exact same ground as previous incarnations of the property have either.”

“Those characters are the core of the book. They’re so lovable and so well developed that it would have been a bad idea for us not to use them. Of course there are a few new additions to the cast, but those four are our focus,” Clavet said.

So, what is the four-parter about then? Some say things lose their shine after a period of time and it’s no different with the Ghostbusters.

“The fame the Ghostbusters got for beating Gozer is fading and some people are starting to think that the whole thing was just a really elaborate - and marshmallowey - hoax,” Dabb said. “Even the people that believe in what the Ghostbusters are doing don’t really see them as anything more than glorified exterminators. Which, obviously, isn’t what the guys wanted. They thought they were going to change the world and win the Nobel prize, instead they’ve become sort of a fad, and one that’s on the decline to boot. ‘Legion’ deals with what you do after you save the world? Where do you go from there? After all, most ghosts aren’t out to enslave the planet, they’re a lot more localized. Of course, that doesn’t mean they’re not dangerous, especially when they work together.”

The first movie debuted in June of 1984 and starred Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson, Annie Potts and Sigourney Weaver. The success of the movie led to a sequel, a few animated series and comics based on these original and other characters created within the property. However, to most hard core GB fans, the first one is still the best. Therefore, it’s no surprise that the team involved make no secrets about banking on the first movie’s wave of success. Yes, even though it’s twenty years after.

So, what makes the Ghostbusters relevant to today’s generation?

“Guys with nuclear accelerators strapped to their backs are always relevant,” Dabb said.

“GB is a timeless concept, the first and only of its kind. Twenty years from now people will still know what a Ghostbuster is and they’ll remember it with a smile on their face,” Clavet added.

Perhaps a trip down memory lane and a reintroduction session would be good to the ‘80s child in some of us, as well as the present generation of readers. So, who are Peter, Egon, Ray and Winston?

“Peter is by far the least serious of the Ghostbusters,” Dabb explained. “He’s not in it for the science, so much as to get on camera and make a lot of money. He’s the one that will enjoy the fame the most and get jealous when it’s gone (or passes to someone else). Peter cracks a lot of jokes and pretends to be shallower than he really is, but when things get tough he can get tough too.

“Egon is—well—Egon is the exact opposite of Peter. He couldn’t care less about fame or money, he just wants to learn and test his theories. But Egon’s not a clichéd science nerd by any means, in a lot of ways he’s the leader of the group, or at least the decision-maker. Egon may be detached from the world a bit, as a lot of geniuses tend to be, but when something (or someone) he loves is threatened he’ll do anything to protect it. He also has a really offbeat sense of humor that is a lot of fun to write.

“Ray is the core of the Ghostbusters, he’s the engine that keeps them running. He’s a skilled scientist and engineer, but he also has an almost childlike sense of wonder about the things they’re doing and seeing. In other places he’s come off as almost naïve, but to me Ray is the only one of the four that really understands the magnitude of what they’re doing. He can see the big picture and, unfortunately, that picture isn’t always good. The great things they’re doing thrill him, but when they fail - and they do fail - he feels it the most.

“Winston is the realist. He doesn’t get caught up in the metaphysical ramifications of what they’re doing, he just wants to do his job and go home. Winston’s a blast first, ask questions later kind of guy. He knows that, at the end of the day, talk and theories are cheap, what matters is action, and he is very much a man of action. But at the same time, Winston is the only one of the three that doesn’t see things in strictly scientific terms. He comes at what they’re doing from a much more spiritual place, which has been touched upon before, but never really explored. We plan to remedy that.”

In short, according to the self-proclaimed hard core GB fan, Clavet summed up each of the team members as “Peter “The Smile” Venkman, Egon “The Brain” Spengler, Ray “The Heart” Stantz and Winston “The Backbone“ Zeddemore.”

Fans of the movies would remember supporting characters Dana Barrett, Janine and Slimer. As mentioned, ‘Legion’ takes place between the first and second movies, so Oscar (Dana’s son) would not appear.

However, according to Dabb, “Dana will appear, though and her relationship with Peter is one of the subplots of ’Legion’, how it, like every relationship, is both good and bad for both of them. Janine is around, of course, in the first movie she had sort of a thing for Egon and we plan to develop that (though not like most people expect). Slimer will make a brief cameo, he will not speak. Louis Tully, Dana’s neighbor, also plays a role in “Legion” and I think readers are going to like what we’ve done with him. Most people seem to remember only the goofy side of the character in the first movie, but he was also something of a schemer (though, not a very good one) and I want to do more with that.”

“The supporting characters will be more like they were in the first movie than in the cartoons or other incarnations of the property,” Clavet added.

What about ghosts? “A few ghosts from the first movie will appear, but we’re saving the Marshmallow Man,” Dabb said.

“Ghostheads will be happy, there are going to be quite a few familiar faces floating around - literally. As for who and where, you’ll have to read and see,” Clavet added.

As for the creative team, Dabb is probably best known for his Vertigo two-parter Happydale: Devils in the Desert but has also done a number of webcomics, such as Slices, which ran at Opi8.com for a year. “He can handle the humor the book requires, and he adds a somewhat darker edge to the stories that works very well,” Clavet said.

“Steve Kurth previously worked on GI Joe and Micronauts for Devil’s Due and he just keeps getting better, he truly is fantastic. People are really going to be impressed with his stuff here, the ghost designs he’s done look like they’re taken straight from someone’s nightmare. Serge LaPointe, who has done a bunch of stuff at DC and for some independent publishers, is inking and Blond, whose worked for Arcade Comics and on the He-Man comics, will be coloring. None of these guys are household names, but, top to bottom, we have an extremely talented team. I think a lot of people will be surprised at just how good this series is going to be. These guys are putting their all into the book and it shows.”

Ghosbusters #1 of #4 will be available for pre-order in December’s Previews catalog and be on the stands in February. The first issue will be available with three different covers, one by series penciler Steve Kurth, a variant by Dan Brereton (who will be doing a portrait of a different Ghostbuster for each issue, and an Ultraviolet-ink incentive cover.

“If things go well, we plan to launch a monthly ongoing series after ‘Legion’ concludes. We have a lot of ideas and hope to do the book for a long, long time,” Clavet said.

Literally taking a page from Previews, an order form for Ghosbusters #1 is available on 88MPH Studios’ official website to print out and take to comic shops. However, fans should take note that for the time being, the comic would only be available in North America and not other parts of the world.

Ghostbusters(tm) & © 2003 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

[tralfaz]

i dont know how i feel about this.... on one hand i love ghostbusters. on the other, its the ghostbusters in comicbook form.

we may have hit the 80s nostalgia limit

[Jack Burton]

I was kind of hoping it could follow the cartoon. That show was awesome. My favorite was an episode where they went to a town run by vampires. The vampires kept werewolves prisoners and the Ghostbusters freed them inciting a huge fight between the two races. This was like 13 years before Underworld and to a 9 year old a VERY cool idea.

[NetSolo]

Originally posted by tralfaz
i dont know how i feel about this.... on one hand i love ghostbusters. on the other, its the ghostbusters in comicbook form.

we may have hit the 80s nostalgia limit

Okay, despite the fact that I'm of a biased opinion I have to disagree with you here on this one, tralfaz. Of all the properties from our childhood that are getting a second life in comic form, Ghostbusters is the one that should have been considered long before any of the others. The possible storylines and humor that can come from the franchise are limitless. It seems to be that you should be saying, "Thank goodness Ghostbusters is coming back in comic book form as opposed to film form" because you know that through comics, they can stay true to the original characters whether Bill Murray wants in or not.

And it's not like the Ghostbusters haven't appeared in comic form before. I'm sure the folks over at NOW Comics are thinking they should have had this idea when they relaunched and now (pun strongly intended) they're missing out.

While I'd admit that it would be nice if the second film and the cartoon would be included in some of the stories- you can tell that it is definitely influencing the team behind this book, just take a look at the containment unit. Look familiar?

I for one am definitely excited to see this four book series and what the folks at 88MPH are cooking up and would love to see it continue in the future.

[Charles RB]

This sounded good and helped bring back my pipe-dream of seeing new stuff with the Extreme Ghostbuster's crew (Kylie ruled, and on the villain side- Tempus, dominator of a ghost-apocalpyse future, who rocked). Course, I'll just settle for seeing the old crew back in action.

Then I notice this bit.

for the time being, the comic would only be available in North America and not other parts of the world.

BUGGER.

[The Amazing Spider-Fan]

I kind of have to agree with tralfaz here...while I'm certainly a fan of the movie and intrigued by this, I can't say for sure that I'd actually pick it up.

[Kade]

I have to agree with Net Solo...this should have been done a long time ago. And with the Ghostbusters' 20th anniversary...it's brilliant!

From everything I've seen it looks like a HUGE winner! The posters are cool (great art and colors), and it does seem to capture the look and feel of the original movie. I'm hoping that there is success here and a 'testing' grounds for another movie...I'm a big GB fan and I'm still waiting for Bill to say yes.

Keep makin' it look great 88!

[cyclopsfan]

For those who loved Ghostbusters, great, for everyone else...

[Charles RB]

There is an "everyone else"?

[shaneyhole]

good... bad... i'll see. It's peaked my interest enough for me to pick it up.

[Simon DelMonte]

As much as I love Ghostbusters, it's just been too long to revisit them anymore.

Never mind that the GB cartoon, or at least the seasons when JMS was story editor, did a lot with the characters (minus Dana) and that I am therefore not sure we need to do more anyway.

[swol]

I just picked up the DVD of this movie in the bargain bin at Wal-Mart.
I had almost forgotten how much fun it was.

[NetSolo]

Originally posted by Simon DelMonte
As much as I love Ghostbusters, it's just been too long to revisit them anymore.

What about He-Man and Transformers? They seem to be doing pretty well. My cousin wants a Care Bear for Christmas, now there's deja vu for you.

[MattBrady]

Originally posted by swol
I just picked up the DVD of this movie in the bargain bin at Wal-Mart.
I had almost forgotten how much fun it was.

and scary when you realize how much of the dialogue you know by heart. Not just a hint of a memory, but by heart.

MattB

[The Amazing Spider-Fan]

Originally posted by MattBrady
and scary when you realize how much of the dialogue you know by heart. Not just a hint of a memory, but by heart.

MattB

Oh, when I was younger, I taped Ghostbusters off HBO and watched it so many times that I would amaze my family by putting the movie on and then face them, away from the TV, and not only recite every line as it was said, but I could even perform the actions or tell them what was happening on the screen without looking. They thought it was the funniest thing.

[tralfaz]

Originally posted by NetSolo
Okay, despite the fact that I'm of a biased opinion I have to disagree with you here on this one, tralfaz. Of all the properties from our childhood that are getting a second life in comic form, Ghostbusters is the one that should have been considered long before any of the others. The possible storylines and humor that can come from the franchise are limitless. It seems to be that you should be saying, "Thank goodness Ghostbusters is coming back in comic book form as opposed to film form" because you know that through comics, they can stay true to the original characters whether Bill Murray wants in or not.

And it's not like the Ghostbusters haven't appeared in comic form before. I'm sure the folks over at NOW Comics are thinking they should have had this idea when they relaunched and now (pun strongly intended) they're missing out.

While I'd admit that it would be nice if the second film and the cartoon would be included in some of the stories- you can tell that it is definitely influencing the team behind this book, just take a look at the containment unit. Look familiar?

I for one am definitely excited to see this four book series and what the folks at 88MPH are cooking up and would love to see it continue in the future.

i think the two properties that actually deserved a resurgance was GI Joe and Transformers... everything else is just the children of the 80s reliving their favorite childhood cartoons/movies... He-Man, Thundercats, Dragons Lair... hell, even Snake Plisken finally got a comic book, and that character was just made to become a book.

You know what I would really love? Buckaroo Banzai done right, that would be sweet.

I dug many things about my childhood, but some things should be left alone and I think Ghostbusters is one of them. It's just not the same without hearing Murray's delivery of lines and the other actors as well.

[Hdefined]

Originally posted by tralfaz
i dont know how i feel about this.... on one hand i love ghostbusters. on the other, its the ghostbusters in comicbook form.

we may have hit the 80s nostalgia limit

You just said it all

[TheFoo]

Originally posted by NetSolo
What about He-Man and Transformers? They seem to be doing pretty well. My cousin wants a Care Bear for Christmas, now there's deja vu for you.

In about 15 years, its gonna be the same thing, just with Power Rangers and VR Troopers and Big Bad Bettle Borgs, Pokemon, and all thoses other shows. Pick 'em up from the bargin bin while you still can!

[Skyldt]

Originally posted by tralfaz
i dont know how i feel about this.... on one hand i love ghostbusters. on the other, its the ghostbusters in comicbook form.

we may have hit the 80s nostalgia limit

My Little Pony!!!!!
Skyldt

[WhoaFoogles]

Ghostbusters is just as deserving of a comic revival as any other 80's series. Especially so since the 20th anniversary of the classic comedy is next year.

I for one, am eagerly anticipating this comic (as well as Tron 2.0). I can't think of a better person to helm this project than Sebastien Clavet, who is a huge Ghostbusters fan himself and has shown numerous times that he aims to please the fans of the series. I had doubts about how the comic would look, but it seems that Kurth, LaPointe and Blond have done an outstanding job recreating the familiar boys in grey. It's pretty disappointing that people aren't even giving this comic a chance.

[BrianReilly]

Wow, this is the first time I've seen comics fans who aren't pumped about an official Ghostbusters comic being done by
hardcore fans. Talk about disappointing.

Originally posted by Simon DelMonte
As much as I love Ghostbusters, it's just been too long to revisit them anymore

This is a ridiculous statement. C'mon! Lot's of old properties have been revived with great success. People said the same thing when the new Outer Limits came out a few years back (so the new Twilight Zone isn't the greatest, but it certainly isn't bad).

Give this comic a chance poeple. From what I've seen, I garauntee you won't be disappointed.

[CaptainN]

Frankly I don't see why so many people are against this. I for one have been waiting a long time for a new comic series, or anything related to Ghostbusters for that matter. What are you people afraid of? Wouldn't like to see some depth being built onto the characters that you know and love? I for one sure do. Take Winston for example. He had very very little screen time which means next to no character development. With this new comic we can tap into area's of Winston's character that probably would never have been touched at all.

This situation reminds me of a few video games that have come out in the past few months, that many hardcore gamers where saying things like: "Why try to build on a classic?" "This will compltely destroy the foundation that was set with the first game.", etc., etc. Then once the game was released they had to eat there words with a very hard swallow after the fact.

So what I'm saying is take a look at the Legion series like the only thing that has happened is the first movie, then see what you think of it. If you don't like it then hey I can't stop you. To those that will I say "Welcome aboard!"

CaptainN

[The Amazing Spider-Fan]

Don't get me wrong, I'm not "against" this...while I like the movie and my curiosity is raised, I don't think it's raised enough to pick this up. If I hear good things about it, then maybe I'll pick up the trade later, if there is one. I liked He-Man as a kid, too, and while I was certainly interested when the new comics came out, I was never interested enough to pick any up. Same thing here. Don't take "I don't think I'll get this" as "This is crap and should never be published."

[tralfaz]

im with the the spider-fan... im not against it, but I just feel that its cashing in on the 80s craze. it just seems no one could come up with an original idea so they go and redux something that everyone loves yet hasnt seen in such a long time.

if i were to get this book it would be in trade form.

[BrianReilly]

Originally posted by tralfaz
I just feel that its cashing in on the 80s craze.

I would say that Extreme Ghostbusters started the 80s craze. It was out before any of the new Transformers and GI Joe stuff. Granted, it wasn't super popular, but it did start the trend.