911 can’t help you. You’ve no choice. Nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide. If you want help, it’s time to call 555-2368.
Dunnnnaddduunnnnaaaaddduuunnnnnaaaaadddduuunnnnnaaaaa dada dadala DA DA (repeat, hum, bounce, sing out loud……then come back to me and carry on reading)
With Columbia University far, far behind them, the geek inside all of us has been crying out for another instalment of those cheeky, troublesome, proton pack shooting scientists. The third film…well that’s basically never going to happen, with Bill Murray even saying they’re too old. The game though was another example of Dan Aykroyd an Harold Ramis as accomplished writers and although was a fantastic game, left us all disappointed at no film. This left something. Something needed. Something that geek inside will never rest until they get. And Erik Burnham has now bought us the answer.
Released through IDW, my hopes for the story of Ghostbusters Infestation dropped immediately when I saw it wasn’t written by Aykroyd and Ramis, but I was curious so I purchased volume one and scurried on home with it wrapped in my arms like a small and delicate baby protecting it from the nasty rain drops of Bournemouth.
Upon reading I decided, Burnham has either found a secret lab and injected himself with the sacred blood of a paranormal exterminator or, and possibly most likely, been captured so many times by the stream crossing gang, he has had time to research their styles.
The story has been impressively written and once you start reading you are lost in it so much it feels as though it is being acted out by the original crew right in front of your eyes. Each character has their persona captured as efficiently as a ghost in the Ecto-Containment Unit. For example, in volume two, Peter shouts “Ray, I told you, Egon does the math before we do the crazy things! I swear this is gonna be Coney Island all over again!” when Ray is excited about getting to use a new toy.
And what characters there are that turn up. As well as the usual gang of Egon, Ray, Peter and Winston, they are joined by charismatic receptionist Janine and the Marshmallow man to name a few.
Burnham’s work has been bought to life to your eyes by Kyle Hotz, famous for his ‘creepy style’ which has seen him previously illustrate such characters as Ghost Rider. The artwork is seriously something to keep you staring at each page of the comic for hours before remembering you have to read the rest of the story. Hotz has pulled off a fantastic portrayal of all the characters, whilst adding a slight, almost dark, edge to each of them, and for this story the art and script are perfectly matched.
So, what is it about then? The atmosphere is a little tense within the Ghostbusters camp as they have a hell of a lot of poltergeists….and nowhere to put them. With the amount of energy needed to contain them, there isn’t enough in the power so they’ve had to stay in the traps in the basement of an old fire station for the time being. This seems to be the least of the gangs worries though as, whilst they are arguing, soulless ‘men’ are starting to reign on their city and cause them no end of trouble. Just when things couldn’t get much worse a devil woman and a familiar, but not so friendly giant marshmallow turn up…but is there someone to take him on and has he finally met his match? To answer that question you wil simply have to buy both volumes.
The two part comic is a must have for any comic book fan, especially if you happen to combine that love with the paranormal exterminators (and I still don’t think I have met one comic book fan that doesn’t like the Ghostbusters). The writing is enough to make Aykroyd and Ramis consider adopting Burnham as their love child, and the artwork will keep you hooked and open up the comic fan within you once again to want to dust off the sleeves of the ones hiding under your bed and re-visit some of your favourite friends.
So come on, once, for me…..all together now….who you gonna call?
FROG BROS!
That is right my pedigree chums, get yourself on that blower – volume one was released on 9 March with volume two released today (23 March). Let’s be honest, the weather has been rather lovely recently…so go on…treat yourself…..
Now, one last question. What happens if you cross Mulder and Scully with 30 Days of Night? Come back for next week’s review to find out!
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