Ghostbusters International #4

Writer: Erik Burnham
Artist: Dan Schoening
Colourist: Luis Antonio Delgado
Letterer: Neil Uyetake, Robbie Robbins
Editor: Tom Waltz
Publisher: IDW

 A review by Amelia Wellman

Ghostbusters International #4 Cover ImageI’m pretty pessimistic when it comes to expanded universes of the things I love. I never go in expecting too much because I don’t want to be let down. So, was I pessimistic about Ghostbusters International? Yes. Especially when issue one failed to immediately wow me. Well, four issues in and I’m happy to say that the pessimism has been replaced by impatience to get my hands on the next issue!

Janine has hired a new Ghostbuster and also called in a little reliable help. Egon’s knee is still giving him trouble as he’s refusing any jobs that involve stairs, even though (as Janine points out) he lives in a walk-up, and Ray, Peter, and Winston are still under contract with Vinter. Since they failed to make even a dent in the supernatural activity of Poveglia Island, they’ve been shipped to Paris. While there, a mysterious artifact that Ray found on Poveglia Island gets stolen by two irate ghosts and they have to get it back because there’s a deeper mystery wrapped up with it; one of particular interest to Egon.

Ghostbusters International had a bit of a slow start. With issues one and two being used to get all the exposition that was needed out, the story didn’t flow quite right for me. I’m still torn about whether or not I care about Janine’s storyline in all this (I want to, because I love her!), but what’s going on with the Ghostbusters is action packed and incredibly entertaining! Putting them on Poveglia Island (supposedly one of the most haunted places on Earth) was a stroke of brilliance. Taking them to Paris afterwards, amazing! I wish the series was going to be longer than it’s scheduled to be because I’m dying to see Burnham’s on-point Ghostbusters dealing with more European ghosts!

The art is consistent with the previous issues with its exaggerated and cartoony style. The colour palette is quite muted but it gets a few vivid splashes throughout issue four which is always nice to see. My biggest gripe with the art this week is that we see more of the inside of a Paris police station than we do of Paris, but I think that may just be me.

The Verdict
Buy it!
I was so hesitant about issues one and two and had them at a firm ‘wait and see’ status. That was upgraded to a ‘buy it’ for issue three. Issue four, without a doubt, is a buy it as well! The Ghostbusters’ tone is just right and the mystery surrounding these international ghostbusting situations just keeps getting more and more intriguing!

Amelia Wellman
fatal_frame_chick@live.com
I read, I write, I play videogames, Ghostbusters is my favourite thing in the known universe, but quasars come in at a close second. I've been known to cry at the drop of a hat over happy and sad things alike. I've also been known to fly into a rage if things don't go my way, leading to many a fight in high school and breaking someone's nose on the TTC one time. I'm an anxious introvert but also a loud-mouthed bad influence. Especially on my cat. He learned it from watching me, okay!

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