Review – Ghostbusters: Get Real #1 (of 4) (IDW Publishing)

Publisher: IDW Publishing
Writer: Erik Burnham
Artist: Dan Schoening
Release Date: 17th June, 2015

I’m starting to think that IDW can do no wrong with the Ghostbusters franchise.

From the initial limited series to the now sadly finished ongoing series to these specials, they have all been scoring above 4.5/5 every single issue. Well, Ghostbusters Get Real is no exception. Not only does the creative team of Burnham and Schoening continue with their excellent legacy of the IDW Ghostbusters, but they also manage bring in the Real Ghostbusters (from the much-loved cartoon series) with the same care and consideration that keeps the childhood memories intact while adding to them at the same time.

I think I’m going to mainly focus on the team’s depiction of the Real Ghostbusters here, as I feel I have spoken enough about the IDW versions in my previous reviews. The dialogue, chemistry, design and colouring are all absolutely spot-on and definitely in keeping with the TV series.

Although the core characteristics of the ‘duplicate’ characters are the same, the Real Ghostbusters keep their cheesy wit, nonchalant manner and 80’s cartoon techno-babble, making this book an absolute joy to read and a massive nostalgia trip. In fact, I plan on watching some old episodes after finishing this review.

The story is solid as you’d expect with Proteus, another God, pre-emptively trying to catch the Real Ghostbusters before they have a chance to catch him. Unfortunately, just as he is about to do so, a citizen – who the RGB’s helped earlier – casts a spell to try and help them. This throws them into the IDW universe and… well… I’ll leave it there for now, for fear of delving into spoilers.

As with all of IDW’s previous Ghostbusters books, you absolutely have to pick this one up if you’re a GB fan. Honestly, I wish Burnham and Schoening were in charge of the film franchise, as they could easily make another two or three films out of all the stuff they’ve done so far.

Overall score: 5/5 (I would give it more if I could)

The writer of this piece was: David Gladman