Ghostbusters: Deviations Review

One of Marvel’s most popular and enduring titles, is called “What If” in which they explore several possible scenarios in which some famous event happened differently. Popular examples include “What if Spider-Man have saved Gwen Stacy” or “What if Doctor Doom became The Thing.” It’s a great way for writers to explore ideas without having to worry about continuity. Over the next five weeks, IDW publishing has decided to try something similar with several of their licensed properties. In this case we ask the question: What if the Ghostbusters never crossed the streams. I’d be really sad if any one of my readers hasn’t at least seen or heard of Ghostbusters, but just in case, here’s a quick run down. When three scientists named Peter Venkman, Ray Stantz and Egon Spengler (and later an everyman named Winston who was brought on as extra help) discover the means to detect and entrap spooks, specters and ghosts, they go into business as the Ghostbusters, and quickly rise to fame as ghosts begin appearing all over New York. However, all this ghost activity isn’t random, it’s building to something big. That something is revealed as Gozer, a powerful demon from another dimension that turns Peter’s would-be-girlfriend and her nerdy neighbor into hideous dog demons. While initially appearing as a woman, Gozer takes whatever twisted from that its victims choose for it. Ray, not being able to help himself, chooses that of a giant marsh-mellow man in a sailor suit. To defeat this adorable abomination, the Ghostbusters decide to cross the streams of their proton packs, something that would probably have caused life as we know it to cease to exist, but had a slim chance of sending Gozer to its home dimension. In the film, the plan worked and everyone was happy, but what if they never took that risk.

We find ourselves one month after the events of the film, and New York has become a hellish nightmare covered in marsh-mellow fluff. Worse yet, parts of the city are overrun by living marsh-mellows called the mini-pufts The Ghostbusters are able to keep them at bay for the most part, but it’s clear that the city blames them for their current dismally delicious situation. Even Janine, their secretary treats them with more hostility than usual. Our heroes have all but given up, when Gozer itself comes crashing through their ceiling to ask “What’s up?” Naturally, the Ghostbusters open fire, but surprisingly, Gozer isn’t there to fight. See, as it turns out, Gozer isn’t exactly pleased with the idea of having to spend eternity as a giant marsh-mellow in a sailor’s suit with a dopey grin on its face, and wants to be sent back to its home dimension. While at first the Ghostbusters refuse to help, but when faced with the alternative of this sticky apocalypse they’re now living in, our heroes agree. We also learn here that the mini-pufts are not Gozer’s minions, but his poops. After the four Ghostbusters vomit at this revelation, they get to work trying to find a way to send Gozer home. Eventually, they stumble upon a ghost they’d captured called Tempore Ruga. Ruga it seems was not in the vault when the ghosts were set free and has the unique power to manipulate time. As such, they plan to send Gozer back in time before it entered our dimension.

The plan is set, but the Ghostbusters don’t trust Gozer not to double cross them. So, with the help of Ruga, they put together a plan to help ensure that that does not happen. That plan is revealed when Gozer is sent back, only to find pictures of “LoofaJoe RectangleShorts” (an obvious reference to Spongebob Squarepants without the fear of a lawsuit) all over the building. Terrified by the prospect of being trapped in the form of something even more adorable and non-threatening, Gozer flees back into its home dimension, leaving the Ghostbusters of the past consfused as to what just happened, but satisfied that the day has been won.

What Works: I think the idea that Gozer actually hates being the Stay-Puft Marsh-Mellow Man is absolutely brilliant, and actually gives us insight into a character that wasn’t really shown to be much more than a brutal demi-god in the film.

What Doesn’t: I think the idea of Tempore Ruga is a bit of a deus ex machina, but I suppose it was necessary if the story was to have a happy ending. The Mini-Pufts being Gozers turds was juvenile but still got a laugh out of me. Finally, and this is such a nitpick that I shouldn’t even bother mentioning it, but Loofajoe Rectanglepants bothers me. Not because it’s silly, quite the contrary, I found it to be a clever solution to the problem. No, my problem is this: While Ghostbusters comics have survived into the modern era, this comic takes place shortly after the events of the film, which came out, and presumably takes place, in 1984. Spongebob Squarepants wouldn’t come out until 15 years later. I know it’s the dumbest thing to complain about, but it still bothered me.

Overall: 4.5/5

This was an enjoyable outing with great humor from its main characters and a fun concept to read about. A triumph by IDW to be sure.