Plot
On Christmas Eve in New York City, Winston Zeddemore and his girlfriend Tiyah Clarke are out together on Fifth Avenue near Saks Fifth Avenue. Winston, wearing the outfit his animated counterpart wore in The Real Ghostbusters episode "Xmas Marks the Spot," takes the occasion to propose to Tiyah near Shepherd's Books.1
Back at the Firehouse, the rest of the team has gathered for the holiday. Egon Spengler, Ray Stantz, Peter Venkman, and Janine Melnitz are interrupted when a spectral child, visually based on Tiny Tim, materializes and speaks a single word before vanishing: "help." Meanwhile, Janosz Poha, still under the influence of the demon Idulnas, is being held at Parkview Psychiatric Hospital, where his sister and nephew Alan Crendall are threatened.
Winston is called to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island to deal with the ghost of Staff Sergeant Adams, a decorated Marine whose restless spirit has not moved on. Winston resolves the situation, capturing Adams using a Real Ghostbusters-style ghost trap. The issue closes on a note that foreshadows the upcoming New Ghostbusters story arc, with Gozerian Alphabet text visible behind the possessed Janosz reading "Third Minion Returns Idulnas."12
Covers
Incentive Cover
Cast
Equipment
Locations
- Saks Fifth Avenue, New York City
- Firehouse
- Brooklyn Bridge
- Parkview Psychiatric Hospital
- Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island
Development
On September 11, 2012, Erik Burnham revealed that Issue #16 would be mostly a Winston solo story.
On September 15, 2012, the solicitation confirmed the variant cover would be by Chris Madden with a "rock poster" theme as part of an IDW company-wide event.
On October 8, 2012, Burnham tweeted he had finished writing the issue.
On October 16, 2012, Burnham confirmed he had turned in #16 to editor Tom Waltz, teasing it was "rife with lame Marine dialog."
On November 14, 2012, Tristan Jones noted he was working on his last Ghostbusters piece for a while.
On November 15, 2012, Jones posted work-in-progress art including a drawing of Stay Puft Marshmallow Man and Slimer appearing to wear a Proton Pack.
On November 16, 2012, Burnham confirmed in an interview that the story takes place at Christmas and that a character from one of the 2010 holiday one-shots would return. He also confirmed Dan Schoening and Luis Delgado were working on the issue.
On November 22, 2012, Burnham reported the issue was complete, praising Schoening and Delgado's work.
On November 28, 2012, Burnham hinted that Issue #16 would foreshadow the New Ghostbusters arc and confirmed there would be a ghost of a Marine in the story.
On December 10, 2012, a seven-page preview with cover and credits was released.
On December 11, 2012, Tristan Jones posted a preview of his Slimer pin-up.
On December 14, 2012, Luis Delgado posted unlettered versions of pages 12, 13, and 20.
On July 14, 2013, Dan Schoening posted rough art from unused cover concepts for Issue #16.
On August 1, 2013, Schoening posted a breakdown of the art process for page 19.
Trivia
Cover A: Winston is surrounded by impaled heads from Ghostbusters II, with the Ghost Train from Ghostbusters II approaching.
Cover RI: The Ghostbusters are hauling the portrait of Vigo and the painted group portrait from Ghostbusters II.
Page 1: The taxi cab from the film "Scrooged" starring Bill Murray is visible on Fifth Avenue. Several pedestrian designs are borrowed from The Real Ghostbusters episode "Xmas Marks the Spot," including the gentleman with the mustache who remarks "Bah humbug!" and the woman who relayed the story of how Ebenezer Scrooge defeated the three Ghosts of Christmas. Winston's outfit matches what his animated counterpart wore in that same episode. Winston and Tiyah first appear outside Saks Fifth Avenue, with St. Patrick's Cathedral and Trump Tower visible further up the street. A sticker for "A Christmas Humbug," the Scrooge-authored book from "Xmas Marks the Spot," appears on a nearby bin.
Page 2: Store displays include copies of "A Christmas Humbug" and the safe chained to the ghost of Jacob Marley from "Xmas Marks the Spot." The Marley's store is a reference to Jacob Marley. Winston proposes to Tiyah near Shepherd's Books, a stand-in for a real Cole Haan store location. The issue also reveals Winston holds an Honorary Doctorate.1 (In the primary film canon, Winston earns a full Doctorate by the time of Ghostbusters: The Video Game.2)
Page 3: Near the Christmas Tree at the Firehouse is some Psychomagnotheric Slime from Ghostbusters II and an ornament that is the Relic of Nilhe from Ghostbusters: Sanctum of Slime. Janosz has painted a recreation of Gainsborough's "Blue Boy," which he mentioned in Ghostbusters II. The painting briefly assumes the form of Vigo.
Page 4: One bottle is labeled "Mineral Spirits Madman of the Hague," referencing both a paint thinner substitute and the Dutch city of The Hague.
Page 5: Ecto-2 is parked in the Firehouse alley, with the North Moore Street sign visible, consistent with the address from the Ghostbusters II invoice prop. Janine's outfit is from The Real Ghostbusters episode "Janine's Day Off." The frame Peter is holding is from "Scrooged." A newspaper article is authored by Cynthia Crawford, a character from The Real Ghostbusters, and reviews the first Ghostbusters film.
Page 6: The Ghost Boy appears visually based on Tiny Tim. Janine's computer screen shows the Containment Universe interior from The Real Ghostbusters episode "Xmas Marks the Spot."
Page 8: Janosz's sister and nephew Alan Crendall are threatened. They were last referenced in Issues #1 and #2.
Page 10: Half-buried in snow is the Rosebud sled from The Real Ghostbusters episode "Ghostbuster of the Year." Ecto-1a's signboard advertises "Dancing Toaster, only $9.99!" referencing the dancing toaster from Ghostbusters II. Ray, Egon, and Peter are wearing their animated counterparts' outfits from "Xmas Marks the Spot."
Page 11: Peter refers to Egon and Ray as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. The doorknocker is based on Jacob Marley.
Page 12: Three portraits represent the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future from "Xmas Marks the Spot." The staircase is visually based on the McCallister house staircase from "Home Alone."
Page 14: A plaque reads "Let's be damned sure that no man's ghost will ever say 'If your training program had only done its job,'" a quote from the masthead of the Parris Island Boot newspaper.1
Page 15: Hurdles behind Winston are branded with the Marine Corps doctrine "Every Marine's a Rifleman."
Page 17: Staff Sergeant Adams' medal rack includes the Rifle Expert Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, NATO Medal, Air Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (four gold stars), Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (three gold stars), Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon (two gold stars), Navy Cross (two gold stars), and Marine Security Guard Ribbon. Winston captures Adams using a Real Ghostbusters animation-style ghost trap.1
Page 19: Ebenezer Scrooge's bedroom from "Xmas Marks the Spot" inspired the room design. Marley's safe and "A Christmas Humbug" appear on the top shelf. "The Ballbreaker Suite" from "Scrooged," used by the Ghost of Christmas Present, is on the desk.
Page 20: A poster advertises the dancing toaster from Ghostbusters II and quotes Peter's line, "You're my number one Christmas boutique gift item!" The shredded remains of Janosz's Ray-centric interpretation of "The Last Supper" from Issue #13 are scattered across his cell floor. Gozerian Alphabet text behind Possessed Janosz translates as "Third Minion Returns Idulnas."12
Cross-reference: On page 8 of Ghostbusters 101 #3, panel 3, the boxes near Kevin Tanaka reference Volume 1 Issue #16.3
