Ghostbusters Comic Issue 9

Ghostbusters #9 is the ninth issue of IDW Publishing's ongoing Ghostbusters comic series. It was written by Erik Burnham (main story) and Tristan Jones (backup story), with pencils by Dan Schoening, colors by Luis Antonio Delgado, letters by Neil Uyetake, and editing by Tom Waltz. The issue was released May 30, 2012, with retailer incentive sketch covers (RI-B) shipping June 13, 2012. It was also collected by Spotlight as a library binding book under the title "Ghostbusters Volume Three: Haunted America, Part 1" (ISBN 978-1-61479-493-6).

The issue launches the four-part "Haunted America" arc (issues 9-12), sending the team on the road beyond New York City for the first time in the ongoing series.

Stories

Haunted America, Part One

New York City does not have a monopoly on the supernatural, and it was only a matter of time before apparitions in other areas were enhanced by the expansion of psychokinetic energy. The main story takes the full team, including Peter Venkman, Ray Stantz, Winston Zeddemore, and Egon Spengler, out of New York on a road trip that takes them first to Detroit, Michigan, and then to Fort Wayne, Indiana.

In Detroit, the team meets with the Mayor of Detroit after incidents involving the Spirit of Detroit statue, the Goddess of Belle Isle (drawn from local lore), and Gremlins familiar from The Real Ghostbusters episode "Don't Forget the Motor City." Walter Peck also appears, acting as a liaison from the Mayor's office. The story then moves to Fort Wayne, where the Ghostbusters contend with the ghost army of Major-General Anthony Wayne at the historic Fort Wayne military site. Ron Alexander and George Royer also appear in the Fort Wayne segment. The issue ends on a cliffhanger, with Peter raising the idea of franchising the Ghostbusters operation.

The story is set in mid-June, which writer Erik Burnham noted felt appropriate given the issue shipped just after Memorial Day.

Who Killed Laura Parr? Part One

The backup story, written and drawn by Tristan Jones with colors by Luis Delgado, follows Laura Parr and a character named Zeke as they encounter a Phantom Truck Driver on a stretch of road called Devil's Bend. Peter Venkman briefly appears. Jones noted this story would begin raising the notion of Ghostbusters franchises as a concept.