Plot
Following the accident involving a knockoff trans-dimensional portal from the previous issue, dangerous entities have escaped from the Containment Unit. While Ray Stantz and Egon Spengler assess the damage and work through what went wrong, Peter Venkman is in a coma-like state, his mind visited by an entity that takes the form of Dana Barrett. The entity conjures images of past threats, including Ellen Gold, Gozer, the Hungry Manitou, and the Sandman, seemingly to probe or warn Peter. Meanwhile, Janine Melnitz and Jenny Moran meet at Pequod's coffee, where Janine shares her concerns about the job offer Walter Peck extended in the previous issue.1
The issue's centerpiece is a full-page spread revealing the roster of Ghostbusters teams that have been assembled across dimensions, including the prime team, the Answer the Call Ghostbusters (Abby Yates, Erin Gilbert, Jillian Holtzmann, Patty Tolan, and Kevin Beckman), the Extreme Ghostbusters (Kylie Griffin, Eduardo Rivera, Roland Jackson, and Garrett Miller), the Real Ghostbusters of Dimension 68-R, the Saturday Morning Ghostbusters of Dimension 68-Q, the Sanctum of Slime junior team, Chicago Ghostbusters, and several other dimension variants. The issue closes with teams from multiple dimensions arriving as Peter's situation draws urgent attention.1
Cast
Prime Dimension
The Real Ghostbusters (Dimension 68-R)
Extreme Ghostbusters (Dimension 68-E)
Answer the Call Ghostbusters
- Abby Yates
- Erin Gilbert
- Jillian Holtzmann (also prime dimension)
- Patty Tolan
- Kevin Beckman
Other Dimension Teams
- Ghostbusters of Dimension 68-Q (Saturday Morning / Slimer!)
- Kevin Tanaka (68-Q)
- Robo-Buster of Dimension 68-V
- Mike the Golem of 68-V
- Ghostbusters of Dimension 68-M
- Ghostbusters of Dimension 11-W
- Ghostbusters of Dimension 35-N
- Alan Crendall of 50-S
- Gabriel Sitter of 50-S
- Bridget Gibbons of 50-S
- Samuel Hazer of 50-S
- Chicago Ghostbusters
- Rookie (Ghostbusters: The Video Game, Stylized Versions)
- Dani Shpak
- Lou Kamaka
Equipment
Locations
- Firehouse (prime dimension, third floor modeled after the Ghostbusters: The Video Game Stylized Versions layout)
- Pequod's (coffee chain established in IDW Volume 1)
- 550 Central Park West
- Warehouse
Covers
Cover A by Dan Schoening and Luis Antonio Delgado: Features the Ecto-2 from The Real Ghostbusters carrying Abby Yates and the RGB Egon (with PKE Meter and Helmet Ecto Goggles). At the bottom of the image appear Eduardo Rivera (Extreme Ghostbusters) and Alan Crendall from Ghostbusters: Sanctum of Slime.1
Cover B by Tim Lattie: A homage to the DC vs. Marvel covers of the 1990s. Egon wears the Molecular Destabilizing Suit from The Real Ghostbusters episode "X-Mas Marks the Spot." Erin and Ron carry Kenner GhostPoppers. Janine is in her yellow polka-dot outfit from RGB (also seen in "Janine's Day Off") and wears the Compact Pack. Garrett Miller of the Extreme Ghostbusters appears with a candy bar in his chest pocket, a nod to his constant snacking on the animated series. Ghosts depicted include Ghash, Victor, Pull Speed Ahead Ghost (with T-Stick Ghost), and X-Cop from Kenner's Haunted Humans line.1
Cover RI by Sara Richard: Features Ellen Gold, Wander Hills Children, Special Agent Melanie Ortiz, Peter, Egon, and Holtzmann.1
Development
Erik Burnham announced he expected to begin writing Issue #2 on December 11, 2017. Through December 2017, editor Tom Waltz posted previews of Tim Lattie's Cover B in both black-and-white and color, as well as Dan Schoening's colored Cover A. The January 2018 solicits listed an April 25 release date and revealed Sara Richard drew the retailer incentive cover. On April 12, 2018, Waltz announced the release date had moved up to April 18. A five-page preview was posted on April 16, 2018.
Erik Burnham noted that Jenny Moran's jump into Peter's mind on page 8 was a last-minute addition. Burnham confirmed the issue was complete and off to the printer on March 14, 2018.
On March 7, 2019, Luis Delgado posted an unlettered version of page 20 online.
Trivia and Easter Eggs
Covers
- Cover B's ghosts (Ghash, Pull Speed Ahead Ghost, X-Cop) are drawn from multiple eras of Ghostbusters merchandising and animation.1
- Cover B: Janine's outfit matches the yellow polka-dot costume from The Real Ghostbusters episodes "X-Mas Marks the Spot" and "Janine's Day Off," and she wears the animated Compact Pack.1
Interior Pages
- Page 1: Holtzmann's coveralls match those she wore at the Aldridge Mansion Museum in the 2016 film. Ron is wearing the "Yes, It's My Real Name" T-shirt that Chevy Chase wore in the mid-1970s. The Ghostbusters (1984) "They're Here to Save the World" lobby card credits for John DeCuir and Bernie Brillstein are visible on the wall.1
- Page 2: The Firehouse third floor is modeled after the second floor from Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Stylized Versions), including the New York City map, loading screen, and Ghost Capture arcade game.1
- Page 3: A can of Ecto Cooler from the 2016 re-release promotion is visible on a shelf. The green screens show stages from the Ghostbusters II Game Boy game. Holtzmann refers to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as "alien lizards."1
- Page 4: Janine is wearing a coat her animated counterpart wore in The Real Ghostbusters episode "Ghost Busted." Jenny's outfit is based on an outfit worn by Donna Dixon in the early 1980s TV show "Bosom Buddies" (season 2, episode 2). The drink case includes the 1989 "Ghost in a Can" Ghostbusters II England promotion, a Stantz Dairy Farm milk carton (referencing the misspelled sign from The Real Ghostbusters episode "Dairy Farm"), and Yuppie Water from RGB's "Short Stuff." Snacks visible include New Spirit Chips ("Something's Going Around"), The Real Ghostbusters Potato Snacks (Cheese & Bacon and Salt & Vinegar variants), and Wise Natural Potato Chips.1
- Page 6: Peter's "Dah!" echoes his line from the 1984 film. His recollection of being possessed by the Hungry Manitou references Volume 1 Issues #6 and #7. The glowing door is a callback to Zuul's possession of Dana Barrett in Chapter 16 of the 1984 film.1
- Page 7: The kitchen recreates Dana Barrett's apartment kitchen from Chapter 14 of the 1984 film. The microwave clock reads "19:84." Peter's outfit matches what he wore during his initial investigation of Dana's apartment in Chapter 10.1
- Page 10: Ron's outfit is based on Chevy Chase's costume in Caddyshack. Holtzmann is eating a stand-in for Pringles, matching a prop from the 2016 film's Aldridge Mansion scene.1
- Page 11: The Containment Unit opens in a manner paralleling The Real Ghostbusters episode "Cry Uncle," in which Cyrus Spengler accidentally released the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.1
- Page 16: The entity conjures images of Ellen Gold (first appeared Volume 1 #2), Gozer, the Hungry Manitou (first appeared Volume 1 Issues #5-7), and the Sandman (first appeared Annual 2015).1
- Page 18: Ray's civilian clothes match those worn by his RGB counterpart, previously used in Volume 2 Issue #5.1
- Page 19: The foot X-ray in panel 1 is from The Real Ghostbusters episode "Doctor, Doctor." Peter quotes Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz.1
- Page 20: The large dimensional team spread was partly artist-driven: Dan Schoening added the New Ghostbusters II Video Game sprite-based Ghostbusters himself, prompting Burnham to develop a backstory for them. Dimension designations for various teams were confirmed through Virtual Trading Cards released by IDW in early 2018: 68-Q (Saturday Morning Ghostbusters, revealed March 27, 2018), 68-V Robo-Buster (March 29, 2018), and 68-E for the Extreme Ghostbusters (March 6, 2018). Kevin Tanaka's reference box cites the Ghostbusters Wiki and the Kenner Firehouse playset. Kevin Beckman holds a photo of his dog Mike Hat, reused from Ghostbusters 101 #1.1
- Page 21: The 68-R dimension designation for The Real Ghostbusters was confirmed on Winston's Virtual Trading Card on February 27, 2018. The notes compare military service between the prime Winston (Marine Corps) and RGB Winston (Air Force). The file photos of the RGB team are sourced from specific Real Ghostbusters episodes: Ray and Peter from "Mrs. Roger's Neighborhood," Winston from the intro alarm sequence, Egon from "Bustman's Holiday," and Janine from "Ghosts R Us."1
Continuity
- The Dramatis Personae page includes bios for Walter Peck and Jimmy, though neither appears in the issue.1
- Events of Ghostbusters Annual 2018 (Connla's army) and Crossing Over #1 are summarized in the "What Came Before" segment.1
- Page 20's team spread was the first time the Saturday Morning Ghostbusters, Sanctum of Slime junior team, Real Ghostbusters, Extreme Ghostbusters, Penguin-Hunters-based team, Stylized Versions team, and New Ghostbusters II sprite team all appeared in the same issue since Get Real Issue #2.1
- This issue's events are referenced in subsequent issues: Crossing Over #3 (Kevin summarizes #1 and #2), Crossing Over #4 (recruiting mentioned in "What Came Before"), Crossing Over #6 (dimensional arrivals), Crossing Over #8 ("What Came Before"), and even Transformers/Ghostbusters #3 (Peter jokes about being in a coma).1
References
Some content on this page was researched using the Ghostbusters Wiki on Fandom.
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Ghostbusters: Crossing Over #2 (IDW Publishing, April 18, 2018). Written by Erik Burnham; art by Dan Schoening; colors by Luis Antonio Delgado; letters by Neil Uyetake. Diamond Order Code FEB180387.
