Main Story
The main story runs 16 pages. It opens with a brief Paris sequence at Charles De Gaulle Airport before shifting to County Clare, Ireland, and cuts in parallel to New York City.
Walter Peck leads the international team (Peter, Winston, Ray, and Kylie) from Paris to Shannon Airport, then into County Clare to investigate paranormal activity centered on Craig Liath, the "Grey Rock," the mythological dwelling of Aibell. In Irish mythology, Aibell is a fairy queen and the guardian goddess of the Dalcassians, said to preside over North Munster from the grey rock two miles north of Killaloe. Female fairies in Irish tradition were called "ben-side" or banshee, meaning "a woman from fairy hills," and Aibell was counted among the three most prominent fairy queens alongside Aine and Clidna.
The team meets Una O'Neill, a local woman whose spurned lover has drawn supernatural attention. Banshees are encountered at Craig Liath, an entity type previously featured in The Real Ghostbusters episode "Banshee Bake a Cherry Pie?" and the Extreme Ghostbusters episodes "Sonic Youth" and "Slimer's Sacrifice." The confrontation with Aibell herself resolves protectively: she is shielding Una. The issue ends with an emotionally notable beat for Walter Peck, who, when pressed to act, says only "I will not" before strapping on a Proton Pack.
Meanwhile in New York, Egon Spengler has been tracking down "The Johansen Argument," a Scandinavian text with ties to the Rauoskinna, since Ghostbusters International #2. Loftur Þorsteinsson, a figure from Icelandic legend whom Egon believed died at sea while attempting to remove the Rauoskinna from Iceland, appears at Egon's apartment and reveals himself to be very much present. The encounter ends with Loftur dispersing Egon in the issue's closing panels. The ramifications of that cliffhanger carry forward through Issues #8, #10, and #11.
Characters
Walter Peck, Peter Venkman, Winston Zeddemore, Ray Stantz, Kylie Griffin, Egon Spengler, Una O'Neill, Aibell, Banshees, Loftur Þorsteinsson, Gulper Ghost
Equipment
Proton Pack, Particle Thrower, Ecto Goggles, P.K.E. Meter, Ghost Trap, Psychokinetic Defibrillator, Paranormal Containment Research Tank
Locations
Paris, Charles De Gaulle Airport, County Clare, Shannon Airport, Craig Liath, Egon's Apartment
Backup Story: "Haunted America Case Files"
The backup story follows Special Agent Melanie Ortiz and the Chicago Ghostbusters (Ron Alexander, Dani Shpak, and Lou Kamaka) in Las Vegas, where the FBI Field Office has flagged paranormal activity at The Olive Hotel and Casino. The case involves Ethan Kaine, a ghost described in terms that closely echo descriptions of Elvis, a nod to Ray Stantz being asked about Elvis during the montage in the original film. Ray Stantz provides remote support from New York.
The investigation reveals a River of Psychomagnotheric Slime (Mood Slime) running beneath Las Vegas, a parallel to the subterranean slime river under Manhattan in Ghostbusters II. The Olive Hotel and Casino previously appeared in Volume 2, Issues #7 and #8. The Slime Spritzer, first used in Ghostbusters International #5, appears here again.
Characters
Special Agent Melanie Ortiz, Ethan Kaine, Ray Stantz, Chicago Ghostbusters, Ron Alexander, Dani Shpak, Lou Kamaka
Equipment
Proton Pack, Particle Thrower, Ghost Trap, Slime Spritzer, Proton Grenade
Covers
The regular Cover A, by Dan Schoening and Luis Antonio Delgado, is titled "Land of Eternal Youth," a reference to the Irish legend of Tir na nóg. Its composition appears visually based on the 1910 painting "The High Deeds of Finn."
The subscription Cover B, by Corin Howell and Luis Antonio Delgado, depicts Special Agent Melanie Ortiz and Ray Stantz running across a roulette wheel with the ghost of Ethan Kaine watching from behind, tying directly into the Las Vegas backup story.
Development
Ireland had been under consideration as a future story location as early as January 6, 2016, when Burnham mentioned it among possibilities. The April 20, 2016 solicitations revealed the two covers, logline, and crew credits for Issue #7 for the first time. Burnham acknowledged he had initially drafted the issue without Kylie Griffin and reworked the story to include her, describing the fix as a "neater idea."
On April 21, 2016, Burnham teased the issue "will have some pretty crazy things happening, and they lead to something even crazier." Schoening added a cryptic hint that "Evil Clowns may or may not be burned alive or blown up." A podcast recorded in early April, published April 22, confirmed the Banshee. Burnham turned in the completed script on April 28, 2016, describing the first 16 pages as a Peck-and-team story in Ireland, with the final four pages pushing Egon to his answers. On May 1, 2016, he teased that page 16 could get "a little sand in your eye."
Burnham confirmed on May 3, 2016 that he had worked in a subtle reference to Prince, who had died on April 21, 2016. On June 7, 2016, he began work on the Haunted America backup. The following day he confirmed the backup would take place in Las Vegas.
On June 14, 2016, Burnham shared an unlettered panel featuring Walter Peck at Shannon Airport. Irish comic artist Declan Shalvey, colorist Jordie Bellaire, and County Clare artist John Cullen each confirmed their cameo appearances in the panel. On June 26, 2016, Burnham described an upcoming scene with Peck as "sympathetic, emotional," later confirming on June 29 that it involved Peck saying three words: "I will not." A panel showing Peck in a Proton Pack was posted July 22, 2016.
A "weird shipping issue" delayed the release by one week from its original date. On November 29, 2016, Burnham revealed that Samhain had originally been planned for the story before the direction shifted to Banshees.
Trivia
- Walter Peck's pose and line on page 1 visually recall the "I Want You!" Uncle Sam military recruitment poster.
- In panel 1 of page 2, a sign for Lucien Airlines references Monsieur Lucien from The Real Ghostbusters episode "The Ghostbusters in Paris."
- Peter asks Peck to say "please," echoing the scene in the first film where Peter teased Peck with needing the "magic word."
- The three people Peck walks past at Shannon Airport (page 2, panel 3) are based on artist Declan Shalvey, colorist Jordie Bellaire, and artist John Cullen.
- The car rental sign on page 3, panel 1 includes references to: GM Motors ("Don't Forget the Motor City"), Vostok ("Transylvanian Homesick Blues"), Y-car and Dr. V's license plate ("Don't Forget the Motor City"), and Holmes Motors ("Elementary My Dear Winston"), all from The Real Ghostbusters.
- In page 3, panel 4, Kylie mentions Jenny Moran, Erland Vinter, and the mobile Containment Unit. The team drives over the Killaloe Bridge in the same panel.
- Una O'Neill (page 4) is visually based on actress Maureen O'Hara.
- The Leprechaun's Pot on the shelf in Una's home (page 4) is from the Extreme Ghostbusters episode "The Luck of the Irish."
- Ray's dialogue on page 4 references the White Lady haunting at Kinsale's Charles Fort and uses "Kildarby" as a nod to The Real Ghostbusters episode "The Bird of Kildarby."
- The Ecto Goggles design introduced in Ghostbusters International #3 are worn again by Peter and Kylie (page 9).
- The license plate of the rental car on page 8 reads "BIG-042," a nod to Winston's car from The Real Ghostbusters episode "Night Game."
- On page 10, Peter quotes Prince's "Purple Rain": "Honey, I know times are changin'..." This is the Prince tribute Burnham had hinted at on May 3, 2016.
- Aibell tells the team that Una's spurned lover is under her protection; per mythology, Aibell is the guardian spirit of the Dalcassians and the O'Brien clan (page 11).
- In page 16, panel 2, the helmet from one of the Troops of Kildarby (seen on Peter in The Real Ghostbusters episode "The Bird of Kildarby") appears on the wall.
- In page 16, panel 5, a portrait depicts Ghostbusters fan Brendan Rome. A harp in the same panel references Aibell's legendary harp: per Irish lore, hearing it play means you will not live much longer.
- The billboard on page 17 advertises Angelus Puft Marshmallow Man, one of the real-world inspirations for the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.
- The Psychokinetic Defibrillator (page 17) is partially inspired in design by the Spectral Glove from The Real Ghostbusters episode "The Magnificent Five."
- Loftur alludes to Eduardo Rivera and mentions Ray's Occult Books on page 17.
- On page 17, panel 6, the whiteboard in Egon's apartment shows equations written by Erin Gilbert in the Columbia lecture hall at the start of the 2016 Ghostbusters film. The television shows a still from the Ghostbusters II Game Boy video game.
- Among the items visible in Egon's apartment on page 18: the box for Concept 2000's The Real Ghostbusters Solid State Walkie Talkie, a Basic English sign from Stripes, an Einstein portrait based on his famous photograph and his design in The Real Ghostbusters episode "Mr. Sandman, Dream Me a Dream," a snack box referencing the Pizza Ghost from The Real Ghostbusters season 4-7 intro, and a Real Ghostbusters lunch box.
- Also on page 18: a tray of 2016 Ecto Cooler cans and a box of Cracker Jacques (a nod to Cracker Jacks) beneath them.
- In page 18, panel 4, the Paranormal Containment Research Tank's pedal is based on Kenner's Trap toy.
- Luis Antonio Delgado's recurring number "15" easter egg appears in the timestamp when the P.K.E. disturbance is first detected on page 19.
- The manner of Egon's dispersal at the issue's close is visually inspired by his counterpart's displacement in The Real Ghostbusters episode "Egon's Ghost."
- On page 20, Egon's apartment contains: a box of Cheese Itz from the first movie, the Proton Shotgun from The Real Ghostbusters episode "Loose Screws," a pamphlet for Angelus Puft Marshmallow Man, and the Ghost Trap from the 2016 Ghostbusters film.
- The Twinkie on the floor of Egon's apartment (page 20) is based on the Key Lime Slime Twinkie produced for the theatrical run of the 2016 Ghostbusters film.
- The Gulper Ghost visible in the Paranormal Containment Research Tank is based on the ghost included with Kenner's classic Egon Spengler action figure, a recurring visual throughout the series.
- In the Las Vegas backup (page 23), Ron Alexander's description of the ghost strongly echoes descriptions of Elvis, nodding to Ray being asked about Elvis during the first montage of the original film.
- The FBI Field Office in Las Vegas is mentioned on page 23.
References
- IDW Publishing, Ghostbusters International #7 (August 4, 2016). Written by Erik Burnham, art by Dan Schoening, colors by Luis Antonio Delgado.
