Real Ghostbusters: NOW Comics Annual 1993
3 min read
The NOW Comics Annual 1993 is an oversized annual issue published by NOW Comics as part of their run of The Real Ghostbusters comics. Despite its "1993" label, the issue was released in December 1992. It contains two original stories. Chief editor was Tony Caputo; the cover was illustrated by Norm Dwyer, John Stangeland, and Suzanne Dechnik.
This was the final issue NOW Comics published in the Real Ghostbusters line. One additional issue titled The Real Ghostbusters was subsequently released, but that publication contained only reprints of Marvel UK stories and new Slimer! material rather than original content. The Annual 1993 therefore stands as the last original-story issue of the NOW Comics run.
Story 1: "Trick or Treat or Defeat"
Credits
| Role | Person |
|---|---|
| Writer | Patrick Williams |
| Penciler | Patrick Williams |
| Inker | Tim Estiloz |
| Letterer | Andrea Albert |
| Editor | Joan M. Weis |
Plot
On Halloween, Samhain reappears in New York City disguised as a wealthy old man, distributing Halloween novelty items to children throughout the city. Once he is far enough from each location, he reverts to his pumpkin form and rides off on a dragon. Meanwhile, at the Firehouse, Egon Spengler picks up rising readings of mystical energy, warning that if focused sufficiently, the surge could shatter the barrier between the realms of the living and the dead. The barrier is at its thinnest on Halloween, and Egon considers it no coincidence. The Ghostbusters head out to locate the source.
The Halloween items distributed by Samhain animate and begin terrorizing New York residents. Samhain feeds on the fear generated. The Ghostbusters engage the animated objects but are overwhelmed until Egon traces the funneling energy to a single location: Samhain's Castle. Samhain, at the castle, waits for the precise moment the barrier weakens enough to strike. The Ghostbusters arrive and disrupt his attack. In the ensuing battle, the team's proton streams trap Samhain in a feedback loop, building energy until he suffers an ectoplasmic overload and is destroyed. With Samhain gone, the animating energy dissipates and New York returns to normal.
The story is presented in two parts in print.
Cast
- Samhain
- Egon Spengler
- Peter Venkman
- Ray Stantz
- Winston Zeddemore
- Janine Melnitz
- Slimer
- New York City residents
- Dragon and dragon driver
- Animated Halloween novelty items
Equipment and locations
- Proton Pack, P.K.E. Meter, Ecto Goggles, Ghost Trap
- Ecto-1
- Firehouse, Samhain's Castle; the Omniverse is mentioned