A typical issue during the weekly run consisted of:
- Three comic strips: the primary adventure story plus two shorter strips
- Winston's Diary: a recurring prose text story, usually narrated in Winston's voice
- Spengler's Spirit Guide: a half-page or full-page recurring feature profiling a ghost, monster, or Ghostbusters equipment item
- Ghostbusters Fact File: a condensed reference panel spotlighting a character, ghost, or piece of equipment
- "Blimey, it's Slimer!" / "It's Slimer!": a recurring half-page gag strip starring Slimer
The Ghostbusters Fact File ran through most of the series, covering 148 distinct entries. Subjects ranged from the core cast (Peter Venkman in #001, Egon Spengler in #002, Ray Stantz in #003, Winston Zeddemore in #004, Slimer in #005, Janine Melnitz in #006) through equipment entries (Ecto-1 in #007, Proton Pack in #008) to the one-off ghosts and monsters the team encountered. Several entries were revisited and updated in later issues. Notably, issues #014, #022, #050, #071, #073, #074, #092, #100, #103, #131, #133, #134, #137, #142, #150, #151, #165, and #166-#184 did not carry a Fact File; the final issue #193 ran two entries.
Notable Issues and Stories
Issue #001 introduced the format with the story "There's a Ghost in my House!," in which the team responds to a call at 145 Thorp Street and discovers the haunting comes from a Buggane, a harmless house ghost. The Ghostbusters release the ghost at the homeowner's request rather than containing it, establishing a tone of nuance not always present in American licensed comics of the era. A crossover note: on page 3 of IDW's Ghostbusters International #9, Special Agent Melanie Ortiz is shown reading a copy of this first issue.
Issue #009 featured "Too Many Ghostbusters!," an alien invasion story in which shapeshifting creatures called Gwanzulums disguise themselves as Winston Zeddemore. Writer John Freeman's Gwanzulums were a shared creation across Marvel UK titles: the same aliens appeared in Transformers issues #161-163 ("Combat Colin Versus The Gwanzulums," April 1988) and in Doctor Who Magazine issues #140-141 ("Planet of the Dead," September-October 1988). This story was later reprinted by NOW Comics in Slimer! #18.
Issue #011 ("An Inspectre Calls") was written by Dan Abnett with art by Anthony Williams and Dave Elliott, coloring by Lynn White, and lettering by Glop. The story features Josiah Ezekial Hopewright, a preacher-type figure who has been exorcising ghosts for a day, only for Peter and Ray to discover Josiah is himself a ghost who didn't realize he had died in 1868. Reprinted in NOW Comics Slimer! #16.
Issue #002: the cover art was reused for the reprint issue #187 late in the series' run, a clear marker of the cost-cutting that characterized the monthly endgame.
Issue List (Main Series, #001-#193)
The full run spans 193 issues. The first 12 are fortnightly; #013 onward runs weekly until #185; #186 onward is monthly.
| Issues |
Period |
Frequency |
| #001-#012 |
March 26, August 27, 1988 |
Fortnightly |
| #013-#185 |
September 10, 1988, December 28, 1991 |
Weekly |
| #186-#193 |
February 1992, September 1992 |
Monthly (reprints) |
Selected dates (all issues #001-#185 follow a strict fortnightly then weekly cadence):
| # |
Cover Date |
# |
Cover Date |
# |
Cover Date |
| 001 |
March 26, 1988 |
041 |
March 25, 1989 |
081 |
December 30, 1989 |
| 002 |
April 9, 1988 |
042 |
April 1, 1989 |
082 |
January 6, 1990 |
| 003 |
April 23, 1988 |
043 |
April 8, 1989 |
090 |
March 3, 1990 |
| 004 |
May 7, 1988 |
050 |
May 27, 1989 |
100 |
May 12, 1990 |
| 005 |
May 21, 1988 |
060 |
August 5, 1989 |
109 |
July 14, 1990 |
| 006 |
June 4, 1988 |
067 |
September 23, 1989 |
130 |
December 8, 1990 |
| 007 |
June 18, 1988 |
068 |
September 30, 1989 |
150 |
April 27, 1991 |
| 008 |
July 2, 1988 |
069 |
October 7, 1989 |
164 |
August 3, 1991 |
| 009 |
July 16, 1988 |
078 |
December 9, 1989 |
185 |
December 28, 1991 |
| 011 |
August 13, 1988 |
079 |
December 16, 1989 |
193 |
September 1992 |
| 012 |
August 27, 1988 |
080 |
December 23, 1989 |
, |
, |
Free Gifts and Cover Inserts
Marvel UK regularly bundled free gifts with their weeklies, either taped to the front cover or included inside in a polybag. A notable recurring supplier was Scorpio Products International Ltd (SPI). Documented gifts for the main series include:
| Issue |
Gift |
Source / Notes |
| #001 |
Real Ghostbusters Badge |
Front cover |
| #014 |
Panini Sticker Album and Stickers |
Bundled (polybag) |
| #015 |
Panini Stickers |
Inside |
| #028 |
Willow Model from Kellogg's Corn Flakes |
Front cover |
| #041 |
Easter Gift: Real Ghostbusters Jelly Novelty by Alma |
Front cover |
| #042 |
Slimer Badge |
Front cover |
| #067 |
Real Ghostbusters Jelly Novelty by Alma |
Front cover |
| #068 |
Real Ghostbusters Tattoos |
Front cover |
| #069 |
Real Ghostbusters Vinyl Badge |
Front cover |
| #076 |
Free Comic (brand unspecified) |
Inside |
| #078 |
Ghostbusters II Badge |
Front cover |
| #090 |
Real Ghostbusters Door Hanger by SPI |
Front cover |
| #091 |
Gigantic Ghostbusters 2 Logo Poster |
Inside |
| #109 |
Slimer Chewy Bar by Squirrel |
Front cover |
| #130 |
Unknown free item (possibly Slimer Chewy Bar) |
Front cover |
| #141 |
Space Mask from Kellogg's Ricicles |
Front cover |
| #143 |
Beetlejuice Mini Jokebook |
Front cover |
| #150 |
Real Ghostbusters Bookmark |
Front cover |
| #152 |
Matlow's Refresher |
Front cover |
| #164 |
Real Ghostbusters Button/Badge (three known designs) |
Front cover |
| #165 |
Real Ghostbusters Sticker by SPI (two known designs) |
Front cover |
| #178 |
Real Ghostbusters Jelly Novelty by Alma |
Front cover |
| #179 |
Real Ghostbusters Sticker by SPI |
Front cover |
| #193 |
Disappearing Sticker from Kellogg's Rice Krispies |
Front cover |
Issues #164-#169 and #172-#186 also included interior poster reprints of earlier cover artwork.
Specials and Companion Publications
Beyond the main weekly series, Marvel UK published a substantial range of companion titles under the Real Ghostbusters banner.
Monthly Collected Issues (#1-#5, November 1990 - March 1991)
A short monthly digest series reprinting stories from the main run, running five issues from November 1990 through March 1991. Issue #1 came bundled with a free Real Ghostbusters Patch.
Puzzlebusters (#1-#6, August/September 1990 - June/July 1991)
Six puzzle-and-activity specials, each including a free gift:
| # |
Date |
Free Gift |
| 1 |
Aug/Sep 1990 |
Slimer Chewy Bar by Squirrel |
| 2 |
Oct/Nov 1990 |
Swizz Kids Lolly |
| 3 |
Dec 1990/Jan 1991 |
Freaky Finger Fiend |
| 4 |
Feb/Mar 1991 |
(none documented) |
| 5 |
Apr/May 1991 |
Real Ghostbusters Bookmark |
| 6 |
Jun/Jul 1991 |
Matlow's Refresher |
Poster Magazine and Winter Special
A Poster Magazine (undated) and a Poster Magazine Winter Special (November 1990) were produced, presenting large format pinup artwork from the comic series.
Seasonal Specials
- Winter Special (November 1989)
- Easter Special (April 1990)
Collected Comics (#01-#13)
A long-running series of reprint specials, extending beyond the main series' end:
| # |
Title / Season |
Date |
| 01 |
Spring Special |
March 1989 |
| 02 |
TV Special |
August 1989 |
| 03 |
Holiday Special |
July 1990 |
| 04 |
Summer Holiday Special |
August 1991 |
| 05 |
Spring Special |
March 1992 (approx) |
| 06 |
(unknown) |
Includes a free Kellogg's gift |
| 07 |
Winter Special |
January 1992 |
| 08 |
(unknown) |
, |
| 09 |
Holiday Special |
July 1993 |
| 10 |
(unknown) |
, |
| 11 |
Holiday Special |
1994 |
| 12 |
(unknown) |
, |
| 13 |
Autumn Special |
Fall 1995 |
The Collected Comics series ran well into the mid-1990s under the Panini imprint, years after the weekly series ended.
Annuals
Four hardcover annuals were published, typically released in autumn for the Christmas gift market:
- Annual 1989
- Annual 1990
- Annual 1991
- Annual 1992
The Marvel Bumper Comic
A short companion weekly (18+ issues documented) that also featured Real Ghostbusters content alongside other Marvel UK licensed properties. Issue #01 came bundled with a Panini Sticker Album; several later issues included further free gifts.
It's Wicked! (17 issues)
A companion title running 17 issues that combined Real Ghostbusters content with broader horror-flavored comic material. Issue #01 came with plastic fangs (blue or green); subsequent issues included tattoos and Jelly Novelties.
Slimer! (13 issues)
A UK Slimer-focused companion series of 13 issues, distinct from the American NOW Comics Slimer! series. Note that Slimer's design in this title is closer to the UK "Blimey, It's Slimer!" / "It's Slimer!" gag strips from the main weekly than to his American animated design.
Cross-Publication Story Reprints
Several stories from the Marvel UK series were reprinted in the American NOW Comics Slimer! title, giving the UK material a second life in the United States:
- "Too Many Ghostbusters!" (issue #009) reprinted in NOW Comics Slimer! #18
- "An Inspectre Calls" (issue #011) reprinted in NOW Comics Slimer! #16
In the other direction, the Marvel UK series reprinted American NOW Comics material during its late reprint phase. The title "The Real Ghostbusters Starring In Ghostbusters 'The Movie'" (a Marvel UK collected reprint of NOW Comics issues) also appeared under the Marvel UK banner.
Children's Books
A line of illustrated children's books was adapted from the comic artwork by Marvel Comics Ltd (marketed at times under the "Marvel Books" imprint, though the books themselves were produced by Marvel Comics Ltd). Eight main titles were produced, and all eight were also translated into Greek and published by ERIAN ΕΚΔΟΣΕΙΣ (Erian Publications):
- The Real Ghostbusters and the Ghostly Brothers Grimm
- The Real Ghostbusters and Egon's New Invention
- The Real Ghostbusters: The Return of Mr Stay Puft
- The Real Ghostbusters and the Ghostly Shark
- The Real Ghostbusters: Four Ghostbusters and a Baby
- The Real Ghostbusters: Good-bye to Slimer
- The Real Ghostbusters at the Forever Fair
- The Real Ghostbusters and the Phantom Pharaoh (July 1989)
Three additional compilation volumes were also produced:
- The Real Ghostbusters: The Giggling Ghoul and other stories (sometimes called "Ghostbusters Compendium")
- The Real Ghostbusters: Ghostnappers and other stories
- The Real Ghostbusters Pocket Comic Book "As Seen On TV"
Two storybooks were released by Marvel Books proper (rather than Marvel Comics Ltd):
- The Real Ghostbusters: Ghoulish Gourmet Storybook
- The Real Ghostbusters: Ding Dong Dodger Storybook
Titan Books Collected Editions (2005-2007)
From 2005 through 2007, Titan Books released four trade paperback collections reprinting selected stories from the Marvel UK run:
| Title |
Publication Date |
| A Hard Day's Fright |
October 1, 2005 |
| Who You Gonna Call? |
February 1, 2006 |
| Which Witch is Which? |
June 1, 2006 |
| This Ghost is Toast! |
December 11, 2007 |
These four volumes remain the most accessible way for modern readers to encounter the original Marvel UK material in print.
Characters
The core cast throughout the run is Peter Venkman, Egon Spengler, Ray Stantz, Winston Zeddemore, Janine Melnitz, and Slimer. The Ecto-1 appears regularly as the team's vehicle. The series produced an enormous number of one-off ghost and monster characters across its run; the Ghostbusters Fact Files catalogued 148 distinct supernatural entities and subjects over the course of the series.
References
- Fandom Ghostbusters Wiki, "Marvel Comics Ltd" (Marvel_Comics_Ltd.md)
- Fandom Ghostbusters Wiki, "Marvel Comics Ltd: The Real Ghostbusters Series" (Marvel_Comics_Ltd_The_Real_Ghostbusters_Series.md)
- Fandom Ghostbusters Wiki, individual issue articles (Marvel_Comics_Ltd_The_Real_Ghostbusters_001 through _012)
