Ghostbusters: Legion by Andrew Dabb, Steve Kurth & Serge LaPointe (88MPH Studios)
I am a Ghostbusters fan from waaaaaaay back, so I was skeptical when I first heard about this particular '80s revival. After seeing the way other revivals like He-Man, Thundercats, Micronauts and G.I. Joe had been handled by other companies, I believed there was definitely cause to worry. I did not want to see the Ghostbusters reimagined, or modernised for a newer, hipper audience, I wanted to revisit Venkman, Stanz, Spengler and Zeddemore in their prime, busting ghosts, cracking jokes and having fun.
Looking back on it now 4 issues later, my fears were completely unfounded.
The creative team of Dabb & Kurth were superbly picked for this project. It's rare that I see a writer and an artist take a licensed property and just...slip into that world and continue the franchise as if there was no interruption whatsoever. As far as I was concerned, "Legion" seamlessly picked up 6 months after the first movie and took the characters logically through a post-Gozer world. Not only did they do their homework, but these guys must have been tapping into the same creative vein that Ramis and Ayckroyd were when they came up with the idea in the first place. High praise? Indeed.
I also have to give the creators extra credit for doing their level best to include not only designs and concepts from the 2 feature films, but from the animated series as well. The animated series is important to so many GB fans, and the nods were noticed and appreciated.
For anyone who's going to read "Legion", I'll avoid giving away plot points and just say that the story itself is a solid read, enriching the established continuity without stepping on any toes. The upcoming monthly may have some trouble with that on a regular basis, but the mini stays well below the proverbial fanboy radar for anyone worried about GB canon. There's a new villain, a secret from the Ghostbuster's past that returns to bite them in the behind, and an army of ghosts wreaking havoc in New York.
Classic GB fun.
The four issues are being collected in a collector’s edition hardcover which will be packed with material, including; all four issues of the “Legion” mini-series, the twelve page San Diego Comic-Con 2004 Exclusive “The Zeddemore Factor” short story, in color for the first time, never before seen characters case studies, and a preface by Ghostbusters co-creator Dan Aykroyd! The pre-order deadline is March 1st.
mike
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