The Good

With the latest chapter of Mass Hysteria!, writer Erik Burnham embraces everything that made us fall in love with the franchise all those years ago. The humor is sharp and frequent, the villains are a huge threat, and the teamwork results in some incredibly vivid fun. But the writer then adds new and exciting twists to the narrative to prevent it from feeling like it's just more of the same.

You can really tell Burnham has a whole lot of love for the franchise. When I read Dr. Peter Venkman's dialogue, I could actually hear them as Bill Murray's voice in my head. They sound just like lines he'd deliver, and that alone is commendable. To make matters even more enjoyable, the witty Venkman plays a big role in this issue and has more than a few lines that made me burst into laughter. Even though some characters feel like they're outside of the spotlight, this is addressed in a pretty funny way and, in the end, everyone is technically needed and has at least one moment to speak up.

The developments in this chapter feel like something you'd see in one of the classic movies -- something which is blatantly implied by the characters -- but then Burnham avoids the cliche and makes good use of the panels to drop a strong cliffhanger. You can't say he didn't warn you with the title of the issue, after all. There's one scene that's just oozing with sci-fi goodness, too. The writer really has done a terrific job making this story duplicate the lighthearted nature of the Ghosbusters movies.

I'm a big fan of artist Dan Schoening and colorist Luis Antonio Delgado's work with this series. They're able to capture the likeness of these characters with a more cartoonish style and the amount of effort that goes into the locations is legitimately impressive. Not only do I admire the character work and attention to the settings, but some of the panel layouts and the way they're focused do a solid job complimenting Burnham's script. Delgado then does a stellar job filling these panels with color and really gets to show-off when the group encounters Tiamat. Overall, this is a delightfully animated book.

The Bad

Minor gripes: it's something you see in movies all the time, but in comics, it feels a little odd to have characters standing around and talking for multiple panels about their plan while the villain just stands around and does nothing. And as much as I love Schoening's pencils, I can't help but get distracted when a character with a relatively smooth face has noticeably bony and wrinkly hands. Although, this only stood out during a later scene on the rooftop.

The Verdict

IDW'sGHOSTBUSTERS continues to prove one thing: if a third movie ever does move forward, they really need to bring on series writer Erik Burnham as a consultant. This book has renewed my love for this franchise -- a franchise I only enjoyed as a youngling -- and this issue is a perfect example of why I'm so captivated by it. It's funny, full of spectacle, and has praiseworthy artwork that pulls you right into all of the chaos. I'm definitely excited to see what happens next.

Such a pity... This is easily in my top 3 most favorite comics so far, next to Batman and Uncanny Avengers. More people should pay attention towards the IDW in general actually, they got some really great stuff. Their transformers books are sweet, and the Judge Dredd series is awesome as well.

Nice review Mr. Katzman ^_^

Is this as good as the teenage mutant ninja turtle series? I always love the ghostbusters movie thinking of picking this up.

@spideyfan3160: That's a tough question... they're totally different things, honestly. You loved the GB movies? Then you definitely owe it to yourself to pick up #13 and see how you feel.

@baberaham_lincoln: Agreed. It's really up there for me, too. Thanks!

@spideyfan3160: While fans new to the franchise will enjoy this, it's clearly geared towards people who love this franchise. It's full of easter eggs from throughout the years. If you find yourself tuning into the movies when they're on, or going out of your way to watch them every year, this is for you.