Flip Side: What are your thoughts?

[Ghosthead1985]

I've been a fan of Real Ghostbusters since I was 5. Since then, one of my favorite episodes has been Flip Side. I recently saw the episode again and it brought up some interesting concepts & questions. Why didn't Peter, Ray or Egon notice that the Peoplebusters were ghostly versions of them and vice-versa? Why didn't Winston and Slimer have Boo York counterparts? Why is Egon the symbol for the Peoplebusters? Did the RGB's or XGB's have any more encounters with the Peoplebusters? I suck as a writer and an artist, or I would've done this myself. What are your thoughts and feelings, fellow ghostheads?

[The Joker]

Why didn't Winston and Slimer have Boo York counterparts?

Possibly because the PBs didn't ever have need of an extra man, like the GBs did in the first movie, so Ghost Winston was never hired.

Why is Egon the symbol for the Peoplebusters?

I would guess because he's the most distinctive-looking of the four. That's really one point where you could really make up an explanation that satisfies yourself.

Did the RGB's or XGB's have any more encounters with the Peoplebusters?

No, sadly.

Anyway, it's definitely a great episode and worthy of some thought. There was a thread at GBHQ I think discussing your points:

Yep, here it is: www.ghostbustershq.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=cartoons;action=display;num=1089259312

Glad I could help out.

[Fritz]

Ghosthead1985 said:

Why didn't Peter, Ray or Egon notice that the Peoplebusters were ghostly versions of them and vice-versa?

This was one of the two glaring holes for me in that episode (the other being the Winston issue) About the only thing I can think of is that they did...but were too creeped out by it to say anything out loud.

Did the RGB's or XGB's have any more encounters with the Peoplebusters? I suck as a writer and an artist, or I would've done this myself.

Actually, the final two issues of the Now RGB comic set up a second confrontation with the Peoplebusters.

From the Timeline

"Poltergiest at the Pentagon" (RGB Annual#1)
The Ghostbusters get a call from the President of the United States: poltergeists are tearing up the Pentagon. The Ghostbusters fly to Washington DC and meet with a Colonel Sullivan, who takes them inside. Ray sets a trap for the playful critters using the model tanks and airplanes in the War Room, and the ghosts are easily confined.
Just as the Ghostbusters are about to leave, Colonel Sullivan asks them if they've heard of "Professor Ian Epimetheus"--and Egon certainly has: Epimetheus was one of his old mentors, who'd dropped out of teaching after supposedly finding a "gateway to the deepest, darkest depths of evil"

"Pandora's Box" (RGB 3-D Annual)
The Ghostbusters recieve Ian Epimetheus's experimental interdimensional portal. When they activate it, Egon and Venkman don spacesuits and go inside it...the dimension they end up in looks familiar to them...their suspicions are confirmed when three familiarly wierd ghostly versions of themselves and Ray appear: the Peoplebusters!!!
Worst of all, they find the portal and use it--Ray and Winston only see shadowy shapes until it's too late!!! Egon and Venkman return--the Peoplebusters are loose in New York City!

The above material was slated for Real Ghostbusters Vol.2 No.5-on, but the series was cancelled and the completed material salvaged for the above specials

Unfortunately, the story was never finished (or if it was it was never published) and we can only speculate what happened next. It's been suggested that some fan fic writer familiar with the Now comic series (and for some reason I seem to be the prime candidate) try to come up with a conclusion to the story.

[SuperStantzio]

I also Liked that episode. It was one of the good ones from the later seasons.

[Stantz]

It was one of the few good ones in the later series, Its one of the few episodes that i could remember from my child hood, i really loved it. when i watch it now im getting more used to Dave Coulier voice, though it really sounds put on.

[TheRazorsEdge]

I've said a lot of different things in a lot of different places about Flip Side, but the main point has always been that it's one of my favorite episodes of the series, for two reasons:

1)I LOVE tales about parallel universes. The first two seasons of Sliders, and the Star Trek episode "Mirror, Mirror" are two of my all-time favorite TV shows.

2)It's the only episode of RGB to ever truly frighten or creep me out as a kid.

I've been planning, once I get through a few other stories (which could take years, lol) to do a GBWC tale about our own Flip Side counterparts.

[Ghosthead1985]

Please do, man. I'm really gettin' into the GBWC and it would be so cool to read about that.

[Kingpin]

I mentioned this over at the GBOFF, but I'm doing an Apochrypha story taking some of the lesser quality (But big potential) RGB stories and adding some new spins on them as well as making some choice 'fixes'.

Ghostbusters: Apochrypha

And one of the eps slated for a little reworking, is Flip Side

Jeff, refresh my memory, was I gonna help you out with that one? (And a possible grounding for a GBUK version, or am I just getting mixed up?)

[TheRazorsEdge]

I dunno, there was a little talk about expanding the entire Flip Side universe at the Omnibus board, but I don't think either of us stated intentions to do GBWC/UK versions in that topic.

[Kingpin]

Understood...I'll try dig that topic up some time, see where things were going...

[TheRazorsEdge]

It was fairly recent. Should be near the top of the Convention Center board.

[Kingpin]

You were right, it was one of the topics near the topic, and no discussion about a PBUK, and some vague connotations with a WCPB...man, Flipside Los Angeles... Los Demos? Los Demonos? Demones? It's up to you.

Mirror, Mirror

[BrianReilly]

I think I talked this over with you already Ben, but for a while I was working on a fairly standard Ghostbusters story. The twist was that at the end you were gonna realize that it was really the Peoplebusters you were following.

I could never quite make it work the way I wanted to though.

[EGBFan]

BrianReilly said:

The twist was that at the end you were gonna realize that it was really the Peoplebusters you were following.

Oooooooh - like The Others!

[Kingpin]

EGBFan said:

Oooooooh - like The Others!

Very like them, I still think it's worth a try and if you pull it of...

Thwn much kudos.