The Ghostbusters Omnibus Timeline

[Fritz]

The centerpiece of the Ectozone, and the work that really brought me to Ghosthead attention, was a little thing I call The Ghostbusters Omnibus Timeline

I started it in 1998, right after we got a computer (it was old then and couldn't go on the internet), and tweaked and worked on it off and on for five years, before I signed up at GBN, started to talk about it some, and was talked into releasing it. It's the reason the Ectozone exists, really.

The concept was this: the movies and both animated series all more or less happened. With a conceptual leap or two, the timeline came together, and pretty much seems to be acclaimed by everyone who isn't insistant that the battle with Gozer happened in 1984

Concept#1: The Gozer battle happened in 1983. This allows the Ghostbusters time to become famous before the movie is made and released in 1984--an event depicted onscreen in the RGB episode "Take Two"

Concept#2: Events happen in a loose sort of "real time" progression. Season 2 is the next year after Season 1 (and the syndicated episodes, usually grouped with Season 1, are split between both years (1984-1985)

Concept#3: The two year "gap" in real life between GB1 and RGB (1984-1986) is "moved" to the years 1986-1988, and take place after Season 3. Why? Ghostbusters 2

Concept#4: The Timeline does not accept the assertion in GB2 that the Ghostbusters go out of business right after Gozer, because the Timeline accepts that most events of RGB happened. However, the Timeline posits that the Ghostbusters are shut down in 1986, and that two year gap mentioned above allows time away from Ghostbusting for the "down on their luck" scenario at the start of GB2 to work. (As opposed to the "pure" RGB answer, which almost treated GB2 like it never happened save for one offhand reference to Vigo and of course putting Louis in the cartoon)

Concept#5: Extreme Ghostbusters happened. It was controversial and not well-liked, but it continued the pseudo real time progression from RGB. It was officially licensed by Sony, Joe Medjuck and Richard Mueller participated in it, and did not contradict any earlier material. And hell, I liked it and it's my Timeline, right?

I'd like to thank the much-missed Matthew Riddle, Brian Reilly, Kingpin, and a lot of other people for their advice and help with this undertaking.

Take a look.

www.gbtimeline.tk
or
www.ectozone.com/gbtimeline.html

[Kingpin]

C'mon guys, he didn't earn his Honorary Historian of things that never happened degree by sitting around doing nothing, you have a story but don't know who did what from Job, then come here for all your Ghostbusters historical needs!

[Fritz]

A revision I feel is of some note...

In the Period One page, in 1983, the entry for Gb1 has been split, much like the entry for GB2--to make room for mention of "The Zeddemore Factor"

Most of the Revival material (the 88MPH comic and the iBooks novel) are problematic to fit into the RGB/EGB-based GBOT continuity, but other than a contemporary reference or two (ie Tyra Banks, who wasn't famous in 1983) I have to regard "The Zeddemore Factor" as the definitive account of Winston's first night as a Ghostbuster.

[raysgal]

Fritz said:

(ie Tyra Banks, who wasn't famous in 1983)

I wouldn't have known this if I hadn't visited your site. Thank you for this piece of valuable information. (Just kidding... ;D)

I really appreciate the fact you spent all the time creating such an indispensable service for interested Ghostheads.

[Fritz]

Some revisions have been made to the Timeline:

The most obvious one, once you go to the main page, is a new logo design. It combines the fonts I've been using everywhere else on the Ectozone with a new GB logo inspired by the one in the old GBI role playing games.

I've officially added Ghostbusters: Legion to continuity, just after "Mister Sandman Dream Me a Dream" (as I hinted at in "Chronciles of Gozer") While it wasn't designed to fit into RGb continuity, it doesn't completely contradict it either with some modification of the role of Slimer, the timing of the experiment that drove Draverhaven mad, and (should you so choose) the appearances of the four Ghostbusters.

Fitting The Return in has proven more problematic, but I have canonized one nod to it: Arnie Lapinski now serves as mayor from 1990-1994, between Lenny Clotch and Edwin MacShayne. He sorta thus becomes the GB counterpart of David Dinkins, who served those same years between Ed Koch (Lenny) and Rudy Guiliani (MacShayne)

[TroyUlysses]

Hi Fritz the Diabolic Cat,

I’m from the UK and I’ve found something over here that you might be interested in. I thought our Ghostbuster’s comics would be reproductions of the initial US runs but after reading your Timeline (not word for word…yet) I have noticed something you might want to try and include.

Its the Real Ghostbusters comics and one strip gives us a new character, a ghost busting robot invented by Egon, called Ecto-X. Not major I suppose but bear with me on this. The short strip entitled ‘Egon’s New Invention’ gives us the robot, it can do everything the Ghostbusters can, and more and its job is to help take some of the work load off them. He becomes a big star, blah, blah next it does a HAL and goes metal trapping the Real Ghostbusters and proclaiming it wants to take over the world! They stop it, shut down its Ghostbusting abilities and it’s the Firehouse maid by the close of the story.

Not sure how much time passes (I think it’s a year) but nothing more is heard of Ecto-X until one short comic-strip again features a story (title un-known at present). No-one is at HQ except Peter who has taken the night off to, … wait for it, …take Dana to the opera (and she is featured, this is prior to her appearance in ‘Ghostbusters II’ comic adaptation). The rest of the guys are on a job and Peter was left with instructions to dispose of some traps in the C-Unit before he goes out. However he runs late and leaves Slimer in charge of instructing Ecto-X in sorting out the job, Peter leaves, you see him at the opera with Dana and things go wrong at HQ. The ghosts get out and Slimer is alone and doesn’t know what to do so gets Ecto-X out of its feather duster complex and kicks arse. The ghosts get sorted, the Ghostbusters return and are non the wiser.

[Fritz]

Welcome to the Ectozone.


I was familiar with the first ECTO-X story-Now comics (the American RGB comic publisher) included it and two other Marvel UK reprints in RGB#21.

For now I haven't included anything from the Marvel UK run because of two reasons: 1. I'm just simply not able to see any sizable portion of the run (just the stories Now reprinted) and 2. Most of the ones they did reprint were kindof lame.

Not sure how much time passes (I think it’s a year) but nothing more is heard of Ecto-X until one short comic-strip again features a story (title un-known at present). No-one is at HQ except Peter who has taken the night off to, … wait for it, …take Dana to the opera (and she is featured, this is prior to her appearance in ‘Ghostbusters II’ comic adaptation). The rest of the guys are on a job and Peter was left with instructions to dispose of some traps in the C-Unit before he goes out. However he runs late and leaves Slimer in charge of instructing Ecto-X in sorting out the job, Peter leaves, you see him at the opera with Dana and things go wrong at HQ. The ghosts get out and Slimer is alone and doesn’t know what to do so gets Ecto-X out of its feather duster complex and kicks arse. The ghosts get sorted, the Ghostbusters return and are non the wiser.

I admit you've got me curious about that for one reason--what did Dana look like? Did she resemble Sigourney Weaver, look anything like the Now comics GB2 version ( www.ectozone.com/gbfldana.html for an approximation) or something completely different?

And yeah, actually having her appear at all is fascinating, as the GB2 adaptation is the only official American RGB story where she appears; she isn't even mentioned once in the animated series. (She does get mentioned in passing in RGB#1)

[TroyUlysses]

Marvel, ah yes I’d forgotten it was them. Forgive me I’m going on memory here, I do have a few back issues from when I was a kid I’ll search them out (along with the Dana appearance which I’ll attempt to scan and email you).

She looked nothing like Sigourney Weaver, from what I recall, except maybe shoulder length dark brown hair. I’m pretty sure it was the look from the ‘Ghostbusters II’ adaptation. Incidentally did you only get the comic strip issues of the adaptation in the US because the one I own is all the strips together, a graphic novel if you will which is kind of neat, which is Marvel released.

[Kingpin]

TroyUlysses, welcome to the Ectozone.

My main opinion of the Marvel Ghostbusters comics, personally, is to keep them as far removed from the Omnibus Timeline, while they did feature our favourite characters, they really ignored anything established in the cartoon, characterisation and humour suffered and there were never any cameos or references to any of the established RGB badguys, despite the fact I think they threw in odd ideas which replaced established ones... I believe they had one which replaced the role of the Boogieman, but I can't be certain.

[TroyUlysses]

Thanks for the hello Kingpin, thanks to Fritz as well sorry I didn’t say it before.

I think your being a little harsh on the Marvel comics. I can’t see much problem with them really; in fact they link quite closely with the films. Like I’ve said, Dana is mentioned on at least one occasion, Slimer’s origins are touched upon, Walter Peck makes an appearance and you get an explanation for Egon’s hair, in fact you see RGB Egon with hair like that of the movies!

I do agree that the plots are hardly top notch and they are take ‘em or leave ‘em stories but my opinion is that if they mention or show something of significance then include it in the timeline. There are no dates really given to stories except the dates the comics themselves were released so its fare game where they go.

[Fritz]

TroyUlysses said:

Thanks for the hello Kingpin, thanks to Fritz as well sorry I didn’t say it before.

I think your being a little harsh on the Marvel comics. I can’t see much problem with them really; in fact they link quite closely with the films. Like I’ve said, Dana is mentioned on at least one occasion, Slimer’s origins are touched upon,

Well, the problem with this is, and mind you I haven't actually seen it, but the origin as I've heard it sounds, well, downright stupid. He was a king named...Remils? REMILS? That isn't even trying...

Walter Peck makes an appearance

That might be interesting. Did he look like he did in "Big Trouble With Little Slimer"? It was a pretty lackluster episode, but did establish what the RGB version of Peck looks like.

and you get an explanation for Egon’s hair, in fact you see RGB Egon with hair like that of the movies!

Well, yeah, maybe...but Egon had his RGB hair back in the flashback in "Citizen Ghost". He still has his hair when he de-ages ("Three Men and An Egon") and his appearance, as he appears in RGB, is depicted as carrying a very strong resemblance to at least two ancestors: Eli ("If I Were A Witch Man") and Zedikiah ("Egon's Dragon") as well as his mother ("Ghost World"). Basically, I just have to take the stronger evidence that in the RGB continuity, Egon's always looked like that.

I do agree that the plots are hardly top notch and they are take ‘em or leave ‘em stories but my opinion is that if they mention or show something of significance then include it in the timeline. There are no dates really given to stories except the dates the comics themselves were released so its fare game where they go.

I'm not saying "I'll never ever include anything"...it's just, as I said, my knowledge of them is limited. I enjoyed a couple of them--there were a couple I saw with Egon and Janine on dates , and I remember one which had Venkman giving some sharp dialog while being manipulated by a mermaid or something. There just wasn't much that shouted "Include me!!!' either.

Admittedly, I may go back and reread what I have.
And there is one little factoid from the Marvel UK stories that have worked into the fanfics: Kingpin put "West Pier Pizza" in one of his stories and I started mentioning it in mine. He told me it came from one of the UK stories.

[TroyUlysses]

... the origin as I've heard it sounds, well, downright stupid. He was a king named...Remils? REMILS?

Thats news to me, all you get in the comic is Egon saying, “All my calculations show that today, five hundred years ago… Slimer became a ghost!”<br>

Did he look like he did in "Big Trouble With Little Slimer"? It was a pretty lackluster episode, but did establish what the RGB version of Peck looks like.

I cant remember that episode but im sure they are of the same look.

Egon had his RGB hair back in the flashback in "Citizen Ghost". He still has his hair when he de-ages ("Three Men and An Egon") and his appearance, as he appears in RGB, is depicted as carrying a very strong resemblance to at least two ancestors: Eli ("If I Were A Witch Man") and Zedikiah ("Egon's Dragon") as well as his mother ("Ghost World").

Forgot about them, it does seem that the Marvel comics were at great pains to point out that the films were 'real' I think.

[Fritz]

TroyUlysses said:

Thats news to me, all you get in the comic is Egon saying, “All my calculations show that today, five hundred years ago… Slimer became a ghost!”

Well, again, that's something I only heard second hand from someone talking about the stories on GBCentral.

I cant remember that episode but im sure they are of the same look.

Well, I got an approximation at Peck's fact list page if it helps:
www.ectozone.com/gbflpecker.html

[Kingpin]

You know, maybe I have treated the whole Marvel line badly based on a few of it's stories...

Tell you what, I'll try write a synapsis for the stories and list any references/factoids worth mentioning and we can see what can be used...

On the Slimer origin, hadn't you taken the RPG approach that he was the by-product of a ritual in the Sedgewick Hotel, Fritz?

[Fritz]

Well, unofficially...I did kind of hint at it in Ghost Stories but didn't set it in stone.

Morton P. Grout, Manager of New York City's posh Hotel Sedgewick, had a problem. There had been stories throughout the years about an "anomaly" (to use Mister Grout's word) on the thirteenth floor for several years--according to an anonymous staffer "It all, like, started when the police arrested these gnarly dudes in, like, the tackiest goatskin pants and they were, like, burning candles and having sex parties in the Hotel Basement..." Publicly, Grout and the other members of the Sedgewick staff maintain that the idea that a "cult" had "summoned something up" was ridiculous, it didn't help the hotel's credibility that two weeks ago, on a Thursday night, something apparently attacked a honeymooning couple.

We only have Bud's word, after all, that Slimer first appeared after the cult did their thing, and that guy is clearly stoned out of his gourd, so there's a huge grain of salt to be taken there.

Granted, I still like it the best out of all the theories I've heard, but not to the point of getting into huge fights about it.