As Stay-Puft fans prepare to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Ghostbusters in 2024, now’s a good time to look at the key comics in this enduring franchise.

The Real Ghostbusters

The first comic associated with Ghostbusters was based on the Real Ghostbusters cartoon. The Real Ghostbusters #1 was published by Marvel UK in March 1988. Unfortunately, there’s no data on graded copies but raw copies are currently available on eBay in the $60 to $100 range, depending on condition.

Based on these prices for raw copies, it is highly recommended that you send a copy in for grading if you own one.

The first U.S. Ghostbusters comic was The Real Ghostbusters #1 published by Now Comics in August 1988. There are 267 graded copies in the CGC census. A 9.8 copy last sold in a May 7 eBay auction for $361. That’s down a bunch from the $1,000 fixed price eBay sale on January 20.

The only previous sale was for $399 in June 2020. That makes that January 20 sale very much an outlier, and the true value of a 9.8 is likely in that $350 to $400 range.

At this point, you may be asking yourself why the comics and the cartoon were called The Real Ghostbusters? Filmation had produced a live-action TV show called The Ghost Busters in 1975. In fact, Columbia Pictures had to obtain the rights to use the name Ghostbusters for their film from Filmation.

Seeking to capitalize on the success of the film, Filmation released its own cartoon show called Ghostbusters in 1986. Unable to obtain the naming rights for their cartoon, Columbia chose to title the show The Real Ghostbusters. The cartoon series lasted for seven seasons and was extended to an hour and retitled Slimer and The Real Ghostbusters beginning with the fourth season to allow for solo Slimer stories to be told.

Ghostbusters: Legion

In 2004, a Canadian outfit by the name of 88 MPH Studios obtained the comic publishing rights to Ghostbusters and published the four-issue mini-series Ghostbusters: Legion. The series was plagued by delays and the company folded shortly thereafter due to financial difficulties. There are no graded copies of the primary cover version of Ghostbusters: Legion #1 in the CGC census.

There are, however, 21 graded copies of the 2004 San Diego ComicCon exclusive variant of the first issue in the CGC census. This version is titled as Ghostbusters #1. The only sale of a 9.8 Universal copy was in a January 22 fixed-price eBay sale for $225.

Ghostbusters and IDW

Since 2011, comic publishing rights for Ghostbusters have been in the hands of IDW. There are 11 graded copies of Ghostbusters #1 in the CGC census. The lone sale was a 9.8 going for a slashed $42 on February 19.

In 2014, IDW teamed the Ghostbusters with everyone’s favorite turtles in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Ghostbusters #1. There are 19 graded copies and the peak price paid was $175 for a 9.8 in a June 2022 eBay auction.

IDW has published multiple Ghostbusters mini-series and one-shots over the past decade. Unfortunately, none have really caught on with collectors. Overall, the output of comics based on Ghostbusters has been far too much based on the cartoon The Real Ghostbusters and not enough on the qualities that made the film franchise so amazing.

Here’s hoping that IDW gets it right going forward - and just in time for the 40th anniversary.

Do you collect Ghostbusters comics? What are some of your favorites?
Let us know below!

*Any perceived investment advice is that of the freelance blogger and does not represent advice on behalf of GoCollect.