Ghostbusters International #5, Louvre no ghost behind

Ghostbusters International #5 from IDW is out in comic book stores. It’s not the summer of Ghostbusters, it just feels that way. What with the movie coming out and lots of hopefully cool toys it’s enough to make Venkman at a loss for words. This is a cool mini-series that puts our Ghosbutsters,  Peter Venkman, Ray Stantz ad Winston Zeddemore on European soil where they see exotic ghosts in landmark locations at the bidding of their client Erland Vinter who is looking for an ancient artifact. But does their client have more sinister aspersions than the team running afoul of a blood red slime monster?

Ghostbusters International is, in many ways a very classic all ages comic book. It doesn’t have graphic violence or language, yet is mature enough to appeal to older elementary school readers who want a less rounded appearance to their comic books.  The ghosts in the comic book are monstrous and scary, but not too much for an 8 year old to tolerate.

In Ghostbusters International #5 there is one instance of ‘hell’, but it’s somewhat appropriate in its usage and isn’t something that will focus attention. Once the team gets investigating the comic book moves at a brisk pace as they chase various things around the Louvre. The building has been covered in red slime and the team is forced to enter through an underground passage.

Because the building is massive and houses thousands of pieces of priceless art they’re being escorted about by a French policeman. In short order they encounter a large spectral thing that looks a bit like the beast from Attack on Titan. He’s Jean L’Ecorcheur, an assassin who used to work with Napolean. However, now, he’s  a large skin-less monster with a large septre who seems intent on smashing the Ghostbusters.

The French policeman makes the mistake of using a small caliber taser on this monster which allows him to animate or monsterize some of the art in the museum. Mona Lisa and David come to life, surrounding the team and forcing them to get  creative in order to capture the ghosts and hopefully save the artifact.

Ages 8 and up will enjoy this comic. Just because kids can enjoy doesn’t mean that this is one that adults won’t like. There are lots of funny lines in Ghostbusters International that children might not get, simply because of their lack of life experiences. When the Mona Lisa painting is trying to bite Venkman he says, “At least Dave wasn’t a biter!  Nat Cole would be ashamed of you”.

Dave refers to the David statue that is chasing them around and Nat Cole references his hit song, Mona Lisa. It’s not the fourth wall in comic books, that’s just clever, funnier than expected dialogue from a kid’s comic book, isn’t it?

At a con one time I was talking to Erik Burnham, the writer for Ghostbusters International, as well as other books. He was telling a story about a family that he met who read his comic books, as a family, as their good night books or leisure reading. That is what makes a fabulous all age comic book. It’s cool enough for the kids, but doesn’t have images or dialogue that parents don’t want to show the kids.