Exclusive Preview: New Art Book Celebrates Classic Eighties Series ‘The Real Ghostbusters’

Dark Horse Comics will release a new title on July 8 that is sure to bring back a lot of fond memories for kids who grew up in the Eighties.

The Real Ghostbusters: A Visual History is the definitive volume on the classic animated series that ran for seven seasons on ABC from 1986 through 1991. The book is written by Ghostbusters experts Troy Benjamin and Craig Goldberg; Benjamin has previously written Ghostbusters: Ectomobile: Owner’s Workshop Manual while Goldberg runs the the popular Ghostbusters podcast “Yes Have Some.”

The comprehensive 248-page hardcover includes concept artwork, storyboards, character models, script excerpts, internal memos, and packaging art, as well as interviews with over three dozen people who developed and produced the series.

The Eighties were the pinnacle of toy-driven animated series, and one of the most iconic and weirdest toy lines for any show from the period were the products that Kenner created for Real Ghostbusters. As such, the book devotes extensive space to covering the development of the show’s toy line, including unseen prototypes and abandoned concepts.

Dark Horse Comics shared with Cartoon Brew an exclusive preview of some of the page layouts from the upcoming book, which can be seen below:

The book can be pre-ordered HERE.

Additionally, a deluxe collector’s edition package is being released. The deluxe edition can be pre-ordered HERE.

The deluxe edition includes:

• An exclusive firehouse-inspired slipcase and cover.
• A folio enclosing two acetate “animation cel” replicas.
• A unique firehouse flagpole-inspired ribbon bookmark.