Ghostbusters

Who you gonna call?

Are you troubled by strange noises in the middle of the night? Do you experience feelings of dread in your basement or attic? Have you or any of your family ever seen a spook, specter or ghost? If the answer is "yes", then don't wait another minute. Pick up your phone and call the professionals: the Ghostbusters, New York City's premier team of paranormal investigators and ghost-catchers. Their courteous and efficient staff is on call 24 hours a day to serve all your supernatural elimination needs.

They're ready to believe you!

Members include Peter Venkman, Ray Stantz, Egon Spengler, Winston Zeddemore, and the Autobot Ectotron, along with secretary Janine Melnitz.

Fiction

Ask Vector Prime

When asked about the identities of Susan Hoffman's assistants, Bumblebee responded by playing a garbled clip of the Ghostbusters' theme song. What he meant by this is a mystery. Bee's Backtalk, 2015/10/09

Transformers/Ghostbusters

But where's Tracy the Gorilla?

In the past, the Ghostbusters had crossed paths with the formidable deity known as Gozer, and subsequently defeated it during a battle in New York City. Ghosts of Cybertron Part 2 On another occasion, the team used mood slime to bring the Statue of Liberty to life. Ghosts of Cybertron Part 5

While pursuing a ghost in Brooklyn, the team was left without transport after the tentacled phantom caused their car, the Ecto-1, to crash into a sinkhole. Undaunted, the team continued to chase the ghost on foot into Prospect Park, and eventually managed to restrain the ghost with their proton packs and secure the entity inside a ghost trap. On returning to the crash site, however, they discovered that a second Ecto-1 had somehow appeared on the grass near the fissure. Their momentary confusion was interrupted when a ghostly Starscream manifested nearby, demanding that they leave so that he could speak to the Autobot, but was easily contained by Ray Stantz in another ghost trap. Seconds later, however, the second Ecto-1 transformed into the Autobot Ectronymous Diamatron, who introduced himself to the team. Ghosts of Cybertron Part 1 Ignoring Egon Spengler's skepticism at the concept, Ectronymous explained that he had come to Earth to investigate abnormal energy readings—readings that he now recognized belonged to Starscream. Ectronymous's attempts at intimidation failed to faze the four Ghostbusters, however, and the Autobot instead zapped the ghost trap out Ray's hand, releasing Starscream. After a brief conflict, the five heroes were able to talk Starscream down, and learned from him that, after Gozer invaded Cybertron, Megatron and Decepticon High Command had been deceived, enslaved, and trapped by a spectral entity who called itself "Kremzeek." Unaware that Starscream had deliberately twisted the facts, the Ghostbusters pledged that they would try to find a way to help Starscream regain a corporeal form. Ghosts of Cybertron Part 2

This is the last time I go to McDonkeys! They put fragging ghost in burger! I will now go see Kentucky Fried Man.

On returning to their firehouse headquarters and helping to repair Ectronymous's damaged communications systems so that he could hail Optimus Prime, cynical psychiatrist Peter Venkman was able to discern that Starscream really did have an ulterior motive, and subsequently trapped him again inside another ghost trap. While Starscream cooled his heels, the team was called out to investigate a ghost at a local factory, and, with the help of Ectronymous—now going by the nickname of "Ectotron"—were able to capture an electrically charged phantom. On returning to the firehouse, and after meeting Optimus Prime, the team discovered that Starscream had vanished from his ghost trap. Ghosts of Cybertron Part 3 For the benefit of their plus-sized Cybertronian guests, the team subsequently relocated to their spacious Red Hook warehouse, where the four men helped develop a pair of upscaled proton packs for their Autobot allies to wield. Tracking Starscream's PKE signature to Grosbeak Generating Station, the Ghostbusters and Autobots clashed with both Starscream and his spectral master, Kremzeek. A brainwave from Ray led to him unleashing the electricity-eating ghost they'd captured the night before, and the two electrical ghosts dispelled one another.. but the dissipation of Kremzeek also led to the freeing of Megatron, Soundwave, and Shockwave! Ghosts of Cybertron Part 4

Though the Ghostbusters were able to capture and restrain Soundwave and Shockwave with little effort, Megatron was able to evade capture and successfully possess Ectotron, banking on the knowledge that Optimus would never harm his own subordinates. Some quick thinking and convenient mood slime allowed the Ghostbusters to successfully exorcise Megatron and eventually capture him, even if the battle saw Starscream flee the planet. After Ectotron helped repair both the real Ecto-1 and the firehouse, the Ghostbusters bade farewell to their new friend, wishing the newest Ghostbuster luck on his mission to capture Cybertronian ghosts across the galaxy. Ghosts of Cybertron Part 5

Toys

Collaborative

WE GOT ONE!

• Ectotron (July 8, 2019)
  • Accessories: Proton pack, hose, Slimer figurine

The first figure announced for the Collaborative line, Ectotron turns into a General Motors licensed custom 1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor, representing the Ecto-1. In robot mode, he features several design cues based on the Ghostbusters’ uniforms, including his own nametag and Proton Pack.

Ectotron shares several parts with the Combiner Wars Voyager Class Hot Spot/Onslaught mold, most evidently the upper arms and legs. He comes with a 5 mm-compatible particle thrower accessory, and a delicious-looking translucent figurine of Slimer.

Ectotron is packaged in a nostalgic Generation 1-styled box, much like the contemporaneous Vintage G1 line.

Announced in the run-up to Toy Fair 2019, preorders for Ectotron went up on Hasbro Pulse on February 15, 2019, before selling out within six hours. Ectotron was also sold through GameStop in the United States, EB Games in Canada, and Zing and EB Games in Australia.

He took the news of Ghostbusters Afterlife being a thing and made it his own.

• MP-10G Optimus Prime Ecto-35 Edition (July 19, 2019)
  • Accessories: trailer, Roller, blaster, Matrix, Proton pack, hose, ghost trap module, Slimer

Collaborative Ghostbusters x Transformers Masterpiece Optimus Prime Ecto-35 Edition (whew!) is a Ghostbusters-themed redeco of the MP-10 Convoy/Optimus Prime mold.

Optimus Prime is now decoed in white, dark gray and red, with a Ghostbusters "no ghosts" logo on his right shoulder in addition to the Autobot logo on his left. The trailer is decoed similarly, with Ecto-1 style details adorning the sides, as well as green ghost splatter. Optimus's vehicle mode bumper includes an "ECTO-35" plate, which can be seen through his chest in robot mode, referencing the 35th Anniversary of both the Transformers and Ghostbusters franchises.

He includes all his accessories, aside from Spike, gaining a number of additional ones consistent with the theme. The trailer opens out into "Ecto-Base," or can be stood upright as "Ecto Maintenance Dock." A snap-on cover can be applied to Roller to turn him into a ghost trap, a painted opaque version of the Slimer figure included with Ectotron, and a "roof-rack accessory" similar to Ectotron's that pegs into the roof of the trailer. This final item converts into a proton pack for robot mode, pegging into the hole in his back, and a hose connects his ion blaster to the proton pack to serve as a particle thrower. In addition, the figure's packaging is shaped like a proton pack, complete with clips to enable the buyer to strap it to their back.

Ecto-35 Edition Optimus Prime debuted as a Hasbro exclusive at San Diego Comic-Con in 2019, with additional availability at Fan Expo Canada and the Hasbro Pulse online store.

Jason Reitman would be so proud.

• Ectotron (2021)
  • Accessories: Proton pack, neutrona wand, Slimer figurine, Muncher figurine

A redeco and minor retool of the original figure, the second version of Ectotron is based on the Ecto-1's worn-down appearance in Ghostbusters: Afterlife, with rust and cracked Ghostbusters logos. The Ecto-1's ladder has been moved from the right side of the car to the left, and in robot mode Ectotron features a new head sculpt with lowered goggles and a raised face shield. The Slimer figurine now has a painted mouth and eyes, and a second ghost, Muncher, is included as an unpainted translucent blue figurine.

This version of Ectotron is packaged with a copy of Transformers/Ghostbusters #1. To accommodate the comic, the packaging has been changed from the original release's box to a blister card.

Ectotron was released as a Target exclusive, going up for preorder on November 13, 2020.

Merchandise

Jada Toys

• Ecto-1 (Scale 1/24 Die Cast Vehicle, 2024)

Released in the 40th anniversary of both the Transformers and Ghostbusters franchises, this Jada Toys Ecto-1 die-cast vehicle replica is a General Motors licensed custom 1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor in 1/24 scale, redecoed from a previously released mold that was painted in the original Ecto-1 color scheme. This version, however, is especially decorated in Optimus Prime-inspired colors, being mostly red with details in silver and blue, and features Autobot insignias on the front doors and back trunk. It also features rubber tires as well as opening front doors, front hood and back trunk to reveal highly detailed interiors.

• Ecto-1 (Scale 1/32 Die Cast Vehicle, 2024)

This version of the Ecto-1 is a redeco of a 1/32 mold in mostly the same color scheme as the 1/24 version above. It also features rubber tires but can only open its front doors. Beyond the simplified machinery on top of its roof that lacks some detailing, the only noticeable difference in colors from its bigger counterpart is the lack of blue on its headlights.

• Optimus Prime (Scale 1/24 Die Cast Vehicle, 2024)

A redeco of the original 1/24 scaled replica, this Optimus Prime is mostly based on the MP-10G Optimus Prime Ecto-35 Edition figure showcased above, with the addition of some green ghost splatter between the front bumper and the left wheel. He features rubber tires and opening doors to reveal his detailed interior, as well as a sculpted robot mode underneath the chassis. Instead of Autobot insignias, this version features the Ghostbusters logo on both sides and the back of the cab, as well as under the chassis right above his robot mode sculpture.

• Optimus Prime (Scale 1/32 Die Cast Vehicle, 2024)

This version of Optimus Prime is a redeco of the original 1/32 scaled replica in the same Ghostbusters-inspired deco of the 1/24 version above. He also features rubber tires and a sculpted robot mode on the chassis but not opening doors. The only noticeable difference in colors is the lack of green on his headlights.

Notes

• The Ghostbusters have appeared as part of multiple IDW crossover events, including Infestation, in which an avatar of Britt stole some of Gozer's essence and created a zombie Stay Puft Marshmallow Man; Mars Attacks, in which the Real Ghostbusters battled Martian ghosts; The X-Files: Conspiracy, in which they recaptured a ghost inadvertently released by the Lone Gunmen; and Deviations, which asks what would happen if they never crossed the streams. As no Transformers appear in these issues, TFWiki.net does not cover them in detail.
• In the Marvel UK comic story "Race with the Devil", Susan Hoffman's assistants are drawn to resemble Peter, Ray, and Egon, as they appeared in the 1986-1991 animated series The Real Ghostbusters, whose tie-in comic was also being drawn by Andrew Wildman.
• Jason Reitman, the son of original Ghostbusters director Ivan Reitman, and eventually a Ghostbusters sequel director himself, performed uncredited script rewrites on Transformers: Dark of the Moon and Age of Extinction.

Foreign names

• Japanese: Ghostbusters (ゴーストバスターズ Gōsutobasutāzu)