egon ghostbusters afterlife

‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife:’ How Egon Was Brought Back Through Cutting Edge VFX

Director Jason Reitman and the visual effects artists of the film walk TheWrap through that touching finale

( Warning: This post features major spoilers for “Ghostbusters: Afterlife”.)

“Ghostbusters: Afterlife” is the kind of big popcorn movie that is gloriously stuffed with eye-popping visuals – a gluttonous phantasm (with the voice of Josh Gad) careens through a small town; an army of teensy, vicious Stay Puft Marshmallow men wreaks havoc in a Walmart; an undead deity rises from the fiery underworld.

But its most dazzling moment is a much quieter, more impactful one, as the ghost of Egon Spengler rejoins his family (played by Carrie Coon, Mckenna Grace and Finn Wolfhard) and fellow Ghostbusters (Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Ernie Hudson) for a final showdown against evil. Of course, what makes this so miraculous is that Harold Ramis, who played Egon Spengler in the first two “Ghostbusters” films (and also co-wrote them) died in 2014.

“It’s a Movie That Ends With a Hug”

According to co-writer/director Jason Reitman (son of original “Ghostbusters” director Ivan Reitman), he always had the ending of “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” in mind.

“You don’t know you’re going to make a movie when you know the beginning of the movie. You know you’re going to make a movie when, you know the end of the movie. That seems like a simple thing to say, but I think it’s actually really important. All of us come up with the ideas for beginnings of movies,” Reitman explained. “But I knew I was going to make ‘Up in The Air’ once I knew the end of the movie and ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife,’ which I thought I would never make. I knew I needed to once I knew the ending.”

What’s unique, too, is that the movie doesn’t end with a giant goliath towering over our heroes; even the Stay Puft Marshmallow man is tiny in “Ghostbusters: Afterlife.”

“This is a movie that doesn’t end with an explosion,” Reitman said. “It’s a movie that ends with a hug.”

But it was more than just a hug – it was combining the thematic and emotional threads of the movie into one powerful moment.

“The idea was about generational forgiveness and being able to say goodbye and to accomplish that, we were going to have to create an impossible moment on screen, a moment in which the four Ghostbusters stand next to each other one last time, a moment in which the original Ghostbusters get to say goodbye to Egon, who was my favorite Ghostbuster,” Reitman said. “And a moment in which a granddaughter gets to meet her grandfather for the first time and a woman gets to forgive and embrace her father.”

It’s just that this movie-ending hug turned out to be just as difficult and time consuming as any spaceship exploding, requiring artists and technicians in a variety of disciplines to come together with the same singular goal: to bring Egon, a character defined by his relationship with the paranormal, back from beyond the grave.

A Supernatural Stand-In

When production began on “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” in the summer of 2019 they already had an Egon. Sort of. Reitman hired Bob Gunton, the talented, 76-year-old character actor perhaps best known as the sadistic warden from “The Shawshank Redemption,” as the on-set Egon.

“He’s this brilliant actor who came and performed the scene with the original guys, and he had to do the selfless thing of agreeing to be a part of a movie that you would never see him in,” Reitman said. (He also appears in the movie’s cold open, which establishes Egon’s demise and his existence as a shut-in in the middle of nowhere Oklahoma.) Harold Ramis’ version of the character hadn’t returned. Egon remained trapped in the foggy ether between worlds. Still – it was a start.

Visual Effects Wizardry

By Reitman’s estimation, the process of returning Egon took two years. The visual effects house tasked with the job was London-based MPC, who also started on the project in the summer of 2019.

Perhaps best known for their work on Jon Favreau’s “The Lion King” and “The Jungle Book,” MPC had also convincingly brought 1982 Sean Young back using a similar process for 2017’s “Blade Runner 2049.” Reitman calls the “Blade Runner 2049” version of Rachel “in my opinion is best virtual character ever done.” If they could do it once, they could do it again.

“I basically made a little schedule, another plan for if we needed to do another reproduction of an actor from the mid-1980s. What would that process entail?” Dan Zelcs, MPC film character supervisor for “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” said.

Zelcs was part of a team called MPC Character Lab, who have worked on everything from digital humans like this (they also did the circa-1991 Arnold Schwarzenegger from “Terminator: Dark Fate”) to characters like Pikachu and Godzilla. “I knew what the project was meant to be for, but the specifics were still under wraps and it wasn’t until a bit later on that we got the project awarded that we saw the artwork and we knew exactly what the target was,” Zelcs said.

Zelcs created a “checkpoint” for along the way – they were going to create a younger, photoreal version of Harold Ramis as he appeared in the original film.

“They created a younger version of Harold and actually edited him into the 1984 ‘Ghostbusters’ to prove that they could do it, so that you would watch the movie and not know whether you were watching a virtual Harold or the original Harold from the film,” Reitman said.

The goal was simple and daunting.

“We wanted to make sure we could match the original. Match his likeness, match his poses, match his hair, match his glasses. We were even looking at like trying to figure out the prescription of the glass,” Zelcs said. The visual effects identified scenes from the original film that the digital Ramis could be easily dropped into. “There was one that was particularly successful and we sent it as just an insert of him, and just as a proof of concept that we could match original Egon,” Zelcs said.

They sent it to Reitman, who was shooting in Canada. “We would be on set, reviewing footage from 1984 Ghostbusters,” Reitman said. It was seamless. The impossible was achieved. Almost.

“They took the young version of Harold that they had created and then slowly aged him to the age that he would’ve been in the movie,” Reitman said. MPC used the footage featuring Gunton as a start. “From the neck down, it’s him,” Zelcs said. They also utilized a scan of Gunton, looking at the facial muscles, the wrinkles and folds, the “tics and squints” that made his skin believable.

Zelcs and the MPC team ran into an unexpected roadblock: Egon’s hair. “His hair took a long time to get right,” Zelcs said.

“We got the Harold hair from the 1984 film. It was more about we were given a concept image of what they were aiming for, but it was a hand painted image. It was ambiguous.” They wanted it to be reminiscent of the original Egon hairstyle, but it still had to evolve. “We wanted him to feel older and a bit wilder, because he’s been living in the farm for so long. It had to be reminiscent of what the actor would be like at that age as well, but it was very much steered towards it needs to be Egon at that age.”

Another aspect the MPC team wrestled with: just how ghostly to make him. (In the final film he’s classically ghost-like – glowing and semi-transparent.)

“It was part of our task to refine the look. It’s funny looking back at how they did the ghost effect in the 80s where it was filmed a separate element with different lighting, and then multiplied against a plate. There is also like a roughness to it, whereas with this, you want to see the detail,” Zelcs said. “You don’t want to hide too much behind a ghost effect.”

In other words, this new Egon had to stand on his own. “We were building it the best it could be and then however the final effect applied on top was decided, that would only add to it. It wouldn’t be disguising what we’ve done,” Zelcs said. Somehow the effect, glittery and ethereal, adds to the emotionality of the scene and of Egon’s return.

The Ultimate Seal of Approval

Bringing Egon back was undoubtedly the biggest filmmaking challenge of “Ghostbusters: Afterlife.” But Reitman knew it would work relatively early. “Of the many things that terrified me about making this film, this was at the top of the list,” Reitman said. “And the first time I saw young Harold, I knew they were going to be able to do it. What they do is magic.”

MPC knew they had pulled off the magic trick when the Ramis family gave their seal of approval. “The fact that it moved them, it was very gratifying, and it was also very moving for us. You realize that what you’re doing, it’s a pretty raw thing to be doing,” Zelcs said. “It felt like we’d done it respectfully and we’d done it with the approval of those that were important.”

According to Reitman the Ramis family, particularly Erica Ramis (Harold’s wife) and Violet Ramis (his daughter), were involved in the film’s production throughout. They were the first people, after Jason’s father, to read the script. And they stuck around.

“They’ve been a part of this process the whole way. They read the script, they came to set, they came to the editing room, they reviewed the final version of the movie. I was never going to make this movie without them,” Reitman said. “The extraordinary experience has been getting to know them better, getting to know these people that have known since I was a kid, even better as they entrusted me with these scenes.” Reitman credits Gunton’s performance, and the reactions of the rest of the actors. “I don’t know what it’s like to perform a scene where you are simultaneously saying goodbye to a character, but saying goodbye to someone you also loved in real life,” Reitman said.

There was one moment that resonated the most with Reitman, and to those who saw early versions of the sequence.

“Egon looks at his daughter and he has this look in his eyes like I tried . And that was the shot,” Reitman remembered. “We showed it to a few people in editing and all you had to do was look at that one shot and it broke your heart.”

All of that hard work had paid off. The filmmakers and visual effects artists and technicians had brought a legendary actor back to the big screen, in a way that nobody had ever seen him before but one that felt perfectly in tune with the other performances. “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” showcases the rarest type of visual effect, the one that makes you feel . Talk about special.

How ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ pulled off its tribute to Harold Ramis

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Warning: The following story contains plot spoilers for “Ghostbusters: Afterlife.” If you haven’t yet seen the film, we suggest reading the review and this feature on the collaboration between director Jason Reitman and his father, Ivan, instead. And then come back when you’ve seen it.

Going way back when he was an impressionable 6-year-old visiting the set of his father Ivan’s 1984 smash “Ghostbusters,” Jason Reitman’s favorite member of the team of proton-pack-wielding specter-catchers was always Egon Spengler.

So when Reitman decided three years ago to pick up the torch of the beloved franchise, he knew that he wanted to pay loving tribute to the man who had brought the bespectacled, socially awkward Egon to life: comedy legend Harold Ramis, who died in 2014 at age 69 from complications from inflammatory vasculitis.

Reitman and his co-writer Gil Kenan constructed the new film “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” around Spengler’s estranged family. Egon’s single-mom daughter (Carrie Coon) and her two children (Mckenna Grace and Finn Wolfhard) have inherited Egon’s decaying farmhouse in Oklahoma — and, as they soon discover, also unwittingly taken on his responsibility for keeping the world safe from malevolent spirits.

How Jason and Ivan Reitman crossed their creative streams to revive ‘Ghostbusters’

For father-and-son filmmakers Jason and Ivan Reitman, new sequel ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ marks an emotional passing of the torch.

Nov. 18, 2021

Placing Egon at the heart of the film offered a way to bridge the ‘84 “Ghostbusters” — co-written by Ramis and Dan Aykroyd — with a new younger generation that hadn’t yet been born when the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man first terrorized New York. But with Ramis, who also directed such classic comedies as “Caddyshack,” “National Lampoon’s Vacation” and “Groundhog Day,” no longer here, Reitman knew he needed to handle the character with great sensitivity.

“The film’s journey is very much about the Spenglers but it was also very personal for me,” says Reitman, who shared the script before shooting began with Ramis’ widow, Erica, and daughter Violet. “The question was how to be how to be really respectful to the character of Egon Spengler. The question that Gil and I would ask ourselves the most is: what would Harold think of this? And are we actually capturing the voice of Egon, particularly through his granddaughter, who is modeled after him?”

In the film’s final scenes, the ghost of Egon materializes to help his grandchildren and his original fellow Ghostbusters — played by Aykroyd, Bill Murray and Ernie Hudson — beat back the ancient, god-like evil spirit Gozer. Before vanishing back into the ether, Egon, with just a kindly smile and not a word of dialogue, makes peace with his daughter and salutes his ghostbusting compatriots. As Egon’s ghost returns to the beyond, the dedication “For Harold” appears against the night sky.

Speaking to The Times before the film’s release, Reitman was hesitant to say too much about Egon’s appearance in the film’s climactic moments. “People have held on to that secret and it’s a real gift to us that people feel protective of it in the same way that we do,” he said.

For Aykroyd, shooting the film’s final sequence, knowing the character of Egon would be standing beside him once again via CGI, was very emotional.

“There would be no ‘Ghostbusters’ without Harold, without his brilliant writing and his frame of reference,” Aykroyd said. “It was deeply moving to play the scene because I loved him and I miss him. He was just so funny and intelligent. Harold was a genius from Second City all the way through his career. “

Having paid tribute to a key member of the franchise’s family and planted seeds for a new generation of ghostbusting, the film delivers a post-credits sequence that teases a potential next chapter ahead.

Back in New York, Hudson’s Winston, who is now a wealthy businessman, appears to have rekindled the old ghostbusting itch. As Winston enters the now-abandoned firehouse that served as the Ghostbusters’ headquarters and runs his hand across the Ecto-1, the camera pans to reveal the blinking red light of the spectral containment unit, suggesting there may soon be something strange in your neighborhood.

Speaking about the future of the “Ghostbusters” franchise, Reitman said there are already ideas cooking for a potential afterlife to “Afterlife.”

“I love these characters, and I love this world,” he said. “I want to see other filmmakers I love making ‘Ghostbusters’ movies. Every culture in the world has a unique relationship with the supernatural, and there’s opportunity for all those stories. ‘Ghostbusters’ has for many years sat dormant at Columbia, and we wanted to make a movie that set a foundation for all kinds of films. And I’d love to be involved in that.”

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Josh Rottenberg covers the film business for the Los Angeles Times. He was part of the team that was named a 2022 Pulitzer Prize finalist in breaking news for covering the tragic shooting on the set of the film “Rust.” He co-wrote the 2021 Times investigation into the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. that led NBC to pull the Golden Globe Awards off the air while the organization underwent major reforms. A graduate of Harvard University, he has also written about the entertainment industry for the New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, Fast Company and other publications.

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Every Question You Have About the Ghostbusters: Afterlife Ending, Explained

Published on 11/22/2021 at 4:45 PM

It's finally time for Ghostbusters fans from all generations to grab their proton packs, set their ghost traps, and put on a classic beige jumpsuit because Ghostbusters: Afterlife flew into theaters on Nov. 19! The sci-fi fantasy comedy is the fourth movie in the franchise, but Afterlife arrives as a direct sequel and homage to the original Ghostbusters (1984) and Ghostbusters II (1989) . Although it's set in the present day, Afterlife contains so much '80s nostalgia. Director Jason Reitman, son of the original director Ivan Reitman, continues the franchise and his father's legacy by picking up where he left off and mixing the old cast with the new.

Afterlife follows Dr. Egon Spengler from the original Ghostbusters ' daughter and grandchildren, Callie, Trevor, and Phoebe Spengler ( Carrie Coon , Finn Wolfhard , and McKenna Grace ). Egon left the Spenglers (who have no money) his old farmhouse in Summerville, Oklahoma, which gives them a chance to start new lives. Not only do Trevor and Phoebe realize their grandfather was a Ghostbuster, but after uncovering his rusty equipment and the mysterious secrets of the town where he spent his last years, Trevor, Phoebe, and their new friends must band together to save the world from an old and powerful enemy — you guessed it, more ghosts! You don't need to know the entire backstory behind the original movies to understand the ending of Afterlife , but fans could still leave the theater with haunting questions, so if you ain't afraid of no ghost, let's break — or bust — that ending down!

Why Did Egon Spengler Desert the Ghostbusters and His Family?

Throughout the movie, we learn through Callie's backstory that Egon abandoned her when she was young and left his friends, family, and coworkers (aka the Ghostbusters) behind to move to the middle of nowhere. Callie and the people of Summerville all assumed he had mental health illness. When Phoebe spends a few hours in jail with Trevor and Podcast (Logan Kim) for wrecking the town with proton blasts while ghost hunting, she calls the old Ghostbusters helpline, and Ray Santz (Dan Akroyd) answers the phone. Ray tells Phoebe that after the Ghostbusters saw less and less clientele over the years, Egon betrayed his friends by stealing most of their equipment, taking off, and preaching about the end of the world, but Phoebe soon learns that isn't the whole story.

While ghosts continue to cause trouble in Summerville, the kids discover a pit of angry spirits deep in the town's abandoned mining complex kept at bay by a system of proton packs. Not only did the proton packs explain the mysterious earthquakes the town has been experiencing recently, but Phoebe quickly realizes her grandfather sacrificed everything to move to Summerville and stop another major ghost apocalypse, just like the last one that wreaked havoc on New York City in 1984.

Who is Ivo Shandor and Gozer?

That apocalypse Egon was trying to stop before he died is a direct plot continuation of the original Ghostbusters movie. In the 1984 film, the villain is Ivo Shandor, the leader of a cult that worships Gozer the Gozerian (the shape-shifting god of destruction). Since then, he's built a temple underneath Summerville (where that pit of angry ghosts is) to summon Gozer with all her ghosties and bring about the apocalypse once again. Shandor dies before he can finish the job (his body now lies in a glass coffin), but the end of the world is still predicted for 2021 on the temple wall.

Other ghosts from the original movie also spook us throughout the new film. By the end, we see reincarnations of classic specters like Muncher, the gooey, metal-eating ghost that flies and spits shrapnel, Zuul the Gatekeeper, and Vinz the Keymaster as Hell-hounds of Gozer, and teeny-tiny yet annoyingly evil Stay Puft Marshmallow Men (instead of a giant possessed Marshmallow Man, of course).

How Do the Spenglers and Friends Stop The World From Ending?!

As foretold, Gozer is summoned when demon dogs Zuul and Vinz successfully possess Callie and summer-school teacher Gary Grooberson (Paul Rudd), who breaks Egon's proton pack system and unleashes all of the trapped ghosts into Summerville. Trevor, Lucky ( Celeste O'Connor ), Phoebe, and Podcast suit up with ghostbusting gear and head to the mines to stop Gozer before she begins her doomsday. They plan to trap Gozer in a ghost trap and take it back to Egon's farmhouse because all the electrical towers dirt farm he created before he died was actually one giant trap to destroy all the ghosts from Shandor's mine and prevent the apocalypse when Gozer came back. While the kids do successfully trap Gozer, things go awry when they release her, so who ya gonna call? The original Ghostbusters, Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), Winston Zeddimore (Ernie Hudson), and Ray Stanz, arrive just in time to help the kids finish the job. Together (and with a bit of help from the friendly ghost of Egon Spengler, an ethereal CGI recreation of the late Harold Ramis himself), they defeat Gozer once and for all. When Gozer is gone-zo, the Spenglers give one last goodbye hug to Egon's ghost before he disappears into thin air. As the camera pans up to the starry sky, the words "For Harold" appear on screen.

Will There Be A Ghostbusters: Afterlife Sequel?

There's continued speculation about whether an Afterlife sequel is on the way , but Reitman expressed his excitement for the continuation of his father's franchise, even if it's not him directing. During a panel with Entertainment Weekly , he said, "We wanted to make a movie that opened the universe to all kinds of stories. I want to see Ghostbusters movies from all of my favorite directors, and we hope that this movie sets the table for that."

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Den of Geek

Ghostbusters: Afterlife – New Trailer Breakdown and Analysis

In the new Ghostbusters: Afterlife trailer, we see that it's up to Egon's grandchildren to finish what he started: save the world from Gozer the Gozerian.

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As Hollywood tries to shake off a little box office rust, we’re reminded that, oh yeah, we’re getting another Ghostbusters movie. Ghostbusters: Afterlife is set to hit theater on November 11 and a second trailer has just been released for it.

Much like the first trailer, we get a basic idea of our main characters and setting, but the threat is a little better explained. We still don’t fully understand what these kids are up against, but like a puzzle-based entrance to a scientist’s basement, the pieces are starting to come together.

Before we get started, here’s the trailer itself…

Okay. Now let’s get into what we see.

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Carrie Coon is Egon Spengler’s Daughter

Callie (Carrie Coon) is the daughter of Egon Spengler and a single mother of two. Having lost their home and just being broke, they move to Summerville, Oklahoma, where Egon had owned a decrepit, old house. At this point, Egon is dead, though for how long isn’t yet explained.

Finn Wolfhard is Trevor, Egon’s Grandson

Finn Wolfhard is Trevor, Callie’s oldest kid. Shown as something of a mechanic, he unearths the Ecto-1 and is able to get it running again. Though it’s more out of necessity, as it’s the only car in the shed with a working engine.

Grace McKenna is Phoebe, Egon’s Granddaughter

His sister is Phoebe, as played by Grace McKenna. She’s more of a nerdy outsider, keeping to herself. She’s able to discover the hiding spot of Egon’s equipment, shown to at least be a ghost trap and the PKE meter.

Paul Rudd is Still Immortal, Apparently

While Phoebe doesn’t appear to get any respect from her summer school classmates, she does get along with her teacher, Mr. Grooberson (Paul Rudd). Grooberson appears to not only be a mentor character to Egon’s grandchildren, but considering the opening of the trailer shows him having dinner with Callie, he could be taking the “father figure” role a bit too literally.

“Lucky and “Podcast”

Less is known about Lucky (Celeste O’Connor), who appears to be framed as a love interest for Trevor, and Podcast (Logan Kim), who is shown ccompanying Phoebe and Grooberson in their Ghostbusters research.

Did Janine Marry Egon?

Annie Potts makes a quick appearance as Janine, the original team’s former secretary. She tells Callie, “Your father wasn’t much of a homemaker. He could hardly keep the power on.” Then when asked if Egon left them nothing, she mentions, “I wouldn’t say ‘nothing.’”

Janine has always been into Egon in various forms of Ghostbusters lore, but we at least know that the two of them were pretty close in his final years. The situation behind Callie inheriting the dusty house makes it unlikely that Janine is her mother, since she comes off as more of a messenger than anything else. If anything, this makes it look like Callie and Egon had an estranged relationship and the only reason Callie is reconnecting with that side of her family is pure desperation.

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The Return of Gozer the Gozerian

The previous trailer namedropped Ivo Shandor , an occultist brought up in the first movie who is never shown, but is established to have set up the ghostly events. Now we’re getting more direct references to the events of the first Ghostbusters movie.

Stay-Puft Marshmallow Men

The obvious stuff comes from Mr. Grooberson’s trip to Walmart. He sees a handful of Stay Puft Marshmallows come to life and gleefully cause havoc to themselves and their surroundings without showing any hints of pain.

Zuul’s Demon Dog

Sometime after, Grooberson runs out of the store, being chased by one of Gozer’s demon dogs.

The same demon dog is also shown in a more spectral form, which I can only presume is how it possesses its targets. Man, I hope these are two separate incidents because otherwise Grooberson would have been running from that thing for hours .

While investigating what appears to be the Shandor Mining Company, the clouds start ominously gathering in the sky.

Purple lights shoot all over the town, using the same effects from the original movie.

Is That Gozer?

The biggest eye-opener is Phoebe looking down a large, mystic well and saying, “Something’s coming.” While we don’t get a very good look at it, we do see what appears to be Gozer’s female form crawling out, signified by her iconic flattop and electric energy.

No wonder Egon moved to Summerville. He knew what Shandor was setting up, but was never able to put a stop to it. Whether it was age that did him in or Gozer’s forces, we’ll have to wait to find out.

What is Muncher?

The kids are shown chasing a blue ghost known as Muncher. We already knew that Slimer was part of a class of ghosts (Class 5 Free Roaming Vapor). After all, isn’t it a little weird that the ghosts in the established movie universe look so different from each other?

Rather than just use Slimer all over again, the movie is just relying on using the same species.

The Irrelevancy of the Ghostbusters

Ghostbusters 2 already showed the awkward aftermath of the Ghostbusters saving the world from a giant marshmallow god. Even though there were many eye-witnesses, they were gradually considered frauds. Even after the Statue of Liberty came to life and walked through New York City, you can bet that there are plenty of truthers out there downplaying this major moment in history.

The YouTube videos watched by our heroes shows that better than anything. Keep in mind, the events of the other two movies proved the existence of GODS. Now here we are, decades later, and a vintage commercial starring our saviors only gets views in the thousands while only a few hundred care to say whether they liked the video or not. The side-bar connects the whole thing to conspiracy theories.

Man, Men in Black was bullshit. They could reveal all the aliens on Earth and people would still just label in a hoax and move on.

The Return of Ray Stantz

The big stinger here shows Phoebe, Grooberson, and Podcast watching the phone number part of the old Ghostbusters commercial. The insinuation is that this inspires them to call the number. While that might just be clever trailer editing, we do see what appears to be one of them trying to contact Ray Stantz.

While we don’t see Ray’s face, we do see that much like in Ghostbusters 2 , he runs an occult bookstore. He has a bible verse tattooed on his inner forearm, which is a reference to a scene in the first movie where he and Winston discuss the biblical implications of these ghosts and what they’re leading to. Ray brings up a bible quote, claiming it to be Revelations 7:12, though it’s actually Revelations 6:12.

“And I looked, and he opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake. And the sun became as black as sack cloth, and the moon became as blood.”

Summerville’s been having a lot of unnatural earthquakes, Ray. Better get on that. And bring some friends while you’re at it.

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Ghostbusters: Afterlife's Ending Begs to Be Discussed

So much happens at the end of jason reitman's new ghostbusters film: let's talk spoilers..

If you’re like me, you can’t stop thinking about the third act of Jason Reitman’s Ghostbusters: Afterlife . Heck, I first saw it back in August and I still can’t get it out of my head. So much wild stuff happens and I’m delighted that with the film currently in theaters, I can finally talk about all of it with you. Because there’s a lot to talk about . Obviously, mega spoilers follow

How does Ghostbusters: Afterlife end?

After a whole movie of trying to figure out why Egon Spengler left his Ghostbusting friends in New York to move to Summerville, Oklahoma, his granddaughter Phoebe (Mckenna Grace) and her friends figure it all out. Egon realized Summerville would be the place Gozer—the final villain from the original Ghostbusters —could return to take over the world. So he spent his life delaying that with elaborate technology, including a farm-sized ghost trap. However, he was unable to stop the event and died trying to do so. Thankfully, Phoebe and her friends save the day, with the help of the original Ghostbusters .

Is Gozer in Ghostbusters: Afterlife ?

Yes. The trailers had hinted at it, both with an ominous statue and arm—not to mention the inclusion of Gozer’s good pals, the Terror Dogs —but Gozer does come back in the film. And she’s a handful. However, many things about the villain’s return didn’t sit well with me. First of all, Gozer coming back undercuts the importance of the first film in a way. If the Ghostbusters didn’t actually defeat her, what was the point? They just delayed her? Afterlife suggests that she has continued to come back over the centuries, including appearances in 1984 and 2021. So is that fate? Was she destined to be defeated all these times? We get that it’s cool to see this familiar villain again but it’s seriously confusing.

It’s also odd that while she returns the same way she did in the first movie, with the Gatekeeper and the Keymaster (this time taking over Paul Rudd’s Mr. Grooberson and Carrie Coon’s Callie) getting together, somehow she’s more powerful now. When the original Ghostbusters return and cross the streams to defeat her, it doesn’t work. She’s somehow able to physically separate them. Is that because, for some reason, this time she didn’t let her foes choose their destructor? We don’t know. And that’s a problem.

Who played Gozer in Ghostbusters: Afterlife ?

Though she’s not actually credited, that is indeed Tron: Legacy star and Booksmart director Olivia Wilde in the role of Gozer this time around.

What happened to the original Ghostbusters?

One of the biggest questions going into Afterlife is why aren’t the original Ghostbusters around anymore? Well, there are lots of levels to that question. First of all, we find out that after Egon left them and stole all their stuff, the group kind of disbanded. Ray (Dan Aykroyd) went back to his book shop, Peter (Bill Murray) became a professor of marketing, and Winston (Ernie Hudson) started some huge company and became ultra-rich. We assume it isn’t until Phoebe called Ray that they kind of reunite.

A question we had on top of that was, why did history forget them? You would imagine actions of the Ghostbusters in 1984, and then again in 1989, would have changed the world. They basically proved there was life after death and saved all humanity from destruction. And yet, none of these young characters have heard of them? The world doesn’t study them? We asked co-writer Gil Kenan about this. “The events that took place about Dana’s apartment, the streets of Manhattan, it’s sort of ancient history in the way that a lot of global events are to a young audience today,” he said. “It takes a new story, a new focus to make those things relevant and count. So part of it was just being aware we had an audience that is not growing up with this as an inevitability, but that this is just part of the larger sweep of history. And this is a way to allow young characters like Phoebe and Trevor, Podcast, and Lucky to be able to come up to speed.”

“But the other part of it is there’s a kind of cool, flippant, Ghostbusters attitude about that,” he continued. “Which is you’re in the moment, it might seem like this is the end of the world but then a couple of years later a plane crashes, something bad happens, and history is like one of those giant gumballs where you’re just putting the next piece of chewed gum on it. And after 10 years, 20 years, let alone 37, the piece of gum you put there in 1984 might be obscured by a few million other pieces that have kind of gone up around it.”

Why don’t we see more of the Ghostbusters in the film?

Obviously, if you were going to include them, we would have loved to see more of the original Ghostbusters in the movie—but it’s not their story. We experience this story through the eyes of Phoebe. However, as a result, when Peter, Ray, and Winston magically appear at the end, it feels kind of jarring, despite the early set-up. Co-writer Gil Kenan told io9 about it. “We want to make sure that the audience didn’t have more information than Phoebe and her crew,” Kenan said. “So it’s important that their relationship with Egon is touched on but beyond that, the rest is sort of the audience’s relationship with them over the years. The less we articulate that and the more we leave it for the audience to fill in the blanks, it leaves room for the intelligence of the fan to build it up in their own imagination.” Wait, did he say Egon?

Does Egon appear in Ghostbusters: Afterlife ?

Arguably the most shocking reveal in Ghostbusters: Afterlife is that, yes, we see (but don’t hear) the ghost of Egon, played by the late Harold Ramis. To be fair, his presence plays a massive role in the movie up to that point. For example, in the very first scene, Egon gets killed, and right before we see the film’s title card, we see the PKE Meter light up. Egon is there as a ghost, hence: “Afterlife.” He then not only plays chess with Phoebe and helps her fix the proton pack, but he helps Trevor (Finn Wolfhard) with the Ecto-1, and leads Callie (Carrie Coon) into the basement to prove he loved her. So when we finally see Egon materialize to help Phoebe defeat Gozer it’s not exactly a surprise in the context of the movie itself, but it certainly might be a surprise as an audience member.

Of course, the chief reason it would be a surprise is that Ramis passed away in 2014. That was actually one of the many reasons a Ghostbusters sequel like this took so long ; he co-created the franchise with Akyroyd and so it took years for the people involved to OK a return to this world. Once they did, they made a movie that’s about him, his family, and passing on the legacy. It’s literally dedicated to his memory. The appearance is obviously done with the utmost respect and admiration and is meant to be touching... but, I don’t know. It just felt weird to see the ghost of a man who was actually dead, especially since it was done so far after his death and made to look like he might have looked at the time of his passing. The effects are great, it’s handled tastefully, but it just left me feeling like Afterlife went one step too far into the nostalgia. Many fans will probably disagree.

Does Rick Moranis show up in Ghostbusters: Afterlife ?

Though the film’s trailers revealed Annie Potts was returning at Janine, and rumors were that Sigourney Weaver would appear as well, one person we weren’t sure of was Rick Moranis as Louis Tully. Well, unfortunately, Moranis is not back, though his helmet from the first movie does make a cameo.

Who else cameos in Ghostbusters: Afterlife ?

You mean besides the ghost of Harold Ramis and Olivia Wilde? Yes, there are a few more cameos. First up is Oscar-winner J.K. Simmons as Ivo Shandor, a crucial figure in Ghostbusters lore; he’s the man who built Dana’s building in the first film, which was meant to help summon Gozer. In this film, we learn the materials for the building came from Summerville. He also built the whole town, which is why Egon moved there. In fact, his body is still in the mountain cave where Gozer’s gate is and, somehow, remains in excellent condition. He even comes back to life once Gozer returns but she doesn’t care about this follower of hers. She rips him in half.

Casting such an incredible actor in such a crucial role only for him to be dispatched almost instantly sure makes it seem like there may have been a more elaborate backstory or subplot cut out. But both Kenan and Reitman told us that’s not the case. “Nothing was cut out,” Reitman told io9. “It is a complicated endeavor to take on this franchise, which means so many different things to different people. And as a result, we are trying to address the desires and needs of every type of person who is going to see this film. And at the same time, try to just have a good time, try to come at it with just joy all the time and involve the people that we love working with.” That obviously applies to Simmons, who has now appeared in eight of Reitman’s nine features.

The other big cameo is Sigourney Weaver. She doesn’t appear in the text of the film but has her name in the credits which, of course, gets a reaction from the audience because we haven’t seen her yet. That brings us to...

Does Ghostbusters: Afterlife have post-credit scenes?

Ghostbusters: Afterlife has two post-credit scenes. The first post-credit sequence sees Dana Barrett, played by Weaver, administering the same test Peter Venkman gave to his students in the first Ghostbusters , to Venkman himself. It’s a very cute scene that has zero bearing on the plot and only raises unanswerable questions for the future. Are these two together now? Are they just friends? Where’s Dana’s son, Oscar? We don’t know and the movie doesn’t tell us.

The second post-credit scene is arguably more confusing. It begins with a deleted scene from the original Ghostbusters , now restored and installed here, with Janine giving Egon part of a gift before they battled Gozer. In the present, she still has half of the gift and is playing with it while reminiscing with Winston in his plush office. We learn that he’s become so successful he still pays for Ray’s lease and that all his success never made him feel as good as his time as a Ghostbuster. Cut to the old Fire House which, it seems, Winston now owns and the Ecto-1 rolls in from Summerville. He promises to bring it back to full condition and then we see a red light blinking in the ghost containment system downstairs. The implications here are fairly obvious. Winston might try and bring back the Ghostbusters in New York in some form. And the red blinking light suggests that there could still a ghost or two lingering in the containment center. Or something. We’re not 100% sure. But the roundabout, broad implication is “More Ghostbusters coming.”

What about those new Ghostbusters?

Ah yes, the new characters. By the end of Afterlife , Phoebe at least, but maybe also Trevor, Podcast (Logan Kim) and Lucky (Celeste O’Connor) have kind of become Ghostbusters, thanks to the blessing of Venkman. But all we know about what’s next for them is it seems they gave the Ecto-1 back to Winston. The film gives very little closure on their story except that Phoebe and Trevor finally know their grandfather loved them and they were able to fulfill his wishes in saving the world from Gozer. Which should be enough but, after spending a whole movie with these characters, we sure would have loved a scene or two of them decompressing after what just happened.

Will there be a Ghostbusters Afterlife 2 / Ghostbusters 4 ?

After its very impressive opening weekend? It seems likely. The question is, which story will it pick up? The one in Summerville or the one in New York? Jason Reitman says his movie is meant to set all that up and more. “One thing I wanted to do is set the table for Ghostbusters as a franchise to have all kinds of movies,” Reitman told io9. “I want to see all those movies. And we need to do something that really was about setting a foundation and bringing the original 1984 story to a place so that other stories could bloom. I want to see the scary movies, the funny films. I want to see movies involving the original cast. I want to see more movies involving people we haven’t even seen yet. I want to go to new dimensions. I want to go to other cultures and countries. There’s so many places for Ghostbusters to go. And the question is, what’s the starting place? That’s what Afterlife is about. It’s about these generations making amends with each other in a way that brings one story to close and starts another one.”

What questions do we have after watching Ghostbusters: Afterlife ?

Honestly? So, so many. Who is Phoebe and Trevor’s dad? Who is Callie’s mom? What did she see in Egon? Why did Egon make all those upgrades to the Ecto-1 if he was by himself? Why was it important to stay out of touch with everyone? Will Gozer be back again since she came back this time? Why did the Stay Puft Marshmallows become mini Stay Puft Marshmallow men in the Wal-Mart when none of the other food did? We could go on and on.

Feel free to discuss any of those and more below. Ghostbusters Afterlife is now in theaters only.

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Ghostbusters: Afterlife Reveals the True Fate of the Original Ghostbusters

Ghostbusters: Afterlife dives into the eventual fate of the original Ghostbusters and what happened to the franchise's four heroes.

WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Ghostbusters: Afterlife , now playing in theaters

Ghostbusters: Afterlife largely focuses on the rest of the modern generation of the Spengler family, specifically Callie (Carrie Coon) and her children Trevor (Finn Wolfhard) and Phoebe (Mckenna Grace), but it eventually dives further into the history of more than just the Ghostbusters' technology and ideology.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife reveals the ultimate fates of the original four heroes from the first  Ghostbusters , suggesting that some of them found surprising happiness outside of the team, while one of their core friendships fell apart in a tragic manner.

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What Happened to Egon in Ghostbusters: Afterlife?

Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis) was the most technically brilliant of the original Ghostbusters and (along with Ray) invented most of their ghost-capturing technology. Lacking nominal social skills, Egon eventually started a relationship with a woman off-screen, resulting in the birth of his daughter Callie. However, Egon eventually discovered hints that Gozer would one day return. Despite no one believing him, he stole the remaining Ghostbusters technology and relocated to Summerville, Oklahoma, discovering a temple for Gozer hidden in a nearby mine.

He spent decades alone containing the ghosts within the hidden temple -- until an attempt to seemingly seal away Gozer's Terror Dogs proved to be only somewhat successful. Although he caught one and contained it, the others successfully followed him and killed him in his home, setting off the events of Ghostbusters: Afterlife . Egon's spirit remained on the farm, however, and served as a ghostly guide to Phoebe as she learned more about his history. He even got the chance to stand alongside his fellow Ghostbusters one more time when they fought Gozer and eventually faded away after the group was victorious.

What Happened to Ray in Ghostbusters: Afterlife?

Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd) was a leading doctor of parapsychology, and in the original Ghostbusters , was the most committed to the idea of investigating the supernatural forces in New York. The "heart" of the group and an expert on paranormal history, Ray's spirit was seemingly crushed when the Ghostbusters business fell apart, and Egon disappeared with the rest of their supplies and funds. Ray initially condemned Egon from afar and found life working in a small occult shop, continuing his fascination with the supernatural .

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It's clear that the years hadn't been kind to Ray when he was reintroduced halfway through Ghostbusters: Afterlife . He was initially resistant to Phoebe's request for help. He threatened to hang up as soon as she mentioned the Ghostbusters. Still, he ultimately reassembled the rest of the original team to help fight against Gozer. The film ended with Ray making peace with Egon's spirit as it passed to the next realm of existence -- and finding an unlikely friend in Podcast (Logan Kim) as it turned out he was the boy's one consistent subscriber.

What Happened to Venkman in Ghostbusters: Afterlife?

Peter Venkman (Bill Murray) was the unofficial leader of the original Ghostbusters and a smooth-talking flirt with the tendency to make things worse with jokes. Like the rest of the original Ghostbusters, he lost faith in the group after the events of the first film, with Ray recalling how Venkman believed they'd "done their job too well" and effectively solved any potential ghost crisis by defeating Gozer. After Egon abandoned the others, Ray returned to his original profession in academia and became a college professor.

In Afterlife , Venkman dropped everything to come to assist Ray and Winston, rejoining his friends and even buying the group time during the fight with Gozer by distracting the dark god with a series of jokes and insults. Notably, Venkman also seemingly confirmed to have maintained his relationship with Dana (Sigourney Weaver) from the original film, with one of  Ghostbusters: Afterlife 's two credits sequences showcasing the pair together.

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What Happened to Winston in Ghostbusters: Afterlife?

Of the original Ghostbusters, Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson) proved to be the most successful outside of the first film. Originally not even a scientist like the others but just an average New Yorker who took the job to make some money, he ended up incredibly motivated after the events of Ghostbusters . Winston turned his attention toward a separate business venture. Within a few decades, his two-man operation had grown to become an international conglomerate -- with Winston even quietly providing the funding for Ray's occult store.

Winston reunited with the original Ghostbusters at the end of Afterlife  and took part in the final battle with Gozer. He also found himself not just touched by seeing Egon once more but being reunited with Ecto-1, the franchise's iconic car. The final post-credits scene even saw Winston get the car from the Spenglers and drive it back to New York. He even seemed to believe there was a place in the world for Ghostbusters again, as the final post-credits sequence had him seemingly purchase a building similar to the original Ghostbusters HQ (which Ray indicated had been converted into a Starbucks), with a final shot hinting that a new generation of Ghostbusters might have their work cut out for them.

To get caught up with the original team, Ghostbusters: Afterlife is in theaters now. 

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• GB:TVG Characters
• IDW Characters
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• GB:88 Characters
• GB:TR Characters
• Major character

Egon Spengler

• View history

Dr. Egon Spengler , Ph.D. (also known as Egie , Spengie , and Dirt Farmer ) was a former professor of paranormal studies at the Columbia University . Upon his termination, Egon founded Ghostbusters, Inc. along with Doctors Ray Stantz and Peter Venkman . He is considered the brain behind the Ghostbusters and has designed and built nearly all of their equipment, including the Proton Pack and the Storage facility . Typically, Ray is the only other member of the Ghostbusters who has no trouble understanding Egon's technical jargon.

• 1 Canonicity
• 2.1.1 Before Ghostbusters
• 2.1.2 Ghostbusters (1984)
• 2.1.3 Between Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II
• 2.1.4 Ghostbusters II
• 2.1.5 Leaving New York
• 2.1.6 Ghostbusters: Afterlife
• 2.2.1 Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Realistic Versions)
• 2.2.2.1 Dimension 50-S
• 2.3.1 Ghostbusters: Sanctum of Slime
• 3 Personality
• 5.1 Ghostbusters (1984) Trivia
• 5.2 Ghostbusters II Trivia
• 5.3 Ghostbusters: Afterlife Trivia
• 5.4 Ghostbusters III: Hellbent Trivia
• 5.5 Legion Comics Trivia
• 5.6 Ghost Busted Manga Trivia
• 5.7 Ghostbusters: The Video Game Trivia
• 5.8 Ghostbusters: Alive Again Trivia
• 5.9 Beeline Mobile Game Trivia
• 5.10 IDW Comics Trivia
• 5.11 Ghostbusters: The Board Game Trivia
• 5.12 Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed Trivia
• 5.13 Miscellaneous Tertiary Canon Trivia
• 6.1 Primary Canon Appearances
• 6.2 Secondary Canon Appearances
• 6.3 Tertiary Canon Appearances
• 8 References
• 9.1 Official Video
• 9.2 Primary Canon Images
• 9.3 Primary Canon (Expanded Universe) Images
• 9.4 Secondary Canon Images
• 9.5 Secondary Canon (Expanded Universe) Images
• 9.6 Tertiary Canon Images
• 9.7 Behind the Scenes

Canonicity [ ]

Egon in the Primary Canon is developed from Ghostbusters (1984), Ghostbusters II, and Ghostbusters: Afterlife. In Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Realistic Versions), a Secondary Canon, Ghostbusters (1984) and Ghostbusters II pre-date the game, Ghostbusters: Afterlife conflicts with the game. Egon (prime) appears in the IDW Comic Series, a Secondary Canon, which follows Ghostbusters (1984) and Ghostbusters II, also includes some elements from Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Realistic Versions) and Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Stylized Versions); as well as being canon to Tobin's Spirit Guide (Insight Editions). Egon (from Dimension 50-S) in the IDW Comic Series, is an alternate version based on Ghostbusters: Sanctum of Slime. Ghostbusters: Sanctum of Slime video game, deemed a Tertiary Canon, follows Ghostbusters (1984) and Ghostbusters II.

History [ ]

Primary canon history [ ], before ghostbusters [ ].

Egon Spengler grew up with no toys because his parents didn't believe in them. For unknown reasons, he had part of a Slinky but he straightened it. On October 29, 1969, Egon graduated from Columbia University with a degree in Psychology in the faculty of Psychobiology. On May 10, 1972, Egon graduated from New York University with a degree in Parapsychology. On June 26, 1980, Egon graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a degree of philosophy in Nuclear Engineering. [Note 1] In the early 1980s, Egon Spengler fathered a daughter who was born in 1982 and named Callie but he was not a part of her life. [Note 2] However, he still kept track of Callie. [3] Egon was very interested in paranormal phenomenon, and worked with Ray Stantz and Peter Venkman at Columbia University 's Paranormal Studies Laboratory in Weaver Hall . He and Ray studied paranormal literature in their spare time and were interested in theories of reincarnation. Egon once tried to drill a hole in his own head, utilizing a process known as trepanation . Egon believed it "would have worked" if Peter hadn't stopped him. At some point, Egon developed a sweet tooth for snack food like Crunch and Twinkies. Egon developed the P.K.E. Meter to detect paranormal entities and phenomenom with. Egon and Ray were usually the first to interview case subjects, even people Peter called "schizos" no matter how far-fetched their stories were.

Ghostbusters (1984) [ ]

One afternoon in 1984, after ten people reported witnessing a free-floating, full-torso, vaporous apparition at 1:40 p.m. at the main branch of the New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue, Ray and Egon went to investigate. Egon took P.K.E. valances and it went right off the top of the scale. It buried the needle and Ray felt they were close to finally finding proof of the afterlife. Egon stayed at the library to take readings while Ray returned to Columbia to get equipment and Peter. They found Egon in the Main Reading Room examining a table with his Stethoscope . Peter sneaked over then, in a faux zombie voice, uttered, "Egon..." Egon perked up. Peter rapped the table with his knuckles then slammed a hardcover book down. Egon was startled and jumped. He finally noticed Peter and Ray. Peter asked Egon what he had. Egon stated it was very big and there was definitely something present. Peter smiled remembered the time Egon tried to drill a hole through his head. Egon quickly countered it would have worked if he hadn't stopped him. Roger Delacorte walked up behind them and introduced himself. Peter took the lead and introduced himself as "Dr. Venkman," Ray as "Dr. Stantz," and Egon as "Egon." Roger shook Peter's hand then Ray's, and Egon nodded once. Roger thanked them for coming and expressed his hope that they could clear it up quickly and quietly. Peter warned against rushing into things before they knew what was going on.

Egon searched around while Peter and Egon interviewed Alice , the librarian who encountered the ghost. He found them and reported the ghost was on the move. Egon went down the stairs to the basement stacks first with his P.K.E. Meter out. They found an incredibly tall stack of books in an aisle. Egon swept his P.K.E. Meter around the stack and stated it was hot. Ray recalled the term, Symmetrical book-stacking, and noted that it was just like the Philadelphia Mass Turbulence of 1947 . Peter dryly and sarcastically agreed, noting no human being would stack books like this. They came across the card catalog that Alice ran away from. Cards were still all over. Clear hued Ectoplasm was strewn all about. Ray was amazed with the telekinetic activity. Egon zeroed in on the Ectoplasm and clued Ray in. Egon held out a plastic petri dish and asked Peter to get a sample. Ray slowly backed away and followed Egon. Peter grumbled. Egon stated he would like to analyze it. He confirmed stronger readings further on. Peter caught up and handed Egon the petri dish. A green wood bookcase creaked and suddenly fell down face first behind them onto the floor. Peter hopped back a little. They all stared at the bookcase. As the dust kicked up in the air, Peter calmly turned to Ray and asked if that happened to him before. Ray slowly shook his head 'no' and Peter asked if that was his first time. Ray slowly nodded 'yes' and they continued on. They emerged from aisle. The P.K.E. Meter lit up. They went down the next aisle. The arms on the P.K.E. Meter rose up and Egon held out his hand to the others to stop. He stepped out of the aisle, swept around to his left then turned right, and paused in surprise at what he saw. It was the library ghost. Peter asked what to do. Egon and Ray were silent and looked at each other. Peter rolled his eyes and asked them to come over for a talk. He pulled Ray by the ear into an aisle. Ray wasn't sure what to do and turned to Egon. Egon took out a calculator and started typing but Peter yelled at him to stop that and knocked it out of his hands. Ray proposed they make contact. Egon agreed. They both looked at Peter. Peter huffed over the silent vote. He walked out of the aisle. Egon took over the Camcorder . Ray followed and quickly snapped photographs with the Nikon SLR FE2 Camera .

Peter talked to the ghost but she only shushed him. Peter returned to the aisle, corralling Ray and Egon back into the aisle. Ray had a new plan. He instructed them to stay close and do exactly as he said. They inched back out and slowly moved closer. Ray suddenly exclaimed, "Get her!" The ghost transmogrified into a monstrous form and screamed, "Rah!" at them. They cried out and Ray and Egon backed away almost in unison. Ray, Egon, and Peter hurried outside and down the stairs outside. Roger came out the door after them and asked them if they saw it and what it was. Peter yelled they would get back to him. Peter, Ray, and Egon returned to Columbia University and walked through campus alongside the Low Library. Egon was a few steps behind them performing calculations on his PC-4 Calculator as they talked. Egon revealed the experience wasn't completely wasted. According to the new P.K.E. readings he took, Egon believed they had an excellent chance of actually catching a ghost and holding it indefinitely. The gears turned in Peter's head and he hurried up to them. Ray thought it was great and speculated if the ionization rate was constant for all ectoplasmic entities, they could really bust some heads in a spiritual sense. Peter asked Egon if he was really serious about catching a ghost. Egon stated he was always serious. Peter got in front and stopped. He got out a Crunch bar and told Egon he was going take back some of the things he said about him. Peter was about to hand it to Egon but hesitated then gave it and told him he earned it. Ray grinned and chuckled as Egon looked at the bar. They returned to their lab only to discover they had been terminated by Columbia. Egon was mortified by the news. Peter convinced them to start their own business specializing in paranormal investigations and eliminations.

Some time later, Peter, Ray, and Egon emerged from the Manhattan City Bank at 489 Fifth Avenue with initial funding to start the business. Egon ran some calculations on his Casio Micro-Mini Calculator . Peter promised Ray he was never going to regret it. Ray stated his parents left him that house and he was born there. Peter reassured him he was not going to lose the house and everybody had three mortgages nowadays. Ray questioned settling at 19 percent and not bargaining. Egon finished a calculation and flashed it to Ray. Egon stated the interest rate alone for the first five years came to $95,000. Their search for a base of operations led them to the Hook & Ladder No. 8 firehouse. A Real Estate Woman Egon and Peter there was office space, sleeping quarters and showers on the next floor and there was a full kitchen on the top left. Egon and Peter looked around the garage bay. Peter commented that it seemed a little pricey for a unique fixer-upper opportunity. He asked Egon what he thought. Egon grazed Peter's right arm and stated he thought the building should be condemned because there was serious metal fatigue in all the load-bearing members, the wiring was substandard, it was completely inadequate for their power needs, and the neighborhood was "like a demilitarized zone". Egon stepped by a locker covered in cobwebs. Ray slid down the fire pole very excited and thought the place was great. He asked when they could move in and invited them to try this pole. Egon looked up. Ray ran up the stairs to get his stuff and paused. The real estate woman turned to Egon and Peter with a smile. Ray suggested they sleep over that night to try it out. Ray continued upstairs. Peter looked at Egon. Egon slowly shook his head 'no' as the real estate woman took some steps closer to them. Peter turned to her and informed her they were taking it. Peter, Ray, and Egon filmed a commercial outside the Firehouse . Egon had one line, "Do you experience feelings of dread in your basement or attic?" then said "We're ready to believe you" with Ray and Peter. Egon kept looking down at his mark.

Egon developed the technology behind the Proton Pack , the Trap , and the Containment Unit . He was also aware of the risk of crossing the streams . He spent a lot of time focusing on the stability of the storage facility, and was concerned about the possibilities of a P.K.E. surge of dangerous proportions. He also helped set up the computer at the front desk and eventually emerged. Janine Melnitz , their secretary, smiled and remarked he was very handy. She bet he liked to read a lot, too. Egon remarked, "Print is dead." Egon went around and squatted behind Janine's computer and checked the connections. Janine continued on about how she liked to read a lot herself and some people thought she was too intellectual. Egon looked at her. She thought reading was a fabulous way to spend one's spare time. She also revealed she liked to play racquetball then asked him if he had any hobbies. She took off her glasses. Egon replied he collected spores, molds and fungus.

Peter, Egon, and Ray interviewed their first client Dana Barrett on the second floor. Dana concluded her story and told them there was a voice that said, " Zuul " and then she slammed the refrigerator door and left. She recounted that was two days ago, and she had not been back to her apartment since. Egon was seated next to Dana looking at her with a head light. He removed the diodes from her head. Dana got annoyed and told Peter if she knew what it was, she would not have come. Peter asked Egon what he thought. Egon turned to Peter with his head lamp still on. Peter was blinded. He swatted at the air until Egon clicked the light off. Peter opened his eyes in a daze. Egon noted Dana was telling the truth or at least, she thought she was. Dana stammered she was telling the truth and asked who would make up a story like that. Peter informed her they ran into some people who just wanted attention and a lot of "nutballs" who "came in off the street". Ray speculated it could be a case of past life experience intruding on present time. Egon walked over to couch and grabbed a Cheez-Its box. Egon thought it could be erased memories stored in the collective unconscious, clairvoyance, or telepathic contact. Dana was skeptical and scoffed. She apologized and admitted she did not believe in any of those things. Peter went next to her and told her he did not either. Egon and Ray exchanged looks. Peter walked behind Dana and gestured to Ray and Egon to make something up as he told her there were standard procedures they did in cases hers that gave them results. Ray figured he could go down to hall of records and check out the structural details in the building. He guessed the building itself could have a history of psychic turbulence. Peter nodded and agreed. Egon suggested he could look for the name Zuul in the usual literature. Ray thought of Spates Catalog . Egon mentioned Tobin's Spirit Guide . Ray agreed. Peter suggested he would take Dana back to her apartment and check it out.

They got a call from the Sedgewick Hotel . The Hotel manager explained the guests were starting to ask questions and he was running out of excuses. Ray asked him if it happened before. The manager replied most of the original staff knew about the twelfth floor then clarified he meant " the disturbances ." He recalled it had been quiet for years up until two weeks ago and it was never, ever this bad. Peter patted him on the left shoulder. Egon asked if he ever reported it to anyone. The manager was mortified at the prospect. Peter played along. Egon rolled his eyes. The manager added the owners did not even like the staff talking about it. The manager hoped they could take care of it quietly. Peter promised it was done. The manager emphasized it was to be done that night. Egon, Peter, and Ray headed to the elevators. As the elevator went up, Ray sighed and realized they really hadn't had a completely successful test of their equipment. Egon blamed himself. Peter echoed him. Ray remarked there was no sense worrying about it now and asked anyone to switch him on. Egon turned on a switch behind Ray. As it activated, Egon backed up, making Peter move aside from his spot.

They exited onto the twelfth floor. A Chambermaid entered the hall humming to herself. Ray and Egon turned, shouted, and blasted her cart with the proton streams. Peter yelled at them to hold their fire. She peered out from behind the cart and asked them "what the hell" they were doing. Egon, Peter, then Ray all apologized to her as she gathered up her supplies off the floor. Peter turned around to them and remarked that was a successful test. Ray agreed and suggested they split up. Egon concurred. Peter also agreed and joked that they could do more damage that way. They separated and headed down different corridors. Egon scanned around with his P.K.E. Meter. A man walked to his room. Egon scanned his shoes and stood up. He poked the man in the arm but was disappointed he wasn't a ghost. Egon later came over the walkie-talkie and hailed Ray. Ray replied to Egon he was with Peter who got slimed (i.e. covered in ectoplasm). Egon asked Ray to save some for him then told them to get down stairs right away. He revealed Slimer just went into a ballroom. Their initial assault yielded no results. Egon remembered something very important he forgot to tell them. Peter asked him what that was. Egon told them never to cross the streams. Peter looked side to side then asked why. Egon stated it would be bad. Peter countered he was fuzzy on the whole good/bad thing and asked him what he meant by "bad." Egon clarified with an example. He told them to try to imagine all life as you know it stopping instantaneously and every molecule in your body exploding at the speed of light. Ray realized he was talking about total protonic reversal. Peter understood that was supposed to be bad and thanked Egon for the "important safety tip". He told Ray to take the left and Egon to take the right. Peter headed straight down. Slimer chugged a bottle. Peter gave Ray the order first. Slimer stopped drinking and panicked. Ray opened fire. Slimer yelped and flew away. Peter cued Egon. Egon fired. He totally destroyed crystal ware, a three layer cake, and numerous dishes. Slimer flew behind the bar. Egon opened fire. Slimer flew away. Egon kept firing into the bar. Peter and Ray looked up at Slimer. Peter yelled at Egon to hold it and in a faux Texan voice told him, "Nice shooting, Tex!" Slimer panted near the ceiling.

Peter and Egon cleared tables and chairs aside to make room for the Trap. Ray guided Egon to fire a confinement stream on his go-signal. He gave Egon the go to fire. Egon fired and wrangled Slimer in his Proton Stream. Slimer whimpered. Ray instructed him to hold Slimer. He gave Peter the go. Peter fired and wrangled Slimer, too. Egon confirmed it was working. Ray instructed them to start bringing Slimer down. He reminded them not to cross the stream. Egon told Peter to shorten his stream so his face would not get burned off. Peter looked down at his thrower in confusion. Ray opened the Trap. Egon's eyes widened with worry and stated he looked at the Trap. Ray told them to turn their streams off as soon as he closed the Trap. He gave the signal and stomped the pedal. The Trap began to close as Peter and Egon ceased fire and turned away. Ray shielded his vision. Slimer moaned and was trapped. The Trap beeped and a red light blinked constantly. Egon got down on one knee and touched the Trap. Peter slightly nudged it with a foot. Blue electricity arced briefly. Egon looked up at them and confirmed it was in there. Ray was relieved and thought that wasn't such a chore. Egon was speechless.

Peter eyed Egon as he spoke to the manager. Peter cleared his throat twice then signaled it was time to talk seriously. As Peter talked about the cost of entrapment, Egon flashed four fingers against his left cheek to Peter. Peter stated it would cost $4000. He then informed the manager they were having a special that week on proton charging and storage of the beast. Egon nodded and touched the tip of his nose with his right index finger. Peter revealed that was only going to come to $1000. The Manager stiffened up and refused to pay them $5000. Peter told him that was all right and they could just put it right back in there. Ray confirmed that was true. They turned back towards the ballroom. The manager ran to them and caved. He ran up to Ray and grabbed his arm then stated he would pay anything. The manager patted Ray's left arm. Peter ripped an invoice out of his notepad and handed him the bill. Business took off and the Ghostbusters took on case after case, even one at Rockefeller Plaza . On another case, Egon came out of 126 Mulberry Street with a smoking Trap and wearing the Ecto Goggles on the top of his head. Egon announced he trapped the ghost. He called out for Peter and Ray. A civilian walking up the sidewalk turned his head and looked at Egon. On another, the Ghostbusters, with their particle throwers drawn, jogged down Mott Street in Chinatown, going from 56 to 64 Mott Street. Another case took place at the fashionable dance club, The Rose , where they slugged it out with a "pretty pesky poltergeist," then stayed on to dance the night away with some of the lovely ladies who witnessed the disturbance.

Right after he hired Winston Zeddemore , Ray demonstrated how to empty a full Trap into the Containment Unit in the basement while Egon was at a wall running some calculations. He revealed his alarming findings and admitted he was worried. He stated it was getting crowded in the the Containment Unit and all his recent data pointed to something big on the horizon. Winston asked Egon what he meant by "big." Egon explained with a Twinkie and used it to represent the normal amount of psychokinetic energy in the New York area. Egon estimated that morning's sample indicated the Twinkie was 35 feet long weighing approximately 600 pounds. Ray coughed hard. Winston remarked, "That's a big Twinkie." Egon nodded and took a bite of the Twinkie. Ray believed they could be on the verge of a four-fold crossrip, a P.K.E. surge of incredible and even dangerous proportions. Peter walked over to the Containment Unit. He mentioned they had a visit from the Environmental Protection Agency then asked how the was grid holding up. Ray remarked not good. Winston gestured Egon to tell him about the Twinkie. Peter was concerned.

On a Thursday night, a police sergeant knocked on the front door of the Firehouse. Janine answered then went to get Egon after the sergeant answered he was "dropping off." The sergeant asked Egon if he was a Ghostbuster. Egon confirmed he was. The sergeant explained they picked up a perp but they had no idea what to do with him because Bellevue Hospital refused him and he was concerned about placing him in the lock-up. He knew about the Ghostbusters and figured they should confer with them. Egon agreed to weigh in. They walked over to the rear of the paddy wagon. Louis/Vinz was in the van in a straight jacket. He wearily asked Egon if he was the Gatekeeper. Egon scanned Louis/Vinz with the P.K.E. Meter and watched as the readings quickly surged. Egon turned it off and turned to the sergeant and suggested they better bring him into the Firehouse. The sergeant nodded. Janine wrapped around one of his arms as they walked back to the Firehouse. The officer inside and the sergeant lifted Louis/Vinz, as he stood in place, out of the van. Janine told Egon he was so kind to take care of that man and called him a real humanitarian. Egon remarked that he did not think Louis/Vinz was human. Janine turned her head to look at Louis/Vinz as they entered the Firehouse.

Egon interviewed Louis/Vinz on the second floor. Louis/Vinz was hooked up to Aura Video-Analyzer . The screen displayed the image of a Terror Dog . Egon stared at the screen and turned it off. He asked Louis/Vinz what he said his name was. Louis/Vinz replied he was Vinz Clortho , Keymaster of Gozer. Janine looked at Louis's wallet and told Egon his name was Louis Tully and he lived on Central Park West. Janine held the wallet out to Egon. He took it and looked at it. Louis/Vinz mimicked Egon and also extended his arm to take it. Janine offered Louis/Vinz some coffee. Louis/Vinz asked Egon if he did. Egon told him, "Yes, have some." Louis/Vinz repeated what Egon said. Janine made a face and walked over to the kitchen area. Egon placed the wallet in a coat pocket and sat down. Egon recalled Louis/Vinz talked about waiting for a sign and asked him what the sign was. Louis/Vinz answered it was the coming of Gozer in one of the pre-chosen forms. He reminisced about some of Gozer's past conquests. There was the Rectification of the Vuldronaii , when the Traveler came as a large and moving Torb . Egon looked towards Janine. He also recalled during the Third Reconciliation of the Last of the Meketrex Supplicants, they chose a new form for him, that of a giant Sloar . Janine looked back at Egon. Louis/Vinz chuckled at the thought of how many Shubs and Zulls knew what it was to be roasted in the depths of a Sloar that day. Janine called Egon and gestured him to come over. She admitted she was usually very psychic, and she had a terrible feeling that something awful was going to happen to Egon. Janine revealed she believed he was going to die. She went into Egon's arms. He looked up and placed his right arm around her. The phone rang. Louis/Vinz jumped and looked around. Egon quickly picked up the phone. Louis/Vinz picked up the base of the phone. Egon took it from him. The call was from Peter. Egon thanked Louis/Vinz for his help. Peter briefed him on Dana being possessed by the Gatekeeper and asked Egon if that made any sense to him. Egon revealed he just met the Keymaster. Peter thought that was wonderful and they should get them together. Egon thought that would be extraordinarily dangerous. Peter relented and advised Egon to hold onto the Keymaster and he would head back to the Firehouse. Egon liked the idea and placed the phone back on the receiver. Louis walked over and gave Egon a frying pan. Egon thanked him then turned to Janine and stressed they needed to find Ray and get him back immediately.

On Friday morning, Egon looked through parts on a shelf in the basement and told Louis/Vinz there was one more test he wanted to perform. Walter Peck , the Police Captain , and a Con Edison Man came down the stairs. Janine ran down the steps after them and beat the Con Edison man. Janine told Egon she tried to stop them but Peck said he had a warrant. Egon held out his right arm. Louis/Vinz mimicked him. Egon stated they were on private property. Peck ignored him and pointed at the Containment Unit and the panels then ordered everything to be shut off. Egon pointed at them and warned turning off the machines would be extremely hazardous. Louis/Vinz mimicked Egon and pointed, too. Peck was not swayed and told him the Ghostbusters were facing federal prosecution for at least half a dozen environmental violations. He again ordered Egon to shut everything off and threatened they would shut them off for him if he did not. Egon, Janine, and Louis/Vinz planted themselves in front of the control panels. Egon tried to explain it was a high voltage laser containment system and simply turning it off would be like dropping a bomb on the city. Peck thought was being patronizing and stated he was not grotesquely stupid like the people they bilked. Peter arrived and tried to defuse the situation but Peck was not buying it and pointed out he had his chance to cooperate but chose to have fun and be insulting. Peck declared it was his turn. Egon informed Peter that Peck wanted to shut down the protection grid. Louis/Vinz looked at Egon with a slight grin. Peter quickly stated they were not going to be held responsible. After some back and forth, the Con Edison worker weighed in that he never saw anything like the Containment Unit before and he was unsure. Peck was not interested in his opinion and told him to just shut it off. Peter looked over to Egon. The Con Edison Man went to the control panels. Egon stepped away and mimed an explosion with his fingers and mouthed "Boom." Peter, Egon, and Janine made their way to the stairs. The Con Edison worker pulled a gray lever down. The lights dimmed and several alarms went off. The red light above the Containment Unit flashed. The Con Edison worker realized he made a terrible mistake and swore. The walls of the basement rumbled. Peck backed away. Steam erupted from between the bricks. As everyone ran outside, Egon yelled out to anyone else to clear the building.

Ray hopped over to Peter and Egon by the Con Edison van and red car. He asked Egon what happened. Egon informed him the storage facility blew, pointed at Peck, and revealed Peck had the protection grid shut off. Ray was beside himself. Winston guessed that was bad. Ray confirmed and nodded. Peter asked where the Keymaster went. Egon swore and could not believe they lost him. The Ghostbusters were about to take off in search of Louis/Vinz but Peck, the Police Captain and some police officers barred their way. Peck ran to the Ghostbusters and told them to hold it. Peck wanted the Ghostbusters arrested. He told the captain they were in criminal violation of the Environmental Protection Act, and the explosion was a direct result of it. Egon exclaimed, "Your mother!" in response then lunged forward and grabbed Peck's collar. Police tried to keep order. The civilians behind the barricade cheered on the scuffle. The Ghostbusters were arrested and taken to the NYPD Lock-Up . Ray and Egon looked over their research at a table in the middle of the holding cell. Egon pointed out the structure of the Shandor Building's roof cap was exactly like the kind of telemetry tracker that NASA used to identify dead pulsars in deep space. Ray pulled out the blueprints out of his flight suit and laid it over the one Egon was examining. Ray stated the building had cold riveted girders with cores of pure selenium. Peter had no clue what the big deal was. Ray explained the whole building was a huge super conductive antenna that was designed and built expressly for the purpose of pulling in and concentrating spiritual turbulence. Ray lifted his blueprints off the table and pointed at the one under. Peter was kneeling down looking at them. Ray told him "his girlfriend" lived in the corner penthouse of "Spook Central." Peter denied she was his girlfriend. Egon stated it was the building, not Dana. Ray laid his blueprint back down. Egon predicted something terrible was about the enter their world and the Shandor Building was obviously the door.

Egon revealed the architect's name was Ivo Shandor . He found the name in Tobin's Spirit Guide. Shandor was also a doctor who performed a lot of unnecessary surgery and then in 1920, he founded a secret society . Peter guessed they were Gozer worshipers. Egon confirmed and continued, after the First World War, Shandor decided that society was too sick to survive. The inmates started getting closer to the table again and really took an interest in the discussion. Egon took stock of that and revealed Shandor had close to a thousand followers when he died. They conducted rituals up on the roof, bizarre rituals intended to bring about the end of the world. Egon concluded the end of the world may actually happen. Peter suddenly broke out into song, "So be good, for goodness sake! Whoa! Somebody's coming!" Ray stated the obvious, they had to get out of jail and find a judge or something. Winston stepped and told them to hold it. He wanted to clarify their plan was to go before a federal judge and say that some "moldy Babylonian god" was going to drop in on Central Park West and start tearing up the city. Egon corrected him about Gozer: it was a Sumerian god, not Babylonian. Peter joked that was a big difference. Winston told them no offense, but he was going get his own lawyer. A Jail Guard called the Ghostbusters and revealed Mayor Lenny wanted to see them because the city was going crazy. The Ghostbusters convinced Mayor Lenny to let them attempt to stop Gozer. Before the Ghostbusters departed from New York City Hall, Janine spoke to Egon. She wanted him to have something. Egon took it and asked what it was. Janine revealed it was a souvenir from the 1964 World's Fair at Flushing Meadow. It was her lucky coin. Egon stated he should not take it because they might not be coming back. Janine insisted he keep it then revealed she had another one at home. They hugged.

The Ghostbusters walked all the way up to the twenty-second floor. Egon noticed the Art Deco influence and complimented it. They headed into Dana's apartment and found a passage up to the roof where they witnessed the posessed Dana and Louis transform into Terror Dogs and an entity in a female form arrive in front of the Temple of Gozer . Egon identified it as Gozer. Winston thought Gozer was a man. Egon stated it was whatever it wanted to be. Ray established a dialogue with Gozer but it shot them towards the edge of the roof. The Ghostbusters opened fire but Gozer disappeared. The others thought it meant they won but Egon looked at a Gamma Rate Meter and told Ray things looked extraordinarily bad. An earthquake rocked the temple. Egon told them to look out. Boulders and debris fell. They took cover by the altar. The disembodied voice of Gozer ordered them to choose the form of the Destructor. Peter understood Gozer needed them and told everyone to empty their heads and not think of anything. Gozer declared the choice was made. Peter protested. He asked Egon. Egon thought of nothing. He asked Winston. Winston asserted his mind was totally blank. Peter stated he chose nothing. Peter, Egon, and Winston turned and looked at Ray. Ray insisted he couldn't help it and it "just popped in there". Stomping and screaming from the streets interrupted Ray. Egon spotted something and yelled. They watched as the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man marched towards the Shandor Building. As Ray lost it, Peter told Egon that Ray had gone "bye-bye" and asked him what he had left. Egon apologized and admitted he was terrified beyond the capacity for rational thought. They blasted down at Stay Puft. They only succeeded in lighting him on fire. Stay Puft clung to the side of the Shandor Building and looked up. The fire soared up to them.

They ran and crouched down. Ray tried to make light of their impending death by a hundred-foot marshmallow man. Peter riffed and pointed out Stay Puft was a sailor in New York, they just had to get him laid and there would not be any trouble. Stay Puft climbed up the side of the building. Egon had a radical idea. He noted "the door swings both ways" and as a result they could reverse the particle flow through the gate. Ray asked how. Egon proposed they cross the streams. Peter recalled Egon's warning about doing that. Peter pointed out they would be in grave danger along with their client Dana, the "nice lady who paid them in advance before she became a dog". Egon assured them there was definitely a very slim chance they would survive. They exchanged looks. Peter stared at Egon. Egon raised an eyebrow. Peter gave Ray a friendly slap to the face. Peter declared he loved the plan and was excited to be a part of it. Winston grumbled the job was definitely not worth another eleven-five a year. They ran to the Temple of Gozer. Egon told everyone to hurry. The four proton streams combined into one big one, blasting right into the temple. An explosion was triggered. The Ghostbusters ceased fire and ran off screaming. Stay Puft was caught in the blast wave and blew up along with the top floors of the building. Ray came to and found Winston then called out to Peter and Egon. Egon groaned. He, too, was covered in marshmallow residue and stood up from the other side from Ray and Winston. Ray asked Egon if he was okay. Egon remarked he felt like the floor of a taxi cab. Peter went over to them. He had very little marshmallow residue on him.

They managed to free Dana from the inside of Zuul's remains. Louis, with a Terror Dog statue head on his head, walked around helplessly asking if somebody turned out the lights. Ray, Egon, and Winston ran over to help them. Egon and Ray helped Louis out. Louis looked around and guessed the superintendent was going to be "pissed". They helped him down. Egon added they would like to get a sample of his brain tissue. Louis unwittingly agreed to provide it. The crowd cheered for the Ghostbusters as they exited the building. Janine ran into Egon's arms. They hugged. She patted his cheeks. They walked to Ecto-1 and departed with the rest of the Ghostbusters and Dana.

Between Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II [ ]

Due to the large amount of collateral damage the city of New York suffered from the battle with Gozer, the Ghostbusters were sued by nearly every county and city agency in New York. Additionally a judicial restraining order was enacted which barred the Ghostbusters from performing services as paranormal investigators and eliminators, effectively putting them out of business. On December 22, 1986, Egon graduated from the University of Philadelphia. [Note 3] Egon went to work at the Institute for Advanced Theoretical Research on Columbia University campus and conducted experiments on whether or not human emotions affected the physical environment based on a theory he and Ray developed when they were still Ghostbusters.

Ghostbusters II [ ]

In late November 1989, Dana contacted him after her baby carriage took off by itself on First Avenue . On the day of her appointment with him, Egon conducted two tests simultaneously in his lab. A negative test involved keeping a couple with marriage problems locked in a room for hours and gradually raising the temperature. A positive test involved a girl in a room with dozens of stuffed animals and a puppy. Dana told Egon about the incident and how it ended right in the middle of traffic. Egon leaned over and wrote something then stood up straight and turned around while Dana told her story. He asked her if anyone else saw it happen and grabbed a thin printout. Dana noted hundreds of people saw it and assured him she didn't imagine it. Egon explained in science they always looked for the simplest explanation. One of Egon's assistants told him they were ready. Egon walked over to a large glass window. A camcorder was set up to record. Egon was pleased and stated they would start with the negative calibration. Dana asked him what he was working on. Egon explained his research. There was a frustrated couple inside a waiting room. Egon and Dana observed them through a two way mirror. The husband was yelling inaudibly. Dana asked if the couple could see them. Egon confirmed they could not and revealed the couple thought they came for marriage counseling. He kept them waiting for two and a half hours while gradually increasing the temperature in the room. He noted it was now up to ninety-five degrees at the moment. He pointed out his assistant was asking them if they would mind waiting another half hour. The husband became angrier. He threw down his coat jacket and pounded against the wall. The assistant left the room. Egon examined his readings and was very pleased.

Dana asked him what he thought. He found it excellent then turned to his other assistant. He wanted to do the happiness index next. Dana clarified she meant the carriage. Egon wrote down some notes then went to observe another room. A little girl inside played with stuffed animals. He looked into a camcorder eyepiece then asked if it was okay to bring Ray in on it. Dana was fine with that but she was against Peter being involved. Egon quickly assured her he would not. She inquired if he ever saw Peter. Egon replied he did occasionally. He flipped some switches on a machine bank. She asked how Peter was doing. Egon noted he was was borderline for a while then he crossed the border. She asked if Peter ever mentioned her. Dana smiled in anticipation of a "yes" from Egon. He replied, "No." Dana's smile broke. Egon ran his Monitor 4 Radiation Detector over her while her back was turned to him. Dana admitted they did not part on very good terms and then sort of lost track of each other after she got married. Spengler's assistant walked up to them and alerted Egon they were ready for the affection test. Egon instructed her to send in the puppy. An adorable puppy was handed to a little girl in the observation room. Dana admitted she thought of getting in touch with Peter after her marriage ended then she noticed the girl and the puppy. They squatted low and watched the girl with the puppy. Dana told Egon she appreciated his help. Egon told her to try not to worry. They stood up and walked. Dana handed him a piece of paper with her phone number. He agreed to call her. She clarified she preferred him not to tell Peter anything. Egon promised he would not. She kissed him on the cheek and thanked him. Egon was pleased. After Dana left, he turned to his assistant and told her he wanted to see what would happen when they took away the puppy.

Egon went to Ray's store, Ray's Occult Books , and conferred with him. Egon found an interesting passage and read it aloud to Ray. In Berlin , in 1939, a flower cart took off by itself and rolled half a kilometer. There were 300 eyewitnesses. Ray finished ringing up the sale. Egon turned and looked at the customer . The doorbell rang as the customer left. Ray gave his best to the coven then Ray stepped out from the counter over to a book shelf with Egon. He placed his pipe in his mouth then suggested they check Duke University's mean averaging studies on controlled psychokinesis. Egon affirmed that he pulled it. Peter entered the bookstore and spoke in an accent. He jokingly explained he was looking for a love potion aerosol that he could spray on a certain Penthouse pet to obtain her total submission. They both greeted Peter. Peter threw his coat onto an empty book cart. He asked Egon how school was and joked those "science chicks" must really dig that large cranium of his. Egon believed they were more interested in his epididymis. Peter scoffed then paused in thought. He told Ray to close up so he could buy him a calzone. Ray informed him that he was busy working on something but revealed his book order came in, " Magical Paths to Fortune and Power ". Peter thanked him. Egon snickered while Peter held his head up high. Egon wished him good luck with that. Peter politely asked Ray to put it on his account. Egon found something else and showed it to Ray. Ray skimmed and agreed. Peter was curious and asked what they were working on. Ray started to answer but from the back of the store, Egon cleared his throat to subtly warn Ray not to blab. Eventually, Peter pulled on Ray's ears. Egon turned around and could only stand there as Ray screamed and finally caved they were helping Dana out.

The trio went to Dana's apartment to perform a physical exam on her son Oscar and take readings. Dana hugged Ray and shook Egon's hand. Egon tried to tell Dana about Peter but Dana pushed the door to close it. Peter slipped in through the door and stopped it. He quipped about giving them one more chance. Ray rubbed his palms. Egon glared at Peter's back. Ray told Dana he tortured him by pulling his ears. Dana greeted Peter. Peter turned to them, modulated his voice to sound deep and sexy. Instead of responding, Dana turned to Egon and asked him what he would like to do first. Egon wanted to start with examining Oscar first. They walked over to a round table. Ray added they should check out anything associated with the baby, especially stuffed toys and things with fabrics in them. Egon wanted to check out the buggy after that. Dana agreed to their requests then asked if she could put Oscar on the table. Ray wanted to also see where he slept. Egon told her the table would be fine. Ray laid a blue pad over the table. Egon placed his briefcase on a chair at the table. Ray took off his jacket. Ray informed Dana they would have to lay him down flat. Egon called it a little precursory medical examination. Ray proposed the Gammill and Pross Infant Acuity Test. Egon agreed and suggested they finish off with an Apgar score. Dana asked if any of that would hurt Oscar. They both replied it wouldn't. Egon assured her he would be fine. Ray handed Egon calipers. Dana became concerned from the look of them. Peter played Dana's cello like a guitar. Egon looked away. Ray also held back. She walked over to him. Ray asked Egon if ever examined a baby before. Egon replied he did once on a chimp.

Ray spoke into a tape recorder as he and Egon checked out Oscar. Ray recorded the subject was a male Caucasian. Egon measured Oscar and stated he was 24 inches. Ray stated he weighed approximately 18 pounds and was about eight months old. He moved on to ocular tests. Egon shined a small flashlight at Oscar. He confirmed the pupillary response was normal. He placed his flashlight back into his pocket protector. Ray asked about auditory. They snapped their fingers. Oscar moved his head around in reaction to them. Egon confirmed his responses were normal. Ray asked about papillary reflex. They tickled Oscar. Egon noted he appeared to be ticklish. Ray agreed. Egon used a Grafco fetal stethoscope on Oscar as he lay on his back. Ray scanned him with a P.K.E. Meter. Peter got Egon's attention. He looked up at Peter, who spoke up close right into the stethoscope asking what they were doing. Egon recoiled then told Dana that Oscar seemed to be fine. Dana noted he was very healthy. Ray asked where he slept. Dana led Ray right around the corner to Oscar's bedroom. Egon turned to Peter and handed him a specimen jar and walked away with a new device, the Giga meter . He asked Peter to acquire a stool specimen. Peter quipped, "Business or personal?"

Dana told them the room was a little messy. Ray assured he they did not plan on playing with anything, they just wanted to sweep for valances. Egon thought the room was very cheerful and revealed his parents didn't believe in toys. He picked up a rattle. Ray, Egon, and Dana heard Peter screaming the baby went berserk. Ray and Egon exchanged concern. Dana left the room. Egon shook the rattle. Ray walked over to Egon. Ray asked him if he never even had a Slinky. Egon confirmed they had part of a Slinky but he straightened it. Ray announced he got nothing off the crib. Peter asked Egon what was next. Egon wanted to perform some gynecological tests on Dana. Peter joked, "Who wouldn't?" Egon proposed they check out the street next. A short time later, Dana showed Peter, Egon, and Ray where the incident happened on First Avenue. Behind them, the corner shop was selling Christmas trees. She told them how the carriage stopped right in the middle of the crosswalk. Peter took charge, dashed into the middle of the street, and started directing traffic. Ray used a P.K.E. Meter on the spot where the carriage stopped. Egon used the Giga Meter. Both were lit up. Ray declared they hit the honey pot and speculated something was brewing under the street. He revealed the P.K.E. Meter got a reading of 1,118. Egon stated he got 2.5 GEVs on the Giga Meter. Dana asked them what that meant. Ray and Egon exchanged looks.

Egon, Ray, and Peter posed as a construction crew and made a hole at the spot where the baby carriage stopped. Many hours later, now well into the evening, Egon used a jackhammer. A police squad car braked near him. The First Cop yelled "Hey!" from his seat to get Egon's attention then asked him how he was doing. Egon asked the officer if he was talking to him. He was. Egon improvised and told him it was cutting fine. The officer asked him why he was cutting. Peter and Ray exited Libby's Coffee Shop and exchanged looks. Egon repeated his question. The officer was waiting for an answer. Egon called out to the "boss" and gestured at them to come over. They walked back over to Egon. Peter spoke in a thick stereotypical accent of a blue collar man. Peter asked Egon who told him to stop cutting. The officer repeated himself again. Peter turned to the First Cop and played along, asking him if he told Egon to stop cutting. The officer confirmed that and repeated himself. Peter stalled with rhetoric and pointed out they let the police work. Ray emulated Peter's blue collar impression. Ray explained they were working overtime because "some diaper bag downtown" was being a jerk and making them work on a Friday night. Peter agreed. He asked Egon. Egon shouted, "Yo!" They all giggled. The officer capitulated and told them to take it easy. The squad car drove away. Ray asked Egon what he had been doing. Egon was incensed and pointed out that while they were getting coffee for an hour, he dug a big hole in the middle of the street. Ray looked down the hole in amazement and gathered Egon uncovered an old air shaft that went on and on. Egon took readings with the Giga Meter while Ray aimed his flashlight down the hole. Egon remarked it was very intense and suggested they get a deeper reading. Ray agreed. They stood back up. Egon noted someone had to go down there. Ray agreed. Ray looked up and realized Peter and Egon were staring at him.

After Ray was lowered down the hole, the police returned with a Con Edison Supervisor who asked Peter and Egon what was going on. Peter shifted back to his blue collar persona and referred to them as boneheads. He claimed three thousand phones were out on Greenwich Village and he had eight million miles of cable to check. He pretended to be displeased they came to shake his monkey tree again. The Con Ed Supervisor pointed out the fact that the phone lines were across the street. Peter improvised and smacked Egon's hard hat angrily. Peter "blamed" Egon for setting up in the wrong spot despite his reluctance. The First Cop told Peter to stop. He revealed the checked with Con Ed and the phone company, and confirmed they weren't who they claimed to be. He implored Peter to tell him another lie. Without breaking character, Peter claimed there was major gas leak. He pointed to some steam that happened to be nearby and rhetorically asked them where they thought all this was coming from. Ray took a sample from a River of Slime but it started to grab at his feet. Ray became nervous and called out to Peter and Egon. As Ray was pulled up, he inadvertently kicked a pipe as he panicked. The pipe was dislodged, fell, and crashed into a power line. First Avenue went dark, followed by all of New York City. Egon, Peter and Ray were arrested. 

They were represented by Louis at their trial. Louis opened by talking about how he was once turned into a dog but the Ghostbusters helped him. Egon found it short but pointless. During the course of their trial, they were found guilty of willful destruction of public property, fraud, violating their judicial restraining order, and malicious mischief by Judge Stephen Wexler (whom Egon revealed was known as "The Hammer"). While he went on a heated tirade about the trio, Judge Wexler inadvertently powered up the sample of Psychomagnotheric Slime Ray had collected and the ghosts of the  Scoleri Brothers , two murderers he sentenced to death by the electric chair, manifested. Wexler implored the guys to do something. Egon suggested he tell them he did not believe in ghosts. The Scoleri Brothers picked up their table and threw it at the judge's bench. During the chaos, Wexler, Peter, Ray, Egon, and Louis ran behind the glass partition to the judge's door. Judge Wexler dismissed the charges against the Ghostbusters, and rescinded the judicial restraining order allowing Egon, Ray, and Peter to capture the ghosts. Peter noted it had been a couple of years since they last used the equipment. He hoped it still worked. Egon stated the packs should still work since the power cells had a half-life of five thousand years. Ray pointed out there was no time for a bench test and cued everyone to turn on the throwers. Peter turned on the switch on his thrower and in reaction to the sound, sang "Do," Ray followed with his thrower, sang "Ri," Egon turned on his, and sang "Egon!" Peter looked at Egon in disbelief. Egon grinned.

They fired wildly at the Scoleri Brothers and missed. The Scoleri Brothers flew away through the wall behind the judge's bench. Peter yelled. Peter, then Ray, then Egon all laughed. Peter wrangled Nunzio in the gallery. Ray told Egon to bring over the Trap. Egon got the Trap off the exhibit table but Tony Scoleri came through a wall cackling. Egon warned Ray and ducked as he fired. Ray soon wrangled Tony Scoleri. Egon instructed Ray to hold Tony and then told Peter to start bringing Nunzio back. Egon told Ray to hold Tony and to keep pulling to the right. Egon placed the Trap on the floor and signaled Ray and Peter. He pushed the Trap across the floor. Ray encouraged Egon to hit the pedal. Egon waited then stomped the pedal. They all turned away. The Scoleri Brothers were pulled into the Trap. Ray declared, "Two in the box!" Egon followed with, "Ready to go!" Peter started with, "We be fast..." and all three shouted, "...and they be slow!" Peter, Egon, and Ray triumphantly strode out of the courtroom. Ray declared the Ghostbusters were back in business.

The Ghostbusters were inundated with many cases, including one at Record Explosion at 2 Broadway. They exited with Santa hats on and in charcoal jumpsuits. Egon held a smoking Trap. Ray and Egon collected more Psychomagnotheric ectoplasm from a set of stairs of the Church of St. Paul the Apostle at 8-10 Columbus Avenue. A new commercial was filmed and aired. In it, Egon presented the limited time offer of a Ghostbusters Mug and Balloon for children. The Ghostbusters were called to Orrefors on 58 East 57th Street. Egon studied the floating fine crystals then gave the signal. The Polarity Rectification Tripods were triggered and restored the fine crystal to normal but they came crashing to the ground and cases below and shattered. Ray and Egon collected more Psychomagnotheric ectoplasm from the phone of a phone booth on West 59th Street across from the 910 9th Avenue side of Coliseum Park Apartments a block over from the Church of St. Paul. Egon held up the phone and slime dripped down into a clear jar held by Ray. The Ghostbusters returned to Ecto-1a at East 57th Street and Park Avenue. Winston and Peter held a Trap each. Ray and Egon still had their throwers drawn. Egon and Ray conducted research on the Psychomagnotheric slime between cases.

Egon and Ray presented their findings to Winston and Peter. Peter jokingly asked if he should get spoons. Egon told him not to bother and cued Ray to demonstrate their discovery. Ray angrily shouted at the ectoplasm and insulted it, calling it a "worthless piece of slime" and "ignorant, disgusting blob." The Psychomagnotheric ectoplasm bubbled in reaction to Ray's shouting. Egon joined in called it "nothing but an unstable, short-chain molecule." Ray called it a "foul, obnoxious muck." Egon derided its weak electrochemical bond! Winston stopped Ray mid-insult. Egon flashed his hands to stop. Peter asked them if this is what they did with their spare time. Ray pointed out it was an incredible breakthrough, the discovery of a psychoreactive substance. He explained it reacted to human emotional states. Peter nicknamed it "Mood slime." Egon turned away in disbelief. Winston got that it feed on bad vibes. Ray confirmed it was like a cop in a doughnut factory. Egon revealed they were running tests to see if they could get an equally strong positive reaction. Peter inquired what kind of tests they performed. Ray carefully replied they sang to it and told it supportive, nurturing things. Peter got to the point and wanted to know they were not sleeping with it. There was an awkward silence and sense of uneasiness from Ray and Egon. Peter and Winston teased them. Winston remarked it was always the quiet ones. Peter called Ray a hound. Egon suggested a demonstration of the kinetic test. He took a toaster from the kitchen counter and stated it was an ordinary household one. Peter quipped he was taking him for his word on that.

Ray placed some of the ectoplasm into the toaster with a spoon. Egon placed the toaster on the billiards table. Ray explained the ectoplasm responded to music so they tried easy listening, middle-of-the-road type stuff like Paul Young and "Dust In The Wind." Peter joked it worked for him. Egon revealed it loved Jackie Wilson . Jackie Wilson's "(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher" was played. Peter kept joking and asked them if this was what they did at night when he was not around the Firehouse. He joked he thought the toaster sounded exactly like Jackie. Egon told him to just watch. Peter asked if it could do Emmylou Harris. The toaster hopped up. Peter realized it danced, too. The toaster moved around like it was dancing. The guys smiled. Ray played along. The toaster ejected toast. Egon caught them and the music was turned off. Peter hugged the toaster and happily declared it was his number one Christmas boutique gift item. Winston was suspicious it would eat someone's hand the minute someone got mad. Peter stated they would put a warning label on it for liability reasons then recoiled in pain. Egon quickly took the toaster away. It was just a prank. Peter gestured like he poked Egon's eyes and relished how easily they fell for it. Ray screamed as they tussled playfully.

In the evening, Peter called the Firehouse and informed Ray about the Slime in Bathtub Attack . He told Egon about the major slime-related psychokinetic event. Egon made some adjustments to a blower gun and asked what happened. Ray relayed what Peter told him. Egon asked if they were all right. Ray confirmed she got out of there and went over to Peter's apartment . Egon remembered something and placed the blower gun down. He brought up the Vigo painting Peter mentioned to him and revealed he ran the name 'Vigo the Carpathian' through the Occult Reference Net . Egon typed and presented a search result from Leon Zundinger's " Magicians, Martyrs And Madmen " Chapter 6, pages 128-145. Ray called it a "nice ugly history" and deduced there was a connection between Vigo and the ectoplasm. Egon asked him if the atomic weight of cobalt 58.9. He nodded. They left to to check out the bathtub in Dana's apartment. Egon proposed they go to the Manhattan Museum of Art in the morning and get a look at that painting. The next morning, Egon and Ray briefed Peter about Vigo then the Ghostbusters went into the Manhattan Museum of Art. Egon scanned the Restoration room with the Giga Meter. Peter went overboard taking photographs of the Vigo portrait. Egon interrupted him and wanted to talk. Peter turned to Vigo and told him he worked with better, but not many, and thanked him.

Ray and Egon processed Peter's photographs on a photo lab set up somewhere in the Firehouse. Ray pinned one on the line. Egon used a magnifying lens. Egon confirmed Ray was right and there were multi-planar Kirlian emanations present. Ray joked about Vigo being next month's cover of GQ. He believed there definitely a living presence. Egon proposed taking a deeper look. Ray suggested putting the wider shot through the Spectral analyzer . Egon agreed and tried turning up the Roentgens. Ray fed a photograph into the Spectral analyzer, which looked like a copy machine. Egon pressed some buttons on a pad. Ray changed the subject to dinner. He pitched Chinese. Egon countered with Thai. Ray found it too spicy and suggested Greek. Egon asked about Mexican. Ray suggested Pizza. Egon asked if they should get thin or thick. Ray wanted Chicago. A photograph came out of the analyzer. Egon hung it up. The photograph was of the floating head of Vigo and the River of Slime. Egon was shocked and picked up the magnifying lens. The lab door's deadbolt moved on its own and locked the door. Ray instantly recognized it. Egon inquired where he saw it. Ray informed him it was the River of Slime he saw under First Avenue. Suddenly, the photographs ignited. They ran to the door and realized it was locked. Ray started thinking of what to grab like a blanket or hose. Egon chose the simple solution, get out of the room. Ray realized the door was locked. Egon and Ray called out to Winston. Ray suggested going in other direction. Egon sarcastically asked if they were going to stick their heads in the toilet. Winston broke through the door and used a fire extinguisher on the photographs.

Ray, Egon, and Winston pulled up to Peter's apartment and came out wearing yellow rubber jackets. Ray announced they had incredible news. Peter joked it was all-you-can-eat barbecue rib night at the Sizzler. Egon briefed him on the photograph analysis and the connection to the river. Ray added they were going underground into the subway and sewer system to see if they could trace the source of the flow. Egon told Peter to change. Winston revealed Egon theorized there might even be a tremendous breeding surge in the cockroach population. Dana stepped out and greeted the guys. Peter told her what the guys were going to do and asked if she wanted to blow off dinner and go with them. Dana smiled, walked to the edge of the sidewalk, and called out for a taxi. Egon, Ray, and Winston walked down some abandoned train tracks. Egon swept around with the Giga meter. Ray cited the entrance to the pneumatic railroad was near according to the old transit map he had. Egon was not getting any readings. Winston conceded at least it was too dark to see the cockroaches. Ray informed him it was the subway rats he had to be worried about because they were as big as beavers. Egon stated the rats got to be as big as four to five kilos. Winston was getting annoyed. Ray claimed to hear them behind the walls scratching and guessed there were thousands of them. Winston told him to shut up about the rats. Ray shouted "Hello" and heard the echo. Egon tried next with "Hey" and heard the echo. Winston started to relax and shouted "Hello!" There was no echo. A Disembodied Voice replied, "Wiiiiiinstooooon..." Winston stated he was leaving.

Suddenly, they were surrounded by many severed heads impaled on stakes. Ray, Egon, and Winston screamed. Just as quickly, the heads vanished. Winston was confused about what just happened. Egon suggested they get their Proton Packs before they went any further. Winston agreed. A rumbling sound made them pause. Winston determined it sounded like a train. The rumbling continued. Ray disagreed because the lines were abandoned for 50 years. The rumbling came closer. Egon surmised it was coming from one of the tunnels above them. It sounded a lot closer to Winston. A light appeared and a train whistle sounded off. A Ghost Train came down the tunnel towards them. Ray and Egon jumped out of the way. Winston froze and just stood there. The ghost train was intangible and passed right through him. After the train left, Egon got back up and speculated that was the old New York Central City Albany that derailed in 1920 and hundreds died. He asked Winston if he caught the number on the locomotive. Winston stated he missed it. Egon was positive something was trying to stop them from finding the river. Ray suddenly popped out and spooked them. Ray apologized then revealed he found a hole leading to the river. Egon followed Ray. Winston tried to remind them about getting the Proton Packs.

Egon, Ray, and Winston cleared some debris aside and walked into the Van Horne Pneumatic Station, the exact place where Ray was lowered down into. They stared at the River of Slime. Egon was amazed. Ray pointed out he was not lying about what he saw. Egon was astounded by the amount of negative energy required to generate such a flow. Winston quipped, "New York, what a town." Egon wanted to get a sounding and determine how deep it was. Winston used his sounding line and measured 6 feet then suddenly 12 feet. He realizing something was pulling the line. Ray yelled to on. Winston asked for a hand. Egon went over behind Winston. Ray shouted to get his belt off. Winston lost his hold and pulled into the river. The current carried him away, screaming. Ray and Egon looked at each other then jumped in after him screaming. Ray and Winston emerged from a manhole drenched in the slime and started arguing. Egon looked at his gloves and shouted at them to stop and take their clothes off. Egon stripped off his clothing until he was only in his long underwear. Ray and Winston stopped quarreling and followed suit. They returned to their normal dispositions. Winston was shocked at what happened and confessed he was ready to kill Ray. Ray realized the ectoplasm was like pure, concentrated evil. Egon pointed out they found the endpoint of the slime flow. They realized they were in front of the Manhattan Museum of Art.

They went to Armand's Restaurant still in their slimed long underwear, ignored the Maître D' , and went inside to Dana and Peter's table. They rambled about what happened to them. Peter talked at the top of his voice to get their undivided attention. He pointed out they were scaring the straights and asked if it could wait until tomorrow. Egon stated it could not wait because things were hot and ready to pop. Ray agreed and the slime was all over and under the city. Winston added there were rivers full of it. Egon revealed it was all flowing right to the museum. Dana was concerned they were talking about the Manhattan Museum of Art. Peter confessed he was going to tell her between the dessert and the cheese course. The Maitre D' returned to Peter and Dana's table with two police officers. They left with them with the Maitre D', the Slimed Restaurant Patron , and the Slimed Patron's Date followed them. Peter and Dana got up from their table and left. The officers drove the Ghostbusters to Gracie Mansion . The Mayor's Doorman opened the passenger door then showed them the way and opened the front door for them then asked if he could get a Proton Pack for his little brother. Egon stated the pack was not a toy. Ray turned to the doorman in the doorway and admitted Egon was right.

Mayor Lenny gave them two minutes to talk to him. Ray informed him a psychomagnotheric slime flow of immense proportions was building up beneath the city. Mayor Lenny had no idea what he said. Egon repeated "psychomagnotheric." Peter quipped it was a big word. Egon explained negative human emotions were materializing in the form of a viscous, psychoreactive plasm with explosive supernormal potential. Mayor asked if anybody spoke English. Winston volunteered and told him all the bad feelings, all the hate, the anger and vibes of the city was turning into the sludge. Winston admitted he did not believe it at first either, but they just went for a swim in it and ended up almost killing each other. Mayor Lenny asked them what he was supposed to do and balked at the notion of going on television and telling ten million people they had to be nice to each other. He stated being miserable and treating other people like dirt was every New Yorker's God-given right. He declared their two minutes were up and bid them good night. Peter called it a very newsworthy mistake. He mused the Times was going be interested and the polls were going to go down. Jack became alarmed. Winston pitched the headline, "Mayor Hides Slime." Ray suggested, " Times Square Slime". Egon thought of "Slime Square". Ray liked Slime Square. Jack asked them if they would consider telling some of their people downtown about the slime. They seemed amiable. Peter told it had to be done right away. The Ghostbusters were committed to Parkview Psychiatric Hospital and put in straitjackets.

The Ghostbusters spoke to the Psychiatric Doctor ad nauseam about Vigo and the slime. They were exhausted from trying to explain the situation to the doctor over and over. The doctor was not convinced and asked them if there were any other paintings in the museum with bad spirits in them. Egon insisted he was wasting valuable time because Vigo was drawing strength from a Psychomagnotheric slime flow that had been collecting under the city. The doctor wanted them to tell him about the slime. Winston noted it was very potent stuff and they even made a toaster dance with it. The doctor thought he heard Winston say toaster. Winston also told him a bathtub tried to eat Peter's friend's baby. The doctor turned to Peter. Peter stated he thought Egon, Ray, and Winston were completely nuts. Paranormal activity increased exponentially as the new year came closer and Mayor Lenny finally capitulated that the Ghostbusters were needed. After their discharge, Louis briefed them about what was going on as they suited up and made their way to Ecto-1a outside in the parking lot.

The Ghostbusters arrived at the Manhattan Museum of Art.Egon told everyone to adjust to full neutronas. They opened fire on the slime shell around the museum but it became apparent they were shooting in vain. Egon stated slime mold was pulsing with evil and it would take a tremendous amount of positive energy to crack that shell. He seriously doubted there was enough goodwill left in New York to do it. Ray planted his face on Ecto-1a's hood in frustration then stood back up. He refused to believe there was no way back. He admitted the city was dirty, crowded, polluted, noisy, and full of people who would step on your face but there had to be a few sparks of sweet humanity left, they just had to figure out a way to mobilize it. Egon agreed and added they needed something that everyone could get around. He paused when he saw the Statue of Liberty on the license plate and proposed a symbol. They all started looking downwards. Ray understood, he continued it needed to be something that appealed to the best in each and every person. Egon squatted down and stated it had to be something good. Winston remarked it had to be something decent. Peter suggested it had to be something pure.

The Ghostbusters went to Liberty Island and outfitted the interior of the Statue of Liberty with assorted equipment. Egon confirmed the speakers were ready then asked Ray if the Slime Blowers were ready. Ray stated internal audio and electric were set. Egon cued Peter and handed him a microphone. Peter tested the microphone then asked aloud how many people in the audience was a national monument. He "greeted" the Statue of Liberty. He and Egon went up to the crown. Ray and Winston coated the interior with positively charged Psychomagnotheric Slime all over the statue's interior. Some time later, the Ghostbusters gathered up in the crown. A modified NES Advantage Controller was readied. Ray confirmed the pilot controls were ready. Egon checked his wrist watch and noted it was almost midnight. He cued Peter. Peter pretended to be a radio DJ and affirmed they were going to squeeze some "New Year's juice" from New York with a song off of the request line. Jackie Wilson's "(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher" was played off a Sony WM-A39 Walkman. All of the Psychomagnotheric Slime reacted and the Statue marched to the Museum.

After the Statue walked past Trump Tower at 725 Fifth Avenue, Egon noted they were running out of time. Winston asked Ray if he could speed up the Statue. Ray conceded the vibrations would shake her to pieces and confessed they should have padded her feet. Egon was confident there was not a pair of Nikes in her size. Peter was not worried and proclaimed she was a harbor chick. The Statue breached the Museum's dome with its torch and the Ghostbusters rappelled down. After Janosz Poha was doused with positively charged Psychomagnotheric Slime and passed out, the atmosphere in the room shifted. Egon checked his Sound Level Meter A fixture suddenly crashed behind Egon and a black hose wrapped around Dana. Vigo fully manifested in the room. Egon saw him first. Ray issued an ultimatum to Vigo but it was ignored. Peter and Egon fired at him. Vigo snarled, threw out his arms, broke the streams, and unleashed a pulse of energy. The Ghostbusters fell to the ground and were immobilized. Egon asked Ray if he could move. Ray confirmed he could not then asked Egon if he could. Egon stated he could not then asked Peter how he was. Peter joked he was fine. Vigo proceeded to continue with his plan to be reborn in Oscar's body but Peter heckled him to buy time. Vigo fired energy rays from his mouth at the Ghostbusters. They were covered in the rays and convulsed in pain.

Luckily, the crowds of people gathered outside started singing as the new year approached. Egon observed Vigo was weakening because the positivity of the singing was neutralizing the slime. They regained their mobility. Vigo was forcibly propelled back into the painting but he entranced Ray. Egon told Ray they would like to shoot Vigo and asked him to move. He got no response. Peter called out to Ray. Nothing. Winston called out. Nothing. All three yelled at Ray. Ray turned around to reveal he was possessed by Vigo and transmogrified to resemble his true ghost form. Vigo proclaimed he shall rule the earth and told the Ghostbusters to be gone, calling them pitiful half-men. Peter cued Egon and Winston. Peter and Egon fired at the painting. Winston slimed Ray and exorcised him. All three continued to fire on Vigo. He was sent spiraling further into the painting until there was an explosion and a bright white light enveloped the canvas. The slime shell disintegrated and shot up into the sky.

Egon and Winston took the Slime Blower off Ray and helped him up. Winston asked Ray if he was all right. Egon implored him to get up. Winston guided Ray. Ray replied he felt groovy. Ray told Egon and Winston he loved them. Egon told him "great." Ray continued and stated he loved Peter and was enamored with their real friendship. Winston asked Egon if they had to live this. They checked on Janosz next. Egon asked him if he was all right. Janosz asked why he was drippings with goo. Egon explained he had a violent prolonged transformative psychic episode. Janosz had no idea what Egon just said. Ray "translated" for Egon and told him they had to hose him down because he was kind of out of control. Ray then told Janosz he loved him. Janosz reciprocated and they hugged. Winston took a look at the painting and called everyone over. Egon speculated it was Early Renaissance, Raphael or Piero della Francesca. Peter joked it was one of the Fettucine's.The painting now portrayed Peter, Ray, Winston, and Egon in classic robes standing around a cherub that looked like Oscar. They went outside to the cheering crowd. The crowd chanted "Ghostbusters" over and over. A short time later, the Statue of Liberty was returned to its rightful place and a ceremony was held on the Liberty Island in recognition of the Ghostbusters. They accepted a Key to the City from Mayor Lenny.

Leaving New York [ ]

Following the Vigo incident, Egon began to investigate potential world-ending events to the point that he started to neglect his ghostbusting duties. He was consumed by the investigation to the point that he told clients their ghost problems were insignificant compared to the potential end of the world. Compounding matters was the dwindling number of calls the Ghostbusters would receive due to thinning ghost activity. Ray thought Egon got spooky and freaked him out. [4]

One morning, Egon stole Ecto-1, his proton pack, all the ghost traps, and sixteen ounces of fuel isotope. [5] This action proved to be the final nail in the coffin for the Ghostbusters and they were forced to cease operations entirely. Egon relocated to a Farmhouse in Summerville , Oklahoma. He took a quote from Revelations 6:12 and painted it on improvised signs outside his property. Janine periodically visited Egon over the years, took care of him, and made sure his bills were paid on time. [6] [7] Egon still accrued a significant debt. [8] He didn't interact with the residents of Summerville too often and remained enigmatic. [9] He was a frequent customer at Wertheimer's Hardware . The Owner thought he bought some bizarre items but didn't question it much. [10] Egon built an underground laboratory below a shack on the property. He kept his collection of spores, molds, and fungus in petri dishes and glass jar, flightsuits, and most of his equipment stored there. At some point, a Proton Pack was worked on but he never completed it.

Egon discovered the selenium mine and temple dedicated to Gozer hidden within it. He took note of the dates written in the temple and inscribed those on the walls of the Farmhouse. He also built a containment system consisting of four Proton Cannons and a P.K.E. Meter , which were placed within the Temple of Gozer: should the P.K.E. Meter detect a spike caused by an interdimensional gateway opening within the Temple, the Proton Cannons would activate and cross streams, forcing the gateway to close. Egon worked on a more permanent solution: a massive Trap Field laid out in the front of his property, built from all of the Traps he had taken - his working on this trap, which appeared to the locals as him working land but never planting anything, earned him the nickname "Dirt Farmer". [11] [12]

Ten years after relocating, Egon attempted to contact Ray to inform him of his discovery and attempt reconciliation. Egon rambled on about "the rising storm" and "the huge psychic tornado that was gonna "consume humanity in darkness forever." Egon was met with disbelief from Ray. [13] Egon chose to continue his plan alone.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife [ ]

One evening in summer 2021, Egon Spengler captured Vinz Clortho in a Trap and sped out of the Shandor Mining Company in a company truck. He crashed through a locked chain link fence, drove through Summerville, and out to the Farmhouse. On the road to the Farmhouse, Zuul attacked the truck while invisible. The truck flipped several times into a barley field and came to a stop upside down. Egon hobbled out of the field with the Trap and made it to the Farmhouse. He threw a lever on a column upwards on the porch and three capacitors nearby surged on. Zuul, still invisible, stepped out of the field. Egon held out the Trap. The creature took several steps forward. Egon stepped on a trap pedal but the capacitors died out. He tried again several times but nothing happened. He ran into the house and dug a P.K.E. Meter out of a drawer. It detected the creature and he heard it prowling around. The lights flickered off. Egon hid the Trap in a secret space and sat down on an armchair. He tapped his foot. An ominous smoke billowed into the room behind him. A vague Terror Dog form manifested in the smoke right behind him. He pressed a button and the P.K.E. Meter arms rose up into a taser setting. Several arm manifestations burst out of the chair and grabbed Egon. Zuul yowled and shot out of the house in the form of a pink P.K.E. wisp. Egon passed away and his body sat lifeless on the armchair. The P.K.E. Meter, now under the chair, registered a reading. It was concluded Egon died of a heart attack. [14]

Callie, now an adult and single mother, found out about his passing from Janine and prepared to head to Summerville with her son and daughter, Trevor and Phoebe respectively, under the assumption there was an inheritance. There was none. Egon, as a formless and invisible entity, chose to interact with physical objects to communicate with his granddaughter Phoebe. He knocked over a chess board in Phoebe's bedroom. She reset it on her night stand and went to sleep. Egon moved a white pawn while she was asleep. The next morning, she moved a black knight forward before she left for summer school. While she was gone, Egon moved the white knight one square. In the evening, she moved a pawn to the square between the black pawn and her knight. She watches as a pawn moved forward next to the white knight. She advanced her knight and took the pawn. The white knight levitated and knocked her knight off the board. She noticed the P.K.E. Meter was registering an entity. She tried to communicate with a "Hello?" She figured out the difference between a strong and weak reading. Her closed bedroom door opened wide. One by one, the hall lights turned on as she stepped forward. She followed the lights and meter reading downstairs. On the first floor, a light turned on behind her. She turned around and the meter registered. The armchair suddenly slid forward and scooped her up then spun around. Phoebe looked down and noticed an odd pattern in the floor. She solved the floor puzzle and picked up the Trap containing Vinz Clortho.

The next day, Phoebe was led by Egon to a shack on the property. She slid down a fire pole down and explored the laboratory after the lights turned on. She found a used Crunch bar in the left chest pocket and a pair of glasses in the right chest pocket of one of Egon's old flightsuits. A screen turned on. She sat down in front of the unfinished Proton Pack. The lamp moved on its own at her face then at the pack. She took off the cyclotron cover with her hands and flipped it over. She looked at the capacitors inside and noticed two of the CRT Emitters were missing. A drawer shot open. Phoebe thanked Egon, installed them, and placed the cover aside then took out the cyclotron. She wondered how on earth did he built such a small cyclotron. The lamp head shone its light on a wall, revealing framed degrees. Phoebe understood and asked for needle nose pliers. The lamp shone on a pair on the table. She grabbed them and went to work. With Egon's guidance, she finished the pack. Back in her bedroom, Phoebe found the original Ghostbusters commercial online and watched it. She later asked Callie what kind of scientist Egon was. Callie replied he was the kind that repelled love ones. Phoebe guesses a physicist. Callie wasn't interested in talking anymore about him. While Trevor was trying to get Ecto-1 started, Egon came to his aid then shoved the hood down. Trevor was unaware of his intervention and drove off into a barley field.

After she got arrested, Phoebe used her one phone call and dialed the number for the Ghostbusters. She was routed to Ray's Occult and spoke to Ray. He answered and stated the store was closed. Phoebe asked him to wait because she got one phone call on account of being in prison. Ray was intrigued. He recounted the time he was in jail and stated he was not a lawyer but he was listening. She asked him if he was "Ray Stantz, the Ghostbuster." Ray saw that as a cue to hang up. She pleaded with him to hang on because she was calling about Egon Spengler. Ray paused then told her Egon Spengler could rot in hell. Phoebe was silent then informed him Egon died last week. [15] Ray's expression changed and he let out a soft exhale. He told her about how their business came to an end. Phoebe tried to explain there was a mountain with ancient carvings but he informed her there were a lot of mountains out there with ancient carvings out there. He advised her against chasing ghosts. She revealed to him Egon was her grandfather. Sheriff Domingo pushed the switch hook's button to hang up and announced her time was up.

The next day, Callie called out for Phoebe in the Farmhouse. She looked in Phoebe's bedroom and picked up the P.K.E. Meter. It registered an entity. She waved it to the right and it went dead. She waved it back to the left and it registered. Callie followed the reading to the shed and took the fire pole down into the laboratory. Lamps turned on. She walked over to a desk and picked up a photo frame. A lamp moved closer towards her. Egon was still communicating through objects only. She turned and looked at it. The lamp tilted up. She placed the frame down. It was of a girl in a white dress doing a ballet pose. She took a few steps and saw a wall with tons of photographs and notes about her. She realized Egon kept track of her entire life. Zuul possessed her and she joined Vinz Clortho, who possessed Gary Grooberson , and Gozer was summoned. Callie and the children were unable to use the Trap Field in time but Peter, Ray, and Winston came to their aid. However, Gozer managed to overpower them. Phoebe took on Gozer alone. She started to lose ground and was pushed backwards. Suddenly, Egon's ghost fully manifested and held the thrower with Phoebe and kept it steady. Callie was shocked. Egon and Phoebe exchanged looks. She was in total shock. Ray, Peter, and Winston blasted Gozer, too. Phoebe and Egon inched their way to the Ghostbusters. The guys looked at Egon in disbelief.

After Podcast finished off the Mini-Puffs, Trevor fired at the silo capacitors causing the field of traps to activate. Callie noticed and ran up to the porch and stomped the pedal. The Traps all opened and captured the Psychokinetic atmospheric disturbance, ghost wisps, Gozer, Zuul, and Vinz. Winston was still speechless at the sight of Egon. Peter and Ray turned to Egon. Peter dryly joked he thought Egon might turn up. Egon turned to them. Ray apologized for not believing him. Egon nodded. Winston admitted he should have called and told Egon he missed him. Egon nodded. Trevor and Lucky slowly approached Egon. Lucky pushed him forward. Trevor greeted Egon. Egon placed his left hand on Trevor's right shoulder. They turned to Phoebe. Egon knelt down and parted her hair. She teared up. Egon turned to Callie. He stood up. She walked over. They looked at each other. Callie ran up and hugged him. He was relieved and hugged her back. A tear streamed down from Callie's right eye. Egon peacefully transcended into the afterlife as his family and friends watched.

Secondary Canon History [ ]

Ghostbusters: the video game (realistic versions) [ ].

Egon becomes significantly more 'hands-on' during the course of the video game. He and Ray instruct the Rookie in the use of the Proton Pack and its eventual PCS (Paranormal Countermeasure System) upgrades. Over the course of the game, it becomes evident that he was somewhat traumatized by their exhausting trek up the stairs of 550 Central Park West . While in the alternate dimension of the library, Egon is heard to groan, "Oh no," and when Ray asks if he saw something scary, Egon replies, "Stairs, lots of stairs.."

Egon still collects spores, molds, and fungus. When the Ghostbusters return to the Sedgewick Hotel, Ray reveals Egon was once a licensed coroner in the past. [16] He still has a minor interest in it as a hobby. [17]

IDW Comic Series [ ]

During a childhood fishing trip, Egon Spengler got rockfish on his fishing line. It purportedly weighed as much as he did at the time. Egon, however, lost the fist before he could fully reel it in. [18] Egon Spengler became interested in the field of the paranormal, specifically ghosts, and resolved to prove conclusively of their existence. [19]

In the 1970s, Egon attended Columbia University. Peter met Egon in a Women's Studies course the latter was mistakenly assigned to. Peter convinced him to stick with it to teach him to be more comfortable with people. Roughly in the 1970s, Egon witnessed a car accident involving his friend Eugene Visitor . Eugene was hit by a car but vanished without a trace. It was one of several events that got Egon interested in supernatural phenomena. In reality, Eugene somehow captured Death in his bag and teleported to 20 years in the future. A few years later, word got around about Columbia's Parapsychology pilot doctorate program. One winter day, Ray called out to Peter to tell him about the program. Egon already told him about it but he realized he should introduce the two of them to each other because of their interests and thinking a connection would be good. [20] Ray asked Egon how he met Peter and he relayed the story. Peter put his arms around their shoulders and assured them the pilot program was their meal ticket. He believed no one was doing anything with the field and if they got the degrees, they would have the inside track to tenured positions, and no one would care about results as long as they kept the experiments going since there was no precedent. Ray asked Egon what his interest in Parapsychology was. Egon replied "all-consuming" and revealed he was working on a device to track and measure alternate forms of sentient energy. Ray inquired if he was alluding to psychokinetic energy, to Egon's surprise. Ray wanted to know his opinion about something but Peter interrupted and informed them he was going out for pizza with the Women's Fencing team.

During his undergraduate years in college, studying abroad, Egon learned the Swedish language while he was researching Gjenganger and studying Draugr in Sweden. [21] [22] While studying abroad, Egon became interested in the Rauoskinna . He invented the P.K.E. Meter to aid him in his search for the book. He managed to collect some strong related readings in northern Europe but ultimately decided it would be better to leave well enough alone and suspended his search. He never closed his investigation and it became something of a cold case. [23] [24] [25] Egon attained several degrees in various scientific disciplines, a PhD in Parapsychology and a PhD in Microbiology (with a specialization in mycology), as well as being self-taught in electronics, mechanics, mathematics, and fluent in three and a half languages. [26] [27] Egon designed the Containment Unit on his own [28] then co-created the rest of the proprietary equipment with Ray.

Egon and Ray went to the New York City Public Library after Roger Delacorte called them about an incident. Egon tested his P.K.E. Meter for the first time in the Reading Room and picked up the ghost's P.K.E. reading. Egon wanted to follow the signal to its source but Ray wanted to have a visual record of the investigation and to have Peter present to see it. He hurried back to Columbia University and returned to Peter and audio visual equipment. They went downstairs and encountered the Library ghost. They promptly ran back to Columbia. Following Slimer's capture, Egon looked over the Trap without pause in Ecto-1. Peter noticed and hoped he wasn't going to look inside again. Egon stated he was just double checking it. Peter made it a note that in the future, he should do that before they got into the car. After the Ghostbusters returned to the Firehouse, Ray voiced he was open to a couple hot dogs. Egon pointed out he literally just ate. Ray reminded him their dinner was interrupted by the call then asked him if he was hungry. Egon stated he was too excited to eat because they were on the verge of a clean sweep of functional equipment. He declared they were close to fully realizing a new branch of scientific endeavor, moved fully from theoretical to the practical. Ray thought he was tingling. Egon told him there was cream upstairs then realized what he meant. He recalled the Ecto Goggles weren't sterilized then pulled out the Containment Unit's hatch. They deposited Slimer but the unit made an odd noise. The red alert activated and they were knocked on their backs. Egon speculated the field was not properly neutronized. Suddenly, a P.K.E. Meter lit up. They ran up the stairs and saw Slimer by the lockers with the prototype Proton Grenade. Ray was very alarmed he stored a prototype in his locker. Egon deferred defending himself and proposed they recapture Slimer before major damaged was caused to the Tribeca neighborhood. Ray and Egon put on their packs and chased after it outside.

Luckily, Slimer was driven more by impulse than intelligence. It was distracted by unfamiliar surroundings and investigated them rather then flying as far away from the Firehouse as it could. Ray felt he had a clean shot but Egon stopped him and warned that blasting the prototype was effectively crossing the streams. Ray objected and pointed out that they could not let it play around until he set the prototype off. He suddenly got an idea and told Egon to stall the ghost then he ran off for Square Diner. Slimer surprised a man in Tribeca Park . He dropped his pizza box and ran away. While Slimer was focused on eating the pizza, Egon tried to sneak in close. He was about to open a Trap behind it without incident but Slimer noticed and punched Egon. Slimer fiddled with the prototype Proton Grenade and threw it. Egon dove for it but it turned out to be a dud and never detonated. Slimer returned to the pizza. Egon threw out a Trap and wrangled Slimer. Slimer, however, resisted the single Proton Stream. Egon boosted power on his Particle Thrower as much as he dared and pulled it to the Trap. The ordeal reminded Egon of a childhood fishing trip but Slimer was successfully recaptured. Egon dropped to his knees in exasperation, only to be bugged by pigeons who looked into the Trap when it was open. While the bust at Tribeca Park was embarrassing to him, Egon concluded that it proved beyond a shadow of a doubt, that it was not safe to go on solo calls.

After Slimer's capture, the Ghostbusters were hired to deal with a ghost that trapped many people inside The Rose . Shawn Doning , the doorman, asked them to get rid of the ghost because he wasn't letting anyone leave and that was creating an overcrowding issue. Peter noted the door wasn't budging and cued Egon. He shot the door to interrupt the negative spectrum psychokinetic energy sealing it shut. Shawn flinched as the Proton Stream shot past him. Peter tried to assure him it could have been worse because Egon wanted to upgrade to Proton Grenades . As they made their way through the club, Peter heard some music and tried to identify it. Egon told them it was Prince then stated he didn't like the P.K.E. readings he was picking up. Peter quipped he never did and advised Egon to start thinking of them as blank checks. Everyone was dancing in mid-air above it. Egon was impressed with the incredibly sophisticated telekinetic activity and concluded unprecedented control was needed to pull it off. The ghost took notice of Ray's display of knowledge of dance moves and added him to his party by force. Egon suspected he and Ray were practically non-entities to the ghost. Peter took offense to that but spotted the wisp.

Egon took aim but Peter stopped him out of concern for the crowd. Egon claimed he could have made the shot. Peter tried to clue him on what the ghost wanted. Egon believed it was to sow chaos and fear. Peter believed he wanted to party and to do that, he needed music. They destroyed the DJ booth but watched as it reassembled itself perfectly and continued playing. Peter opted for plan B and told Egon to show him his moves. Egon was caught off guard. Peter teased him about his claim to being a dance god. Ray yelled at them to do something because he was doing dance moves he shouldn't be physically capable of. Egon complied and did the Moonwalk. On impulse, the ghost zipped past Egon and fully manifested. Egon and Peter wrangled the ghost and trapped him. To the Ghostbusters' surprise, the people cheered and wanted to keep on dancing. A woman asked them if they wanted to join in. Egon was surprised and reiterated they all just experienced a supernaturally induced traumatic event. She didn't get what he said and asserted they were going to dance anyway. They joined in. Several weeks later the incident with Alice, the situation with the Library ghost had gotten worse and it was actively harassing the library patrons. Roger Delacorte went to the Firehouse and got Ray to agree to help. That night, the four Ghostbusters began in the Reading Room. Peter griped Ray didn't even negotiate with Roger. Ray teased him, alluding to the deal he made with Manhattan City Bank. Egon advised Winston it was usually better not to know what they were quarreling about. He got a reading on the ghost and they headed to the stacks. The ghost zipped around the corner and was gone. Winston noted it was a long day and asked if the had a "duck call" or something to bring the ghost to them. Peter teased. Egon was adamant he didn't and never needed such a thing. Ray got an idea. Peter recalled he said that before. Ray explained she was a librarian and didn't like noise so he yelled. They got ready. But nothing happened. Peter called it 0 for 2. Many books levitated around them and attacked. Peter opened fire but Egon warned him to stop because the books were irreplaceable. Peter pointed out the books had a teeth and asked Egon if they were going to run again. They ran for it. Ray came up with a new plan and tricked the ghost into appearing by threatening to destroy Ptolomy's Cosmographia unless she materialized then Peter and Winston trapped it.

Peter once played a prank on Winston and told him to ask Egon about HG Huges. He fell for it and got a two-hour lecture about the theoretical benefits of drilling a hole in your head. [29] After the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man was blown up, Egon Spengler stayed at the Firehouse almost 24 hours, 7 days a week. [30] In need of funds to start repairs on the Firehouse and Containment Unit, Egon agreed to be involved in a book interview that Peter brokered with a publishing company. [31] Egon was the last person Rebecca Morales had to interview for her book about the Ghostbusters. A few weeks later, Winston walked Rebecca to the Firehouse. Winston looked around and found Egon in the basement.

Egon was scanning around the Containment Unit with the Gamma Rate Meter . Winston told him to be nice to the visitor. Egon deduced it was about the book. Rebecca shook his hand and introduced herself. She joked he was a hard man to get a hold of. Egon told her he was extremely busy and only agreed to the interview because Peter said the fee was contingent on his involvement. Rebecca was eager to get started. She started her recorder and asked Egon how he got interested in parapsychology and ghosts. Egon told her he didn't believe there are things man wasn't meant to know and ghosts were simply the first thing he was able to conclusively prove. He mused he would follow the trail until it ran cold or until something more interesting presented itself. Rebecca turned to the Containment Unit and asked if that was were the ghosts were stored then asked him if he ever thought that exploding as soon as it lost power was a major design flaw. She pointed out blackouts could happen. Egon asked her where she heard that. Rebecca looked at the hole in the unit and told him she was very thorough then asked why there was no failsafe. Egon was annoyed and stated it was a fully secured system. He explained the unit should have been fine without power for awhile but the massive increase in ambient psychokinetic energy brought on by Gozer's approach and the ghosts in the unit were attracted to it like iron to a magnet. Rebecca asked if that was an admission of fault. Egon denied it and pointed out he was not the one who ordered the power to be turned off. He asserted the scenario would be accounted for when the unit was rebuilt. She asked him if he thought ghosts would continue to be a problem, citing regular sightings diminished after the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man exploded. Egon thought some would continue to be a problem like the first ghost they captured. Winston recalled Ray's story about it escaping the first time they tried to put it in the unit. Rebecca was mock surprised something else escaped from the fully secured system. Egon sarcastically thanked Winston for bringing it up. Winston excused himself to run an errand. Rebecca wanted to hear the story.

Egon and Rebecca retired to the second floor as he recalled Ray abruptly told him to stall Slimer then ran off. Rebecca was surprised Ray left him along since it took the three of them to catch the ghost in the first place. Egon ate some Cheez Its and half joked he was lucky Slimer was driven more by impulse than intelligence like Peter in college. He continued with the confrontation in Tribeca Park. She thought it sounded exhausting and asked him if he looked in the Trap again. Egon replied he did not but the pigeons did. She asked what happened to Ray. Egon recalled he went dumpster diving at the Square Diner for bait. Rebecca asked if that was it. Egon admitted it was an embarrassing but harmless anecdote that ultimately had one benefit -- it proved beyond a shadow of a doubt, that it was not safe to go solo on busts. Rebecca moved to shake his hand to conclude the session but wanted to schedule a follow-up. She was suddenly taken over by an Unidentified Possessor and levitated to the ceiling. The entity taunted Egon that his luck would not last forever. Egon held out a Trap and threatened it to let Rebecca go or else. The entity was amused by the idle threat and stated it could destroy him but it was not his time yet. It declared his doom was coming and he could not prevent it. It used telekinesis to knock the Trap away. The entity wanted its warning to consume him and punish him. Everything went flying and pink ectoplasm was emitted as it left Rebecca's body. Egon assured her it was a minor ghost encounter. Rebecca was angered about being slimed. Peter arrived and asked Rebecca if she mentioned HG Huges yet. She shoved him away and stormed out of the Firehouse. Peter teased Egon they looked like a Times Square theater. Egon informed him she was briefly possessed. Peter asked what the ghost wanted. Egon admitted he did not know but promised to find out.

When the Ghostbusters were banished by Koza'Rai , only Egon suffered from the effects of chronological displacement. It had an adverse effect on his personality manifesting as a form of cognitive dissonance. He also began to speak in third person. Egon adopted the tyrannical guise of the Great Defender and protected the Outer Colony of Mars from Exploding Manifestations . He automated the colony's defenses and initiated a police state. After Ray knocked him out twice, Egon came back to his senses in the present. Egon quickly deduced Koza'Rai's plans to turn Earth into a Netherworld and told the team Rachel Unglighter was not a student of his. While Egon, Ray, and Winston distracted Koza'Rai and his army, Peter and Rachel toppled the nearly reassembled Stonehenge and pulled all non-living beings back to the Netherworld.

Egon continued to create new additions to the team's arsenal, including Ectoplasmic Glasses and Arm Mounted Proton Packs . After saving some Necrotic Slime , Egon was able to quickly rig a "zombie radar" to track Zombies , controlled by Britt . During the Infestation, he was mainly concerned with safely neutralizing the caustic properties of the slime which was achieved with the team's other problem, Poltergeists .

After Ray had a weird dream, Egon analyzed him with the Aura Video-Analyzer and discovered his brain was not quite in sync. To compound matters, Ray's alpha waves were behaving like a seismograph during an earthquake. Egon concluded the dream was a precognitive episode and wished to examine Ray's brain, at Ray's suggestion, with an MRI. According to his calculations, Egon predicted the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man would return by the weekend. While going over data from his instruments and researching what could be possessing Jim Silver , Egon discovered a new entry forming out of thin air in Spates Catalog . However, the Gozerian Terror Bear returned. During the bust, Egon donned the Boson Pack and easily destabilized it with a few Boson Darts.

After the Idulnas incident, Egon wrote a computer program that calculated an almost random pattern of words that positively stimulated the brain. He ran a sample in Newer York Magazine. A month later, Peter observed the effect in action. A young woman ran up to Egon in public and asked him to sign her chest. Egon planned on publishing a paper on the reactions once he sorted through all the data.

After the Schenectady case, the ambient P.K.E. was still a lot higher than it should be. To compensate for the lasting increase, Egon modified the power of the Proton Streams but the Ghostbusters continued to have a more difficult time on standard cases. Egon concluded the spike was not related to Gozer's recent manifestation nor Idulnas' presence, it was something more potent. For a period of three days, Egon adopted a Polyphasic sleeping schedule and tried to figure out what the problem was. Once research reached an effective standstill, Egon went to Delgado's Gym and ran six miles. After running into Janine and meeting her boyfriend, Roger Baugh , Egon returned to the spot where he thought he saw Eugene Visitor and took scans. 20 minutes later, he got a ping. Egon took Ecto-1a to Belleville in New Jersey and discovered Eugene alive and well in the home of his father, Mr. Visitor . Egon tried to explain to Eugene that he was endangering the natural order of things and the physical plane by keeping Death in his bag. Eugene countered he deserved as second chance and refused to release Death until Egon returned with concrete proof about his claims.

While continuing research into the augmentation of ambient P.K.E., Egon began to suspect it was not exclusive to Manhattan. The Ghostbusters set off on a road trip across America taking on several jobs. During a private job in New Orleans , Egon and the ghost of Marie Laveau shared an interesting conversation about what defines being alive or not. Laveau contended love mattered and gifted Egon with some powerful Gris-Gris for when he was ready to be "alive." In New Mexico, Egon met Special Agent Jim Savage and the two had a heated ideological clash about the paranormal and extraterrestrials.

While investigating the Ghost Smashers , Egon concluded it would only take a day or two for the atomized ghosts to reconstitute and wreak havoc on the city. During his analysis, Egon asked Janine if she was trying to make him jealous by dating Roger.  He told Janine he had noticed how she would date men who shared one or more superficial characteristics with him whenever her advances on Egon failed, only to leave these new men when she lost interest and resume aggressive flirting with Egon. Egon told her made a flow chart of this process once for contrast while studying the haunting of a chapel in Yonkers. Janine reacted angrily, telling Egon that who she dated was not all about making him jealous and stormed off.  After she left, Egon told himself he may have ironically become jealous, and would run an analysis when there was time. In the battle against the Megaspook , Egon had enough of Ron Alexander and choked him.

Months later, in February, Egon was taken by a blue tentacled demon while on the second floor of the Firehouse. He was awoken by Peter and found the Ghostbusters were imprisoned in another dimension . Egon and Ray dismantled Ray's Proton Pack and planned to rip a hole through the dimensional fabric in order to return to New York. However, it was likelier to cause the universe to fold over and destroy both realms. Egon was elected to rip the hole. The plan was a success and the guys found themselves in Times Square. Janine was elated to see them and kissed Egon on the lips. After the Ghostbusters were freed of the Collectors, Ray and Egon elected to delve into pioneering research into extradimensional theory and went over an exhausting compilation of data. Egon even went consulted with a witch doctor on Bleecker about barring the Collectors from the physical plane of existence.

While conducting an experiment, Egon was interrupted by Roger Baugh. While upset, Egon eventually noticed Roger had Yellow Slime on him. They returned to Roger's Apartment had found Janine floating and covered in ectoplasmic discharge. Egon's attempts to neutralize the slime with the Slime Blower failed. Egon and Roger took Janine back to the Firehouse. Egon dropped his Gris-Gris on Janine but she remained unchanged. However, three Draugar manifested behind them. Egon asked how to dispel the curse but was told Janine's soul was forfeit for cheating against the Grendel weeks ago. Egon then threatened them. When they refused, Egon activated the Wall-Trap and captured two of the Draugar. Roger Baugh intervened and before Egon could stop him, the Draugar agreed to show them what happened to Janine.

Both were subjected to a form of astral projection and transported to Janine's mind. They worked their way from the fringes to where the Draugar were with Janine. Egon attempted to talk them into releasing Janine. However, the ghosts decided to kill Egon and Roger and offer their souls to Hel in addition to Janine's. While in a memory of Peter's apartment from New Years Eve 1989, Egon realized the power of mind made things tangible. They quickly ventured to a memory of the Firehouse where Egon donned the Boson Pack. Egon once again issued a threat to release Janine or else. The lone Draugar from before engaged Egon but was dispersed. The other Draugar returned Janine, Egon and Roger to their bodies. The Draugar declared they would have their revenge but Egon activated the Wall-Trap again and captured them all. Instead of discussing what all just happened, Egon went down to the basement to check on the Containment Unit.

Concerned with his well being from the Draugar battle, Egon began a thorough analysis. After several days and no sleep, all tests indicated he was in perfect health. Egon was even more concerned and wanted to know why nothing was wrong. Peter tried to get him to go out on a maritime bust involving the John Milton but Egon was adamant about studying himself. Janine attempted to talk some sense into him, but Egon made a chart. Egon finally found evidence his perceptions were mis-calibrated upon return to his natural form, a gamma wave variance of .00076%. Before he could start to corroborate it, Egon answered a call from Winston who was in Las Vegas . After insisting the Arm Mounted Proton Pack would never jam, Egon quickly guided Winston on how to troubleshoot the pack's issue which was just a loose wire.

As standard precaution, Egon and Kylie ran a series of tests on Dana and Louis in the wake of Tiamat 's continued presence on the physical plane. They came to the same conclusion both were still displaying signs of the Terror Birds possessing them. Egon sprayed them with the Miniature Slime Blower but that proved to be a miscalculation. The Terror Birds manifested and chased after them. Egon and Kylie raced to the footlockers in the garage bay and armed themselves with Arm Mounted Proton Packs. Egon opened fire but obliterated Janine's computer instead. While Kylie declared she was telling Janine, Egon blasted a Terror Bird. Observing the lack of damage, Egon ordered Kylie to maximize the power output on her pack. Ten minutes later, the Terror Birds were neutralized. Egon got a Trap from his locker and shared his theory about modifying it to compensate between the difference in frequencies of a human soul and a possessing entity. With no time to think of alternatives, Egon and Kylie went to work. Egon managed to successfully extract and trap Mot from Louis Tully's body. They moved to exorcise Dana.

Egon and Kylie ran more tests on Dana and Louis and confirmed they were back to normal. Egon moved on and was pleased to study the effects of Ray's direct mental contact with Gozer. However, he and the others watched as Ray became possessed and rose up in the air. After Winston sacrificed himself to get rid of Tiamat, Egon examined him and realized his heart was no longer beating. Peter took one of Egon's medical cocktails, a mixture of Atropine, Adrenaline, and other things, and injected it into Winston. While Peter raced after the very animated Winston, Egon helped Ray manually vent the Containment Unit. Tribeca was spared from being turned into a smoking crater but a few ghosts were still released. During the firefight against Ellen Gold, Egon broke away and searched for a Trap, obscured by the Wander Hills Manifestation. Eventually, he found one and recaptured Gold along with the Crybaby Ghost. At some point, Ray and Egon constructed a Dimensional Inverter to detect and warn of fallout from a dimensional breach. [32] [33] On September 14, Egon was one of the personnel contracted to help Special Agent Ortiz deal with Hedylogos in St. Louis, Missouri. He believed Hedylogos' power was similar in nature to pheromones and collected some Ectoplasm for the Gateway Arch to test the theory post-incident.

Egon realized the situation at the Emmanuel Baptist Church was bigger than he thought due to the presence of Possessed Humans and four anthropomorphic constructs. Stranger when the constructs were left behind after Chi-You retreated. He examined his P.K.E. Meter and noticed levels were declining. That and a lack of aggression from them led Egon to conclude they were something else. Winston, in turn, called a cease fire. Egon continued scanning the Turtles and April O'Neil . He confirmed they were also emitting low-level phase variance at the cellular level which matched, in part, with Chi-You's readings. He believed they were out of sync with the dimension and part of the breach Kylie reported. After introductions, Egon suggested they reconvene at the Firehouse where there was equipment that could be used to track Chi-You and Casey Jones . Donatello 's skepticism towards the existence of ghosts and inclination towards an alien theory caught Egon's attention. Egon made it clear ghosts existed and aliens didn't. When news of an incident at the Madison Square Garden reached the Ghostbusters, Egon felt time was better served building a teleportation unit but Leonardo pointed out not all of the Turtles were mechanically inclined. Egon revealed the energy readings he detected off the Turtles and April were degrading, readings that were crucial in them returning home to their dimension. He estimated they had 72 hours at the most.

With the added task of severing the bond between Chi-You and his thralls , Egon agreed with Donatello's suggestion of utilizing low-voltage pulses. Hours later, Egon presented modified Arm Mounted Proton Packs to the Turtles and instructed them to press the hand attachment to each thralls' chest. Meanwhile, Egon and Ray worked on building an Interspatial Teleportation Unit with April and Donatello. Once Casey was brought back, Egon examined him and determined he was back to normal. Egon went back to work on the teleporter with Donatello and suggested April work with Ray on an EMP device to take out Chi-You's thralls all at once. After several hours, Egon and Donatello made strides in recreating a functional teleportation unit in the Firehouse basement. Undaunted by the proximity alarm being tripped, Egon continued and had Donatello power on the unit. However, it became apparent Egon miscalculated the intense drain the teleportation unit would have on the containment grid's power supply. They rushed to stabilize the grid before it ruptured and caused a horrific explosion. Egon rerouted power from a panel and Donatello located several blown boards in the Containment Unit's control panel. They managed to avert disaster while the others captured Chi-You. Sparing any extraneous goodbyes, Egon stated it was time for them to go through the portal back to their proper dimension. Egon then adjusted the coordinates for Winston to dump the Trap holding Chi-You in Proxima Centauri .

The Ghostbusters returned to the Firehouse from a case and discovered parallel versions of themselves let Slimer loose by accident but retrapped him. They talked. Egon scanned and poked them. Egon suggested their first course of action should be a full battery of tests. With enough biometric data, they could be sent home. They went to the basement to look at the Interspatial Teleportation Unit. Egon and Ray compiled biometric data off the parallel Peter and Winston in order to isolate the frequency of their home dimension. A couple hours later, after double checking their findings, Egon confirmed they achieved a stable frequency and the parallel team could return home. P.K.E. readings take by Ray in the alternate Ghostbusters' dimension indicated Proteus had a potential susceptibility to quantum interruption. Egon held out a Proton Grenade and noted the yield had to be boosted. The Egons armed their Proton Grenades and tossed them at Proteus, effectively stunning him. The Ghostbusters caught him in their streams but as a result Proteus had to show them the future eight times. The Ghostbusters were knocked out.

During reconstruction at the Firehouse, Egon determined the integrity of the Containment Unit was maintained but that the damage to the building caused by Proteus would require a massive amount of money and effort to repair. He, himself, worked a lot of extended hours and wasn't sleeping much. He proposed they should talk about decentralizing operations and make use of the Ghostbusters' other properties. They were approached by Brent Mitchell to investigate a bizarre case of a woman named Karen Pearson who woke up missing an eye. The culprit, the Sandman , focused on Egon as his next target because of his habit of avoiding sleep. Ray, Peter, and Winston escaped their dream states and found Egon writing equations and notes in a room that looked like a limitless white board. The Sandman soon appeared to them. Egon conjured the Boson Pack and fired at him. The others joined in. Sandman conjured walls separating Ray, Peter, and Winston from himself and Egon. He proceeded to remove Egon's eye with a curved blade while admitting this was the first time someone fought him and caused him pain. After Ray, Peter, and Winston destroyed the barrier, Egon quickly instructed them to shoot the Sandman's hourglass totem. He was dispersed and the Ghostbusters regained consciousness on the physical plane. Back at the Warehouse, Ray determined that Egon only suffered superficial damage to the supraorbital foramen then shared his findings on the Sandman. Egon soon feel asleep.

During the bust at the United Nations Building , Egon's left leg was injured when the Werecat Ghost expelled chemically volatile ectoplasm on him. A $15,000 surcharge was added to the invoice to cover Egon's injury. As Egon was placed in the back of an ambulance, his P.K.E. Meter oddly registered something, but the paramedics were more concerned with treating him than handing it to him. Some new theories came to mind as he received medical attention and he wanted to explore where they led. [34] He contacted Kylie and asked her to bring reference material, including the expanded Spates Catalog and three volumes of Kemp's Paranormal Encyclopedia, and six months of citywide P.K.E. scan logs. Kylie dropped them off at his apartment and tried to inquire about these "theories" but Egon rushed her into the hall. Egon got sick from some couscous he ordered from a new Moroccan restaurant down the block and was unable to attend the Ghostbusters' meeting with Erland Vinter a few days later. [35]

As Egon continued with his recovery and investigation, he declined to take part in any extensive field work including a trip to Europe as part of a deal struck with Vinter. In particular, he refused to take any jobs with stairs. [36] While the other Ghostbusters took a private jet to Venice , Egon visited the New York Public Library in search of a copy of "The Johansen Argument" but it was missing. He called up Ray's Occult and asked Kylie if the store had a copy but it appeared to have been already sold. He promptly hung up. During a confrontation with the Plague Doctor Ghost , Ray shot his way into a basement and discovered a Poveglian Artifact , a parchment drenched in P.K.E. with a rune drawn on it and with faint Swedish written underneath. Ray took photographs and emailed them a few hours later to Egon for a translation. They held a conference call. From his apartment, Egon confirmed the readings on the artifact matched both the readings he picked up at the United Nations and readings he took years ago in Sweden. He admitted it unearthed something of a "cold case" of his and confirmed he would continue with his investigation while the others were dispatched by Vinter to another city in Europe. Egon bid them to be careful, he didn't like where this was all heading. Egon looked at one of his old journals, open to a drawing of the exact rune on the Poveglian artifact.

Melanie informed Janine she wanted to borrow Egon and Kylie for a FBI investigation that just came up. She gave Melanie two cases to work with them while she was in town for the day and suggested she ask them for their help then. During the bust at The Olympia Restaurant , Egon prematurely blasted a register but Melanie jinxed it and one of the Olympia Restaurant Ghosts shot coins out of it. Egon tried to back out from helping Melanie on her case due to his vital research on a Scandinavian spell book. Melanie countered it was a four hour flight to Puerto Rico and he'd get plenty of reading done en route. On the off chance he was severely incapacitated during the Puerto Rico case, Egon recorded his research on the Rauoskinna for future reference. He was interrupted by the ghost in his research tank. Egon reminded him of the security measures in his apartment. He was surprised to see the ghost knew a certain gesture.

On May 12, Melanie, Egon, and Kylie arrived at a hospital in Cayey , Puerto Rico. After hearing Miguel Castillo 's account of a woman in white , Egon posited they were dealing with a type of manifestation related to the Weeping Woman in White lore that included La Llorona from Mexican legend. They spent the next few hours searching locations where the ghost was sighted. After nearly exhausting every lead, the ghost appeared and tried to drown Kylie. Melanie was about to jump in after her but Egon cautioned her since Proton Packs were never tested for use in water. They watched as the ghost and a Proton Stream erupted from the surface, followed by Kylie. Despite extreme pain in his thigh muscle, Egon hurried after her with the others. It attacked Kylie with possessed earth. She used her Trap to trick her into vacating the earth. Melanie and Egon opened fire and wrangled her. Egon noticed she was almost strong enough to pull free because of his Arm Mounted Proton Pack's lower output. He threw out a Trap and captured her. They later found the Ghost Dog and determined it was just trying to warn people of the other ghost. Kylie and Egon returned home while Melanie stayed behind to verify they trapped the correct entity.

After the Cayey case, Egon got an epiphany while going over some data from recent encounters. He made some adjustments to the Psychokinetic Defibrillator to give it more offensive capability to efficiently force out a possessor while minimizing any harm done to the human host. Egon was interrupted by a visit from Loftur Þorsteinsson . Loftur presented a copy of "The Johansen Argument." Egon saw through his story about being referred by Eduardo Rivera and blasted him with the Defibrillator. However, no damage was done. Egon realized he wasn't possessed. Loftur sent Egon flying across his room. Loftur formally introduced himself. Egon released the Gulper Ghost and it slimed Loftur. Egon called him a coward for trying to manipulate the Ghostbusters into finding the Rauoskinna. Loftur admitted he should have directly asked the them for help then offered a deal to Egon, help him locate the book. Egon refused. Loftur atomized Egon and mused they might talk again once he's thought about his answer. [37] Egon experienced a state of profound relaxation and peace, was able to fully focus his thoughts, and began working on solving the Riemann Hypothesis. [38] [39] The Ghostbusters and staff reviewed the security footage. Peter was nonchalant about Egon's disappearance and recalled when the four of them were kidnapped by the Collectors a few years back. Ray speculated he could have been sent to a parallel dimension or a sub-quantum pocket realm. Peter stressed they should explore all options before concluding the worst. Kylie and Melanie searched his apartment and came across his recorder. It pointed them to Logbook 2714 where he kept his research on the Rauoskinna. However, Kylie had a difficult making out his notes. It was decided they would recruit the Egon from the parallel dimension they had recently met. He confirmed Egon's research and their recent encounters indicated they were being manipulated into finding the Rauoskinna. Kaia May arrived and verified it further. She passed along an ultimatum to the Ghostbusters. If they delivered the Rauoskinna, Egon would be restored.

The Ghostbusters and most of the support staff met with Loftur at Umpire Rock in Central Park at midnight. Ray held a lighter to the Rauoskinna and demanded Egon's return. Loftur didn't care and blasted the lighter out of his hands. Jenny Moran panicked and read a spell from the book. It cast everyone but Winston to Hell . Loftur was filled with dread as The Devil approached them. He promised to return everyone to Earth and bring back Egon if they gave him the book. They declined and The Devil collected his soul. The Devil called it even with the Ghostbusters and gave them permission to leave. During their journey, Aibell sensed the Rauoskinna and teleported them to her home, Craig Liath in Ireland. She called in her favor from Peter and asked for the book. Janine wanted to hold onto the book until they were sure there was nothing that could be used to bring back Egon. As a token of good faith, Aibell used her powers to restore Egon back to life. Janine immediately hugged him. Egon only recalled being in his apartment then stated he needed to scan himself at once. Peter handed the book to Aibell but Jenny destroyed it, deeming it was too evil. Aibell was furious and vaporized Jenny. Peter insisted he complied with her demands. Aibell was at a loss and tossed him on the Egons. She angrily sent them back to Central Park. Winston hugged Egon. Back at the Firehouse, Egon was subjected to the Aura Video-Analyzer and asked a series of questions. The Ghostbusters were called away to the Bronx to deal with a dog-eating-toilet. As they departed, Egon smiled - causing Ray to become concerned. Egon remarked it was good to be back. He ultimately chose to process the experience intellectually and forced himself not to process it emotionally.

Egon was present when Ray's students Cait Banner , Zoe Zawadzki , and Evan Torres asked what Slimer was a ghost of. Egon acknowledged there were theories. Egon didn't believe Kylie's theory he was a chef working at the Sedgewick Hotel but conceded it wasn't outside the realm of possibility that he could have been a vagrant given his anti-social behavior and obsession with food. After Ray shared his findings, they were amazed to see and hear Slimer talk to them for the first time and state he was once a king. Ray, Egon, and Kylie rushed around to document the development. Cait, Zoe, and Evan found Peter hiding in the sleeping quarters and asked if they did all right. Peter thought of something else and spoke into his walkie talkie. No one noticed the other walkie talkie he hid behind the containment tank. Slimer 'spoke' again and revealed Ray gave him Egon's stash of snack cakes to see if it would digest differently. Egon wasn't pleased to hear it.

During an incident on Coney Island , Egon and Ray searched the sewers for the true source of the disturbance while Peter and Winston dealt with a nostalgic Class 3 ghost on the surface. Ray and Egon discovered a pool of Psychomagnotheric Slime. Upon further inspection, Ray realized it was positively charged and clued Egon in. Ray concluded it was for the best to neutralize it before it did something worse than influence a ghost. He suggested using negative emotions then Egon suddenly punched him in the face. Ray clarified to directly apply it to the slime. Egon cited how he was recently atomized by Loftur as the reason for the misunderstanding. Ray wasn't falling for it and recalled Egon used that same excuse when he stole his Lo Mein from the company refrigerator. Ray asked for a Proton Grenade then threw it in. Egon contributed by urinating into the slime. They underestimated the slime's reaction and it erupted all over Coney.

During the appearance of twin Statues of Liberty, Egon encountered Kevin Beckman in the Firehouse. Since Beckman was so interested in Slimer, Egon told him he could name it if he was good. Erin Gilbert , Jillian Holtzmann , Patty Tolan , and Abby Yates later met up outside the Firehouse and entered. After some confusion with Kevin Tanaka , Egon interjected from the stairwell and deduced Beckman was with them. Both teams and the support staff gathered on the second floor. Egon used his Dimensional Frequency Scanner on Abby and verified hers was in pronounced state of flux. Abby didn't quite understand and became irritated, claiming her frequency was just fine. The conversation moved to the basement, where the teleportation unit was demonstrated and a portal was opened to their dimension. Holtzmann stuck her hand through and it reappeared above her arm. It was worse than what Egon initially suspected. He stated the frequency fluctuation indicated that their respective dimensions were in a state of overlap. Abby didn't outright accept that claim and asked for more proof like a control like any scientist would use in an experiment. Egon called up a stable alternative and invited Holtzmann to try again. She thrust her head through the portal and observed the Firehouse of the Ghostbusters who were pursued by the god Proteus. Ray and Egon explained their study of other dimensions and the theoretical ramifications of when they crossed the streams on Gozer's portal years ago.

Egon remained behind at the Firehouse while most of both teams headed out to Ellis Island . He gathered some equipment for research and carried them back to the lab in a cardboard box. Abby noticed the Ghost Sniffer and Long-Range P.K.E. Scanner first. A build-up of P.K.E. released an amount of pressure large enough to rock the Firehouse. Equipment from the other dimension's Firehouse appeared in the office area. Egon and Abby set out to collect data. They ended up in City Hall Park . Abby noticed the Ley Lines were the same in this Manhattan and they were lit up. Egon checked with the Ecto Monocle and confirmed. Abby admitted the best solution she could think of wouldn't stop the situation from getting worse. Egon concurred and stated they needed more information about what the 101 pilot team did. He dialed Jenny's cellphone and asked if they were still with her at the Warehouse. They already left but Jenny remembered Ray still had a class scheduled the next day. She asked if something was up. Egon simply replied "yes" and hung up.

Egon, Ray, Kylie, Abby, and Erin scanned the 101 pilot team for residual ectoplasm so they could track the Bronx Spook . He gathered that the teleportation unit's portal was shut with enough of the ghost's spectral mass on this side to tether it to both dimensions. He theorized it could draw enough power from the psychokinetic energy between dimensions to cause the dimensional overlap. Egon, Ray, and Kylie concluded it was a three-part problem. They had to sever the ghost's connection to the Manhattan Ley Lines, pull it fully into their dimension and trap it, and seal the breach behind it. Erin returned to the lab with Abby, who had an idea to re-purpose their Containment Unit into a vehicle. They went to work on the Ultimate Mobile Trap . Holtzmann was aghast at the sight of the Containment Unit. Abby believed they would to get used to the overlap if the plan didn't work. Egon clarified if the plan didn't work, the world would be overrun with ghosts and the misalignment of their dimensional frequencies would shake the world apart at a molecular level inside of six months. Egon tuned the Ultimate Mobile Trap to the overlapping frequency of the other dimension so it would trap the ghost when activated. He joined the standby teams above Times Square in the scenario where they would have to help pull the ghost from between dimensions. After the ghost was trapped, the breach remained. Erin suggested crossing the streams to close it and split their dimensions. Ray objected but Peter stated they did it twice without any major after-effects. Egon stated that wasn't how probability worked but didn't think they had any other choice in the matter. It worked but Egon estimated there would be some residual memories duplicated in some people.

Ray and Egon attempted to recalibrate the sensor array set-up on the Dimensional Inverter on the second floor. Ray asked for the needle nose pliers and sarcastically commented finding a working security measure for the Interspatial Teleportation Unit was easier. Egon felt the level of difficulty was comparable. As soon as Ray finished, the Inverter sensed an extra-dimensional incursion and the alarm sounded. They were surprised to see Donatello cross over. Donatello quickly explained he and his brothers were attacked by strange entities. The strange entities, the Collectors, crossed over and grabbed Donatello. They recognized Ray and Egon. After shrugging off a Proton Stream fired by Ray, the Collectors warned them not to interfere or they would turn their attention back to them. Peter and Winston were called up for a meeting. Egon revealed the Collectors left behind trace ectoplasm that would yield the dimensional frequency of their limbo. Ray hinted he already had an idea on how to deal with the Collectors. Over a period of roughly three weeks, they formulated a plan and devised new technology to aid them, Remote Portal Access Bands to allow them to open portals in the field and Experimental Mental Communications Devices to temporarily camouflage Donatello's presence. Peter, Ray, and Winston went through the Interspatial Teleportation Unit to the Collectors' Limbo and instructed only Donatello to go through. Egon explained the situation as they went up to the third floor. Egon revealed he needed Donatello's knowledge of transdimensional mechanics to construct a permanent means of containment for the Collectors while the others slowed them down with random dimensional hopping. To compound things, Egon turned Donatello's attention to a simulation he was running. It was projected the others had less than a day before they would be captured. Donatello asked if there was a way to warn them. Egon confirmed there was but he preferred to use it when absolutely needed because it required a lot of power.

Donatello admitted he was amazed with how much Egon and Ray modified his original design for the teleportation unit as well as with inventing the access bands. Egon admitted a drawback of the technology was it stirred up P.K.E. and attracted ghosts. Egon revealed the idea was to combine the portal technology with the Trap to directly transport the four Collectors into the Containment Unit. He needed Donatello's help to recreate the original technology rather than spend days on trial and error because he and Ray modified their unit immensely. And Ray might have lost the notes Donatello left behind when Egon was temporarily dead. Before Donatello could question Egon about being dead, data from the dimensional breach alarm allowed Egon's simulation to more accurately predict when the Collectors would capture the others. They had even less time. Donatello got an idea on how to prevent the Collectors from escaping before they could trap them. While they worked on the Trap-Gate , Donatello believed they had to boost the power of the Trap-Gate by a factor of three for it to be a one-way trip for the Collectors. Donatello's Communications Device suddenly went haywire and he suffered neural confusion with Winston. His speech pattern and inflections began to resemble Winston's. Likewise, across dimensions, Winston's began to resemble Donatello's. Donatello observed it felt like his soul was in two places again. Egon moved to adjust the sensitivity when he realized Donatello said "again." He briefly felt like his brain was everywhere at once and gleaned the Collectors breaching dimensions. Janine entered the room with a delivery from Kung Fu Hustle Supply Emporium. She was concerned to see Donatello in distress. Egon admitted it was partly his fault but Donatello downplayed it. Egon was concerned. Janine suggested he sit down for a bit but Donatello insisted there was no time for that because he could feel the Collectors searching for the Turtles then revealed his idea was to build proton-powered ninja arsenal based on the Turtles' primary weapons.

Egon and Donatello went to the Warehouse to use the ionized glass enclosure to test their prototypes. Egon cautioned Donatello the glass may not be able to withstand too many hints from his Proton Weapon then placed a Trap into a slot and released a Mouth Critter Ghost into the enclosure with Donatello. Donatello asked Egon to humor his request and talk about what it was like being dead. Egon was surprised and asked if wanted to just focus on the matter at hand. He offered to provide copies of all the tests he took upon his return. Beyond that, Egon didn't think there was much to tell. Donatello explained talking while fighting was something he did with his brothers and found it comforting. He added he found the ghost terrifying and asked Egon to humor him. Egon replied he experienced a feeling of peace and was able to fully focus on his thoughts then asked Donatello what he meant by his soul being in two places. Donatello explained he was mortally wounded and his consciousness was temporarily placed in a robot shell. He likened it to a dream, sometimes clear and sometimes fuzzy. Donatello managed to hit the ghost with his proton-powered staff. The ghost retaliated and knocked him across the enclosure. The force and Donatello's shell made a crack in the glass. Donatello decided to try the Trap-Gate but soon realized they miscalculated the power needed. Egon grabbed the Trap but remembered there was a safety in place that kept the door locked to keep any active ghosts contained. He asked Donatello to stall but noticed he sounded like Winston again. Egon instructed him not to let himself drift then asked him to continue with his story. Donatello recalled his body was hollow but part of him felt warm. Egon ripped out several red wires and unlocked the door. He threw out the Trap and recaptured the ghost. Egon concluded they had to boost the Trap-Gate's power considerably then inquired if he ever felt guilty about coming back. Donatello replied he shouldn't but admitted he did and read up on Survivor's Guilt. They rushed back to the Firehouse to do their final modifications.

Donatello finished soldering the Trap-Gate and completed boosting it five fold. Egon reminded him they had to capture all four Collectors or they would escape. Donatello reassured him they were ready thanks to the Proton Weapons then probed him about his death again. Egon stated he would have preferred a robot was involved then admitted he would have been preferred to been restored to life by technology than by a god. He didn't want to push their luck and decided it was time to contact the others. Donatello checked the access bands' trackers and realized they were all in the same place. Fearing they were recaptured, they rushed down from the third floor to the basement and used the teleportation unit. Donatello went through with his Proton Weapon ready. Egon and Janine waited in the basement for the others to return then they went over the plan to capture the Collectors in detail. Egon performed some calculations and determined the odds were in favor that they would manifest in Central Park. Peter distracted them then the Turtles attacked while Egon and Ray fine-tuned the Trap-Gate to their unique P.K.E. signature. It was a success and they were transported into the Containment Unit. Egon was fascinated by Michelangelo's comment about Ghostbusturtles while the others were shocked. A short time later, the Turtles prepared to return home. Donatello thanked Egon and promised to send a detailed set of data on the Metalhead experiment when he figured out where it all was. Egon admitted he was actually salivating.

The Ghostbusters were called to investigate City Water Tunnel No. 3 . Based on Murdock the Miner 's account of opening a box from a side cavern, Egon didn't think they were dealing with a typical ghost of an accident. The strong readings confirmed as much. They headed into the cavern and found the box. Egon got an extraordinarily high P.K.E. signature off of it and wanted to run tests and find out where it came from. Peter pointed to an entity hovering above them. Ray attempted to communicate but it simply warned him against giving away his name so freely then disappeared. They were slimed by a swarm of Bat Spectral Constructs . Egon noticed the readings dropped but advised the miners to wait at least a day to resume work and promised to have a P.K.E. alarm installed for their safety. He believed the entity's Irish accent, unique appearance, and the box were enough clues to start researching. A short time later, Ron came along as the fourth with Ray, Egon, and Kylie since Peter and Winston weren't answering. Ray joked his presence may also be a curse and Egon was going to look into it. Ron just wanted to get the bust over with, get his recertification paperwork, and leave. He added he wanted to get a look at the schematics for the teleportation unit. Egon refused. Ron took out a badge and claimed the Chicago Ghostbusters had a right for parity with the main branch. Egon asked what the badge was for. Ron explained it was so people knew he was a Ghostbuster when he was out of uniform. Egon noted they never had that problem. Egon stated the Chicago branch had no need for a dimensional portal because they took no part in research, which was what it was almost exclusively used for. Ron claimed he did research. Ray pinched his cheeks and mocked him for thinking what he did was research. Ron called bull and believed they just didn't want to share.

After they arrived at Grand Central Station , Egon stated they explore alternate realities to answer the questions they never knew they had, the kind of research they got into parapsychology for. Ray added they didn't want to share with Ron. Ron vowed the conversation wasn't over. Kylie initiated PCOC and they city's evacuation protocol, Code Dan, and cleared the station. Connla recognized Egon and Ray from a previous encounter in City Tunnel No. 3. He dodged Kylie's proton stream and asked them if they were druids. Ray denied it and referred him as "Sammy" since it was believed he was an entity that manifested during Samhain. Ron called him out for mispronouncing the name and pointed out Halloween was still weeks away. Connla confirmed it wasn't his usual time to manifest but the veil to the other side was so thin, he couldn't resist the opportunity to widen it permanently. Then he punched Ron. Ray reckoned he couldn't be that bad. Egon agreed then threw a Proton Grenade. The explosion blew off Connla's head and the ectoplasm splashed onto Ron, to his chagrin. Ray clarified he was joking and punching Ron wasn't a metric for goodness. Egon argued it was one for basic sentience. Kylie captured Connla in a stream then Ron trapped him. Connla was insulted from being attacked from behind then entrapped. He escaped the Trap in an enraged state and grabbed Kylie by the throat. He pointed out they tried to trap him without even knowing his real name. Connla's head reformed then it, his eyes, and ribs ignited. Kylie noticed a ring on his right middle finger. With little other choice, Ron dispersed Connla with an atomizing stream. Kylie was enraged and pointed out he was going to reconstitute in a few days, having absorbed a ton of ambient psychokinetic energy in the process. Egon suggested they make the most of the time Ron bought them by coming up with a permanent solution. Ray asked who was going to call Peck about the mess. They noticed ectoplasm was now all over the station. Kylie quickly excused herself from contention with a "not it."

As a result of being in direct contact during the dispersal, a latent mental link was forged. In the few days before Connla's reconstitution, Kylie had a precognitive dream about her and the four original Ghostbusters encountering Connla's Army. Connla declared the veil to the other side would open permanently, more armies would come, and night would last forever. She awoke and went to the Firehouse to share details of the dream with the others. Egon noticed strange readings picked up by the Dream Analyzer Helmet but lied to her they were normal to assuage her fears. Kylie admitted she felt physical sensations during the dream. Egon asserted no matter what, they took dreams seriously. Peter contended he never took his seriously. Janine added they all learned that lesson already. Peter brought up the ghost had an Irish accent and hinted at a connection to Kylie like with Janine and the Draguar. Egon doubted it. Kylie revealed her great-grandfather chose her family's surname when he immigrated to America because it had a good ring to it. She realized something and ran off to double check her theory. Janine yelled out to leave the helmet on the front desk. She signed and reckoned Ray had too much of an influence on her. Peter thought Egon was more to blame. With knowledge of the army coming, Egon went to work preparing for the possibility. He dug out a Remote Portal Access Band from a box.

As Connla was trapped, he ordered his army to destroy the Ghostbusters then free him. More and more ghosts manifested. Lacking enough Traps, Kylie regretted sending Egon's friend away in his helicopter. Egon assured her it was fine and used his access band to teleport away. Ron was infuriated and thought he ran away. Ray ordered everyone to keep the ghosts at bay until Egon returned. Egon returned soon after and opened six portals. Proton Streams shot out at the ghosts and teams of Ghostbusters from different dimensions emerged. The rest of the Chicago Ghostbusters, the Real Ghostbusters of Dimension 68-R, the Extreme Ghostbusters of Dimension 68-E, the Ghostbusters of Dimension 50-S, the Ghostbusters of Dimension 80-C, and Mike the Golem joined the fight. Egon of 68-R, Roland Jackson of 68-E, and Abby of 80-C checked their respective P.K.E. Meters and confirmed all the ghosts were captured. Ray and Egon prepared to conduct an experiment aimed at observing the interior of the Containment Unit. Ray hoped it tapped into a pocket dimension like the unit of their counterparts' in Dimension 68-R, the Real Ghostbusters. Egon turned a valve and insisted they still needed to be very careful. He felt it was potentially dangerous territory and didn't care to speculate how many days they went without an incident. Ray emphasized it was a lot and stipulated as long as there was no direct connection to the Containment Unit when they fired up the dimensional portal, everything would stay perfectly copacetic. Egon inquired if he was going to turn off the interdimensional transport array but Ray revealed it was running a diagnostic to sync up the monitoring equipment. He felt it was okay as long as no one activated the portal and Containment Unit at the same time. Ray left a note just to be safe then they left to eat. Ray was thinking of orange duck. Peter later tried to deposit the captured Phyllis Hasskamp but unbeknownst to him and the others, Ron and Holtzmann built their own Remote Access Teleportation Unit that piggybacked off the original teleportation unit in the basement and tested it. Before Peter could turn it off, the basement was enveloped in a white flash. Egon's resurrection did not go unnoticed. Death came to the decision he wasn't supposed to survive and gave Egon his full attention. [40]

Egon disagreed with Ray's assessment of the Containment Unit after the explosion. In addition to a blown capacitor, Egon discovered several major entities were missing and thus, the structural integrity was compromised. Gareth Dibello was suddenly released. He took control of a Proton Pack and fired at Holtzmann while the others took cover. The teleportation unit activated and several miniature portals were generated. Dibello flew through one with Holtzmann but she got stuck halfway. Egon and Ray pulled Holtzmann back into the basement, with part of Dibello's arm, just in time before the portal closed. Egon looked at the logs and realized all the missing entities used similar portals to go to other dimensions. Once Peter regained consciousness in the hospital, he had Egon summarize what happened. To contain the situation, Ray and Egon moved the teleportation unit to the Warehouse. In order to capture and return all the entities in the quickest and most efficient manner, Egon gathered in the support staff, Chicago Ghostbusters, and nine teams from other dimensions they worked with before. They had to re-capture and return all the entities, or an equivalent amount of P.K.E., back into the Containment Unit then recalibrate it as soon as possible or else there would be a fatal structural collapse. He opened the floor to questions.

Ray was about to go over the equipment but Gabriel Sitter spoke up. Samuel Hazer asked why they didn't just use the teleportation unit to go back in time and prevent the entire incident from happening. Ray tried to explain it wasn't a time machine but Kylie Griffin and Eduardo Rivera , of the Extreme Ghostbusters, pointed out they were trained by Egon Spengler, an older version of the Egon from The Real Ghostbusters, who was perplexed. Roland Jackson believed that was proof of an element of time travel. Alan and Gabriel chimed in about how they could have used it. Janine heard enough and whistled. She yelled at everyone to listen, shut up, and pay attention. Egon thanked her then reiterated the teleportation unit could not time travel but time was a dimension they could access in so far as they went to parallel realities that could be further ahead or further behind what they knew as the present but no action they took had an effect on their timeline. After Melanie left with Winston, Rookie, Dani, Lou, and Holtzmann to take care of a case at the George Washington Bridge , Egon explained the functions of the Remote Portal Access Band. Some screams interrupted him. Egon requested someone to turn the volume down. Kevin apologized. Erin Gilbert asked if they should go and help the field team. Egon was probably sure they were fine and continued. He moved on to the Trap-Gates and using them to send an entity directly into the Containment Unit. The 101 Pilot team was tasked with watching over the teleportation unit's controls under the supervision of Egon Spengler of Dimension 68-E, the mentor of the Extreme Ghostbusters. Egon introduced him to everyone. Egon also convinced Janine to come along on the retrieval mission.

A field team consisting of Egon Spengler, Winston Zeddemore, Alan Crendall of Dimension 50-S, Abby Yates of Dimension 80-C, Eduardo Rivera of Dimension 68-E, and Winston Zeddemore of Dimension 68-R arrived outside the gates of Helsingor Brewery in Dimension 75-B. Winston guessed the Remote Portal Access Band's randomization circuits made an error and shuffled the teams around. Abby didn't see the point of randomization circuits in teleportation technology. Egon explained they were useful in helping the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles escape The Collectors but they only generated a portal to a random dimension. He added they were also built into the Trap-Gates, too. He shut up mid-sentence upon recognizing Tiamat's P.K.E. signature and became worried for everyone. Death blocked their path into the brewery. Abby couldn't believe Death might be the ghost they were after and questioned what would happen if it was trapped then declared it couldn't be personified. Winston disagreed and reminded her he told her team that Death was trapped in a backpack. Before Abby could retort, Egon asked them to stop bickering in front of Death and tried to explain to it they were in the middle of rectifying an error. Death countered it was, too, and stated it came for Egon, who it thought was not supposed to come back to life. Not ungrateful for helping free it, Death proposed a game of chess for his life and soul. Egon thought chess was just an affectation of the movies. Death confirmed as much but admitted it found the concept amusing. Egon asked for clarification if accepting meant his colleagues could continue into the brewery. Death confirmed. Egon accepted but he was blocked from pulling out a chair. Death explained he accepted the challenge but he wasn't going to play. Death chose Eduardo instead.

Egon elected to search the brewery with the others instead of watching the game and risk making Eduardo nervous. After he explained himself, he heard laughter. Egon turned to Abby but she denied it was her. The Fire Goblins burst out a vat of warm beer atop a Moose Ghost . Death began playing mind games, telling Eduardo he wasn't going to win and the game was merely a courtesy because Egon shouldn't have returned. Eduardo countered if things didn't return all the time, there wouldn't be any ghosts to get busted. Death called check. Eduardo wished he went into the brewery. Winston couldn't recall ever trapping a damn moose. Egon explained it was new but the Fire Goblins were trapped when he went on a vacation but suddenly clutched his chest in pain. Abby ran over and checked Egon. She confirmed his pulse was still strong and nothing was visibly wrong but noticed Egon's heart beats were far apart. She almost got hit by flames. Abby had enough and blew up the Moose Ghost with a Proton Grenade. Alan and Winston 68-R wrangled the Fire Goblins and Winston captured them with a Trap-Gate. Alan checked his P.K.E. Meter and called the room clean aside from the Moose Ghost's particles. Winston told everyone Egon was unconscious but still alive and it was time to head outside and keep him that way.

Egon started to regain consciousness as Winston and Abby carried him outside. Egon stated his spirit felt like a kite tethered to his body by the thinnest of strings and the wind was blowing very hard. Abby teased him about getting so poetic but was glad he was back. Alan speculated the reason was because Eduardo made the right move against Death. Eduardo declared checkmate. Death smashed the table in anger. Abby thought Death was supposed to be better at chess than that. Egon explained he was emulating a movie and in that story, Death only won because he cheated and tricked his opponent into giving away his strategy. Death decided he was going to reap everyone. Abby reacted quickly and trapped him. Egon blasted the Trap-Gate apart before it transported Death into the Containment Unit. He explained trapping Death was going to create a spectral bottleneck and influence a massive P.K.E. surge. Egon realized it would be chaos and they were being manipulated by Tiamat. He opened a portal but Death suddenly dispersed it by slicing it in half with his sickle. Unable to trap him or disperse him, Winston 68-R and Winston wrangled Death to keep him immobile while Egon opened another portal. Egon warned them they would have a fraction of a second to escape Death once they released him. Winston joked it was a good thing they kept in shape. After all the others went through, Egon called out to them. Instead of returning to the prime dimension, the team was redirected by Tiamat to the Collectors' Limbo. Egon tried to tell Winston about detecting Tiamat's P.K.E. signature earlier in the mission but didn't want to alarm him at the time but Winston told him to save it. He was already alarmed. The 23 Ghostbusters beheld Tiamat standing before them in a towering form.

The field teams were whisked away by Tiamat to the Collectors' Limbo. Rather than serve her, they fought back. Tiamat's appearance confirmed Egon 68-R's suspicions that a Class 7 was following them. Egon countered she was influencing their situation. Winston came up with an ad hoc plan to utilize the remaining Trap-Gates to strip Tiamat's P.K.E. and send it to random dimensions. Egon was one of the seven to use a Trap-Gate on her. Peter, Egon, and Ray invited Winston to be the one to trap her. She cursed them all as she was pulled in. Despite the ghosts recaptured and the ghosts captured by the fill-in teams, the Containment Unit was still on the verge of total meltdown.Jenny sacrificed herself and went into the unit to stabilize it. Overcome with anger, Ray shot the teleportation unit. Holtzmann objected but Peter asked if she heard what just happened then reckoned Egon could fix it in a couple of hours. Egon claimed less. Holtzmann rescinded her panic then reminded Ray about the Containment TV Monitor he and Egon were working on.

After a day's worth of work, Egon, Ray, Egon 68-R, and Holtzmann of 80-C finished work on the Containment TV Monitor. Once the grid was stable and the monitor was ready, it was turned on. It worked and Ray inputted Jenny's P.K.E. signature. Jenny was found but a Mail Fraud Ghost charged her. Ray was aghast but Holtzmann told him to slow down. Jenny punched out the ghost. Holtzmann declared they were locked in there with her. Ray was relieved and hugged everyone at once. Ray vowed to make sure Jenny's promise they would see each other again would come true. Before Holtzmann left, Egon asked for her thoughts on a new application to old research of his. Holtzmann read his strip of paper but it made no sense. Ray inquired what that was. In reality, it was Egon's subliminal messaging code. He reworked it to interrupt any memory of the transdimensional technology. Ray asked if there were any side effects. Holtzmann was confused why the Chicken Dance was suddenly stuck in her head. Egon didn't think there were any side effects as far as he knew and planned to show it to Ron next. Ray was satisfied and added they should limit their dimensional travel for the time being. He didn't think he could handle anymore change for awhile.

Two days after a highly charged artifact was confiscated from the Metropolitan Museum of Art , Ray and Egon hit a dead-end in trying to identify it. There was no mention it in Tobin's Spirit Guide, Spates Catalog, or any of the dozen books they amassed for research. Ray reminded him they were dealing with a time bomb. They couldn't make out the etchings on the tablet either, initially thinking they were Greek. Peter carried in more books that just arrived then tipped Egon's water bottle by mistake. The water oddly flowed in a circle around the tablet. An Atlantean Priest Ghost manifested and spoke in an unknown language. Ray guessed it was Italian. Egon had no idea. The ghost suddenly possessed Egon and asked what happened with the cataclysm of Atlas' Land. Peter deferred to Ray. The ghost decided to see for himself and flew through the window into the city.

They found Egon, in a transmogrified state, at Penn Station . Ray addressed the ghost and warned it to leave Egon's body or face swift and terrible consequences. The ghost ignored him and bemoaned how the world was not better since the fall of Atlantis. He noted how men still lived hungry on the streets, the laws were not respected, and even the very air burned in one's chest. He revealed that was exactly why priests begged Ennosigaios for help. Peter informed him they heard the "world is too sick to survive" line before. He told Ray to hose him. Ray fired his Slime Blower and doused Egon's body with positively charged Psychomagnotheric Slime. The ghost was ejected from Egon. In his native language, he called them fools and declared the "Earth-Shaker" would come again and seal the fate of Manhattan. Egon understood the context of his threat. Back at the Firehouse, he took a shower then returned downstairs. He interrupted Peter and Janine's banter and explained he and Ray believed the ghost intended to summon a primordial being to both attack and destroy Manhattan. Janine was naturally concerned. Egon explained summoning a god wasn't as simple as flipping a switch and they had time on their side. He also already deduced it was attempt the summoning in Battery Park at dawn. According to Atlantean lore, dawn was when the priests prayed to Poseidon. The Ghostbusters searched the park in the early morning the next day. Peter inquired why he was so sure the ghost would appear in the park. Egon replied logic and P.K.E. readings both confirmed it as the most likely locations. He poked a light pole in front of him. Peter relented but asked why they had to go out at dawn. Winston eventually sighted the ghost at the eastern side of the waterfront. The ghost concluded its prayer, begging Poseidon to use the tablet from his temple to use as a beacon and come to show mankind the meaning of fear again because the message of Atlantis' demise was ignored. The Ghostbusters trapped him and the tablet was a completely average artifact. Ray kept on rambling until Poseidon sent out a small earthquake. Egon told him it was clearly a warning. Peter conceded they may have lost a chance at a bonus but he thought Egon and Ray could make some money from writing a book on Atlantis using pictures of the tablet. Ray admitted everything happened so fast, he forgot to document anything.

The Ghostbusters exited Ecto-1 with their gear and climbed out of the sinkhole outside Prospect Park . Ray sighed at Ecto-1's predicament. Egon wiped his glasses and told Ray it wasn't a loss since they could have it hoisted and make improvements. Peter reminded everyone they had a ghost to blast first. They went into the park in search of it. The Ghostbusters engaged the ghost at the shore of the Prospect Lake. Winston admitted he was tired and just wanted to go home and catch up on the Dodgers. Peter was taken aback by Winston's loyalties. Ray went on a tangent about lacrosse and the Iroquois. Egon suggested it was time to capture the ghost. Ray threw out a Trap and caught the ghost. He was about to continue about lacrosse but Egon cut him off and suggested they should take another look at Ecto-1 and call in assistance. They returned and were perplexed with the presence of two Ecto-1 cars. Ray checked and confirmed it was still in the sinkhole. Egon detected something like a ghost on his P.K.E. Meter. Winston pointed out Starscream was behind him. Starscream ordered them to leave him alone because he only meant to speak to the " Autobot ." They quickly wrangled and trapped him. Egon became concerned with the skewed readings. Ray believed it would be as easy as drawing a sample from the Trap and running some tests. Winston was curious what an Autobot was. Ectronymous Diamatron transformed into his robot form and revealed himself to the Ghostbusters.

Ectronymous introduced himself and stated he meant no harm. He was surprised they weren't intimidated then explained he came to Earth in search of a signal native to his home planet Cybertron and the Trap was interfering with it so he requested it to be de-powered. Ray speculated a ghost was animating Ecto-1. Egon disagreed and staked Ray's reputation on it. Winston pointed out Ectronymous already said it was an alien. Egon refused to accept that. Ectronymous took offense to being called an "it" and repeated he wanted the Trap turned off. At an impasse. Ectronymous activated a miniature blaster on his right wrist and shot the Trap. Starscream was released and shot at them in a rage. The Ghostbusters opened fire and wrangled him again. Starscream noticed Ectronymous' Autobot signal, called for a truce, and returned to his blue hue. Starscream told them about how Cybertron was destroyed by Gozer. Ray was surprised to hear Gozer visited Cybertron. Egon pointed out they still had no accurate account of how many worlds it visited before 1984. Starscream revealed a being named Kremzeek appeared to them and made a deal: escape Gozer's wrath but become his slaves. Egon picked up another reading. Lightning struck and a Kremzeek Sprite emerged from the crater. Starscream became irate and told them to kill it immediately. Peter failed to see how a little bean would be a problem. Egon confirmed it had a high-spectrum P.K.E. reading. Peter relented and trapped the sprite but the Trap blew up. Starscream wondered how humans ever climbed out of the muck and told them to destroy the sprite with their Particle Throwers before it summoned Kremzeek. Ray turned to Egon. Egon stated he didn't like dispelling ghosts but noted the sprite was made of electricity as much as it was made of P.K.E. then theorized they could ground it while they dispelled its negative energy. Ray asked how they would ground it. Egon smirked. Minutes later, they wrangled the sprite. Egon instructed Ectronymous to do his part. Ectronymous thought it was madness he agreed to it. He sighed and poked the sprite with a finger. The sprite was successfully dispelled. He realized his communicator was damaged from blowing up the sprite and admitted he no back-up devices. Ray offered to help him with spare parts if he acted as their ride back to the Firehouse. Ectronymous accepted.

Back at the Firehouse, Egon and Ray repaired a loose connection and Ectronymous' communicator was fixed. He briefed Optimus Prime . The Ghostbusters were soon called to Brooklyn. Egon immediately detected a reading similar to the Kremzeek Sprite they encountered earlier. Erring on the side of caution, Egon suggested they modify a Trap just in case the entity also emitted an electrostatic discharge. [41] Ray wondered if they should bypass the Cobbler Switch on the Trap. Egon thought that would be bad. Ectotron asked if he could take a look. He suddenly got an idea. Half an hour later, Peter and Winston managed to flush the Electric Ghost out of hiding. They all opened fire on it. Ray remarked it was a wild one and realized it was getting stronger. Egon agreed and noted they were in trouble if it was tapped into the city's power grid. Ectotron scanned around and verified there was a definite increase in the energy flow to Colchamiro's building from a utility pole. He rammed the pole down with an elbow. The ghost had a definite reaction to losing the connection. Ray threw out the modified Trap and successfully captured the ghost. Ray was surprised. Egon thought he could see the past. Winston told him that was called hindsight. Peter asked Egon where he left his phone.

The Ghostbusters took a rest then relocated to the Warehouse and started scanning for Starscream. Ray and Egon disassembled and analyzed the Trap Starscream escaped from. Ray was amazed by the scorch marks and speculated there was a power surge. Egon noticed traces of a second P.K.E. signature was being detected, too. Ray wondered if that meant a jailbreak but remembered there were safeguards to prevent that. After Ectotron apologized and promised to fix everything he broke, Egon revealed he got a firm fix on Starscream's P.K.E. signature. They departed for the Grosbeak Generating Station . After Peter got the site evacuated, Winston asked Egon what he was reading. Egon noted he was getting the same second P.K.E. signature and it was high spectrum but less than a Class 7. Winston asked where it was. Thunder clapped. Egon believed it was the dark clouds suddenly manifesting above them. Starscream soon appeared and was wrangled. Starscream called out to his master, Kremzeek, who absorbed him then went on a rant. The Ghostbusters took turns completing each others' sentences with Egon giving the cue to fire. Kremzeek violently broke free. Peter told Egon it was on him for breaking the mystique of them being so awesome they could finish each others' sentences.

Egon theorized shutting down Grosbeak would take away Kremzeek's power source and give them time to modify a Trap. Ray checked his P.K.E. Meter and reckoned one Trap would not be enough to hold Kremzeek. He believed shorting him out then dispersing him temporarily until they built something more effective was a better plan. He wished they had the Electric Ghost they trapped the previous night. Ectotron revealed they left that Trap inside him among some regular Traps, a canister of Psychomagnotheric Slime, and crumbs inside him. He found the four of them disgusting. Egon insisted he was just focused. The plan worked and both ghosts were dispersed. Ray cheered and lauded Coulomb's Law. Egon countered that wasn't how it worked. Ray suggested it could with electroplasmic entities in the mix. However, the dispersal freed the ghosts of Megatron , Shockwave , Soundwave , and Starscream. After Soundwave and Shockwave were trapped, Egon held up the Traps. Ectotron, however, was possessed by Megatron. Winston implored the others to think of a solution and stated he wasn't blowing anyone up. Egon agreed on account of Ectotron being a living being but admitted the autopsy could be fascinating. Ray reminded Egon he was part of the team and didn't think Egon would try to kill most of them. Peter thanked Ray for the stirring defense then pointed to the canister of Psychomagnotheric Slime Ectotron found earlier. Egon pointed out a small canister of it wouldn't be effective applied topically to the surface of such a large metal form and believed they had to disperse it inside Ectotron. Peter voted himself out of trying to find his gas cap. Ray suggested force feeding it. Winston pointed out he was 20 feet tall. Egon noted they had one Trap left and it wasn't enough to force spectral expulsion.

Peter elected to use the ectoplasm and yelled at Optimus to try to get Ectotron on his back. Ray poured the Psychomagnotheric Slime down his mouth. Megatron was ejected in a stream of Energon . Egon checked his P.K.E. Meter and alerted everyone of Megatron's re-manifestation. Megatron appeared in a new form but Ectotron and Ray trapped him. Ectotron revealed he wanted to explore space and look for more Cybertronian ghosts that could be saved. Optimus noted that would mean an extended leave of absence from the other Autobots but felt he proved he could handle it then greenlit the mission. Ectotron hugged and thanked Optimus. Ray liked the notion of ghosts in space. Peter and Winston shot down any aspirations since they had enough trouble on Earth to deal with but Egon found the thought intriguing, too.

Dimension 50-S [ ]

After failing to get the junior team a day off, Alan insisted they just got back and were too exhausted to take on a case. Peter told him they were young and didn't need sleep. Alan wanted to at least change flight suits for a clean one. Egon was intrigued by the readings coming off the ectoplasmic residue on his. Alan informed him it was from a Moose Ghost that got blown up. Egon wanted to study it before the suit was further contaminated but Peter wasn't having any of it. After the junior team returned from Bayside, Egon scanned Alan's suit with the Giga Meter. He was surprised the readings weren't as dormant as he expected. Egon was buzzed on the intercomm system by the others and informed that the Trap they used to capture Wat was empty. Egon asked if they had any issues with the Containment Unit's secure access system. Alan elected himself and the team to figure it out while Egon studied his suit. Wat had stowed away on the suit and soon immobilized Egon, intent on using him to open the Containment Unit then conscripting the ghosts into an army so he could take over the physical plane.

The junior team returned and witnessed Wat dangling Egon in mid-air like a puppet. They fired on Wat but it transformed into its true form then chased after them into the streets. Wat proclaimed they were going to die. Bridget quipped they all would eventually but doubted they would today. Egon implored her not to antagonize it further. Gabriel believed Wat had the energy profile conducive to trapping but Egon informed them the Traps weren't powerful enough. Alan pointed out they lived in a major city and tasked Gabriel and Egon with tapping into a utility box for the extra power while everyone else tried to distract Wat. Gabriel hailed Alan on comms about a change in plans and asked him to lure Wat to the alley. Alan was exasperated. Wat clamped down on him. Alan blew Wat's head off and ran to Egon and Gabriel. Still headless, Wat took the bait and pursued Alan. Egon gave Gabriel the signal and he trapped Wat. Gabriel begged the question who was was the best. The ordeal triggered a city-wide black out. Egon presumed he shouldn't answer. Gabriel asked him to tell the others it was Samuel's fault.

Tertiary Canon History [ ]

In "The Real Ghostbusters" he and the other Ghostbusters had fixed up the Firehouse after it was severely damaged by the escaping ghosts, thanks to Walter Peck . Upon the completion of the Firehouse, the Ghostbusters adopted the Slimer who had slimed Peter at the hotel. Egon appears with a blonde yellow hair color and red glasses. Much like his movie counterpart he is the brains of the group. One noted difference between him and the movie version is in later seasons when he plays more of a leadership role than he did in the two films. He also returned in "Extreme Ghostbusters" as the mentor to a new team, maintaining the firehouse and the aging equipment.

• For more information of the animated version of Egon Spengler go to the animated article .

Ghostbusters: Sanctum of Slime [ ]

Egon discovered the supernatural activity, caused by the Relic of Nilhe , had a predictable migratory progression southeast from its point of origin. According to his analysis, Egon believed it was headed to the Sedgewick Hotel . However, with the team exhausted, Egon suggested it was time for the junior team to take on their first solo mission. Some time later, with testimony from Janosz Poha , Egon allowed the junior team to follow a preemptive strategy and go after other shards of the Relic.

Personality [ ]

Egon is hard-working and constantly focused on the paranormal activity of New York. His life revolves around scientific study, in general as well as on ghosts. In his spare time, he collects spores, molds, and fungus. He doesn't articulate his emotions well and has described himself as "always serious." His childhood may have not been a very happy one, as is suggested his parents were emotionally neglectful; Egon once shared with Ray that they "did not believe in toys"; [42] he described Oscar's playroom as "very cheerful" in a tone that suggested he was aware he missed out on something nice. His parents gave him part of a Slinky once, and he straightened it. [43] Once, during the Vigo incident , Egon flatly informed  Mayor Lenny 's porter that the Proton Pack was not a toy. Despite Janine Melnitz ' hints that she was attracted to him, he seemed to ignore her romantic advances, kept quiet, and their relationship remained platonic. However, even though Egon admitted when he was terrified at the sight of the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, he stayed with the others, showing bravery and a cool head even in the face of doom. It was his idea to cross the streams, which ultimately saved the world. Egon also has a dead-pan sense of humor and has been known to be sly, such as after the Ghostbusters' first case, he discretely holds up his fingers to show Peter the amount the Sedgewick Hotel will be billed.

Egon has a very dry sense of humor, once jokingly stating that most women would be "more interested in his epididymis," rather than his intellect. He is not immune to anger, as under duress he has been shown to swear twice during the Gozer incident . He even lunged at Walter Peck in anger when Peck ordered them arrested for the disruption regarding the shutdown of the containment grid , despite the fact Peck himself was entirely responsible, and ignored Egon's repeated explanation of why it would be so dangerous to do so.

Egon puts few restraints on the scope of his paranormal research. This is evident shortly after Dana Barrett's First Avenue incident, as he conducts experiments in his lab in which he deliberately incites couples to argue. When Egon and Ray discover the Psychomagnotheric Slime , aka "mood slime", he and Ray perform various tests themselves, including shouting verbal abuse at it, singing to it, saying sweet, nurturing things to it, and Egon even sleeps with it to learn its' response. His efforts, and arguably sacrificing a personal life, pay off, as it his theories and decisions from clear-thinking, that ultimately save his friends multiple times.

• "Print is dead."
• "I think they're more interested in my epididymis."

Ghostbusters (1984) Trivia [ ]

• The character of Egon Spengler was named after Oswald Spengler and a classmate of Harold Ramis ' at Senn High School named Egon Donsbach who was a Hungarian refugee. [44]
• Christopher Walken, John Lithgow, Christopher Lloyd and Jeff Goldblum were considered for the role of Egon. [45]
• Egon's character was envisioned as a human computer - a 'New Wave Mr. Spock'. [46]
• The look and personality of Egon was inspired by Léon Krier , a Luxembourg architectural theorist and urban planner. Harold Ramis saw him on a high-end architectural journal. Krier was wearing a three-piece tweed suit that looked like it had been made in the 1930s, round horn-rimmed glasses, and had a haircut that went straight up. [47] [48]
• Harold Ramis also took inspiration from Egon Schiele , an Austrian Expressionist painter from the early twentieth century. [49]
• When the crew started spraying water to simulate ecto-material raining down on everyone outside the Firehouse after the Containment Unit is shut down, someone from the wardrobe department ran out onto set telling the crew not to get Egon's suit wet because what was the only set they had. [51]
• Egon's hairdo was done by a hairdresser named Peggy Semtob. [52]
• In the first movie novelization , Egon spent his childhood in the quiet suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio. [53]
• Young Egon read books such as "The Mysteries of Latent Abnormality," "Electrical Applications of the Psycho-sexual Drive," "Your Friend the Fungus," "Astral Projections as an Untapped Power Source," and "The Necronomicon." [54]
• Egon is also said to have a brother in the novel. Aside from the aforementioned Slinky, Egon's brother was said to own a Lionel train set, the tracks of which young Egon had commandeered to use in an experiment. Young Egon used three concentric rings from Plasticville houses in his brother's Lionel train layout as components in a compact explosive. [55]
• Egon displayed a scientific attitude quite early in life, as he would pester librarians into ordering various arcane books to read, conducting an anti-gravity experiment utilizing a jungle gym and hundreds of feet of industrial copper wire (which managed to brown out all of Brooklyn in a crude EMP burst). By observing fellow high school students making out in the park and applying a variety of scientific principles, Egon managed to precisely forecast the exact number of VD cases in Ohio state for that year. As a result, most parents would express a strong aversion to letting their children associate with him. [56]
• Peter introduced Egon and Ray to each other. [57]
• Egon lives in an apartment and maintains a rooftop fungus farm. [58]
• Egon tells Janine that his rationale behind his interest in spores, molds and fungi is that he believes that they will become the food of the future. To which Janine flatly replies "remind me to never have lunch with you." [59]
• Egon was the first scientist to hypnotize a hamster by subjecting it to low-frequency radio waves. He also made a sonic gun that set off soft-drink cans at 100 yards. [60]
• In the July 6 and August 5, 1983 draft, on page 14, a drug dealer tries to sell the guys dope but Egon misunderstands him, reaches in his pocket and gives him a joint instead.
• In the August 5, 1983 draft, Egon is revealed to have been the sole reason Peter got through graduate school. [61]
• In the August 5, 1983 draft, on page 13, and in the September 30, 1983 draft, on page 15, Egon patches his mini-computer into a pay phone to connect to Bell Labs computer in Boston and programs the new data from the Library ghost to confirm they can catch and hold a ghost indefinitely.
• In the August 5, 1983 script, Egon owned a 1957 Saab car. [62]
• In the September 30, 1983 draft, Egon's first scene is of taking the Librarian's blood pressure. It's in this scene that he tells Peter what they have is very big whereas in the movie, he tells Peter that in the Reading Room.
• In the September 30, 1983 script, Egon tells Vinz Clortho he is a "Doctor of Physics, Graduate of M.I.T." [63]
• Harold Ramis wrote the line about Egon trying to drill a hole in his head. It was inspired by a thwarted experiment by John Lilly, a prominent researcher in dolphin communication who proposed drilling a hole in his head to test some higher brain function. [64]
• Egon has a fondness for junk food. In the first movie he's shown to be eating Cheez-Its and a candy bar, and scarfs down the Twinkee he uses to illustrate the level of PKE in the New York area. In the Ghostbusters role-playing game Egon is known to eat large quantities of fish. It's implied that this helped him attain his high intelligence quotient. (fish is regarded by some as a brain nurturing food.) Egon is also shown to enjoy Chinese takeout.
• During the first commercial, Egon looks down at his mark.
• Egon subtly gives Peter the numbers to the cost of the bill that Peter quotes to the manager of the Sedgewick in the first movie.
• In the "Ecto-1: Restoring the Classic Car" featurette in the 2009 Remaster of Ghostbusters , Dan Aykroyd credits Egon with miniaturizing the equipment that was integrated onto the roof rack of Ecto-1. [65]
• At around the 44:50 mark, Egon is eating take out on the far right as the customer brings roast duck to Peter and Ray.
• At around the 44:40 mark, Janine brings Egon coffee while he works on equipment.
• At around the 45:51 mark, Egon tests a Trap.
• After the 46:02 mark, Egon's "I got it!" scene during the first montage is followed by him shrugging.
• In the scene after, Janine finds Egon asleep against a microscope in the work area.
• In the July 6, 1983 draft of the first movie, part of the ending included Egon and Janine getting married in Las Vegas . [66]
• In the West End role-playing game, Egon's motivation is "Soulless Science." Which means he's far more interested in the overall goal of acquiring knowledge, with little to no regard of how it might inconvenience or endanger others.

Ghostbusters II Trivia [ ]

• Egon was working as a physics professor specializing in quantum theory. [67] [68] [69]
• Egon refused to help Peter at first. [70]
• On page 29, Egon comes out of the coffee shop whereas in the actual movie, it is Peter and Ray.
• On page 39, Egon admits they never tested the Proton Packs to find out how long the fuel cells last without recharging.
• In the August 5, 1988 and February 27, 1989 versions of the Ghostbusters II script, during the set up to the final battle and the epilogue scene respectively, Egon revealed his grandparents came to America from Ostrov in Eastern Poland. [71]
• On page 44, Egon thinks the continued integrity of the biosphere is everyone's responsibility.
• On page 45, Egon admits he doesn't find quantum theory that challenging anymore.
• On page 105, Winston admits he can't swim. Egon states they would survive approximately 15 minutes in the freezing cold water if the Statue of Liberty overfilled.
• On page 109, Egon thinks the new painting is Caravaggio or Brunelleschi.
• On page 111, Egon's grandparents are revealed to have come from Ostrov, Poland.
• On page 18, Dana shakes Egon's hand and leaves whereas in the movie Dana kisses him on the cheek and leaves.
• On page 30, Egon complains to Ray and Peter that they were supposed to help him make the hole in First Avenue. Peter jokes he needed the exercise. Ray tells the First Cop it's cutting fine.
• On page 40, Louis realizes the whole city is against them and gets nauseous. Egon hands him a waste basket.
• On page 45, for his closing argument, Louis tells his story about being stuck in an elevator during the blackout. Egon tells Louis he was concise and to the point.
• On page 48, Egon tells The Prosecutor she made a brilliant summation as she is tended to by the Bailiff and county clerk.
• On page 66, Ray and Egon sing "Cumbaya" to the slime. Egon plays the guitar.
• On page 74, Egon notes the information about Vigo was a rough translation from Moldavian.
• On page 77, Egon shares with Peter that the P.K.E. Levels were max plus and the Giga Meter showed all red in the museum.
• On page 86 to 87, the Ghostbusters knock on Peter's front door then invite him to the sewer investigation. Egon thinks there could be a roach surge because animals and lower life forms often anticipate major disasters.
• On page 92, the River of Slime terminates at the end of the NYPRR into a swirling pool. Winston pulls himself out then he reaches in for Ray. They fish Egon out.
• On page 93, Egon joins the fight asking who wants it first.
• On page 105, Egon points out the year 2000 is fiction based on a completely arbitrary calendar and people's willingness to believe predictions is what gives them power.
• On page 106, Egon lays out Vigo's plan to inhabit a living human and Dana's psychic vulnerability to hostile entities was passed onto her baby. He thinks Janosz is the human link between Vigo and Dana.
• On page 114-115, Egon compares Vigo to Nero, Caligula, and Hitler.
• On page 124, after Janosz steps in front of the painting, Egon tells him to feel free to try something stupid.
• On page 127, Egon tells Janosz he is now physically intact and psychomagnetherically neutral. Janosz asks if that's good.
• On page 129, the Mayor relents. Egon states they don't accept checks.
• In Ghostbusters II, at Ray's Occult Books, Egon looks at a copy of The Great Book of Magical Art, Hindu Magic and East Indian Occultism , a real book.
• Egon only performed a precursory medical exam on a chimpanzee prior to Oscar.
• When Peter speaks into Egon's stethoscope, the gag is similar to a gag in the first movie when Peter slammed a book on a table that Egon was examining with his stethoscope in Chapter 03: "Get Her!" .
• Egon telling Peter to get a stool specimen is similar to a gag when he told Peter to get a sample of ectoplasm in Chapter 3: "Get Her!" in the stacks.
• Egon's parents didn't believe in raising him with toys.
• Egon had part of a Slinky when he was a child but he straightened it.
• Peter refers to Egon as Brainiac, a classic Superman villain from DC Comics.
• In Ghostbusters II, during their trial, Ray had two nicknames for Egon, Egie and Spengie. [72] [73]
• Before the Scoleri Brothers battle, Peter, Ray, and Egon do a version of the "Do-Re-Mi" show tune. Egon, however, says his name instead of "Mi."
• In Ghostbusters II's original trailer, at the 2:04 mark, Egon uses a device to scan a pieces of floating crystals inside Orrefors . It was deleted from the actual movie. [74]
• In Ghostbusters II's second trailer, available in the Ghostbusters/Ghostbusters II 4K release, at the 1:49 mark, there is a slightly longer snippet in the Orrefors scene not in the movie when Egon says, "Now," then the tripods are triggered.
• After Egon picks up the toaster and sets it on the table for the kinetic test, there is reflection on the toaster of a crewman and stage light.
• Egon mentions Jackie Wilson then plays his song "(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher".
• Egon rounds off the atomic mass of cobalt to 58.9. It actually is 58.933194.
• Kirlian photography is a collection of photographic techniques used to capture the phenomenon of electrical coronal discharges. Semyon Kirlian believed it supposedly measured the "auras" of a living being.
• Roentgens are a unit of ionizing radiation or the amount producing one electrostatic unit of positive or negative ionic charge in one cubic centimeter of air under standard conditions.
• Egon suggests Thai and Mexican for take out dinner.
• The term "Proton Pack" is spoken for the first time in the movies, in Ghostbusters II Chapter 18: In the Tunnel , by Egon when he suggests they go back and get them before they continue further.
• In at least the concept phase, Egon and Ray would have entered a car full of the ghosts of subway passengers during their underground search for the River of Slime. [75] There was rotting commuters. [76]
• 11 takes were done of Egon, Ray, and Winston climbing from the sewers. Due to a camera motor running off speed, the scene had to filmed again. At first, the actors thought it was a joke. The scene was re-filmed the next night. [77]
• Louis Tully wears one of Egon's flightsuits towards the end of Ghostbusters II.
• When Ray laments not padding the feet of the Statue of Liberty , Egon jokes they don't make Nikes in her size.
• At the end of Ghostbusters II, Egon references Italian Renaissance painters, Raphael and Piero della Francesca.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife Trivia [ ]

• Bob Gunton was the primary actor who portrayed Egon in Ghostbusters: Afterlife . [78]
• Greg Schlosser, a stunt driver, portrayed Egon in the opening scene when he drove the truck from the mine to the farm. He wore a sculpt done by Mitch Devane based on approved art done by Arjen Tuiten after Violet Ramis-Stiel visited the shop to look at his concepts. [79]
• Zuul attacks Egon in a similar way she attacked Dana Barrett in the first movie with multiple arms popping out of the chair.
• Arjen Tuiten , Special Make-Up & Live Acton Creature Effects Designer, puppeteered one of the Zuul arms. Tuiten's shop built the arms. There is more footage filmed of Zuul attacking Egon in the chair and is "quite violent." [80]
• There is a straightened Slinky on Phoebe's night stand in her apartment bedroom in Chicago, a callback to Egon's line in Ghostbusters II about straightening part of one in his childhood. [81]
• Phoebe shines her headlight in Callie's face, similar to when Egon did so to Peter in the first movie when they interviewed Dana Barrett.
• Egon appears in the videos of the original commercial Phoebe watches and later in footage from 1984.
• One of the scenes seen in the video Grooberson plays was a daily of Egon and Janine hugging at the end of the first movie, from Chapter 28: Crossing Streams.
• The various specimens references Egon's hobby of collecting spores, mold and fungus.
• Egon's earphones from the library scenes in the first movie appear on the stack of objects.
• Phoebe finds a Crunch bar in chest pocket of a flightsuit. In the first movie, Peter gave a Crunch bar to Egon after their encounter with the Librarian ghost.
• Janine's whale paperweight from the first movie is on top of the old computer.
• There is a box of Cheez-Its on the desk. Egon ate some after Dana's interview in the first movie.
• The Medrad Mark IV Angiographic Injector Injection System is near the table. It was rolled out by a mover in the first movie when Peter, Ray, and Egon are fired from Columbia University in Chapter 4: Terminated.
• The Proton Pack Phoebe discovers was created based on Lidar scans of the original Hero Proton Pack prop used by Harold Ramis in the first movie then it was rebuilt down to the millimeter and aged. [82] Ramis's daughter Violet Ramis-Stiel accompanied Jason Reitman and the crew when they went to Sony's archives to scan the prop. She tried on the prop and started to well up. [83]
• Phoebe tells Podcast she met her grandfather. Podcasts asks if he banged walls and rattled chains, an allusion to Jacob Marley in "A Christmas Carol."
• Phoebe tells Podcast to "switch me on" like when Ray did to Egon in the Sedgewick Hotel elevator in the first movie.
• After Trevor, Phoebe, and Podcast are pulled over by the Sheriff's Department, a Twinkie is seen in the Ecto-1's glove box.
• Photos from Carrie Coon 's childhood and college years photos were used for the underground lab scene when Callie realizes Egon was keeping track of her life. [84]
• One of Egon's notes amid Callie's photos notes her dorm room shows serious fatigue in all load bearing, a callback to Egon's assessment of the firehouse in the first movie.
• Jason Reitman knew very early on the ending of Afterlife would entail Ghost Egon. It took bleeding edge technology and the entire length of making the movie to accomplish it. Reitman didn't know it would be successful until the very end of the process. [85]
• Bob Gunton did the performance capture for Egon's ghost. [86]
• MPC didn't know they were working on Egon's ghost until a bit later after the project was awarded to them and they saw the artwork. [88]
• MPC's work on Rachel in "Blade Runner: 2049" convinced Jason Reitman they could pull off Egon's ghost. [89]
• MPC took the young photoreal version of Harold Ramis they made and slowly aged him to the age he would be in the movie as well as capture of Gunton, mainly his face. The main issues they had was getting Egon's hair right but to also make it feel like he was living on the farm for a long time. [90]
• MPC made sure every detail was worked on: Harold Ramis's likeness, poses, hair, glasses, and even prescription. They sent a successful insert to Reitman while he was filming in Canada. MPC would also be on set. [91]
• They also wrestled with how ghostly to make Egon. [92]
• For filming Egon helping Phoebe, Ivan Reitman suited up and stood in for one shot for the late Harold Ramis. [93]

Ghostbusters III: Hellbent Trivia [ ]

• The February 1997 treatment introduced Ray and Egon's mentor Professor Wyance. [94]
• In the 1997 treatment, Egon was preoccupied with telekinesis experiments in which people try to move pinballs and smoke with their minds. [95]

Legion Comics Trivia [ ]

• In the 88MPH Studios Legion miniseries, Egon reveals he's moved on from a fungus to a coral hobby, admits he prefers free diving over scuba because he doesn't believe in compressed air, reveals he worked at a Krazy's one summer... and experimented in the deep fryer.

Ghost Busted Manga Trivia [ ]

• In the Ghost Busted (manga) , in Chapter One Page 18, Egon tells an actress he studied four years at Columbia University, studied two years at Oxford University, and had an extended residence with the Gnostic Monks of Carpathia.

Ghostbusters: The Video Game Trivia [ ]

• In the February 11, 2008 draft revision, during the Panic in Times Square level, in the office building, Ray admits he and Egon were talking about making minions so they could get more work done in the lab and they would be domesticated like Slimer. [96]
• This was a nod to the Denver Ghostbusters fan-film series, " Freddy vs. Ghostbusters " and " Return of the Ghostbusters ". In the fan-films, Ed Spengler is the Denver team's resident scientist, nephew of Egon Spengler, and has an unnamed sister.
• In Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Realistic Versions) , Egon has three total messages on the Firehouse answering machine after Checking Out the Library , Museum of (Super)Natural History , and Lost Island Rising . [97] [98] [99]

Ghostbusters: Alive Again Trivia [ ]

• In the Etan Cohen written Alive Again drafts, Egon had a cameo as a ghost. [100]

Beeline Mobile Game Trivia [ ]

• In the Beeline Mobile game , Michelle Ying is introduced as Egon's half-step-niece and the only person ever diagnosed with Acute ADHD.

IDW Comics Trivia [ ]

• In the IDW Comics canon, Egon is occasionally accused of having Asperger's . [101]
• Egon's admission is meant to be open to interpretation. [103]
• On panel 2, to the upper left of Egon is his "Print is dead" line from the first movie, "Epidiymus" line in the second movie, and "We eat gods for breakfast" line at the end of The Video Game.
• On panel 2, to the middle left of Egon is "Oswald Donsbach," a nod to the inspirations for the name 'Egon Spengler' - Oswald Spengler and Egon Donsbach
• On panel 2, left of Egon's boots is "Balloon will pop," a nod to the four dimensional balloon that was originally part of the Twinkie metaphor seen in drafts of the first movie and explained in annotation on Making Ghostbusters page 104
• On panel 2, left of Egon's boots is Thai Mexican," to ideas Egon proposed to Ray for take out as they analyzed the photographs of Vigo in the second movie.
• On panel 2, in the lower right is a nod to Egon admitting to straightening part of a slinky to Ray in Ghostbusters II.
• In Ghostbusters International #3 , on page 20, Egon's Vista credit card is visible on the table. The credit card number is 4024653159.
• Egon and Ray were once convinced the Eiffel Tower was engineered to be some kind of primitive Containment Unit. [104] [105]
• On page 2 of Ghostbusters International #6 , Egon revealed he did research on conscious thermoregulation and as a result, he never sweats. [106] [107]
• In Ghostbusters International #7 , Egon is atomized by Loftur in a way that is visually similar to what happened to his animated counterpart in The Real Ghostbusters episode " Egon's Ghost "
• In Ghostbusters International #11 , on page 20, Egon mentions the Riemann Hypothesis, one of the famous unsolved problems in Mathematics. It was a conjecture that the Riemann zeta function has its zeros only at the negative even integers and complex numbers with real part 1/2.
• In Ghostbusters International #11, on page 20 panel 3, Peter plays with a Slinkie - a nod to a line about Egon's childhood in Ghostbusters II
• On page 3 of Ghostbusters: Funko Universe , Egon wears his blue lab coat from Ghostbusters.
• On page 15 of Ghostbusters 101 #3 , Winston alludes to Egon's experiments on himself.
• On page 23 of Ghostbusters 101 #5 , it is mentioned Egon and Ray have started working on a condensed version of Tobin's Spirit Guide updated with specific information from the Ghostbusters' cases to attract mainstream audiences. Ray promises copies to participants of Ghostbusters 101. This a nod to Tobin's Spirit Guide (Insight Editions) . [108]
• Egon appears on Cover B and C of Ghostbusters 101 #6 .
• In the What Came Before page of Ghostbusters 101 #6, Egon's "It would be bad" line from Chapter 13 of the 1984 movie is quoted.
• The first image is from the first movie, Chapter 3 "Get Her!" , when the Library ghost roars at them. Erin and Patty appear in place of Peter and Egon.
• The tenth image is from Ghostbusters II, Chapter 28 "World is Safe Again" , of the 'cleaned' Vigo portrait. Holtzmann appears in place of Egon.
• On page 8 of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Ghostbusters Volume 2 Issue #4 , it is revealed Harold doesn't believe in aliens, like Egon.
• On page 18 of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Ghostbusters Volume 2 Issue #4, Egon admits he would have preferred to be brought back to life by science.
• On page 18 of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Ghostbusters Volume 2 Issue #4, in panel 4, Egon's watch is based on the Seiko Voice Note M516 4009 watches worn in the first movie. They can be notably seen in most of the press photos worn by Egon and Ray.
• On page 17 of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Ghostbusters Volume 2 Issue #5 , Egon wears his flip down sunglasses from the first montage of Ghostbusters II during the Orrefors case.
• On Cover A of Ghostbusters Crossing Over Issue #1 , Egon appears.
• On Cover A of Ghostbusters: Answer The Call Issue #4 , Egon's spores, molds, and fungus line from the first movie is referenced.
• Egon appears on cover RI of Ghostbusters Crossing Over Issue #2 .
• On page 15 of Ghostbusters Crossing Over Issue #2, Egon alludes to when he was terrified by the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man in the first movie.
• On page 19 of Ghostbusters Crossing Over Issue #2, in panel 4, Egon is wearing his suit and vest outfit from the first movie.
• On May 15, 2018, Egon is mentioned in the Crossing Over Virtual Trading Card #25 featuring Janine Melnitz. [109]
• On May 17, 2018, Egon is mentioned in the Crossing Over Virtual Trading Card #26 featuring Peter Venkman. [110]
• On June 21, 2018, Egon was mentioned in Death's bio in the 36th Crossing Over Virtual Trading Card. [111]
• On July 10, 2018, Egon is mentioned in Ray's bio on the 41st Crossing Over Virtual Trading Card. [112]
• On Cover B of Ghostbusters Crossing Over Issue #5 , Egon is featured.
• On page 9 of Ghostbusters Crossing Over Issue #5, Egon admits he was told he has an intimidating presence. [113]
• Egon appears in Cover RI of Ghostbusters Crossing Over Issue #6 .
• On Cover RI of Ghostbusters Crossing Over Issue #7 , Egon is featured.
• On page 13 of Ghostbusters Crossing Over Issue #7, Egon alludes to "The Seventh Seal" and several details of the movie.
• Egon appears on Cover A and B of Ghostbusters Crossing Over Issue #8 .
• In Ghostbusters IDW 20/20 , Egon 50-S first appears wearing his blue lab coat from the commercial in the first movie.
• Egon appears on IDW Convention Variant cover of 35th Anniversary: Ghostbusters .
• On page 10 of 35th Anniversary: Ghostbusters, Egon's body is now transmogrified, similar to his counterpart in " Egon on the Rampage ".
• On page 15 of 35th Anniversary: Ghostbusters, Egon pokes a light pole like when he scanned and poked the man in the Sedgewick Hotel hall in the first movie.
• Egon appears on Cover B, Cover RI-A, Cover RI-C, Fan Expo Dallas Cover, and SDCC Cover of Transformers/Ghostbusters Issue #1 .
• Egon appears on Cover RI of Transformers/Ghostbusters Issue #2 .
• On the dramatis personae page and page 2 of Transformers/Ghostbusters Issue #2, Egon can't accept Ectronymous is an alien, a callback to Volume 1 Issue #11 where in which Egon stated he doesn't believe in aliens.
• Egon appears on Cover B and RI of Transformers/Ghostbusters Issue #3 .
• On page 6 of Transformers/Ghostbusters Issue #3, Egon states Ectotron is not an alien, another callback to him not believing in aliens.
• Egon appears on Cover B of Transformers/Ghostbusters Issue #4 .
• Egon appears on Cover A of Transformers/Ghostbusters Issue #5 standing on Wheeljack 's left shoulder.
• Egon also appears on Cover B and RI of Transformers/Ghostbusters Issue #5.
• Egon appears on Cover RI of Ghostbusters Year One Issue #1 .
• Egon's biography in the Dramatis Personae in Ghostbusters Year One Issue #1 mentions he created the P.K.E. Meter and Containment Unit on his own as well as his love of junk food.
• Peter's biography in the Dramatis Personae in Ghostbusters Year One Issue #1 mentions how he talked Ray and Egon into forming Ghostbusters.
• On page 9 of Ghostbusters Year One Issue #1, Ray and Winston reflect on Egon's Twinkie metaphor.
• On page 11 of Ghostbusters Year One Issue #1, Winston admits he finds Egon funny but he's so dry you have to pay attention. [114]
• On page 11 of Ghostbusters Year One Issue #1, Winston admits he thinks Ray is like a mix of Peter and Egon with too much enthusiasm for everything weird in the world. [115]
• On page 16 of Ghostbusters Year One Issue #1, Egon mentions the possibility he might write an employee manual. Incidentally, a Ghostbusters Employee Welcome Kit was released last year. Over the decades, similar items came up. For Ghostbusters (2016 Movie), there was a Ghostbuster's Handbook published. Role-playing games, board games, and Ghostbusters: The Video Game also toyed with employee training.
• On page 16 of Ghostbusters Year One Issue #1, Egon uses the Gamma Rate Meter, the device he used before the disembodied voice of Gozer demanded them to chose a Destructor Form in Chapter 26: Gozer of the first movie.
• On page 18 of Ghostbusters Year One Issue #1, it is revealed Egon was the one who taught Winston how to use a Trap.
• On page 19 of Ghostbusters Year One Issue #1, Peter mentions when Egon looked in the Trap during Slimer's capture in Chapter 13.
• Egon's scarf is based on one worn by the Fourth Doctor in the "Doctor Who" television series.
• The Fourth Doctor's scarf was Luis Antonio Delgado 's idea. [116]
• On page 4 of Ghostbusters Year One Issue #2, Egon mentions he met Peter in a women's studies course he was mistakenly assigned to. [117]
• On page 15 of Ghostbusters Year One Issue #3 , Egon does the Moonwalk, a backslide popularized by Michael Jackson in 1983.
• There is a recreation of Egon doing his Twinkie metaphor in Chapter 15: E.P.A. Man.
• The image is a "redesign" of Dan Schoening 's earliest fan art on his Deviant art account.
• A card at the top mentions a Issue #18 (November 1983) of bimonthly journal associated with the New York Botanical Gardens.
• Under the card are two articles about mycology.
• A Post It note from Janine mentions Egon's Fungus of the Month is coming in mid-November.
• The big jar contains mold, another nod to Egon's hobby.
• The file photo is of Egon in his blue lab coat from the commercial in Chapter 7: Fried Eggs & Zuul.
• The blue bottle and contents are a nod to Egon asking Louis Tully for a sample of his brain in Chapter 28: Crossing Streams.
• Next to the Post It is Egon's Casio Micro-Mini Calculator from Chapter 4: Terminated.
• Next to the calculator is a photo is Egon's "I got it!" scene with Joe Medjuck in the montage in Chapter 14: Welcome Aboard.
• Above the photo of Egon with a Trap is a Slinkie, a nod to Egon's anecdote in Chapter 5: Investigating Oscar.
• Egon is in his vest and tie from Ghostbusters II Chapter 1: Start.
• In the solicit version of the cover, Egon is holding the Ghostbusters Mug .
• In the actual cover, Egon is holding a regular white mug but next to his Twinkie is the red Thermos from the 1985 Ghostbusters logo lunch box .
• Ray partially quotes Egon's line, "According to these new readings, I think we have an excellent chance of actually catching a ghost and holding it indefinitely."
• Ray alludes to when Peter gave Egon a Crunch bar.
• Peter refers to Egon's diet of junk food.
• Peter mentions HG Huges, a nod to Chapter 3 when Peter recalled Egon tried to drill a hole in his head. Hugo Bart Huges was a Dutch librarian and a proponent of trepenation.
• On page 8 of Ghostbusters Year One Issue #4, Peter brings up when Egon looked in the Trap in Chapter 13 as they captured Slimer.
• On page 17 of Ghostbusters Year One Issue #4, Rebecca brings up when he looked in the Trap in Chapter 13.
• Egon appears on the Transformers Generations Ectotron Ecto-1 Cover of Transformers/Ghostbusters Issue #1.

Ghostbusters: The Board Game Trivia [ ]

• On his Ghostbusters: The Board Game character card, Egon's employee ID # is listed as 111 75 0730.

Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed Trivia [ ]

• In Act 2, if you talk to Ray in Ray's Occult Books, he mentions Egon and his granddaughter Phoebe.
• In Act 5, when Ray tells the rookie about the Binding Relic , he mentions going through Egon's old research.

Miscellaneous Tertiary Canon Trivia [ ]

• The 1990 Earth Day Special included Harold Ramis portraying a new character named Elon Spengler who was Egon's twin brother. Elon is President of the Wastebusters.
• The game Dungeons of Dredmor has a skill named "Fungal Arts", which says " You collect molds, spores, and fungus ", a reference to Egon's hobby. [118]
• In the Quickbooks "Happy Business: Ghostbusters Payroll Taxes" online spot, released on December 27, 2019, Egon is listed on Janine's payroll and is paid $2,109.93 by direct deposit. His last name was misspelled "Sprengler" but was corrected.
• On page 11, the Jogger Ghost inspired Egon to design an Intention Invention, a portable spectrometer used to determine a ghost's benevolence or malevolence levels in real time. A separate laser grid unit for benevolent ghosts was also considered.
• On page 16, Egon believes the decreased in New York's paranormal activity was because P.K.E. Was redirecting to one central location in Summerville and wanted to relocate the Ghostbusters' headquarters to farmland there.
• On page 17, Egon reveals he continued to operate Ghostbusters out of storage space in the back of Ray's Occult. Egon notes Ray was convinced Gozer was defeated for good in 1984 and if Egon's theory were true, the Summerville mine would have experienced a cross rip before 1984. He left packs and additional gear behind for Peter, Ray, and Winston as a precaution and he "borrowed" some text from Ray's first edition collection.
• On page 20, Egon considered putting the gunner chair on the Ecto-1's roof but deemed it unsafe.
• On page 26, Egon has an idea for an Ecto-Evaluator to test a ghost's malevolence levels but admits Peter was better at branding.
• On page 31, Egon toyed with an idea for the successor to the Slime Blower, the Ecto-Extractor. It charges negatively charged plasm to positive and dousing the victim. The extractor also had a secondary function to extract the negative energy or entity then a built-in containment canister would temporarily house the entity but it had to be transferred within 24 hours to a Trap or the Containment Unit. Egon theorized the victim would be unharmed but experience higher-than-normal levels of positivity in the subsequent days.
• On page 32, Egon admits he misses Peter, Ray, and Winston.

Appearances [ ]

Primary canon appearances [ ].

• Mentioned by Ray and referenced on door only.
• Chapter 03: "Get Her!"
• Chapter 04: Terminated
• Chapter 05: Fixer-Upper
• Commercial only.
• Chapter 08: "Bug-Eyes Thing"
• Chapter 09: The 1st Customer
• Chapter 10: Checking Out Dana
• Chapter 11: "We Got One!"
• Chapter 12: "He Slimed Me!"
• Chapter 13: "Nice Shootin', Tex."
• Chapter 14: Welcome Aboard
• Chapter 15: E.P.A. Man
• Chapter 20: Keymaster
• Chapter 21: Out of Biz
• Chapter 22: Holding Cell
• Chapter 24: Biblical
• Chapter 25: Working the Crowd
• Chapter 26: Gozer
• Chapter 27: Stay Puft Man
• Chapter 28: Crossing Streams
• Chapter 01: Start
• Chapter 04: Ray's Occult Books
• Chapter 05: Investigating Oscar
• Chapter 06: Late-Night Excavation
• Chapter 08: Down the Shaft
• Chapter 09: Great Blackout of 1989
• Chapter 10: Their Day in Court
• Chapter 11: The Scoleri Brothers
• Chapter 12: Two in the Box
• Chapter 13: Mood Slime
• Chapter 14: A Tub Full of Slime
• Chapter 16: Vigo 101
• Chapter 17: Fire-Trapped
• Chapter 18: In the Tunnel
• Chapter 19: Scaring the Straights
• Chapter 20: Kidnapping Oscar
• Chapter 21: Tenth Level of Hell
• Chapter 22: No Dent
• Chapter 23: The Statue of Liberty
• Chapter 24: A Harbor Chick
• Chapter 25: Breaking and Entering
• Chapter 26: Ghostbusters vs. Vigo
• Chapter 27: The Fifth Ghostbuster
• Chapter 28: World is Safe Again
• Alluded to by Callie and Trevor Spengler and Janine Melnitz. [119] [120] [121]
• Alluded to by Wertheimer's Hardware Owner and Callie Spengler. [122] [123]
• Seen in online video.
• Alluded to by Podcast . [124]
• Alluded to by Phoebe Spengler and Podcast. [125] [126]
• Alluded to by Podcast and Trevor and Phoebe Spengler. [127] [128] [129]
• Mentioned by Ray Stantz and Phoebe Spengler. [130] [131]
• Alluded to by Deputy Medjuck and Sheriff Domingo . [132] [133]
• Alluded to by Callie Spengler. [134]
• Mentioned by Phoebe Spengler. [135]
• Alluded to by Phoebe Spengler. [136]
• Alluded to by Callie and Phoebe Spengler. [137] [138]

Expanded Universe

• Nobel Prize Aspirations
• "No Louis!"
• This Is Hard for Me
• It Was Right Here
• Dana's Curse
• We Should Get a Deeper Reading
• Ladies and Gentlemen of the Audience
• Possessed Ray Driving
• Sewer Invitation
• He Had Me by the Throat
• We're Stuck in Here
• Louis' Cousin, Sherman Tully
• Peter's Concern
• Can You Get Into That Museum
• Jack Buys It
• Good Evening New York
• Driving Miss Liberty
• Ghostbusters with Vigo
• Statue of Liberty Back in Place
• Is It Ever Too Late?

Secondary Canon Appearances [ ]

• Welcome to the Hotel Sedgewick Level
• Panic in Times Square Level
• Checking Out the Library Level
• Museum of (Super)Natural History Level
• Return to the Sedgewick Level
• Lost Island Rising Level
• Central Park Cemetery Level
• " The Other Side 1 "
• " The Other Side 2 "
• " The Other Side 3 "
• " The Other Side 4 "
• " Displaced Aggression 1 "
• " Displaced Aggression 3 "
• " Displaced Aggression 4 "
• " Past, Present, and Future "
• " Tainted Love "
• " Con-Volution "
• " What in Samhain Just Happened?! "
• " Guess What's Coming to Dinner? "
• " Ghostbusters: Infestation 1 "
• " Ghostbusters: Infestation 2 "
• "Daydreams and Nightmares!"
• "A Fall Wind in Summer"
• Ghostbusters International #1
• Benvenuti A Venezia
• Haunted America Case File
• Help Wanted
• Mentioned Haunted America Case Files on page 23 [139]
• Ghostbusters International #4
• Ghostbusters International #5
• Ghostbusters International #7
• Mentioned on what came before page! and pages 1-6, 17-20
• Ghostbusters International #10
• Ghostbusters International #11
• Where Winston Was
• Mentioned by Trask Manager on page 24
• The Origins of Slimer
• Answering The Call
• Ghostbusters Annual 2018
• IDW 20/20 (Dimension 50-S version only)
• 35th Anniversary: Ghostbusters
• Mentioned on Page 4. [140]
• Mentioned on Page 41. [141]
• Mentioned on Page 50. [142]

Tertiary Canon Appearances [ ]

• The Real Ghostbusters (See Animated Article)
• Mentioned by Ray Stantz. [143]
• Mentioned by Ray Stantz. [144]
• Mentioned by Ray Stantz. [145]
• Ghostbusters: Times Scare!
• The X-Files: Conspiracy: Ghostbusters
• Ghostbusters: Deviations
• Ghostbusters: Funko Universe
• Ghostbusters: The Board Game
• Ghostbusters: Sanctum of Slime
• The Zeddemore Factor
• ↑ In Ghostbusters: Afterlife, at the 45:30 mark, Egon's ghost shows Phoebe Spengler a wall where his 12 diplomas are framed. On page 79 of Ghostbusters: Afterlife: The Art and Making of the Movie, four of the diplomas are featured and legible enough to note he graduated from Columbia University on October 29, 1969 with a degree in Psychology in the faculty of Psychobiology, graduated on May 10, 1972 from New York University with a degree in Parapsychology, graduated on June 26, 1980 from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a degree of philosophy in Nuclear Engineering, and graduated on December 22, 1986 from the University of Philadelphia.
• ↑ According to Egon's notes on a note card seen at the 1:26:37 mark, Callie celebrated her second birthday in 1984. Therefore, she was born in 1982. The note card is left of Callie's left shoulder when her back is to the screen as she is looking at the board of photographs, clipping, and notes about her life. The note card is to the left of the full size photograph of her in a blue dress with a white collar and above a yellow Post It note. The top of the note card reads "Birthday 1984" and the line below it reads "Two Years Old."
• ↑ In Ghostbusters: Afterlife, at the 45:30 mark, Egon's ghost shows Phoebe Spengler a wall where his 12 diplomas are framed. On page 79 of Ghostbusters: Afterlife: The Art and Making of the Movie, four of the diplomas are featured and legible enough to note he graduated on December 22, 1986 from the University of Philadelphia.

References [ ]

• ↑ Inguanzo, Ozzy (November 2021). Ghostbusters: Afterlife The Art and Making of the Movie , p. 191. Titan Books, United Kingdom, ISBN 1789096529 . Line reads: "In one of the most meaningful moments in the film, the original four Ghostbusters are standing next to each other again, with Phoebe sharing a proton pack with her grandfather as they defeated Gozer together. For a few insert shots, (Jason) Reitman asked his father, Ivan, to put on the flight suit, subbing in for Spengler."
• ↑ Jason Reitman instagram 11/26/2021 Jason Reitman says: "For an insert shot of Venkman firing up his proton pack, we brought in the hands of another Ghostbuster. My father only suited up for this one shot."
• ↑ Callie Spengler (2022). Ghostbusters: Afterlife Chapter 15 (2021) (Blu-Ray ts. 01:38:28-01:38:33). Sony Pictures. Callie Spengler says: "And there were all these photos--these photos of me. Like--Like he was tracking my entire life."
• ↑ Ray Stantz (2022). Ghostbusters: Afterlife Chapter 11 (2021) (Blu-Ray ts. 01:07:36-01:07:47). Sony Pictures. Ray Stantz says: "Well, he wasn't helping. We went from ten calls a week to one if we were lucky. And... and Egon started to tell people that their little ghost problems didn't matter because the world was coming to an end. He got spooky. Freaked me out."
• ↑ Ray Stantz (2022). Ghostbusters: Afterlife Chapter 11 (2021) (Blu-Ray ts. 01:07:47-01:08:00). Sony Pictures. Ray Stantz says: "One morning, I go to work and Ecto-1, our old Cadillac, is gone, his neutrona thrower, collider pack, all the traps, 16 ounces of fuel isotope, all gone! He cleaned us out. Now we were the dead ones."
• ↑ Janine Melnitz (2022). Ghostbusters: Afterlife Chapter 2 (2021) (Blu-Ray ts. 11:24-11:27). Sony Pictures. Janine Melnitz says: "Oh, I just tried to keep the bills paid on time, that kind of thing."
• ↑ Janine Melnitz (2022). Ghostbusters: Afterlife Chapter 2 (2021) (Blu-Ray ts. 11:29-11:32). Sony Pictures. Janine Melnitz says: "Oh, there was no money to manage. He could barely keep the power on."
• ↑ Janine Melnitz (2022). Ghostbusters: Afterlife Chapter 2 (2021) (Blu-Ray ts. 11:36-11:42). Sony Pictures. Janine Melnitz says: "Well, I wouldn't say that. There is quite a bit of debt."
• ↑ Roller Granny (2022). Ghostbusters: Afterlife Chapter 3 (2021) (Blu-Ray ts. 14:27-14:30). Sony Pictures. Roller Granny says: "No one knew your father."
• ↑ Wertheimer's Hardware Owner (2022). Ghostbusters: Afterlife Chapter 4 (2021) (Blu-Ray ts. 20:28-20:33). Sony Pictures. Wertheimer's Hardware Owner says: "Great customer though. He--He bought some bizarre shit."
• ↑ Roller Granny (2022). Ghostbusters: Afterlife Chapter 3 (2021) (Blu-Ray ts. 14:22-14:25). Sony Pictures. Roller Granny says: "Dirt Farmer had a family?"
• ↑ Wertheimer's Hardware Owner (2022). Ghostbusters: Afterlife Chapter 4 (2021) (Blu-Ray ts. 20:18-20:26). Sony Pictures. Wertheimer's Hardware Owner says: "Man spends every week working a piece of land... but never seeding, never watering, never growing a ding-dang thing."
• ↑ Ray Stantz (2022). Ghostbusters: Afterlife Chapter 11 (2021) (Blu-Ray ts. 01:08:02-01:08:17). Sony Pictures. Ray Stantz says: " He phoned me about ten years later, some small town in Oklahoma. He kept rambling on about "the rising storm" and "the huge psychic tornado that was gonna "consume humanity in darkness forever." And, kid, I wanted to believe."
• ↑ Phoebe Spengler (2022). Ghostbusters: Afterlife Chapter 3 (2021) (Blu-Ray ts. 19:41-19:45). Sony Pictures. Phoebe Spengler says: "Yes. Pretty sure it was just a heart attack."
• ↑ Phoebe Spengler (2022). Ghostbusters: Afterlife Chapter 11 (2021) (Blu-Ray ts. 01:06:29-01:06:31). Sony Pictures. Phoebe Spengler says: "He died last week."
• ↑ GBTVGReferenceEgonSpenglerRV.jpg
• ↑ GBTVGReferenceEgonSpenglerRV02.jpg
• ↑ Egon Spengler (2020). IDW Comics - " Ghostbusters Year One Issue #4 " (2020) (Comic p.16). Egon Spengler says: "Pulling the ghost in reminded me of a childhood fishing trip where I fought with a rockfish that weighed as much as I did. The biggest difference -- this time I landed the catch."
• ↑ Egon Spengler (2020). IDW Comics - " Ghostbusters Year One Issue #4 " (2020) (Comic p.5). Egon Spengler says: "I don't believe there are things man isn't meant to know. Ghosts are simply the first thing I was able to conclusively prove. I'll follow this trail until it runs cold. Or until something more interesting presents itself."
• ↑ TomWaltz Tweet 5/17/18
• ↑ Egon Spengler (2013). IDW Comics - " Ghostbusters Volume 2 Issue #6 " (2013) (Comic p.2). Egon Spengler says: "I know what he said. I learned Swedish when I was researching Gjenganger as an undergrad."
• ↑ What Came Before! page (2016). IDW Comics - " Ghostbusters International #3 " (2016) (Comic What Came Before! page). Line reads: "This kept him from joining the others in Europe...but Egon's already been there back in his college days. He was studying Draugr in Sweden."
• ↑ Egon Spengler (2016). IDW Comics - " Ghostbusters International #3 " (2016) (Comic p.19). Egon Spengler says: "They also correlate to readings I took years ago in Sweden. It's brought something of a "cold case" back to life."
• ↑ Egon Spengler (2016). IDW Comics - " Ghostbusters International #5 " (2016) (Comic p.5). Egon Spengler says: "The data collected on Poveglia aligned with a startling consistency to those I personally recorded more than twenty years ago in northern Europe, as well as those from the United Nations."
• ↑ Egon Spengler (2016). IDW Comics - " Ghostbusters International #5 " (2016) (Comic p.6). Egon Spengler says: "I admit, I was fascinated by the Rauoskinna - this was what I invented the PKE Meter to help me find - but during the course of my search, I came to the belief that maybe, just this once, it would be better to leave well enough alone."
• ↑ Dramatis Personae (2016). IDW Comics - " Ghostbusters International #1 " (2016) (Comic Dramatis Personae). Line reads: "Degrees in several scientific disciplines, and is willing to go to great ends to get the answers he seeks."
• ↑ TomWaltz Tweet 4/24/18
• ↑ Dramatis Personae (2020). IDW Comics - " Ghostbusters Year One Issue #1 " (2020) (Comic Dramatis Personae page). Biography reads: "The brain of the Ghostbusters, Spengler co-created most of the team's proprietary equipment, but the designs of the PKE Meter and the ecto containment unit – as well as an overwhelming love of junk foods -- are his alone."
• ↑ Winston Zeddemore (2020). IDW Comics - " Ghostbusters Year One Issue #4 " (2020) (Comic p.2). Winston Zeddemore says: "Definitely don't ask about Huges. Man, Venkman got me with that same damn prank. It gets you a two-hour lecture about the theoretical benefits of drilling a hole in your head."
• ↑ Winston Zeddemore (2020). IDW Comics - " Ghostbusters Year One Issue #4 " (2020) (Comic p.2). Winston Zeddemore says: "Egon's been in-house just about 24/7 since the whole Stay Puft thing."
• ↑ Egon Spengler (2020). IDW Comics - " Ghostbusters Year One Issue #4 " (2020) (Comic p.5). Egon Spengler says: "I only agreed to this because Venkman said the fee was contingent on my involvement, and, as you can see, we have a lot of rebuilding to do. It won't come cheap."
• ↑ Peter Venkman (2014). IDW Comics - " Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Ghostbusters Issue #1 " (2014) (Comic p.12). Peter says: " Sides, you and Egon built a big, expensive toy to warn us if bad vibes were in the air, right?"
• ↑ Winston Zeddemore (2014). IDW Comics - " Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Ghostbusters Issue #1 " (2014) (Comic p.13). Winston says: "'Rays says 'Fallout from a dimensional breach.'"
• ↑ Egon Spengler (2016). IDW Comics - " Ghostbusters International #1 " (2016) (Comic p.17). Egon says: "Some new theories occurred while I was receiving medical attention, and I want to see where those theories lead. Also, I'm waiting on delivery from the new Moroccan place down the block."
• ↑ Peter Venkman (2016). IDW Comics - " Ghostbusters International #1 " (2016) (Comic p.18). Peter says: "Sorry Egon couldn't make it. Something about bad couscous."
• ↑ Janine Melnitz (2016). IDW Comics - " Ghostbusters International #4 " (2016) (Comic p.2). Janine Melnitz says: "I got Egon with a bum leg, refusing to take any jobs with stairs even though I know he lives in a walk-up."
• ↑ Ray Stantz (2016). IDW Comics - " Ghostbusters International #8 " (2016) (Comic p.1). Ray Stantz says: "It looked like accelerated cellular dispersal!"
• ↑ Egon Spengler (2016). IDW Comics - " Ghostbusters International #11 " (2016) (Comic p.20). Egon Spengler says: "Just a profound sense of relaxation. I was this close to solving the Riemann Hypothesis. It was Heaven, yes."
• ↑ Egon Spengler (2017). IDW Comics - " Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Ghostbusters Volume 2 Issue #1 " (2017) (Comic p.11). Egon Spengler says: "There was a feeling of peace. I was able to fully focus on my thoughts."
• ↑ TomWaltz Tweet 6/21/18 Virtual Trading Card reads: "Some time later, Egon was killed by an immortal warlock and resurrected by an Irish faerie. (These things happen when you work with the paranormal) and Death had to decide what he would do about it. Egon wasn't supposed to survive, he decided. Death is now giving Egon his full attention. Will the Ghostbusters have to zap and trap the Grim Reaper himself, or is there another option...?"
• ↑ Egon Spengler (2019). IDW Comics - " Transformers/Ghostbusters Issue #3 " (2019) (Comic p.10). Egon Spengler says: "We'd better play it safe and modify a trap to better deal with electrostatic discharge while he have the chance."
• ↑ Egon Spengler (1999). Ghostbusters II , Chapter 5: Investigating Oscar (1989) (DVD ts. 18:11-18:13). Columbia Pictures. Egon Spengler says: "My parents didn't believe in toys."
• ↑ Egon Spengler (1999). Ghostbusters II , Chapter 5: Investigating Oscar (1989) (DVD ts. 19:00-19:02). Columbia Pictures. Egon Spengler says: "We had part of a Slinky. But I straightened it."
• ↑ Harold Ramis (2005). Ghostbusters - Commentary (2005) (DVD ts. 21:46-21:56). Columbia TriStar Home Video. Harold Ramis says: "Egon Spengler. Egon came from Egon Donsbach. I went to school with a Hungarian refuge and Spengler was from Oswald Spengler. "
• ↑ Shortlist 30 Facts
• ↑ Shay, Don (November 1985). Making Ghostbusters , p. 9. New York Zoetrope, New York NY USA, ISBN 0918432685 . Harold Ramis says: "For my character, we went for a human computer -- someone who had no emotional life whatsoever, who only deals in facts and information -- a 'New Wave' Mr. Spock."
• ↑ Harold Ramis (2009). Ghostbusters - Slimer Mode (2009) (Blu-Ray ts. 12:40-13:02). Columbia TriStar Home Video. Harold Ramis says: "So, Egon. I created this character based on a look that I saw in a visionary architect. I saw him in a high-end architectural journal. And he was wearing a three-piece tweed suit that looked like it had been made in the '30s. And he had horn-rimmed glasses, or round horn-rimmed glasses, and a haircut that went straight up."
• ↑ Harold Ramis (2019). Cleanin' Up The Town: Remembering Ghostbusters , Deleted Scenes (2019) (Blu-Ray ts. 00:29-00:38). Bueno Productions. Harold Ramis says: "I came across an architectural digest that featured a visionary urban planner and theoretical architect and designer named Léon Krier."
• ↑ Harold Ramis (2019). Cleanin' Up The Town: Remembering Ghostbusters , Deleted Scenes (2019) (Blu-Ray ts. 00:20-00:26). Bueno Productions. Harold Ramis says: "And the other was Egon Schiele, the painter-the Expressionist painter."
• ↑ Wallace, Daniel (2015). Ghostbusters The Ultimate Visual History , p. 27-28. Insight Editions, San Rafael CA USA, ISBN 9781608875108 . Suzy Benzinger says: "Harold Ramis loved that gray suit he wore, which I got at a thrift store on St. ark's Place. The first time I saw Harold, I thought, 'He really doesn't look like a professor. He doesn't have that scientist look.' So I took him to an eyeglass store on Seventh Avenue. I said, 'I really want to change your eyeglasses, is that OK?' and I knew just the glasses [he should wear]. He put them on, and I think he wore those forever."
• ↑ Joe Medjuck (1999). Ghostbusters - Commentary (1999) (DVD ts. 01:08:06-01:08:14). Columbia TriStar Home Video. Joe Medjuck says: "I remember this stuff coming down. Someone ran out from the wardrobe department and said, "Egon's suit, it's the only one we have. Don't get it wet.""
• ↑ Harold Ramis (1999). Ghostbusters - Commentary (1999) (DVD ts. 07:07-07:11). Columbia TriStar Home Video. Harold Ramis says: "The French hairdresser---the French Moroccan hairdresser you found. Peggy Semtob!"
• ↑ Mueller, Richard (August 1985). "Ghostbusters: The Supernatural Spectacular," p. 23. Tor Books, New York NY USA, ISBN 0812585984 .
• ↑ Mueller, Richard (August 1985). "Ghostbusters: The Supernatural Spectacular," p. 24. Tor Books, New York NY USA, ISBN 0812585984 .
• ↑ Mueller, Richard (August 1985). "Ghostbusters: The Supernatural Spectacular," p. 41. Tor Books, New York NY USA, ISBN 0812585984 .
• ↑ Mueller, Richard (August 1985). "Ghostbusters: The Supernatural Spectacular," p. 49. Tor Books, New York NY USA, ISBN 0812585984 .
• ↑ Mueller, Richard (August 1985). "Ghostbusters: The Supernatural Spectacular," p. 72. Tor Books, New York NY USA, ISBN 0812585984 .
• ↑ Mueller, Richard (August 1985). "Ghostbusters: The Supernatural Spectacular," p. 77. Tor Books, New York NY USA, ISBN 0812585984 .
• ↑ Aykroyd, Dan & Ramis, Harold (1983). Ghostbusters (First Draft August 5, 1983) (Script p. 7). Line reads: "Spengler is a real egghead, a New Wave Mr. Spock, who single handedly got Venkman through graduate school.""
• ↑ Aykroyd, Dan & Ramis, Harold (1983). Ghostbusters (First Draft August 5, 1983) (Script p. 19). Paragraph reads: "Spengler's '57 Saab is parked outside an abandoned brick, four-story fire station built by the city around the turn of the century.""
• ↑ Aykroyd, Dan & Ramis, Harold (1983). Ghostbusters (Third Draft September 30, 1983) (Script p. 89). Egon Spengler says: "I am Egon Spengler, Creature of Earth, Doctor of Physics, Graduate of M.I.T.""
• ↑ Shay, Don (November 1985). Making Ghostbusters , p. 27 annotation. New York Zoetrope, New York NY USA, ISBN 0918432685 . Paragraph reads: "Venkman's line was inspired by a bizarre, but thwarted, experiment by John Lilly -- a prominent researcher in dolphin communication -- whi seriously proposed drilling a hole in his head to test some higher brain function. Harold Ramis, who wrote the line, piggy-backed on it during the take by responded: "That would have worked if you hadn't stopped me.""
• ↑ Dan Aykroyd (2009). 2009 Remaster of Ghostbusters , Ecto-1: Restoring the Classic Car (2009) (Blu-Ray ts. 11:36-11:41). Columbia Pictures. Dan Aykroyd says: "Dr. Spengler had to miniaturize this for--for mobile purposes."
• ↑ Shay, Don (November 1985). Making Ghostbusters , p. 203 annotation. New York Zoetrope, New York NY USA, ISBN 0918432685 . Paragraph reads: "Alternate endings in earlier drafts included scenes within the towering glass and chrome headquarters of Ghostbusters International - now a high-rolling multinational corporation "recognized everywhere as the first line of defense against interdimensional trespassers." The July draft even attempted to wrap up the romantic loose ends. Venkman and Dana set up housekeeping, Spengler and Janine are married, and Stantz returns to Fort Detmerring for spiritual renewal."
• ↑ Aykroyd, Dan & Ramis, Harold (1988). Ghostbusters II (August 5, 1988 Draft) (Script p. 16). "Paragraph reads: "EGON SPENGLER, the soberly intellectual techno-wizard of the Ghostbuster team, is at the blackboard speedwriting an incredibly complex set of formulae while simultaneously explaining one of the axioms of celestial mechanics."
• ↑ Aykroyd, Dan & Ramis, Harold (1988). Ghostbusters II (August 5, 1988 Draft) (Script p. 43). "Peter Venkman says: "You going to give up that fat teaching paycheck every week and those crazy physics department babes?"
• ↑ Aykroyd, Dan & Ramis, Harold (1988). Ghostbusters II (August 5, 1988 Draft) (Script p. 43). "Egon Spengler says: "I just don't find quantum theory that challenging anymore."
• ↑ Aykroyd, Dan & Ramis, Harold (1988). Ghostbusters II (August 5, 1988 Draft) (Script p. 20). "Egon Spengler says: "I'm not doing any more ghostbusting, Venkman, so if that's what you're thinking--"
• ↑ Aykroyd, Dan & Ramis, Harold (1988). Ghostbusters II (August 5, 1988 Draft) (Script p. 97). "Egon Spengler says: "It's probably the first thing my grandparents saw when they came to this country. They came from Ostrov in Eastern Poland."
• ↑ Ray Stantz (1999). Ghostbusters II , Chapter 10: Their Day in Court (1989) (DVD ts. 31:57-31:58). Columbia Pictures. Ray Stantz says: "Egie, she's twitching."
• ↑ Ray Stantz (1999). Ghostbusters II , Chapter 12: Two in the Box (1989) (DVD ts. 35:45-35:46). Columbia Pictures. Ray Stantz says: "Spengie, bring the trap!"
• ↑ Ghostbusters YouTube "GHOSTBUSTERS II - Original Trailer (1989)" 6/16/2020
• ↑ Wallace, Daniel (2015). Ghostbusters The Ultimate Visual History , p. 4. Insight Editions, San Rafael CA USA, ISBN 9781608875108 . Line reads: "A concept illustration by artist Thom Enriquez for Ghostbusters II, in which the ghostbusters travel to a defunct subway system and encounter a car full of ghostly passengers."
• ↑ Eisenberg, Adam (November 1989). Ghostbusters Revisited , Cinefex magazine #40, page 33. Cinefex, USA. Harold Ramis says: "Another featured a ghostly subway station with rotting commuters. That was the precursor to the ghost train that is now in the film."
• ↑ Eisenberg, Adam (November 1989). Ghostbusters Revisited , Cinefex magazine #40, page 28. Cinefex, USA. Harold Ramis says: "When we wrote the scene I thought they would find a manhole and then we would go down a ladder and come up. Well, in front of the customs house that doubled for our museum, there was only a closed box underground for a phone conduit, and it was filled with big phone connectors. We had to wedge ourselves in like contortionists. Before we got into the hole, the effects guys would cover us with slime. Then they would smoke up the hole and put the manhole cover on it. I kept saying it was as close to being trapped in a mine or cave-in or the American earthquake as you could imagine. It was pretty awful and it was just freezing. But that really was not the worst of it. We did eleven takes, and then the next morning Ivan came to us and said the camera motor had run off speed and we had to do the scene again. At first we thought he was kidding. I mean, doing it once was the worst experience of my life. We thought, 'Great joke.' Unfortunately, it was no joke and the next night we did the whole thing all over again."
• ↑ Yahoo! "The Wrap ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife:’ How Egon Was Brought Back Through Cutting Edge VFX" 12/10/2021 Article reads: "He also appears in the movie's cold open, which establishes Egon's demise and his existence as a shut-in in the middle of nowhere Oklahoma."
• ↑ Ghostbusters Interdimensional Crossrip "#743 - Arjen Tuiten, Special Make-Up & Live Acton Creature Effects Designer" 21:58-23:20 11/29/2021 Arjen Tuiten says: "The idea was ever from the beginning. Jason is someone who knows exactly what he wants when it comes to storyboards and from very early on we wanted to recreate him but not show him in full light because no matter how good the makeup is or the visual effects, it's not Harold. And we weren't out to do that. We just wanted to create an essence to tell the story. And there was a stunt make up on...I forgot his name but Greg Schlosser I believe. So we did a stunt make up which you see the actor wearing in the truck driving. It's only going to be seen as a silhouette. The hair. And the nose. And the reflection on the glasses. It was sculpted by Mitch Devane. And then I did some concepts. Jason asked me to do some concepts of what would Egon look like now and I did a few where he had a bigger beard. A smaller beard. Different hair. Where he's a little more slim. And I remember the day Violet Ramis coming by the shop to take a look at things. I don't remember if you were there or not."'
• ↑ Ghostbusters Interdimensional Crossrip "#743 - Arjen Tuiten, Special Make-Up & Live Acton Creature Effects Designer" 40:17-40:37 11/29/2021 Arjen Tuiten says: "We did build the chair arms that grab Egon in the beginning of the film. I puppeteered one of them but unfortunately, the cut is so fast, we don't see quite what they are. Because what we shot was quite violent actually. Grabbing him and basically that's it. That's the end of Egon."'
• ↑ The A.V. Club YouTube "Ghostbusters Afterlife interview: Jason and Ivan Reitman on Easter eggs" 00:41-00:48 11/19/2021 Jason Reitman says: "And we had a straightened slinky on Phoebe's night table in Chicago at the beginning of the movie."
• ↑ Farley, Jordan (November 2021). Spiritual Reawakening , Total Film magazine #317, page 42. Future Publishing, UK. Line reads: "In order to recreate Egon's Proton Pack, Harold Ramis' original prop was Lidar-scanned, rebuilt "down to the millimetre" and aged to give it "the kind of battle scars you would think it would have by now"."
• ↑ Grove, David (November 2021). Ghostbusters: Afterlife Links The Original Busters To The Next Generation - And Pays Tribute To A Fallen Hero , SFX Magazine #345, page 32. Future Publishing, UK. Article reads: "I'll never forget pulling the original proton packs from Sony's archives in order to scan them for our own equipment. Violet Ramis, Harold's daughter, joined us that day and actually tried on her father's pack. She was nervous at first but eventually slipped her arms through the straps and took up the blaster. She began to well up, and by the time that she put the pack down, we were both shaking"
• ↑ The Hollywood Reporter "Carrie Coon on ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ and Fact-Checking ‘Gone Girl’" 11/16/2021 Carrie Coon says: "Well, they called me and said, "Can you bring all of your childhood photos to set with you?" So I got a collection. I also called my parents and had them send some over. You often have to send your photos in for jobs, but I couldn’t believe the one they chose for the hero shot in the scene. (Laughs.) I was really shocked that that was the choice they made. But it's interesting to think that my childhood photographs will be preserved in this iconic franchise for the rest of time. (Laughs.) It is kind of strange because those memories that I'm looking at on the wall are very real for me, so as an actor, it certainly makes that moment more accessible...Oh gosh, I think that was a college photo. Am I slide-tackling somebody? I love slide-tackling."
• ↑ Den of Geek "Ghostbusters: Afterlife – Jason Reitman Finally Addresses the Biggest Spoilers in the Movie" 11/22/2021 Jason Reitman says: "I will say that I knew what the ending of the movie was very early. I knew it was going to be very hard to pull off. And I knew that the success of the film depended on one moment that was going to have to depend on technology that was on the bleeding edge. And frankly, it took us the entire length of the making of the movie to accomplish. And I didn't know whether it was going to be a success until the very end of the process."
• ↑ Vanity Fair "The Day Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and Ernie Hudson Became Ghostbusters Again" 11/22/2021 Line reads: "Throughout the process, the filmmakers were determined to handle the moment with a sense of awe and respect. Jason Reitman hired Bob Gunton, perhaps best known as the warden from The Shawshank Redemption, to do the performance capture for Egon, saying the seasoned actor brought a strength and presence that radiates through the ethereal glowing effects. Gunton sported the character's high cockatoo hair, but his face was replaced with a digital image of Ramis. Though he didn't have any spoken lines, his silent facial expressions echo in in the ghostly onscreen version of Egon. "
• ↑ Yahoo! "The Wrap ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife:’ How Egon Was Brought Back Through Cutting Edge VFX" 12/10/2021 Article reads: "By Reitman's estimation, the process of returning Egon took two years. The visual effects house tasked with the job was London-based MPC, who also started on the project in the summer of 2019."
• ↑ Yahoo! "The Wrap ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife:’ How Egon Was Brought Back Through Cutting Edge VFX" 12/10/2021 Dan Zelecs says: "I knew what the project was meant to be for, but the specifics were still under wraps and it wasn't until a bit later on that we got the project awarded that we saw the artwork and we knew exactly what the target was."
• ↑ Yahoo! "The Wrap ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife:’ How Egon Was Brought Back Through Cutting Edge VFX" 12/10/2021 Article reads: "Reitman calls the "Blade Runner 2049" version of Rachel "in my opinion is best virtual character ever done." If they could do it once, they could do it again."
• ↑ Yahoo! "The Wrap ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife:’ How Egon Was Brought Back Through Cutting Edge VFX" 12/10/2021 Article reads: ""They took the young version of Harold that they had created and then slowly aged him to the age that he would've been in the movie," Reitman said. MPC used the footage featuring Gunton as a start. "From the neck down, it's him,” Zelcs said. They also utilized a scan of Gunton, looking at the facial muscles, the wrinkles and folds, the "tics and squints" that made his skin believable. Zelcs and the MPC team ran into an unexpected roadblock: Egon's hair. "His hair took a long time to get right," Zelcs said. "We got the Harold hair from the 1984 film. It was more about we were given a concept image of what they were aiming for, but it was a hand painted image. It was ambiguous." They wanted it to be reminiscent of the original Egon hairstyle, but it still had to evolve. "We wanted him to feel older and a bit wilder, because he's been living in the farm for so long. It had to be reminiscent of what the actor would be like at that age as well, but it was very much steered towards it needs to be Egon at that age"."
• ↑ Yahoo! "The Wrap ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife:’ How Egon Was Brought Back Through Cutting Edge VFX" 12/10/2021 Article reads: "Zelcs created a "checkpoint" for along the way - they were going to create a younger, photoreal version of Harold Ramis as he appeared in the original film. "They created a younger version of Harold and actually edited him into the 1984 'Ghostbusters' to prove that they could do it, so that you would watch the movie and not know whether you were watching a virtual Harold or the original Harold from the film," Reitman said. "We wanted to make sure we could match the original. Match his likeness, match his poses, match his hair, match his glasses. We were even looking at like trying to figure out the prescription of the glass," Zelcs said. The visual effects identified scenes from the original film that the digital Ramis could be easily dropped into. "There was one that was particularly successful and we sent it as just an insert of him, and just as a proof of concept that we could match original Egon," Zelcs said. They sent it to Reitman, who was shooting in Canada. "We would be on set, reviewing footage from 1984 Ghostbusters," Reitman said. It was seamless. The impossible was achieved. Almost."
• ↑ Yahoo! "The Wrap ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife:’ How Egon Was Brought Back Through Cutting Edge VFX" 12/10/2021 Article reads: "Another aspect the MPC team wrestled with: just how ghostly to make him. (In the final film he's classically ghost-like – glowing and semi-transparent.) "It was part of our task to refine the look. It's funny looking back at how they did the ghost effect in the 80s where it was filmed a separate element with different lighting, and then multiplied against a plate. There is also like a roughness to it, whereas with this, you want to see the detail," Zelcs said. "You don't want to hide too much behind a ghost effect." In other words, this new Egon had to stand on his own. "We were building it the best it could be and then however the final effect applied on top was decided, that would only add to it. It wouldn't be disguising what we've done," Zelcs said. Somehow the effect, glittery and ethereal, adds to the emotionality of the scene and of Egon's return."
• ↑ Ghostbusters News "Original Ghostbusters Director Stood in as Egon Spengler in Afterlife 11/25/2021
• ↑ Greene, James, Jr., (2022). A Convenient Parallel Dimension: How Ghostbusters Slimed Us Forever , p. 159. Lyons Press, Essex, CT USA, ISBN 9781493048243 . Line reads: "Ray and Egon witness this firsthand when they visit the deathbed of their mentor Professor Wyance, "a charismatic man with beautiful soft gray eyes." Wyance discovered that life and death work like radio frequency with "two separate oscillating lines" for each state. One can move between these realms with a device called a "phase flux generator/shifter" that Wyance was working on before he died."
• ↑ Greene, James, Jr., (2022). A Convenient Parallel Dimension: How Ghostbusters Slimed Us Forever , p. 159. Lyons Press, Essex, CT USA, ISBN 9781493048243 . Line reads: "Egon Spengler is busy conducting telekinesis experiments in which people try to move pinballs and smoke with their minds."
• ↑ Dille, Flint & Platten, John Z. (2009). Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Draft Revision February 11, 2008) (Script p. 58). Ray says: "Egon and I were talking about creating minions to get more work done in the lab. Maybe they could be domesticated, like Slimer."
• ↑ James; After Checking Out the Library , Firehouse 2nd Floor Answering Machine Message 8 of 13 (2009). Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Realistic Versions) - Firehouse (2009) (PC/PS3/Xbox 360). Terminal Reality. James says: "Dr. Spengler, this is James from We Ship It. Listen, you got to come down and pick up this package of Carpathian Dungbach Mold we've been holding for you. It's starting to spread. It's taken over half the dock and uh, I think it's singing!"
• ↑ Male Caller; After Museum of (Super)Natural History , Firehouse 2nd Floor Answering Machine Message 6 of 11 (2009). Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Realistic Versions) - Firehouse (2009) (PC/PS3/Xbox 360). Terminal Reality. Male says: "Ah..hello, Dr. Spengler. This is Gilgamir Electronic Supply. We have all the parts you requested. But a representative from the Mayor's office, a Mr. Peck has recently informed us that all invoices from you must be approved through his office first. We called him about your order and he just laughed then hang up. For all we know, he's still laughing."
• ↑ Male Caller; After Lost Island Rising , Firehouse 2nd Floor Answering Machine Message 5 of 8 (2009). Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Realistic Versions) - Firehouse (2009) (PC/PS3/Xbox 360). Terminal Reality. Male says: "Egon, man. So, have you ever stopped to think? I mean, really think about how the ghosts feel all cramped up inside those little boxes of yours? That could be somebody's grandma in there, you know? It's not right. That kind of cruelty is a drag! Have a nice day, oppressors!"
• ↑ Greene, James, Jr., (2022). A Convenient Parallel Dimension: How Ghostbusters Slimed Us Forever , p. 191. Lyons Press, Essex, CT USA, ISBN 9781493048243 . Line reads: "Sony Pictures chairperson Amy Pascal had her concerns with Etan Cohen's Ghostbusters III script, titled Ghostbusters: Alive Again. It was January 2014 and Cohen had already authored several drafts. Alive Again revolved around a group of new Ghostbusters including Chris, a kindhearted scholar; Jeremy, Chris's cynical friend who loves debunking ghost stories; Dean, the son of original Ghostbuster Ray Stantz who now licensed the Ghostbusters name to a theme restaurant; and Anna, who has a romance with Chris that stalls because she doesn't like to date coworkers. The primary antagonist is called Gniewko and there are many instances of "hellions" controlling people and animals. Ray Stantz and Egon Spengler were given cameos—as ghosts. Alive Again also had brief appearances from Dana Barrett, Louis Tully and his wife, the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, and Peter Venkman. The ending battle featured a giant baby."
• ↑ Dramatis Personae page (2014). IDW Comics - " Ghostbusters Volume 2 Issue #13 " (2014) (Comic p.ii).
• ↑ Egon Spengler (2014). IDW Comics - " Ghostbusters Volume 2 Issue #20 " (2014) (Comic p.19). Egon says: "It happened to me, too. I don't talk about it."
• ↑ Erik Burnham post IDW Forums 10/7/14
• ↑ Peter Venkman (2016). IDW Comics - " Ghostbusters International #5 " (2016) (Comic p.7). Peter Venkman says: "How Egon and Ray used to be convinced that Louvre was engineered to be some kind of primitive French Containment Unit."
• ↑ Winston Zeddemore (2016). IDW Comics - " Ghostbusters International #5 " (2016) (Comic p.7). Winston Zeddemore says: "That was the Eiffel Tower, man."
• ↑ Egon Spengler (2016). IDW Comics - " Ghostbusters International #6 " (2016) (Comic p.2). Egon Spengler says: "If I'd known you'd be this uncomfortable, I would have lent you my research on conscious thermoregulation."
• ↑ Egon Spengler (2016). IDW Comics - " Ghostbusters International #6 " (2016) (Comic p.2). Egon Spengler says: "I never sweat."
• ↑ 101 Class Notes (2017). IDW Comics - " Ghostbusters 101 #5 " (2017) (Comic p.23). 101 Class Notes reads: "Tobin's Spirit Guide is so in depth, Dr. Spengler and I have begun on working on a condensed version - updated to include specific information from our cases -- to attract the interest of mainstream audiences, and ease them into the topic. Copies will, of course, be made available to you as part of this program."
• ↑ TomWaltz Tweet 5/15/18
• ↑ TomWaltz Tweet 6/21/18
• ↑ TomWaltz Tweet 7/10/18
• ↑ Egon Spengler (2018). IDW Comics - " Ghostbusters Crossing Over Issue #5 " (2018) (Comic p.9). Egon Spengler says: "I'm told I have an intimidating presence."
• ↑ Winston Zeddemore (2020). IDW Comics - " Ghostbusters Year One Issue #1 " (2020) (Comic p.11). Winston Zeddemore says: "A real genius, man. Thinks way outside the box. Funny, too. But so dry you gotta pay attention."
• ↑ Winston Zeddemore (2020). IDW Comics - " Ghostbusters Year One Issue #1 " (2020) (Comic p.11). Winston Zeddemore says: "He's what you get when you mix Pete and Egon together and add way too much enthusiasm for everything weird in the world."
• ↑ dannyschoening Tweet 3/3/2020
• ↑ Egon Spengler (2020). IDW Comics - " Ghostbusters Year One Issue #2 " (2020) (Comic p.4). Egon Spengler says: "I was mistakenly assigned to a women's studies class he was in. He convinced me that sticking with the course would teach me to be more comfortable with people."
• ↑ Fungal Arts
• ↑ Callie Spengler (2022). Ghostbusters: Afterlife Chapter 2 (2021) (Blu-Ray ts. 6:01-6:02). Sony Pictures. Callie Spengler says: "Kind of. My father died."
• ↑ Trevor Spengler (2022). Ghostbusters: Afterlife Chapter 2 (2021) (Blu-Ray ts. 8:00-8:02). Sony Pictures. Trevor Spengler says: "Hey, maybe it's a good thing you never met your dad."
• ↑ Janine Melnitz (2022). Ghostbusters: Afterlife Chapter 2 (2021) (Blu-Ray ts. 11:15-11:19). Sony Pictures. Janine Melnitz says: "I was your father's--You know, we were friends ."
• ↑ Callie Spengler (2022). Ghostbusters: Afterlife Chapter 4 (2021) (Blu-Ray ts. 20:10-20:12). Sony Pictures. Callie Spengler says: "It was my father's place."
• ↑ Wertheimer's Hardware Owner (2022). Ghostbusters: Afterlife Chapter 4 (2021) (Blu-Ray ts. 20:12-20:14). Sony Pictures. Wertheimer's Hardware Owner says: "Dirt Farmer had a family?"
• ↑ Podcast (2022). Ghostbusters: Afterlife Chapter 6 (2021) (Blu-Ray ts. 35:19-35:22). Sony Pictures. Podcast says: "Your grandfather was a Ghostbuster."
• ↑ Phoebe Spengler (2022). Ghostbusters: Afterlife Chapter 8 (2021) (Blu-Ray ts. 46:23-46:24). Sony Pictures. Phoebe Spengler says: "What kind of scientist was Grandpa?"
• ↑ Podcast (2022). Ghostbusters: Afterlife Chapter 8 (2021) (Blu-Ray ts. 47:45-47:46). Sony Pictures. Podcast says: "Was he, like, howling and clanking chains?"
• ↑ Podcast (2022). Ghostbusters: Afterlife Chapter 10 (2021) (Blu-Ray ts. 1:03:23-1:03:30). Sony Pictures. Podcast says: "Dude, your grandfather was a legend. You can literally be anything you want. Like an influencer... or a DJ."
• ↑ Trevor Spengler (2022). Ghostbusters: Afterlife Chapter 10 (2021) (Blu-Ray ts. 1:03:31-1:03:33). Sony Pictures. Trevor Spengler says: "I guess I just thought it was easier when I thought he went nuts."
• ↑ Phoebe Spengler (2022). Ghostbusters: Afterlife Chapter 10 (2021) (Blu-Ray ts. 1:03:33-1:03:34). Sony Pictures. Phoebe Spengler says: "He didn't go nuts."
• ↑ Phoebe Spengler (2022). Ghostbusters: Afterlife Chapter 11 (2021) (Blu-Ray ts. 01:06:14-01:06:17). Sony Pictures. Phoebe Spengler says: "I... I'm calling about Egon Spengler."
• ↑ Ray Stantz (2022). Ghostbusters: Afterlife Chapter 11 (2021) (Blu-Ray ts. 01:06:22-01:06:24). Sony Pictures. Ray Stantz says: "Egon Spengler can rot in hell."
• ↑ Deputy Medjuck (2022). Ghostbusters: Afterlife Chapter 11 (2021) (Blu-Ray ts. 01:09:44-01:09:47). Sony Pictures. Deputy Medjuck says: "Dirt Farmer's family."
• ↑ Sheriff Domingo (2022). Ghostbusters: Afterlife Chapter 11 (2021) (Blu-Ray ts. 01:09:50-01:09:53). Sony Pictures. Sheriff Domingo says: "Kid, you're starting to sound like your lunatic grandfather."
• ↑ Callie Spengler (2022). Ghostbusters: Afterlife Chapter 12 (2021) (Blu-Ray ts. 01:11:57-01:12:12). Sony Pictures. Callie Spengler says: "No. No. I think he was a sad old man who turned his back on his family, his partners. And for what? For a stupid farm in a town nobody cares about. Where, by the way, everybody thought he was nuts. Yeah, great decision, Dad."
• ↑ Phoebe Spengler (2022). Ghostbusters: Afterlife Chapter 12 (2021) (Blu-Ray ts. 01:12:14-01:12:19). Sony Pictures. Phoebe Spengler says: "He was special. He loved science, like me. Why didn't you tell me my grandfather was Egon Spengler?"
• ↑ Phoebe Spengler (2022). Ghostbusters: Afterlife Chapter 13 (2021) (Blu-Ray ts. 01:23:43-01:23:44). Sony Pictures. Phoebe Spengler says: "He was right all along."
• ↑ Callie Spengler (2022). Ghostbusters: Afterlife Chapter 15 (2021) (Blu-Ray ts. 01:38:23-01:38:26). Sony Pictures. Callie Spengler says: "And it seemed like he had a plan."
• ↑ Phoebe Spengler (2022). Ghostbusters: Afterlife Chapter 15 (2021) (Blu-Ray ts. 01:39:21-01:39:23). Sony Pictures. Phoebe Spengler says: "This was Grandpa's plan."
• ↑ Spectral Incident Report (2016). IDW Comics - " Ghostbusters International #3 " (2016) (Comic p.23). Spectral Incident Report reads: "Dr. Spengler has recommended, when possible, to use verbal communication with ghosts in order to encourage peaceful dispersal."
• ↑ Narrator (2016). Insight Editions - " Tobin's Spirit Guide " (2016) (Comic p.4-5). Paragraph reads: "My colleague Dr. Egon Spengler and I put in weeks of effort to boil the essence of Tobin's down into this slim pocket reference you now hold in your hands: a book that contains basic information on some of the most common types of entities that manifest themselves on this side of the dimensional wall, be they spirit, demon, or even minor gods with aspirations to end life as we know it via destruction, subjugation, or both."
• ↑ Narrator (2016). Insight Editions - " Tobin's Spirit Guide " (2016) (Book p.41). Paragraph reads: "It didn't take long for the entity responsible to make its presence known, trapping us in a kind of lucid dream state while it focused its attentions on Dr. Spengler, who was suffering from exhaustion at the time, making him an irresistible target."
• ↑ Narrator (2016). Insight Editions - " Tobin's Spirit Guide " (2016) (Book p.50). Paragraph reads: "Communicating with the Manitou on a psychic plane, Dr. Venkman put his psychology doctorate to full use and managed to exorcise the Manitou from his own body (a feat Dr. Spengler and I would like to attempt ourselves at some point, should a controlled experiment ever prove possible)."
• ↑ Ray Stantz ; In Act 2, when Ray Stantz called the Rookie to Ray's Occult Books about a big breakthrough (2022). Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed – Ray's Occult Books (2022) (PS4/PS5/PC/Xbox One/Xbox Series X). Illfonic. Ray Stantz says: "Did you know that Egon has a granddaughter?"
• ↑ Ray Stantz ; In Act 5, when Ray Stantz called the Rookie to Ray's Occult Books about a big breakthrough (2022). Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed – Ray's Occult Books (2022) (PS4/PS5/PC/Xbox One/Xbox Series X). Illfonic. Ray Stantz says: "I was cross referencing Egon's old research with Tobin's Guide and came across an almost identical set of findings related to metaphysically imbued relics."
• ↑ Ray Stantz ; After unlocking last cutscene talk to Ray in Ray's Occult Books (2022). Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed – Ray's Occult Books (2022) (PS4/PS5/PC/Xbox One/Xbox Series X). Illfonic. Ray Stantz says: "I like to think Egon would be pretty pleased to see what we've amassed."

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Behind the Scenes [ ]

• 3 Ecto Cooler

Ghostbusters: Afterlife Ending Explained and After-Credits Scenes Breakdown

What happens in the two post-credits scenes in ghostbusters: afterlife.

Full SPOILERS ahead for Ghostbusters: Afterlife.

Much of the third act of Ghostbusters: Afterlife has not been seen in any of the trailers or other marketing materials, a move that has preserved the surprises the finale has in store. Like the recent Star Wars trilogy, Ghostbusters: Afterlife is one giant Easter Egg-laden nostalgia trip, and its third act is where all of those callbacks come to a head.

While the final act settles the past, the film’s post-credits scene hints at the future of the Ghostbusters franchise. Let’s break down — or should we say bust? — the ending of Ghostbusters: Afterlife and its two after-credits scenes.

The film’s young protagonists — Phoebe (Mckenna Grace), her big brother Trevor (Finn Wolfhard), her summer school classmate Podcast (Logan Kim), and Trevor’s crush Lucky (Celeste O'Connor) — head to the abandoned Shandor mining complex where they discover a pit of angry spirits being held in check by proton stream tech installed by the late Egon Spengler (who we saw die in the film’s opening moments).

Egon’s granddaughter Phoebe realizes that her grandfather wasn’t the crazy “dirt farmer” the citizens of Summerville deemed him nor was he the uncaring dad his daughter Callie (Carrie Coon) thought but someone who sacrificed everything — his family, friends, and ultimately his life — to save the world from Ivo Shandor’s final attempt to bring back the god of destruction, Gozer the Gozerian.

They return to Egon’s farmhouse where they discover Callie has been possessed and become The Gatekeeper, the same entity who possessed Dana Barrett in the original 1984 movie. Similar to Dana in that film, the possessed Callie declares: “There is no Mom, only Zuul.” Callie the Gatekeeper asks Podcast if he is the Keymaster before freaking out, smashing through the window, and heading to the butte atop the Shandor mine.

With it up to them to save the world, the kids return to the police station, which is empty because the cops are out responding to the ghost invasion. The kids retrieve their gear and the Ecto-1 that’s been impounded following their arrest by the sheriff (Bokeem Woodbine), who also just so happens to be Lucky’s dad.

Podcast releases Muncher from the trap so it can chew through the cell bars, allowing Podcast and Phoebe to retrieve their ghostbusting gear. Trevor and Lucky commandeer the Ecto-1 and a cop car, everyone suits up, and they head off to the mine to take care of business.

At the mine, the kids meet Gozer (played by Olivia Wilde). Yes, “Flattop” from the original film is back! She’s even seated upon a stone staircase as she was in the ‘84 movie. Ivo Shandor himself (J.K. Simmons in a brief cameo) also awakens from his stasis to praise the return of Gozer and proclaim that she can now help him rule the world. Gozer simply tears Shandor in half.

Callie and her date (and Phoebe and Podcast’s summer school teacher) Gary Grooberson (Paul Rudd), like Dana Barrett and Louis Tully before them, have been possessed and transformed into the terror dog forms of the Gatekeeper and the Keymaster.

While Phoebe distracts Gozer with bad science jokes, Podcast lines up the trap to capture her. The kids trap Gozer’s spectral form, free Callie (but not Gary) from her terror dog form, and race back to Egon’s farmhouse. Phoebe explains that Egon’s land is not a dirt farm but one giant trap engineered to capture all the ghosts from Shandor’s mine and prevent the end of the world.

At the farmhouse, though, their plan to rid the world of Gozer quickly goes sideways. Lucky becomes the new Gatekeeper, equipment is failing and all seems lost when the three surviving Ghostbusters — Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd), Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), and Winston Zeddimore (Ernie Hudson) — arrive, Particle Throwers blasting. Together with the kids, the original Ghostbusters eventually get the upper hand of Gozer. It’s during this sequence that the movie fully visualizes what it had only suggested beforehand: Egon Spengler’s ghost!

We first see Egon’s spectral form helping Phoebe aim her Particle Thrower at Gozer and after this, the CG recreation of the late Harold Ramis takes on an even more prominent role. Though he never speaks, Egon’s kindly, smiling ghost fights alongside his old teammates to stop Gozer once and for all. Ray apologizes for not believing Egon years ago and for the friendship-ending rift that caused. Venkman fires off the quips — especially against Gozer — while Winston provides, well, the tools and the talent.

In the end, it takes the whole bunch — the Spenglers, the surviving Ghostbustsrs, and newcomer Podcast — to turn the tide, trap Gozer, and stop the end of the world. Lucky and Gary are freed from their terror dog forms while the ghost of Egon bids a heartfelt goodbye to his family and friends. As he hugs his daughter Callie, Egon’s spirit disintegrates, the remnants fluttering up into the starry night like embers.

Then the following words appear onscreen against the sky: “For Harold” …

The movie closes with the classic Ghostbusters theme by Ray Parker Jr. over an aerial shot heading into New York City, the setting of the original two movies, as sirens wail.

End credits roll … but that’s not the end of the movie.

Movie Sequels That Took Forever

Ghostbusters reunite in 'Afterlife': Dan Aykroyd plots his character's ultimate fate

It was 1984 when the Ghostbusters first took the call to save New York City from paranormal peril.

As these mystic forces resurface to wreak havoc 37 years later in "Ghostbusters: Afterlife " (now in theaters) the most famous poltergeist battlers ever take the next call to duty. Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd, 69), Dr. Peter Venkman, (Bill Murray, 71) and Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson, 75) strap on proton packs once again in the name of deceased fourth member Egon Spengler ( Harold Ramis, who died at 69 in 2014).

With fleeting cameo appearances in 2016's "Ghostbusters: Answer the Call" the senior crew take center stage in the new film, joining forces a younger generation led by granddaughter-buster Phoebe Spengler (McKenna Grace).

"It never felt like I took off the jumpsuit or the proton pack," says Aykroyd. "We were recalled into service. And we stepped up."

USA TODAY talked to Aykroyd about crossing into the "Afterlife": 

Paul Rudd's Sexiest Man miracle: Making 'Ghostbusters' slacker Gary Grooberson somehow sexy

Question: How did you fit into the famed flight suits after all this time?

Dan Aykroyd : Ernie and Billy are probably the same size suit. I think mine was taken out at the waist, But movie cameras make you look good, the equipment felt good and I didn't have to put another hole in the belt.

Q: Bill Murray was critical of 'Ghostbusters II.' How did you get him on board for this?

Aykroyd: Billy is very discriminating and has a high BS detector. He's not going to do something that's false in any way. Having his imprimatur made this whole thing valid. If he hadn't done it, it would have been a massive hole. But he saw the merits, the joy and the possibilities here.

Q: Egon Spangler warned in "Ghostbusters" that you should never cross the streams due to minimal chance of surviving, but in 'Afterlife,' it happens and doesn't kill. What gives?

Aykroyd: You should never cross the streams. You're dealing with a million electron volts per thrower. That's no good. In this case, it didn't work. We were shocked. But the climax was against a demonic entity from another dimension with intense power. Without giving anything away, the way it went down on set, there was a lot of flashing lights and smoke. As actors, we believed (in those moments) because of the power of the set.

Q: 'Afterlife' adds a gunner seat in the Ecto-mobile, did you wish you thought of that?

Aykroyd: We did add some features to the Activision video game. I always wanted a Taliban-style turret at the top with proton packs under the seat. But they did well with that gunner seat. And the scene flying through the cornfield, that was exhilarating.

Q: Now that you have a fresh taste for battle, there's reports of a fourth 'Ghostbusters.'

Aykroyd: As the original co-writer (with Ramis) and creator of the characters, I have proprietary rights. They can't make a movie without me granting theatrical rights. I would grant that, and if there's a part for me, I would certainly play it again. But I don't know what the status is for any further films.

Q: What would you like to see in a new 'Ghostbusters'?

Aykroyd: I'd like to die. I think Bill and I should be killed in the next one. Or, maybe we wait. Why not use the living Ghostbusters – Ernie, Billy and myself – for four, five, and six? Go until we're gone. Then there will be time for the tributes. Death is going to take us soon enough.

Q: I must ask about Britney Spears. As her screen father in 2002's "Crossroads," were you thrilled to see her freed from her restrictive conservatorship after 13 years?

Aykroyd : Absolutely. She works hard for her money, she's matured and she's going to be fine. But if she wants some help and advice, I'll supply it gratis. Tell her to call me, I'll double her fortunes in five years. I'd put her in Amazon, Tesla and Netflix stocks and just walk away, watch the money grow.

Q: With "SNL" getting so political, have you gotten a call from producer Lorne Michaels to return, and as which player?

Aykroyd: First of all, James Austin Johnson, the new 'SNL' cast member, is a tremendous impressionist. He does a great Trump and a great Biden. But when Trump was being impeached (in January), Lorne and I were discussing me coming back as Nixon to wake up Trump in a nightmare. But then so many other political things happened that just overtook it.

Q: "Afterlife" director Jason Reitman, the son of "Ghostbusters" director Ivan Reitman, paid tribute to your longtime collaborator Harold Ramis. What did you think?

Aykroyd: Jason was a friend of the Ghostbusters, and of Harold. He lost a friend and an avuncular figure when (Ramis) died. There'd be no "Ghostbusters" without Harold, his writing and intelligence, the cerebral-yet-accessible tone of dialogue. He wasn't a believer in ghosts or the paranormal supernatural, necessarily. But he knew all of the science that was being explored. That ending tribute was perfection, respectful and affectionate. 

USA TODAY review:  Bustin' doesn't feel good in 'Ghostbusters: Afterlife,' a frustrating franchise retread

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Ghostbusters: afterlife cast, character & cameo guide.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife's cast includes newcomers to the franchise & familiar faces reprising their roles from the 1984 film. Here's the full guide.

The Ghostbusters: Afterlife cast introduces new characters and brings back some familiar faces, with both coming together to create a fitting renewal of the beloved Ghostbusters franchise alive. Directed by Jason Reitman, who steps into his father Ivan Reitman’s shoes to helm the latest franchise installment, Ghostbusters: Afterlife was a reboot and sequel to the original movie which both features a new generation of Ghostbusters while also heavily paying homage to the original movie. This leads to a Ghostbusters: Afterlife cast filled with new faces as well as many crowd-pleasing cameos.

The movie is set in the present day and sees Callie Spengler and her children — 12-year-old Phoebe and 15-year-old Trevor — moving to Summerville, Oklahoma following the death of Callie’s father. As they acclimate to the small town, Phoebe, an intrepid and budding scientist, is quickly drawn into the mystery surrounding her grandfather’s farm and what he was preparing to fight against in his final years. In addition to several franchise newcomers, Ghostbusters: Afterlife features original characters from 1984’s Ghostbusters show up as well throughout. Here’s the cast guide for all major characters, the cameo appearances from the original film, and what other movie and TV productions the actors have been in before starring in the Ghostbusters sequel.

McKenna Grace As Phoebe Spengler

Phoebe Spengler is the granddaughter of Egon Spengler and the daughter of Callie. She loves all things science, which often alienates her from making friends. However, she is the first to connect with Egon's ghost in Ghostbusters: Afterlife and help him to continue his mission of defeating an evil ghost entity. Phoebe is played by McKenna Grace, who is most known for her roles in Gifted alongside Chris Evans, I, Tonya , Young Sheldon , Malignant , The Haunting of Hill House , Ready Player One , Captain Marvel , Fuller House , and Designated Survivor . She will also be seen in the upcoming Disney+ movie Crater .

Finn Wolfhard As Trevor Spengler

Trevor Spengler is Phoebe’s older brother who dislikes the fact that his family moved to Summerville. However, he begins to find his place in the small town life after meeting some of the local kids and forming some new friendships. Trevor is portrayed by Finn Wolfhard, who is best known for playing Mike Wheeler in Netflix’s Stranger Things . The actor has also starred in It and It Chapter Two , How It Ends , and Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio .

Carrie Coon As Callie Spengler

Callie Spengler is the daughter of Egon and the mother of Phoebe and Trevor. She grew up not knowing her father, which led her to develop feelings of resentment towards him. However, she is able to form a connection with him when she connects with his ghost and sees he never stopped loving her despite being away. Callie is played by Carrie Coon in Ghostbusters: Afterlife . Coon has starred in Gone Girl , Avengers: Infinity War , The Leftovers , The Sinner , Widows , and Fargo . Coon most recently appeared in the true-crime thriller The Boston Strangler .

Paul Rudd As Gary Grooberson

Gary Grooberson is Phoebe’s summer school teacher and a seismologist who studies Summerville’s earthquakes in relation to the odd phenomena happening in town. After meeting the Spengler kids, Gary forms a charming romance with Callie. Paul Rudd plays Gary Grooberson, and the actor has been in a plethora of films and TV shows, including Clueless , Ant-Man and its sequel Ant-Man and the Wasp , Avengers: Endgame , I Love You, Man , The Perks of Being a Wallflower , Wet Hot American Summer , Parks and Recreation , This is 40 , Wanderlust , Dinner for Schmucks , Forgetting Sarah Marshall , Knocked Up , and Friends . Rudd recently returned as Ant-Man in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and he will join the cast of the upcoming season 3 of Only Murders in the Building .

Logan Kim As Podcast

Podcast is Phoebe’s friend and, as his nickname implies, a podcast host. After meeting in school, Podcast joins Phoebe in her paranormal investigations. Logan Kim is a relative newcomer whose only credit before starring in Ghostbusters: Afterlife was in the TV miniseries short Home Movie: The Princess Bride . He will next be seen in The Walking Dead spinoff series Isle of the Dead .

Celeste O’Connor As Lucky Domingo

Lucky Domingo is a waitress at the local Spinners diner in Summerville. She’s also the daughter of the local sheriff and Trevor’s love interest. She’s played by Celeste O’Connor, who has starred in films like Selah and the Spades , Irreplaceable You , Freaky , and Wetlands . She recently appeared in the drama A Good Person and will be seen in the upcoming Spider-Man spinoff movie Madame Web .

Ghostbusters: Afterlife Supporting Cast & Cameo Guide

Bill Murray as Dr. Peter Venkman - Bill Murray reprises his role from the original Ghostbusters, playing Dr. Peter Venkman, one of the four ghost-busting teammates. Murray is most famous for his roles in Lost in Translation, Rushmore, Moonrise Kingdom, Groundhog Day , the live-action The Jungle Book , The Grand Budapest Hotel , Zombieland , Rushmore , Space Jam , and Charlie’s Angels among several other films.

Dan Akroyd as Dr. Raymond “Ray” Stantz - Dan Akroyd shows up in a cameo appearance in Ghostbusters: Afterlife , reprising his original role of Dr. Raymond Stantz. Besides the Ghostbusters franchise, Akroyd has been in Saturday Night Live , 50 First Dates , Christmas with the Kranks , and I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry .

Ernie Hudson as Dr. Winston Zeddemore - Ernie Hudson also reprises his 1984 Ghostbusters role as Dr. Winston Zeddemore. Hudson previously starred in L.A.’s Finest , The Family Business , Grace and Frankie , The Secret Life of the American Teenager , Law and Order , Desperate Housewives , and the TV series Oz . He also voiced Agent William Fowler in the animated Transformers Prime .

Harold Ramis as Dr. Egon Spengler - Harold Ramis unfortunately passed away in 2014, but archival footage was used so the late actor could reappear briefly in Ghostbusters: Afterlife as a ghost. The late Ramis' film credits consist of Groundhog Day , Knocked Up , and Year One .

Sigourney Weaver as Dana Barrett - Sigourney Weaver appears briefly in the mid-credits scene of Ghostbusters: Afterlife as Dana Barrett reunites with Peter. The actress is most well-known for Alien , Alien: Resurrection , Avatar , A Monster Calls , Chappie , The Defenders , Wall-E , Heartbreakers , and Galaxy Quest .

Annie Potts as Janine Melnitz - Janine Melnitz returns as the Ghostbusters’ secretary, with Annie Potts appearing in two scenes of Ghostbusters: Afterlife . Potts is best known for Pretty in Pink , Toy Story 4 , Young Sheldon , The Fosters , Dangerous Minds , and Love & War .

Bokeem Woodbine as Sheriff Domingo - Sheriff Domingo is Lucky’s father. Bokeem Woodbine has appeared in Spider-Man: Homecoming , Fargo , Queen & Slim , and Underground .

Tracy Letts as Jack - Jack is the local hardware store clerk who sold Egon many of the supplies he used on his dirt farm. Tracy Letts starred in Lady Bird, Ford v Ferrari, Little Women , and The Big Short .

J.K. Simmons as Ivo Shandor - Ivo Shandor is the architect who designed the Manhattan building harboring Gozer. J.K. Simmons is known for playing J. Jonah Jameson in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy, Whiplash , Juno , La La Land , Invincible , Veronica Mars , and Zootopia .

Josh Gad as Muncher - Josh Gad voices Muncher, the metal eating ghost Phoebe and Podcast encounter in Ghostbusters: Afterlife . Josh Gad famously voiced the character of Olaf in Frozen and Frozen II . He also starred in the live-action Beauty and the Beast , Murder on the Orient Express , New Girl , and 21 .

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Ghostbusters: afterlife.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife Ending Explained - How Jason Reitman Connects The Franchise’s Past To Its Future

Something strange, and bittersweet, is in the neighborhood.

Warning: spoilers for Ghostbusters: Afterlife’s ending are in the trap. If you haven’t seen the film yet, and want to go in surprised, the light is red and out you should head. 

Bringing a fresh outlook to the legacy of the franchise, Ghostbusters: Afterlife is a legacy-quel that operates as a bridge between the past and the future . Introducing a new cast of paranormal experts, while also reuniting the previous crew of busters, co-writer/director Jason Reitman builds on the foundation that his father Ivan laid down back in 1984 . So it’s only fitting that almost 40 years later, his entry in the Ghostbusters canon is the one that carries the torch for a new generation.

In the spirit of the latest movie that ain’t afraid of no ghosts, let’s take a look at how the past and the future link together in greater detail. Which means this is your final warning before spoilers start to haunt your every step! Time to light ‘em up, and show that prehistoric bitch how we do things in Summerville, Oklahoma, as the secrets of Ghostbusters: Afterlife await!

What Happened At The End Of Ghostbusters: Afterlife?

37 years ago, the Ghostbusters of New York shut down an attempt by Gozer the Gozerian to invade the world of the living. A couple years after that, Viggo the Carpatian was thwarted in his attempt to possess a young child, and bring forth a new reign of terror. Yet after two mass scale paranormal events, the Ghostbusters faded into obscurity, and had a massive falling out. 

It took the family of the late Egon Spengler (Harold Raimis) to reunite the gang, while building a ghost busting crew of their own, in an attempt to fight off Gozer yet again. Phoebe Spengler (Mckenna Grace) and her brother, Trevor (Finn Wolfhard), teamed up with friends Podcast (Logan Kim) and Lucky Domingo (Celeste O'Connor), are the new crew savin’ the day this time around. Though they do get some help from the old guard, reunited in the name of taking down Gozer in round 2.

Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd), and Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson) grab their gear, and make their way to Egon’s Summerville farm, just in the nick of time. Ghostbusters young and old fend off Gozer, and its hell hounds, with proton packs and a gigantic contraption Egon built in his later years. With a last minute assist by Mr. Spengler’s ghost, evil is vanquished, and old fences are mended, after decades of silence. 

The Last Days Of Egon Spengler, The Dirt Farmer

Ghostbusters: Afterlife eventually fills in the story of Egon Spengler’s seemingly erratic past. Obsessed with a doomsday prophecy that ties back into the scripture quoted by Ray in the original Ghostbusters , the man ran off with all of the ghost busting gear and high tailed it to Summerville, Oklahoma. Becoming known to the town as “The Dirt Farmer,” he’s presumed to have no family, and keeps to himself. 

Unfortunately, that’s not entirely true, as Egon abandoned his family, including his daughter Callie Spengler (Carrie Coon) for a good reason. In his eyes, at least. Egon was attempting to prevent all Hell from breaking loose yet again. Summerville wasn’t just a sleepy town he selected out of nowhere. It was the epicenter of a paranormal fault line. One that, without his constant attention, would spell certain doom. Leaving his house, his notes, and a treasure trove of memories proving he never forgot his family, Egon died holding down the fort.

How The Spengler Family Defeated Gozer The Gozerian

After a frantic scramble to use the gigantic scale ghost trap he built into his “dirt farm,” Egon Spengler is killed by a villainous ghost. Which then prompts his family to move out to the farm, and eventually continue his work. Spearheaded by the ever-curious Phoebe, a chip off of the weird block her grandfather always was, the seemingly forgotten legacy of the Ghostbusters is resurrected. This includes discovering all of the old Ghostbusters gear that Egon made off with; including the newly restored Ecto-1 (thanks to the eager hands of Trevor), proton packs and traps, and vintage uniforms. 

When Egon’s mechanism for keeping Gozer at bay is sabotaged, there’s a bunch of paranormal anomalies that are released as a result; Gozer itself especially. Eventually joined by the OG Ghostbusters, and Egon himself, Phoebe and her team successfully activate the farm’s massive ghost trap, and capture Gozer and the hellhounds with a proton pack assist. 

What Have The Other Ghostbusters Been Up To Prior To Ghostbusters: Afterlife?

So what was the original Ghostbusters team up to in the years since Egon Spengler’s disappearance/supposed betrayal? Well, Peter Venkman became a professor at the university that once threw him and the rest of his initial team out. Meanwhile, just like in Ghostbusters II , Dr. Ray Stantz is still running Ray’s Occult Books, and some believe it’ll make a profit one day! 

One of those people happens to be Winston Zeddemore, who not only pays the rent on Ray’s shop, but happens to be a business magnate who’s made his own fortune. That fortune’s going to come in handy, as Winston gets a bright idea after running with his old pals again in the field. The past has inspired not only the next generation of Ghostbusters, but also the ones that started it all. 

How Ghostbusters: Afterlife Ties Into The Franchise’s Past

The huge notion that Ghostbusters: Afterlife uses to tie into the franchise’s past is that the world, somehow, has forgotten that ghosts are even a thing. Worse still, the Ghostbusters and their adventures are unknown to the generations that came after those events even took place. Highlighted by Gary Grooberson (Paul Rudd), a fan/student of parapsychology himself , it’s his knowledge that inspires Phoebe Spengler, Podcast, and the rest of the crew to dig into the archives of history. Which shows tons of footage from Ghostbusters , including the original commercial they released to advertise their burgeoning business. 

The Major Prophecy That Could Come Back In Future Ghostbusters Sequels

Dubbed “The Manhattan Crossrip of 1984,” the first encounter between Gozer the Gozerian and the Ghostbusters was apparently part of a much larger prophecy. While digging around the Summerville steel mine owned by Cult of Gozer leader/architect Ivo Shandor (J.K. Simmons), Phoebe and her team soon realize that there’s a bunch of key dates inscribed in a weird chamber that looks like an altar to Gozer. Some familiar dates correspond to scientific phenomenon of the past, with 1984 being the most relevant to Ghostbusters’ past events.

2021 is the latest date on that line, but there’s definitely more dates that run after that point on the timeline. Ghostbusters: Afterlife definitely seems to be setting itself up for another gigantic event, as the last post-credits scene ends with a glowing red light on the containment unit of the old firehouse headquarters. Looks like that Starbucks location is going out of business, because the clock is ticking.

Peter Venkman And Dana Barrett: A Shocking Revelation

There are two Ghostbusters: Afterlife follow ups during the credits, and the first exposes a long con that Peter Venkman was running on his students back in the ‘80s. Sitting down with the woman he loves, Ms. Dana Barrett (Sigourney Weaver) herself, Peter lets Dana run his old experiment to test his student’s psychic abilities. That’s right: Dana gets to shock Peter whenever she wants, despite the fact that he actually guesses the cards right! Which, as it turns out, is a result of Peter marking them on the other side, so he knows which card is which. 

They’re Ready To Believe You... Again!

After the credits to the latest Ghostbusters sequel have run, we’re shown footage from the 1984 original. Replaying the scene where Janine Melnitz (Annie Potts), loyal secretary and one-time love interest for Egon Spengler, gives her lucky World’s Fair coin to Egon for good luck, we’re eventually reunited with her again in the present day. On a visit to Winston Zeddemore’s office, we find out that after defeating Gozer a second time, he buys back the old firehouse.

Intending to reopen the company, it looks like the gang is going to get back together, and at exactly the right time too. That’s probably why, as Ernie Hudson recently revealed, Ghostbusters 4 is already being written ; though one could argue that it should be called Ghostbusters 5 , depending on whether the official video game is canon. In any case, it looks like Winston’s ready to believe again, and it’s only a matter of time before more ghosts are busted.

Should you enjoy spoiling endings in order to gage your interest in a film like Ghostbusters: Afterlife , you can currently see that film in theaters now. If you’ve taken the journey, and are ready to move on, 2021’s new movie releases are waiting to be discovered and trapped by your ticket money. Who knows, you just might find another ghost heading to the movies in the near future. 

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Ghostbusters: Afterlife: ‘What Do You Call a Dead Polar Bear?' Answer & Joke Explained

Although Ghostbusters: Afterlife arrived in cinemas nearly two years ago, one crucial joke in the film has taken over social media and continues to be trending, “What Do You Call a Dead Polar Bear?”. Interested in learning more about this joke? Here is everything you need to know.

‘What do you call a dead polar bear?’ punchline

The punchline to the “What do you call a dead polar bear?” joke is “Anything you want, it can’t hear you now.”

In Ghostbusters: Afterlife, a kid with a microphone named Podcast asks one of the main characters of the film, Phoebe Sprengler, to tell him a joke. In response, Phoebe nervously asks him “What do you call a dead polar bear?” much to the kid’s confusion.

Phoebe then reveals the punchline, “Anything you want, it can’t hear you now.” Hearing this, the kid laughs and tells her that both the joke and Phoebe herself are funny.

This joke is one of Phoebe’s dad jokes in Ghostbusters: Afterlife. The rest of the jokes, along with their punchlines, are:

• Because they make up everything.
• They’re harmless unless you stick them in your mouth and light them on fire.
• The grasshopper responds with, ‘You have a drink named Steve?'

‘What do you call a dead polar bear?’ joke explained

The joke ‘What do you call a dead polar bear?’ employs dark humor and plays on the common ‘What do you call’ jokes, which usually leads to a pun or wordplay. However, in Ghostbusters: Afterlife this joke takes a dark and literal turn by stating that since the polar bear is dead, it cannot hear a person, and therefore, said person can call it anything he/she/they want.

This joke is brilliant as not only does it subvert audience expectations but also gets to the blunt and literal truth of the punchline.

For more Ghostbusters: Afterlife content, check out the poster for its upcoming sequel .

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Amazon prime video schedule september 25-october 1: new tv shows & movies being added, peacock schedule september 25-october 1: new tv shows & movies being added, hbo max schedule september 25-october 1: new tv shows & movies being added, paramount plus schedule september 25-october 1: new tv shows & movies being added, disney plus schedule september 25-october 1: new tv shows & movies being added.

The post Ghostbusters: Afterlife: ‘What Do You Call a Dead Polar Bear?’ Answer & Joke Explained appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More .

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‘ghostbusters: afterlife:’ how egon was brought back through cutting edge vfx.

( Warning: This post features major spoilers for “Ghostbusters: Afterlife”.)

“Ghostbusters: Afterlife” is the kind of big popcorn movie that is gloriously stuffed with eye-popping visuals – a gluttonous phantasm (with the voice of Josh Gad) careens through a small town; an army of teensy, vicious Stay Puft Marshmallow men wreaks havoc in a Walmart; an undead deity rises from the fiery underworld.

But its most dazzling moment is a much quieter, more impactful one, as the ghost of Egon Spengler rejoins his family (played by Carrie Coon, Mckenna Grace and Finn Wolfhard) and fellow Ghostbusters (Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Ernie Hudson) for a final showdown against evil. Of course, what makes this so miraculous is that Harold Ramis, who played Egon Spengler in the first two “Ghostbusters” films (and also co-wrote them) died in 2014.

“It’s a Movie That Ends With a Hug”

According to co-writer/director Jason Reitman (son of original “Ghostbusters” director Ivan Reitman), he always had the ending of “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” in mind.

“You don’t know you’re going to make a movie when you know the beginning of the movie. You know you’re going to make a movie when, you know the end of the movie. That seems like a simple thing to say, but I think it’s actually really important. All of us come up with the ideas for beginnings of movies,” Reitman explained. “But I knew I was going to make ‘Up in The Air’ once I knew the end of the movie and ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife,’ which I thought I would never make. I knew I needed to once I knew the ending.”

What’s unique, too, is that the movie doesn’t end with a giant goliath towering over our heroes; even the Stay Puft Marshmallow man is tiny in “Ghostbusters: Afterlife.”

“This is a movie that doesn’t end with an explosion,” Reitman said. “It’s a movie that ends with a hug.”

But it was more than just a hug – it was combining the thematic and emotional threads of the movie into one powerful moment.

“The idea was about generational forgiveness and being able to say goodbye and to accomplish that, we were going to have to create an impossible moment on screen, a moment in which the four Ghostbusters stand next to each other one last time, a moment in which the original Ghostbusters get to say goodbye to Egon, who was my favorite Ghostbuster,” Reitman said. “And a moment in which a granddaughter gets to meet her grandfather for the first time and a woman gets to forgive and embrace her father.”

It’s just that this movie-ending hug turned out to be just as difficult and time consuming as any spaceship exploding, requiring artists and technicians in a variety of disciplines to come together with the same singular goal: to bring Egon, a character defined by his relationship with the paranormal, back from beyond the grave.

A Supernatural Stand-In

When production began on “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” in the summer of 2019 they already had an Egon. Sort of. Reitman hired Bob Gunton, the talented, 76-year-old character actor perhaps best known as the sadistic warden from “The Shawshank Redemption,” as the on-set Egon.

“He’s this brilliant actor who came and performed the scene with the original guys, and he had to do the selfless thing of agreeing to be a part of a movie that you would never see him in,” Reitman said. (He also appears in the movie’s cold open, which establishes Egon’s demise and his existence as a shut-in in the middle of nowhere Oklahoma.) Harold Ramis’ version of the character hadn’t returned. Egon remained trapped in the foggy ether between worlds. Still – it was a start.

Visual Effects Wizardry

By Reitman’s estimation, the process of returning Egon took two years. The visual effects house tasked with the job was London-based MPC, who also started on the project in the summer of 2019.

Perhaps best known for their work on Jon Favreau’s “The Lion King” and “The Jungle Book,” MPC had also convincingly brought 1982 Sean Young back using a similar process for 2017’s “Blade Runner 2049.” Reitman calls the “Blade Runner 2049” version of Rachel “in my opinion is best virtual character ever done.” If they could do it once, they could do it again.

“I basically made a little schedule, another plan for if we needed to do another reproduction of an actor from the mid-1980s. What would that process entail?” Dan Zelcs, MPC film character supervisor for “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” said.

Zelcs was part of a team called MPC Character Lab, who have worked on everything from digital humans like this (they also did the circa-1991 Arnold Schwarzenegger from “Terminator: Dark Fate”) to characters like Pikachu and Godzilla. “I knew what the project was meant to be for, but the specifics were still under wraps and it wasn’t until a bit later on that we got the project awarded that we saw the artwork and we knew exactly what the target was,” Zelcs said.

Zelcs created a “checkpoint” for along the way – they were going to create a younger, photoreal version of Harold Ramis as he appeared in the original film.

“They created a younger version of Harold and actually edited him into the 1984 ‘Ghostbusters’ to prove that they could do it, so that you would watch the movie and not know whether you were watching a virtual Harold or the original Harold from the film,” Reitman said.

The goal was simple and daunting.

“We wanted to make sure we could match the original. Match his likeness, match his poses, match his hair, match his glasses. We were even looking at like trying to figure out the prescription of the glass,” Zelcs said. The visual effects identified scenes from the original film that the digital Ramis could be easily dropped into. “There was one that was particularly successful and we sent it as just an insert of him, and just as a proof of concept that we could match original Egon,” Zelcs said.

They sent it to Reitman, who was shooting in Canada. “We would be on set, reviewing footage from 1984 Ghostbusters,” Reitman said. It was seamless. The impossible was achieved. Almost.

“They took the young version of Harold that they had created and then slowly aged him to the age that he would’ve been in the movie,” Reitman said. MPC used the footage featuring Gunton as a start. “From the neck down, it’s him,” Zelcs said. They also utilized a scan of Gunton, looking at the facial muscles, the wrinkles and folds, the “tics and squints” that made his skin believable.

Zelcs and the MPC team ran into an unexpected roadblock: Egon’s hair. “His hair took a long time to get right,” Zelcs said.

“We got the Harold hair from the 1984 film. It was more about we were given a concept image of what they were aiming for, but it was a hand painted image. It was ambiguous.” They wanted it to be reminiscent of the original Egon hairstyle, but it still had to evolve. “We wanted him to feel older and a bit wilder, because he’s been living in the farm for so long. It had to be reminiscent of what the actor would be like at that age as well, but it was very much steered towards it needs to be Egon at that age.”

Another aspect the MPC team wrestled with: just how ghostly to make him. (In the final film he’s classically ghost-like – glowing and semi-transparent.)

“It was part of our task to refine the look. It’s funny looking back at how they did the ghost effect in the 80s where it was filmed a separate element with different lighting, and then multiplied against a plate. There is also like a roughness to it, whereas with this, you want to see the detail,” Zelcs said. “You don’t want to hide too much behind a ghost effect.”

In other words, this new Egon had to stand on his own. “We were building it the best it could be and then however the final effect applied on top was decided, that would only add to it. It wouldn’t be disguising what we’ve done,” Zelcs said. Somehow the effect, glittery and ethereal, adds to the emotionality of the scene and of Egon’s return.

The Ultimate Seal of Approval

Bringing Egon back was undoubtedly the biggest filmmaking challenge of “Ghostbusters: Afterlife.” But Reitman knew it would work relatively early. “Of the many things that terrified me about making this film, this was at the top of the list,” Reitman said. “And the first time I saw young Harold, I knew they were going to be able to do it. What they do is magic.”

MPC knew they had pulled off the magic trick when the Ramis family gave their seal of approval. “The fact that it moved them, it was very gratifying, and it was also very moving for us. You realize that what you’re doing, it’s a pretty raw thing to be doing,” Zelcs said. “It felt like we’d done it respectfully and we’d done it with the approval of those that were important.”

According to Reitman the Ramis family, particularly Erica Ramis (Harold’s wife) and Violet Ramis (his daughter), were involved in the film’s production throughout. They were the first people, after Jason’s father, to read the script. And they stuck around.

“They’ve been a part of this process the whole way. They read the script, they came to set, they came to the editing room, they reviewed the final version of the movie. I was never going to make this movie without them,” Reitman said. “The extraordinary experience has been getting to know them better, getting to know these people that have known since I was a kid, even better as they entrusted me with these scenes.” Reitman credits Gunton’s performance, and the reactions of the rest of the actors. “I don’t know what it’s like to perform a scene where you are simultaneously saying goodbye to a character, but saying goodbye to someone you also loved in real life,” Reitman said.

There was one moment that resonated the most with Reitman, and to those who saw early versions of the sequence.

“Egon looks at his daughter and he has this look in his eyes like I tried . And that was the shot,” Reitman remembered. “We showed it to a few people in editing and all you had to do was look at that one shot and it broke your heart.”

All of that hard work had paid off. The filmmakers and visual effects artists and technicians had brought a legendary actor back to the big screen, in a way that nobody had ever seen him before but one that felt perfectly in tune with the other performances. “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” showcases the rarest type of visual effect, the one that makes you feel . Talk about special.

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