Phoenix Comic Con certainly was fun! … from what we can tell by looking at the pictures, that is. While the Arizona Ghostbusters were living it up with Ernie Hudson and William Atherton, four other franchises were hanging out in Houston at Comicpalooza 2011 this past Memorial Day weekend.

Left to Right: Top Row: Sarah Belham, Jacob Lockyer, Corey Grant, Chris Boeun, Blake Lockwood, Chris Brown. Third Row: Matt Ham, Monica Kruse, Chris Smith, Ryan Burke, Chris Sinqfield, Urvy Jaramillo, Jacob Street, Joshua Kuhlman. Second Row: Dave Burnett, Ben Langlinais, Patrick Hankamer, Jennifer Burke, Everett Hinote. Front: Dorien Lockyer, Kat Branch
(photo courtesy of FantaScenes Photography)

Members of the Houston, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Northeast Texas and Louisiana Ghostbusters and even a “freelance” agent from Oklahoma all had a blast crossing the streams at our first “Busterpalooza” event as part of the growing Comicpalooza convention which celebrated its fourth year in operation last weekend and has become Texas’s largest multi-genre convention. As part of the Fan Alley, the Ghostbusters were a big hit with attendees with lots to offer the crowds. “Our gathering of 20+ ghostheads and four franchises has set the stage for Busterpalooza to become the premier Ghostbusters event for this part of the country” notes NET Buster Chris Sinquefield.

The main theme of Busterpalooza this year was “Crossing the Streams,” and many of our guests kept that theme alive by making special mashup costumes with Ghostbusters as their base, showing off some of their other fandoms as well as their creativity.

Dave Pollan and Jennifer Burke bust some heads (in a literal sense, of course.) as Street Fighter’s Ken and Guile (photo courtesy of Elle Velie)

We even got media attention from the local ABC and Fox news stations.

Local Fox network reporter Ned Hibberd operating a PKE Meter (photo courtesy of Elle Velie).

See the Fox 26 report of Comicpalooza by Ned Hibberd here.

For a first year event, Jacob Lockyer from the DFW GBs feels Busterpalooza was well attended with 20 some-odd Ghostbusters from four franchises and three states. “Whether I was at the booth or wandering around, I almost always had a line of sight on at least one Ghostbuster and at a convention this size, that’s a hell of a thing.” We happen to agree with Jacob and hope to see even more more ‘Busters and Ghostheads out for Busterpalooza 2012!

Before you read this, please be aware that this was an April Fool’s joke. This post is completely fictitious and was posted in good fun. Get the REAL story behind this car here

We’ve all heard the endless rumors, the hope, the talk, the jib, the jive about Ghostbusters 3. Dan Aykroyd wands to do it, Ivan Reitman wants to do it, Bill Murray seems to be twiddling his thumbs … until now, that is.

You may recall Ivan Reitman’s report a couple months ago stating that a script had been sent to Murray, and then last month Murray’s interview with Howard Stern in which Murray told Stern he hadn’t read the script yet saying “…I owe him (Reitman)” and “I’ll get to it… I gotta get to it. I feel bad…”

Well it seems that he finally got around to reading the script because we’ve just received some promotional shots of the newly refurbished Ecto 1 and it’s looking DAMN good!

Ecto 1 Promotional Shot

Ecto 1 Promotional Shot 2

No actual word yet on whether he said yea or nae, but you know what they say … a picture is worth a thousand words.

We just got confirmation! Check out the story behind these images here.

Now that you’ve read it knowing it was an April Fool’s joke, get the REAL story behind this car here

My favorite use of Steampunk is when a person takes an existing design from a movie or video game and melds it with the technology of Jules Verne. Allow me to introduce you to something a friend of mine has been working on for nearly two years: The Aether Stream Disruptor, Portable.

These Alternate History Victorian para-normal elimination packs are by far the best Steampunk proton packs I’ve ever seen and I’m glad I’m able to say “Hey! I know that guy!”

From now until March 31 you can get your 3-day convention pass for $27! Message us with your name, and the franchise you are representing and we’ll give you the super seekrit paypal email address. This is almost half off the door price of $45.

Remember that you must be in costume and have photo ID to pick up your badge at registration! Help us get that record and enjoy a discounted 3-Day pass courtesy of the awesome staff of Comicpalooza!

The Second Annual Comicpalooza Ghost Hunt is now an official part of Busterpalooza! Last year the Houston Area Ghostbusters hosted a simple photo scavenger hunt where contestants searched for photo evidence of ghosts and ghouls around the convention hall.

A Young 'Buster captures Vinz Clortho

This year we’re stepping it up a notch. Along with spirit photography we’re including three new categories each with their own points values:

Free Roaming Vapors: These are ghosts that will be attached to Con-goers and as a result are always on the move. You’ll have to pay extra attention to capture them on film!

Full-Torso’d Vaporous Apparitions: These are life-sized ghosts that will roam the convention hall during special, unannounced times. You should act quick or you’ll miss them!

Paranormal Investigators: The Ghostbusters aren’t the only ones that deal with the supernatural! Get pictures with any ghost hunters, vampire slayers, demon killers, or alien catchers around the convention for extra credit! The basic rule of thumb here is if they’re a widely recognized character that deals with the supernatural (Buffy, Scooby, Kay or Jay) then they’re fair game!

More details regarding the rules and categories will be available at the convention. So whip out your PKE meters and charge your aura-sensing digital cameras and get ready to track down those pesky poltergeists!

The first is our campaign to get Ernie Hudson to Comicpalooza fell short this week as the CP programming director informed me that Hudson had already signed a contract for another convention that same weekend. Turns out he will be at Phoenix Comic Con instead. Sad for us, but happy for our friends the Arizona Ghostbusters! We hope you guys have fun at PCC and want you to know we harbor no hard feelings!

The second is the cancelation of Imagicon this year which was scheduled May 20-22 (the week before Comicpalooza) in Birmingham, Alabama. Word is it will be moving to Columbus, GA in May 2012. This news is sad because we hate to see any convention close (whether it be temporary or otherwise) but it’s happy because we’re told some of the Alabama Ghostbusters might get to make it to Busterpalooza now. Which means more awesome Ghostheads to meet and hang out with … with which to hang out … Out … with to hang … which … YAY NEW FRIENDS!

Not ONLY are they stealing DeviantArt member Reaper-Tranter’s art and selling it without consent or remuneration:  they are further spreading the rumors of a Ghostbusters III which has yet to be greenlit.

Thoughts?