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38-478: The idea for BraveStarr began with Tex Hex, his chief adversary. Tex Hex was created by Filmation's staff artists in 1984, during the development of Filmation's Ghostbusters . Lou Scheimer found the character fascinating and pulled Tex Hex from the Ghostbusters cast. He asked Arthur Nadel, Filmation's vice president for creative affairs, and art director John Grusd to develop a science-fiction Western around

76-501: A Ghostbusters show in direct competition to the more popular Columbia show. Many toys were made by Schaper to go along with the series. The action figures were very good likenesses to their cartoon counterparts and included a small comic with each figure which was a shortened version of the first five episodes of the show. The series of figures included Jake, Eddie, Tracy, Belfry, Futura, Jessica, Brat-A-Rat, Prime Evil, Haunter, Scared Stiff, Mysteria, Fib Face and Fangster. Jake came with

114-530: A journey to his past, present and future, and reveals his old girlfriend is coming to town on the day of the planned attack. BraveStarr and Shaman tell viewers there can be good even in the worst people and if one looks for it in people, they might find a friend. In 1986, a year before the TV series premiered, Mattel released an action figure line based on the Filmation cartoon series. These figures were large for

152-455: A new Dave Stevens cover. (The book had originally been slated as a Pacific Comics release.) Despite early struggles due to their limited funds, Blackthorne steadily expanded during its first years. To increase their profitability and visibility, the company employed sales representatives which sold their comics to retail stores not covered by any comic book distributors , such as Hallmark Cards , Spencer Gifts , and 7-Elevens nationwide. By

190-438: A removable backpack and Dematerializer. Eddie came with a removable backpack and Specter Snare. Tracy came with a removable backpack and Ghost Gummer. Due to their small size, Belfry and Brat-A-Rat were packaged together with a backpack that could be worn by Tracy or Fangster. Prime Evil had a removable cape. There were also several vehicles and play sets that included Ghost Buggy Jr., Futura's Time Hopper, Prime Evil's Bone Troller,

228-475: Is a side-scrolling shooter game . BraveStarr made its way to VHS in compilations such as Filmation All-Star Theatre and Sampler Collection . Individual episodes of the series found their way to shelves as late as 1989. BCI Eclipse Entertainment (under its Ink & Paint classic animation entertainment label) (under license from Entertainment Rights ) released the entire series on DVD in Region 1 for

266-434: Is the character most often employed in this role. From time to time, Jake Jr., Eddie Jr. or another protagonist would talk with Skelevision about the lesson. When Columbia Pictures began work on the film Ghostbusters in 1984, producers overlooked the fact that Filmation had already created a live-action comedy series with that same name in 1975. Columbia agreed to license the name from Filmation for $ 608,000, plus 1% of

304-609: The Groovie Goolies as Victor and Vampra. Drac's clumsy bat transformation sequence, banging against the floor and ceiling, changing clumsily from vampire to bat was reused in this episode and in several others. In the episode "The Way You Are", Super Spenser makes a reference to He-Man from He-Man and the Masters of the Universe when he punches the door. First Comics published a comic-book miniseries in 1987 based on

342-504: The Filmation in-house library, with the exception of two episodes ("Tracy Come Back", and "Like Father, Like Son"), this DVD release appears to have been sourced from the original NTSC film prints. As of 2009, these releases have been discontinued and are out of print as BCI Eclipse ceased operations. TGG Direct, LLC released a single-disc The Best of Ghostbusters DVD that contains four episodes ("Mummy Dearest", "Shades of Dracula", "The White Whale" and "Like Father, Like Son"). The disc

380-607: The Retro Television Network until 2015. In the 1980s, ABC aired the series in Australia. Jake Kong Jr. and Eddie Spenser Jr. are the sons of the original Ghost Busters from the live-action comedy series of the same name ; Tracy the Gorilla had worked with their fathers. Their headquarters, termed Ghost Command, is located in a haunted mansion nestled between a number of tall skyscrapers (which resemble

418-639: The World Trade Center 's Twin Towers in New York City). They are supported by a number of secondary characters including Ansabone, a talking skull phone; Skelevision, a talking skeleton television; Belfry, a pink talking bat; and Ghost Buggy Jr., their talking car. They occasionally enlist the aid of Futura, a time-traveling Ghostbuster from the future, and Jessica Wray, a local TV news reporter. Together, they have dedicated themselves to ridding

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456-454: The Masters of the Universe , She-Ra: Princess of Power , Shazam! , The Secrets of Isis , and the animated Ghostbusters ), a moral lesson is told at the end of each episode. One notable episode is "The Price", in which a boy buys a drug called "Spin", becomes addicted to it, and dies of an overdose . The setting in most episodes is New Texas: a planetary system orbiting three suns, 600 parsecs (2,000 light-years ) from Earth. Much of

494-642: The Scare Scooter and the Ghost Command play set. The following were not made into action figures, play sets, and roleplay accessories: Madam Why, Airhead, Flozart, Long John Scarechrome, Sir Trance-A-Lot and Frightmare, Apparatia, the Hauntquarters. The tagline for the series was "So much fun, it's spooky!" BCI Eclipse LLC (under its Ink & Paint classic animation entertainment label and under license from Entertainment Rights PLC) released

532-433: The character. As the concepts took shape, staff writer Bob Forward fleshed out the writer's guide and eventually co-wrote the feature film script for BraveStarr: The Legend with writer Steve Hayes. The series cost $ 20 million. The episodes combine elements of science fiction and western genres. It is set in the 23rd century on a multi-cultural desert planet called New Texas. As on other Filmation series ( He-Man and

570-454: The characters from the earlier TV show. This animated series ran from September 8 to December 5, 1986 in daytime syndication, and produced 65 episodes. The series is technically called simply Ghostbusters , but home video releases used the name Filmation's Ghostbusters to avoid confusion. In the U.S., reruns of the show previously aired on CBN Cable; The Family Channel , Qubo 's Qubo Night Owl block from 2010 to 2013; and most recently on

608-465: The distributor, they were never able to recoup their losses. This in turn led to Blackthorne being audited by the federal government in 1988. In early 1989, the company was still the fifth-largest U.S. comics publisher, bringing in about $ 1 million in sales and boasting a staff of eight full-time editorial and production employees. They published about 240 different titles a year, with an average print run of about 10,000 copies each. The company made

646-399: The end of 1987, according to Schanes, the company was publishing 22 comic books a month and was distributing to 900–1,200 gift stores not covered by comics distributors. Meanwhile, Blackthorne earned praise from critics and hobbyists for its reprints of classic newspaper comic strips. Schanes chose to do newspaper strip reprints because they required less financial investment and because there

684-457: The entire series in Region 1 in two-volume sets in 2007. Each episode on BCI Ink & Paint's DVD releases of the 1986 animated series of Filmation's Ghostbusters was uncut, re-mastered and in story continuity order. Each set also features extensive special features including interviews, commentary, image galleries, bonus episodes and more. Unlike many of BCI Ink & Paint's R1 DVD releases of

722-426: The food and water supply is imported. The majority of land is desert or prairie but there is one wetland area, which is the home of "apecats". Water is also found in cactus -like 'Aqua-Pod' plants. The chief export is Kerium, a red mineral used as a fuel source, and often therefore the prize of conflicts among characters. Implications exist that New Texas was colonized for Kerium, but will remain inhabited even after

760-463: The infrared technology, and Fort Kerium playset also made their way to toy shelves. A second series of figures was designed but never produced. This included Dingo Dan, Judge J. B., Long Arm John, Rampage, and the Starr Hawk vehicle. Lou Scheimer stated that Mattel hindered Bravestarr ' s success by releasing the toys before the pilot movie or TV series were released, leading viewers to think

798-562: The mines are exhausted. The native civilization of New Texas are the Prairie People, who operate most of the Kerium mines. The following locations are on New Texas: Two episodes are set on Earth, where the city of London resembles a modernized Victorian England , including a time-traveling Sherlock Holmes . When Tex Hex learns BraveStarr will be going away for Christmas, he plans to attack Fort Kerium. However, Shaman takes him on

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836-542: The movie Russkies are all props crafted by Blackthorne Publishing. In 1987, however, with the company losing money on its color line, it canceled those titles to focus on its 3-D books and black-and-white licensed products. Blackthorne also suffered from the contemporaneous financial troubles of the Los Angeles–based distributor Sunrise Distribution . Sunrise went bankrupt in 1988, and although Blackthorne (along with fellow West Coast publisher Fantagraphics ) sued

874-408: The profits (of which there were ostensibly none, thanks to Hollywood accounting ). This deal did not include giving Filmation the rights to make an animated series based on the film. After the film became a success, Filmation offered to make an animated series, but Columbia chose instead to give the contract to DiC . Filmation then made their own animated show based on their 1975 live-action sitcom. It

912-477: The rights from Classic Media to re-release the series on DVD in North America. They subsequently released a complete series set as well as two single-volume releases on May 10, 2011. Ghostbusters (1986 TV series) Ghostbusters (later called Filmation's Ghostbusters ) is a 1986 American animated television series created by Filmation and distributed by Tribune Entertainment , serving as

950-508: The sequel to Filmation's 1975 live-action television show The Ghost Busters . It is not to be confused with Columbia Pictures ' 1984 film Ghostbusters or that film's subsequent animated television show The Real Ghostbusters , which premiered five days later. When making their film, Columbia Pictures needed to obtain rights to use the name from Filmation. The success of Columbia's (unrelated) film spurred Filmation to resurrect their own property, producing an animated series based on

988-525: The show was based on the toy line. Various other forms of BraveStarr merchandise made their way to the market including a Colorforms adventure set, View-Master reels, Ladybird storybook, pillow case , sticker album , and water gun , among others. A comic book series, BraveStarr in 3-D , also began under Blackthorne Publishing in January 1987. A BraveStarr video game was released for Commodore 64 , Amstrad CPC and ZX Spectrum in 1987. It

1026-593: The show. Originally intended as a six-issue series, only four issues were published. The unpublished issues (along with reprints of the First Comics series) were published in a six-issue set in Germany by Bastei Verlag in 1988. In the UK , numerous issues were reprinted in a hardcover annual called Filmation's Ghostbusters Annual 1987 by World Color Press . Blackthorne Publishing Blackthorne Publishing Inc.

1064-626: The time at nearly eight inches (20 cm) tall and came in a windowed box with artwork similar to that of their Masters of the Universe contemporaries. Each figure had a unique action feature and was packaged with one or more Kerium nuggets. Marshal BraveStarr and Tex Hex were also packaged with a Laser Fire Backpack which shot infrared beams and had "space-age" sound effects. Such backpacks were individually available—blue for heroes and black for villains. Other figures available were Handlebar, Sand Storm, Thirty/Thirty, Skuzz, Fuzz, Col. Borobot and Thunder Stick. The Neutra-Laser weapon, which worked with

1102-505: The very first time in 2007/2008. Each episode on BCI Ink & Paint's DVD releases of BraveStarr was uncut, digitally remastered and presented in its original broadcast presentation and story continuity order. The series was released in two single-volume sets, with the first volume featuring several bonus features. As of 2009, these releases have been discontinued and are out of print as BCI Eclipse ceased operations. On December 10, 2010, Mill Creek Entertainment announced that it had acquired

1140-577: The world of the evil ghost wizard Prime Evil and his cast of henchmen. Prime Evil's headquarters, termed the Hauntquarters (which resembles the British Houses of Parliament complete with a Big Ben -esque clock tower), is located in The Fifth Dimension . In a typical episode, Prime Evil uses his magical powers to open up a wormhole to enable one or more of his henchmen to complete a particular scheme that serves to help him take over

1178-524: The world. Famous guest-star ghosts and monsters that appeared on the show include Count Dracula and the Headless Horseman (who also appeared in an episode of The Real Ghostbusters written by Jean-Marc Lofficier 's wife, Randy Lofficier). Like almost all 1980s Filmation cartoons, each episode closes with a segment describing a particular lesson that can be learned from the events of the episode. Skelevision (sometimes accompanied by Belfry)

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1216-439: Was a major contributor to the publisher's downfall. Blackthorne was established in 1985 by husband-and-wife team Steve Schanes and Ann Fera, formerly associated with Pacific Comics (which had gone out of business in 1984). Schanes explained, "My abilities have always been to sell and promote, and I needed to have a job to pay my debts and to maintain a minimum life-style with my family. Since I could not locate enough work where I

1254-597: Was an American comic book publisher that flourished from 1986 to 1989. They were notable for the Blackthorne 3-D Series , their reprint titles of classic comic strips like Dick Tracy , and their licensed products. Blackthorne achieved its greatest sales and financial success with their licensed 3-D comics adaptations of the California Raisins , but the financial loss suffered by the failure of their 3-D adaptation of Michael Jackson 's film Moonwalker

1292-464: Was available at Wal-Mart on a cardboard backing. Mill Creek Entertainment announced the re-release of the series on DVD. In Australia, the complete series was released on DVD by Shock Entertainment across three 3-disc volumes on June 1, 2016. The animated series was previously released on VHS by Celebrity Home Entertainment 's "Just For Kids" imprint. Note: only the Dematerializer

1330-466: Was carried over from the live-action series. All other weapons shown here are specific to this series. Ghostbusters was no exception of Filmation's budget-trimming methods, using among others, an extensive sequence where they got their equipment and the Ghost Buggy. In the episode "The Girl Who Cried Vampire", Filmation reused the model sheets and character designs of Drac and Bella La Ghostly from

1368-433: Was little competition in the field at the time. Blackthorne immediately bought the rights for 60 different newspaper strips, even though they knew they wouldn't be able to produce most of them for years at best, to lock out any competition in the field. In addition to their comic book line, Blackthorne published paperback books and created faux books for movie props; for instance, the comic books and technical manuals seen in

1406-461: Was living, I decided to start up another company, so I borrowed on my credit cards and started Blackthorne." Schanes and Fera raised $ 16,000 to start Blackthorne (naming the company after the street on which they lived), mostly using their credit cards. Blackthorne's first title was Jerry Iger 's Classic Sheena , with a cover date of April 1985, featuring Sheena, Queen of the Jungle reprints and

1444-551: Was released just a few days ahead of DiC's series. DiC titled their own adaptation of the movie The Real Ghostbusters to distinguish it from the Filmation show. The Filmation show and the DiC show aired simultaneously, and this left audiences confused because they had similar titles and concepts. This confusion led to poor toy sales for the Filmation show. In retrospect, producer Lou Scheimer felt that it had been an error to produce

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