Tobin's Spirit Guide by John Horace Tobin is a book that serves as a compilation of various supernatural occurrences, entities, and facts. The computer software version is hard to find and is very expensive. Egon and Ray refer to it so frequently they may have entire sections memorized. Copies of the book have been shown to be available in hardback, paperback, and electronic media.
History
Primary Canon
As Ivo Shandor is mentioned in the tome, it is reasonable to assume Tobin's Spirit Guide was written sometime in the 20th Century. Gozer rituals have been recorded in the book as happening as early as the 1920s so the guide would have to have been published anywhere from 1930-1980.
The Spirit Guide is used extensively in Ghostbusters: The Video Game. Here, the player can use the P.K.E. Meter to scan ghosts and objects, unlocking their entry in an electronic version of the guide. In the Stylized version, Art Pages can also be found, which add images to the guide entries. The original manuscript can also be found in the basement of the firehouse in the Stylized version. In the Realistic version, once a ghost is scanned, a complete bio of the ghost appears, complete with a picture, their class level, their powers, the ghostbusting weapons they are weak against, whether they can be trapped or destroyed, and some information on their back story. Scanning and obtaining the Spirit Guide entries of any ghost in the game will unlock an Xbox 360 Achievement or PlayStation Trophy called "I'm Picking Up A Signal...," while obtaining the entries of all ghosts will unlock "Back Off Man. I'm a Scientist."
Secondary Canon
The Real Ghostbusters
In The Real Ghostbusters, Egon and Ray shown to carry around a paperback version of the book on assignments. Egon sometimes had Tobin's Spirit Guide on small computer interface devices and later on computer. The latter was noted as being very expensive by Ray, because it probably wasn't popular to which Egon scoffs. It is also shown that the Ghostbusters may not have read every entry, as they often find something new when looking up unknown spirits in the guide. In Extreme Ghostbusters, the team uses Spengler's Spirit Guide, which may borrow material from Tobin's Spirit Guide. It may even be a complete rewrite of Tobin's in Egon's own words. However, the Extreme Team appear to rely more on the internet and checking out books to dig up information on ghosts that they know little about (though a copy of Tobin's can be seen on Egon's desk in the first episode).
Ghostbusters International
It was published as a source book for the Ghostbusters Role-Playing Game, containing ghosts from all over the world that could be used as adversaries in the game. As well as some background on Tobin himself.
IDW Comics
In the IDW Comics continuity, the Paranormal Contracts Oversight Commission keeps a file on Tobin's Spirit Guide, #SG1a. A hardcover copy of Tobin's Spirit Guide was taken aboard a flight to Schenectady by the Ghostbusters. Ray and Egon consulted it while trying to narrow down the identity of the entity they were sent off to confront. In mid-September 1912, Tobin documented his travels in Siberia in the guide. In the present, Ray Stantz and Kylie Griffin used Tobin's Spirit Guide for their research on instances of recurrent child hauntings and supernatural abductions in the last 50 years.
Appearances
- "Mrs. Roger's Neighborhood"
- Egon Spengler looks up Wat.
- "Troll Bridge"
- The Trolls entry is consulted by Egon. Four images of Trolls are seen. Based on his dialogue at the time, the entry may detail disposal methods and/or Troll language.
- "The Boogieman Cometh"
- The Boogieman entry is consulted.
- "The Spirit of Aunt Lois"
- The Domoviye entry is consulted. They are referred to as location spirits, possibly implying a specific section of the tome.
- "Ain't NASA-Sarily So"
- The computerized version is used by Ray.
- "Don't Forget the Motor City"
- "The Collect Call of Cathulhu"
- In the script, Ray Stantz is looking through Tobin's Spirit Guide when he realizes the corporeal entity that stole the Necronomicon was a Spawn of Cathulhu. Ray read further to find when the summoning ritual is, implying an entry on the Old Ones, Cult of Cathulhu, and/or Cathulhu.[2]
- "The Bird of Kildarby"
- The computerized versions are consulted when the Ghostbusters look up Castle Kildarby and later, the Bird of Kildarby.
- "Masquerade"
- Egon Spengler uses the computerized version to look up the Halliwell Mansion.
- "The Devil in the Deep"
- "I Am the City"
- "The Grundel"
- Egon searches in it for match based on what Lee Meredith gave him.
- "Poultrygeist"
- Ray searches through the hardcover tome in search of the Werechicken entry. It is after Wereaardvarks and Werebears. The Werechicken entry also contains the formula for the antidote that cures human beings bitten by a Werechicken.[5]
- "Standing Room Only"
- the home computer version is used to look up Mee-Krah. The file has ineligible (to fans) information, which Egon reads out loud, and two images of Mee-Krah.
- "Follow That Hearse"
- Ray uses the home computer version to look up the Manhattan Earth Spirit. The file has a brief history and image.
- "If I Were a Witch Man"
- Ray uses the hardcover to look up Kestrel.
- "Partners in Slime"
- "The Halloween Door"
- "The Ransom of Greenspud"
- The home computer is used to look up Spiderlegs but is misspelled 'Spiderless.'
- "Janine, You've Changed"
- Egon finds a file on Makoveris Lotsabucks on the home computer.
- "Ghostworld"
- Egon uses the computerized version to look up Karro Zans.
- "Afterlife in the Fast Lane"
- Egon looks up The Phantom aboard his Spengler Speedster.
- "Busters in Toyland"
- "Not Now, Slimer!"
- Egon uses the computerized version in Ecto-1 but can't find a file on the Squid Ghost.[8]
- "Darkness at Noon, Part 1"
- A hardcover copy is lying on Egon's work table near the Ghost Beacon.
- "What in Samhain Just Happened?!"
- Volume 1
- Volume 2
Mentioned
- In Ghostbusters, Tobin's Spirit Guide is mentioned as a book to use in researching Zuul. It is later mentioned when Egon Spengler recalls Ivo Shandor's name in Tobin's.
- In "Apocalypse - - What, Now?," Egon Spengler considers aloud how he should use Tobin's Spirit Guide to identify the four equestrian manifestations that were just trapped.[9]
- In "The Scaring of the Green," Ray Stantz mentions Chapter 27 of Tobin's Spirit Guide is called "Botanical Specific Avoidance in Spectral Manifestations." [10]
- In "The Long, Long, Long, etc. Goodbye," Egon Spengler suggests Tobin's Spirit Guide, old newspapers, and books on the history of the neighborhood to identify the new ectoplasmic entity later revealed to be Blackie.[11]
- In "Halloween II 1/2," Jason mentions the Junior Ghostbusters' Halloween Costumes are based on illustrations of Class 5 Full Roaming Vapors found on Page 23 of Tobin's Spirit Guide (though it is clear that Jason is an alien, Donald is a vampire, and Catherine is a witch).[12]
- In "The Other Side 2," Ray mentions it during the analysis of the dead mosquito.
Trivia
- In The Real Ghostbusters, Tobin's Spirit Guide has a total of 1213.7 words.[13]
- In the West End Games RPG Version of "Tobin's Spirit Guide," the first edition was printed in October 1920 by Guzman, Scott, and Bonterre Publishers.
- In the novelization of the first movie, the book that Dr. Venkman slams on the desk near Dr. Spengler's head in the New York City Public Library is a copy of Tobin's Spirit Guide.[14]
- In the Legion Mini Series continuity, it was Michael Draverhaven who gave Egon a copy of Tobin's Spirit Guide.[15]
- The Guide is seen flying around in What in Samhain Just Happened?! on page 11.
- On page 23 of Ghostbusters Issue #3, File #F390 mentions Tolesian Terror Dogs are accounted for in Tobin's Spirit Guide (2nd Edition, 1937).
- On page 22 of Ghostbusters Issue #4, Tobin's Spirit Guide is referenced in a file covered by photos of the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man
- On page 17 of Ghostbusters Volume 2 Issue #5, Tobin's Spirit Guide from "I Am the City" and "Standing Room Only" makes a non-canon cameo in the upper right corner on the computer screen in different panels.
- Tobin's Spirit Guide appears on the RI cover of Ghostbusters Volume 2 Issue #8.
Gallery
References
- ↑ "Don't Forget the Motor City" Storyboard Page 71
- ↑ Reaves, Michael (2009). The Real Ghostbusters Complete Collection Volume Two Disc Five, p. 14-15. CPT Holdings, Inc.
- ↑ Egon Spengler (2009). The Real Ghostbusters - "The Devil in the Deep" (1987) (DVD ts. 8:42-8:49). Time Life Entertainment. Egon says: "According to Tobin, Necksa was lord of the Undines, master of all the water elementals, one of the most powerful of all the primal gods."
- ↑ Egon Spengler (2009).The Real Ghostbusters- "I Am the City" (1986) (DVD ts. 07:51-07:54). Time Life Entertainment.
- ↑ Ray Stantz (2009).The Real Ghostbusters- "Poultrygeist" (1988) (DVD ts. 12:41-12:48, 12:56-13:20, 13:28-13:29). Time Life Entertainment.
- ↑ Egon Spengler (2009).The Real Ghostbusters- "The Halloween Door" (1989) (DVD ts. 04:17-04:22). Time Life Entertainment.
- ↑ Egon Spengler (2009).The Real Ghostbusters- "Busters in Toyland" (1990) (DVD ts. 16:05-03:24). Time Life Entertainment.
- ↑ Egon Spengler (2009).The Real Ghostbusters- "Not Now, Slimer!" (1991) (DVD ts. 08:53-08:56). Time Life Entertainment.
- ↑ Egon Spengler (2009).The Real Ghostbusters- "Apocalypse - - What, Now?" (1986) (DVD ts. 10:00-10:02). Time Life Entertainment.
- ↑ Ray Stantz (2009). The Real Ghostbusters - "The Scaring of the Green" (1987) (DVD ts. 7:49-7:56). Time Life Entertainment. Ray says: "You're forgetting Chapter 27 in Tobin's Spirit Guide. Botanical Specific Avoidance in Spectral Manifestations."
- ↑ Egon Spengler (2009).The Real Ghostbusters- "The Long, Long, Long, etc. Goodbye" (1986) (DVD ts. 07:06-07:12). Time Life Entertainment. Egon says: "In addition to Tobin's, I suggest old newspapers and any books on the history of the region."
- ↑ Jason (2009).The Real Ghostbusters- "Halloween II 1/2" (1987) (DVD ts. 01:46-01:52). Time Life Entertainment.
- ↑ Ray Stantz (2009). The Real Ghostbusters-"Don't Forget the Motor City" (1987) (DVD ts. 10:32-10:35). Time Life Entertainment. Ray says: "Like I always say, a picture is worth 1213.7 words" then holds out Tobin's Spirit Guide
- ↑ Mueller, Richard (August 1985). Ghostbusters: The Supernatural Spectacular, p. 25. Tor Books, New York NY USA, ISBN 0812585984.
- ↑ Michael Draverhaven (2004). 88MPH Studios- "Legion Issue #3" (2004) (Comic p.02). Michael says: "Egon still sleeping with that copy of Tobin's Spirit Guide I gave him?"