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Zuul the Gatekeeper of Gozer is a demigod and minion of Gozer, The Destructor, alongside Vinz Clortho the Keymaster. Zuul is assumed to be female due to being known as The Gatekeeper and for possessing a female host instead of a male host. It possessed Dana Barrett in Ghostbusters. It was worshiped by the Sumerians and Hittites in 6000 BC, along with Gozer.[1]
History
In 1984, Zuul first appeared at Dana Barrett's apartment as she returned home with groceries. Zuul appeared inside her refrigerator, the contents of which were replaced by another dimension inhabited by the Temple of Gozer. Zuul growled out its name when Dana noticed it, causing her to scream in horror and seek the Ghostbusters for help days later. Weeks later during an intense thunderstorm, Zuul manifested in the physical plane atop the Shandor Building's rooftop, breaking out of a Gothic statue in its likeness. Zuul possessed Dana, as she arrived home to get ready for her date with Peter Venkman, by having demonic claws pin her to her armchair while it telekinetically propelled the chair into the kitchen where Zuul awaited her.
Dana, possessed by Zuul, greets Peter at her door.
Zuul, now in possession of Dana Barrett, acted like a seductive temptress and sought only Vinz Clortho, who had likewise possessed Louis Tully, Dana's nerdy neighbor who harbored a not so secret crush on her. As Peter arrived for his date with Dana he noticed her radical change, but curiosity overpowered him and he proceeded to gain entrance to her apartment by tricking Zuul into believing he was a friend of The Keymaster. Peter asked her for her name and she introduced herself as Zuul "The Gatekeeper". Upon further prodding by Peter, Zuul revealed they must prepare for the coming of Gozer "The Destructor". Zuul then aggressively attempted to seduce Peter, to which he responded by refusing her advances, and insisting on talking to "Dana". Zuul was initially amused but became frustrated after further insisting. She responded in a horrific, demonic voice that, "There is no Dana, only Zuul!" Angered by Peter's persistence, Zuul (in Dana's body) began to levitate above her bed while growling and roaring ferociously at Peter. Later, Peter sedated Dana's possessed body with a large dose of thorazine.
Zuul grins at the sight of supernatural devastation.
When Walter Peck shut down the storage facility, releasing all of the ghosts Zuul awoke, sensing the supernatural energy. She walked toward her living room, with a sinister grin, to get a closer look at the ghosts escaping from the Ghostbusters' headquarters. Upon seeing the supernatural energy fly in front of her building she suddenly blew out the wall of her apartment with a ferocious roar, leaving Vinz Clortho a way to locate her. Afterwards, The Keymaster noticed Dana's destroyed living room wall as he wandered along the street below. Shocked, he walked into the building and burst open her door. Vinz introduced himself as "The Keymaster" to which a grinning Zuul replied she was "The Gatekeeper". The two demons walked toward each other, meeting at the center of the demolished living room in a passionate embrace. They kissed lustfully before Zuul led Vinz toward an ominous mythical staircase leading up to the building rooftop as lightning flashed violently.
Zuul and (a grinning) Vinz rise after uniting in front of Gozer's Temple.
The two demonic beings finally consummated their union atop a stone table in front of the large temple atop the Shandor Building, the climax of which was implied when there was a tremendous earthquake, ripping apart both the buildings and the streets below. After the tremor, Zuul lay on her back on the stone table with her head resting on Vinz' crotch. She sat up, glancing around the rooftop temple as Vinz awoke shortly afterwards with a big, exhausted grin on his face and his torn belt buckle dangling between his legs. The seductive Zuul slid off the stone table, followed by Vinz. They walked down the table steps, staring in a trance at the lightning crashing atop the temple crown before Zuul slowly made her way towards one of the two opposite pedestals once occupied by the Terror Dogs as Vinz walked towards the other one.
Zuul and Vinz, about to transform into their native forms.
As the Ghostbusters made their way through Dana's apartment both Zuul and Vinz, now standing in the opposite pedestals once occupied by their Gothic statues, raised their arms to the sky, slowly. Suddenly they were both struck by bolts of lightning which they redirected towards the large temple doors, causing them to open. Once the doors were completely opened, Zuul began to absorb the supernatural lightning bolts, shaking violently and smiling as the Ghostbusters finally arrived and stared at her and Vinz. Having absorbed enough demonic energy, Zuul began to lower her arms down to the pedestal surface, her body thrashing uncontrollably under the force of the lightning shooting through her. As her hands touched the pedestal, a large lightning blast converged on her, transforming her and Vinz from Dana Barrett and Louis Tully's human forms back into their natural, satanic Terror Dog forms. The two beasts turned and roared menacingly at the Ghostbusters before taking their positions beside the crystalline temple doors which revealed Gozer. After the Ghostbusters crossed the streams and defeated Gozer, the full protonic reversal also affected Zuul and Vinz, turning their beastly bodies back to stone, leaving Dana Barrett and Louis Tully trapped inside their respective shells. The Ghostbusters dug them out and they survived, having no recollection of any of their actions while under demonic possession.
Secondary Canon History
The Real Ghostbusters
Zuul, along with her master and partner, left a great impact on the Ghostbusters' life. Their actions would leave a legacy with such ghosts as the Spectral Ghostbusters and the new Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. A Terror Dog also made a cameo appearance along with Samhain and a number of other ghost on the second opening theme song of the Real Ghostbusters animated series and appeared in a few episodes.
Description
Zuul is a large, horned, dog-like beast with blazing red eyes known as a Terror Dog.
Trivia
- Zuul was originally a generic term for the other-dimensional creature that would later evolve into the Terror Dogs. [2]
- In a deleted scene in the June 6 (and July 6), 1983 drafts, Zuul felt sorry for a horse in a bridle and harness and kissed it. [3]
- Originally, the three arms that grab Dana were different - one human, one hook, and one green frog-like sucker arm. Ivan Reitman thought the sucker arm was too cartoonish and it was discarded. [4]
- Ivan Reitman provided all of the unearthly voices, such as Dana's demonic Zuul voice and Slimer, except for Gozer's. [5] [6]
- Zuul is referenced in Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Realistic Versions) in an audio recording found during the Museum of (Super)Natural History Level. [7]
- Zuul is referenced in What in Samhain Just Happened?! on page eight. Janine's Car's license plate reads "GBI ZUL."
- Also in What in Samhain Just Happened?!, a guest of Artie Lester's party is dressed like Dana in Zuul's garb after she is saved by the Ghostbusters.
- Zuul is referenced in Ghostbusters Volume 2 Issue #2 on a poster in a foot locker on page 5.
- On Cover RI of Ghostbusters Volume 2 Issue #10, Zuul appears as part of a recreation of the "Then Die!" scene in the first movie.
Quotes
- "I am Zuul. I am the Gatekeeper."
- "Take me now... subcreature!"
- "There is no Dana, only Zuuuul!"
Appearances
Primary Canon
Secondary Canon
- Tainted Love
- On page 8, Egon references Zuul's Gatekeeper title. [8]
- Ongoing Series
- Volume One
- Issue #3
- On page 17 and 19, Zuul is referenced by Idulnas and in the Spates Catalog entry for Idulnas. It is said Idulnas' power eclipsed that of Zuul.
- Issue #3
- Volume Two
- Issue #13
- On page 19, Tiamat refers to Zuul [9]
- Issue #14
- Referenced in Dana Barrett's biography in the Dramatis Personae page
- Issue #15
- Story So Far page
- Page 8
- Kylie Griffin and Special Agent Melanie Ortiz discuss Zuul briefly. [10] [11]
- Page 9
- Kylie uses the Gatekeeper term. [12]
- Issue #13
- Volume One
References
- ↑ Ghostbusters
- ↑ Shay, Don (November 1985). Making Ghostbusters, p. 125. New York Zoetrope, New York NY USA, ISBN 0590336843.
- ↑ Shay, Don (November 1985). Making Ghostbusters, p. 124. New York Zoetrope, New York NY USA, ISBN 0590336843.
- ↑ Shay, Don (November 1985). Making Ghostbusters, p. 112. New York Zoetrope, New York NY USA, ISBN 0590336843.
- ↑ Ivan Reitman (2005). Ghostbusters- Commentary (2005) (DVD ts. 56:49-57:02). Columbia TriStar Home Video. Ivan Reitman says: "I actually do the voice, the deep voice of...that's me. I did Slimer and the voice that comes out of her here. "
- ↑ Shay, Don (November 1985). Making Ghostbusters, p. 127. New York Zoetrope, New York NY USA, ISBN 0590336843.
- ↑ World of Gozer Audio Displays; Board of Trustees area (2009). Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Realistic Versions) - Museum of (Super)Natural History Level (2009) (Video Game). Terminal Reality. Audio Display says: "Gozer the Destroyer became Gozer the Traveler, voyaging to multiple worlds and conquering them. In a key aspect of the legend, Gozer allowed one hero from each world to choose its own Destructor Form. Gozer would then manifest in the chosen form to destroy and conquer that world. Gozer gained access to each world via the coupling of two demigod ambassadors, a Keymaster and a Gatekeeper. History only reveals the names of two of these minions, Vinz Clortho and Zuul. It is believed there are many others. Gozer the Destroyer--"
- ↑ Egon Spengler (2010).IDW Comics- "Tainted Love" (2010) (Comic p.8). Egon says: "Protective? You mean, like, some kind of Artifact Guardian of Gatekeeper?"
- ↑ Tiamat (2014). IDW Comics- "Ghostbusters Volume 2 Issue #13" (2014) (Comic p.19). Tiamat says: "You were the host of Zuul, the Gatekeeper."
- ↑ Kylie Griffin (2014). IDW Comics- "Ghostbusters Volume 2 Issue #15" (2014) (Comic p.8). Kylie says: "We know that Ms. Barrett had a connection to Gozer - she was once possessed by Zuul."
- ↑ Special Agent Melanie Ortiz (2014). IDW Comics- "Ghostbusters Volume 2 Issue #15" (2014) (Comic p.8). Melanie says: "And Zuul is... ?"
- ↑ Kylie Griffin (2014). IDW Comics- "Ghostbusters Volume 2 Issue #15" (2014) (Comic p.9). Kylie says: "He couldn't enter this dimension without followers paving the way, without securing a Keymaster and a Gatekeeper, without having a form chosen for him."
Gallery
Primary Canon
Secondary Canon
