Issue number eight marked a milestone for me and 5Star as I tied the record for most issues completed in one series (Voltron had also lasted eight issues). Despite the record-breaking event, there was some concern on my part that the book would soon come to an end. In fact, I did take a break from the book for a couple of months, but I came back even stronger with Issue #9, Dark Overlord: Grizzlor Part Two. The issue was a success and during the next few months there were several more hit issues produced that are still enjoyed by me and fans even today. Among those hits are Aliens From Somewhere, Ghost Form-U, and You Light My Jack-O-Lantern.

During the next several months, I was considering quitting comic books again. Some months went by without an issue, but I would usually bounce back, delivering yet another great issue. One of those issues was issue #19, which was a good comeback issue for me. In the issue, I brought back the ghost from the hit issue, You Light My Jack-O-Lantern. But I also brought back an old favorite from the hit television series, Samhain--this coming in October on the heels of Halloween. The issue was the first Real Ghostbusters special edition, and up to that point it was biggest issue I had ever done.

Months following, more smash issues were released. To highlight, issue #22 Just Toying Around, was the first issue to sport cover art. Issue #23 Pizzaroni was colored using colored pencils, not crayon, like most other Real Ghostbusters releases from 5Star. But the biggest challenge began with Issue #24 which was the first in a 3-part issue series that pitted the Ghostbusters against several ghosts.¾ In the series, one of the Ghostbusters was kidnapped by an evil spirit and held captive until a later issue. Creating a storyline that I could stretch out for 3 issues without suffering burnout or ending up with something that I wouldn't measure up to the first issue was a concern. I've stuck with self-contained stories for the most part because it keeps things fresh for me. It allows me to go from one villian to the next and not get tired of a story. With this 3-part issue series was my response to NOW Comics 3-part issue series. So I had to keep the story fresh to keep myself from waning. To do this I simply created a storyline that focused on one main ghost, but several minions that the Ghostbusters could battle along the way. By the end of the series I wasn't ready to wrap up the story, so things ended with Winston in limbo, leaving readers stunned. Issue #28 would welcome the return of Winston, completing the story.

In late 1989 it looked like the book was finished. After twenty-nine issues, the Real Ghostbusters comic was nearly retired. Then, a few months later, I came back to 5Strar and decided to continue my work on the book. Instead of continuing the series with issue number thirty, I thought it would be best to start the second volume for the book and start off with a new #1. The idea was to change the look and feel of the book. However, issue #1 of volume two was not well accepted. Some fans thought the story was too close to the Ghostbusters II movie script. In the issue, the Ghostbusters were pitted against an evil spirit who looked a lot like Vigo, the spirit from the hit film. There were lots of similarities to the film and fans of the book and I wanted more originality. So I took note and the next issue continued with the storyline from issue one, but I changed the spirit's appearance to a half werewolf, half mummy creature. The issue was also standard comic book size, unlike other issues of the series. It was an immediate hit.

That summer saw the Ghostbusters up against some of the biggest ghosts they've ever busted. Issues #4 and #5 really looked great. The artwork was awesome and the stories were some of my best. However, I was feeling the burnout of the monthly commitment to the series. With other tasks at hand and little time to draw, I was was struggling to find time to commit to the very time-consuming process. Issue #7, The Bookkeeper, was planned as the next big case. Following the success of issues four and five, it was assumed that issue #6 would also be a hit. Instead, it was a flop.¾ There were problems and the book was nearly halted. With just a few pages complete, I lost interest in the story. I turned to issue #8, skipping issue #7, the second half to The Bookkeeper. Issue #8 was a big disappointment to many fans. It was obvious that I wouldn't be able to carry on. That issue would be the last Real Ghostbusters comic for five years.

The months following my retirement from the Ghostbusters series, I worked on Darkwing Duck, producing one issue. It was a lengthy book hounded by Ghostbusters fans as crap; partly because those fans were eagerly awaiting more Ghostbusters issues, specifically, issue #7. As it turns out, Darkwing Duck was the end of the line. Or was it?

In 1995 I came out of my comic book retirement to give things another go. The decision was made early that year and the lost Issue #7 was released in the anniversary month of the Real Ghostbusters series, March, seven years after the release of the first Real Ghostbusters issue. Fan response was great and the story of the Bookkeeper was complete. I still believe it's one of the best issues I've ever produced. The story and art is darker than many of the other issues. Egaon actually sheds a tear! However, I wasn't determined to continue with the series beyond completing the Bookkeeper story at that point. So following the completion of the book I went back into comic book retirement and focused on my real job and life in general.

In 1999, I decided to come out of retirement again and this time I knew I wanted to make more than one book. To my credit since that return are several issues. When I first came back I wanted to tell a story with a little more meat to it and I wanted to use a ghost I was familiar with. Heartbreaker was the ghost, a ghost I created way back in Issue #7 of Volume One! And the underlying theme besides the hate-filled ghost Heartbreaker was that Peter was offered a chance to be a movie star and leave the Ghostbusting gig. It was an interesting look at the relationships between the guys and I think the art came along nicely.

The best thing about coming back was that I got to collaborate with my brother Brad on an issue of Real Ghostbusters with Issue #10, one of the best issues, if not the best issue, of the series. Brad has always been a huge inspiration, pushing me to work even harder on my art and having his work in this book was a pleasure that only made me work harder than I ever had before.

Other issues include a halloween issue with my favorite cover ever and the return of Jack-O-Lantern, a genie issue, a zombie issue, the return of Pizzaroni (which was a tie-in with Brad's Real Ghostbusters 2000 Volume), and a two-part issue series where some of the Ghostbusters go inside the containment unit. These books are some of my best work and I am so happy I decided to give this thing another chance. I've made books in the past few years that surpassed anything I ever thought I was capable of as an artist. Comics are an awesome art form. I'm a fan and a reader of several titles each month. Sure, I have an interest in doing something besides Ghostbusters at some point soon, but this has been a great place to learn and grow. I love the characters and I love the possibilities this franchise has. Even with all I've done, there's so much more I'd like to do. Only time will tell where it will go next. All of my comics are now available for viewing at the Issue Guide. Enjoy reading them as much as I've enjoyed making them and sharing them with you.