Good day fellow Ghostheads! As the thread title states, I’m seeking a recommendation as to where to dive into the IDW Ghostbusters comics. I figured at this point most of the single comics are compiled into trades, like Mass Hysteria, Total Containment, and Get Real. It’s a little unclear to me which trade to begin with. Your feedback and suggestions are very much appreciated!
Hiya,
Just follow the chart. 
Awesome, thanks @Croker! Just have to wait until Amazon has Total Containment back in-stock! I may seek other avenues in the meantime (like IDW direct, or some local shops).
No worries matey. If you’re not to fussed about hard copies IDW have a app with all th GB books on. Much cheaper too.
Im definitely looking for HC copies to add to my collection. I am a sucker for a nicely printed 400+ page hardcover. Looks like IDW has Total Containment in-stock, so Im ready to pull the trigger. Im curious where the TMNT crossover exists within the timeline (I do know it sets up the Get Real arc)?
I wouldn’t know to be honest. I haven’t got that far myself yet! ;0)
It’s in chronological order. It takes place a few weeks or months after the end of Mass Hysteria with Get Real a few weeks after that followed immediately by the annual and then Volume 3.
If you can find the Infestation 2-parter, I’d start with that and then follow the chart above. There are a few call backs to infestation sprinkled throughout that may confuse without having read it!
ipickedup the last copy of the new international arc yesterday
Infestation is by Erik Burnham, the writer of the ongoing series, so yeah, it’s not a bad thing to have. “Optimally”, read it before Total Containment or Man From the Mirror.
There’s one TPB not mentioned that you might consider picking up, which collects some of the one shots IDW did before the ongoing series: Haunted Holidays. It really isn’t necessary for the ongoing, but two of the stories are illustrated by Dan Schoening (the artist on the ongoing) and one of the other stories introduces a character,Tiyah Clarke, who appears throughout the stories up through Mass Hysteria as a love interest for Winston. Haunted Holidays would be before Infestation in “proper” reading order.
Good call on Haunted Holidays. It should also be noted that it is helpful to be familiar with the events of the 2009 video game as well. The comic counts it (albeit in a slightly altered form) as canon, so it’s worth knowing!
I was getting every book that came out until my comic store decided to drop the comic because it was to slow. I think I was the only sub. Now I can’t fill the gap anymore.
For those interested in starting their trade collection (as I am), Amazon has Total Containment back in stock after a long hiatus for a very nice price point ($36.47). Mass Hysteria is also on sale for $31.92.. Scored them both, and am very excited to get to reading!
Do we know if the Annual is going to be collected in a trade, or is it a stand alone thing that I should just grab now?
It is currently unknown if the Annual will be collected in a trade or not.
I actually like the Ghostbusters character design in the early issues compared to what they look like now.
Yeah I agree! I am a fanatic before of Ghostbusters design but now seems like it’s not tempting for them to hit like! LOL.. I just dont like on the design now compared before.. 
Different tastes, different opinions I guess.