We give this forgotten chapter in the Ghostbusters legacy the respect and acclaim it truly deserves.

There was a time when no one cared aboutGhostbusters.

It was the late 90s the pre-Pokemon, post-Mighty Morphin Power Rangersdays to be exact.

Which is why we have this: an awkwardly timed, tonally disruptiveGhostbustersanimated series.

Living up to its name,Extreme Ghostbusterswas extreme indeed.

One glance at its radically-inclusive team lineup is all you’re gonna wanna notice that.

(Oh, and yes that was a redesigned version of classicRGBvillainSamhainin the intro.

But no, he never appears in the actual show.

So why wasthere was an action figure releasedas part of the corresponding toyline?

The fuck if I know.)

So why havent you heard aboutExtreme Ghostbustersbefore?

Or if you have, how come you havent seen or heard much of it since?

(Sheesh,its on Hulu nowyou guys.

Im sure the reasons I just outlined above played a role in its limited presence.

It was bad enoughXGBwas written for an older audience.

That it wound up lost in syndication and aired at ungodly hours of the morning didnt help much either.

I mean, take a look at this promo:

Does that make you want to watch this show?

In retrospect, maybe.

But even if it showcases the most horrific monsters from the series, it downplays XGBs mature direction.

These kids are:

Kylie Griffin

Kylie is a goth girl.

Since this series came out way before My Chemical Romance, shes legitimately goth.

Still, Kylie looks like Siouxsie Sioux if she made a cameo inRollerball.

Finding out what happened to her after she passed on is perhaps Kylies biggest motivation as a character.

Kylie is voiced byTara Strong, who has worked on pretty much every cartoon ever animated past 1987.

But you might know her as Bubbles fromThe Powerpuff Girls.

If youre interested, heres somepretty amazing Kylie cosplaybrought to you by Deviant Art user EGB-art-fanfic.

If youre not, do it anyway.

As XGB goes on, Kylie learns much from Egon.

Kylie also had a love/hate relationship with…

Eduardo Rivera

No, not Geraldo Rivera.

I bet he gets that all the time.

Characterized as a cynical latino, Eduardo is XGBs answer to Bill Murray/Peter Venkman.

Or saving her life.

Or taking the blame for her.

Or gazing longingly at her as she walks away.

Or having intimate fantasies about her alone in the dark while touching his cartoon…proton pack.

Because hes a Ghostbuster.

What did you think I was going to say?

I mean, his vocal stylings sound just cynical and latino enough to make it believable for me.

Overall, Rolands a nice guy.

And…thats pretty much all you better know.

Mr. Jackson was played by Carlton from theFresh Prince of Bel-Airhimself,Alfonso Ribeiro.

Did you know he hostsAmericas Funniest Home Videosnow?

(Does that make him the new Bob Saget?)

Hes the wisecracking daredevil of the group and hes not afraid to rub it in anyones face.

Way to go, Trendmasters.

You had one job.

Theres a lot of insight about this how Garrett was created inthis vintage interview with co-creator Bob Higgins.

Does Garretts voice sound familiar to you?

Egon Spengler

Yep, hes still blonde for no reason.

But he got skills.

And you need those to be a mentor.

Except now, hes having a mid-life crisis which amplifies his neuroses.

I dont know why hes freaking out, because hes still pretty good at it.

Which is good; hes the grounding force of theGhostbustersfranchise, ghoul helps us.

Except…hes a little withdrawn inExtreme Ghostbusters, and not featured as prominently as he was duringRGB.

I, for one, am okay with that, even if it makes my face a little sad.

Or could be because of his hair.

Billy Westvoices our little Slimeball this time and does a great job.

Now that weve introduced the cast of characters, lets look at the best episodesExtreme Ghostbusterscranked out.

By the way, I recommend watching each one of these in the middle of the night.

Or the comfort of your own home works too.

Episode Highlights

Ep.

Egon cant handle it alone, so he forms the new team from his small class roster.

He gives them on the job training while infected, and while Kylie is possessed by Achira herself.

Now thats what you call a trial by slime.

If you do, Im not going to spoil it for you.

Watch this episode and find out.

Or read the Wikipedia entry if youre strapped for time.

Deadliners might be one of the most terrifying cartoon episodes Ive ever set eyes on.

Actually, Im surprised this episode is not more notorious than it is.

It simultaneously takes on R.L.

Stine andHellraiserin the same bloody axe swoop.

The XGB must defeat Cenobite-like creatures who operate on innocent people and turn them into monsters.

Will they rescue that group of screaming people tied together with entrails in the corner over there?

I wish I could say yes.

So dont do it!

Whoops, looks like Eduardo just did.

Yep, Im not sleeping tonight.

9: Killjoyswritten by Alexx Van Dyne

What would really disturb half ofXGBs target audience and then some?

What about Vampire Clowns?

Theres a high probability that Killjoys might give you nightmares because most people are absolutely terrified of clowns.

Me, not so much.

The gang tries to save him, but…

Ep.

Cue cameos from busted ghosts of yore.

24: Grundelesquewritten by Martin Olson

Remember Grundel from RGB?

He comes back here and creeps out Kylie and Rolands little brother.

Its disturbing, but not as disturbing as Deadliners was.

(Holy fucking shit.)

(Actually, forget I said that.

Dont show them this.

Just look at those screencaps up there!

No, dont look away.

Keep looking…yes, thats it…keep your eyes on the prize…

Ep.

35: Ragewritten by Thomas Pugsley & Greg Klein

Egon stays with Eduardo while the Firehouse is being fumigated.

Oh, and theres a troll going on a rampage across the city too.

Admittedly, its a riddle weve all heard before in other, more cheesier cartoons than this.

39-40: Back in the Saddle Pt.

Janine organizes a surprise party for Egons big 40th birthday and Peter, Ray, and Winston all show-up.

This is also a frustratingly premature endpoint for a show thats still starting up.

(I guess well have to settle for IDWs comics instead.)

Its too bad that theoretical second season didnt happen.

It would have been great.

Until then, bust you later!

Stephen Harberaint afraid of no ghosts.

Check out thegraphic novel projecthes been working on too, while youre at it.