ghostbusters

Captain Kidd[1] (also known as William Kidd)[2] is the ghost of a Scottish privateer who allegedly became a pirate and hid a great treasure that was never found.

History

William Kidd was born in 1645. Kidd owned property in Manhattan's Financial District and lived with his family near Wall Street. Many think he plundered and killed at his leisure as a pirate. In 1701, he was hanged twice for murder after the rope broke on the first attempt. He was gibetted as a warning to other pirates. Some historians came to the conclusion he was innocent and framed by the British crown. Others believed he deserved his fate.

In December of 2022, outside of Ray's Occult Books, Sammy Velez produced the Cursed Saber of Captain Kidd and recited the phrase inscribed on it, "Let me, who wields this cursed saber, fall within the Captain's favor," to scare the three Mean Girls of Zeddemore Academy. To Velez's surprise, the ghost of Captain Kidd manifested, took the saber, and flew up into the sky. Kidd reminisced how New York was once his and it will be again. The next day, Kidd came to shore near Liberty Island with a fleet of ghost ships. He issued a warning to all to stand aside or dance the hempen jig.

Phoebe and Sammy walked to the Earthy / Crunchy Health Foods at Wall Street and Pearl Street in the Financial District. Based on Ray's findings, the supermarket was the location of Kidd's former home. Sammy joked he pegged Kidd as more of a Red Lobster guy. Phoebe suggested Long John Silver's. Sammy agreed but asked what they were looking for. Phoebe believed it would be a "know-it-when-we-see-it" scenario. They sneaked into the back room and looked around. She found an out of place chimney that looked original. Upon further inspection, she noticed a plaque dedicated to Captain Kidd. Phoebe keyed on "Father" in the inscription and was reminded of Sammy being related to Kidd. She took a photo of the plaque with her phone and speculated the family connection must have allowed Sammy to release Kidd from his saber. She wondered why now and what Kidd wanted. Sammy hoped it was buried treasure. That evening, they talked on the roof of the Firehouse. Before they could head back downstairs, Captain Kidd appeared through the roof. Phoebe pointed out Kidd should be defending his summoner and not standing in their way. Kidd agreed and stated Sammy would have the captain's favor then kidnapped them aboard his phantom ship. Sammy called out to Phoebe as the ship sailed off.

Kidd kept Sammy kept them prisoner on the third floor of a corporeal manifestation of Kidd Mansion on Pearl Street.[3] Captain Kidd looked at a family portrait then asked Sammy if they knew what everyone called him when he stood on the gallows. Sammy guessed he was called a kind and benevolent sea captain who would never dream of hurting a child. Kidd revealed it was "traitor" even though he was loyal to the crown and plundered their enemies and gave every prize to the King. He went about how he was betrayed, called a pirate, put through a faux trial, lost everything, including his home, life, and family, but as he swung through the doorway to death, he vowed to return and reclaim what was stolen. Sammy reminded Kidd he knew what it was like to be misunderstood and he was a descendant but definitely not his kid from the portrait but did not think taking over Lower Manhattan was the way to clear his name. Sammy suggested he get back into his cursed sword instead of destroying New York. Kidd repeated he was going to have what was taken from him. Sammy took that as a "no."

The Ghostbusters fought their up to Kidd and Sammy. Gary Grooberson kicked the door in and Phoebe demanded Kidd to let go of the kid. Trevor Spengler thought it sounded weird. Phoebe admitted she knew it did as soon as she said it. Kidd vowed they would not take his son away from him again. Callie Spengler taunted Kidd and called him Blackbeard. Gary missed it was an insult. Sammy shouted they were not his son or anybody's. Phoebe repeated herself then threw her Proton sword into Kidd's right shoulder. He reacted in pain. Trevor then Callie and Gary fought Kidd sword-to-sword. Trevor reckoned he would have guessed he needed to know how to sword fight. Gary liked the variety. Phoebe untied Sammy. Sammy shared their observation that Kidd never put the saber down one time and speculated they needed to separate him from it. Phoebe already ascertained that, ran to a window, and gave Lucky Domingo the signal then yelled at everyone to get down. Lucky fired several cannonballs from the ghost pirate ship and blew a hole into the mansion. Kidd looked around for the saber but Sammy had it. Kidd declared it was his and grew larger and angrier. Sammy stabbed him in the chest with it and he screamed. Gary remembered their Traps disappeared when they stepped inside. Ray Stantz operated the Drone Trap outside and trapped Kidd. The mansion reverted back to the Earthy / Crunchy Health Foods store but the big gaping hole remained.

Powers

Captain Kidd has the standard ability of flight.

Trivia

Appearances

Primary Canon Appearances

References

  1. ↑ Captain Kidd (2025). Dark Horse Comics- "Ghostbusters: Dead Man's Chest Issue #1" (2025) (Comic p.20). Captain Kidd says: "No, but Captain Kidd will."
  2. ↑ Ray Stantz (2025). Dark Horse Comics- "Ghostbusters: Dead Man's Chest Issue #2" (2025) (Comic p.14). Ray Stantz says: "William Kidd. The most puzzling of all pirates. May think he plundered and killed at his leisure. But he actually owned property in Manhattan's Financial District. He and his family lived in a house near Wall Street. He was hanged twice for murder after the rope broke on the first attempt. He was gibetted as a warning to other pirates. Some historians believe he was innocent and framed by the British crown. Others believe he deserved his fate."
  3. ↑ Phoebe Spengler (2025). Dark Horse Comics- "Ghostbusters: Dead Man's Chest Issue #4" (2025) (Comic p.5). Phoebe Spengler says: "A corporeal manifestation of a seventeenth-century pirate's den."

Gallery

Primary Canon Images