STRANGER THINGS AND DUNGEONS & DRAGONS #1, available November 4th from Dark Horse Comics, is the beginning of another adventure from the franchise that brought us the Upside Down.
Set before the events of the first season of Stranger Things, this is a tale about four boys, and the tabletop RPG that changed their lives. It’s a series that relishes the discoveries made in childhood, fun passions to friendship, and everything in between.
Stranger Things and Dungeons & Dragons #1 begins the series, and for at least one member of the group, their friendship. Not only is this series set before season one. But it all begins before they even ever heard of Dungeons and Dragons.
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If you’re fond of the endearing nature of these four boys, even without all of the science fiction and horror elements that made the series so well known, then the odds are good that you might just enjoy this origin series.
The Writing
Stranger Things and Dungeons & Dragons #1 was written by Jody Houser and Jim Zub. Together they’ve woven a narrative about the Hawkins boys, and the adventures that they are about to embark on.
It’s tempting to say that this is a light and fun issue. An issue all about D&D and the fun they had. While that is certainly the case, there’s also a darker side to this story. This is a series that portrays just how bad the bullying was, even before El ever came onto the scene.
Think about your favorite fandom, and how quickly you fell in love with it. That is the feeling that has been bottled up and tucked into the pages of Stranger things and Dungeons and Dragons. Every moment speaks of their fondness for it, and how it changed their lives.
It was almost refreshing seeing an adventure like this. It was an origin story, in a way. Explaining how at least one new member found his way into the group because of the beloved game, and so much more.
The Art
Stranger Things and Dungeons & Dragons #1 is a vibrant issue, portraying a version of Hawkins that is bright with fall foliage – not to mention all of the fantasy elements that come with imagining D&D adventures.
Diego Galindo was the lead artist for this project. They blended the real and the fiction to an exceptional degree, making the world come alive with the imagination. It was wonderfully, fully infused with the creativity known to the series. Plus that classic aesthetic that only the ’80s can pull off.
The coloring was done by Msassyk, and there are lots of bold colors to be found, even in something as dull as the school hallway. In that way, the colors compliment their growing daydreams and the overall tone of the story.
Nate Piekos’ lettering was the final touch. It was perfection, giving voice to the four kids, as well as clearly implying when a DM voice had taken charge. That was merely one of the details provided thanks solely to the lettering.
Conclusion
Stranger Things and Dungeons & Dragons #1 is a fun and charming beginning to this miniseries. It’s an endearing adventure, allowing for a sneak peek into the world they lived in before everything turned so…strange.
Stranger Things and Dungeons and Dragons is one of two series actively updating at the moment. The other one is titled Stranger Things: Science Camp, and as the title indicates, it’s all about that mysterious time Dustin spent away at camp. Both showcase different sides of the same characters, and their adventures.
