Stranger Things‘ Eddie Munson is set to return after Season 4, but it won’t be for the series’ epic finale coming out next year. Instead, he will return for a comic book prequel. Perhaps it isn’t exactly what fans wanted. And maybe we’re getting ahead of ourselves; things have been a bit secretive on the set where Stranger Things Season 5 is being shot, and Eddie could return in some form. But for now, all we have is The Rise of Hellfire.
As reported by Digital Spy, Dark Horse Comics (famous for publishing offshoot comic books based on IPs like Star Wars and Buffy the Vampire Slayer) has teamed up with Dungeons & Dragons for a new prequel comic book that will feature the leader of the Hellfire Club, the group of misfits that made nerds cool in Season 4 of Stranger Things. In the series, fans will be able to see how it all started as metalhead Eddie recruits Lucas, Mike, and Dustin to join him for long Dungeons & Dragons campaigns. Per the official synopsis:
“Spell slinging, sword swinging, and the luck of the dice shaped the lives of the
Stranger Things
boys well before they had real-life monsters to face.This crossover comic features Eddie Munson’s rise to de facto leader of the Hellfire Club, flashbacks to the legendary campaign that got him hooked on D&D, his recruitment of Lucas, Dustin, and Mike, and glimpses into the fantasy worlds they conquered together.”
Set to be released in February 2025, The Rise of Hellfire is written by Jody Houser and Eric Campbell, and it will be four issues long. This is what Houser said about Stranger Things Season 4 inspiring her to continue mashing together the world of the series created by the Duffer Bros. with such an important universe as Dungeons & Dragons:
“Both Eric and I are very familiar with how D&D forges friendships and storytellers, and it’s been wonderful exploring Hawkins through that lens. As soon as I saw
Stranger Things
Season 4, I knew the story of Eddie Munson and the Hellfire Club would be a perfect sequel to our
Stranger Things and Dungeons & Dragons
miniseries.”
Since 2018, Houser has been writing Stranger Things comic books for Dark Horse. So far, there are six series to her name (with Stranger Things and Dungeons & Dragons being a very interesting crossover). The Rise of Hellfire will surely follow the expansive style of the previous series.
Stranger Things Season 5: The Epic Finale of a TV Milestone
Although there’s no official release date for Stranger Things Season 5, the hype is very much alive. The “leaks” from the set regard a series finale that’s unlike anything we’ve seen before, with episodes running as long as a feature film. While fans would appreciate the return of Eddie, the reality is that it won’t be an easy task for writers if they’re commissioned to bring him back.
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David Harbour Says Stranger Things Stars Were ‘Uncontrollably Crying’ Reading the Final Episode
The end is finally near for Stranger Things.
However, the Upside Down is a vast and unexplored place in terms of narrative. Who knows who (and what) can survive in it, and who can be brought back to life, albeit with a corrupted soul? For now, we’ll have to keep waiting and settle for Eddie’s adventures in comic book form. Nevertheless, let’s keep our hopes up that we’ll see Eddie shredding that Master of Puppets solo again in the afterlife.