3 Years Later, Stranger Things' Eddie Came Back For A New Spinoff Series, And It's 10/10 Perfect

Aug 16, 2026 - 07:15

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3 Years Later, Stranger Things' Eddie Came Back For A New Spinoff Series, And It's 10/10 Perfect

Published Aug 15, 2026, 11:00 PM EDT

An experienced Editor representing Canada via ScreenRant's Team Anime, J.R. has been reading manga since the first printing of Shonen Jump in North America. This passion drove him to write about anime, manga, and manhwa since 2022, having recently served as Lead Anime Editor for ComicBook.com.

His favorite moments in media coverage include reviewing the series premieres of Zom 100 and Bleach: TYBW Part 2 back-to-back and briefly meeting Junji Ito at a VIZ gallery event in 2023.

When one thinks of Stranger Things, one may think of well-crafted 1980s nostalgia through the town of Hawkins Indiana, or the numerous sci-fi and horror tropes present throughout. But plenty of viewers obviously associated it since the start with its central kids' obsession with Dungeons & Dragons, with it providing a foundation of camaraderie and unity to brave both the terrors of the Upside Down and high school life. One particular character, though, came to them in 1985, whose vision and flair for storytelling brought their passions to the next level, a star who found solace in D&D, an escape from every tragic aspect of his life.

Eddie Munson is the absolute best character to come out of Stranger Things season 4. He was a perfect counterculture symbol who, whether wailing on his guitar against Demobats, or staring down misguided zealots of the Satanic Panic, was doomed to fall against his enemies, yet became oddly more memorable than other deceased guest stars. For those who craved more of the spirit of his character, with more focus than ever on what pushed him on despite his life's setbacks, Stranger Things x Dungeons & Dragons: The Rise of Hellfire is a fun, surprisingly insightful dive into the life of Eddie. Rather than laying out his tragedy, though, the series runs on a defiantly hopeful note, making it clear why Eddie took the path he did.

Stranger Things' Eddie Story Tells His Origins & How He Met The Party

Stranger Things Dungeons & Dragons Eddie metal cover

Stranger Things Dungeons & Dragons Eddie Hellfire Club throne

Featuring some returning talent from other Stranger Things comics over the years, and commencing its four-issue run on February 19, 2025, Stranger Things x Dungeons & Dragons is an easy recommendation for fans of Eddie Munson. The story focuses on his initial days joining the Hellfire Club, where if not for his denim jacket, he'd be virtually unrecognizable as a high school freshman in 1978. But when invited to a Dungeons & Dragons session by a friend, Eddie not only finds joy after his first natural 20; he finds a sense of belonging, a real escape from soon-to-be-recurring demons of his past, and how those around him would cruelly hold it against him.

Bouncing between the formative years of Eddie, with him visibly growing his hair out and adopting his distinctive fashion statements by 1979, and 1985 as he meets Mike, Lucas, and Dustin, Stranger Things x Dungeons & Dragons is a satisfying, quick comic read. It spells out how Eddie's eccentricities, instead of being buried while struggling to keep up on his studies, found a way to flourish and unlock a joyful storyteller inside...and continue struggling in school.

Stranger Things x Dungeons & Dragons: The Rise of Hellfire's key creative team is as follows:

Script: Jody Houser & Eric Campbell
Line Art: Diego Galindo
Colors: Diana Sousa
Lettering: Nate Piekos
Covers: Magali Villeneuve, Myles Wohl, Nimit Malavia
Additional Covers: Rebeca Puebla, Jeremy Wilson, Gax, Lauren Knight, Elizabeth Beals, Uzuri, Sebastián Piriz, Daniel Irizarri

Beyond the gorgeous cover art and distinctive shading to capture the excitable and passionate nature of his character, though, The Rise of Hellfire captures the personality and motivations of Eddie rather perfectly.

Eddie Munson's Character Is (Mostly) Accurate In Stranger Things Prequel

Stranger Things Dungeons & Dragons Eddie meeting the gang

Stranger Things x Dungeons & Dragons: The Rise of Hellfire tells various stories of Eddie's adventures, first as the half-orc fighter named Relgar the Bloodied, and later as the human paladin Bertram the Brave, and finally, as he takes on the role of DM. Each issue is boldly interlaced with stylish artwork aimed at recapturing the essence of the live-action cast, with fantastical battles against goblins, manticores and nefarious spellcasters fancying themselves as divinity incarnate. Eddie is joined by other new recruits to the group who find enjoyment even against the wishes of conservative parents misunderstanding what D&D is about.

Characters rise and fall, and Eddie grows with each encounter, all while shouldering the trauma of being associated with the specter of his father and his crimes. Hounded by teachers judging him for his passions, and even verbally abused by fellow club members, Eddie knows trouble will only ever follow if he's involved. But he soldiers on, having found a sense of purpose and joy in fostering the passions of others, which is where his meeting with the main characters in 1985 comes into play. The narration surrounding Eddie's story is downright operatic in tone, but it's entirely in keeping with his personality, and a big factor in how he convinces the Party to join for sessions after Will moved away.

But there were few who understood the bonds of friendship forged in story as well as Eddie Munson.

The Hellfire Club could have easily died away with Eddie, but Dustin in particular kept that flame alive all through season 5, bringing renewal and redemption to its name by the end of the Netflix series. This story may not be the return of Joseph Quinn as the iconic metalhead everybody craved, but it's also a good character study and a worthwhile addition to any Stranger Things fan's library.

Stranger Things x Dungeons & Dragons: The Rise of Hellfire can be found at local comic-carrying retailers, online marketplaces, or digitally via GlobalComix.