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Stranger Things: Graphic Novels #4.25
Stranger Things und Dungeons & Dragons: Das Comic-Crossover
Kult-Mystery-Serie trifft Kult-Fantasy-Rollenspiel! Nostalgie ist ein wichtiger Faktor in der Lieblingsfernsehserie Stranger Things auf Netflix. Dazu gehört auch das klassische, das gesamte Fantasy-Genre definierende und prägende Tabletop-Rollenspiel Dungeons & Dragons. Dieser neue Comic-Band für Fans der TV-Serie betrachtet die Anfänge der Freundschaft von Mike, Lucas, Will und Dustin, aber auch ihre Entwicklung über die bisherigen Staffeln von Stranger Things. Sowohl beim Rollenspiel wie im wahren Leben stellen sie sich jedem Monster und jeder Gefahr. Eine Geschichte über Freundschaft, Monster und Magie. Neue Abenteuer mit der beliebten Gang! Pflichtlektüre für Fans der Netflix-Serie!
99 pages, Paperback
First published July 6, 2021
41 people are currently reading
977 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 181 reviews
July 13, 2022
This graphic novel (short) is so fun. It starts from the beginning...when the original kids meet. Their love of D&D brings new adventures to the young bullied outcasts that we have all grown to adore. It is short and doesn't get into a ton of detail. It's like a light version of seasons 1-3...like Stranger Things footnotes for a younger crowd. Cute and entertaining especially for the littles who are super into the show. I'm rating 4 keeping in mind it is geared more towards the young ones.
December 13, 2022
ای لعنت بهت جمهوری اسلامی که هر داستانی میخونم هیولاش نماد توئه. همهی شرورها و دموگورگنهایی که میخونم و نابودیها و ترسهایی که به بار میآرن یادآور توئن. دیگه این داستانها قرار بود سنگر امنم باشه. این گزینگفتهی مایک حرف دل ماست:
داستان در چهار خط زمانی مختلف بچهها رو نشون میده که چطور همیشه پیوند بینشون بازی دانجنز اند دراگونز بود. یک خط زمانی در ده سالگی بجههاست، قبل از شروع سریال، زمانی که هنوز داستین جزءشون نشده بود. دانجنز اند دراگونز باعث شد داستین اصلاً با این بچهها آشنا بشه. خط زمانیهای بعدی پایان فصل یک، پایان فصل دو و پایان فصل سه هستن. این بازی همواره سنگر امنشون بوده. تصور شجاع بودن، نجات دادن، تصور اینکه خودشون داستان خودشون رو بسازن. با هم.
پینوشت: از اونجایی که از باختن متنفرم در کمال شرمساری تعداد کتابهای چالش گودریدزم رو کم کردم که یه وقت نبازم. حالا معنیای هم نمیده ها. ولی نباید ببازم. :))
I used to be scared, all the time.
Scared at school, scared at home, what people thought of me.
But in-game I was always brave, and that changed everything.
It showed me how to fight monsters. Monsters at schools and... and...
And now the monsters are real.
The guys used to be scared of the ِDemogorgon showing up. And then we met something way worse.
Not our characters with their magic and their weapon. Us.
How are we supposed to go back to playing a fantasy game, when we've already fought real monsters?
داستان در چهار خط زمانی مختلف بچهها رو نشون میده که چطور همیشه پیوند بینشون بازی دانجنز اند دراگونز بود. یک خط زمانی در ده سالگی بجههاست، قبل از شروع سریال، زمانی که هنوز داستین جزءشون نشده بود. دانجنز اند دراگونز باعث شد داستین اصلاً با این بچهها آشنا بشه. خط زمانیهای بعدی پایان فصل یک، پایان فصل دو و پایان فصل سه هستن. این بازی همواره سنگر امنشون بوده. تصور شجاع بودن، نجات دادن، تصور اینکه خودشون داستان خودشون رو بسازن. با هم.
پینوشت: از اونجایی که از باختن متنفرم در کمال شرمساری تعداد کتابهای چالش گودریدزم رو کم کردم که یه وقت نبازم. حالا معنیای هم نمیده ها. ولی نباید ببازم. :))
August 1, 2021
Reading this made me yearn for Stranger Things to return. Houser and Zub captured the relationship between the kids very well. It also made me want to start a new D&D campaign as it brought back those feels of playing D&D with my friends growing up. That sense of camaraderie you get from friends that have your back and the joy of leveling up your character while having these adventures. Each issue takes place between a season of the show. This is a book I think anyone who grew up playing RPGs will really enjoy.
August 23, 2021
Is this more idyllic adolescent love letter to D&D and character sketch than cohesive story? Sure. But it’s still warm and delightful. Sort of like slipping your hand in between two huddling rabbits.
October 2, 2021
Waiting for the return of the tv series, the people in this house look to these sort of okay spin-off stories. I think this is the best of them so far, maybe 2.5 rounded up. It's betterthan any ofthe early ones, better told, a kind of prequel to the series, initially, in that it shows how the guys (Will the Wise, and so on) got into D & D (Dungeons and Dragons, squares!), then all of the kids get involved, which never actually happens in the tv series, but okay.
D & D is a game which I have never played, though there is a weekly game going on in this house. I am not tempted, though the comic and the series does make it look kinda cool.
As the comic makes clear, it is both a game and a collaborative fantasy storytelling event, with roleplaying a key factor. And a Dungeonmaster (DM) who sets up the game. I know a guy who has been the DM for almost 50 years!! He plays in a couple other games, too, and wants to write a book about his experience.
What I like about Stranger Things that this comic makes clear is that it links the fantasy to reality; there are monsters like the demi-gorgon and then there are bullies in real life that are every day "monsters" the boys have to face. And then things turn strange with Eleven and powers and, well, real monsters from the Upside Down.
D & D is a game which I have never played, though there is a weekly game going on in this house. I am not tempted, though the comic and the series does make it look kinda cool.
As the comic makes clear, it is both a game and a collaborative fantasy storytelling event, with roleplaying a key factor. And a Dungeonmaster (DM) who sets up the game. I know a guy who has been the DM for almost 50 years!! He plays in a couple other games, too, and wants to write a book about his experience.
What I like about Stranger Things that this comic makes clear is that it links the fantasy to reality; there are monsters like the demi-gorgon and then there are bullies in real life that are every day "monsters" the boys have to face. And then things turn strange with Eleven and powers and, well, real monsters from the Upside Down.
September 2, 2023
Volume 5 was the only installment so far that actually got some strong(er) reactions out of me
First off: I yelled WHO TF IS RYAN (some random faceless guy Nancy is dating before Steve) ??? so loud that my dog got jump scared by me and started barking at me like I’m a burglar… yeah, I just rly wanna know who this Ryan dude is… and why it couldn’t have been Steve pfff (at least we know him already and he is relevant to the plot).
NOO BUT I GOT SO EMOTIONAL OVER THEM MEETING DUSTIN AND IMMEDIATELY INCLUDING HIM AND THEN BUILDING CASTLE BYERS TOGETHER AND AHHHH MY BOYS, MY SONS, MY IDIOTS - I WANT WHAT THEY HAVE
Mike’s self-doubting
ALSO THAT BYLER CONTENT??? HELL YESSSSS - FEED ME
That scene (down below) where Mike and Will are sitting on Will's bed, having a heart-to-heart, hmmm good shit, good shit... someone paid attention in Season 2, huh.
Okay, but the Mike and Nancy content was sO good… I need more of them. Especially in S5 when Mike finally comes to terms with his queerness. But this little snippet of Mike confiding in Nancy (about Will) made me cry so much...
I’M SORRY BUT MIKE HAVING A MENTAL BREAKDOWN BECAUSE HE WANTS TO BUT CAN’T PLAN A D&D CAMPAIGN WHERE WILL CAN BE THE HERO AND SAVE THE PARTY ??? MIKE WHEELER, I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE
Like... I'm really not a huge D&D fan and the illustrations are pretty 'meh' to look at but this was by far the most enjoyable and heartfelt volume, simply because it actually felt like something that would take place in the Stranger Things universe. Kudos to that.
Also, that group hug? I AM WEAK. Low-key mad that we never got another hug like the Mike/Dustin/Eleven one in S1. Sure, we got the individual hugs at the end of S3 and some TOP TIER hugs in S4
September 11, 2021
The boys gather for their first-ever game of Dungeons & Dragons in the first chapter, and subsequent chapters each jump ahead in time to find them gathering again and again for games between the show's seasons for a little debriefing and decompressing. Most of the major cast members of the show up at one point or another.
I've never really played D&D and this doesn't do much to persuade me to take it up, but despite its empty calories storywise it's a nice enough little nibble of Stranger Things as I await the show's return next year.
I've never really played D&D and this doesn't do much to persuade me to take it up, but despite its empty calories storywise it's a nice enough little nibble of Stranger Things as I await the show's return next year.
July 6, 2021
I received a free copy from Edelweiss and Dark Horse in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Okay, everybody who loves Dungeons & Dragons and has seen the Stranger Things tv series, must pick this up! It's perfect for all us geeks.
As a fan of both, I really enjoyed this! This reminded me of all those lovely late afternoons to late nights, where I played D&D with my friends and I really miss those times! The four chapters in this graphic novel are set before and throughout the tv series, so knowing what happens in the show is a big help in order to understand the backgrounds of these short stories. The story telling of the D&D adventures is fascinating and captures the reader's attention right away.
The artwork is great, it really captures the actors in the characters and they're very recognisable. And now I really want to re-watch the tv series!
Okay, everybody who loves Dungeons & Dragons and has seen the Stranger Things tv series, must pick this up! It's perfect for all us geeks.
As a fan of both, I really enjoyed this! This reminded me of all those lovely late afternoons to late nights, where I played D&D with my friends and I really miss those times! The four chapters in this graphic novel are set before and throughout the tv series, so knowing what happens in the show is a big help in order to understand the backgrounds of these short stories. The story telling of the D&D adventures is fascinating and captures the reader's attention right away.
The artwork is great, it really captures the actors in the characters and they're very recognisable. And now I really want to re-watch the tv series!
June 20, 2022
Stranger Things and Dungeons & Dragons collects issues 1-4 of the Dark Horse Comics series written by Jody Houser and Jim Zub with art by Diego Galindo.
The first issue is set before the events of Stranger Things Season 1 with each sequential issue taking place between the next season. Each issue focuses on how Mike, Will, Dustin, and Lucas connected and bonded over Dungeons and Dragons and continues to play into their friendship even while adding Eleven and Max to the group.
This was a really heartwarming tale of the passion these kids have for the game Dungeons & Dragons. I have never played D&D before, though not because of any lack of wanting, I just don’t know anybody who plays it. But watching these kid’s excitement in playing makes me want to play that much more. This was such a fun read and another good installment to the Stranger Things comics.
The first issue is set before the events of Stranger Things Season 1 with each sequential issue taking place between the next season. Each issue focuses on how Mike, Will, Dustin, and Lucas connected and bonded over Dungeons and Dragons and continues to play into their friendship even while adding Eleven and Max to the group.
This was a really heartwarming tale of the passion these kids have for the game Dungeons & Dragons. I have never played D&D before, though not because of any lack of wanting, I just don’t know anybody who plays it. But watching these kid’s excitement in playing makes me want to play that much more. This was such a fun read and another good installment to the Stranger Things comics.
June 14, 2021
As a fan of both Stranger Things and D&D, I really enjoyed this. It's Stranger Things stories about the bonds of friendship that can come by playing RPGs with your friends! What's not to love?
June 19, 2023
I really enjoyed this. The pacing was intriguing. I loved the way it weaved a seperate story around the events of the first three seasons. I also enjoyed how the story made the case that D&D is a psychodrama, something that allows young people (and others) to navigate their lives and the issues they are facing in real life. The paintings depicting the characters in the D&D world were great. The characterization seemed very true to the show characters as well. Worth it.
April 22, 2022
Okay, storytime. I've been friends with a group of people for many years now, like over a decade. Up until last year, we'd never see each other's faces, or heard each other's voices. We were internet friends, and honestly, they're the best friends I could ever ask for.
And then one day, one of us suggested playing Dungeons & Dragons together. Like actually having to speak to each other in real time, and seeing each other's faces as we play (although that quickly got veto'd since most of us play in our pyjamas and that's not flattering for anyone). And no one had any reservations. No one had any doubts. We just...did it.
Fast forward a year, and we've now met in person multiple times, one of which was the wedding of two of said friends.
That's the power of Dungeons & Dragons, and that's the point of this mini-series.
Each issue is set in a different time period across the currently three seasons of Stranger Things. From the first time the gang played together, to the first time they played after saving Will from the Upside Down, to the first time they included Max and Eleven, to the final (?) time they all played together before Will moved away at the end of Season 3. And each time, Dungeons & Dragons brings them together, helps them through their traumas, and reminds them that they're stronger together as friends than they are apart, no matter what they've gone through, and no matter what's coming next. It's a simple sentiment, but it really resonated with me personally, and I think that was the point of the story.
The mini-series could very easily have just become a way to shill D&D books or something, but most of the action doesn't even take place in-game. We do get some shop talk, and some people roll dice (although how Dustin ended up with an armor class of MINUS TWO I have no idea), but for the most part, it's about the community of the game and not the actual playing of the thing. The game's the framing device, but it's the people that are playing it that make it truly memorable.
At first glance, Diego Galindo's artwork seemed a bit less powerful than it did during The Tomb Of Ybwen, but I think that's because of a) the contrast in settings, and b) the different colourist. Everything looks pretty, but it's when we dip into the fantasy realm of the story that Gallindo really gets to let loose. I also really want to highlight how well he captures the ages of the characters; this series crosses a good few years in these kids' lives, and you can see them growing on every page.
What could easily have been one four issue advertisement actually proves to be a powerful story about the nature of friendship and the ability to come together no matter what's been happening in your life, even if it's only for a few hours at a time. Ably scripted by Zub & Houser and illustrated beautifully by Galindo, Stranger Things & D&D is probably my favourite Stranger Things comic thus far.
And then one day, one of us suggested playing Dungeons & Dragons together. Like actually having to speak to each other in real time, and seeing each other's faces as we play (although that quickly got veto'd since most of us play in our pyjamas and that's not flattering for anyone). And no one had any reservations. No one had any doubts. We just...did it.
Fast forward a year, and we've now met in person multiple times, one of which was the wedding of two of said friends.
That's the power of Dungeons & Dragons, and that's the point of this mini-series.
Each issue is set in a different time period across the currently three seasons of Stranger Things. From the first time the gang played together, to the first time they played after saving Will from the Upside Down, to the first time they included Max and Eleven, to the final (?) time they all played together before Will moved away at the end of Season 3. And each time, Dungeons & Dragons brings them together, helps them through their traumas, and reminds them that they're stronger together as friends than they are apart, no matter what they've gone through, and no matter what's coming next. It's a simple sentiment, but it really resonated with me personally, and I think that was the point of the story.
The mini-series could very easily have just become a way to shill D&D books or something, but most of the action doesn't even take place in-game. We do get some shop talk, and some people roll dice (although how Dustin ended up with an armor class of MINUS TWO I have no idea), but for the most part, it's about the community of the game and not the actual playing of the thing. The game's the framing device, but it's the people that are playing it that make it truly memorable.
At first glance, Diego Galindo's artwork seemed a bit less powerful than it did during The Tomb Of Ybwen, but I think that's because of a) the contrast in settings, and b) the different colourist. Everything looks pretty, but it's when we dip into the fantasy realm of the story that Gallindo really gets to let loose. I also really want to highlight how well he captures the ages of the characters; this series crosses a good few years in these kids' lives, and you can see them growing on every page.
What could easily have been one four issue advertisement actually proves to be a powerful story about the nature of friendship and the ability to come together no matter what's been happening in your life, even if it's only for a few hours at a time. Ably scripted by Zub & Houser and illustrated beautifully by Galindo, Stranger Things & D&D is probably my favourite Stranger Things comic thus far.
April 28, 2022
This review contain some light spoilers for Stranger Things on Netflix.
With season 4 of Stranger Things about to drop on Netflix next month, I decided to do a full re-watch of seasons 1-3. So, when I dropped by the library yesterday afternoon I naturally took a long look at the graphic novels section, and found 4 Stranger Things graphic novels to read.
The first one I decided to read, "Stranger Things and Dungeons & Dragons" tells the tale of the party's discovery of the game that will define their childhood.
I really liked the fact that they first discovered the game while Mike and Lucas were running away from bullies and looking for a place to hide. That hiding place ended up being Hawkins Bookstore. This is very reminiscent to the beginning of the film "The Never Ending Story", which is another clear 1980's easter egg.
The other stories in the graphic novel also make nods to various lines in the show, like when Nancy dressed up as an Elf and take place over the course of seasons 1-3. They effectively show what the party was up to in-between seasons of the show.
This read was a lot of fun and I would recommend it to any big fan of Stranger Things.
With season 4 of Stranger Things about to drop on Netflix next month, I decided to do a full re-watch of seasons 1-3. So, when I dropped by the library yesterday afternoon I naturally took a long look at the graphic novels section, and found 4 Stranger Things graphic novels to read.
The first one I decided to read, "Stranger Things and Dungeons & Dragons" tells the tale of the party's discovery of the game that will define their childhood.
I really liked the fact that they first discovered the game while Mike and Lucas were running away from bullies and looking for a place to hide. That hiding place ended up being Hawkins Bookstore. This is very reminiscent to the beginning of the film "The Never Ending Story", which is another clear 1980's easter egg.
The other stories in the graphic novel also make nods to various lines in the show, like when Nancy dressed up as an Elf and take place over the course of seasons 1-3. They effectively show what the party was up to in-between seasons of the show.
This read was a lot of fun and I would recommend it to any big fan of Stranger Things.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 9, 2021
Well, this is certainly another wonderful Stranger Things spin-off story. These media-tie-in stories can be real hit or miss, usually miss actually. But this one holds up, giving more context and backstory to the group’s obsession with Dungeons & Dragons. I also enjoyed that this offers a glimpse as to what playing D&D is like, and doesn’t try to fuse the game with “reality.” But what works the best for me, is that the characters feel authentic and that the story isn’t trying to add more supernatural adventures to the overall narrative, just adding depth and background. I appreciate that with these types of media-tie-in marketing projects.
July 20, 2022
Of all the graphic novel stories in this series so far, I think this may be my favorite. This is an origin story through the end of season 3 of the show. We see where our friends of three (Mike, Will and Lucas) become four (add Dustin) with their new found love of Dungeons and Dragons. Then as they got older and the adventures they had, real and imagined, and how they grew from these experiences. This was a seriously touching graphic novel and made my day reading it.
February 24, 2021
This punched me right in the feels.
July 28, 2022
all of this is canon bc i said so also i’m crying
@ duffer brothers please put more dnd in the show
also lowkey this was byler propaganda
@ duffer brothers please put more dnd in the show
also lowkey this was byler propaganda
January 14, 2022
Κείμενο στο Smassing Culture
Οι ιστορίες που λέμε μεταξύ μας
Το ότι η σειρά φαινόμενο Stranger Things έχει πάρει μεγάλο μέρος της συμβολολογίας και του λεξιλογίου της από το DnD όχι μόνο δεν είναι μυστικό, αλλά είναι και ένας από τους βασικούς της πυρήνες. Χρησιμοποιώντας το πιο γνωστό tabletop RPG του κόσμου, ακουμπά όχι μόνο τη νοσταλγία για τα 80s αλλά και τη σύγχρονη αναγέννηση που περνά το ίδιο το παιχνίδι, καθώς πλέον αγγίζει μεγαλύτερα ακροατήρια από ποτέ. Ταυτόχρονα, όπως έχουμε ξαναπεί, το ίδιο το Stranger Things μπορεί να διαβαστεί ως ένα παιχνίδι ρόλων, παρόμοιο με τη δημιουργία του Gary Gygax.
Ωστόσο, η σειρά χάνει σε πολλά πράγμα την ποιότητα που κάνει το DnD τόσο σπουδαίο και όμορφο, τόσο για την παρέα από το Hawking όσο και για τους εκατομμύρια ανθρώπους που καθημερινά βυθίζονται στους φανταστικούς τους κόσμους. Την «αβλεψία» αυτή αναλαμβάνει να διορθώσει η Jody Houser (Stranger Things: Η Άλλη Πλευρά) επιστρέφοντας σε μια σειρά και χαρακτήρες που πλέον γνωρίζει πάρα πολύ καλά. Το Stranger Things: Dungeons and Dragons (στα ελληνικά από τις εκδόσεις Anubis και σε μετάφραση του Ηλία Τσιάρα) είναι αυτή η διόρθωση.
Η Houser, βουτά στο παρελθόν της παρέας και μας δείχνει πως οι τέσσερις nerd απόκληροι έγιναν φίλοι με τη δύναμη της φαντασίας. Πώς αυτή η φιλία σφυρηλατήθηκε μέσα από (ακόμα φανταστικούς) κινδύνους, 20πλευρα ζάρια και ιστορίες για θαυμαστούς κόσμους, επικίνδυνα τέρατα και ξακουστούς ήρωες. Μας δείχνει ταυτόχρονα πώς η γλώσσα του παιχνιδιού τους βοήθησε να βγάλουν νόημα από τον παράξενο κόσμο τριγύρω τους, πως χρησιμοποιήσαν μια μέτα- αφήγηση για να εξηγήσουν την άλογη βίων των τραμπούκων του σχολείου, τη στενομυαλιά των καθηγητών, ακόμα και την… ακρίβεια των βιβλιοπωλείων!
Την ίδια στιγμή όμως, η Houser καταφέρνει και εντοπίζει, με μια γρήγορη, χειρουργικής ακριβείας σχεδόν κίνηση, τον πυρήνα της γοητείας του Dungeon and Dragons: ότι, στη βάση του, το παιχνίδι είναι ιστορίες που λέμε με και για τους φίλους μας. Είναι η ευκαιρία να αντιμετωπίσουμε αυτό το χάος γύρω μας οπλισμένοι με ζάρια και (δυστυχώς για κάποιους) μαθηματικά, μήπως και μπορέσουμε και βγάλουμε νόημα σε έναν κόσμο που συνεχώς αλλάζει γύρω μας, όμως εμείς δυσκολευόμαστε να ακολουθήσουμε τους ρυθμούς τους. Και αν αυτό ίσχυε για τα σχετικά απλά 80s, αν δει κανείς τη σημερινή κατάσταση, όπου τίποτα δεν είναι ακριβώς όπως φαίνεται και όλα έρχονται σε εμάς φιλτραρισμένα από ένα, δύο, πολλές φορές και τρία επίπεδα διάχυσης γνώσης, είναι εύκολο να καταλάβουμε γιατί το DnD έχει τέτοια τρομακτική άνοδο.
Η συγγραφέας δείχνει διαφορετικές σκηνές από το παρελθόν της παρέας, γνωρίζοντας πια τους χαρακτήρες. Βασίζεται επίσης στο ότι και οι αναγνώστες της τους ξέρουν (γιατί άλλωστε πήραν ένα Stranger Things κόμικ αν όχι επειδή τους έλειψε η εφηβική παρέα με τις υπερφυσικές περιπέτειες; ). Το ενδιαφέρον της εδώ δεν είναι να γνωρίσει ξανά το κοινό με αυτούς, ούτε να εισάγει ένα ακόμα τέρας από το Πάνω – Κάτω. Μη φαντάζεστε βέβαια ότι οι σελίδες του κόμικ είναι άνευ δράσης, αυτή όμως είναι περιορισμένη στα character sheets των παικτών και το grid. Αντίθετα, αυτό που ενδιαφέρει περισσότερο τη Houser είναι να εστιάσει στη φιλία των παιδιών, το πώς αυτή διαμορφώθηκε αλλά και εκφράζεται με τη γλώσσα της φαντασίας. Εκεί καταφέρνει, με έναν πολύ ανθρώπινο τρόπο, να συνδυάσει τη γνώση της για αυτούς τους χαρακτήρες, που τους κάνει εντελώς δικούς της ακόμα και αν δε γεννήθηκαν από το δικό της μυαλό, με την καρδιά του DnD, χρησιμοποιώντας τις ιστορίες που λένε ο ένας στον άλλο, ο ένας με τον άλλον, για να δείξουν τι σημαίνει η φιλία τους για αυτούς.
Το σχέδιο του Jim Zub κατανοεί πλήρως αυτόν τον σκοπό και έτσι σχεδόν διχοτομείται για να δείξει τη διαφορά πραγματικότητας και φαντασίας. Η πρώτη απεικονίζεται με απλά χρώματα, ευθύγραμμη και με σκιάσεις, ένας περίπλοκος κόσμος κινδύνου. Η δεύτερη μοιάζει περισσότερο με τυπικά fantasy σχέδια, ρευστά αλλά έντονα χρώματα, σχεδόν σαν ελαιογραφίες, οι οποίες αποτελούν εύκολα και το πιο εντυπωσιακό μέρος του κόμικ.
Επιλογικά, το Stranger Things: Dungeons and Dragons είναι ένα κόμικ που μπορεί να διαβαστεί και από φανς του Stranger Things αλλά και από του Dungeons and Dragons, έχοντας πιάσει τον πυρήνα και των δύο. Είναι επίσης μια πολύ καλή γέφυρα μεταξύ των δύο. Αν ρολάρετε 20εδρα αλλά δεν έχετε δει τη σειρά σίγουρα θα ευχαριστηθείτε το κόμικ και θα θέλετε να την τσεκάρετε στο Netflix ενώ αν είστε απλά φαν της παρέας από το Hawking σίγουρα θα μπείτε στον πειρασμό να τα βάλετε με δράκους!
Οι ιστορίες που λέμε μεταξύ μας
Το ότι η σειρά φαινόμενο Stranger Things έχει πάρει μεγάλο μέρος της συμβολολογίας και του λεξιλογίου της από το DnD όχι μόνο δεν είναι μυστικό, αλλά είναι και ένας από τους βασικούς της πυρήνες. Χρησιμοποιώντας το πιο γνωστό tabletop RPG του κόσμου, ακουμπά όχι μόνο τη νοσταλγία για τα 80s αλλά και τη σύγχρονη αναγέννηση που περνά το ίδιο το παιχνίδι, καθώς πλέον αγγίζει μεγαλύτερα ακροατήρια από ποτέ. Ταυτόχρονα, όπως έχουμε ξαναπεί, το ίδιο το Stranger Things μπορεί να διαβαστεί ως ένα παιχνίδι ρόλων, παρόμοιο με τη δημιουργία του Gary Gygax.
Ωστόσο, η σειρά χάνει σε πολλά πράγμα την ποιότητα που κάνει το DnD τόσο σπουδαίο και όμορφο, τόσο για την παρέα από το Hawking όσο και για τους εκατομμύρια ανθρώπους που καθημερινά βυθίζονται στους φανταστικούς τους κόσμους. Την «αβλεψία» αυτή αναλαμβάνει να διορθώσει η Jody Houser (Stranger Things: Η Άλλη Πλευρά) επιστρέφοντας σε μια σειρά και χαρακτήρες που πλέον γνωρίζει πάρα πολύ καλά. Το Stranger Things: Dungeons and Dragons (στα ελληνικά από τις εκδόσεις Anubis και σε μετάφραση του Ηλία Τσιάρα) είναι αυτή η διόρθωση.
Η Houser, βουτά στο παρελθόν της παρέας και μας δείχνει πως οι τέσσερις nerd απόκληροι έγιναν φίλοι με τη δύναμη της φαντασίας. Πώς αυτή η φιλία σφυρηλατήθηκε μέσα από (ακόμα φανταστικούς) κινδύνους, 20πλευρα ζάρια και ιστορίες για θαυμαστούς κόσμους, επικίνδυνα τέρατα και ξακουστούς ήρωες. Μας δείχνει ταυτόχρονα πώς η γλώσσα του παιχνιδιού τους βοήθησε να βγάλουν νόημα από τον παράξενο κόσμο τριγύρω τους, πως χρησιμοποιήσαν μια μέτα- αφήγηση για να εξηγήσουν την άλογη βίων των τραμπούκων του σχολείου, τη στενομυαλιά των καθηγητών, ακόμα και την… ακρίβεια των βιβλιοπωλείων!
Την ίδια στιγμή όμως, η Houser καταφέρνει και εντοπίζει, με μια γρήγορη, χειρουργικής ακριβείας σχεδόν κίνηση, τον πυρήνα της γοητείας του Dungeon and Dragons: ότι, στη βάση του, το παιχνίδι είναι ιστορίες που λέμε με και για τους φίλους μας. Είναι η ευκαιρία να αντιμετωπίσουμε αυτό το χάος γύρω μας οπλισμένοι με ζάρια και (δυστυχώς για κάποιους) μαθηματικά, μήπως και μπορέσουμε και βγάλουμε νόημα σε έναν κόσμο που συνεχώς αλλάζει γύρω μας, όμως εμείς δυσκολευόμαστε να ακολουθήσουμε τους ρυθμούς τους. Και αν αυτό ίσχυε για τα σχετικά απλά 80s, αν δει κανείς τη σημερινή κατάσταση, όπου τίποτα δεν είναι ακριβώς όπως φαίνεται και όλα έρχονται σε εμάς φιλτραρισμένα από ένα, δύο, πολλές φορές και τρία επίπεδα διάχυσης γνώσης, είναι εύκολο να καταλάβουμε γιατί το DnD έχει τέτοια τρομακτική άνοδο.
Η συγγραφέας δείχνει διαφορετικές σκηνές από το παρελθόν της παρέας, γνωρίζοντας πια τους χαρακτήρες. Βασίζεται επίσης στο ότι και οι αναγνώστες της τους ξέρουν (γιατί άλλωστε πήραν ένα Stranger Things κόμικ αν όχι επειδή τους έλειψε η εφηβική παρέα με τις υπερφυσικές περιπέτειες; ). Το ενδιαφέρον της εδώ δεν είναι να γνωρίσει ξανά το κοινό με αυτούς, ούτε να εισάγει ένα ακόμα τέρας από το Πάνω – Κάτω. Μη φαντάζεστε βέβαια ότι οι σελίδες του κόμικ είναι άνευ δράσης, αυτή όμως είναι περιορισμένη στα character sheets των παικτών και το grid. Αντίθετα, αυτό που ενδιαφέρει περισσότερο τη Houser είναι να εστιάσει στη φιλία των παιδιών, το πώς αυτή διαμορφώθηκε αλλά και εκφράζεται με τη γλώσσα της φαντασίας. Εκεί καταφέρνει, με έναν πολύ ανθρώπινο τρόπο, να συνδυάσει τη γνώση της για αυτούς τους χαρακτήρες, που τους κάνει εντελώς δικούς της ακόμα και αν δε γεννήθηκαν από το δικό της μυαλό, με την καρδιά του DnD, χρησιμοποιώντας τις ιστορίες που λένε ο ένας στον άλλο, ο ένας με τον άλλον, για να δείξουν τι σημαίνει η φιλία τους για αυτούς.
Το σχέδιο του Jim Zub κατανοεί πλήρως αυτόν τον σκοπό και έτσι σχεδόν διχοτομείται για να δείξει τη διαφορά πραγματικότητας και φαντασίας. Η πρώτη απεικονίζεται με απλά χρώματα, ευθύγραμμη και με σκιάσεις, ένας περίπλοκος κόσμος κινδύνου. Η δεύτερη μοιάζει περισσότερο με τυπικά fantasy σχέδια, ρευστά αλλά έντονα χρώματα, σχεδόν σαν ελαιογραφίες, οι οποίες αποτελούν εύκολα και το πιο εντυπωσιακό μέρος του κόμικ.
Επιλογικά, το Stranger Things: Dungeons and Dragons είναι ένα κόμικ που μπορεί να διαβαστεί και από φανς του Stranger Things αλλά και από του Dungeons and Dragons, έχοντας πιάσει τον πυρήνα και των δύο. Είναι επίσης μια πολύ καλή γέφυρα μεταξύ των δύο. Αν ρολάρετε 20εδρα αλλά δεν έχετε δει τη σειρά σίγουρα θα ευχαριστηθείτε το κόμικ και θα θέλετε να την τσεκάρετε στο Netflix ενώ αν είστε απλά φαν της παρέας από το Hawking σίγουρα θα μπείτε στον πειρασμό να τα βάλετε με δράκους!
October 11, 2021
This was so much fun to read! I really enjoyed this kind of prequel to the show and seeing how the kids became friends. Thoroughly enjoyable and wonderful illustrations!
September 17, 2021
The Stranger Things comics have bounced back and forth between just retelling the show and original stories, and I think Houser has found a good middle ground here. This was cute in how it follows the characters through everything we've seen so far and really focuses on the relationships.
January 23, 2022
Well done in capturing the passage of time and events from the show. Also good characterization, even of Mike’s parents and Nancy.
December 4, 2025
this was fun!!
March 24, 2021
trigger warning
Four chapters, chronicling the beginnings of the friends' journey via D&D, and how the game provides a frame for healing.
In chapter one, we see how they heard of D&D, how Dustin came to join the group. The second is set after season 1, the third... okay it was yesterday I really should be able to remember, but I know that the last chapter is set after season 3, so you probably want to wait with reading this until you've watched the netflix series.
If you can live with them alluding to past adventures, you could read this as a standalone, but I would not recommend it.
This graphic novel is about the question of how these children are dealing with their experiences. They nearly died, they're traumatised, but they are in a group. They are not alone. They can draw on the others' strengths to learn to live again.
In this way, this feels very important and I hope that this topic won't fall under the table fully since it's now adressed in this volume.
If you're a fan of the series, come and read this. Especially if you're here for the friendship, and not only for the monsters.
The arc was provided by the publisher.
Four chapters, chronicling the beginnings of the friends' journey via D&D, and how the game provides a frame for healing.
In chapter one, we see how they heard of D&D, how Dustin came to join the group. The second is set after season 1, the third... okay it was yesterday I really should be able to remember, but I know that the last chapter is set after season 3, so you probably want to wait with reading this until you've watched the netflix series.
If you can live with them alluding to past adventures, you could read this as a standalone, but I would not recommend it.
This graphic novel is about the question of how these children are dealing with their experiences. They nearly died, they're traumatised, but they are in a group. They are not alone. They can draw on the others' strengths to learn to live again.
In this way, this feels very important and I hope that this topic won't fall under the table fully since it's now adressed in this volume.
If you're a fan of the series, come and read this. Especially if you're here for the friendship, and not only for the monsters.
The arc was provided by the publisher.
April 14, 2021
I really enjoyed this comic featuring the kids from Stranger Things and how their world of Dungeons & Dragons brought and kept them together. It was fun seeing them learn about the game, then develop into the characters they were in the game, and apply those lessons to life and in fighting real world monsters. I also loved how Will ended his last game playing with his friends before his family moved away.
I received an e-ARC of this book by the publisher Dark Horse Comics and IDW via Edelweiss. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
I received an e-ARC of this book by the publisher Dark Horse Comics and IDW via Edelweiss. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
August 23, 2021
Super entertaining! Loved seeing everyone again and the newest iteration of the party. Drawing style fit the atmosphere perfectly.
January 19, 2025
A minha motivação para adquirir este quadrinho foi ter lido DIE, de Kieron Gillen, e adorado. DIE é um quadrinho que mistura RPG com Caverna do Dragão de uma forma bastante adulta. Então a lógica de que um crossover entre Stranger Things e Dungeons & Dragons poderia ser bem legal. Sim, tinha potencial, mas não foi aproveitado. Para começar me lembrou as partes ruins de jogar D&D que são as regras infinitas e rolar dados com cálculos doidos. Depois, a proposta do conteúdo é ser uma minissérie em quatro partes, mas as duas primeiras são histórias independentes, mostrando como o grupo conheceu D&D e, depois, o Dustin. As duas últimas histórias sim, são continuadas. O que me pareceu é que teve uma grande interferência da Netflix e da Wizards of The Coast para esse quadrinho, porque sei que tanto Jody Hauser como Jim Zub são capazes de desenvolver coisas muito melhores. Esse foi o primeiro quadrinho de Stranger Things que li ever. Então fico me perguntando se todos os demais quadrinhos da franquia são ruins assim...
July 19, 2022
Very quick read, and fairly entertaining. I'm not generally a graphic novel reader because the stories seem very shallow -- the images don't carry enough exposition, story, and character development, and the limited text doesn't do much better. This one was okay because I'm already familiar with the characters... otherwise I probably would have found it to be lacking in most aspects.
But if you love graphics, check it out.
But if you love graphics, check it out.
December 21, 2021
I really felt like I was with my Hawkins Heroes again! 🖤 I love these kids, and this brought together the best parts of all three seasons, where they've grown personally and expanded their inner circle. Nicely satisfying! And the art was great too 👍👍
May 13, 2022
Bel hommage à D&D (qui est bien plus profond que les non-aficionados pourraient le penser) et à l'amitié. Cette BD-ci est une série de scènes (consacrées à D&D donc) qui se déroulent entre l'avant S01E01 et le tout dernier épisode de la saison 3. Vraiment très sympa à lire et même émouvante.
March 3, 2023
(4 of 5 for a very nice look at their life from point of D&D game sessions)
This was nice. The TV series tories are some background here and it all revolves around getting together and playing D&D over all those years, despite all the peril they went through. Shame it's only four issues long.
This was nice. The TV series tories are some background here and it all revolves around getting together and playing D&D over all those years, despite all the peril they went through. Shame it's only four issues long.
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