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Stranger Things: Kamchatka #1-4
Stranger Things: Kamchatka
Horror and espionage collide in the most bone-chilling Stranger Things comics collection yet.
When a leading Soviet scientist is abducted to work on a top-secret project, he comes face-to-face with the Kremlin’s new ultimate weapon—a Demogorgon!
What his top-secret captors didn’t count on was the resiliency of the doctor’s children. While their father has been dragooned into weaponizing a monster brought back from the US, the two young teenagers are forced to embark on a harrowing and perilous journey to find him, with help from an unlikely an old but extremely deadly retired KGB agent.
Things are getting Stranger in Russia and all four of these characters will need to battle impossible odds in order to survive. If they survive.
This terrifying collection, written by hit author Michael Moreci ( The Plot, Barbaric ) and featuring gritty art from Todor Hristov ( Stranger Halloween Special), combines the science-fiction creatures of The Upside Down with spine-tingling Cold War intrigue and espionage as a new thread in the tapestry of Stranger Things .
Collects Stranger Kamchatka issues #1-4.
When a leading Soviet scientist is abducted to work on a top-secret project, he comes face-to-face with the Kremlin’s new ultimate weapon—a Demogorgon!
What his top-secret captors didn’t count on was the resiliency of the doctor’s children. While their father has been dragooned into weaponizing a monster brought back from the US, the two young teenagers are forced to embark on a harrowing and perilous journey to find him, with help from an unlikely an old but extremely deadly retired KGB agent.
Things are getting Stranger in Russia and all four of these characters will need to battle impossible odds in order to survive. If they survive.
This terrifying collection, written by hit author Michael Moreci ( The Plot, Barbaric ) and featuring gritty art from Todor Hristov ( Stranger Halloween Special), combines the science-fiction creatures of The Upside Down with spine-tingling Cold War intrigue and espionage as a new thread in the tapestry of Stranger Things .
Collects Stranger Kamchatka issues #1-4.
96 pages, Paperback
First published January 10, 2023
10 people are currently reading
326 people want to read
About the author
Michael Moreci
427 books210 followersMichael Moreci is a bestselling comics author and novelist. His original works include the space adventure novels Black Star Renegades and We Are Mayhem, as well as the comic series Wasted Space, The Plot, Hexagon, Curse, Archangel 8, and more. The Plot appeared on numerous best of 2019 lists, and Wasted Space has been hailed as one of the best comics of the past decade. Moreci's comic trilogy Roche Limit was called one of the best sci-fi comics of all-time by Paste Magazine, and Black Star Renegades was an Audie Award finalist for best sci-fi of 2018.
Moreci has also written for Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica, and the DC universe--including the YA graphic novel The Lost Carnival: A Dick Grayson Story. He's also adapted Eoin Colfer's bestselling Artemis Fowl series into graphic novels.
He lives outside Chicago with his family.
Moreci has also written for Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica, and the DC universe--including the YA graphic novel The Lost Carnival: A Dick Grayson Story. He's also adapted Eoin Colfer's bestselling Artemis Fowl series into graphic novels.
He lives outside Chicago with his family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
September 12, 2022
This was an interesting look at what happened in Russia with one of the demigorgans from the show, but I didn't enjoy it as much as other stories featuring the characters from the TV show.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 5, 2023
Only being held captive by cruel and corrupt Soviet apparatchiks can make one sympathetic for the Demogorgon!
The real meat of the story, however, deals with the unfortunate children (because Stranger Things = Kids!) of an abducted Moscow scientist with a conscience and their emotionally-damaged Father-figure protector. So, yes, it follows the formula pretty faithfully but without any of the beloved characters fans of the Netflix series might be looking for. Really just for completionists, then, though the art is decent.
The real meat of the story, however, deals with the unfortunate children (because Stranger Things = Kids!) of an abducted Moscow scientist with a conscience and their emotionally-damaged Father-figure protector. So, yes, it follows the formula pretty faithfully but without any of the beloved characters fans of the Netflix series might be looking for. Really just for completionists, then, though the art is decent.
March 23, 2023
(4,2 of 5 for thrilling "spy action" from Russia and learning more about that connection)
Kamchatka is good. It follows the sad destinies of a handful of people involved in events of ST on the Russian part. The art is great and the story is superbly thrilling. Great comics and a great addition to the show.
Kamchatka is good. It follows the sad destinies of a handful of people involved in events of ST on the Russian part. The art is great and the story is superbly thrilling. Great comics and a great addition to the show.
February 19, 2025
*3.75
This was a pretty solid addition to the Stranger Things comic canon. Taking place prior to season 4, Kamchatka explores how the Soviets created their demogorgon and came to control it. It's a creepy, fast-paced story following the kids of a captured scientist and the unlikely ally they make along the way. I really enjoyed the chase scenes and the genuine tension, along with the side characters. The main villain pulls a pretty dumb "I won't kill you for reasons" line at the halfway point, but otherwise I had a great time. I like these comics that flesh out these untold parts of ST.
3.75/5 stars!
This was a pretty solid addition to the Stranger Things comic canon. Taking place prior to season 4, Kamchatka explores how the Soviets created their demogorgon and came to control it. It's a creepy, fast-paced story following the kids of a captured scientist and the unlikely ally they make along the way. I really enjoyed the chase scenes and the genuine tension, along with the side characters. The main villain pulls a pretty dumb "I won't kill you for reasons" line at the halfway point, but otherwise I had a great time. I like these comics that flesh out these untold parts of ST.
3.75/5 stars!
February 26, 2023
This was definitely different from the other graphics novels I’ve read from the series the only thing that’s the same is the monster with the weird head, and the bad guys who wanna use that monster for evil.
May 27, 2023
Uwielbiam takie historie!
Dla fanów serialu pozycja obowiązkowa.
Dla fanów serialu pozycja obowiązkowa.
February 25, 2024
A side story the TV show and doesn’t really add much to the canon.
November 5, 2023
Without the demogorgon this is entirely unrelated to Stranger Things.
July 9, 2023
Die Russen haben eine neue Superwaffe. Ein Demogorgon wird in einer geheimen russischen Basis gefangen gehalten. Doch er wird schwächer. Deshalb soll Dr. Orlov mit seinem von ihm erfundenen Apparat das Portal öffnen, damit der Demogorgon wieder zu Kräften kommt. Orlov weigert sich jedoch, mitzuarbeiten und verzögert den Bau seiner Maschine absichtlich. Doch je mehr er sich weigert, umso härter sind die Bedingungen.
Dr. Orlovs Kinder jedoch wollen nicht untätig bleiben und suchen einen Weg, ihren Vater zu befreien. Zusammen mit einem ehemaligen KGB-Agenten machen sie sich auf die Suche und dringen dabei in Geheimnisse ein, die besser verborgen geblieben wären.
Die Stranger Things-Comics, die zur Begleitung der Serie erscheinen, haben eins gemeinsam. Sie handeln von Szenen, die nicht in der Serie gezeigt werden bzw. nur kurz erwähnt werden. So haben wir schon miterlebt, wie Dustin im Camp Know Where auf seine Suzie trifft, wie die vier Freunde eine Schatzkarte von Bob Newby finden, oder wie weitere Kinder aus den Fängen von "Papa" entkommen. Ebenso wie sich Will als "Zombie Boy" fühlt oder Erica sich als Kriegerprinzessin in Abenteuer stürzt. Also alles Side-Storys, die zwar eng mit Stranger Things verbunden sind, aber eigenständig gehandelt werde können.
So auch der vorliegende Teil, der diesmal in Russland spielt. Wir kennen das Gefängnis aus der vierten Staffel, allerdings befinden wir uns zeitlich weit vor den Geschehnissen in Kamchatka. Hier wird nun erklärt, die wie die Maschine, die am Ende der dritten Staffel zerstört wird, entstanden ist und für welche Zwecke sie eigentlich vorgesehen war.
Die Story ist total spannend und wieder sind es Kinder, die die Heldentaten vollbringen und jemandem aus der Patsche helfen müssen. Ich bin jedesmal wieder erstaunt, wie gut die Story zu der vorhandenen TV-Serie passt und sich nahtlos einfügt. Ebenso wird nochmal einiges Hintergrundwissen eingearbeitet.
So wissen wir zum Beispiel, warum der Demogorgon im russischen Gefängnis einquartiert ist und wofür er wirklich gebraucht wird. Allerdings kommt dies in der Serie nicht so rüber und ergibt - nach Lesen des Comics - auch vielmehr Sinn.
Die Panels sind sehr gut gestaltet. Ich war begeistert von dem Detailreichtum. Ebenso, dass hier viele Farben eingesetzt wurden. Zumindest am Anfang. Dann lässt der Farbreichtum nach und wir driften ins Sepia, immer wieder aufgelockert von roten oder blauen Jacken, Blut oder kleinen Farbhighlights.
Das Cofer ist diesmal erwähnenswert, denn es vermittelt gleich den Eindruck, dass der Demogorgon hier im Vordergrund steht, was ja letztendlich auch so ist. Denn es gilt, ihn am Leben zu Erhalten - zumindest wünschen die Russen sich dies.
Meggies Fussnote:
Die Vorgeschichte zur 4. Staffel - von russischer Seite aus gesehen.
Dr. Orlovs Kinder jedoch wollen nicht untätig bleiben und suchen einen Weg, ihren Vater zu befreien. Zusammen mit einem ehemaligen KGB-Agenten machen sie sich auf die Suche und dringen dabei in Geheimnisse ein, die besser verborgen geblieben wären.
Die Stranger Things-Comics, die zur Begleitung der Serie erscheinen, haben eins gemeinsam. Sie handeln von Szenen, die nicht in der Serie gezeigt werden bzw. nur kurz erwähnt werden. So haben wir schon miterlebt, wie Dustin im Camp Know Where auf seine Suzie trifft, wie die vier Freunde eine Schatzkarte von Bob Newby finden, oder wie weitere Kinder aus den Fängen von "Papa" entkommen. Ebenso wie sich Will als "Zombie Boy" fühlt oder Erica sich als Kriegerprinzessin in Abenteuer stürzt. Also alles Side-Storys, die zwar eng mit Stranger Things verbunden sind, aber eigenständig gehandelt werde können.
So auch der vorliegende Teil, der diesmal in Russland spielt. Wir kennen das Gefängnis aus der vierten Staffel, allerdings befinden wir uns zeitlich weit vor den Geschehnissen in Kamchatka. Hier wird nun erklärt, die wie die Maschine, die am Ende der dritten Staffel zerstört wird, entstanden ist und für welche Zwecke sie eigentlich vorgesehen war.
Die Story ist total spannend und wieder sind es Kinder, die die Heldentaten vollbringen und jemandem aus der Patsche helfen müssen. Ich bin jedesmal wieder erstaunt, wie gut die Story zu der vorhandenen TV-Serie passt und sich nahtlos einfügt. Ebenso wird nochmal einiges Hintergrundwissen eingearbeitet.
So wissen wir zum Beispiel, warum der Demogorgon im russischen Gefängnis einquartiert ist und wofür er wirklich gebraucht wird. Allerdings kommt dies in der Serie nicht so rüber und ergibt - nach Lesen des Comics - auch vielmehr Sinn.
Die Panels sind sehr gut gestaltet. Ich war begeistert von dem Detailreichtum. Ebenso, dass hier viele Farben eingesetzt wurden. Zumindest am Anfang. Dann lässt der Farbreichtum nach und wir driften ins Sepia, immer wieder aufgelockert von roten oder blauen Jacken, Blut oder kleinen Farbhighlights.
Das Cofer ist diesmal erwähnenswert, denn es vermittelt gleich den Eindruck, dass der Demogorgon hier im Vordergrund steht, was ja letztendlich auch so ist. Denn es gilt, ihn am Leben zu Erhalten - zumindest wünschen die Russen sich dies.
Meggies Fussnote:
Die Vorgeschichte zur 4. Staffel - von russischer Seite aus gesehen.
December 2, 2022
Something is amiss in Russia, and it's not just the borsch. There's a secret government prison investigating Demogorgons of all things - and a family whose lives are going to be swept up into the madness whether they like it or not.
The Stranger Things comics, like most tie-in material, are always hogtied by how much they can do with the characters in the show, because they can't contradict or introduce things that might be important later on. So the easiest way to do that is to tell a story that doesn't feature any of those characters at all!
Enter Kamchatka, which manages to introduce and make us care about a group of new characters all in four issues, so that when everything comes to a close you'll actually be sad to see them go. Yes, I'd rather have had a story about the characters we're familiar with, but this is a pretty good close second.
On art we have Todor Hristov in his first Stranger Things effort; he's not my favourite of the stable we've seen so far, but he does a good job. He doesn't get much to work with on the Stranger side of Things (pun intended) but his Demogorgon is suitably scary.
Kamchatka's mostly Stranger Things in Demogorgon only, but it's a solid little side story that's worth a look if you're itching for more ST content. Just don't expect much in the way of familiar faces.
The Stranger Things comics, like most tie-in material, are always hogtied by how much they can do with the characters in the show, because they can't contradict or introduce things that might be important later on. So the easiest way to do that is to tell a story that doesn't feature any of those characters at all!
Enter Kamchatka, which manages to introduce and make us care about a group of new characters all in four issues, so that when everything comes to a close you'll actually be sad to see them go. Yes, I'd rather have had a story about the characters we're familiar with, but this is a pretty good close second.
On art we have Todor Hristov in his first Stranger Things effort; he's not my favourite of the stable we've seen so far, but he does a good job. He doesn't get much to work with on the Stranger side of Things (pun intended) but his Demogorgon is suitably scary.
Kamchatka's mostly Stranger Things in Demogorgon only, but it's a solid little side story that's worth a look if you're itching for more ST content. Just don't expect much in the way of familiar faces.
January 10, 2023
The Russia storyline is already the weakest plot in Stranger Things; now imagine a whole graphic novel dedicated to it, only without any characters whatsoever from the series.
The Stranger Things tie-in graphic novels work best when they tell intimate stories with characters who fans have already grown to love. Kamchatka forgoes all that by cramming so many characters who fans have no prior attachment to into a convoluted narrative that’s way too short to actually make readers care about said characters. I had a tough time keeping track of who everyone was, there’s literally THAT many new characters. The story is incredibly rushed too, and VERY cheesy at times (and not in the cute way that the show sometimes is).
Also this is the first tie-in that doesn’t really feel like a Stranger Things product. I know that’s a subjective thing, but part of the appeal of the franchise in my opinion is the sense of adventure the show has, which is completely absent here.
Only true positive I can think of is the graphics were kinda cool at times.
I wouldn’t recommend it, even for die-hard fans.
The Stranger Things tie-in graphic novels work best when they tell intimate stories with characters who fans have already grown to love. Kamchatka forgoes all that by cramming so many characters who fans have no prior attachment to into a convoluted narrative that’s way too short to actually make readers care about said characters. I had a tough time keeping track of who everyone was, there’s literally THAT many new characters. The story is incredibly rushed too, and VERY cheesy at times (and not in the cute way that the show sometimes is).
Also this is the first tie-in that doesn’t really feel like a Stranger Things product. I know that’s a subjective thing, but part of the appeal of the franchise in my opinion is the sense of adventure the show has, which is completely absent here.
Only true positive I can think of is the graphics were kinda cool at times.
I wouldn’t recommend it, even for die-hard fans.
August 30, 2022
trigger warning
After season three, one scientist got away and she is not stopping.
While this is a solid story, I found myself not caring that much. We have none of our beloved characters, and the plot as such felt like something I already consumed multiple times. Scientist has to cooperate with regime and gets captured, efforts to rescue him ensue.
Spoilers for season three are minimal and you probably won't even recognize them if you haven't watched so far yet.
Recommendation for completionists, I guess.
The arc was provided by the publisher.
After season three, one scientist got away and she is not stopping.
While this is a solid story, I found myself not caring that much. We have none of our beloved characters, and the plot as such felt like something I already consumed multiple times. Scientist has to cooperate with regime and gets captured, efforts to rescue him ensue.
Spoilers for season three are minimal and you probably won't even recognize them if you haven't watched so far yet.
Recommendation for completionists, I guess.
The arc was provided by the publisher.
March 29, 2023
Did you watch Stranger Things season 4 and thought they should have lingered in Siberia longer? Maybe that storyline intrigued you? Well, then here's an extension of that subplot. Scientists and deadly special agents duking it out for the right to control the ultimate weapon: one of the creatures from the other side.
Slickly drawn and fast paced, but doesn't really add or detract much to the TV series. Which is to say: mildly entertaining but unnecessary. Slim and reads quickly.
Slickly drawn and fast paced, but doesn't really add or detract much to the TV series. Which is to say: mildly entertaining but unnecessary. Slim and reads quickly.
May 10, 2023
I really liked the angular artwork by Todor Hristov, but the script by Michael Moreci feels disjointed and somewhat disconnected from the Stranger Things universe despite its direct setting in the final chapter (issue 4 of the original mini-series) at the secret Soviet military science base. The 'macguffin' of the whole book, the device that 'amplifies telekinetic abilities' is unique to this book (as far as I'm aware; it certainly doesn't appear in the Netflix series itself).
December 23, 2024
I really liked this comic because it was different. It didn’t have any original characters besides one and that character didn’t have a “major” role in the series even though he was one of my favorite characters. I liked how the story was authentic. I didn’t get too close with the characters, but it was refreshing nonetheless. I enjoyed it and I feel like other Stranger Things fans would, unless you’re only into the original character group.
February 1, 2023
Another great "Stranger Things" graphic novel of their comic series from last year that was a prequel to season 4. We got answers about how the Russians got a demogorgon and how they were able to open a portal there too, while also telling a very 80s style action movie too. Now caught up again till the current comics release in this form later this year.
April 7, 2023
Great artwork but I am completely, 100% without a doubt uninterested in anything happening here. I mean, take away the Demogorgon and is this even a Stranger Things story? An entire graphic novel about the Russia storyline? Hard pass on this one. This should have been a smaller, half installment instead of its own giant thing. Bye.
January 7, 2024
Decent Stranger Things tale. This graphic novel expands on the lore of stranger things, especially the Russian storyline but it suffers from not having any of the characters of the franchise. Ultimately because of that it feels disconnected from the main story and lore, and feels very unessential to the story and the world building.
March 8, 2025
I liked this, but to me it didn't quite feel like a "Stranger Things" story. It's set in Russia and deals with the Russian base that Hopper ended up being a prisoner at for a while. It doesn't feature the regular cast and didn't feel like an integral part of the bigger story, but it was still a good read.
May 17, 2025
I have started to find extra lore from stranger things. I enjoyed this back story as to how Russia got the Demogorgon and why it was able to be separated from the source. It helps that this is a separate story from the main characters. Not all extra lore and explanations need to include the show characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 13, 2023
It’s a good read I guess but I feel like it’s just pointless. Doesn’t offer much to the Stranger Things story other than to show how the Russian’s get their Demogorgon. It’s got a nice family theme and a Cold War thriller aesthetic to it but it really offers nothing new to those genres at all.
August 28, 2022
i thought it would be more connected to s4 but i guess not 😭
February 1, 2023
A decent story involving the Russians and Demigorgons, but doesn't really add anything to the Stranger Things mythos or fill in any blanks not covered by the main show.
February 4, 2023
Yay! I've waited for such a long time for another brand new Stranger Things comic book! It definitely did not disappoint.
February 21, 2023
Môj prvý ST komiks.
Musím povedať, že to nie je zlý doplnok k aktuálnej sérií.
Taká jednohubka, ktorá poteší, ale nenadchne.
Musím povedať, že to nie je zlý doplnok k aktuálnej sérií.
Taká jednohubka, ktorá poteší, ale nenadchne.
March 6, 2023
meh comic but i appreciate someone finally giving me some lore on how the Russians got demogorgons
March 6, 2023
Everybody agrees that Russia is the least interesting part of the show, so a story that's just slightly linked to Hawkins is already on weak legs. This was short, at least.
April 29, 2023
In this engaging spy action comic, the Cold War Russians are experimenting with Demogorgons. When a leading Soviet scientist fails to stop them, his children take over the fight.
June 12, 2023
3.75/4 - The rushed ending keeps it from a full four stars.
August 30, 2023
kocham kreskę i klimat, ale fabuła tego tomu taka sobie..
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews