The newest Stranger Things tie-in novel, Stranger Things: Lucas on the Line, by Suyi Davies, releases on July 26 and will give fans a deeper look into Lucas Sinclair’s life after the events of season 3. The book joins an already impressive collection of various stranger Things tie-in media, many of which have told some truly fantastic stories that have enriched the Stranger Things universe.
With the Duffer Brothers starting Upside Down Pictures and Stranger Things spin-offs being a very distinct possibility, there are plenty of excellent stories in the franchise that have already been written and would be perfect for a screen adaptation.
Into The Fire
The subjects at Hawkins Lab who suffered right alongside Eleven are some of the characters who are most often wondered about by fans. Many are yearning to know more about these victims and if any others were lucky enough to escape like Eleven. Stranger Things: Into the Fire is a four-part comic series written by Jody Houser that details just exactly that, following two Hawkins Lab escapees who go on a search for a dangerous one of their own.
The story features Kali Prasad (008), who hasn’t been seen since the show’s second season, and an adaptation could provide some closure to her plotline should she not appear in the show’s final season.
The Bully
Troy Walsh and James Dante were the two boys who mercilessly (and almost fatally) bullied Mike, Lucas, And Dustin in middle school. They haven’t appeared since the show’s very first season, and with only one climactic season remaining, it’s unlikely fans will see them again.
Troy and James do actually have a fascinating story, however, one that is showcased in the graphic novel Stranger Things: The Bully written by Greg Pak. The book gives some much-needed depth and backstory to two of the show’s most one-dimensional characters and highlights how their encounter with Eleven has affected them.
Suspicious Minds
Eleven’s mother, Terry Ives, has remained one of the most enigmatic characters in Stranger Things, and fans are desperate to understand more about who she was and how she became involved with Hawkins Lab. Written by Gwenda Bond, the first official Stranger Things novel Stranger Things: Suspicious Minds shines a whole lot of light on Terry’s character.
It also shines a whole lot of light onto Dr. Brenner and the entire Hawkins Lab, giving fans a deeper understanding of what exactly Project MKUltra was. A screen adaptation of the story could finally give some concrete backstory to two of Stranger Things‘ most complex characters and fully show just how the plot of the entire series was set into motion.
Rebel Robin
Robin Buckley became one of Stranger Things‘ most beloved characters the second she made her debut in season 3 and has gotten so popular that many fans of the series would love to see her story expanded in a spin-off movie or series. Stranger Things has actually already delved into Robin’s backstory with the prequel book Stranger Things: Rebel Robin by A.R. Capetta and its accompanying fiction podcast.
It tells of Robin’s sophomore year in high school before she became friends with Steve or any of the main gang as she struggles with small-town life in Hawkins and new realizations about herself. It’s a great story that, if adopted, would really deepen the already rich Robin character.
Kamchatka
Stranger Things introduced Soviet Russia into the plot in season 3 and then followed that by staging an entire portion of season 4 within Russia, specifically at the brutal Kamchatlka prison where Hopper was being held. The show introduced so many characters and ideas regarding Russia and their involvement with Upside Down, and it clearly enjoyed expanding that story.
With that being said, Stranger Things: Kamchatka, an ongoing four-issue comic series written by Michael Moreci, could be just the perfect thing to adapt next. It focuses on a brilliant scientist held in the titular prison and his two children that trying to free him. Season 4 already showed that Stranger Things can pull off such a story, so an adaptation is certainly a possibility.
Runaway Max
Max Mayfield was easily one of the MVPs of Stranger Things season, as the season placed a decided spotlight on her character and the emotions she’s been struggling with ever since her stepbrother Billy’s death at the end of season 3.
While the show’s second and third seasons highlight Max’s tumultuous relationship with Billy, they do not go as in-depth with it as Stranger Things: Runaway Max by Brenna Yovanoff. The book not only show’s Max’s perspective of the events of season 2, but it also highlights Max’s pre-Hawkins life, including the often disastrous encounters she has with her stepbrother. An animated adaptation would make her already-great story in season 4 even better.
Erica The Great
Written by Danny Lore and Greg Pak, the graphic novel Stranger Things: Erica the Great shines the spotlight solely on Erica Sinclair, an individual who has become one of the breakout characters of the show ever since her increased role in season 3. Erica the Great finally reveals what Erica gets up to when she’s not helping her brother and his friends save the entire world, the graphic novel highlighting Erica’s own group of friends.
The story is filled with some incredibly fun fantasy sequences, and it would be a visually spectacular showcase for one of the most popular Stranger Things characters were it to be adapted for the screen.
Science Camp
Despite being one of the most iconic couples in Stranger Things, Dustin and Suzie have never actually physically shared a scene together in the show, only ever interacting over the radio. That could finally change if there were an adaptation of Stranger Things: Science Camp.
Written by Jody Houser, the graphic novel focuses on the infamous Camp No Where that begat the love between Dusty Bun and Suzie Poo, telling both the beginning of their romance as well as a suspenseful mystery story. The book’s themes make it a perfect fit in the Stranger Things universe; an adaptation would both flesh out Suzie and place a firm spotlight on one of Stranger Things‘ most beloved characters, Dustin.
The Tomb of Ybwen
While Stranger Things season 4 largely received huge acclaim, many viewers were disappointed in how separated the Party was, with Mike and Will in California while Dustin and Lucas were still in Hawkins. The Tomb of Ybwen, written by Greg Pak, was a series of comics that detailed Will and Mr. Clarke finding a mysterious map left by the recently-deceased Bob Newby and the resulting adventure the party goes on because of it.
It’s a wonderful story to adapt as not only does it give viewers a chance to see the main four boys reunited again, but it also allows for beloved characters Mr. Clarke and Bob to make appearances. There’s no reason the adaptation couldn’t just be changed to take place a few years after Bob’s death.
Darkness On The Edge Of Town
Police chief Jim Hopper, while being one of the most popular Stranger Things characters, also is one of the most tragic. He harbors many dark moments from his past, and some of those are explored in the novel Stranger Things: Darkness on the Edge of Town written by Adam Christopher.
The novel’s events are told by Hopper to Eleven, and should the story be adapted, it would not only allow for Hopper’s backstory to be expanded more than it already has, but it would also allow for some on-screen bonding between Hopper and Eleven, which wasn’t seen at all in season 4 due to Hopper being in Russia.