Calum Petrie reviews Stranger Things and Dungeons & Dragons #4…
The last issue in this series has an unusual tone of finality to its story. The tale in which a group of friends who have had stranger adventures in real life than some people ever have in D&D. Over the four issues, we see the group of friends form, grow and expand in between the TV series. The passing of time is noticeable and it is a nice little touch seeing how these characters grow as people.
The PTSD of being in the Upside Down was just another challenge for Will, but in this series we see Mike using the power of storytelling to lift his friend’s spirits. In the previous issue we saw Mike thrust the responsibility of being a Dungeon Master onto Will, giving the character room to evolve and grow.
The final issue features the four original friends and the two new friends they made along the journey. They gather for one last game of D&D before it looks like they separate, sadly all part of growing up. We see Eleven coming to terms with her own fear and power, and how using the storytelling devices found in the game, she grasps a better hold on her own abilities.
The whole idea of this series was bizarre to me, and I laughed when I saw it was genuinely real. Over the issues I am not laughing at all however, as the mixture of the two worlds shosw the joys of RPG, Table Top Gaming, friends and all the other stuff that makes you feel good. A satisfying ending to a tale which we never knew we wanted.
At the time of typing this I have still not watched Stranger Things season 3 (my bad I know), but I feel finishing this story arc is the kick in the backside I need. Maybe sometime soon, I can clear a little bit of my schedule to start watching it. Though I digress from the subject: the story here ends with a twist, a turn and a satisfying conclusion. It has reached a logical closure point where the baton has been passed and friendships are stronger than ever before.
Rating: 8/10
Calum Petrie – Follow me on Twitter @Cetrie
