Review- STRANGER THINGS: THE OTHER SIDE

STRANGER THINGS: THE OTHER SIDE (Dark Horse, First Printing, 2019; Softcover)

Collects Stranger Things: The Other Side #1-4 (cover dates June, 2018- January, 2019)

Writer: Jody Houser

Artists: Stefano Martino and Keith C. Champagne

Colorist: Lauren Affe

If any series lends itself to the comic book format, it is the nostalgic Netflix series Stranger Things. This four issue mini-series shows what happens to Will while he is trapped in The Upside Down. Key moments in the series are shown from the other viewpoint, and it's really cool. Fans of the series will eat this up. If you haven't read the series I am not certain if this will make a lot of sense, especially at the end.

It would have been cool if this were presented and framed like a 1983 comic book with flat colors, cheap pulp paper, and “Ben Day” dots. Then again, this series skews to a younger demographic than this fortysomething old man, and those kids seem to dislike the presentation of old comic books.

I read this book in one sitting with my 12 year old son, who loves the series. Heck, I even got him the action figures for his birthday last year. He's at the right age where the vibe of the show clicks with that sense of wonder we all have at that age before life grinds us down to a stump. He loved this book and so did I. I'm looking forward to more Stranger Things comics, and I am really, really looking forward to Season Three. Is it July 4 yet?

The OCD zone- This is the part where I go into tactile sensations and materials used in physical media. Those with heart conditions, high blood pressure, or women who are pregnant should exit my blog at their earliest convenience, as their safety cannot be guaranteed beyond this point.

Paper stock: Thick glossy stock.

Binding: Perfect bound trade paperback.

Cardstock cover notes: Matte coating with spot varnish. The matte portions have sufficient protection from scuffing, a problem many matte finish covers seem to have. This is good, since copies of this book are likely to circulate through libraries across the country.