Dark Horse Books has officially announced an 80-page graphic novel adaptation of Stranger Things: The First Shadow, bringing the award-winning stage production from the theater to the page. Currently running at London’s Phoenix Theatre and Broadway’s Marquis Theatre, the stage show will now be translated into a published visual format set for release in January 2027, with pre-orders available immediately across major booksellers and comic shops.
Set in Hawkins, Indiana, in 1959, the narrative follows the Creel family as they arrive in town searching for a fresh start. Their teenage son, Henry, attempts to leave his troubled history behind by making new friends and joining the school play. However, as a string of alarming crimes begins disturbing the local community, Henry realizes that an unsettling force within him might be tied to the rising terror. As the mystery deepens, past secrets resurface, forcing the town of Hawkins to unite against a growing supernatural threat.
The graphic novel builds on the massive success of the original theatrical production, which debuted to critical acclaim in 2023. The stage adaptation quickly became a commercial and critical juggernaut, earning Olivier Awards for Best Entertainment and Best Set Design, as well as the WhatsOnStage Award for Best New Play. Its Broadway run at the Marquis Theatre went on to break box office records and emerged as the most Tony Award-winning play of 2025, capturing four honors including Best Scenic Design, Lighting, Sound, and a Special Tony Award for Illusions and Technical Effects.
Marking Netflix’s initial venture into live theater, the production has drawn nearly 1.6 million attendees across more than 1,500 performances between the West End and Broadway. By adapting the technical spectacle and storytelling of the live show into graphic novel form, Dark Horse Books aims to expand the hit theatrical experience to comic readers and franchise fans worldwide.
