Warning! Potential spoilers for Stranger Things!The past of one Stranger Things character is about to come to light in a brand-new miniseries from Dark Horse. Screen Rant has the first look at Stranger Things: The Many Ghosts of Dr. Brenner, a story that will reveal the history of Eleven's villainous 'Papa'.
Stranger Things is the hit science-fiction horror show created by the Duffer Brothers for Netflix. Since it's premiere, the series has blossomed into a cultural juggernaut, with the show receiving book adaptations, video games and even potential spin-off series. The world of Stranger Things has also grown bigger thanks to several tie-in comics from Dark Horse. The comics offer new perspectives on the show, such as Will Beyers' time in the Upside Down during season 1, or tell new stories with existing characters such as Lucas Sinclair's sister, Erica. The books have also shown the dark history of locations in Stranger Things like Hawkins National Laboratory.
While Netflix show has explored the awful events orchestrated by Dr. Martin Brenner in the past, a new miniseries from Dark Horse will dive deeper in to the history of the man Eleven was forced to call 'Papa'. Dark Horse has provided Screen Rant an exclusive look at its new Stranger Things book, Stranger Things: The Many Ghosts of Dr. Brenner. The four-issue miniseries comes from writer Brenden Fletcher (Black Canary, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Pink) and art by Mack Chater (Sword Daughter, SIX) with colors by Rosh and letters by Nate Piekos. Stranger Things: The Many Ghosts of Dr. Brenner will come with a standard cover by Marc Aspinall, as well as several variants by Diego Galindo, Malachi Ward, and Kyle Lambert. Dark Horse gave Screen rant a look at these covers, as well as an eerie synopsis.
What Will Exploring Brenner's Past Mean For Stranger Things?
The year is 1968. Dr. Martin Brenner, a disgraced American scientist, returns to the abandoned lab where he and his colleagues collected research for top-secret government projects. But Brenner’s unfinished business in his old lab isn’t the only thing haunting him: a ghostly face from his past seems to be following his every step.
While the show does a good job of exploring its own world, the Stranger Things comics offer a chance to flesh out characters and add to the lore of the overall series. Past miniseries have introduced fans to new characters, such as several of Martin Brenner's previous test subjects and elaborated on characters that don't often get the spotlight in the main series. Brenner does take a large focus in the show's first and fourth seasons, but his past remains relatively unknown.
With the character dying in season 4, chances are that fans have seen the last of Martin Brenner. However, questions still linger about the origins of the project that eventually discovered Stranger Things' Upside Down. Who was Brenner in the years before his ultimate project went sideways? What experiences shaped him into becoming the antagonist he's presented as in the show? And is it possible that something from Brenner's past could impact the future of Hawkins in Stranger Things season 5? Fans will have to see for themselves when Stranger Things: The Many Ghosts of Dr. Brenner #1 releases January, 11th 2023.