Did you know that we were promised a Stranger Things spinoff comic that never materialized? With Stranger Things rapidly approaching its epic conclusion, the franchise’s extensive library of tie-in comics has come under fresh scrutiny—and one particular series has seemingly disappeared into the Upside Down.
It’s no surprise that the powers behind one of Netflix’s most successful series cashed in on Stranger Things’ popularity with numerous tie-ins. Dark Horse Comics has been expanding the show’s lore since 2018, delivering stories like The Other Side, Six, and even an official crossover with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Stranger Things. These comics have entertained fans while answering burning questions about the series’ mythology.
However, a few years ago, fans were promised a miniseries focused on one particular character—and then it vanished without explanation.
The Announcement That Never Came to Fruition
In late 2022, months after Stranger Things’ fourth season concluded, Dark Horse Comics announced a new spinoff for 2023. Writer Brenden Fletcher and artist Mack Chater were set to produce Stranger Things: The Many Ghosts of Dr. Brenner, a four-issue miniseries designed to illuminate the shadowy history of the sinister man Eleven was forced to call “Papa.”
Like previous tie-in comics, the series promised to expand the universe’s history and provide deeper context for Dr. Brenner’s questionable past and motivations. Scheduled to debut in January 2023, the first issue never arrived. No additional issues were solicited, information about the book disappeared from Dark Horse Comics’ website, and no official explanation was ever provided.
More Stranger Things comics continued to be released, including Stranger Things: Tales from Hawkins and Stranger Things: The Voyage. But The Many Ghosts of Dr. Brenner was quietly erased, and years later, it seems increasingly unlikely it will ever see publication.
The Timing Is Suspicious
The radio silence surrounding the comic’s cancellation is peculiar. Dark Horse has released nearly a dozen miniseries, multiple graphic novels, and one-shots for the franchise. So why did this particular book fail to make it to print?
While the actual reason remains unknown, the timing of the comic’s removal coincides with another major Stranger Things spinoff—one that may explain everything.
The First Shadow Changed Everything
In early 2023, around the time The Many Ghosts of Dr. Brenner was supposed to debut, Netflix announced Stranger Things: The First Shadow, a prequel stage play set in Hawkins in 1959 that focuses on Henry Creel’s origins. As expected, Dr. Brenner plays a massive role in this story, which elaborates on his past work and his motivations for engaging with the mysteries of Dimension X.
Though not everyone has seen the play, it’s considered firm canon to the franchise. This presents a likely explanation for the comic’s disappearance: with The First Shadow revealing so much about Brenner’s background, the show’s creative team may have decided they didn’t want conflicting origin stories.
Canon Consistency Matters
The Stranger Things comics, while largely entertaining, don’t always align perfectly with the show’s canon. Six infamously contradicted established lore by portraying other children from the Rainbow Room with powers and abilities never seen in the series. While it’s disappointing that two conflicting prequels potentially resulted in a comic’s cancellation, Stranger Things couldn’t have such crucial lore undermined by supplemental material.
Dr. Brenner’s past essentially kicks off the entire Stranger Things saga. His work with Henry, Eleven, and the other test subjects establishes most of the show’s major conflicts, making accurate portrayal of his motivations critically important.
What Could Have Been
It would have been fascinating to see what The Many Ghosts of Dr. Brenner had planned. The creative team likely had compelling ideas about the character’s journey from scientist to villain. However, when canonical stage productions and tie-in comics conflict, the officially sanctioned stories will always take precedence.
For fans who collected every Stranger Things comic, this missing chapter remains a curious footnote in the franchise’s history—a ghost story of its own, if you will. Perhaps one day we’ll get the full story behind its cancellation. Until then, it remains one of the Upside Down’s many mysteries.
