Stranger Things Spin-Off Reveals Final Fate of Callahan & Powell
As the hype around Stranger Things Season 4 continues to build, Dark Horse Comics has announced the comic one-shot Stranger Things Summer Special. This special issue features the buddy cop duo from the series - Officers Calvin Powell and Phil Callahan - patrolling Hawkins Indiana, and trying to survive the chaos unleashed within the town.
Not confining itself to simply the medium of television, the universe of Stranger Things has expanded into tie-in novels and comic book miniseries which reveal the background lore of the show. For example, the four-issue miniseries Stranger Things: Kamchatka, explored how the Upside Down connects to a larger multiverse and establishes the character of Russian scientist Dr. Boris Orlov (Russia's version of Dr. Brenner). Other series delve deeper into the main characters' personalities and events viewers didn't get to see in the show, including Will Byers's extended journey through the Upside Down within Stranger Things: The Other Side as well as crossover miniseries Stranger Things and Dungeons & Dragons.
As revealed on the official Dark Horse Comics website, the Stranger Things Summer Special puts a spotlight on Sheriff Jim Hopper's deputies, Officers Phil Callahan and Calvin Powell, who are more well-known for their comedic moments than their detective work. While these two fancy themselves as ace investigators, it's unlikely they'll be solving any of the mysteries brewing within Hawkins - the real question is if they'll survive investigating them. The one-shot's writer, Keith Champagne, is no stranger to the universe, having also written the Stranger Things: Science Camp miniseries about Dustin and the mystery of a masked killer. The art team includes artist Caio Filipe, colorist Dan Jackson, and letterer Nate Piekos. While no interior pages have been revealed yet, there are two covers featured below by cover artists Diego Galindo and Heather Vaughn respectively.
The Summer Special seems to follow the trend of Stranger Things comics to expand the character development of supporting characters who haven't had as much time to shine as the main Stranger Things cast. While additional details about the one-shot have not been revealed, both covers are very telling. Each cover appears to also feature Doris Driscoll, the woman who was claiming there were rabid rats in her basement and later became one of the many people possessed by the Mind Flayer. The variant cover seems to be showing the two officers about to enter her basement while the main cover prominently shows the Starcourt Mall behind them, indicating the story takes place during the third season of Stranger Things.
The Stranger Things Summer Special will actually be out after the entire fourth season of Stranger Things. The latest season is being divided up into two volumes, with the first part being released via Netflix on May 27, 2022, and then followed by the second volume on July 1, 2022. So, readers will be able to enjoy this Stranger Things buddy copy adventure when the comic book tie-in becomes available in comic book stores on July 6, 2022.
Source: Dark Horse Comics