Fans can finally experience the story of the Stranger Things prequel without going to Broadway. The stage play, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, started playing in 2023. It explores the origins of Henry Creel aka Vecna, the show’s final big bad.
How can Stranger Things fans experience the First Shadow prequel?
Until now, there wasn’t an affordable way for Stranger Things fans to see the play unless they were willing to purchase a Broadway ticket. Now, fans won’t have to, following Dark Horse Comics’ announcement that it will turn the play into a graphic novel. The 80-page graphic novel is the official adaptation of the play and will be available in physical and digital stores on January 19, 2027. Strange Things: The First Shadow graphic novel will retail for $19.99.
The prequel story is set in 1959 Hawkins, Indiana, over two decades before the events of the Netflix series kick off. It follows the Creel family, with a young, disturbed Henry “eager to escape his troubled past.” What follows is a series of eerie events that gradually transform Henry into the Vecna fans know.
Since its debut, The First Shadow has been nominated for a variety of awards. It became the most awarded play at the Tony Awards in 2025, after transferring from London’s West End to Broadway. The show is Netflix’s first foray into theater and has sold over 1.6 million tickets with over 1,500 performances.
The Dark Horse graphic novel adaptation is written by Rachel Pinnelas, with art from Jake Bartok. The graphic novel features cover art by Marc Aspinall.
Interested readers can pre-order the Stranger Things: The First Shadow graphic novel now. A recent report revealed that Netflix plans to release a recording of the play on the service at a later, undisclosed date. Fans can also look forward to Stranger Things being a prominent theme during Halloween Horror Nights later this year.
All five seasons of Stranger Things are available to stream on Netflix.