Stranger Things Season 4 Volume 1 (Mini-Review)

Stranger Things Season 4 Volume 1 picks up some time after the end of Season 3. El is having to cope without her powers while dealing with high school life in California. It isn't until she violently attacks one of her bullies that the secret organization finds her and tempts her with the promise of getting her powers back. This has the unintentional effect of Mike, Will, Jonathan and Argyle attempting to find her. Things are even worse in Hawkins where a supernatural entity from the Upside Down starts attacking. Then there is Jim Hopper who is now a Russian prisoner who has a hopeless plan for escape. Stranger Things Season 4 Volume 1 released on Netflix in 2022.

It feels like forever since Stranger Things Season 3 aired. I can say that the wait has been well worth it. Everything feels amped up from last time. Now that the main cast is so spread out it allows more stories to be told. El gets to deal with her past, the main cast in Hawkins are quickly pulled into the supernatural mystery, and Joyce goes to great lengths to attempt to rescue Hopper.

One of the most impactful moments was Hopper talking about his time during the war. It turns out that he helped make Agent Orange which indirectly caused the death of his daughter. If you don't know what Agent Orange is I recommend looking it up only if you're having a good day. How bad is it? It's basically a term that those in the military don't like to use. In the Netflix Marvel show The Punisher one of the antagonists was given the nickname Agent Orange because people hated him that much. You have to be really loathed to be in the military and earn the nickname Agent Orange. Back to Stranger Things...it's because Hopper worked with Agent Orange that he feels he is cursed. That detail of his past also helps to better explain why he was so resistant to connecting with people at the start of the series.

Vecna is a compelling villain and I can't wait until the next Volume releases next month. This Volume did answer who Vecna is and where he came from so viewers aren't totally lost about his origins. It also does seem that him and El will have an epic showdown. But I feel that there is even more to his time tormenting Hawkins. It's not confirmed but I swear that the guidance counselor is helping him get victims. Though it's entirely possible that theory will be dashed come Volume 2.

Through the course of the show I've grown to dislike Nancy Wheeler. So whenever she has a romantic interest I'm yelling at them to choose better. Currently it seems that Nancy might get back with Steve. At least that relationship is being teased. Which means we could get a love triangle in Volume 2 or Season 5. I hope not as love triangles tend to be extremely boring. The other interesting thing to note about Nancy in Volume 1 is that the season is a homage to Nightmare on Elm Street. In that series Nancy Thompson is basically Freddy's main enemy. And Nancy from Stranger Things was named after that character plus seems to be one of Vecna's most hated foes.

I would highly recommend Stranger Things 4 Volume 1 to fans of Stranger Things. I would also highly recommend Stranger Things 4 Volume 1 to science fiction fans. I would also recommend Stranger Things 4 Volume 1 to those wanting some 80's nostalgia.