Stranger Things: Tomb of Ybwen #1 gets off to a sluggish start as Will deals with the loss of Bob Newby, who has left him with some mysterious clues.
Created by the Duffer Brothers for Netflix, Stranger Things is a sci-fi horror drama that has taken the world by storm. Bob Newby, played by Sean Astin, was introduced in Season 2 of Stranger Things as Joyce Byer’s love interest, who ultimately gave up his life to protect Will and the gang. Set after the events of Season 2, Stranger Things: Tomb of Ybwen continues Newby’s legacy and looks to give Will a sense of closure. Scripted by Greg Pak and with artwork provided by Diego Galindo, the debut issue deals with solitude, loss, and courage.
Stranger Things: Tomb of Ybwen #1 opens with a recap of a heartfelt scene from Season 2, perfectly setting up the story’s narrative. Will, still reeling from Mr. Newby’s death, goes to find solace from his friends. However, he finds there the hard lesson that the gang has moved on with their lives. At school, Will’s teacher Mr. Clarke reveals the saddening truth about the AV club and hands over some nerdy memorabilia from Newby’s possessions, including some mysterious maps. Will decides to follow the trail of clues, with or without his friends.
With a formal education in filmmaking, Greg Pak (Planet Hulk, Batman/Superman) knows how to build an epic adventure from the simplest of ideas. Since the comic book is a faithful continuation of Stranger Things, Stranger Things: Tomb of Ybwen #1 forgoes any redundant character introductions and instead focuses on building its unique story and atmosphere. That being said, the narrative meanders from scene to scene, showing the emotional vulnerability of a few characters without going too deep into the plot. Pak places Will at the heart of the story whose inner monologue and melancholia are harrowing.
Artist Diego Galindo is a creative genius in capturing likenesses of characters from moving media — having already gone through these exact hoops in the crossover miniseries Stranger Things and Dungeons & Dragons. Galindo’s art revisits recognizable locales, which play a big part in the nostalgic mood of the comic book. Meanwhile, colorist Francesco Segala doesn’t shy away from using warm colors to portray Will’s fond memories of Bob. Segala uses gloaming shades of blue to envisage the fated encounter with the Mind Flayer and the dichotomy of the contrasting hues creating a sinister undertone. The watercolor effect of Segala’s colors gives a photorealistic feel to Hawkins and its quirky residents.
Even though it starts off strong, Stranger Things: Tomb of Ybwen #1 progresses much slower than its parent Netflix series. However, that approach serves to keep the story’s mystery intact. Pak conveys Will’s anguish and perseverance well and gives him a voice that seeks catharsis. The book ends in a way that hints at much larger adventures to come in future issues.
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