Stranger Things: Zombie Boys

Title: Stranger Things: Zombie Boys

ISBN: 9781506713090

Price: $10.99

Publisher/Year: Dark Horse, 2020

Artist: Valeria Favoccia

Writer: Greg Pak

Rating: 4/5

Dark Horse have a new comic offering to hold them over in the original graphic novel Zombie Boys set after the events of season one. School is back in session in the normally quiet town of Hawkins, Indiana. Mike, Lucas, Dustin, and Will are still grappling with the traumatic encounters with the Demogorgon and the Upside Down. As tensions rise and fractures begin to form in the group, a new kid shows up to AV club with a Betamax Camcorder and an idea. The new Spielberg-wannabe friend, Joey Kim, wants to make a horror movie about a local legend, but when he sees Will’s drawings, he discovers that his new friends are local legends.

Greg Pak has an impressive body of work which ranges from classic superhero epics like Planet Hulk and World War Hulk to more teen orientated works such as Mecha Cadet Yu and his take on Agents of Atlas. These experiences make him a perfect candidate to tackle an adventure featuring the younger protagonists of the Stranger Things world. All the characters are true to their live-action counterparts and Pak has an authentic approach to writing younger characters that shines through in this comic. Whilst there is a greater emphasis on the boys’ antics this time round, he brings a balance with focus also being put on Will’s adjustment to returning to his normal life after his traumatic experience in the Upside Down.

Valeria Favoccia’s art is also a perfect fit for the story. With a style that has elements of manga and European influence sprinkled throughout, it gives the art a more light-hearted feel than previous Stranger Things comics that is ideal given the focus on the boys’ school antics. Not that she can’t pull off more serious moments too – with Will’s drawings of his Upside Down experiences and his subsequent bullying at the hands of his fellow students being particularly strong.

This is another strong entry in Dark Horse’s recent run of Stranger Things comics.

Comic Book Covers 4 Cancer: The Covers

 

As my most loyal readers/followers know, I ran a small non-profit to help raise money for the American Cancer Society named Comic Book Covers 4 Cancer. Long story short, I felt like I had to call it a day at the beginning of 2026 for a myriad of reasons.

Since the idea for CBC4C was originally spawned from The Walking Dead 100 Project from Hero Initiative, I would try my hat at publishing a book filled with some of the various covers donated through the years.

Thanks to Amazon, that dream has now become a reality!

$20 USD for a copy of my book entitled: Comic Book Covers 4 Cancer: The Covers. Proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to the American Cancer Society.

Thank you to everyone who helps to make this a success! Please share this news with all your friends.

Pride

I don't typically express my political opinions openly, and I definitely don't express my feeling on personal sexual preferences, but I will always support my friends who identify as part of a marginalized community.

This year, with all the major strife that has been going on in America, I felt the need to make a statement of some kind. That's why I am openly supporting those of the LGBTQ+ community alongside those who would identify as gamers.

I remember a time where being known as a gamer put you in a marginalized and outcast light. I grew up in the shadow of The Satanic Panic. I had a couple of friends in high school that questioned my reasons for choosing to associate myself with cults and evil. I always responded with the fact that gaming isn't evil, it's what you do in real life that makes that determination. Yes, there are devils and demons in Dungeons & Dragons, but they are primarily there as antagonists to be overcome by the players and not necessarily forces to be joined.

The parents of one of my high school girlfriends were so against my gaming that they had my GF ask me to quit playing D&D. I agreed to do that, but failed to inform them of the other games my group and I were playing at the time; Robotech and Rifts to name just 2. Since these weren't Dungeons & Dragons, I didn't break my promise. It also helped that I actually decided to foreswear D&D at that time because I firmly believed that the 2nd edition was nothing but a cash grab and would not support it.

Beyond that, I always felt like a square peg in a round hole when it came to my sexual feelings. While I always felt a strong attraction to females, I would occasionally find myself being attracted to males as well. For so many years, society would be the determining factor of keeping my personal preferences secretive. It wouldn't be until the mid-90's where I would (at least partially) break that character trait as I would enter into my first (and to date only) relationship with another male. It also helped that he was a part of a gamer organization that I was joining; The Camarilla.

There was no confusion about my feeling towards him. I loved him. The odd things was that he was also a drag queen. I'm not sure if that didn't play a big factor in my initial attraction towards him. While we continued to LARP, I would also support him by attending his drag shows and meet his fellow drag friends. None of them were gamers so our encounters were limited to the shows.

We spent the better part of about 4 years together. He would occasionally attend my family holiday gatherings and would also be invited to our birthday celebrations. I never told my family of our real relationship status. Looking back, I'm sure some of them knew but didn't care to say anything.

I don't remember a lot about our years together except for the fact that I was usually happy. I can't remember why our relationship eventually ended, but I did have a journal that I used to write in that helped to fill in some of those blanks... unfortunately, they didn't always paint a pretty picture of the relationship I once cherished. I have since decided to discard that journal in lieu of living with the good times still in my head. We both had relationships after we split up. I even got married and he helped my bride to be get ready for the ceremony.

Last September (2025), he passed away due to complications of his diabetes. When I hear the news, even though we had grown apart and lost touch, my heart sank and I felt an emptiness in my life. His name was Gene and I loved him.

Gene on the left. Me in the middle.

And that I the reason why I will be finally openly supporting my friends and fellow allies of the LGBTQ+ community. I'm sorry it took the passing of a wonderful soul to get me to this point.