Season 5 of Stranger Things seems heavily influenced by a well-known X-Men storyline, possibly hinting at how the series will conclude. The creators, the Duffer brothers, are known fans of X-Men comics, and the show’s first season already referenced the famous “Dark Phoenix Saga,” even laying the groundwork for the character of Vecna years before he appeared. Hints of X-Men continue to appear in Season 5, as Eleven increasingly accepts her role as a superhero.
So far, the show has most clearly drawn inspiration from the “Dark Phoenix Saga,” with Eleven mirroring the character of Jean Grey, who has telepathic and telekinetic powers. However, Season 4 suggested the creators were starting to explore other storylines, like the “X-Tinction Agenda,” as shown by the collars some of the children at Hawkins Lab were wearing. Now, it’s becoming apparent that another comic book arc, called “Inferno,” is also influencing the show’s direction.
Stranger Things Season 4 Set Up the Duffer Brothers’ “Inferno” Story
To fully understand the “Inferno” storyline, it’s important to know about Limbo. In Marvel Comics, Limbo is a bizarre and ever-changing dimension of Hell, ruled by the powerful demon Belasco. Like other demonic rulers, Belasco wanted to conquer Earth. He began his plan by kidnapping Illyana Rasputin, the young sister of the X-Men member Colossus. This act kicked off the events that led to the “Inferno” story in 1988.
In “Inferno,” demons from Limbo abducted more children, intending to use pieces of their souls to open gateways between Hell and Earth. Their goal was a massive invasion of New York City. As these portals opened, demonic energy flooded in, horribly twisting and reshaping the city itself.
The fourth season of Stranger Things concluded by showcasing the Duffer brothers’ take on the character of Belasco – a creature that’s lost its humanity and now rules a frightening, otherworldly dimension. The show reveals this realm, called Dimension X, wasn’t always a dark reflection of Hawkins; it was intentionally altered, either by Vecna or potentially by Eleven’s powers, to become the twisted version we see. Now, Vecna has begun his own destructive plan, dubbed the “Inferno,” using the energy of dying people to create gateways between the Upside Down and our world. The connections to classic stories are quite clear.
Holly Wheeler is Illyana Rasputin
As a fan of both Stranger Things and X-Men, I’ve been fascinated by the parallels between Holly Wheeler and the character Illyana Rasputin (Magik). It’s really striking! Illyana was Colossus’s little sister, and in the comics, she was taken to a strange dimension called Limbo as a child, where she faced all sorts of warped realities. There was a fantastic series back in ’83 that really delved into her experiences there, and it reminded me so much of Vecna’s mind lair when I noticed Holly. She’s about the same age as Illyana was then, and even wears a similar outfit to the one Illyana sported in that same comic series – it’s like the Duffer Brothers were inspired by the X-Men universe!
Mike really highlighted the connection when he started calling his sister “Holly the Heroic.” He explained she was like a Cleric – the same type of character as Will in Dungeons & Dragons – and had the ability to open doorways to other dimensions. While this foreshadowing isn’t very subtle, the specific power Mike mentions is key. Illyana Rasputin, after being trapped in Limbo, also aged and became Magik, an X-Man who, like Holly, can create interdimensional portals.
Okay, so I’ve been thinking about Holly Wheeler, and it feels like the Duffer brothers are really signaling something. It kinda feels like they’re basically saying, ‘Hey, we’re taking inspiration from…’ and everyone’s guessing she’s going to become a major player, like a hero who can open gateways between our world and the Upside Down. If that happens, she’s basically their version of Illyana Rasputin – you know, Kitty Pryde from the X-Men – a powerful character with that portal-opening ability. It’s a pretty big hint, if you ask me!
Why Vecna Wants (More) Children
It seems like Stranger Things is taking inspiration from the X-Men’s “Inferno” storyline. This might explain why Vecna has been kidnapping children. In “Inferno,” demons kidnapped 13 children and used their life force to power portals and spread their influence. Vecna has already damaged people’s minds to create gateways to the Upside Down, and he could be trying to do the same thing – expanding the Upside Down beyond Hawkins.
This explains why he brought Holly’s mind into his own world, Camazotz. He doesn’t want to kill her, but to merge their minds, corrupt her, and then use her pure spirit to expand his power. If this is true, then Hawkins is now the central battleground for the fate of the world, and everything is at stake in Stranger Things Season 5.
Stranger Things Season 5, Volume 1 is streaming now on Netflix.
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2025-12-04 19:41