Is Stranger Things Plot Connected To X-Men? Many Fan Theories Have This To Say

Creators of Stranger Things, Duffel Brothers have always expressed their love for X-Men, but does their fandom go beyond planting references in plain sight? The tradition lives on even in Season 4 as the first episode itself reportedly holds a major X-Men reference in its title. The references have actually fuelled a fan theory that is gaining traction as the release of Stranger Things' final season draws closer.

Stranger Things Season 4 Episode 1 is titled The Hellfire Club, which is a major reference to a classic X-Men villains group. Before this, Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) and Will (Noah Schnapp) are seen discussing Uncanny X-Men #134 during Season 1 and in Season 3, the former even suggests that Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) could be possibly a mutant just like Professor X. Eleven is often juxtaposed alongside Jean Grey due to her telepathic and telekinetic powers. Fans believe that it is not a coincidence that Eleven's name 'Jane' is also quite similar to Jean.

Hints berries in Stranger Things plot

The X-Men imagery used in Stranger Things plot is usually subtle and swift as most people hardly spot it, but it's surely there and works well with how the character of Eleven has been developed so similar to that of Jean to support the imagery. For instance, during the climax of Season 2, Eleven levitates and summons a telekinetic shield- an image many X-Men fans have long associated with Jean. also, at the end of Season 3, Eleven's loss of her powers is much similar to what writer Chris Claremont had originally intended for Jean at the end of the Dark Phoenix Saga.

Picture Credit : Pitchfork

Stranger Things is expected to go into full X-Men mode in Season 4 as Eleven can be seen connecting with the other superhuman children upon whom Dr Brenner experimented for his own selfish motive. Whatever the nature of these children may be, we hope to see more superhumans in action in the upcoming season.

As for the X-Men imagery, even the Hawkins Institute can be juxtaposed with Charles Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, however, as a much darker version of it. While Xavier teaches the mutant kids how to control their powers to the best of their abilities, Dr Brenner on the other hand, wishes to use the gifted kids as weapons instead.

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As per the X-Men comics, the superhumans are often seen synergising their powers together and working as "mutant circuits" which even helps certain mutants to conquer the calamities of death and resurrect other dead mutants as well. As far as Stranger Things plot is concerned, the show's trailer suggests that we can hope to see the superhumans created in the Hawkins lab were actually made to synergise their powers.

Stranger Things Season 4 will release on Netflix on May 27, 2022. Actors Robert Englund, Eduardo Franco, Jamie Campbell Bower, Sherman Augustus, Mason Dye, Tom Wlaschiha, Nikola Djuricko, Joseph Quinn will join the cast of Stranger Things Season 4.

Watch the Stranger Things Season 4 trailer here: