WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Stranger Things Dungeons & Dragons #1 by Jody Houser, Jim Zub, Diego Galindo, Msassyk, and Nate Piekos, on sale now.
When Netflix began Stranger Things, few could anticipate just how much the masses would connect to the kids of Hawkins, Indiana. They've become ingrained in pop culture ever since, especially Eleven, but that doesn't mean the boys aren't given their fair share of love either.
They remind the audience of so many coming-of-age stories such as Stand By Me and The Goonies, and while there hasn't been much insight into how they all got together, Stranger Things: Dungeons & Dragons #1 has at least confirmed how Dustin joined the gang years ago.
As Mike, Lucas, and Will try to avoid the bullies, Troy and James, they end up in a bookstore where they're introduced to Dungeons & Dragons. They become infatuated with the escapism of the board game and how they could live in it as heroes, eventually pawning Will's mom's books to purchase a basic set. And this is where their obsession kicks into next gear, as seen with how they named the Demogorgon and others to start the TV show. However, there's no Dustin around as they play in Mike's basement, get hated on by girls for their geeky ways, or secretly appoint people in school as characters in the game. That changes during one fateful lunchtime, however, when they argue about high rolls. They think it's impossible but as Lucas mouths off to one student for butting in regarding their dice throws, it turns out this is Dustin.
It's never confirmed where he's been all this time or if he just moved to town, but he immediately shows how big a math whiz he is. He rattles off probabilities and statistics that leave the guys' heads spinning, so they immediately pull him in. Dustin doesn't care for the game as much, though, just the academics behind it all, which explains why he usually heads off to science camp. But this would all change as he immerses himself into the gang and truly becomes one of them.
Mike remains their Dungeon Master, creating the world of Eldertree, a mystical forest that's filled with creatures and ghouls, foreshadowing how the Upside Down would breach their town. But Dustin inspires them to keep taking the game up a notch, and so, with the mage known as Will the Wise, as well as Lucas the Lion, and Dustin of Dwarfholme, they bond like brothers. Will even sketches their adventures, with many enemies resembling people they don't like such as teachers or the bullies. And when Mike gets a next-level D&D set for this birthday, they know that it's only going to get better and bring them closer.
It's interesting, admittedly, seeing Dustin in this role and hints at why he has always felt like an outsider. He got jealous when they moved onto girls, except Will, and even after camp, he still felt closer to Steve than the guys, especially after finding Suzie. Now, we know it's because he wasn't an original member of the squad, but still, this flashback story proves he's just as integral. And given how his ham radio, Cerebro, helped uncover the Russian invasion last season, he'll always stay as such.