Mike Wheeler

Mike Wheeler is the central protagonist of the Stranger Things comic universe — a scrappy, imaginative kid from Hawkins, Indiana, who leads his circle of friends through supernatural threats tied to the mysterious Upside Down, often anchored by his loyalty and his love of Dungeons & Dragons.

Few characters capture the scrappy, imaginative heart of modern pop culture quite like Mike Wheeler, who made his comics debut in Mad #548 in 2017, courtesy of creator Christopher Baldwin. A Modern Age arrival, Mike has since become a fixture of Dark Horse's expanding Stranger Things universe, racking up around 40 catalog appearances across titles like Stranger Things, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles X Stranger Things, and Stranger Things and Dungeons & Dragons: The Rise of Hellfire. He keeps remarkable company on the page — Dustin Henderson, Lucas Sinclair, Will Byers, Eleven, and Max Mayfield all share his adventures — which tells you everything about the rich, ensemble-driven world these comics inhabit. If you're a fan of that beloved franchise looking to dig deeper than the screen, Mike's comic appearances are a genuinely rewarding place to start.