The "Words that Stretch Between Worlds"

by Bryce Morgan

With the recent release of Netflix's "Stranger Things" season 5, I thought it would be timely to share a few pages from a 2019 Dark Horse Comics graphic novel called, "Stranger Things: The Other Side". The story reveals more of what our ever-suffering protagonist, Will Byers, experienced while trapped in the upside-down during the Season 1 storyline. Take a look at the bottom panels of page 61... 

I thought it was fascinating how our post-Christian culture, even our pop culture, continues to use biblical quotes as "words that stretch between worlds", as spiritual vehicles of comfort and strength in the midst of suffering, especially supernatural peril. If it's not clear, the broken sentences in the last three panels are quoting God's words in Isaiah 41:10...

"...fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Two pages later, Will faces his own crisis of faith, one that is communicated through words from a funeral in the 'right-side-up' world, words that, once again, echo scriptural answers (cf. Romans 8:38-39) in the face of pain and loss...

What an interesting (and fun) reminder of just how powerfully resonant these ancient words really are. I pray that you will also find comfort and strength in these "words that stretch between [the] worlds" of make-believe and our very-real lives.

Bryce Morgan is a husband and father, and the founder of Pop Eternal. He's also the creator of the Captain Sun adventures, as well as the author of "Confessions of a Secret Santa".