| “ | Could be somebody else hunting out here.
— "Dale", November 1983
|
” |
Dale is a lead character in the first issue of Stranger Things: Tales from Hawkins. He was first mentioned in the first season of Stranger Things.
Dale was a 'would-be' hunter who lived in Hawkins, Indiana. In November 1983, Dale went on a doomed hunting trip with his friend Henry, in which the two met a grisly fate at the hands of the Demogorgon.
History
Background
Dale and his friend Henry were would-be hunters, and were friends with Bev Mooney; they were known to share a drinking habit.[1]
1983
On November 10, Dale went hunting with his friend Henry, taking a rifle and a six-pack of beers with them. The two friends talked about odd happenings around town, before noticing a brutally mauled dead animal as they walked. Putting down their beers, they decided to hunt the creature, reasoning that it may pose a danger to the public.
Dale then said how Henry should act as bait but Henry questioned the logic of the plan but Dale left. and killed off-screen by the Demogorgon. While Henry is instead taken to The Upside Down and Henry wandered through the Upside Down he fell and found Dale's corpse.Henry apologizes to Dale and then the Demogorgon chases Henry until Henry is able to lose the creature and founds gate that led back to Hawkins. Before Henry can investigate, the Demogorgon attacked Henry. A dying Henry then saw a ghost Dale who said the creature might be a strange bear or maybe rabid and Dale said how he is not going to make it before disappearing. Will Byers another person stuck in the Upside Down found and comforted a dying Henry and for Henry's last wish he asked Will to help Dale before finally dying.[2]
On November 11, Bev realized that Dale and Henry hadn't returned from their trip, and informed the police. Officers Phil Callahan and Calvin Powell notified the chief, Jim Hopper, of the men's disappearance.