Eddie Manson

Status: Alive
Date of birth: 1966
Age: 17-20
Nicknames
Eddie "Weirdo" Munson
Long-Haired Weirdo
Eddie the Exiled
Place of residence
Hawkins, Indiana (? - 1986):
Munson's Trailer, Forest Hills Trailer Park (? - 1986)
2121 Holland Road (1986)
Relationship status: Single
Family:
Alan Munson (father)
Elizabeth Munson † (mother)
Wayne Munson (uncle)
Other relatives
Gareth (friend/clubmate)
Jeff (friend/clubmate)
Freak 1 (friend/clubmate)
Ronnie Acker (friend/clubmate)
Mike Wheeler (friend/clubmate)
Dustin Henderson (friend/clubmate)
Lucas Sinclair (friend/club colleague)
Chrissy Cunningham † (girlfriend/girlfriend)
Erica Sinclair (girlfriend)
Nancy Wheeler (friend)
Steve Harrington (friend)
Robin Buckley (friend)
Jason Carver † (rival/enemy)
Affiliation:
Hellfire Club
Rusted coffin
Profession
Hawkins High School student (1977-1980)
Frontman of the band "Rusty Coffin" (1970s-1986)
Hawkins High School student (1980-1986)
Leader of the Hellfire Club (1980s-1986)
Height: 5'10" (180 cm)
Eye color: Brown
Hair color: Dark brown
Edward "Eddie" Munson, played by Joseph Quinn, was one of the main characters in the fourth season of Stranger Things; he is also the main character in the novel Stranger Things: The Flight of Icarus.
Eddie attended Hawkins High School and was the unconventional leader of the Hellfire Club, a fringe school group focused on Dungeons & Dragons. He played electric guitar in his band, Corroded Coffin, and was best friends with Dustin Henderson, Lucas Sinclair, and Mike Wheeler. In 1986, Eddie witnessed the shocking supernatural murder of his girlfriend, Chrissie Cunningham. This prompted him to seek justice for Chrissie, joining forces with The Party and their allies to uncover the cause of the murder. Eddie also became a victim of Chrissie's boyfriend, Jason Carver, who mistook Eddie for the killer and rallied members of his basketball team to hunt him down.

Despite his metal nature, Eddie was understandably horrified and panicked when he saw Vecna ​​mutilate Chrissy and Patrick. From that moment on, Eddie openly berated himself for not being a hero and for running away. It wasn't until he defended Dustin and the town of Hawkins by fighting off the Demobats that Eddie faced his fears. Despite costing him his life, Eddie demonstrated courage beyond his campaigns. Eddie was also shown to have a passion for music, ever since he began playing guitar. He recognized rock and metal and made references to them that others didn't understand, such as Steve Harrington. His references often provided insight into what was happening around him. Eddie expressed his passions through his style and his room.

Eddie was a nonconformist metalhead, hated by those who didn't understand him but loved by those who did. Eddie enjoyed playing Dungeons & Dragons with his friends and was well-versed in the game. He was the leader of the Hellfire Club, and because of his dedication to Dungeons & Dragons, he refused to cancel any events and required club members to find a replacement if one of them couldn't make it on a given night. At first glance, Eddie seemed intense, pushy, and intimidating. He took board games very seriously and didn't seek to fit in with typical cliques like the basketball team. But unlike those typical cliques, Eddie turned out to be very kind, open, helpful, and fun. Dustin said that at the beginning of their freshman year, no one was kind to him, Mike, and Lucas except Eddie. Noticing Chrissy's paranoid behavior, Eddie reassured her by reminding her of their former lives and jokingly claiming they were both "weirdos." Eddie also knew when he was wrong and admitted defeat. Erica earned his respect after she put him in his place for questioning her D&D skills. He later apologized to Steve for thinking he was a "moron." It turned out Eddie had a particular soft spot for Dustin, who was convinced of Eddie's innocence. Eddie made Dustin promise never to change, and in his final moments, he entrusted him with the care of the Hellfire Club and told him he loved him. Eddie struggled in school, likely due to a difficult childhood and eccentric personality, rather than a low IQ. He admitted he "lies through his teeth" when he said he would graduate in 1984 and 1985, but was determined to "escape Hawkins" by 1986. Eddie had a difficult time getting to know the Upside Down. He easily panicked and cursed under his breath when he saw the chaos and evil surrounding him.

An accomplished guitarist, Eddie played guitar in his band Corroded Coffin throughout middle and high school and showcased his skills by performing "Master of Puppets" at the Upside Down to attract the attention of the Demobats.
Physical Strength: Eddie demonstrated he could easily overpower Steve Harrington in a fight while the gang members were searching for him. However, it can be assumed that his strength was fueled by adrenaline at the time, as he was under extreme stress after witnessing Chrissy's murder and fearing he would be blamed for it.
Hot-Wiring: Eddie learned how to steal cars from his father, and later used this skill to help the Party when they needed to "borrow" a trailer to travel to a war zone to stock up on supplies to fight Vecna.

In the Upside Down, when the group planned to go to Nancy's to get weapons, the Upside Down was shaking, forcing Eddie to grab Robin to keep them from falling. They arrived at the Wheeler house together and rode their bikes to Eddie's trailer when the kids told them they could go through the gate left by Chrissy's death. When the kids placed Eddie's stained mattress under the hole in the floor, Eddie said he didn't know where the stains came from, and Robin looked at him with disgust. When they stole a couple's RV, Robin told Eddie she didn't like the idea of ​​him driving, but was confused when Eddie said Steve was driving and called him "Big Boy." That night, Robin and Eddie joined Dustin, Nancy, and Steve, who had climbed through the gate of the Munsons' trailer to carry out their plan to destroy Vecna. After the plan was executed for the last time, the heroes' paths diverged.

Robin Buckley
It was hinted that Robin and Eddie knew each other. Dustin told Eddie he knew Robin "from the band."
In the spring of 1986, when Eddie was accused of murdering Chrissy Cunningham, Robin joined Dustin, Max, and Steve to help prove his innocence. They used archived Family Video Blog footage to track down Eddie and discovered he was hiding in his drug dealer's cabin near Lover Lake. Finding a shocked and distraught Eddie in the boathouse, Robin and the others calmed him down and explained that they would believe his story. Eddie explained that Chrissy had levitated and been killed by an unseen force, and the others explained that an entity—which Dustin and Eddie dubbed "Vecna"—from an alternate dimension was likely behind it. The next morning, Robin and the others approached Eddie with groceries and explained that they had tapped into the police radio and that, although Eddie's name hadn't yet been released, it was only a matter of time before he would be identified and declared wanted. Robin explained to a confused Eddie that talk of an alternate dimension was valid and recounted their previous battles, admitting she'd only encountered this one once, unlike the rest of the group. On the way to Riffer Rick, Robin complained to Nancy that she couldn't stand to see Eddie's doe-eyed expression fade when he was told it was physically impossible to reach Vecna. After learning that Eddie had moved to Rock Rock after killing Patrick McKinney, the group returned to Lovers' Lake, discovering that a "snack-sized" Gate had opened to the Upside Down. The four teenagers rowed toward the Gate, with Robin descending while holding onto Eddie and Steve's heads. As Nancy dove into the water to rescue Steve, Robin prepared to follow suit. Eddie desperately reminded her that she had put Nancy in charge, but Robin smugly pointed out that she had made that up and ducked, causing Eddie to reluctantly follow her.

Steve Harrington
At first, Steve and Eddie were wary of each other: Steve was afraid of Eddie's negative reputation in Hawkins and the possibility of being replaced as Dustin's "big friend." Eddie initially held a prejudiced opinion of Steve due to his former popularity at school, his upbringing in a wealthy family, and his reputation as a jerk. Despite this initial attitude, Steve still helped Dustin and the others hide Eddie and find a way to prove his innocence. When Eddie becomes the prime suspect in the murders of Chrissy, Fred, and Patrick, Steve worries about him and even warns Dustin against taking Eddie into the woods with him because he is wanted. He doesn't want Eddie to be caught. After Eddie saves Steve's life, and Steve thanks him, they open up to each other and discuss their conflicted feelings about each other due to Dustin praising Eddie in front of Steve, and Steve to Eddie, leaving both confused about where they stood in their relationship with Dustin. However, after observing Steve with some younger teenagers and seeing him dive into a lake despite the risk, Eddie admitted to Steve that he was better than he thought. He even complimented him, comparing him to "Ozzy Osbourne" for killing the demobat, and, notably, did not rebuke Steve for not understanding the reference. As a gesture of goodwill, Eddie gave Steve his denim jacket so that he would have a change of clothes and to protect the wounds on his chest. He also noted how much Nancy and Robin cared for Steve and advised him to pursue Nancy if there was still hope. They also bonded over Dustin's arrogant demeanor. Steve noted that Dustin needed to curb his ego, and Eddie agreed, saying, "It's his tone, right?" Later, when The Party heads off to fight Vecna ​​at the Krill House, Steve expresses concern for Eddie and Dustin, warning them to retreat and save themselves if the plan fails. Eddie agrees and asks Steve to make Vecna ​​pay.

Dustin Henderson
In the fall of 1985, Dustin was a freshman and a bully, but Eddie quickly befriended him. Noticing Dustin wearing a Weird Al T-shirt, Eddie welcomed Dustin and Mike into his clique over lunch and invited them to join the Hellfire Club. Of all the club members, Eddie and Dustin became the closest friends, and Dustin was convinced Eddie didn't kill Chrissy. When Dustin found him at Riffer Rick's house, he vehemently swore to a shocked Eddie that he and his friends believed him and wanted to help. Dustin was the first person Eddie called on the walkie-talkie while in hiding. When they met in Skull Rock, Dustin gave Eddie a big hug after their reunion. While preparing for a field fight and making spiked shields, Eddie began playfully fighting Dustin after the latter made an unfortunate joke about bats. Holding Dustin in his arms, Eddie told him he would never change and made him promise, but Dustin insisted he had no intention of changing. In the Upside Down, Eddie protected Dustin by cutting the rope between the Gates and ran off to distract the Demobats. Dustin accidentally injured his ankle while trying to go back and save Eddie and watched in horror as the Demobats tore his friend apart. With a scream that included Eddie's name, Dustin ran to his mortally wounded friend as the Demobats fell to the ground.

Jason Carver
Apparently, Jason and Eddie had a long-standing rivalry. They disliked each other intensely due to their different social circles and Jason's cultish mentality. Their mutual hatred first surfaced in the cafeteria, when Eddie criticized several social groups and began comparing them, then gave Jason the middle finger. Later, Jason repeatedly called Eddie a freak and a Satanist due to his involvement with the Hellfire Club. Jason became even more obsessed with Eddie when he learned that Chrissy had been murdered in Eddie's trailer. Jason rallied his basketball team to track Eddie down, and they eventually succeeded: they found him at Lovers Lake. Eddie and Jason nearly came to blows when Jason followed Eddie into the water with his teammate, Patrick McKinney. They didn't exchange words, but the atmosphere was filled with silent tension. After witnessing Patrick's death, Jason still believed Eddie had done it and blamed D&D for its connections to Satan, sincerely believing Eddie had supernatural powers. Eddie managed to escape Jason at that point, but Jason remained obsessed with finding him and ordered the entire town to hunt down Eddie and the other members of the Hellfire Club. Jason interfered with Erica, Lucas, and Max's plan to assassinate Vecna, confronting them in Jason was taken to the abandoned Kreel mansion. Although Lucas told him the truth about Vecna ​​placing a death curse on Chrissy, and Eddie tried to comfort and help her, Jason refused to believe it and eventually engaged Lucas in close combat. Jason accidentally caused Max's death at the hands of Vecna ​​and inadvertently allowed the curse to spread throughout Hawkins, killing Jason and dozens of other townspeople. Meanwhile, Eddie was beaten by Vecna's minions while trying to protect Dustin from them. In the following days, Eddie and his fellow Hellfire members continued to be accused of Vecna's murders and pursued by local authorities.

When Eddie returned with the drugs he'd found, he was startled to see Chrissy's eyes flickering. Realizing something was wrong, Eddie began patting her shoulders and shaking her, telling Chrissy he didn't like what she was doing. As the lights began to flicker, Eddie desperately pleaded with Chrissy to wake up, then slowly backed away as Chrissy began to float in the air. When her body hit the ceiling, Eddie fell to the floor and screamed in horror as he saw Chrissy's limbs break and her skull fractured. Afterward, Eddie was wracked with survivor's guilt, believing himself a coward for not being able to do anything. While distracting the Demobats, Eddie dedicated his guitar solo from "Master of Puppets" to Chrissy. Eddie's guilt and regret for fleeing the scene of Chrissy's death became the motivating factor that drove him to confront the Demobats. He decided he had enough of running away.

Chrissy Cunningham
Eddie and Chrissy attended Hawkins High School together and both competed in the annual talent show. They were both impressed by their own talents: Chrissy with cheerleading, and Eddie with his band, Corroded Coffin. Over time, however, Chrissy forgot about Eddie, caught up in her popularity, but Eddie never harbored any ill will toward her. In 1986, when Chrissy began hallucinating and suffering from mental health issues, she decided to smoke marijuana to calm her nerves and contacted Eddie to meet him in the woods near Hawkins High. Eddie was initially wary of Chrissy's paranoia, but she stopped him, asking if he felt like he was "going crazy." Eddie, relaxed, jokingly replied that he felt like that "every day." He said he never expected the "Queen of Hawkins" to do a drug deal with him, adding that it wasn't the first time they'd hung out. Chrissy didn't remember, so Eddie playfully fell off the bench, pretending to be stabbed, which caught Chrissy off guard. When he got up, he jokingly said he didn't remember either, and Chrissy laughed. They both reminisced about the school talent show, and Chrissy noticed how much he'd changed since then. Chrissy happily said Eddie wasn't what she'd imagined, and Eddie smiled back, saying he'd been "horrified" when he saw her. As they laughed, Eddie told her she'd get a discount on her medication for complimenting him, but Chrissy hesitantly asked if he had anything stronger. After Eddie's meeting with the Hellfire Club and the basketball championship, Chrissy went with Eddie to his trailer to get a stronger drug. When they entered, Eddie apologized for the mess, and Chrissy nervously asked about the side effects of the drugs he was giving her. While Eddie was rummaging through his room, Vecna ​​cursed Chrissy through his hallucinations, causing her to fall into a trance in his living room.

Wayne Munson (relative)
Despite his short temper, Wayne didn't believe Eddie was capable of the murders he was accused of and considered his nephew a good guy. He knew people considered Eddie a freak, but he loved his nephew dearly and maintained that murder was out of character for Eddie. Since Eddie was over 18, it is presumed that Wayne was his legal guardian. Eddie said his uncle worked long hours at a "factory" to support their poor family, but never specified what that work entailed. When Dustin told Wayne of Eddie's death, he was deeply upset and devastated, suggesting a close relationship between him and Eddie.

Mike Wheeler
Like Dustin, Mike was adopted by Eddie at the beginning of his freshman year at Hawkins High School. They didn't have the same close bond as Dustin and Eddie, but Eddie mentioned seeing Mike and Dustin as future Hellfire players.

Erica Sinclair
Eddie and Erica's relationship started off rocky, especially at the end of the semester campaign, when Eddie mentioned Erica's notoriety in the group, likely due to Lucas complaining about her behind her back. But after playing with her, Eddie warmed to her and was surprised by her skill at D&D, especially her luck with D20 rolls. Erica lost contact with Eddie after the campaign, but once she was informed of the situation, she joined him and the others on their mission.

Lucas Sinclair
Eddie was initially irritated by Lucas prioritizing his basketball training over his involvement with the Hellfire club, but Lucas considered Eddie a friend and vouched for him and the Hellfire club when they were accused of Satanism. When he learned that Jason Carver was planning to form a vigilante group against Eddie, Lucas, knowing Eddie was innocent, teamed up with Dustin, Max, Steve, Nancy, and Robin to help Eddie, a fugitive from justice.