The most formidable adversaryFreddy Kruegerfaced never made it to the big screen. To me, this simple fact says a lot considering everyone who Freddy has had to fight off. Some like to give the honor of “best Freddy enemy” to his first opponent, Nancy, but he killed her inDream Warriors. I’m tempted to say Jason Voorhees, butFreddy’s not even Jason’s best rival.
In my eyes, the toughest foe that Freddy Krueger ever had to fight wasn’t on the big screen, but in the comics - specificallyFreddy Krueger’s A Nightmare on Elm Streetby Steve Gerber, Rich Buckler, Tony DeZuniga, Alfredo Alcala, and Janice Chiang. Surprisingly, this two-part series wasreleased under the Marvel banner. Alas, Freddy doesn’t fight the Avengers, but he fights afar more lethal threat to his well-being: a Dream-Stalker.
The thrilling two-part series explains exactly what makes the Dream-Stalker concept so special inNightmarelore.
What Happens inFreddy Krueger’s A Nightmare on Elm Street?
And What Exactly Is a Dream-Stalker?
The opening pages of this series take place in Springwood, withFreddy Krueger’sface hovering over the Hayes residence after Roger and Patti Hayes call an ambulance for their daughter, Allison. The young Allison Hayes was found in bed looking as if she’d been maimed. She’s rushed into emergency surgery, during which she’s visited in her dreams byFreddy, who’s determined to finish what he started before the events of the comic. However, Allison fights back, wrapping her own guts around Freddy’s neck and electrocuting him, forcing him to retreat.
Meanwhile, Dr. Juliann Quinn, who is proficient in studying the psychology of dreams, struggles to evade Freddy Krueger. By coincidence, Springwood Medical assigns her to Allison’s case. Juliann assures Allison that her delusions about Freddy Krueger are real, though it’s unclear at the time why Krueger is targeting Allison. Readers come to learn that it’s becauseFreddy is afraid of Allison and wants to dispose of herbefore she becomes a bigger threat to him. Before that, however, Allison and Juliann are cornered in the Dream World together by Freddy.
What Is Dream-Stalking in This Freddy Kreuger Comic Book?
A Phenomenon within the Franchise
Freddy Krueger terrorizes both women until Juliann finds herself alone in his basement. It looks as if he’s bound to finish the job until, somehow, Allison emerges from his furnace to ward off Freddy, draped in flames as if she was the Human Torch reincarnated. Not even Allison comprehends what she just did. When they wake up, Juliann prescribes the franchise’s signature Hypnocil treatment to keep Allison awake while she investigates how Allison did what she did. That’s whenJuliann learns about Dream-stalking.
An angry Dream-Stalker with no control of her powers is still a danger to Freddy…
By the comic’s definition, Allison is an “accidental dream-stalker” whose abilities don’t compare to what Freddy is capable of. Instead,“an untrained dream-stalker would be drawn to entities of power in the dream world without being able to differentiate the benign from the corrupt.“Because of the power they wield, it’s of utmost importance for a Dream-stalker to understand their talents and their deadly implications. Allison later recalls her first meeting with Freddy, where his attacks phased right through her, which confused and actually terrified Krueger.
Allison Hayes, the Dream-Stalker, Should’ve Fought Freddy Krueger Onscreen
Is It Too Late to Feature the Dream-Stalkers?
Freddy Krueger manages to kill Juliann, but all he manages to do is enrage Allison. An angry Dream-Stalker with no control of her powers is still a danger to Freddy, as evident in their fight, which to me is one of the better choreographed fights of the franchise, be it on-screen or on-panel.Allison’s creativity is on display in this fight, as she sports a blade embedded in her hand to combat Freddy, explodes out of a snake, and fashions a costume similar to Freddy’s to fight fire with fire. Allison overwhelms Freddy, but she wakes up and is committed to a psych ward before she can even attempt to kill Freddy.
Wolverine Channels Freddy Krueger in This Retelling of a Classic X-Men Comic
Writer/artist Ed Piskor took inspiration from slasher icon Freddy Krueger when depicting Wolverine in his limited series X-Men: Grand Design.
Their past encounters show how Freddy struggles to lay a finger on the Dream-Stalker every time. Freddy is outright afraid of Allison because he’s never encountered someone like this before. Freddy’s never been afraid of anyone in the movies (except for maybe Jason) and that’s a testament to the threat that the Dream-Stalker poses to Freddy.Robert Englund has retiredfrom theA Nightmare on Elm Streetfranchise, and the comics were canceled before delving deeper into the Dream-Stalker concept, but if given time, I think Dream-Stalkers could beFreddy Krueger’sgreatest challenge.
Freddy Krueger’s A Nightmare on Elm Streetis available now from Marvel Comics.
Freddy Krueger
Freddy Krueger, created by Wes Craven and portrayed primarily by Robert Englund, is the central villain of theA Nightmare on Elm Streetfranchise. A former child killer burned alive by vengeful parents, Freddy returns as a dream demon who terrorizes and kills his victims in their sleep. His grotesque appearance and darkly comedic persona have cemented him as one of the most iconic figures in horror cinema.
