The Stranger Things 2 poster hints at more ways the show will borrow from Stephen King

The second season of Stranger Things has an official release date: October 27th, just a few days ahead of the originally teased Halloween debut. What’s even more exciting, though, is the new poster for the series. Featuring the core cast (sans Eleven, of course) and the spooky monster from the first trailer, it’s a perfect homage to classic Stephen King.

Stranger Things would be nothing without its genre inspirations. The first season already pulled from the likes of E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, Poltergeist, and Firestarter, just to name a few. The next season will surely pay homage to other beloved works. The poster alone seems to be inspired by artwork from King works like The Stand, The Mist, and Stand By Me, all while looking like something new (and terrifying). We’ve included a handful of covers below for comparison.

Stephen King fans have a lot to look forward to. Stranger Things returns to Netflix this October.