IT not only introduced readers to an evil, shape-shifting entity that lived in the sewers of Derry, Maine, but also to a group of kids self-named The Losers’ Club. These kids were brave enough to face IT when they were children and again when they were adults, but the Losers are not exclusive to IT. They have appeared in other Stephen King books, though not as prominently as in the novel that introduced them. After all, the Stephen King universe is full of connections.
The Losers were all misfits one way or another, and bonded over that and their encounters with IT in 1958 (in the original novel). The members of the club were Bill Denbrough, Beverly Marsh, Ben Hanscom, Mike Hanlon, Eddie Kaspbrak, Richie Tozier, and Stanley Uris. Following their battle with IT in the 1950s, they all moved on with their lives and eventually left Derry, except for Mike. But when IT awoke in 1985, the group reunited to defeat the creature once and for all. The Losers went on to appear in different ways in other Stephen King novels, this time without having to deal with evil clowns.
Mike Hanlon appears in the novel Insomnia, published in 1994. The novel includes the Crimson King, the main antagonist of The Dark Tower series, who is believed to be either IT or a creature of the same nature, as he mentions to Insomnia’s protagonist, Ralph Roberts, that he can be whatever he wants, and “shape-changing is a time-honored custom in Derry.” Mike’s appearance in the novel only adds to that belief. The Losers are mentioned in the 2001 novel Dreamcatcher, as their names appear in a plaque dedicated to them. It’s worth noting that in this novel there’s a statue with a graffiti that says “Pennywise Lives,” and the murders by IT were told as being committed by a psychopath who liked to dress as a clown.
The latest appearance of the Losers in a Stephen King novel is in 11/22/63, published in 2011. Richie Tozier and Beverly Marsh appear in the story, while the rest of the members of the club are only mentioned briefly. Out of all these post-IT works, 11/22/63 and Dreamcatcher have been adapted to other media, but they didn’t include any of their nods to the Losers. Now that the Losers finally got their film versions in IT: Chapter One and IT: Chapter Two, maybe future adaptations of King’s works will include some references to them - or maybe even cameos.
The Stephen King universe can be more complicated than it seems, as it’s an extensive mythology with fantastic creatures and many supernatural events, many of them connected by one character or by details such as a graffiti on a statue. Hopefully, the remaining Losers will make an appearance in future novels from the master of horror.
Next: IT’s Pennywise May Be Still Alive (In Stephen King’s Books)