Sandman FAQ: Characters and Plot - Part 1 of 4
Lance Squiddie Smith
The Nearly Compleat List of Sandman Frequently Asked Questions 1.5
(Now in four action packed, pot scrubbing parts! New and Improved!)
Compiled and pushed around by Lance Smith (lsm...@cs.umn.edu)
with a lot of help from the kind folx in rec.art.comics.misc
[Originally posted to rec.arts.comics.misc on April 13, 1993.
Last revised January 10, 1994. Feel free to make copies and distribute this,
but try to leave it intact, OK? Please contact me if you plan to use any
or all of this information in a printed work.]
Disclaimer: The Sandman and its characters are owned by DC Comics. We are not
about to do anything to upset them. (They'd squash us like a peanut!)
Send questions, comments and condolences to: lsm...@mail.cs.umn.edu
Special hello to all the people who are reading this in Gopher holes and with
the help of Fido, the wonder net.
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[1.1] Question: In what issues do each of the Endless/Dreaming Staff appear?
Dream 1-19, 21-32, 34-40, 42-52, 54, 55, 57 Special, Vertigo
Preview, Vertigo Jam, Death Gallery
Death 8, (11), 13, 20, 21, 24, 25, 31, 37, 40, 43, 46-48, (50),
54-56, Special, Death 1-3, Death Gallery
Destiny 7, 21, 28, 47, 55, 56, Special
Desire 10, 16, 21, 31, 41, 42, 45, 47, 49, 55, Special
Despair 10, 21, 31, 41, 47, 49, 56, Special
Delirium 21, 31, 41-49, 55, 56, Special
Destruction 41-44, 46-48, 55, Special
Orpheus 29, 41, 49, Special
Abel 2, 7, 9, 10, 26, 40, 42, 56, Special, Vertigo Jam
Cain 2, 7, 9, 22, 24, 26, 40, 56, Special, Vertigo Jam
The Corinthian 10-12, 14, 27, 44, 47, 57
Eve 2, 7, 24, 40, 57, Special
Fashion Thing 2, 22
Fiddler's Green 11, 12, 14-16, 39, 56
Guardians of
the Gate 9, 10, 18, 24, 26, 40, 42, 49, 57, Special
Goldie 2, 7, 10, 40, 42, Vertigo Jam
Gregory 2, 7, 26, 40, 56, Special
The Hecateae 2, 10, 17, 21, 34, 57, Special
Lucien 2, 10, 11, 22, 24, 35, 38, 42, 44, 46, 49, 57, Vertigo Jam
Matthew 7, 11, 15, 16, 22, 24, 26, 27, 32, 40, 42, 45-46, 56, 57
Special, Vertigo Preview, Vertigo Jam
Mervyn 5, 22, 42, 46, 49, 56, 57, Vertigo Jam
Nuala 26-28, 33, 35, 42, 46, 49, 52, 56, 57, Vertigo Jam
Notes:
1. This list includes portraits in the Sandman Special and #50 as well as
very brief cameo appearances. Numbers in parentheses indicate portraits.
2. Death appears only in the portrait at the back of "Moving In" (Sandman
#11.) The original black and white version appears in the alternative
version of "The Sound of Her Wings" (Sandman #8.) A variation of this
portrait is printed before the envoi in _The Doll's House_ TPB.
3. Three of Matthew's predecessors appear in Sandman stories. Jessamy appears
in "Thermidor" (Sandman #29) and Aristeaus of Marmora appears in "August"
(Sandman #30). An unnamed raven appears in "Imperfect Hosts" (Sandman #2).
Another unnamed raven, possibly a servant of Dream, appears in "The
Hunt" (Sandman #38).
In Sandman #45, Delirium counts the ravens who have worked for Dream.
She mentions Aristeaus, but not by name. ("The one who came back again
after he was a man again.") Delirium's count is not accurate. Dream
informs Matthew that there have been quite a few more in Sandman #57.
4. Destruction made his first appearance in The Sandman Special. He is
mentioned in earlier issues and this is discussed below. Most of the
Endless are mentioned before they appear. Death, Destiny, and Desire
are all first mentioned in "Sleep of the Just" (Sandman #1). Lucifer
includes Despair as part of Dream's family in "A Hope in Hell" (Sandman
#4). Delirium is the last to be mentioned, but not the last to be
named. Dream talks of her when speaking to Desire in "Lost Hearts"
(Sandman #16). We learn she used to be Delight in the the prologue
to "Season of Mists" (Sandman #21).
5. Cain, Abel, Matthew, Gregory and Eve's appearances in the Sandman Special
are limited to portraits in the gallery at the end of the book. They
do not take part in the story. Death's appearance in "Ramadan" (Sandman
#50) is also limited to the Facets of Dream gallery.
6. The Guardians of the Gate are the griffin, wyvern and hippogriff who
watch the door to Dream's castle. Their appearance in "The Doll's House"
(Sandman #10) is limited to a depiction of them about a door in the
Dreaming that Lucien passes through.
7. Destiny, Death and Dream are mentioned in "In the beginning...", the
introduction that appeared in "The Sound of Her Wings" (Sandman #8).
("In the beginning..." is also reprinted _The Doll's House_ TPB.)
Destiny is described at first, but not named until the end. The Hecateae
are also mentioned.
8. A large number of characters make cameos in "Worlds' End" (Sandman #56.)
There is some question about the identity of those who appearing. The
above list (and the one below for recurring characters) represents my
best guess. This list may change as the scene is clarified.
[1.2] Question: What characters have appeared in more than one Sandman story
line?
Azazel 4, 24, 26, 27
Barbie 11, 15, 32-37
Bast 24, 26, 27, 46, (50), 56
Calliope 17, Special
Carla 22, 57
Choronzon 1, 2, 4, 22, 24, 26-28
Cluracan 26-28, 51-53, 55, 56
Lady Johanna Constantine 13, 29, [41, 47]
Donna Cavanagh/Foxglove 32-34, 36, 37, Death 2
Robert "Hob" Gadling 13, 22, (50), 53
Mary Gentian 6, 37
Lyta & Daniel Hall 11, 12, 22, 40, 57
Unity Kinkaid 1, 10, 15, 16
Ken 11, 15, 33
Lucifer 4, 22-24, 28, 57
Hazel McNamara 32-34, 36, 37, Death 2
Mad Hettie 3, Death 1-3
Nada 4, 9, 22, 24, 26-28
William Shakespeare 13, 19
Judy Talbot 6, 16, 33
Martin Tenbones 15, 32, 56
Titania/Queen of Faerie 19, 52, 56
1. Lady Johanna's appearances in "Brief Lives" are limited to the tombstone
on her grave.
2. Judy calls Rose Walker about Donna/Foxglove in "24 Hours" (Sandman #6.)
Rose mentions both Donna and Judy in "Lost Hearts" (Sandman #16.) A small
newspaper picture is also seen tacked up on Rose's note board. Foxglove
sings a song about Judy in "A Night to Remember" (Death #2.)
3. Dream, Barbie and Foxglove discuss Rose Walker in "I Woke Up and One of
Us Was Crying" (Sandman #37). Judy Talbot is mentioned in the same
conversation. Judy is also mentioned in "Over the Sea to Sky" (Sandman
#36).
4. Ken appears only in Barbie's dream in "Lullabies of Broadway" (Sandman
#33.) Barbie also mentions him throughout the "A Game of You" story line.
5. In "The High Cost of Living" (Death #3) Sexton and Sylvia talk about
Hazel and Foxglove.
6. Barbara Wong appears in "Sound and Fury" (Sandman #7) and is also heard
broadcasting on WRAT in "Over the Sea to Sky" (Sandman #36).
7. The parentheses indicate that Robert Gadling and Bast appear only in the
Facet of Dream gallery in Ramadan (Sandman #50)
8. Robert Gadling also mentions Mad Hettie in "Men of Good Fortune"
(Sandman #13).
9. Lyta talks to Carla on the phone in "The Parliament of Rooks" (Sandman
#40).
10. Titania is also mentioned in Sandman #26 and #28.
[1.3] Question: What is/was the mystery concerning Destruction?
Destruction is first mentioned in Sandman #10, but not by name. Specifically,
Despair asks Desire if The Prodigal has returned. The rest of the Endless are
named by Sandman #16. (Delirium is the last one to be mentioned.) After #10,
#16 and again after the family gathering in Sandman #21, there was some
discussion of the identity and realm of the Missing Endless and why he
was out of contact with his family. (His gender was known by Desire's
comment in #10.) Given the naming scheme of the rest of the family, large
lists of "De" names were given as the possible identities of the Missing
Endless.
Destruction's first appearance was in the Sandman Special. At the time,
he was called Olethros. This can be translated into "devastation" or
"destruction." Destruction's name wasn't confirmed within the story line
until Desire refers to him by name in Sandman #41. (Slightly before this,
Despair refers to him as "my lord of destruction.")
In Sandman #26, Bast offers to tell Dream of his brother's whereabouts
in exchange for the key to Hell. (Later in "Brief Lives" we learn she
exaggerated the extent of her knowledge.)
The reason for Destruction's abandonment of his realm is discussed in
detail in the "Brief Lives" story line and Sandman #44 and #48 in
particular. The story is recent enough that it is best not discussed
here.
[1.4] Question: Have the Endless appeared outside of The Sandman?
Appearances by the Endless outside of The Sandman.
Destiny The Books of Magic #4
Captain Atom #42
Death Ambush Bug Nothing Special
The Books of Magic #4
Captain Atom #42, #43
Cerebus #153
Doom Patrol #73
Legion of Super-Heroes #38
Lobo's Back #3
Dream Ambush Bug Nothing Special
The Books of Magic #3
Hellblazer #19
Sandman Mystery Theatre #1
Swamp Thing #84
Notes:
1. The appearance of Death and Destiny in Captain Atom #42 (and briefly in
#43) should not be considered part of the Sandman canon.
2. Dream, Death and The Endless have entries in the 3rd Update of Who's Who
in the DC Universe. (1990-2) There are also entries for Cain and Abel,
Matthew, The Dreaming, and The Three Witches. Cain, Abel, and Destiny
have pre-Sandman entries in the initial run of Who's Who in the DC
Universe (1987).
3. Images of Dream and Death also appear in several of the Amazing Heroes
Swimsuit Specials. Quality varies. Proceed with caution.
4. Swoon, Sulk, Sleaze and Snuff of the Clueless, the closest thing to
Bizarro Endless, appear in Dave Sim's Cerebus #164-176. One other
Clueless, Space, has been named, but has yet to appear. (The character
who plays the part of Sulk was suggested to Sim by Gaiman.)
5. Destiny often appeared as a host in some of the DC horror titles of
the 70s and early 80s. He also appeared in more traditional pre-crisis DC
superhero comics. In pre-Sandman comics, his robe tended to be purple and
his book was called _The Cosmic Log_.
6. "Death Talks About Life"
Death appeared in this public service announcement about AIDS that was
included with three of DC's comics for a mature audience: Hellblazer #62,
Sandman #46, and Shade #32. John Constantine also appeared in the PSA.
DC will also be publishing this separately as a flier for distribution to
increase public awareness of AIDS. It is also included in the Death
hardcover collection.
7. Death and Dream both have their own cards in the Worlds of Magic "team"
of the DC Cosmic Teams trading card set. They also appear in the Worlds
of Magic triptych from the same set. The Death card (114) has original art
by Chris Bachalo and the Dream card (119) was done by Jill Thompson.
Destiny's book appears in the triptych, but Destiny is strangely absent.
The writing on the back of the card is somewhat below Sandman standards.
8. Dream almost appeared in issue #1 of the Stanley and His Monster mini-
series by Phil Foglio. He was replaced by the Golden Age Sandman, but his
distinctive word balloons remained.
9. Dream's word balloon also appears in Swamp Thing #118. Tefe' visits
the Dreaming and meets Matthew the Raven. Dream calling for Matthew
interrupts their conversation.
10. A spirit of death temporarily takes on the shape of a pale skinned young
woman dressed in black in Excalibur #25.
11. Cain, Abel and Goldie also appear with Dream in The Books of Magic #3.
12. In "Into the Mystery," an episode of the syndicated Superboy TV series,
Superboy meets Azrael, a young woman who turns out to be an embodiment
of death. Although not dressed in Death's basic black, some fans feel
that scriptwriter J. M. DeMatteis, a frequent writer of comics, may have
based much of the character on Death from Sandman.
13. On the cover of Magic, a supplement to the DC Heroes role-playing
game, is a painting of The Spectre, Deadman and Death. It doesn't
look much like Death, but she is wearing an ankh. (The painting is
by George Pratt, who has inked three issues of Sandman, including
a much criticized job on Sandman #34.) The quality of the information
inside is of an equally questionable nature as the cover. Who's Who #2,
another supplement to DC Heroes, may feature a portrait of Death on the
cover along with three other DC characters. Mayfair is also threatening
to release a Sandman supplement for DC Heroes.
14. In a letter to the CBG, Evan Dorkin says that Death did NOT appear in
the Bill and Ted comic book. It was just a young woman with dark hair
who was dressed in black.
15. A poster of Death appears in The Maxx #4. The narrator comments that,
"They have tattoos and stuff saying how ROMANTIC death is. But Jimmy
knows the TRUTH--like me. Death is hard an' cold an' UGLY. Not some
cute chick!" She also mentions the "SAND-FREAKS" in the previous panel.
Sand-freaks? Hmph! (For some Sandman inspired graffiti, read Maxx #1
carefully.)
16. In "Season of Missed" (Soulsearchers and Company #3 by Peter David
and Company) Dweeb, Deaf and the Sleepwanker [tm] all make appearances.
17. In Children's Crusade, Rowland and Paine are hiding from Death and
use a disguise kit to avoid her. There are also pictures of a young
Dream and a young Death in the crowd at the top of Chapter 7.
18. After returning from the dead, Marlo mentions seeing an ankh in
the Incredible Hulk #408.
[1.5] Question: Where did the staff of the Dreaming get their starts?
Many of Dream's staff in the Dreaming made appearances in comics before
appearing in The Sandman.
Cain and Abel: Cain and Abel both acted as hosts of horror anthology series.
Cain first appeared in The House of Mystery #175 (July-August 1968) and
Abel appeared a year later in The House of Secrets #81 (August-September
1969.) The Houses themselves may also be considered characters, with their
stories going back to their respective titles. The House in the House of
Secrets handled the lettercol duties for that title. (It seemed to be quite
disliked by the readers of the title.)
Cain and Abel also appeared as hosts of the much less serious Plop! along
with Eve and Gregory the Gargoyle. Cain, Abel, Eve and Destiny all hosted
the first nine issues of Secrets of Haunted House. Destiny hosted the book
alone from the teens to issue #39 and Abel was the host for the final issues.
They also made many non-horror comic appearances including Swamp Thing #33
and #50, and several issues of the Blue Devil. Both have their own entry,
complete with fighting ability, in the first Who's Who in the DC Universe and
a joint entry, without fighting ability, in the 3rd Update to the title.
Lucien: Lucien acted as the librarian and host of a very short-lived horror
series called Tales of Ghost Castle. It lasted for only three issues
in 1975. He served as a librarian in a castle in Transylvania. Initially
he also had a werewolf as a pet. Lucien does make one final appearance in
a late issue of Secrets of Haunted House. He appears at a Halloween party for
hosts and cohosts of DC horror comics.
Matthew: Matthew the Raven started out as Matthew Cable. As a man, Matthew
made his first appearance in Swamp Thing #1 (October-November #1972).
In Swamp Thing #84, he makes his tranformation into a raven in the Dreaming.
The Hecateae: The three who are one also appeared in comic books prior
to their appearance in Sandman. The Three Witches, as they were referred
to, first appeared in The Witching Hour #1 (December 1970). Their
personalities are a bit different from those they displayed in the
Sandman stories. Cynthia, for example, used the popular slang of the period
and even managed to quote Bob Dylan and they all had a tendency to display
"zany" behavior.
Eve: Billed as a 1000-year old woman, Eve first appeared in Secrets of
Sinister House #6. Appropriately enough, her appearance was witnessed
by Cain and Abel who ran away in terror as she arrived. Accompanied by
a raven named Edgar Allen, Eve hosted Sinister House for much of its
short run before being shifted over to Weird Mystery Tales where she
hosted the book with Destiny before taking over the comic completely.
As mentioned above, Eve regularly appeared in Plop and through the first
ten issues of Secrets of Haunted House. She also played an important
role in the transformation of Matt Cable into Matthew the Raven in Swamp
Thing #84.
[1.6] Question: Who were the previous Sandman characters to appear in DC comics?
There have been three characters (other than Morpheus) known as The Sandman
in DC Comics: Wesley Dodds, Dr Garrett Sanford and Hector Hall.
Wesley Dodds: Dodds was the Sandman of the Golden Age. He first appeared New
York World's Fair Comics in 1939 and became a regular character in Adventure
Comics beginning with issue #40. He appeared in All-Star Comics #1 (Summer
1940) and became a charter member of the JSA beginning in the third issue
of All-Star Comics. Unfortunately, the Sandman only lasted four years
in the JSA and was gone from DC comics by 1946. He would later be brought
back as part of Earth-Two and also made brief appearances in 1992's revival
of the JSA title. Dodds is now the center of Vertigo's Sandman Mystery
Theatre.
Initially, Dodds was a wealthy playboy who fought crime with a gas gun
that he used to put criminals to sleep. Despite a debut script that called
for an all black costume, the Sandman appeared wearing a green coat, purple
cape, orange hat and blue and yellow gas mask. This look only lasted until
the end of 1941, when the colorful costume was replaced by the standard
superhero's bodysuit. Dodds also went blonde, replaced the gas gun with a
"wirepoon gun" and picked up a young sidekick named Sandy. When the
character was revived, he had gone back to the original costume.
Dodds has made two appearances in Sandman. In issue #1, we learn
that Dodds is driven to crimefighting by nightmares. The nightmares
being caused by Morpheus's absence from the Dreaming. In issue #26, Odin
offers Dodds, who is trapped in a "notional dimension," as a trade for the
key to Hell, saying that Dodds contains a fraction of Dream's soul.
Dr Garrett Sanford: The second Sandman was created by Jack Kirby and Joe
Simon in 1973 and appeared in The Sandman comic book in Winter 1974. The
series only lasted six issues with only the first issue scripted by Simon
and only half drawn by Kirby. (A seventh story where The Sandman saves
Santa from the fiendish sealmen appeared in a superhero holiday special.)
The second Sandman originally was presented as an immortal who monitored
dreams (using the Universal Dream Monitor that displayed images on the
Dream Screen) and protected people within their dreams and in the "mortal
world." Dressed in a yellow and red costume, the Sandman was "aided" by
the nightmares Brute and Glob. (In the first book, the two encourage him
to allow a sleeping boy to continue to fall within his dreams.) Along with
his dream equipment in the Dream Dome, the Sandman also made use of a sonic
whistle, used for a variety of purposes, and sand cartridges that put
people to sleep.
This Sandman was later transformed from The Universal Master of Dreams into
Dr Garrett Sanford. Sanford had built all the equipment that was used in the
Dream Dome. The equipment was designed and built to save a VIP from his own
nightmares. Once inside the Dreaming, Sanford was successful, but couldn't
return to the waking world. Most of this retconning was done in Wonder Woman
#300 by Roy Thomas.
Apparently the stress of living within the Dream Stream (later The Dream
Dimension) proved too much for Sanford, and his "soul" departed while his
body remained in stasis. All of this is explained by the third Sandman,
Hector Hall.
Hector Sanders Hall: Hector Hall was originally know as Silver Scarab, a
member of Infinity, Inc. Hall had to be killed by the other members of
Infinity, Inc., when the Evil Silver Scarab inside of him took control of
his body. When Hall lost his body to the other Scarab, he was thrown into
the Dream Dimension where he learned of Dr Sanford, Sanford's equipment
and Brute and Glob. Since Sanford was more or less dead and Hall was without
a body, Hall took on the role of the Sandman.
The third Sandman wears a costume like the second Sandman's and also uses
sand cartridges. He also must remain in the Dream Dimension for all but
one hour everyday. At first, he uses this one hour to visit Lyta Trevor,
who is known as Fury II and is pregnant with Hall's child. When Hall is
discovered visiting Lyta as she sleeps, he explains his story and convinces
her to return with him to the Dream Dimension.
According to the Who's Who Update for 1988, they are said to "currently
inhabit the Dream Dimension and are expecting their child anytime."
The story of what really happened to the Halls can be found in Sandman #11
and #12.
[1.7] Question: To what extent is The Sandman based on the Golden or Kirby
Sandman characters?
In "The Origin of the Comic You Are Now Holding" (Sandman #4) Neil Gaiman
says his only early exposure to the Golden Age Sandman was a copy of Justice
League America #47 where the Sandman took part in defeating Anti-Matter Man.
The issue was part of a box of comics that mysteriously appeared (and later
disappeared) when he was almost seven.
The Kirby Sandman made a very brief appearance in the first draft of
the Black Orchid story, (He was suggested as a potential character for a
dream sequence.) While he had read the 70s Sandman, Gaiman says that he was
uncomfortable with the series. He did, however, mention a possible new
treatment of the character to Karen Berger in September 1987. Several
months later, Berger offered him a Sandman series under the condition that
it had to be a new Sandman. The name stayed the same but the rest changed.
(Incidentally, Cain and Abel also appeared in the Black Orchid first draft
acting as waiters, a role Cain takes on in Sandman #2.)
[1.8] Question: Are the visual images of the Endless based upon anyone/anything?
Visually, each artist may use different models when pencilling the Endless.
(Dave McKean has said that he somewhat regrets that each artist who has
has worked on the series hasn't draw Dream as they wanted him to look.)
However, there are some definite models that provided the inspiration for
the prototypes of the Endless.
Destiny is a stock character from the old DC/National horror comic books.
(Like Cain and Abel, he appeared in several DC horror titles.) The most
significant changes to Destiny's appearance is his robe is no longer purple
and his book no longer has "Cosmic Log" prominently written on its cover.
In the envoi to _The Doll's House_, Mike Dringenberg thanks Cinnamon, who
served as the model for Death. (A signed picture of Mike and Cinnamon can
be found in Funny Papers at Dobie Center in Austin, Texas.) By one account,
Cinnamon was as pale as Death usually is colored, but tended to have her hair
in shades other than black.
Originally, Gaiman had wanted to use Louise Brooks, a film star of the late
20s, as a model for Death. Dringenberg and a strange coincident over a
pancake breakfast were able to convince him to go with the slightly less
reserved version.
Destruction in his first incarnation, looked very much like Brian Blessed in
one of his more hirsute roles.
Desire has the appearance of a Patrick Nagel print.
Despair and the first Delirium, since she changes so often, come from
two different strange photographs.
The idea for Dream's look came more from his initial situation of
imprisonment. He was to be thin and pale. Gaiman then did rough sketches of
Dream as he expected him to look. Dream's clothes were partially based on
his creator's personal tastes and partially inspired by a print of a kimono
in a book of Japanese designs.
Despite common rumor, Death is not based on Siouxsie Sioux and Dream
isn't based on Robert Smith. However, an early drawing of Dream that
Dave McKean did was based on the appearance of Bono in a Clannad video.
The drawing is included on the first page of the Afterwords to _Preludes
and Nocturnes_.
[1.9] Question: Are the Endless known by other names?
Each culture may have its own names for the members of the Endless. In the
Sandman Special, the Endless are known as:
Potmos (Destiny)
Teleute (Death)
Oneiros (Dream/Morpheus)
Olethros (Destruction)
Epithumia (Desire)
Aponoia (Despair)
Mania (Delirium)
Dream was also known as L'Zoril to the Martians and Kai'ckul to Nada's
people. "In A Game of You," he is called Murphy within Barbie's skerry.
As stated in Sandman #21, Dream has collected many names and titles. An
incomplete list would include:
Kinge of Dremes
The Prince of Stories
Prince Morpheus
The Oneiromancer
The Sandman
Master of Dreams (Dream Master)
King of Dreams, of the Nightmare Realm
The Dreamlord (Lord of Dreams)
Dream King
Lord of the Sleeping Marches
Lord of the Sleeping
Lord of Sleep
Master of the Realm of Sleep
Oneiros
The Shaper of Form
The Shaper of Forms
Cat of Dreams
King of the Riddle Realms
Shaper or Lord Shaper
Lord of the Dream World
Prince of Stories
Monarch of the Sleeping Marches
His Darkness, Dream of the Endless
The Dreamweaver
The Nightmare King
Dream-creature
The Shaper of Dreams
Sultan of Sleep
He is also called Mister Dreamy by Shivering Jemmy and Dreamsneak by John
Dee, but these aren't really titles. Matthew often refers to Dream as Boss.
Caliph of Baghdad greets Dream as, "The lord of sleep, the prince of
stories, he to whom allah has given dominion over that which is not and
was not, and shall never be."
Different cultures seem to use different titles for Dream. For example,
The Fay Folk use Shaper or Lord Shaper, but it's not clear whether this is
related to the Roman Shaper of Form. When Loki took the place of Lord
Susano-o-no-Mikoto, he may have given away his true identity by addressing
Dream as Dreamweaver, a name used by the Aesir. Lord Susano-o-no-Mikoto had
addressed Dream previously as The Shaper of Dreams. (The exchange between
Loki and Dream takes place in the epilogue to "Season of Mists," Sandman #28.)
Death is called Grandmother Death in Sandman #9. This may be the only
other time when another member of the Endless is given an alternative
name.
[1.10] Question: What are the "ages" of the Endless?
The list of the Endless from oldest to youngest is usually given as:
Destiny, Death, Dream, Destruction, Desire, Despair, Delirium
Desire and Despair are described as twins. Since the Endless are not born,
it is possible that both Desire and Despair came into existence at the same
time and are therefore the same age. The relationship between the two
suggests that Desire is the "older" of the twins, even if they are the same
age. (This may also be because the current Despair is not the original holder
of her position. Desire may continue to treat her as a new sibling.)
There is a definite distinction between the older three Endless and the
younger three. (Destruction, due to his absence, has been excluded from
the family squabbles detailed in the series.) The most obvious difference
is the taunting and scheming the younger three, especially Desire, aim
at the older three. Perhaps this is nothing more than Endless sibling
rivalry.
All the Endless are extremely old by human standards. Even Delirium, who is
the youngest of the family and who looks like a twelve year old, is very
ancient indeed.
Note: There was some confusion about ages when Death refers to Dream as
"Big Brother" in Sandman #24. This should be read only as a term of affection.
[1.11] Question: Can the Endless die or be destroyed?
The Endless as entities can die or be destroyed. The Endless as positions
will eventually cease to exist, but only as the end of the universe
approaches.
When Dream prepares to go to Hell in Sandman #22, he tells his servants that
he may not return and if so a new aspect will take his place. In Sandman
#48, Dream, Destruction and Delirium talk about the one time an aspect of
one of their siblings was destroyed. While it's rare, only one instance
since time began, it is possible for an aspect of the Endless to die.
In "Cerements" (Sandman #55) there is additional evidence that aspects
of the Endless can die.
In Books of Magic #4, we learn that the Endless and their realms and
positions eventually end. At the very end of the Universe, Death will
come for her last sibling. In Sandman #48, Destruction says that the
existence of the Endless are bounded and none of them will last longer
than the Universe.
An exception to this may be Death herself. In Sandman #20, she says that
when the last living thing in the Universe dies, she'll close up shop and
leave. Delirium mentions this point in response to Destruction's comments
in #48, but Dream conditions it with, "So we suppose." We have seen a
possible end of the Universe where this happens, but not all futures
will come to pass.
[1.12] Question: What are the sigils and galleries?
The true significance of the sigils remains uncertain. So far we've only
seen them used as a means of communication between the Endless and a
means of travel between the realms.
The sigils for the Endless are:
Destiny Book
Death Ankh
Dream Helmet
Destruction Sword
Desire Heart
Despair Ring with a hook
Delirium Chaotic pattern
(An exception to this pattern is Destiny's gallery. Instead of sigils, Each
Endless is represented by a large portrait.)
The sigils are housed in the galleries of the Endless. Each gallery
contains a copy of the sigils of the other six Endless. The owner's sigil
appears blank or acts like a mirror. (See Sandman #24, #46 and #48 for
examples.) The order of the sigils seems to vary, though most seem to
be in a Destiny-to-Delirium order with a few translocations.
Destruction's sigil has been blank in the galleries of the other Endless,
probably due to him leaving his position. (In Destiny's gallery it is
hidden by curtains.) In his own gallery his sigil appears as a sword.
His own sigil being visible in Destruction's gallery may be related to
it not appearing in the galleries of the rest of the family.
In Sandman #46, when Delirium closes off her realm, her sigil in Dream's
gallery (and probably Death's since Death mentions the change) turns black.
The galleries of Destiny, Dream, Destruction (in temporary residence outside
his realm), and Desire have been seen in issues of Sandman. (Death's may
have appeared in the Sandman Special if the Endless family photo in her
house is really her gallery.) According to Delirium, she has lost her own
gallery somewhere within her realm. (Sandman #41)
[1.13] Question: What are the realms of the Endless like?
We have had glimpses of almost all of the realms of the Endless.
The Dreaming has been a common setting for the series. We first see it
in disrepair in Sandman #2. The main feature of the Dreaming is Dream's
castle, whose gate is guarded by a wyvern, a hippogriff and a griffin.
The size and location of the palace can change. In Sandman #24, Dream
moves it to the top of a mountain before the "guests" arrive. No matter
where the castle moves, it remains at the heart of the Dreaming.
Other notable features of the Dreaming are the House of Mystery and
the House of Secrets where Cain and Abel live, Eve's cave, Fiddler's
Green, Lucien's library (within the castle) and the gates of horn and
ivory.
Destiny's Garden appears in Sandman #21, #28, #47. The garden includes
many paths and mazes. In #47, large statues of the Endless are also shown.
Within the garden is a building where Destiny keeps his gallery and
where the family has met twice in the last three hundred years. Within
Destiny's realm, the Endless are served by what Delirium refers to as
"little flappy things."
In the Sandman Special, Orpheus travels to Death's house. This may or may
not be a portion of her realm. In the Special, Death demonstrates the house's
appearance isn't fixed, changing it to something she thinks will be more
acceptable for Orpheus. In Sandman #9, Nada is seen on the borders of the
realm of Death, but nothing is shown of the realm. In Sandman #8 both
Death and Dream mention the Sunless Land. This may be a description of
her realms or just a euphemism for death.
It should be noted that Death keeps two goldfish. Slim is the big orange
one and Wandsworth is the little yellow one. They appear in the special and
the Death miniseries.
Desire's realm is empty except for The Threshold, the fortress where
Desire resides. The Threshold first appeared in Sandman #10. It later
appears in Sandman #16, #41 and #49. The Threshold is shaped like a very large
statue of Desire. Desire lives in the heart of The Threshold. In Sandman #49,
Desire floats in one of the Threshold's eyeballs. (The eye is described as
being bigger than a cathedral.)
The realm of Despair appears only in Sandman #41 and #49. It is a gray and
silent place. Its sole contents, other than Despair and Despair's pet rats,
are the backside of mirrors through which Despair may watch her handiwork.
Delirium's realm appeared in #46. It is a jumble of bright colors, strange
shapes and bodiless voices. The centerpiece is a sun dial with the caption
Tempus Frangit. Delirium explains to Dream that the sun dial is broken.
As Delirium tells Barnabas, her new guardian, "We're going to my place.
It's very interesting. You'll like it, unless maybe you don't."
The realm of Destruction has not been seen yet.
In Sandman #47, it is said that the Endless do not like visiting the realms
of their siblings and only Death travels freely without misgiving.
[1.14] Question: Do the Endless appear differently to different people?
Dream has shown this ability in several issues. The most dramatic instances
may be his appearance as a large cat in Sandman #18 ("Dream of a Thousand
Cats") or his transformation into the Martian god, Lord L'Zoril in Sandman
#5. In Sandman #26, his features, clothes and throne change as he speaks
with different agents seeking the key to Hell.
The other Endless have not demonstrated the same characteristic. Death
and Destruction have dressed for the time period, but their physical
appearances have changed little. Despair and Destiny have not changed
their appearance at all. In Sandman #21 it is said Destiny doesn't cast
a shadow or leave footprints.
Delirium's appearance changes often, but not to suit her surroundings
or audience. The one notable exception to this is in Sandman #48 where her
physical appearance, but not her clothes, change as she recounts her search
for Destruction. Note that Del's appearance matches how she looked during
the part of the story she is describing.
Desire doesn't need to change its appearance. No matter how it looks,
it remains "everything you have wanted." (Desire often does change its
attire, perhaps not satisfied with just one style of dress.)
Whether Dream's change in appearance is his viewer's perception or
a conscious act on Dream's part is not clear. Perhaps a combination of
both. In Sandman #21, we are told that we see only an aspect of the Endless
and that Dream casts a shadow only when he remembers to. In Sandman #46,
Dream appears with cat-like eye while talking to Bast, but only takes on
a greater resemblance to a cat as he leaves her.
In "Soft Places" (Sandman #39), Marco Polo asks if Dream is always so
pale. Dream responds it depends on who is looking. This response may be
interpreted in a number of ways, but it does suggest that the aspect of
Dream that is seen depends somewhat on the viewer.
[1.15] Question: When and how long was Dream imprisoned? Why was he able to
be captured so easily?
Dream was captured by Roderick Burgess and his followers on June 11th, 1916.
On the day Dream escapes, the Sun newspaper being read by the guard has
a date of September 14, 1988. Assuming it's a current paper, 72 years and
about four months.
The question of the ease of Dream's capture has been a source of much spec-
ulation. The fact that Dream is wearing his helmet and carrying both the
pouch and the ruby is definitely significant. In Sandman #47, there's the
additional clue that Dream was returning from a far away galaxy and "tired
beyond reckoning" just before he was captured.
[1.16] Question: When did Delight become Delirium? Why?
We have never seen Delight. All of Del's appearances, including at Orpheus'
wedding have been as Delirium. Destiny's portrait for Del suggests it is
was made when she was Delight and an image of Delight appears to Dream
and Delirium in Destiny's garden, but the character of Delight has not
appeared in the book. It is possible that the Del standing with the
Endless in the unnamed necropolis ("Cerements", Sandman #55, page 16,
panel 1) is Delight and not Delirium. However, there is no conclusive
evidence that such is the case.
In Sandman #42, we see Delirium after her transformation. (She realizes
she is no longer Delight.) This is set in the Dawn Days, a hazy period set
before Earth's recorded history. From the description of the changes
in Delirium's realm ("the blossoms had already begun to fall in her domain")
it's possible that this is shortly, in the terms of the Endless, after
her transformation.
Why Delight became Delirium has not been revealed. Delirium knows the
reason, but she may be the only one. In Sandman #47, she tells Destiny
"There are things not in your book. There are paths outside this garden."
Destiny does not or cannot answer when Delirium asks if he know why she
stopped being Delight. In an interview for Musing magazine, Jill Thompson
says that Neil Gaiman knows that reason for the change, but he's not
telling, yet.
[1.17] Question: Who was Delirium going to marry?
In the Sandman Special, Delirium comments, "Well...you know...I nearly got
married. But that was a long time ago. It never happened." Who Del was
going to marry and why the marriage never happened have never explained.
Occasionally, someone will suggest that the cancelled marriage may have
had something to do with the transformation of Delight into Delirium.
[1.18] Question: What is that thing under Death's eye?
The eye squiggle or curlicue first appeared with Death's more formal
attire in Sandman #21. It is usually under her left eye, but Dringenberg
(#21) and Bachalo (Death #1-3) have also drawn her with it under the right
eye. In the Sandman Special, curlicues appear under both eyes when Death
takes on the appearance she thinks Orpheus expects. With no further details,
the eye squiggle might be considered merely a cosmetic addition.
[1.19] Question: What is the women's version of the story of Nada and Kai'ckul?
Sorry. They told me once, but I didn't understand a word of it. It's like
they speak an entirely different language.
[1.20] Question: What is the second play that William Shakespeare wrote for
Dream?
The Tempest. It may be the subject of the final issue of The Sandman.
[1.21] Question: What books have we seen in Lucien's Library?
In Sandman #21, Lucien is busy shelving "novels their authors never wrote
or never finished, except in dreams." The titles we can see are:
_Psmith and Jeeves_ by P.G. Wodehouse
_Love Can Be Murder_ by Raymond Chandler
_The Hand of Glory_ by Erasmus Fry
_The Return of Edwin Drood_ by Charles Dickens
_The Conscience of Sherlock Holmes_ by Arthur Conan Doyle
_Poictesme Babylon_ by James Branch Cabell
_The Man Who was October_ by G. K. Chesterton
_The Lost Road_ by J.R.R. Tolkien
_Alice's Journey Behind the Moon_ by Lewis Carroll
In "The Hunt" (Sandman #38), Lucien retrieves the library's copy of _The
Merrie Comedie of the Redemption of Doctor Faustus_ by Christopher Marlowe.
In Sandman #46, Lucien carries a stack of books including:
_The Death of Kai Lung_ by Ernest Bramah
_Chanticleer's Dance_ by Hope Mirrlees
_The Last Voyage of Lemuel Gulliver_ by [Jonathan] Swift
_The Emperor Over the Sea_ by C.S. Lewis
_Ian and Ann's Book of Days_ [author unknown]
[obscured] Phoenix_ by [E. Nes?]bit
In Sandman #49, Lucien and Mervyn take a load of cryptogeographia over to
the southwestern annex. The load includes:
_Ousland City from Top to Bottom_
_Poictesme_
_Kadath_
_Puddleby_
_Sardathrion_
_Saffron Park_
_Hobbiton_
_The Night Land_
_One Night in Baghdad_
_The Land_
_Flora of Neverland_
_[Frommer's Guide to H]ell_
_[N]arnia_
_[Hitchhiker]'s Guide [to the] Galaxy_
_Road Trips To [the E]merald City_
_Great Hote[ls] on the Moon_
_Camp Cusack Gu[ide]_
_Ampersand_ ?
_Mu A to Z_
_Cloud Cu[ckoo-Land]_
_Noumaria on 7 Livres a Day_
_Hy-Brasil By Night_
_Los Angeles Underground Railway Map 1932_
In Vertigo Jam, Lucien finds the library's copy of _The Bestselling Romantic
Spy Thriller I used to think about on the bus that would sell a billion copies
and mean I'd never have to work again_ for the unidentified dreamer who is
touring the Dreaming.
In "Kindly Ones: 1", Lucien is reading _A Banquet for the Wormes_, an
unwritten play by John Webster.
[1.22] How tall is Dream? How old should Death appear to be?
This varies of course, but according to the script for Sandman #17, he
usually appears to be about 6' 4". He is supposed to appear quite thin
as well. Chris Bachalo has commented that Death should appear to be between
15 and 17 years old. (For his work on Death: The High Cost of Living,
Bachalo used his teenage cousin as a model for some of the panels.) At
a book signing, Gaiman commented 17 might be the ideal age for his mental
image of Death.
[1.23] What is the identity of Dream's "mystery lover"? (The one he's moping
about at the start of "Brief Lives".)
Don't know. Don't care. It would seem, however, many people are curious
about this. Rumor suggests that originally her identity would not be revealed.
Things just never would have worked out between her and Dream as Destiny
predicts. The important thing was her effect on Dream, not who she really
was. In a response in the lettercol of Sandman #51, Alisa Kwitney suggests
we will see her at least one more time. (Warning! Comments in lettercols
are not always completely accurate!) One clue we do have to her identity is
that she probably has previously appeared in the series. No indication
whether she was a major or minor character in her previous appearance(s).
[1.24] Who are "The Kindly Ones"?
The last major Sandman story arc will be called "The Kindly Ones."
The title comes from one translation of the Greek "Eumenides", a name
applied to the Furies after they came to be worshipped in Athens. Within
the series, The Kindy Ones are one side of the Hecateae. (When Rose Walker
meets the three in Sandman #10, Cynthia tells her "you wouldn't want to meet
us as the Kindly Ones.") Within Greek mythology, the Furies (Or Erinyes) were
the avengers of those wronged and the punishers of those who broke the
laws, especially those who committed crimes against other members of their
clan or family. Since Desire promised to bring the Kindly Ones down on Dream's
head by getting him to spill family blood ("Three Septembers and a January,"
Sandman #31), the common assumption is that the upcoming story will
involve the Furies' reaction to Dream killing his son, Orpheus.
[1.25] How did Desire originally attempt to get Dream to spill family blood?
When Desire cannot get Emperor Norton to enter its domain, s/he promises
to get Dream to spill family blood and by doing so, bring the Kindly Ones
(see above) down on his head. ("Three Septembers and a January," Sandman #31).
This plan comes to fruition in the events of the _Doll's House_. Specifically,
in "Sleep of the Just" (Sandman #1), Unity Kincaid is raped in 1932 by
Desire. Unity was meant to be a dream vortex. With Dream imprisoned and away
from the Dreaming, the vortex is passed down to Miranda Walker, Unity's
daughter, and then to Rose Walker, Unity's granddaughter. (From Dream's
comments in "Lost Hearts", Sandman #16, there is some reason to believe
Desire might have been responsible for the transmission of the vortex
from mother to daughter to granddaughter.) Had Dream killed Rose to
destroy the vortex, he would have spilt family blood as Rose is Desire's
granddaughter.
[1.26] Is that supposed to be an identifiable character behind Dream as he
returns to the Dreaming in "Season of Mists: Episode 3"?
No. Despite what was said in a later lettercol, the creature behind Dream
on page 6 of Sandman #24 was not intended to be a specific character or
creature. It's described in the script as "some kind of grotesque thingie."
[End of Part 1]