The Sandman Frequently Asked Questions

The Nearly Compleat List of Sandman Frequently Asked Questions

(Now in four action packed parts, plus a rather dull table of contents) Compiled and pushed around by Lance Smith (lsmith@cs.umn.edu) with a lot of help from the kind folx in rec.art.comics.misc 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: Lance Smith (maintainer) or Joe Fulgham (HTML Conversion). Special hello to all the people who are reading this in Gopher holes, with the help of faithful Fido, and on the Widespread WorldWideWeb. Wubba Wubba Wubba. Still NOT mentioned by the folx at Wired. Dang.

Thanks to: Elmo for his very helpful Annotations and lots of fine suggestions. Si Rowe, for more fine suggestions and for grammar pointers I will continue to ignore Nils Helge Brobakk, our man in Norway Sam Greenfield, who noticed Del changes matched her story Konrad Lei, who did some digging in the DC Universe Albert Nakano, who wrote in about the appearances of the Endless David Q. Henry, who lives in North Dakota so the rest of us can be free Thomas White, who did some Destiny research Daniel Starr, who explained the Gates of Horns and Ivory. (In a future edition?) Alexx and jeremy holstein, for Matthew Cable research Kerrin Rhys Jones, for a very fine bibliographic article Mike Collins, for the first long Gaiman bibliography Draeger Martinez, for finding the long lost picture of Cinnamon Joe Walker, for reminding me of the Morpheus-Foglio connection Lady Johanna Constantine, presently kicking coyotes in the southwest Carol Dawn Lee, the Gopher ambassador to the Aggies Abhijit_Khale, for metallurgy pointer, a near-death experience, and costuming Sasha, man of many names, for more Marlo meanderings Terry Dawson, for reminding me that promotional material is interesting James Hsiao, for WWWebbing. (Do I have your name right, James?) Neil Gaiman, for answering a bunch of questions without one “None of your damned business.” If you’ve helped me out and I forgot to mention you, feel free to write in and complain. (Just remember to include your name so I don’t screw up again.)

[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, 57-61, 63-67, Special, Vertigo Preview, Vertigo Jam, Death Gallery, Dream Gallery
Death: 8, (11), 13, 20, 21, 24, 25, 31, 37, 40, 43, 46-48, (50), 54-56, Special, Death 1-3, Death Gallery, Dream Gallery
Destiny: 7, 21, 28, 47, 55, 56, 59, 63, 67, Special
Desire: 10, 16, 21, 31, 41, 42, 45, 47, 49, 55, 59, 65, Special
Despair: 10, 21, 31, 41, 47, 49, 56, 59, Special
Delirium: 21, 31, 41-49, 55, 56, 59, 63, 64, 66, Special
Destruction: 41-44, 46-48, 55, Special
Orpheus: 29, 41, 49, Special
Abel: 2, 7, 9, 10, 26, 40, 42, 56, 60, 64, 66, Special, Vertigo Jam
Abudah: 22, 60, 66
Cain: 2, 7, 9, 22, 24, 26, 40, 56, 64, 65, 67, Special, Vertigo Jam
The Corinthian: 10-12, 14, 27, 44, 47, 57, 59-61, 63-67
Eve: 2, 7, 24, 40, 57, 65, Special
Fashion Thing: 2, 22
Fiddler’s Green: 11, 12, 14-16, 39, 56, 63, 65
Guardians of the Gate: 9, 10, 18, 24, 26, 40, 42, 49, 57, 58, 63, 64, 67, Special
Goldie: 2, 7, 10, 40, 42, 66, 67, Vertigo Jam
Gregory: 2, 7, 26, 40, 56, Special
The Hecateae: 2, 10, 17, 21, 34, 57, 58, 63, 64, 66, 67, Special
Lucien: 2, 10, 11, 22, 24, 35, 38, 42, 44, 46, 49, 57, 60, 61, 64, 66, 67, Vertigo Jam
Matthew: 7, 11, 15, 16, 22, 24, 26, 27, 32, 40, 42, 45-46, 56, 57, 60, 61, 63-65, Special, Vertigo Preview, Vertigo Jam, Dream Gallery
Mervyn: 5, 22, 42, 46, 49, 56, 57, 60, 64, 66, Vertigo Jam
Nightmares 3: 11, 64
Nuala: 26-28, 33, 35, 42, 46, 49, 52, 56-58, 61, 64, 66, 67 Vertigo Jam
Ruthven: 49, 58, 64, 66

Notes:

This list includes portraits in the Sandman Special and #50 as well as very brief cameo appearances. Numbers in parentheses indicate portraits.
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.
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, however, is not accurate. In “The Kindly Ones: 1” (Sandman #57), Dream informs Matthew that there have been quite a few more than Delirium reckoned.
When the Corinthian is recreated in “The Kindly Ones: 5” (Sandman #61) he mistakes Matthew for Jessamy.
On the box of the original Sandman statue was a description of two other statues depicting Dream with a raven. One of the ravens is thought to be Aristeaus of Marmora, but the other is not identified.
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).
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.
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. The Guardians’ roster seems to change in “The Kindly Ones: 8” (Sandman #64).
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.
A large number of characters make cameos in “Worlds’ End” (Sandman #56.) There is some question about the identity of those who appeared. The above list (and the one below for recurring characters) represents my best guess. These two lists may change if the scene is clarified. (See 1.27 below for my guess on the identity of the members of the funeral party.)
Only the shadows of the Furies/Erinyes appear in “The Kindly Ones: 8” The shadow are presumably cast by Lyta Hall. We only see Lyta’s hand and lips in the issue. Only their/her sword appears in “The Kindly Ones: 10”.
Mervyn often appears with cigar-smoking, derby-wearing bats. In “The Kindly Ones:10,” (Sandman #66) he refers to them as “Wycziezbsky, O’ Brien, McTavish, Silverstein, Pucci, and the little Norwegian.”
Ravens appear in “The Kindly Ones: 10 & 11,” but it seems unlikely that any shown are Matthew.

[1.2] Question: What characters have appeared in more than one Sandman story line?

Azazel: 4, 24, 26, 27, 60
Baghdad: 27, 50, 60
Barbie: 11, 15, 32-37
Bast: 24, 26, 27, 46, (50), 56, 60
Alex Burgess: 1, 62
Calliope: 17, Special
Carla: 22, 57-61, 64
Chantal and Zelda: 11, 15, 61
Choronzon: 1, 2, 4, 22, 24, 26-28
Cluracan: 26-28, 51-53, 55, 56, 58, 66
Lady Johanna Constantine: 13, 29, [41, 47]
Donna Cavanagh/Foxglove: 32-34, 36, 37, 64, Death 2
Robert “Hob” Gadling: 13, 22, (50), 53, 59
Mary Gentian: 6, 37
Robin Goodfellow/Gordy Fellowes: 19, 58, 59, 66
Daniel Hall: 22, 40, 57, 59, 61, 65-67
Hector Hall: 11, 12, 61
Lyta Hall: 11, 12, 22, 40, 57-61, 63-65, 67
Unity Kinkaid: 1, 10, 15, 16
Ken: 11, 15, 33
Loki/Luke Pinkerton: 24, 26-28, 58, 59, 61, 63-66
Lucifer: 4, 22-24, 28, 57, 60, 64
Paul McGuire: 1, 62, 65
Hazel McNamara: 32-34, 36, 37, Death 2
Mad Hettie: 3, Death 1-3
Mazikeen: 22, 23, 57, 60, 64, 67
Nada: 4, 9, 22, 24, 26-28
Odin: 24, 26, 27, 56, 63, 64, 66
Remiel and Duma: 24, 26-28, 60, 67
William Shakespeare: 13, 19, Dream Gallery
Sigyn: 24, 28, 66
Judy Talbot: 6, 16, 33
Martin Tenbones: 15, 32, 56
Thor: 24, 26, 27, 56, 66
Thessaly/Larissa: 32-34, 36, 37, 63-65, 67
Titania/Queen of Faerie: 19, 52, 56, 61, 66
Rose Walker: 10-12, 14-16, 60-67

Notes:

Lady Johanna’s appearances in “Brief Lives” are limited to the tombstone on her grave.
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.
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).
Foxglove sings a song about Judy in “A Night to Remember” (Death #2.)
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.
In “The High Cost of Living” (Death #3) Sexton and Sylvia talk about Hazel and Foxglove.
Barbara Wong appears in “Sound and Fury” (Sandman #7) and is also heard broadcasting on WRAT in “Over the Sea to Sky” (Sandman #36).
The parentheses indicate that Robert Gadling and Bast appear only in the Facet of Dream gallery in Ramadan (Sandman #50)
Robert Gadling also mentions Mad Hettie in “Men of Good Fortune” (Sandman #13).
Lyta talks to Carla on the phone in “The Parliament of Rooks” (Sandman #40).
Titania is also mentioned in Sandman #26 and #28.
The Mary on TV after the report of Harvey Ramsey’s death in “The Kindly Ones: 2” (Sandman #58) is presumably Mary Gentian who is moving up in the news business.
Hector Hall appears only as a memory in “The Kindly Ones: 5” (Sandman #61).
The Fashion Thing, who is unlikely to appear again before issue #222, is mentioned by Nuala in “The Castle” (Vertigo Jam) and by Mervyn in “The Kindly Ones: 4” (Sandman #60)
An angel appears in “Worlds’ End” (Sandman #56). This might be either Remiel or Duma.
Only a picture of Chantal appears in “The Kindly Ones: 5” (Sandman #61) The Gorgons who Lyta talks with in “The Kindly Ones: 4 & 5” (Sandman #60 and #61) also dress as Chantal and Zelda did in The Doll’s House.
Dream appears to attend a performance by Foxglove in “The Kindly Ones: 8” (Sandman #64) but it may not really be her.

[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.

[1.4] Question: Have the Endless appeared outside of The Sandman?

Appearances by the Endless outside of The Sandman.

Destiny

The Books of Magic (mini-series) #4

Captain Atom #42

Death

Ambush Bug Nothing Special

The Books of Magic (mini-series) #4

The Books of Magic (series) #3, #4

Captain Atom #42, #43

Cerebus #153

Doom Patrol #73

Ghost Rider 2099 #2

The Incredible Hulk #418

Legion of Super-Heroes #38

Lobo’s Back #3

Dream

Ambush Bug Nothing Special

The Books of Magic (mini-series) #3

Hellblazer #19

Sandman Mystery Theatre #1, #12, #22, #25

Swamp Thing #84

Notes:

The appearance of Death and Destiny in Captain Atom #42 (and briefly in #43) should not be considered part of the Sandman canon.
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).
Images of Dream and Death also appeared in several of the Amazing Heroes Swimsuit Specials. Quality varies. Proceed with caution.
Kay Sarah Sarah, Swoon, Sulk, Sleaze and Snuff of the Clueless, something like Bizarro Endless, have made frequent appearances in Cerebus #164-180. 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.)
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. More details below.
“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 and papberback collections.
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.
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.
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.
A spirit of death temporarily takes on the shape of a pale skinned young woman dressed in black in Excalibur #25.
Cain, Abel and Goldie also appear with Dream in The Books of Magic #3 (mini-series).
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.
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 and Dream with two other DC characters on its cover. Mayfair also threatened to release a Sandman supplement for DC Heroes, but lost their license from DC before one was published.
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. Whoo, that’s a relief.
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.)
In “Season of Missed” (Soulsearchers and Company #3 by Peter David and Company) Dweeb, Deaf and the Sleepwanker [tm] all make appearances.
In Children’s Crusade #1, 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.
After returning from the dead, Marlo mentions seeing an ankh in the Incredible Hulk #408. Death (or at least a similar, but not copyright-infringing young woman in black) shows up for Rick and Marlo’s wedding reception in Hulk #418. The reference to “The Girl Who was Death” is very clever.
Along with an appearance by Death (or at least a similar, but not copyright-infringing young woman with an eye squiggle) the cryptic graffito “Hi Neil” appears in Ghost Rider 2099 #2.
In Batman: Mitefall, Mite versions of Dream and Death appear. For those who argue that there is only one version of the Endless who take on different appearances, this might be considered appearances by the real Death and Dream.
All of the Endless have their own card in the Vertigo Trading Card set. The cards are Dream (card #50, art by Dave McKean), Death (#51, Rick Berry), Desire (#52, Sue Coe), Delirium (#53, Greg Spalenka), Destruction (#54, Marshall Arisman), Despair (#55, Barron Storey) and Destiny (#56, Mike and Doug Starn). Cards #13-18 feature Dave McKean Sandman cover art. A Sandman chase card features Teddy Kristiansen art and “Fifty Words That Describe Dream” by Gaiman. The set also features a Death hologram disk as it’s rare chase card.

[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.) Gregory the Gargoyle seems to be introduced in HoM #176. (We see only the eyes of a baby gargoyle who Cain refers to as Gregory.)

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. Matthew also has made some return visits to Swamp Thing. In Swamp Thing #118, he visits with Tefe’. In Swamp Thing #140 he visits Abby and manages to cast his old shadow.

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. Unfortunately, they also 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.

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. [1.7] Question: To what extent is The Sandman based on the Golden or Kirby Sandman characters?

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.

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 first draft of Black Orchid 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? Which character is based on Tori Amos?

Visually, each artist may use different models when pencilling the Endless. (Dave McKean has said that he somewhat regrets that each artist who has worked on the series hasn’t drawn Dream as they wanted the character 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 are that 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 is usually 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 coincidence 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 the Clannad “In a Lifetime” video. The drawing is included on the first page of the Afterwords to Preludes and Nocturnes.

More recently people have been wondering which character Tori Amos was based on (Ummm, reverse that) or if Delirium is based on Tori Amos. The easy answers are none and no. While Neil Gaiman and Tori Amos are friends, the character of Delirium was created before their friendship. However, Jill Thompson does seem to have drawn at least one aspect of Delirium with some of the feature of Amos. (Supposedly, Thompson may have included some of her own traits, though she denies being anything like the character.) Also it has been reported that occasionally Amos says things that Del winds up saying later. Tori Amos (or at least a poster) of her does appear in “The Kindly Ones” and a couple of her lyrics appear in Sandman.

[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 and Mervyn 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. (Or perhaps it’s because you first desire something and then despair that you can’t get it.)

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 (miniseries), 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.

Within “The Kindly Ones,” mention has been made that no real harm can come to Dream while he remains in the Dreaming. (Sandman #66) The implications and conditions of this are not yet clear.

[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.

Desire does the same thing in Sandman #59. The story explicitly states that when Desire closes off its realm (s/he is shown removing its sigil from the frame) the silver heart disappears from all of the Endless galleries and is replaced by a dark void. The Threshold, Desire’s self-shaped home, also closes its eyes when the sigil is removed.

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). However, she must rediscovered it later as she uses it properly in Sandman #64. Despair appears to see into the realms of her sibling using the backs of mirrors. In Sandman #41 Desire appears to be calling Despair and we see his/her face in one of the mirrors.

[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, #59, #63, #67. The garden includes many paths and mazes. In #47, large statues of the Endless are also shown. These large statues reappear in #63. In this issue it becomes more apparent that they somewhat reflect the current lives of the Endless.

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. Her house appears again in Books of Magic #4 (regular series) where we get a good look at her closet and some of her possessions.

In “Tales in the Sand” (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, #49 and #59. 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.) When Desire closes off its realm in Sandman #59, the eyes of the Threshold close.

The realm of Despair appears only in Sandman #41, #49 and #59. 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. In a timeline recently published by DC for their Zero Hour mini-series, Dream is listed as having been captured in 1919. This can be considered to be an erroneous entry and safely ignored.

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 date has recently been confirmed in “The Kindly: 6” when Paul McGuire indicates that was the date that Alex Burgess fell asleep.)

The question of the ease of Dream’s capture has been a source of much speculation. 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 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.

Several people have commented that Death’s eye make-up (with the squiggle) recalls the Egyptian “Eye of Horus” design. However, it is usually somewhat different and no conclusion can be drawn whether that was the intent of Mike Dringenberg, the artist who first drew Death with the eye squiggle, or not.

[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 will most likely be the subject of the final issue of The Sandman. (Sandman #75 is the tentative issue.)

[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”.)

It’s Thessaly, dammit.

[1.24] Who are “The Kindly Ones”?

The last major Sandman story arc is 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 was that the upcoming story would involve the Furies’ reaction to Dream killing his son, Orpheus. The final page of Sandman #63 and page 21 of Sandman #67 seem to confirm this assumption.

[1.25] What is Lyta Hall’s connection to the Furies? What are her super powers?

The most obvious connection is that Lyta Trevor was called Fury when she was a member of Infinity, Inc. In the pre-Crisis DC continuity, that may have been her only connection. In post-Crisis DC continuity, however, there is a more definite link. Post-crisis has her as the daughter of Helena Kosmatos, who was the “original” Fury. (The identity of Lyta’s father hasn’t been revealed.) Helena received her powers from the Fury Tisiphone the Blood Avenger so that Helena could avenge her mother’s death. Presumably, Lyta inherited some of her mother’s powers.

According to the DC’s Who’s Who Update of 1987, Lyta’s abilities include superhuman strength, speed and endurance. She also is well-trained in hand-to-hand combat. She does not seem to possess her mother’s ability to transform herself into a “Blood Avenger.”

[1.26] 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.

[1.27] In the funeral witnessed in the final issue of “Worlds’ End,” Sandman #56, who was in the casket? Who attended the funeral?

The first question can’t be answered yet. The second one can be answered to some degree. In the funeral procession were:

Destiny (page 13)
Flag Bearer and 6 Pallbearers (page 14-15)
Nuala, Abel, Mervyn, Cain, Luz, Wilkinson, Titania, Despair, Bast, A raven, An angel, Odin, Thor, Emperor Norton, Fiddler’s Green, Gregory the Gargoyle, and Martin Tenbones. (Left to right on pages 16-17)
Delirium and Death (page 18)

It is not apparent who all of the members of the funeral party are. It has been suggested that Lucien is the man carrying the flag, Loki is the second pallbearer on the right, and that Desire may be the first pallbearer. All or some of these suggestions might be correct.

Also the Raven on page 17 might be Matthew. The angel on the same page may be either Remiel or Duma, last seen looking after things in Hell.

[1.28] 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.”

[2.1]Question: What issues are included in the collections?

Preludes and Nocturnes includes issues 1-8
The Doll’s House includes issues 8-16
Dream Country includes issues 17-20
Season of Mists includes issues 21-28
A Game of You includes issues 32-37
Fables and Reflections includes 29-31, 38-40, 50, Sandman Special, and a new “Fear of Falling,” expanded from the Vertigo Preview
Brief Lives includes issues 41-49
Worlds’ End includes issues 51-56
Death: The High Cost of Living includes the Death mini-series and “Death Talks About Life”

Notes

“The Sound of Her Wings” (Sandman #8) appears in both Preludes and Nocturnes and The Doll’s House
Preludes and Nocturnes was published in the US with two different covers. The more common edition was the DC TPB, but it was also released as a Warner book. The contents inside are the same, only the covers (the Warner version used the cover art from Sandman #1) and price (the Warner cost four cents more) are different.
Dream Country also contains the script for Sandman #17
Worlds’ End is projected for release in paperback in the spring of 1995.
A second edition of The Doll’s House with the errors of the original collection corrected has been mentioned.
DC has considered releasing the first three collections in hardcover, but has yet to commit to doing it.
A British collection of Sandman #8-16 was published by Titan in 1990 under the title of The Sandman.
Various foreign language editions of the collections exist.

[2.2] Question: Are any changes made when the single issues are put in the collections?

In the collections, a few changes have been made from the original single issues. Many of the changes have to do with cleaning up the coloring or touching up the artwork/lettering. A side effect of the collections is that some two-page spreads are lost due to the changes in the number of pages. (The removal of the ad pages may change whether art is on an odd or even page.)

A partial list of changes would include:

adding the word balloon for the conversation between John Constantine and London in Sandman #3. They were lost
in the original printing
New art for pages 9-10 of Sandman #4, due to the change in page layout from two-page spread to back-to-back pages.
Removing a green tint from page 11 of Sandman #14
Moving the word boxes on page 27 of Sandman #14 so the flow of the speech is more obvious.
Removing a red tint from page 27 of Sandman #14
Adjusting the panels of pages 9-10 from Sandman #15. Again because of a change from a two-page spread. One panel is lost in the change
Correcting the lettering in Delirium’s word balloon on page 16 of Sandman #21. (Initially, they were in Dream’s lettering style.)
Making the wounds on Lucifer’s back more prominent at the end of Sandman #28.
The “1” on page 4 of Sandman #32 is now colored red instead of instead of its original gray.
The word “Bizarro” that had accidentally appeared in Sandman #32, has been changed back to “Weirdzo”. (DC had nixed the use of the word “Bizarro” and “Weirdzo” was used instead. When #32 was printed, one of the “Weirdzo”s had fallen off revealing the “Bizarro” underneath.)
For some reason, changing “Sindie” to “Sindy”. (Sandman #32, page 17.)
Including additional dialogue between Sexton and the the cab driver in the last panel of page 7, Death #2.

(There are more corrections. This only includes the obvious changes through A Game of You. Still more are in Fables and Reflections, Brief Lives and Worlds’ End.)

[2.3] Question: What was the coloring problem with the Brief Lives issues?

There were several errors with the coloring in various issues of the Brief Lives story. The most significant were with the coloring of Delirium’s eyes. Often her eyes were colored the same color when they were supposed to be different and in once instance they were different colors when they were supposed to be the same color.

Delirium’s left eye should be blue and her right eye should be green (Using her left and her right.) They should remain this way except for Sandman #47 pages 11-12 and Sandman #48 page 5. When her eyes are the same color, they should both be green as they are in Sandman #48 page 5. All other instances where her eyes appear to be the same color are incorrectly colored, a mistake made in the color separation process. (Dan Vozzo wasn’t at fault.)

The obvious eye coloring errors are Sandman #41 (page 7, panel 3), Sandman #45 (page 4 panel 1), Sandman #46 (pages 23 and 24 throughout), Sandman #47 (pages 11 and 12 throughout), and Sandman #49 (page 8, panel 1).

An additional color mistake has Dream’s clasp colored red instead of silver in Sandman #47 on pages 15-18.

In a few issues, most notably in Sandman #44, Delirium’s word balloons lose their regular multi-hued coloring.

In some interviews, Gaiman has indicated that there had been discussion of recoloring the entire run for the “Brief Lives” collections. In both hc and tpb collections, some of the coloring mistakes (like Del’s word balloons) are fixed, but others (like her changing eye color) remain the uncorrected. Why certain corrections were made and other (often more significant) errors were left uncorrected seems to be a strange decision made somewhere deep within the DC management power structure.

[2.4] Question: Are there “alternative” issues of Sandman?

Seven issues have different printings. Five alternatives were originally caused by printing errors.

Sandman #8 was supposed to be a promotional issue to attract attention to the book. The issue included a description of what had happened in the first seven issues and favorable comments from noteworthy people. It was also supposed to have a note from editor Karen Berger on the inside of the front cover and a Mike Dringenberg portrait of Dream and Death on the inside of the back cover. A printing error caused the normal DC promos to appear on the inside covers.

A limited number (> 1000) of The Sandman #8 were printed with the special material instead of the DC promotional stuff. (The more common version has no copyright indicia and the printers had to print the planned version with the indicia so the copyright copies could be filed.) These versions are uncommon and acknowledged as “alternative” issues by the major price guides.

(The Dringenberg illustration was eventually published in Sandman #11 and used as the design for the second Sandman T-shirt and the Death watch. The letter from Karen Berger wasn’t reprinted.)

Certain copies of Sandman #18 have a printing error. These copies can be identified by checking the first three panels of page 1. In the variant these panels will appear predominantly blue. In the regular edition the main color of these panels is yellow. The yellow and blue coloring is reversed throughout the issue. This is not acknowledged as an “alternative” issue by all price guides, but the variant issues do exist.

In Sandman #19, pages 18 and 19 are printed out of order in some books. This is an acknowledged variant, but the guide prices do vary significantly.

A special Platinum edition of Death: The High Cost of Living #1 was released as a retailer incentive. Copies were allocated based on orders of Vertigo titles for the first month of the imprint. The cover and inside cover art are different than art of the original printing of Death #1.

Due to a printing error for Death: The High Cost of Living #3, a second printing that corrects an error (page 19-20 should be a two-page spread instead of printed back-to-back) has been released. This second edition can be recognized by the lack of a price on the cover. The second printing also includes the indicia (page 1) that was missing on the original printing.

A special edition of Sandman #50 was produced by DC. A platinum edition with an alternative cover (black with stars and a varnished 50) was sent to retailers by DC and was previously available to those who attended a Diamond sales meeting and the Chicago comic convention.

A few misprinted copies of Fables and Reflections have managed to escape pulping. The easiest way to identify these variant editions is to check the third line of page 1. If the last word is “am”, instead of “an”, it is one of the variants.

[2.5] Question: Does the The Sandman series end? What is left?

The Sandman has always been a limited story with a definite end. At one point the end of the series was set at issue #40. At the moment the series isn’t expected to go (much) past #70. Assorted publications have published the rumor that the series is headed towards issue #75.

The Kindly Ones a long story arc, planned for thirteen issues. (#57-69) Marc Hempel was scheduled to be the artist for the entire series, but other artists have done two issues so far. D’Israeli inks for Hempel.

The Wake, a novella or shorter story arc. 3 issues (#70-72) Michael Zulli is the probable artist on the series.

A few more short stories, possibly including “The Tempest” as the finial. Charles Vess will be returning to Sandman to illustrate the second Shakespearean story. The current guess is everything winds up with Sandman #75.

[2.6] Question: What happens with the characters after the series is over?

Endless miniseries! Or at least several of them. The two that have been specifically mentioned as possible are a Delirium series (with Jill Thompson returning to do the art) and the story of what Dream was up to just before Sandman #1. According to Gaiman, there are several stories that can be best done outside of the framework of the present monthly series. The recent Death miniseries is an example of the type of limited series and one shots that are possible. Chris Bachalo has expressed a desire to do a second Death miniseries and such a project is planned for the early part of 1995 (originally when the regular series wound down) with a working title of “The Time of Your Life.” (Despite a published rumor, the series will not concern itself with Death’s reaction to Dream’s demise and/or introduce a “new” Dream.)

Despite some rumors, no monthly Gaiman-written Sandman series is likely after the current series ends. DC has agreed not to continue the series with a different writer. In other words, there are no plans for Sandman Volume 2.

Dave McKean has a long standing desire to do a series of stories on myths and legends, with Dream serving as the focus. (It should be noted that McKean is quite busy. This one is unlikely to happen any time soon.)

Vertigo is also planning on doing The Dreaming, a series that would use characters who first appeared in other books before getting their current jobs in The Sandman. Cain, Abel, Lucien, Matthew, Eve, the Three Witches and others would serve as a basis for an anthology series with a rotating creative staff. Alisa Kwitney is currently projected as the editor for the series.

Rowland and Paine, the two dead boys from Sandman #25, were at the edge of a series of Vertigo cross-overs called The Children’s Crusade. (Gaiman wrote the first bookend of the series and co-wrote the second bookend.) It is possible we might be seeing these two again in future Vertigo projects.

In a related note, a Tim Hunter continuing series, Books of Magic, began in March 1994. So far the series has dealt with the realm of Faerie as it was originally seen in the Books of Magic mini-series. Death made a brief appearance at the end of Books of Magic #3 and a much longer appearance in Books of Magic #4. Given Hunter’s visit to the Dreaming in the mini-series, it’s possible that more Sandman characters will appear throughout the run of the series.

DC is also planning a Sandman-Sandman Mystery Theatre Special where the “Golden Age Sandman journeys to the very place where the Lord of Dreams is held captive.” Matt Wagner and Neil Gaiman co-write, with Kent Williams providing the art. The special is tentatively scheduled for a release in the second quarter of 1995.

The March 1994 issue of Locus reported that Gaiman will edit an anthology of original Sandman stories for HarperCollins.

[2.7] Question: Who has worked on The Sandman and what have they done?

List of Contributors

Arthur Adams: Portrait: Death Gallery
Michael Allred: Illustrator: 54, Portrait: Death Gallery
Android Images: Color Separations: 58-67, Dream Gallery
Gary Amaro: Penciller: 56
Tori Amos: Introduction: Death: The High Cost of Living
Sergio Aragones: Portrait: Special (Cain and Abel)
Lisa Aufenanger: Assistant Editor: 41-46, Death 1, Lettercol: 42-45
Chris Bachalo: Penciller: 12, Death 1-3, Portrait: Death Gallery
Clive Barker: Introduction The Doll’s House, Portrait: Death Gallery
Karen Berger: Editor: 1-67, Special, Vertigo Preview, Death 1-3, Vertigo Jam, Lettercol: 47, [Special]
Rick Berry: Portrait: Dream Gallery
Simon Bisley: Portrait: Special (Delirium), Portrait: Dream Gallery
Brian Bolland: Portrait: Death Gallery, Portrait: Dream Gallery
Mark Buckingham: Inker: 51-56, Special, Death 1-3, Portrait: Death Gallery
Robbie Busch: Colourist: 1-18
Eddie Campbell: Portrait: Dream Gallery
Tom Canty: Portrait: Special (Destiny)
KC Carlson: Editor, Collected Editions (Doll’s House)
Richard Case: Inker: 65-67
Paul Chadwick: Portrait: Death Gallery
Mark Chiarello: Portrait: Dream Gallery
John Constanza: Letterer: 11-12
Geof Darrow: Portrait: Death Gallery, Portrait: Dream Gallery
Samuel R. Delany: Introduction: A Game of You
D’Israeli: Inker: 58-62
Glyn Dillon: Illustrator: 62
Colleen Doran: Penciller: 20, 34, Portrait: Death Gallery, Portrait: Dream Gallery
Mike Dringenberg: Inker: 1-4, Penciller: 6-11,14-16, 21, 28, Portrait: 11 (Dream and Death)
Pat Duke: Colorist: Dream Gallery
Duncan Eagleson: Penciller: 38
Harlan Ellison: Introduction Season of Mists
Steve Erickson: Introduction Dream Country
Glenn Fabry: Cover: Vertigo Jam
Duncan Fegredo: Portrait: Special (Despair)
Neil Gaiman: Writer: 1-67, Special, Vertigo Preview, Death 1-3, Vertigo Jam, Death Gallery, Dream Gallery, Lettercol: 5, [10], 18, 28, [31], 41, 48, Unscripted Walk-On: Death 3, Portrait: Death Gallery
Dave Gibbons: Portrait: Death Gallery
Dick Giordano: Inker: 27, 29, 34, 47, 53, 56
Craig Hamilton: Portrait: 50 (Dream and Bast), Portrait: Dream Gallery
Tony Harris: Portrait: 50 (Dream and Bast), Inker: 56, Portrait: Dream Gallery
Marc Hempel: Illustrator: 57, 63, Penciller: 58-61, 65-7, Inker: 61, 65, Portrait: Death Gallery
Jamie Hewlett: Portrait: Dream Gallery
Michael Charles Hill: Editor, Collected Editions (Preludes, Dream Country)
Adam Hughes: Portrait: Death Gallery
Kelley Jones: Penciller: 17-18, 22-24, 26-27, Portrait: Dream Gallery
Malcom Jones III: Inker: 5-12, 14-18, 20-23, 25, Portrait: Dream Gallery
Bob Kahan: Editor, Collected Editions (Season, Game, Fables, Lives, and Death)
Michael Kaluta: Portrait: 50 (Dream), Portrait: Death Gallery
Stephen King: Introduction Worlds’ End
Sam Kieth: Penciller: 1-5
Lovern Kindzierski: Colourist: 50 (Digital Chameleon), Death Gallery, Color Separations: Dream Gallery
Todd Klein: Letterer: 1-10, 13-67, Special, Vertigo Preview, Death 1-3
Bill Koeb: Portrait: Dream Gallery
Teddy Kristiansen: Artist: 64
Alisa Kwitney: Assistant Editor: 26-40, Special Death 2, Lettercol: 29-40, 51-56, 58-64, 67, Special
Paul Lee: Portrait: Dream Gallery
Steve Leialoha: Inker: 56
Vince Locke: Inker: 38, 40-49, 55, Portrait: Death Gallery
Scott McCloud: Portrait: 50 (Dream and Death)
Todd McFarlane: Portrait: 50 (Dream)
Dave McKean: Cover Artist: 1-67, Special, Death 1-3, Death Gallery, Dream Gallery, Lettercol: [21], Portrait: Special (Death), Portrait: 50 (Dream), Portrait: Death Gallery, Portrait: Dream Gallery
Shawn McManus: Illustrator: 31-33, 35-37
Mike Mignola: Portrait: Dream Gallery
Moebius: Portrait: Dream Gallery
Terry Moore: Portrait: Dream Gallery
Jon J. Muth: Portrait: Death Gallery, Portrait: Dream Gallery
Kevin Nowlan: Illustrator: Vertigo Jam, Letterer: Vertigo Jam, Portrait: Death Gallery
Shane Oakley: Portrait: Dream Gallery
Steve Oliff: Colourist: 19-22, Death 1-3
Dean Ormston: Penciller: 62
Steve Parkhouse: Inker: 13
Shea Anton Pensa: Penciller: 55
Brandon Peterson: Portrait: Death Gallery
Tom Peyer: Assistant Editor: 18-25, Lettercol: 19-24, 26, Historian: Death: The High Cost of Living
Joe Phillips: Portrait: Death Gallery
George Pratt: Inker: 26, 28, 34, Portrait: Death Gallery, Portrait: Dream Gallery
Joe Quesada: Portrait: Death Gallery
Shelly Roeberg: Assistant Editor: 48-67, Death 3, Vertigo Jam, Lettercol: 49
Alex Ross: Portrait: Dream Gallery
P. Craig Russell: Illustrator: 50, Inker: 24, Portrait: Special (Desire), Portrait: Death Gallery
Jill Karla Schwarz: Portrait: 50 (Dream), Portrait: Death Gallery, Portrait: Dream Gallery
Alison Seiffer: Portrait: Death Gallery, Portrait: Dream Gallery
William Shakespeare: Additional Material: 19
Jeff Smith: Portrait: Death Gallery, Portrait: Dream Gallery
Greg Spalenka: Portrait: Dream Gallery
Alec Stevens: Illustrator: 51
Barron Storey: Portrait: Dream Gallery
Peter Straub: Afterwords Brief Lives
Tom Taggart: Portrait: Dream Gallery
Bryan Talbot: Penciller: 30, 36, 51-56, Special, Inker: 56, Portrait: Death Gallery
John Totleben: Portrait: Death 3 (Death), Portrait: 50 (Dream)
Jill Thompson: Penciller: 40-49, Portrait: Death Gallery
Sherilyn van Valkenburgh: Colourist: Vertigo Preview
Charles Vess: Illustrator: 19, 62, Portrait: Death Gallery, Portrait: Dream Gallery
Daniel Vozzo: Colourist: 23-49, 51-67, Special, Vertigo Jam, Death Gallery, Dream Gallery
Matt Wagner: Penciller: 25, Portrait: Dream Gallery
Reed Waller: Portrait: Death Gallery
John Watkiss: Illustrator: 39, 52
Kent Williams: Portrait: Special (Matthew and Eve), Illustrator: Vertigo Preview, Portrait: Death Gallery
F. Paul Wilson: Introduction Preludes and Nocturnes
Gahan Wilson: Portrait: Death Gallery, Portrait: Dream Gallery
Barry Windsor-Smith: Portrait: Special (Dream)
Stan Woch: Penciller: 29, Inker: 30,36
Gene Wolfe: Introduction Fables and Reflections
Teri S. Wood: Portrait: Dream Gallery
Art Young: Associate Editor: 1-17, Lettercol: 6-7, 9-17
Michael Zulli: Penciller: 13, 53, Portrait: 50 (Dream, Death and Hob Gadling), Portrait: Death Gallery, Portrait: Dream Gallery

Note: Brackets around a Lettercol entry mean the person given credit has written a note in the letter column, but didn’t answer letters from readers.

Also, Dave McKean is responsible for the covers and book designs of the collections, with the exception of The Doll’s House TPB where Veronica Carlin receives credit for publication design.

[2.8] Question: What are the Annotated Sandman and where can I get them?

Elmo responds:

“The Annotated Sandman is an attempt to, basically, annotate Sandman. That’s probably not very enlightening. What we’re trying to do is explicate all the references and allusions in Sandman, and it’s something of a daunting task since Neil Gaiman has a voracious appetite for the most absurdly esoteric reading material. It’s not at all unusual for Gaiman to counterpoint James Branch Cabell with Jewish folklore while an Iggy Pop song plays in the background. The Annotated Sandman exists because, hey, it’s just nice to know what the hell the comic book is talking about.

“Greg Morrow (morrow@physics.rice.edu), aka “Elmo”, is the chief writer, editor, ringmaster, and head bottle imp of the AS. Generally speaking, he writes a first draft of an annotation, presents it to the net, and lets responses flood in. He cleverly edits all the responses into his text and rereleases the Annotation, as well as storing it in the archive (generously provided by David Wald). At this time, Annotations for Sandman #1-50, Special and the Vertigo Preview are in the archive.

“Comments and additions to the AS are welcome, and can be sent to Greg at the address above. (It’s *very* helpful if you clearly note the number of the issue you are talking about.)

“It’s worth noting that the AS has evolved in the 15 months it has existed; recent annotations delve more deeply into thematic analysis and other literary concerns, while the earliest annotations are almost comically concerned solely with noting where characters first appeared. The annotations have grown in sophistication, and a major upgrade of the AS from the earliest issues on has been promised, but has yet to be delivered.

“The AS currently exists only in electronic form; Greg intends to try to arrange for professional publication this year.”

The Annotated Sandman is available via anonymous ftp at theory.lcs.mit.edu in the directly pub/wald/sandman. The naming convention is sandman.##, where ## is the issue number in two digit format (01, 02, …22, ….) Currently, annotations covering issues 1-50, Vertigo Preview and the Special are stored in the archive. The Special has the name sandman-special.01 and the annotations for “Fear of Flying” are in sandman-preview. The file Index in the same directory contains a list of all available files. [Or, you can use my Annotation Index Page (or the non-enhanced version for Non-Netscape 1.1 users)]

David Goldfarb’s annotations for The Books of Magic are archived in the directory pub/wald/books-of-magic, with an accompanying Index file.

For those not proficient with ftp, the files may be retrieved via e-mail. Send the line:

send wald sandman/sandman.##

where ## is the same naming convention as above, to:

archive-server@theory.lcs.mit.edu

The file will be mailed to you in ASCII format.

David Goldfarb (goldfarb@ocf.berkeley.edu) has taken over the annotations since this list was last updated.

[2.9] Question: Is there a Sandman/Neil Gaiman fan club?

While not quite a fan club, the Magian Line is being set up to keep track of what’s happening with Sandman and Neil Gaiman. It has the benefit of having Neil’s stamp of approval. Three issues have been published so far. Each has contained an interview with Gaiman and original artwork by such artists as Jill Thompson, Mike Dringenberg, Matt Wagner, Mark Buckingham, Bryan Talbot and other noted Sandartists.

For info contact Sadie McFarlane at:

Magian Line
PO Box 170712
San Francisco, CA 94117.

[or try Sadie’s Comics Page which links to online versions of the Magian Line.

[2.10] Question: Other than the comics and the collections, what Sandproducts have been released so far? How can I get them?

T-Shirt* (Black with Kelley Jones portrait of Dream.)
T-Shirt (White with M. Dringenberg picture of Dream and Death from issue #11)
T-Shirt (Black with Chris Bachalo art of Death)
T-Shirt* (Black with Jill Thompson art of Dream, Death and Delirium)
T-Shirt (Black with new Chris Bachalo portrait of Death)
T-Shirt* (Blue with P. Craig Russell art of Dream.)
T-Shirt* (Black with Hempel art of Dream.)
T-Shirt (Black with P. Craig Russell art of Dream’s face)
T-Shirt* (Black with Chris Bachalo art of Death’s head and shoulders)
T-Shirt (Dave McKean art of Dream with logo on back. Scheduled for May 1994) >Poster (Dream and Death by Kelley Jones/Steve Oliff)
Poster (Endless: Family Snap Shot or Still Life with Cats by Mike Dringenberg)
Poster (Death by Chris Bachalo)
Poster (Brief Lives poster by Jill Thompson and Vincent Locke)
Poster (Death II by Chris Bachalo. Art from page 2-3 of A Death Gallery.)
Poster (Dream by Vince Locke. Not published by DC.)
Dream Statue (Cold-cast porcelain figure by Bowen Designs)
Dream Statue II (Cold-cast porcelain figure. Based on a Russell design.)
Death Statue (Cold-cast porcelain figure by Bowen Designs)
The Sandman Watch (Death from #11)
Death Watch II (Art from the second Bachalo T-shirt, limited to 5000)
Death Temporary Tattoos ($1.95 Art by Chris Bachalo)
The World of Sandman Slipcover (sold with the Preludes and Noctures and Dream Country TPBs or separately.)
Sandman Postcard (Art by Russell, promotional with Advance Comics #60. Reverse includes a partial list of Sandman collections.)
Sandman Trading Cards (90-card set, with 7 Endless chase cards, and one 3-D hologram card. From Skybox. The cards are oversized, 2.5″ X 4.5″, with 50 cover art cards and 39 cards featuring new artwork. One preview card was available at San Diego and also was included with Advance Comics #60. A set of 9 was included in packs of 3 with Cards Illustrated #1. A checklist of cards was also included in the issue. Promotional versions of the Endless chase cards exist with silver foil instead of the normal gold/bronze foil. A promo sheet featuring several of the cards was also released.)
Sandman Trading Card Album (Sold separately from the trading cards, the album is a three ring binder with pages to hold a complete trading card set. The cover is a variation on the art from Sandman #1. The binder included a larger version of the preview card with a new back.)
Vertigo Trading Cards A set of Vertigo trading cards is scheduled for December. The set inlcuded cards of all the Endless and cover art from the series. One chase card was Dream (art by Teddy Kristiansen) with “Fifty Words That Describe Dream” by Gaiman on the back of the card. The special chase item is a hologram disk of Death.
Vertigo Tarot Deck Several of the Sandman characters appear on these Tarot cards. The accompanying book by Rachel Pollack, includes an introduction by Gaiman.
Sandman Baseball Cap This is probably an “unauthorized” product, but they do exist. Black hat with an embroidered Sandman logo.

With the exception of the Dream shirts from Graphitti,(*) and the Vertigo Tarot (not released yet as of March 1995), all of these items are no longer being produced. The only way to get them is to find a shop that still has them in stock or a collector who is willing to sell them. In most cases this may be all but impossible. Some items, such as the original Dream statue, sell for much more than their original price. Recent releases, such as the second Dream statue and recent T-shirts put out by DC may still be available depending on the local demand for the product.

At the current time, DC has a policy of only doing one run/printing of comic-related merchandise. (The same goes for the hardcover Sandman collections which are only printed once.) If you would like to see these items kept available for a longer period, you may wish to write to DC and politely request that they change their policy. The person/address

to write to is:

Bruce Bristow
DC Comics
1325 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10019

DC has also put out some Sandman promotional posters and displays. These include a poster for Sandman Month, a poster of Death and Dream for the start of the Kindly Ones and Death Month, a cardboard stand-up of Death for Death month, posters of the Death and Dream II statues, and an early row marker with comments about the series. A poster including some of the Sandman cards was also released by SkyBox.

[2.11] Question: What about a Sandman movie?

A Sandman movie and its cast have often been popular topics for discussion. At one point, some comic news sources included The Sandman as one of the comic book properties whose movie rights had been sold. However, the deal fell through. The most recent report is that The Sandman movie is under development at Warner Bros. No details have surfaced yet about how far along the studio is on the project. (“Under development” usually translates to the studio has paid money to think about making a movie.)

Gaiman also claims he is unlikely to deal with Hollywood again unless he goes mad. (This is the result of a rough experience with a Good Omens film project.) Any Sandman movie would be without his assistance unless a director whose work he particularly admires is given the project. (Even then it would be very unlikely.)

You may, however, have seen the Endless on TV. The Endless Family poster (aka Still Life with Cats) by Mike Dringenberg has shown up in the background on the series “Roseanne.” The first Chris Bachalo poster of Death also appeared and the Jon Muth portrait of Dream from the Dream Gallery appears on the fridge in recent episodes.

Who should ideally play the Endless? In an article in the New York Times, Gaiman suggested the following:

Destiny – Sean Connery
Death – Winona Ryder, “in about 1986”
Dream – A young American actor who “sounds more like John Hurt.”
Destruction – Brian Blessed, “10 years ago”
Desire – Annie Lennox at the “Sweet Dreams” phase of the Eurythmics
Despair – “Someone in an awful lot of plastic.”
Delirium – Tori Amos, if she could do “the nasty side of the character.”

[2.12] Question: What is the connection between “A Game of You” and Jonathan Carroll’s Bones of the Moon?

Several readers have pointed out certain similarities between AGOY and Carroll’s book and wondered if there is a connection. In a segment of Prisoners of Gravity, Gaiman said that the basic idea of AGOY dates back before the first depiction of Barbie’s dreams in The Doll’s House. The Doll’s House was originally going to be a story closely resembling AGOY. However, when he read Bones of the Moon, Gaiman thought his story shared too many elements with the one he was reading and scrapped the story he was working on. The only fragment that remains in The Doll’s House is Martin Tenbones in Barbie’s dream as a nod to Carroll.

In the afterword to the collected AGOY, Gaiman writes, “I couldn’t and wouldn’t have done it without Jonathan Carroll, who talked me into telling a story I had thought best left alone; and who taught me that one of the purposes of a writer is to write it new”. So while there may be some intentional “tips of the hat”, the relationship between the stories is just that of two creators coming up with comparable ideas in parallel.

Sandman Frequently Asked Questions Without Answers

Pat Hall has compiled this list of some of the more prominent questions yet to be answered in Sandman. No possible answers have been supplied because, quite frankly, speculation and the discussion of mysteries can be a lot of fun.

[Note these questions were compiled shortly before Sandman #49 and have not been updated. It is possible answers have or will be presented.]

What was Morpheus doing in “a distant galaxy” prior to his capture in issue #1 that weakened him? (quote from issue #47)
What effect did gestating for several years in The Dreaming have on Lyta Hall’s son Daniel, that prompted Dream to put a claim on him? (see issue #12 p.23; see also #22 pp. 12-14 and #40)
Why did Dream fail to destroy a vortex once? (see issue #16; he says an entire planet was destroyed as a result)
What are the current whereabouts of Robin Goodfellow? (see #17?)
Why did Delight become Delirium? (#21?)
What of the favor Loki owes Dream? (#28 page 11) Has Dream called it in yet, or does Loki still owe him?
What were the other choices (besides reincarnation) that Dream offered Nada at the end of Season of Mists (#28)?
What is Lucifer up to now that the two angels are running Hell?
(Is the Sandman version of Hell official DC continuity? If not, then #8 is somewhat pointless.)
Why don’t the Endless refer to Death as ‘Death’, but only as ‘our sister’? (Apparently there is a reason; see letter columns in #29 & #34)
Why did Dream create the Land of Barbie’s dream for Princess Alianora (or Eleanora)? (He calls her “old love”, and says his creation of the Land for her, together with terms for its uncreation, was “a compromise”. see issues #36-37 and #42.)
Who was Dream’s lover prior to the Brief Lives story line?
What was Desire’s motivation in trying to prevent Dream from seeking Destruction, and why was it “afraid” of a determined attempt being made to find Destruction (#41-42)?
Where did Etain of the Second Look take refuge?
What is the meaning of the scene Destiny sees in his book of Dream with clothes and hair all of white facing the Corinthian, with blood on Dream’s throne (#47)?
How was a previous aspect of one of the Endless (presumably Despair) killed? (#48)
Where exactly did Destruction go at the end of issue #48?

To this list Neil Gaiman responded:

“The [questions] will either get answered within Sandman or out of it. Or at least, they’re things I know the answers to, but each is a story in itself, or a part of another story.”

List of Issues, Artists and Brief Plot Synopses.

WARNING: While the synopses are usually brief and bland, they do contain some spoilers. Continue at your own risk.

“More than Rubies” Issues 1-8.
- Sandman #1: “Sleep of the Just” by Gaiman, Kieth, and Dringenberg
  [Dream is caught accidentally by men who are attempting to capture Death. Only after seven decades of captivity does he finally escape.]
- Sandman #2: “Imperfect Hosts” by Gaiman, Kieth, and Dringenberg
  [Dream returns to his realm to find it in disarray. He consults the Three Witches on where to find his items of power: the Pouch, the Helm and the Ruby.]
- Sandman #3: “Dream a Little Dream of Me” by Gaiman, Kieth, and Dringenberg
  [Dream goes to London where John Constantine helps him recover the Pouch from one of John’s former lovers.]
- Sandman #4: “A Hope in Hell” by Gaiman, Kieth and Dringenberg
  [Dream goes to Hell to retrieve his helmet. He must first beat Choronzon, a duke of Hell, at the game of reality.]
- Sandman #5: “Passengers” by Gaiman, Kieth, and M. Jones III
  [John Dee (Dr Destiny) and Dream both journey to retrieve the ruby of power from storage in a Justice League warehouse.]
- Sandman #6: “24 Hours” by Gaiman, Dringenberg, and M. Jones III
  [John Dee uses the power of the dreamstone to manipulate the patrons of a diner while he waits for Dream to arrive.]
- Sandman #7: “Sound and Fury” by Gaiman, Dringenberg, and M. Jones III
  [Dee follows Dream to the Dreaming where they fight for control of the Ruby.]
- Sandman #8: “The Sound of Her Wings” by Gaiman, Dringenberg, and M. Jones III
  [Dream follows Death as she goes about her daily rounds.]
“The Doll’s House” Issues 9-16
- Sandman #9: “Tales in the Sand” by Gaiman, Dringenberg, and M. Jones III
  [A young man hears the story of Dream’s love for the mortal Nada and his reaction to her rejection of his love.]
- Sandman #10: “The Doll’s House” by Gaiman, Dringenberg, and M. Jones III
  [Desire tells Despair of a scheme. Lucien takes inventory. Dream finds a vortex. Rose and Miranda Walker meet a long lost relative.]
- Sandman #11: “Moving In” by Gaiman, Dringenberg, and M. Jones III
  [Rose Walker goes to Florida to find her missing brother, Jed. She rooms in a house with unusual tenants. Matthew the Raven keeps an eye on Rose. Rose and Gilbert drive to Georgia to find Jed.]
- Sandman #12: “Playing House” by Gaiman, Bachalo, M. Jones III
  [Dream tracks the missing Brute and Glob to the mind of Jed Walker. There he also meets Hector and Lyta Hall, trapped in Jed’s dreams by Brute and Glob.]
- Sandman #13: “Men of Good Fortune” by Gaiman, Zulli, Parkhouse
  [In 1389, Hob Gadling decides not to die. Every 100 years he and Dream meet to discuss the past century and to see if Hob has changed his mind.]
- Sandman #14: “Collectors” by Gaiman, Dringenberg, and M. Jones III
  [Rose and Gilbert find themselves in a convention of serial killers, including one of the missing major aracana, The Corinthian.]
- Sandman #15: “Into the Night” by Gaiman, Dringenberg, and M. Jones III
  [Rose returns to the boarding house where she experiences the dreams of the others.]
- Sandman #16: “Lost Hearts” by Gaiman, Dringenberg, and M. Jones III
  [Dream must destroy the vortex before it damages the Dreaming. He later discovers Desire’s scheme.]
“Dream Country” Issues 17-20
- Sandman #17: “Calliope” by Gaiman, K. Jones, and M. Jones III
  [Richard Madoc gets his own personal muse, Calliope. After years of imprisonment, Calliope finally receives help from her old love, Dream.]
- Sandman #18: “Dream of a Thousand Cats” by Gaiman, K. Jones and M. Jones III
  [A cat tells how once cats ruled the Earth, how the dreams of men changed reality and how the dreams of cats might restore things to the way they once were.]
- Sandman #19: “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by Gaiman and Vess
  [William Shakespeare and his troupe of actors stage “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” for his patron and the fairy folk upon whom the play is based.]
- Sandman #20: “Facade” by Gaiman, Doran, M. Jones III
  [Urania Blackwell/Element Girl finds the life of a retired superhero can be very lonely. Only with the help of an unexpected visitor does she find release from her lonely existence.]
“Season of Mists” Issues 21-28
- Sandman #21: “Season of Mists: A Prologue” by Gaiman, Dringenberg, M. Jones III
  [Six of the seven Endless gather at the invitation of Destiny. Dream decides to free Nada, who he sent to Hell long ago.]
- Sandman #22: “Season of Mists: Episode 1” by Gaiman, K. Jones, M. Jones III
  [Dream prepares for his trip to Hell. Lucifer also makes preparations for Dream’s arrival.]
- Sandman #23: “Season of Mists: Episode 2” by Gaiman, K. Jones, M. Jones III
  [Dream arrives in Hell to find it nearly empty and Lucifer closing up shop. As a last act, Lucifer gives Dream the key to Hell.]
- Sandman #24: “Season of Mists: Episode 3” by Gaiman, K. Jones, Russell
  [Dream discovers that Hell, despite its reputation, is a very desirable piece of property, with many parties interested in obtaining control of it.]
- Sandman #25: “Season of Mists: Episode 4” by Gaiman, Wagner, M. Jones III
  [A school boy must deal with some of the former inhabitants of Hell who once again walk the Earth.]
- Sandman #26: “Season of Mists: Episode 5” by Gaiman, K. Jones, Pratt
  [Several of the interested parties attempt to influence Dream’s decision of who will gain control of Hell.]
- Sandman #27: “Season of Mists: Episode 6” by Gaiman, K. Jones, Giordano
  [The decision of who gains control of Hell is taken out of Dream’s hands. The angels Remiel and Duma are assigned control of the realm. Dream must fight the demon lord Azazel over a matter of hospitality.]
- Sandman #28: “Season of Mists: Episode oo” by Gaiman, Dringenberg, Pratt
  [The guests leave. Dream gets a new resident of the Dreaming and a promise from Loki. Nada returns to Earth. Lucifer enjoys a sunset. The angels take over Hell for better and worse.]
“Distant Mirrors” Issues 29-31, 50
- Sandman #29: “Thermidor” by Gaiman, Woch, Giordano
  [Dream sends Lady Johanna Constantine to France to rescue his son from destruction.]
- Sandman #30: “August” by Gaiman, Talbot, Woch
  [By spending a day in the market, disguised as a beggar, Augustus Caesar hides his thoughts and plans from the gods.]
- Sandman #31: “Three Septembers and a January” by Gaiman, McManus
  [Dream gives Joshua Norton a dream of importance and by doing so is able to keep Norton from the realms of Despair, Desire and Delirium.]
“A Game of You” Issues 32-37
- Sandman #32: “Slaughter on Fifth Avenue” by Gaiman, McManus
  [Barbie and Wanda go window shopping only to see Martin Tenbones, a creature from Barbie’s dreams, shot by the police. Before dying, Martin tells Barbie The Land needs her help and gives her the Porpentine.]
- Sandman #33: “Lullabies of Broadway” by Gaiman, McManus
  [Hazel tells Barbie that she may be pregnant. The strange birds released by George cause the building’s tenants to have nightmares. Barbie finds herself dreaming that she’s back in the Land, the setting for a contin- uing dream from her past. There she learns she must defeat a mysterious figure known as the Cuckoo.]
- Sandman #34: “Bad Moon Rising” by Gaiman, Doran, Pratt, Giordano
  [With Barbie in a coma-like sleep, Thessaly uses the remains of George to learn of the threat from the Cuckoo. After drawing down the moon, Thessaly, Hazel and Foxglove travel to the Land to save Barbie, leaving Wanda with the unconscious Barbie and the still active remains of George.]
- Sandman #35: “Beginning to See the Light” by Gaiman, McManus
  [Barbie and her companions journey through the Land. Betrayed by one companion and with the other two dead, Barbie is taken to the Citadel of the Cuckoo.]
- Sandman #36: “Over the Sea to Sky” by Gaiman, McManus, Talbot and Woch
  [Barbie meets the Cuckoo. Storms lash New York. Dream is summoned to close a compact and uncreate the Land.]
- Sandman #37: “I Woke Up and One of Us was Crying” by Gaiman, McManus
  [Barbie remembers the final events in the Land and what she discovered when she awoke as she travels to attend Wanda’s funeral.]
“Convergence” Issues 38-40
- Sandman #38: “The Hunt” by Gaiman, Eagleson, Locke
  [Vassily tells his granddaughter a story from the Old Country.]
- Sandman #39: “Soft Places” by Gaiman, Watkiss
  [Lost in the desert, Marco Polo finds he has entered a “soft place” where he meets others from different times and different realms.]
- Sandman #40: “The Parliament of Rooks” by Gaiman, Thompson, Locke
  [Daniel Hall ventures into the Dreaming where he hears tales from Cain, Abel and Eve.]
“Brief Lives” Issues 41-49
- Sandman #41: “Blossom for a Lady…” by Gaiman, Thompson, Locke
  [Delirium decides she needs to find her missing brother. Neither Desire or Despair will help.]
- Sandman #42: “It Always Rains on the Unloved…” by Gaiman, Thompson, Locke
  [Delirium enters the Dreaming to ask Dream to help find their missing brother. Dream agrees, thinking the trip will serve as a diversion from a recent failed romance.]
- Sandman #43: “The People Who Remember Atlantis…” by Gaiman, Thompson, Locke
  [Dream and Delirium consult an expert to arrange their travel. Meanwhile, something is trying to kill those who may know where the missing Endless is now living.]
- Sandman #44: “The Other Side of the Sky…” by Gaiman, Thompson, Locke
  [Dream and Delirium continue on their search, but a hotel fire kills their driver.]
- Sandman #45: “The Things We Do To Be Loved…” by Gaiman, Thompson, Locke
  [Delirium gets to drive. Dream, Delirium and Matthew the Raven visit a strip club where Ishtar, who once loved their brother, now dances.]
- Sandman #46: “Life Isn’t Pleasant, Petrified…” by Gaiman, Thompson, Locke
  [After the destruction of the strip club, Dream ends the search and returns to the Dreaming. Checking with Bast and Lucien, he finds no further clue to Destruction’s whereabouts. When Delirium closes off her realm, Dream agrees to continue the search in earnest.]
- Sandman #47: “Cooking Considered as One of the Fine Arts…” by Gaiman,Thompson, Locke, Giordano
  [With no remaining contacts, Dream and Delirium consult Destiny on how to proceed with the search. Finally, Dream must ask his son Orpheus where Destruction can be found.]
- Sandman #48: “Journey’s End…” by Gaiman, Thompson, Locke
  [Dream, Destruction and Delirium talk about the Endless and their duties and characteristics. Destruction decides to leave Earth.]
- Sandman #49: Farewells…” by Gaiman, Thompson, Locke
  [Dream grants Orpheus’ boon and returns to the Dreaming.]
- Sandman #50: “Ramadan” by Gaiman and Russell
  [The Caliph of Bagdhad makes a bargain with Dream to save the beauty of his city.]
“Worlds’ End” Issues #51-56.
- Sandman #51: “Worlds’ End” by Gaiman, Talbot, Stevens and Buckingham
  [Two travelers have an accident during a snowstorm in June. Seeking shelter in an inn, they meet the inn’s strange patrons and hear the story of dreaming cities.]
- Sandman #52: [No title] by Gaiman, Watkiss, Talbot and Buckingham
  [Cluracan tells how he carried out a diplomatic mission for Titania, Queen of Faerie with some help from Dream.]
- Sandman #53: “Hob’s Leviathan” by Gaiman, Zulli, Giordano, Talbot and Buckingham
  [Jim tells of her life at sea and her voyage with the mysterious Robert Gadling.]
- Sandman #54: “The Golden Boy” by Gaiman, Allred, Talbot and Buckingham
  [Lost in the Worlds’ End, Brant hears the story of Prez Rickard, the first teenager to become president of America.]
- Sandman #55: “Cerements” by Gaiman, Pensa, Locke, Talbot and Buckingham
  [Apprentice Petrefax tells of the Necropolis Litharge and some of the stories told there.]
- Sandman #56: “Worlds’ End” by Gaiman, Talbot, Buckingham, Amaro, Giordano, Harris, Leialoha
  [The inn’s visitors hear explanations of the reality storm, witness a funeral and depart.]
“The Kindly Ones” Issues #57-
- Sandman #57: “The Kindly Ones: 1” by Gaiman and Hempel
  [The Fates have tea, Matthew talks with other members of the Dreaming, Morpheus remakes the Corinthian, Lucifer refuses to play “Memories” and Daniel Hall is abducted.]
- Sandman #58: “The Kindly Ones: 2” by Gaiman, Hempel and D’Israeli
  [The police are called in to investigate the kidnapping of Daniel Hall. Claracan comes to take Nuala back to Faerie. Lyta meets The Kindly Ones.]
Sandman Special: “The Song of Orpheus” by Gaiman, Talbot, Buckingham
[The legend of Orpheus and Eurydice is retold within the Sandman mythos.]
Vertigo Preview: “Fear of Falling” by Gaiman, Williams
[In his dreams, a man meets Dream and confronts his fears.]
Vertigo Jam: “The Castle” by Gaiman, Nowlan
[A dreamer gets a guided tour of the Dreaming from Lucien and the rest.]
Death: The High Cost of Living #1: “The Spirit of the Stairway” by Gaiman, Bachalo, Buckingham
[Sexton Furnival meets DiDi, a young woman who claims to be Death.]
Death: The High Cost of Living #2: “A Night to Remember” by Gaiman, Bachalo, Buckingham
[Sexton and DiDi spend a night in New York. The evening ends when they are lured into a trap set by the Eremite.]
Death: The High Cost of Living #3: “The High Cost of Living” by Gaiman, Bachalo, Buckingham
[DiDi and Sexton’s adventure continues into the day.]

Notes:

Each episode of _Season of Mists_ has a longer descriptive summary that may be treated as a title.
The titles used for part of _Brief Lives_ represents only the first phrase of longer titles.

[4.1] Question: What else has Neil Gaiman done?

Note: This remains an incomplete list. Please feel free to send additions.

Non Sandman Comics

“Angela” in Spawn #9 (Image. art by Todd McFarlane. 1993)
Angela #1-3 (Image. art by . 1995)
“Babycakes” in Taboo #4 (Spiderbaby Graphix. art by Michael Zulli. 1990.
Reprinted in Born to be Wild. Eclipse. 1991. Reprinted in Angels and Visitations without illustrations. 1993)
“Being an Account of the Life and Death of Emperor Heliogabolus” in Cerebus #147. (Aardvark-Vanaheim. 24-Hour Comic, Illus. by Gaiman. Also published separately as an ashcan.)
Black Orchid #1-3 (DC mini-series. Also collected as TPB. art by Dave McKean. 1988-89)
“Blood Monster” in Taboo #6 (Spiderbaby Graphix/Tundra. art by Nancy J. O’Connor. 1992)
Books of Magic #1-4 (DC mini-series. 1990-91. Also collected as a DC TPB. 1993.
v. I “The Invisible Labyrinth” art by John Bolton
v. II “The Shadow World” art by Scott Hampton
v. III “The Land of Summer’s Twilight” art by Charles Vess
v. IV “The Road to Nowhere” art by Paul Johnson)
with Rock Vietch “Celebrity Rare Bit Fiends” in Roarin’ Rick’s Rare Bit Fiends #2 and #3 (King Hell. Vietch presents some of Gaiman’s dreams. 1994)
The Children’s Crusade #1 (DC mini-series. art by Chris Bachalo and Mike Barreiro. 1993)
with Alison Kwitney and Jamie Delano: The Children’s Crusade #2 (DC mini-series. art by Peter Snejbjerg. 1994)
“Comix Ecsperiense” in Comix Experience 5th Anniversary Ashcan (Comix Experience. illustrated by Gaiman. 1994)
“Conversation Piece!” in 2000AD #489 (Fleetway. art by David Wyatt. 1986)
“Cover Story” in A1 Book 5 (Atomeka Press. art by Kelley Jones. 1991)
“Death” entry in Who’s Who in the DC Universe #8 (DC. not credited for text. art by Mike Dringenberg. 1991)
“Feeders and Eaters” in Revolver Horror Special (Fleetway. art by Mark Buckingham. 1990 Reprinted with new lettering in Asylum #2. 1993)
“Fragments” in Redfox #20 (Valkyrie. art by S.M.S. and Fox. 1989)
“From Homogenous to Honey” in AARGH! (Artists Against Rampant Government Homophobia) (Mad Love. art by Bryan Talbot and Mark Buckingham. 1988)
“The Great Cool Challenge” in BLAAM! #1 (Willyprods. art by Shane Oakley. 1988)
“Hold Me” in Hellblazer #27 (DC. art by Dave McKean. 1989)
“An Honest Answer” in The British Science Fiction Eastercon program (art by Bryan Talbot. 1994. Also printed in Vogarth Vol. 2, #1. Reprinted in the Magian Line Volume 2.1. 1994. Reprinted in Wiindows #21.)
“I’m a Believer” in 2000AD #536 (Fleetway. art by Massimo Belardinelli. 1987. Published story was significantly rewritten by the 2000AD editorial staff to the point that Gaiman no longer claims it as his.)
The Last Temptation Books 1-3 (Marvel. art by Michael Zulli. 1994)
“Luther’s Villanelle” in The Adventures of Luther Arkwright “ARKeology” (Valkyrie. art by Dave McKean. 1989. Reprinted in The Crystal Palace Exhibition of 1990 from Propaganda. Second version had new art by Ali Clark and corrected the lettering mistakes from the Valkyrie version. Reprinted in in Angels and Visitations without illustrations. 1993. Reprinted in Wiindows from Cult Press. Adapted by Tommy Berg. 1994)
Miracleman #17-24+ (Eclipse series. 1990-present. art by Mark Buckingham. Issues 17-22 collected as a TPB.)
Miracleman: Apocrypha #1-3 (Eclipse mini-series. Gaiman wrote connecting story “The Library of Olympus.” 1991-92. art by Mark Buckingham. Collected as a TPB 1993)
“Mister X: Heartsprings and and Watchstops” in A1 Book 1 (Atomeka Press. art by Dave McKean. 1989)
with Alan Moore: “The Murders on the Rue Morgue” in Negative Burn #13 (Caliber Press. Gaiman illustrates Moore’s song. 1994)
‘Orrible Murders (24-Hour Comic. Based on ideas from Sandman #17. created by various artists/writers. Initial printing of 200 sold at UKCAC to raise money for the London Cartoon Centre. 1992)
Outrageous Tales from the Old Testament (Graphic Collection. Knockabout Publications. 1987. Includes:
“The Book of Judges” art by Mike Matthews
“Jael and Sisera” art by Julie Hollings
“Jephthath and His Daughter” art by Peter Rigg
“Journey to Bethlehem” art by Steve Gibson
“The Prophet Who Came to Dinner” art by Dave McKean
“The Tribe of Benjamin” art by Mike Matthews)
“Pavane” in Secret Origins #36 (DC. art by Mark Buckingham. 1989.)
“Screaming” in Total Eclipse #4 (Eclipse. art by Mark Buckingham. 1989. Reprinted in Miracle Man #21 from Eclipse. 1991)
Secret Origins Special #1 (DC Special. 1989. Includes:
“Original Sins” art by Mike Hoffman and Kevin Nowlan
“When is a Door” art by Bernie Mireault and Matt Wagner)
Signal to Noise (Graphic novel. Published by VG Graphics (UK) and Dark Horse (US). art by Dave McKean. 1992) Originally printed in The Face, Vol. 2, Nos. 9-15. 1989. Updated for publication as a graphic novel.
“Sloth” in Seven Deadly Sins (Graphic Collection. Knockabout Publications. art by Bryan Talbot. 1989)
Swamp Thing Annual #5 (DC Annual. 1989. Includes:
“Brothers” art by Richard Piers Rayner, Mike Hoffman, and Kim DeMulder
“Shaggy God Stories” art by Mike Mignola)
“Sweeney Todd” in Taboo #6-7+ (Spiderbaby Graphix/Tundra. art by Michael Zulli. 1992-present. Taboo #6 contained a Sweeney Todd penny dreadful. Story begins in #7.)
“Take Five” in Trident #1 (Trident. art by Nigel Kitching. 1989. Second chapter of “The Light Brigade.”)
The Tragical Comedy or Comical Tragedy of Mr. Punch (VG Graphics (UK) and Vertigo/DC (US). art by Dave McKean. 1994)
The Utterly Comic Comic Relief Comic (Fleetway. 1991. Gaiman co-edited, co-plotted and wrote the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles pages and “lots of other bits.”)
“Vier Mauern” in Breakthrough (Catalan Communications. an illustrated text. art by Dave McKean. edited by P. Christin and A. C. Knigge. 1990)
Violent Cases (Titan/Escape (UK) and Tundra (US) art by Dave McKean. Titan 1987 and Tundra 1991)
“We Can Get Them for You Wholesale” in Negative Burn #11 (Caliber Press. adapted from Gaiman’s original short story by Joe Pruett and Ken Meyer Jr. 1994)
“What’s in a Name?” in 2000AD #538 (Fleetway. art by Steve Yeowell. 1987)
“Wordsworth” in Clive Barker’s Hellraiser #20 (Epic. art by Dave McKean. 1993)
“You’re Never Alone With a Phone!” in 2000AD #488 (Fleetway. art by John Hicklenton. 1986)

Short Stories

(Note: Short stories and verse reprinted in Angels and Visitations will have [A&V] at the end of their entries.)

“The Case of the Four and Twenty Blackbirds” in Knave, 1984. [A&V]
“Chivalry” appears in Grails: Quests, Visitations and Other Occurences (ed. Richard Gilliam, Martin Greenberg and Edward Kramer) from Unnameable Press, 1992. Reprinted in Advance Comics #58, 1993. Reprinted in Grails: Quests of the Dawn (same editors as original collection) from Roc, 1994. [A&V]
with Kim Newman and Eugene Byrne. “Culprits, or Where are they Now?” in Interzone #40, 1990.
“Foreign Parts” appears in Words without Pictures (ed. Stephen Niles) from Arcane/Eclipse, 1990. Reprinted correctly in Fantasy Tales, Vol. 2, #3, Spring 1991. [A&V]
“In Re: Pansy Smith and Violet Jones” appears as an afterword in the liner notes of The Flash Girls’ “The Return of Pansy Smith and Violet Jones” from Spin Art, 1993.
“Looking for the Girl” in Penthouse, (UK edition) 1985. [A&V]
“Mouse” appears in Touch Wood: Narrow Houses II (ed. Peter Crowther) from Little, Brown, 1993. Expanded second draft appears in A&V.
“Murder Mysteries” appears in Midnight Graffiti (ed. J. Horsting and J. Van Hise) from Warner Books, 1992. Reprinted in The Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror: Sixth Annual Collection (ed. E. Datlow and T. Windling) from St. Martin’s Press, 1993. [A&V]
“Nicholas Was…” appears in Drabble II: Double Century (ed. Rob Meades and David B. Wake) from Beccon, 1990. Originally sent out as a Christmas card with Dave McKean calligraphy. [A&V]
“One Life Furnished with Early Moorcock” appears in Tales of the White Wolf (ed. Edward E. Kramer and Richard Gilliam) from White Wolf Fiction, 1994.
“Only the End of the World Again” appears in Shadows Over Innsmouth (ed. Stephen Jones) from Fedogan & Bremer, 1994.
“Snow, Glass, Apples” published as a limited chapbook from DreamHaven, 1994.
“Troll Bridge” appears in Snow White, Blood Red (ed. E. Datlow and T. Windling) from Avo/Nova-Morrow. 1993. Reprinted in Previews Vol. III, #10, October 1993. [A&V]
“We Can Get Them for You Wholesale” in Knave, 1984. Also adapted as a comic. See above. [A&V]
“Webs” appears in More Tales from the Forbidden Planet (ed. Roz Kaveney) from Titan. 1990. Reprinted in Comics Scoreboard #48, October 1993. [A&V]

Books

Angels and Visitations from DreamHaven Books, 1993.
Don’t Panic: The Hitch-Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Companion from Titan, 1988 and Pocket Books, 1988. Revised Titan edition, 1992. Second revised Titan edition, 1993.
devised with Alex Stewart: Eurotemps from Roc Books, 1992.
with Terry Pratchett: Good Omens from Berkley (US-paper) 1992, Workman (US – cloth), Corgi (UK-paper) and Victor Gollancz (UK – cloth) 1990.
with Kim Newman: Ghastly Beyond Belief from Arrow, 1985.
editor with Stephen Jones: Now We are Sick from DreamHaven Books, 1991. (Gaiman wrote the introductory verse of the same title.)
devised with Alex Stewart: Temps from Roc Books, 1991.
devised with Mary Gentle: Villains from Roc Books, 1992. Contains “The Lady and/or the Tiger” Parts I and II by Gaiman and Roz Kaveney.
devised with Mary Gentle and Roz Kaveney: The Weerde: Book I from Roc Books, 1992.
devised with Mary Gentle, Roz Kaveney, and Alex Stewart: The Weerde: Book II from Roc Books, 1993.

Lyrics and Verse

“Cold Colours” in Midnight Graffiti 6, 1991. Reprinted in Future Comics October 1993. [A&V]
with Mad Hettie: “The Herring Song” performed by The Flash Girls on “The Return of Pansy and Violet Jones” from Spin Art, 1993.
“Post-Mortem on Our Love” in Angels and Visitations from DreamHaven Books, 1993. Also performed by The Flash Girls on “The Return of Pansy Smith and Violet Jones” from Spin Art, 1993.
“Queen of Knives” appeared in the program of the 1995 World Horror Con, 1995.
“Riding the Flame / Little Beggarman” performed by The Flash Girls on “The Return of Pansy Smith and Violet Jones” from Spin Art, 1993.
“The Song of the Audience” in Angels and Visitations from DreamHaven Books, 1993.
“Sonnet in the Dark” performed by The Flash Girls on “The Return of Pansy and Violet Jones” from Spin Art, 1993.
“Vampire Sestina” in Fantasy Tales Vol. 10 #2, Spring 1989. Reprinted in Mammoth Book of Vampires (ed. Stephen Jones) from Robbinson (UK) and Carroll & Graf (US), 1992. [A&V]
“Virus” in Digital Dreams (ed. David B. Barrett) from New English Library, 1990.[A&V]

Everything Else

“About Kim Newman, With Notes On the Creation and Eventual Dissolution of the Peace & Love Corporation” in The Original Dr. Shade and Other Stories (Pocket Books, by Kim Newman) 1994.
“Afterward” in Nameless Sins (Gauntlet Publications, by Nancy A. Collins) 1994.
“Afterword” in Images of Omaha #1 (Kitchen Sink. ed. Reed Waller and Kate Worley) 1992.
“Anthony Boucher – The Compleat Werewolf, and Other Stories of Fantasy and SF“ in Horror: The 100 Best Books (ed. Stephen Jones and Kim Newman) from Xanadu Publications Ltd. (UK) and Carroll & Graf (US) 1988.
“Breathtaker: An Introduction” in Breathtaker (DC, by Mark Wheatley and Marc Hempel) 1994.
(cover art) for But I Digress… (Krause Publications, by Peter A. David) 1994.
“Flame On!” in Clive Barker’s Shadows in Eden (Underwood-Miller, edited by Stephen Jones) 1991. [October 1988 interview with Clive Barker.]
“Forward” in The Beast that Shouted Love at the Heart of the World (Border-lands Press, by Harlan Ellison) 1994.
“Forward” in The Complete Bone Adventures, Volume 2 (Cartoon Books, by Jeff Smith) 1994.
“Introduction” in Brat Pack (King Hell-Tundra, by Rick Veitch) 1992.
“Introduction” in The Collected Omaha, Volume 5 (Kitchen Sink, by Reed Waller and Kate Worley) 1993.
(introduction) in Deadface: Immortality isn’t Forever (Dark Horse, by Eddie Campbell with Ed Hillyer) 1990.
“The Introduction” in Noodles: Sketchbook Stuff, Random Drawings and Telephone Sqiggles (Tundra, by Michael Zulli) 1991.
“Introduction” in The Tale of One Bad Rat Book One (Dark Horse, by Bryan Talbot) 1994.
“Love and Death: Overture” in Swamp Thing Love and Death (DC, by Alan Moore, Stephen Bissette, Jon Totleben, and Shawn McManus) 1990.
“The Mystery of Father Brown” in 100 Great Detectives (ed. Maxim Jakubowski) from Xanadu (UK), 1991. [A&V]
“A Prologue” in Scholars and Soldiers: A Story Collection (Macdonald (UK) by Mary Gentle), 1989. [A&V]
“The Screwtape Letters: An Introduction” in The Screwtape Letters (Marvel. by C. S. Lewis adapted by Charles E. Hall and Pat Redding), 1994.
“300 Good Reasons to Resent Dave Sim” in Comic Buyer’s Guide, #977, August 7, 1992.

[4.2] Question: Where can I get a copy of Angels and Visitations and the “Snow, Glass, Apples” chapbook?

The major comic distributors, Diamond, Cap City, Friendly Franks, etc., have all bought and continue to reorder copies of _Angels_. The easiest way, may be to have your local comic shop order a copy from their distributor. Currently, both Diamond’s Star System and Cap City’s Hyperlink feature the book and so shops doing business with either Cap City or Diamond should be able to get you a copy within a week if they regularly use either of these services.

If you’re not in North America or don’t have access to a helpful comic shop, you can buy a copy via mail order from the publisher, DreamHaven Books. Copies can be sent out overseas, but will take time if sent by surface mail and air mail will add considerably to the price of the book.

You can contact DreamHaven at (612) 379-0657 or write to:

DreamHaven Books
1309 4th Street SE
Minneapolis, MN 55414

e-mail: dreamhvn@winternet.com

If you have a local bookstore that will order books for you, you may wish to give them this information. If they ask, the ISBN number is 0-9630944-2-4.

A special limited edition of Angels is also available.

“Snow, Glass, Apples” is a chapbook (the short story equivalent of a comic book ashcan) also available from DreamHaven. The chapbook includes a cover by and interior illustration by Charles Vess. 10% of the sales of this chapbook go to support the Comic Book Legal Defense fund. At the present time, DreamHaven is the only distributor for this title. Cost is $10 postpaid.

[4.3] Question: Where can I get a copy of The Flash Girl’s “The Return of Pansy Smith and Violet Jones” CD/Cassette?

“The Return of Pansy Smith and Violet Jones” is available on CD ($15) and Cassette ($10) from:

SteelDragon Press
P.O. Box 7253
Minneapolis, MN 55407

Add $2 S&H and if you live in a flat state (IA, IL, IN, KS, OH, MI, MN, NE, SD, WI, but strangely, not North Dakota) add the appropriate sales tax.

Disclaimer: I have no connection to SteelDragon. Honest.