It turns out that everyone truly does have a secret world or worlds inside them, it’s just that they all aren’t that interesting. This installment in The Sandman graphic novel series by Neil Gaiman was a bit of a slog for me. I just can’t care about or connect with Barbie and by extension her worlds. Some of the characters were interesting or great to see again, like Hazel and Foxglove and the irrepressible Wanda.
Barbie’s dreamworld is under attack by the Cuckoo, who is threatening to destroy it and everything and everyone in it. With the help of her dream friends as well as the help (and hindrance) from friends and neighbors back home, Barbie and the Cuckoo finally have a showdown which summons Mr. Murphy, our dear Dream Lord. There’s a hurricane in New York City back on earth caused by Thessaly’s interference, costing Wanda her life, and Barbie makes the pilgrimage to attend the funeral of her friend.
For the most part, though, I just had to grit my teeth and just soldier on with this thing. Barbie is just not a character I want to spend much, if any, time with. Some of the art was rather inspired, though not among my favorites as yet. Mostly this just felt like a placeholder. That’s okay, I’ll just jump into the next one and see where Morpheus takes me next.
