CBR14 Bingo: “Adapt” – The Sandman has recently been adapted into a television series.
I discovered The Sandman graphic novels in 2000 and instantly became a fan (with collectibles to show for it!). I’m a sucker for beautiful book editions and when the “Absolute Sandman” editions were released I couldn’t resist. What makes them ‘Absolute’? To quote the Amazon blurb, “The Absolute Sandman Vol. 1 collects issues #1-20 of The Sandman and features completely new coloring, approved by the author on the first 18 issues, as well as a host of never-before-seen extra material including the complete original Sandman proposal, a gallery of character designs from Gaiman and the artists who originated the look of the Sandman, and the original script for the World Fantasy Award-winning THE SANDMAN #19, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” together with reproductions of the issue’s original pencils by Charles Vess. Also included are a new introduction by DC President and Publisher Paul Levitz and an afterword by Gaiman.” Folks, this book is gorgeous! And very heavy. For purposes of this review, I’m writing about issues 1-8 of The Sandman that were released in graphic novel form as Preludes and Nocturnes.
The comic imprint Vertigo has been around for almost thirty years now so I don’t often think about it being a part of DC comics. The Sandman was one of three original titles launched when Vertigo came on the market and as such has roots in DC lore. It has been many years since I last read Sandman and I had forgotten the DC connection. Volumes one through seven cover Dream escaping imprisonment and regaining his tools; sand, helm, and ruby. Along the way there are multiple interactions with famous DC properties. There are two that stand out to me. The Martian-Manhunter meeting Dream and how he perceives Dream as a God in his pantheon. This establishes that people perceive Morpheus/Dream according to their beliefs. The other is with Dr. Stephen Crane, the Scarecrow, inside Arkham Asylum. Batman villains that end up in Arkham are a bit on the insane side and the Scarecrow is no different. Despite being a bit touched in the head, he speaks with clarity when telling John Dee he will come back to Arkham, they always come back. I always have found the Scarecrew to be one of the creepiest of Batman’s villains.
Of all the Sandman graphic novels, this is probably the least interesting. While it does introduce important characters and do some establishing of setting, it’s just a simple journey from imprisonment to getting each of his items. Issue eight, the final one in Preludes and Nocturnes is different. The issue was titled “The Sound of Her Wings”. Dream’s quest complete, we now find him adrift. His realm, the Dreaming, is in chaos from his decades of neglect and Dream is tired and depressed. Here we properly meet one of his siblings, Death. He follows Death along through her duties ushering souls from the mortal realm as she gently chides him for not reaching out to family. Along the way it shakes something up inside Dream, ending with him finding a modicum of temporary peace. Dream’s struggles with his mental health (which in and of itself is an interesting concept, an anthropomorphic personification having mental health issues) and interaction with his errant family members, The Endless, are at the heart of Sandman. “The Sound of her Wings” gives a glimpse of the journey ahead. Page shown below is the last page of “The Sound of her Wings”.
Rereading this, I’m reminded of just how violent and strange The Sandman is, leaving me wondering how the show is going to be adapted. In one issue a person has been turned into nothing but tissue and muscle coating the inside of a house. Another issue, “24 Hours”, has a madman using the power of Dream’s ruby amulet to manipulate a diner full of people, having them commit horrible acts on themselves and one another. And this is just the start of the weird and horrible places The Sandman goes. One thing I am excited for regarding the adaptation is that Gaiman, et al. have updated some characters. Lucifer is played by the incredible Gwendolyn Christie as opposed to a male actor. Lucien is now portrayed as a black female instead of a white male. Should this series miraculously last long enough to get to a transgender storyline, I sincerely hope it is handled differently in the show than the comics. I have tried to limit my exposure to anything Sandman tv show related but it does seem as though this first season is going to cover events in the second graphic novel The Doll’s House so I will be rereading that in the near future.
