Sandman (DC Comics)
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Sandman is the name of six fictional characters in the DC Comics universe.
The Sandman is a comic book printed by DC Comics in the 1970s, starring the titular character. This Sandman lives in the Dream Dimension and protects children from their nightmares and occasionally from real-life menaces. He was created as a children's character by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby and first appeared in The Sandman #1 (Winter, 1974).
The Sandman is also a comic book printed by DC Comics under the Vertigo imprint in the 1980s and 1990s, also starring a character known as the Sandman (who is later replaced by another who carries the name), but not the same as in the original series. That article resides at The Sandman (comic book series). Similarly, there was a Sandman series titled Sandman Mystery Theatre, starring Sandman (Wesley Dodds).
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[edit] Fictional character biographies
[edit] Wesley Dodds
Wesley Dodds is the first DC Comics fictional character to bear the name of the Sandman. Attired in a green business suit, fedora, and gas mask, the Sandman uses a gun emitting a sleeping gas to sedate criminals. He starts out as a "mystery man", but eventually develops into a more proper superhero, becoming a founder of the Justice Society of America.
[edit] Garrett Sanford
The Sandman was originally intended to be the actual Sandman of popular myth, "eternal and immortal", despite his superhero-like appearance and adventures. The Sandman is assisted by two living nightmares named Brute and Glob, who are depicted as nuisances of no real danger to anyone. With the help of a magic whistle, the Sandman can enter the waking world of reality, and he carries a pouch of dream dust with which he can cause anyone to sleep and dream. The Sandman's main task is protecting children from nightmare monsters within their dreams, especially one young boy named Jed Walker. In the final Simon and Kirby-created adventure he even assists the legendary Santa Claus against a menacing band of Seal Men who are angry about being sent the wrong gifts during the previous Christmas.
This version of the Sandman only appeared for a handful of issues and was generally unused for years thereafter. In a retcon by Roy Thomas, appearing in Wonder Woman #300 (1983), the Sandman is revealed to be Dr. Garrett Sanford, a UCLA psychology professor who became trapped in the Dream Dimension while saving the life of a great man (there are hints that it is a U.S. President), who was in a coma while being terrorized by a powerful nightmare monster. The Sandman also becomes an honorary member of the Justice League in Justice League of America Annual #3 (1983).
[edit] Morpheus
Dream aka Morpheus is one of the Endless, and is the star of the second Sandman series as written by Neil Gaiman. He is the personification of dreams, storytelling and—because the Endless also represent the opposite of that which they personify—reality. Therefore, unlike his superhero namesakes, he is much more in line with the concept of the Sandman as he is portrayed in mythology.
[edit] Hector Hall
In Infinity Inc. #44 (October 1987), it is revealed that Sanford had since gone insane due to the loneliness of the Dream Dimension and committed suicide, and that Hector Hall (formerly the Silver Scarab) has now supplanted the deceased Sanford as the Sandman.
In 1990, it is further revealed that the Dream Dimension was, in fact, a small universe in the mind of Jed Walker which was created by Brute and Glob (who were explained as being two former servants of Dream that had escaped his realm during the Lord of Dream's long absence). It turns out that Hall has actually died some years before, and that his incarnation as the Sandman is merely a shell which dissipated when Dream defeated the two creatures.
Hall goes on to be reincarnated as Doctor Fate.
[edit] Daniel Hall
Daniel Hall, the child of Hector Hall, eventually assumes the position of Dream when Morpheus dies. He, like Morpheus, is the embodiment of dreams, storytelling and reality. He largely refers to himself either as Daniel, Dream or the Sandman.
[edit] Sandy Hawkins
Some time later in the pages of JSA, the chairman and heir to the Sandman legacy Sand has his soul stolen by Brute and Glob to briefly assume the role of the Dream Dimension's protector. Eventually Dr Fate (Hector Hall) and his wife Lyta lead a contingent of the JSA to Sandy's rescue. Brute and Glob are abjured to parts known only as "The Darkness". This fragment of the Dream Dimension is currently not known to be habited.
[edit] Kieran Marshall
In the upcoming Sandman Mystery Theatre: Sleep of Reason miniseries, photojournalist Kieran Marshall will take on the identity of the Sandman in Afghanistan, inspired by a visit Wesley Dodds made to the region shortly before his death.
[edit] See also
- Sandman (comics) lists other comic book characters with the same name.
- Sandman Mystery Theatre
- Sandman (Vertigo)
