The Sandman was created by Neil Gaiman (author) and Sam Keith (artist). Originally published by DC Comics (issue #1 was released in January 1989), it was placed under DC’s Vertigo imprint beginning with issue #47 (March 1993). Mike Dringenberg, Todd Klein, Robbie Busch, and Dave McKean were hired as inker, letterer, colorist, and cover artist, respectively, and comprised the original creative team. The series chronicles the adventures of Dream (of the Endless), who rules over the world of dreams. It ran for 75 issues from January 1989 until March 1996. Gaiman's contract stipulated that the series would end when he left it.
The Sandman was one of Vertigo's flagship titles. Critically acclaimed, it is one of the few graphic novels ever to be on the New York Times Best Seller list, along with Watchmen and The Dark Knight Returns. The series grew out of a proposal by Neil Gaiman to revive DC's 1974–1976 series The Sandman, written by Joe Simon and Michael Fleisher and illustrated by Jack Kirby and Ernie Chua. DC editor Karen Berger eventually accepted the proposal…but under one condition; “We'd like a new Sandman. Keep the name. But the rest is up to you.”
The Sandman became a cult success for DC Comics and attracted an audience unlike that of mainstream comics: half the readership was female, many were in their twenties…and many read no other comics at all. By the time the series concluded in 1996, it was outselling the titles of DC's flagship characters of Superman and Batman.
The Sandman's main character is Dream, the Lord of Dreams (also known, to various characters throughout the series, as Morpheus, Oneiros, the Shaper, the Shaper of Form, Lord of the Dreaming and the Dream King, among other monikers), who is essentially the anthropomorphic personification of dreams. We eventually learn that he is one of seven such ‘siblings’ representing timeless aspects of man – Destiny, Destruction, Death, Dream, Desire, Despair & Delirium (formerly ‘Delight’). At the start of the series, Morpheus is captured by an occult ritual and held prisoner for 70 years. He escapes in the modern day and, after avenging himself upon his captors, sets about rebuilding his kingdom, which has fallen into disrepair in his absence. The character's initial haughty and often cruel manner begins to soften given his years of imprisonment, but the challenge of undoing past sins and changing old ways is an enormous one for a being who has been set in his ways for billions of years. In its beginnings, the series is a very dark horror comic. Later, the series evolves into an elaborate fantasy series, incorporating elements of classical and contemporary mythology, ultimately placing its protagonist in the role of a tragic hero.
The storylines primarily take place in the Dreaming, Morpheus's realm, and the waking world, with occasional visits to other domains, such as Hell, Faerie, Asgard, and the domains of the other Endless. Most of the storylines take place in modern times, but many short stories are set in the past, taking advantage of the immortal nature of many of the characters
This page was part of the Season of Mists storyline, which included issues #21 (December 1990) – #28 (July 1991). Dream travels to Hell to free a former lover, Nada, whom he condemned to torment thousands of years ago. There, Dream learns that Lucifer has abandoned his domain. When Lucifer gives Hell's key (and therefore, the ownership of Hell) to the Sandman, Morpheus himself becomes trapped in a tangled network of threats, promises, and lies, as gods and demons from various pantheons seek ownership of Hell.
