The Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes
Encyclopedia
Preludes & Nocturnes is the first trade paperback
collection of the comic book
series The Sandman, published by DC Comics
. It collects issues #1-8. It is written by Neil Gaiman
, illustrated by Sam Kieth
, Mike Dringenberg
and Malcolm Jones III
, colored by Robbie Busch and lettered by Todd Klein
.
The first seven issues of this collection comprise the "More Than Rubies" storyline. The eighth issue, "The Sound of Her Wings", is a self-contained story that serves as an epilogue to the More Than Rubies plot. It was first issued in paperback
in 1991, and later in hardback in 1995.
The next volume in the series is The Doll's House
.
In 1916, Dream is captured and encased in a glass globe in a failed attempt by a fictional Edwardian magician
(very much in the vein of Aleister Crowley
) named Roderick Burgess to bind Death
and attain immortality. Dream bides his time for decades until Burgess dies. Afterwards, his son Alexander becomes Dream’s new captor. Finally, in 1988, Alex inadvertently weakens the containment spell when the wheel of his wheelchair crosses over the circle drawn around Dream allowing him to reach into the dreams of his guards who fall asleep in his presence, allowing Dream to use the sand from their dream to his benefit. When the guards awake and break the seal Dream was in, he is then able to escape. Dream punishes Alex by cursing him to experience an unending series of nightmare
s. Morpheus (an alternative name for Dream) weakened after his captivity, is forced to make the journey to his realm via the dreamscape.
The rest of the story concerns Dream's quest
to recover his totems of power, which were dispersed following his capture: a pouch
of sand
, a helm and a ruby
. The pouch is being kept by a former girlfriend of John Constantine
's (Constantine is a character from Alan Moore
's series, Swamp Thing
and the Vertigo (DC Comics) Hellblazer
). Once that is recovered, Dream travels to hell
, where he is guided by the demon Etrigan past a cage of torture, where he meets an old face of someone he loves but has not yet forgiven for their past sins. Upon meeting Lucifer
(an enmity that will have major repercussions later in the series), a sharp dressed man in all white but deep dark black wings and whose shadow reveals a huge beast, Dream discusses that one of the demons in Hell has his Helm, a gas-mask looking helmet that the demon Choronzon is currently in possession of, and offers to give it back to him if he accepts a challenge. Not strong enough to fight yet, Dream accepts a different kind of challenge, the traditional game of metamorphoses. Dream defeats the demon by taking the form of Hope, which cannot be killed, in the game, but as Dream leaves Hell, Lucifer promises to his hosts that one day, he will destroy Dream. Lastly, the ruby is in the possession of John Dee, a.k.a. Doctor Destiny
, a supervillain
from the Justice League of America
series. Dee has warped and corrupted the ruby and when Morpheus touches it, it drains his strength and he passes out. When Dream comes to consciousness, he is still very weak when attacked by Dee. The fight nearly tears apart Dream - Morpheus puts up a brave fight but is losing. However, thinking that it will kill Dream, Dee shatters the ruby, inadvertently releasing the power that Dream had stored in the ruby and restoring Dream to his full power.
The collection ends with "The Sound of Her Wings", an epilogue to the first story-arc. This issue introduces a character who has become one of the series' most popular and prominent personalities: Dream's older sister Death
. She is depicted as an attractive, down-to-earth young goth
girl, very unlike the traditional personification of death
, and spends the issue talking Dream out of his brief depression.
Trade paperback (comics)
In comics, a trade paperback is a collection of stories originally published in comic books, reprinted in book format, usually capturing one story arc from a single title or a series of stories with a connected story arc or common theme from one or more titles...
collection of the comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
series The Sandman, published by DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
. It collects issues #1-8. It is written by Neil Gaiman
Neil Gaiman
Neil Richard Gaiman born 10 November 1960)is an English author of short fiction, novels, comic books, graphic novels, audio theatre and films. His notable works include the comic book series The Sandman and novels Stardust, American Gods, Coraline, and The Graveyard Book...
, illustrated by Sam Kieth
Sam Kieth
Sam Kieth is a New York Times best-selling American comic book writer and illustrator, best known as the creator of The Maxx and Zero Girl.-Comics career:...
, Mike Dringenberg
Mike Dringenberg
Mike Dringenberg is a German/American comic book artist best known for his work on DC/Vertigo's Sandman series with writer Neil Gaiman after original artist Sam Kieth's departure.-Biography:Dringenberg was born in Laon, France...
and Malcolm Jones III
Malcolm Jones III
Malcolm Jones, III was an American comic book artist best known as an inker on The Sandman, where he added his illustrative line and textures to the work of pencillers such as Mike Dringenberg, Kelley Jones, and Colleen Doran...
, colored by Robbie Busch and lettered by Todd Klein
Todd Klein
Todd Klein is an American comic book letterer, logo designer, and occasional writer, primarily for DC Comics.- Early career:Todd Klein broke into comics in the summer of 1977, hired by DC Comics as a staff production worker...
.
The first seven issues of this collection comprise the "More Than Rubies" storyline. The eighth issue, "The Sound of Her Wings", is a self-contained story that serves as an epilogue to the More Than Rubies plot. It was first issued in paperback
Paperback
Paperback, softback or softcover describe and refer to a book by the nature of its binding. The covers of such books are usually made of paper or paperboard, and are usually held together with glue rather than stitches or staples...
in 1991, and later in hardback in 1995.
The next volume in the series is The Doll's House
The Sandman: The Doll's House
The Doll's House is the second trade paperback collection of the comic book series The Sandman, published by DC Comics. It collects issues #9-16. It is written by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Mike Dringenberg, Malcolm Jones III, Chris Bachalo, Michael Zulli and Steve Parkhouse, coloured by Robbie...
.
Synopsis
Magic (paranormal)
Magic is the claimed art of manipulating aspects of reality either by supernatural means or through knowledge of occult laws unknown to science. It is in contrast to science, in that science does not accept anything not subject to either direct or indirect observation, and subject to logical...
(very much in the vein of Aleister Crowley
Aleister Crowley
Aleister Crowley , born Edward Alexander Crowley, and also known as both Frater Perdurabo and The Great Beast, was an influential English occultist, astrologer, mystic and ceremonial magician, responsible for founding the religious philosophy of Thelema. He was also successful in various other...
) named Roderick Burgess to bind Death
Death (DC Comics)
Death is a fictional character from the DC comic book series, The Sandman . The character first appeared in The Sandman vol. 2, #8 , and was created by Neil Gaiman and Mike Dringenberg....
and attain immortality. Dream bides his time for decades until Burgess dies. Afterwards, his son Alexander becomes Dream’s new captor. Finally, in 1988, Alex inadvertently weakens the containment spell when the wheel of his wheelchair crosses over the circle drawn around Dream allowing him to reach into the dreams of his guards who fall asleep in his presence, allowing Dream to use the sand from their dream to his benefit. When the guards awake and break the seal Dream was in, he is then able to escape. Dream punishes Alex by cursing him to experience an unending series of nightmare
Nightmare
A nightmare is an unpleasant dream that can cause a strong negative emotional response from the mind, typically fear or horror, but also despair, anxiety and great sadness. The dream may contain situations of danger, discomfort, psychological or physical terror...
s. Morpheus (an alternative name for Dream) weakened after his captivity, is forced to make the journey to his realm via the dreamscape.
The rest of the story concerns Dream's quest
Quest
In mythology and literature, a quest, a journey towards a goal, serves as a plot device and as a symbol. Quests appear in the folklore of every nation and also figure prominently in non-national cultures. In literature, the objects of quests require great exertion on the part of the hero, and...
to recover his totems of power, which were dispersed following his capture: a pouch
Pouch
Pouch may refer to:* A small bag such as a pocket, teabag, money pouch, sporran, etc* Cadaver pouch, body bag * Diplomatic pouch* Electric heating pouch, medical apparatus, electric heating device for curative treatment...
of sand
Sand
Sand is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles.The composition of sand is highly variable, depending on the local rock sources and conditions, but the most common constituent of sand in inland continental settings and non-tropical coastal...
, a helm and a ruby
Ruby
A ruby is a pink to blood-red colored gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum . The red color is caused mainly by the presence of the element chromium. Its name comes from ruber, Latin for red. Other varieties of gem-quality corundum are called sapphires...
. The pouch is being kept by a former girlfriend of John Constantine
John Constantine
John Constantine is a fictional character, an occult detective anti-hero in comic books published by DC Comics, mostly under the Vertigo imprint. The character first appeared in Swamp Thing #37 , and was created by Alan Moore, Steve Bissette, John Totleben and Rick Veitch...
's (Constantine is a character from Alan Moore
Alan Moore
Alan Oswald Moore is an English writer primarily known for his work in comic books, a medium where he has produced a number of critically acclaimed and popular series, including Watchmen, V for Vendetta, and From Hell...
's series, Swamp Thing
Swamp Thing
Swamp Thing, a fictional character, is a plant elemental in the created by Len Wein and Berni Wrightson. He first appeared in House of Secrets #92 in a stand-alone horror story set in the early 20th century . The Swamp Thing then returned in his own series, set in the contemporary world and in...
and the Vertigo (DC Comics) Hellblazer
Hellblazer
Hellblazer is a contemporary horror comic book series, originally published by DC Comics, and subsequently by the Vertigo imprint since March 1993, the month the imprint was introduced, where it remains to this day...
). Once that is recovered, Dream travels to hell
Hell
In many religious traditions, a hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hells as endless. Religions with a cyclic history often depict a hell as an intermediary period between incarnations...
, where he is guided by the demon Etrigan past a cage of torture, where he meets an old face of someone he loves but has not yet forgiven for their past sins. Upon meeting Lucifer
Lucifer (DC Comics)
Lucifer is a DC Comics character that starred in an eponymous comic book published under the Vertigo imprint, whose entire run was written by Mike Carey...
(an enmity that will have major repercussions later in the series), a sharp dressed man in all white but deep dark black wings and whose shadow reveals a huge beast, Dream discusses that one of the demons in Hell has his Helm, a gas-mask looking helmet that the demon Choronzon is currently in possession of, and offers to give it back to him if he accepts a challenge. Not strong enough to fight yet, Dream accepts a different kind of challenge, the traditional game of metamorphoses. Dream defeats the demon by taking the form of Hope, which cannot be killed, in the game, but as Dream leaves Hell, Lucifer promises to his hosts that one day, he will destroy Dream. Lastly, the ruby is in the possession of John Dee, a.k.a. Doctor Destiny
Doctor Destiny
Doctor Destiny is a fictional supervillain published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Justice League of America Vol. 1 #5 , and was created by Gardner Fox and Mike Sekowsky.- Fictional character biography :...
, a supervillain
Supervillain
A supervillain or supervillainess is a variant of the villain character type, commonly found in comic books, action movies and science fiction in various media.They are sometimes used as foils to superheroes and other fictional heroes...
from the Justice League of America
Justice League
The Justice League, also called the Justice League of America or JLA, is a fictional superhero team that appears in comic books published by DC Comics....
series. Dee has warped and corrupted the ruby and when Morpheus touches it, it drains his strength and he passes out. When Dream comes to consciousness, he is still very weak when attacked by Dee. The fight nearly tears apart Dream - Morpheus puts up a brave fight but is losing. However, thinking that it will kill Dream, Dee shatters the ruby, inadvertently releasing the power that Dream had stored in the ruby and restoring Dream to his full power.
The collection ends with "The Sound of Her Wings", an epilogue to the first story-arc. This issue introduces a character who has become one of the series' most popular and prominent personalities: Dream's older sister Death
Death (DC Comics)
Death is a fictional character from the DC comic book series, The Sandman . The character first appeared in The Sandman vol. 2, #8 , and was created by Neil Gaiman and Mike Dringenberg....
. She is depicted as an attractive, down-to-earth young goth
Goth subculture
The goth subculture is a contemporary subculture found in many countries. It began in England during the early 1980s in the gothic rock scene, an offshoot of the post-punk genre. The goth subculture has survived much longer than others of the same era, and has continued to diversify...
girl, very unlike the traditional personification of death
Death (personification)
The concept of death as a sentient entity has existed in many societies since the beginning of history. In English, Death is often given the name Grim Reaper and, from the 15th century onwards, came to be shown as a skeletal figure carrying a large scythe and clothed in a black cloak with a hood...
, and spends the issue talking Dream out of his brief depression.
Issues Collected
| Issue | Title | Writer | Penciller | Inker | Colorist | Letterer | Ast Editor | Editor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sleep of the Just | Neil Gaiman | Sam Kieth | Mike Dringenberg | Robbie Busch | Todd Klein | Art Young | Karen Berger |
| 2 | Imperfect Hosts | Neil Gaiman | Sam Kieth | Mike Dringenberg | Robbie Busch | Todd Klein | Art Young | Karen Berger |
| 3 | Dream a Little Dream of Me | Neil Gaiman | Sam Kieth | Mike Dringenberg | Robbie Busch | Todd Klein | Art Young | Karen Berger |
| 4 | A Hope in Hell | Neil Gaiman | Sam Kieth | Mike Dringenberg | Robbie Busch | Todd Klein | Art Young | Karen Berger |
| 5 | Passengers | Neil Gaiman | Sam Kieth | Malcolm Jones III | Robbie Busch | Todd Klein | Art Young | Karen Berger |
| 6 | 24 Hours | Neil Gaiman | Mike Dringenberg | Malcolm Jones III w/ special thanks to Don Carola | Robbie Busch | Todd Klein | Art Young | Karen Berger |
| 7 | Sound and Fury | Neil Gaiman | Mike Dringenberg | Malcolm Jones III | Robbie Busch | Todd Klein | Art Young | Karen Berger |
| 8 | The Sound of Her Wings | Neil Gaiman | Mike Dringenberg | Malcolm Jones III | Robbie Busch | Todd Klein | Art Young | Karen Berger |
External links
- Preludes and Nocturnes - Entire issue available for free download at DC Comics
- The Annotated Sandman