The Sandman: The Wake
Encyclopedia
The Wake is the tenth and final collection of issues in the comic book
series The Sandman. Written by Neil Gaiman
, illustrated by Michael Zulli
, Jon J. Muth
and Charles Vess
, and lettered by Todd Klein
.
The collection opens with James Elroy Flecker
's poem "The Bridge of Fire," which acts as a prologue and description of the events that occur.
The stories in the collection first appeared in 1996. The collection first appeared in paperback and hardback in 1996.
The first half of the collection is a storyline which follows the wake for Morpheus, who died at the end of the ninth collection, The Kindly Ones
. Many characters from the series appear. A series of speakers, ending with Death, appear to give their point of view on Morpheus' life. Meanwhile, the new aspect of Dream, who used to be the child Daniel, starts to build relationships with the inhabitants of the Dreaming
.
After this come three seemingly unrelated short stories.
and his girlfriend at a Renaissance fair
in modern day America. Hob, now going by Robbie, complains about the fair's sugar-coated depiction of the past, and regrets his past as a slaver. In a lousy mood to begin with, he gets very drunk and enters a condemned building, where he encounters Death
. Death confirms to him that Morpheus has died, and offers to let him die as well, now that he no longer has his agreement with Morpheus to fulfill. After some consideration, Hob turns her down. Hob then falls asleep and dreams of meeting Morpheus, who confirms that he has died, and Destruction
, another of the Endless who no longer inhabits his own realm. The three walk off together. Awakening, Hob returns to his girlfriend after the fair, his mood much improved.
Gaiman mentioned wanting to do a Renfaire issue with Hob in it because he thought it would be funny for several reasons: Gaiman himself mentioned in "The Sandman Companion" that he never liked Renfaires, particularly in America and wondered what it would be like if someone from the time popped in.
, "Soft Places". It features a man, an adviser to the Emperor of China, who is sent into exile after his son allied himself with a take-off of the historical White Lotus Rebellion
. In the course of the story we are drawn through a contemplative narration which sometimes leads one to think the old man has gone senile. With a significant nod to the parable style the old man's act of saving and caring for a stray kitten saves his life when he is lost through a soft place in reality and meets Morpheus, recently released from his imprisonment (Preludes and Nocturnes), and still weak. He alludes to both former and future events. In the end the old man is reunited with his guide, his loyalty to the Emperor intact.
. "The Tempest" is more reflective than "A Midsummer Night's Dream", and features less of the original play, though it echoes it cleverly in several ways and sequences. It is principally about Gaiman's Morpheus and his issues with himself and his place in things. Here we see in detail the Morpheus only briefly fleshed in former issues - the vulnerable, emotional, confused Dream King. Gaiman uses "The Tempest", a play fundamentally about change, endings, and new beginnings, to finish the series.
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. 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 Michael Zulli
Michael Zulli
Michael Zulli is an American artist known for his work as an animal and wildlife illustrator and as a comic book illustrator. He's gotten great acclaim for his work on The Sandman with writer Neil Gaiman and has been a longtime collaborator with the author...
, Jon J. Muth
Jon J. Muth
Jon J. Muth is an American comic book artist and children's book illustrator, known for his painted artwork....
and Charles Vess
Charles Vess
Charles Vess is an American fantasy artist and comic-book illustrator who has specialized in the illustration of myths and fairy tales. His illustrations are strongly influenced by the work of artists and illustrators such as Arthur Rackham and Alphonse Mucha...
, 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 collection opens with James Elroy Flecker
James Elroy Flecker
James Elroy Flecker was an English poet, novelist and playwright. As a poet he was most influenced by the Parnassian poets.-Biography:...
's poem "The Bridge of Fire," which acts as a prologue and description of the events that occur.
The stories in the collection first appeared in 1996. The collection first appeared in paperback and hardback in 1996.
Synopsis
As a collection it more or less stands alone. It forms an epilogue to the entire series, its mood being restrained and reflective.The first half of the collection is a storyline which follows the wake for Morpheus, who died at the end of the ninth collection, The Kindly Ones
The Sandman: The Kindly Ones
The Kindly Ones is the ninth collection of issues in the DC Comics series, The Sandman. Written by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Marc Hempel, Richard Case, D'Israeli, Teddy Kristiansen, Glyn Dillon, Charles Vess, Dean Ormston and Kevin Nowlan, coloured by Danny Vozzo, and lettered by Todd Klein.The...
. Many characters from the series appear. A series of speakers, ending with Death, appear to give their point of view on Morpheus' life. Meanwhile, the new aspect of Dream, who used to be the child Daniel, starts to build relationships with the inhabitants of the Dreaming
The Dreaming (comics)
The Dreaming is a fictional place, a comic book location published by DC Comics. The Dreaming first appeared in the Sandman vol. 2 #1, , and was created by Neil Gaiman and Sam Kieth. The Dreaming is the domain of Dream of the Endless....
.
After this come three seemingly unrelated short stories.
"Sunday Mourning"
"Sunday Mourning" follows the immortal Hob GadlingHob Gadling
Hob Gadling is a fictional character from the Sandman comic book series by Neil Gaiman. Gadling first appears in the story "Men of Good Fortune" in The Sandman #13 as a soldier of the Hundred Years' War, arguing with friends in an inn somewhere inside the modern borders of London.-Background:We...
and his girlfriend at a Renaissance fair
Renaissance Fair
A Renaissance fair, Renaissance faire, or Renaissance festival is an outdoor weekend gathering, usually held in the United States, open to the public and typically commercial in nature, which emulates a historic period for the amusement of its guests. Some are permanent theme parks, others are...
in modern day America. Hob, now going by Robbie, complains about the fair's sugar-coated depiction of the past, and regrets his past as a slaver. In a lousy mood to begin with, he gets very drunk and enters a condemned building, where he encounters 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....
. Death confirms to him that Morpheus has died, and offers to let him die as well, now that he no longer has his agreement with Morpheus to fulfill. After some consideration, Hob turns her down. Hob then falls asleep and dreams of meeting Morpheus, who confirms that he has died, and Destruction
Destruction (DC Comics)
Destruction is one of the Endless, fictional characters from Neil Gaiman's comic book series The Sandman.-Fictional Biography Within The Sandman:...
, another of the Endless who no longer inhabits his own realm. The three walk off together. Awakening, Hob returns to his girlfriend after the fair, his mood much improved.
Gaiman mentioned wanting to do a Renfaire issue with Hob in it because he thought it would be funny for several reasons: Gaiman himself mentioned in "The Sandman Companion" that he never liked Renfaires, particularly in America and wondered what it would be like if someone from the time popped in.
"Exiles"
"Exiles" is something of a companion to a story from Fables and ReflectionsThe Sandman: Fables and Reflections
Fables & Reflections is the sixth collection of issues in the DC Comics series, The Sandman. It was written by Neil Gaiman and illustrated by Bryan Talbot, Stan Woch, P...
, "Soft Places". It features a man, an adviser to the Emperor of China, who is sent into exile after his son allied himself with a take-off of the historical White Lotus Rebellion
White Lotus Rebellion
The White Lotus Rebellion was a rebellion that occurred during the Qing Dynasty of China. It broke out in 1796 among impoverished settlers in the mountainous region that separates Sichuan province from Hubei and Shaanxi provinces...
. In the course of the story we are drawn through a contemplative narration which sometimes leads one to think the old man has gone senile. With a significant nod to the parable style the old man's act of saving and caring for a stray kitten saves his life when he is lost through a soft place in reality and meets Morpheus, recently released from his imprisonment (Preludes and Nocturnes), and still weak. He alludes to both former and future events. In the end the old man is reunited with his guide, his loyalty to the Emperor intact.
"The Tempest"
"The Tempest" is a companion piece to "A Midsummer Night's Dream", from the third collection, Dream CountryThe Sandman: Dream Country
Dream Country is the third trade paperback collection of the comic book series The Sandman, published by DC Comics. It collects issues #17-20...
. "The Tempest" is more reflective than "A Midsummer Night's Dream", and features less of the original play, though it echoes it cleverly in several ways and sequences. It is principally about Gaiman's Morpheus and his issues with himself and his place in things. Here we see in detail the Morpheus only briefly fleshed in former issues - the vulnerable, emotional, confused Dream King. Gaiman uses "The Tempest", a play fundamentally about change, endings, and new beginnings, to finish the series.
Issues collected
| Issue | Title | Writer | Penciller | Inker | Colorist | Letterer | Ast Editor | Editor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70 | Chapter 1, Which Occurs in the Wake of What Has Gone Before | Neil Gaiman | Michael Zulli | n/a | Daniel Vozzo | Todd Klein | Shelly Roeberg | Karen Berger |
| 71 | Chapter 2, In Which a Wake is Held | Neil Gaiman | Michael Zulli | n/a | Daniel Vozzo | Todd Klein | Shelly Roeberg | Karen Berger |
| 72 | Chapter 3, In Which We Wake | Neil Gaiman | Michael Zulli | n/a | Daniel Vozzo | Todd Klein | Shelly Roeberg | Karen Berger |
| 73 | An Epilogue, Sunday Mourning | Neil Gaiman | Michael Zulli | n/a | Daniel Vozzo | Todd Klein | Shelly Roeberg | Karen Berger |
| 74 | Exiles | Neil Gaiman | n/a | Jon J Muth | Jon J Muth | Todd Klein | Shelly Roeberg | Karen Berger |
| 75 | The Tempest | Neil Gaiman / William Shakespeare | Charles Vess / Bryan Talbot / John Ridgway / Michael Zulli | Charles Vess | Daniel Vozzo | Todd Klein | Shelly Roeberg | Karen Berger |
- Issues 70-73 did not have an inker, and were done only in pencils and color.
- Issue 72 contains additional pages in the Wake bound collection versus the original comic.
- Issue 74 did not have a penciler, and was done entirely in inks.