The Sandman is, while not the most recognizable character, one of my favorites of the fantastical. I don’t see him myself as a monster in the strictest of sense, but I do include him in the land of lore. Since he is our main feature for April, I will try to do my best to pay him homage.

Misunderstood

I remember hearing about the Sandman as a child; it wasn’t through the Hans Christian Andersen’s story but through The Chordettes version of Mr. Sandman the song. In fact, in almost every rendition that I have had the pleasure to read or hear since I was introduced to the Sandman, every instance has been innocent, good intent, misunderstood, and complex.

There are a few versions in the last few years that especially stand out. It is always fascinating to see how different minds see the same lore and make it come to life in their worlds.

Each of the two examples I will present has their roots in the lore, but even a glimpse at the art for the characters shows just how different the characters were developed. Granted yes, for one it is meant for adults and the other for children, but that being said they still are rooted from the same place and are the same being just different views and different worlds.

Lord of Dreaming

The first to present is of course from Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman. The main character is Dream, also known as Morpheus, who is one of the seven Endless in the comic series from Vertigo. The series follows the Lord Of Dreaming as, to put it in very short-sighted context, he moves out from imprisonment to find his kingdom in disrepair and sets about the journey to right his past wrongs and discover his true self.

Every one of the Endless, Destiny, Death, Desire, Despair, Delirium (formerly Delight), and Destruction are fascinating and pull the reader in as you learn more about not only Morpheus but his brethren as well. It is one of my top ten series in the comic universe and is 100 percent recommended as a series to read.

Rise of Guardians

The second iteration that I will present is of course from the 2012 movie Rise of the Guardians based on the children’s series by William Joyce. Now, of course, the movie itself focuses mainly on Jack Frost, love, and his journey to being a guardian himself.

To viewers delight, however, it also features well-known characters like the Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus, The Easter Bunny, and The Sandman who are already Guardians. Sandman in this movie is more like what I am sure most people think of when they think of him as a kid.

A kind man who helps children not only get to sleep but gives them peaceful and fanciful dreams of their hearts desires. He is also quite the dominant being in the Guardians battle against the villain of the movie, Pitch Black aka the Boogeyman.

Centuries of Sand

From the animated to the drawn, the written to the singing, Sandman is a figure that marks his way along our history. I admit to memories of fancy wondering if the Sandman ever visited me and being fascinated and curious. Whichever way you choose to think on him, I hope dear readers that he brings you continued sweet dreams.

Sleep well, The Phantom.
Kendra Hale