Sandman (Wesley Dodds)

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Sandman

Art by Gavin Wilson and Richard Bruning.

Publication information

Publisher

DC Comics/Vertigo

First appearance

Adventure Comics #40 (July 1939)

Created by

Gardner Fox Bert Christman

In-story information

Alter ego

Wesley Bernard "Wes" Dodds

Team affiliations

All-Star Squadron Justice Society of America Black Lantern Corps

Notable aliases

Grainy Gladiator

Abilities

Prophetic Dreams Chemist and inventor Superb athlete Hand to hand combatant Skilled detective Gas mask and gun

Sandman (Wesley Dodds), is a fictional character, a superhero who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The first of several DC characters to bear the name, he was created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Bert Christman. Attired in a green business suit, fedora, and gas mask, the Sandman used a gun emitting a sleeping gas to sedate criminals. He was originally one of the mystery men to appear in comic books and other types of adventure fiction in the 1930s but later developed into a proper superhero, acquiring sidekick Sandy, and founding the Justice Society of America. Like most DC Golden Age superheroes, the Sandman fell into obscurity in the 1940s and eventually other DC characters took his name. During the 1990s, when writer Neil Gaiman's Sandman (featuring Morpheus, the anthropomorphic embodiment of dreams) was popular, DC revived Dodds in Sandman Mystery Theatre, a pulp/noir series set in the 1930s. Wizard Magazine ranked Wesley Dodds among the Top 200 Comic Book Characters of All Time, and he is the oldest superhero in terms of continuity to appear on the list.[1]

Contents

1 Publication history o 1.1 Golden Age of comic books o 1.2 Silver Age to Modern Age o 1.3 Twilight years 1.3.1 Sleep of Reason 1.3.2 Blackest Night 1.3.3 Exodus Noir o 1.4 The New 52 2 Alternative versions o 2.1 Kingdom Come 3 Powers and abilities 4 In other media o 4.1 Television 5 Collected editions 6 References 7 External links

Publication history
Golden Age of comic books
Artist Bert Christman and writer Gardner Fox are generally credited as co-creating the original, Wesley Dodd version of the DC Comics character the Sandman. While the character's first appearance is usually given as Adventure Comics #40 (cover-dated July 1939), he also appeared in DC Comics' 1939 New York World's Fair Comics omnibus, which historians believe appeared on newsstands one to two weeks earlier, while also believing the Adventure Comics story was written and drawn first.[2][3] Each of the two stories' scripts were credited to the pseudonym "Larry Dean"; Fox wrote the untitled, 10-page story in New York World's Fair #1,[3] while he simply plotted, and Christman scripted, the untitled, six-page story, generally known as "The Tarantula Strikes", in Adventure #40.[4] Creig Flessel, who drew many early Sandman adventures, has sometimes been credited as co-creator on the basis of drawing the Sandman cover of Adventure #40,[4] but no other evidence has surfaced. Following these two first appearances, the feature "The Sandman" continued to appear in the omnibus Adventure Comics through #102 (March 1945). One of the medium's seminal "mystery men", as referred to at the time, the Sandman straddled the pulp magazine detective tradition and the emerging superhero tradition by dint of his dual identity and his fanciful, masked attire and weapon: an exotic "gas gun" that could compel villains to tell the truth, as well as put them to sleep. Unlike many superheroes, he frequently found himself the victim of gunshot wounds, both in the Golden Age and in stories in DC's modern-day Vertigo imprint, and he would continue fighting in spite of his injuries. In his early career, Dodds (the character's surname was given as "Dodd" in his first four appearances; he became "Dodds" in Adventure Comics #44) was frequently aided by his girlfriend, Dian Belmont, who is aware of his dual identity. Unlike many superhero love interests, Belmont was often, though not always,[5] portrayed as an equal partner of the Sandman, rather than a damsel in distress. Later stories would reveal that the two remained together for the duration of their lives, though they never married. The Sandman was one of the original members of the Justice Society of America when that superhero team was introduced in All Star Comics #3, published by All-American Comics, one of the companies that would merge to form DC. In Adventure Comics #69 (December 1941), Dodds was given a yellow-and-purple costume by writer Mort Weisinger and artist Paul Norris, as well as a yellow-clad kid sidekick, Sandy the Golden Boy, nephew of Dian Belmont. Later that year, the celebrated team of Joe Simon and Jack Kirby took over this version of the character.[6] In 1942, Dodds elisted in the U.S. Army and served as an anti-aircraft gunner during World War II.[7]

Silver Age to Modern Age

Reintroduced in the Silver Age in Justice League of America #46 (July 1966), the Sandman made occasional appearances in the annual teamups between that superhero group and the JSA. In 1981 DC began publishing All-Star Squadron, a retelling of the Earth-Two mysterymen during WWII. Although not a main character, Sandman does appear in its pages. Of note is issue #18 which gives an explanation of why Dodds changed costumes from the cloak and gas mask to the yellow-and-purple outfit; Dian wore his costume while he was fighting in the war and she was killed in a fray. Dodds decided to wear the new costume, of Dian's design, until he could bring himself to wear the original in which she had died. Later, this explanation would be changed again when Dian Belmont was retconned to have never died, and a new explanation was given: Sandy convinced Dodds to switch to the more colorful costume to gain the support of regular people, who preferred the more traditional superhero look to his older, pulp-themed costume. An acclaimed film noir-inspired retelling of the original Sandman's adventures, Sandman Mystery Theatre, ran from 1993-1998 under DC Comics' Vertigo maturereader imprint. Although as a whole its continuity within the DC Universe is debatable, several elements of the series the more nuanced relationship between Dodds and Dian Belmont; the Sandman's appearance, (wearing a trench coat and World War I gas mask instead of the cape and the custom-made gas mask); and Dodds' pudgier appearance and wearing of glasses have been adopted into regular continuity. The series ran for 70 issues and 1 annual. In Sandman Midnight Theatre (1995) a one-shot special by Neil Gaiman (author of the Modern Age supernatural series The Sandman), Matt Wagner (co-author of Sandman Mystery Theatre), and Teddy Kristiansen, depicts an interaction between the two characters, with the original visiting Great Britain and encountering the imprisoned Dream, the protagonist of Gaiman's series. A minor retcon by Gaiman suggested that Dodds' chosen identity was a result of Dream's absence from the realm the Dreaming, and that Dodds carries an aspect of that mystical realm. This explains Dodds' prophetic dreams.

Twilight years
Dodds is one of a number of Justice Society members who finds themselves in the "Ragnarok Dimension" during the early Modern Age of comic books. The Last Days of the Justice Society of America Special (1986) wrote the post-Crisis tale of a timewarped wave of destruction ready to engulf the world. Dodds and his JSA teammates enter into a limbo to engage in an eternal battle that would allow the universe to continue its existence. This was later revealed to be a simulation created by Odin, which he intended to give to Dream as a bribe. Dodds, Dream's protege, and Hawkman, the grandfather of Dream's appointed successor are the only JSA members we see at this time.[8] This lasted only until 1992 when DC published Armageddon: Inferno. This mini-series ended with the JSA members leaving limbo and entering the 'real' world. Justice Society of America (19921993) showed how the JSA members handled

returning to normal life. For the Sandman, the series depicted him as an old, thin man with a balding scalp and a sharp wit. Starting with issue #1 his physical condition became important as writer Len Strazewski had him suffer a stroke at the first sign of a villainous attack. Both his age and his physical limitations became a theme writers would use in this character's post-Crisis stories. During Zero Hour, Dodds is returned to his proper age by the Extant.[9] Later, Wesley Dodds is shown as retired and living with Dian Belmont though occasionally coming out of it, most notably in a team-up with Jack Knight, the son of Dodds' JSA teammate Starman. When Dian is diagnosed with a terminal disease, the two travel the world together until her death. Towards the end of his life, Dodds' prophetic dreams alert him to the identity and location of the new Doctor Fate, prompting him to contact the Gray Man, a being created from the residue of others' dreams, as well as his old friend Speed Saunders to instruct them to warn his former teammates about what he has discovered. Waiting on a clifftop, he is subsequently confronted by the powerful villain Mordru, who intends to force Dodds to tell him the identity of the new Doctor Fate, only for Dodds to distract Mordru with his gas-gun long enough to commit suicide by jumping off the cliff rather than allow Mordru to torture him into submission. His last thoughts were that his final slumber would be free of nightmares as he is reunited with Dian. His youthful but now grown-up sidekick, Sandy the Golden Boy, becomes known simply as Sand and takes his mentor's place as a member of the Justice Society of America as well as his prophetic dreams. Eventually, he takes the name of Sandman.[10] Sleep of Reason Wesley Dodds makes a comeback via flashback images in the 2006 limited series Sandman Mystery Theatre: Sleep of Reason. Blackest Night Dodds is reanimated as a Black Lantern in the Blackest Night crossover. He and several other fallen JSAers attack the Brownstone, seeking the hearts of the living within.[11] Exodus Noir Dodds appeared in the Exodus Noir arc of Madame Xanadu in 2010, in a story set in 1940.

The New 52
A new Earth-2 version Sandman appears in The New 52. In Washington DC is attacked by Solomon Grundy, Commander Wesley Dodds, along with his Sandmen paramilitary force, is sent to retrieve and save President Lightfoot.[12] They are later assigned by Commander Khan in a special and unofficial mission to infiltrate Terry Sloane's secret facility, where confront and subdue a mind-controlled Michael Holt.[13]

Alternative versions
Kingdom Come
Dodds appears as an infirm old man at the beginning of the graphic novel, plagued with visions of the impending apocalyptic battle between various factions of metahumans. Before his death, he relates his visions, interpreted through passages from the Book of Revelation, to Norman McCay, who later witnesses the events in the company of the Spectre.

Powers and abilities

Dodds has prophetic dreams due to an encounter with the entity known as Dream. His dreams often come to him as cryptic, ambiguous visions, but Wes' keen intellect enables him to properly interpret them. Through an unknown process, Wes passes on this power to his former ward, Sanderson Hawkins upon the moment of his own death. Wesley Dodds possesses a sharp intellect as well and is a skilled albeit amateur detective. He is also a talented chemist and inventor, creating the sand-like substance and the Silicoid Gun ultimately responsible for transforming Sandy the Golden Boy into a Silicon-based life-form. In the early years of his career, Wesley Dodds possesses the strength level of a man who engages in regular exercise, and was a fine hand-to-hand combatant. As he grows older, his strength level diminishes in relative proportion to his age. As hobbies, Wes enjoys reading, writing, poetry, origami and philosophy. Wesley Dodds' costume consists of a basic green business suit, fedora, a World War I era gas mask, a gas gun, and a wire gun. The gas mask protects Dodds from the effects of the gas emitted from his gas gun. The gas gun, a handheld device fitted with cartridges containing concentrated sleeping gas, is Wesley Dodds' only known weapon. Pressing the trigger on the gun releases a cloud of green dust rendering all within the Sandman's immediate vicinity unconscious. An upgraded canister dispenser for the gun is provided for him by his close friend and confidante, Lee Travis. Wes is also known to conceal smaller knockout gas capsules in a hollow heel on his shoe. These prove ideal when placed in situations where his gas gun is not readily available. He also makes use of a specially designed "wirepoon" gun, which fires a length of thin, steel cable. In the early days of his career, the Sandman drives a black 1938 Plymouth Coupe. The car is enhanced with various features to aid Wes in his crusade against crime.

In other media
Television

Nightshade, a character visually inspired by Wesley Dodds/Sandman, appeared in the episodes "Ghost in the Machine" (ep. 8) and "The Deadly Nightshade" (ep. 15) of The Flash (19901991). Dr. Desmond Powell/Nightshade (Jason Bernard), a former crime fighter in Central City, returns to action teaming up with The Flash (John Wesley Shipp) to stop a villain from the 1950s called The Ghost (Anthony Starke) and the brutal vigilante Deadly Nightshade (Richard

Burgi). Having a garage as a secret hideout, he wears a mask, a non-lethal dart gun and drives a black modified car. "Ghost in the Machine" and "The Deadly Nightshade" were edited as the TV movie The Flash III: Deadly Nightshade.

Wesley Dodds appeared in the two-hour special episode of Smallville entitled "Absolute Justice" portrayed by Ken Lawson. He was shown as being a member of the now-disbanded Justice Society of America. He is first seen dreaming about the death of the Star-Spangled Kid, and after waking up he puts on his costume and stands in front of a mirror. Without warning Icicle appears and kills him. His body was found by Clark Kent with multiple stab wounds in his chest. Wesley Dodds (in his Sandman costume) has a non-speaking appearance in Batman: The Brave and the Bold episode "Crisis: 22,300 Miles Above Earth." He is seen with the other members of the Justice Society of America. Sandman makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in the Young Justice episode "Humanity." He is shown with the other members of the JSA during a flashback sequence.

Collected editions

The Golden Age Sandman Archive Vol. 1 (Sandman stories New York World's Fair Comics #1-2; Adventure Comics #40-59) by Bert Christman and others. Sandman by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby (World's Finest #6-7; Adventure Comics #72-102; Sandman #1) Sandman Mystery Theatre Book 1: The Tarantula (Sandman Mystery Theatre #1-4) Sandman Mystery Theatre Book 2: The Face and The Brute (Sandman Mystery Theatre #5-12) Sandman Mystery Theatre Book 3: The Vamp (Sandman Mystery Theatre #1316) Sandman Mystery Theatre Book 4: The Scorpion (Sandman Mystery Theatre #17-20) Sandman Mystery Theatre Book 5: Dr. Death and the Night of the Butcher (Sandman Mystery Theatre #21-28) Sandman Mystery Theatre Book 6: The Hourman and the Python (Sandman Mystery Theatre #29-36) Sandman Mystery Theatre Book 7: The Mist and the Phantom of the Fair (Sandman Mystery Theatre #37-44) Sandman Mystery Theatre Book 8: The Blackhawk and the Return of the Scarlet Ghost (Sandman Mystery Theatre #45-52) Sandman Mystery Theatre: Sleep of Reason (Sandman Mystery Theatre: Sleep of Reason #1-5)

References
1. Jump up ^ Top 200 Comic Book Characters of All Time, Wizard Magazine 2. Jump up ^ The Sandman at Don Markstein's Toonopedia: "Adventure Comics #40 wasn't quite the character's first appearance, though. The 1939 issue of New York

3.

4. 5. 6.

7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13.

World's Fair Comics, an extra-big anthology DC put out to capitalize on the eponymous event, contained a Sandman story, and probably hit the stands a week or two before his first Adventure story (though the one in Adventure is believed to have been written and drawn earlier)." Archived from the original December 5, 2011. ^ Jump up to: a b New York World's Fair #1 (1939), DC, Detective Comics, Inc. imprint at the Grand Comics Database: "First Sandman story to appear in print (before Adventure #40)." ^ Jump up to: a b Adventure Comics #40 at the Grand Comics Database Jump up ^ Gardner F. Fox (w), Chad Grothkopf (a). "The Sandman Goes to the World's Fair" New York World's Fair Comics 1940: 64-73 (1940), DC Comics Jump up ^ Wallace, Daniel; Dolan, Hannah, ed. (2010). "1940s". DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. Dorling Kindersley. p. 41. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. "Hot properties Joe Simon and Jack Kirby joined DC...taking over the Sandman and Sandy, the Golden Boy feature in Adventure Comics #72." Jump up ^ All-Star Comics #11 (JuneJuly, 1942) Jump up ^ The Sandman (vol. 2) #26 Jump up ^ Zero Hour: A Crisis in Time #2 Jump up ^ JSA Secret Files & Origins #1 Jump up ^ Blackest Night #4 Jump up ^ Earth 2 #5 Jump up ^ Earth 2 #7

External links

JSA Fact File: The Sandman Earth-2 Sandman Index Sandman at Don Markstein's Toonopedia Sequart.com: "The Sandman Interlude: Sandman Mystery Theatre (19931998)", by Julian Darius

Sandman

Gardner Fox Bert Christman

Creators

Wesley Dodds Garrett Sanford Hector Hall Kieran Marshall

Sandmen

Brute and Glob Dian Belmont Fury Jed Walker

Supporting characters

Sandy Hawkins Tarantula

Phantom of the Fair Geomancer Johnny Sorrow The Mist Ramulus

Enemies

Sandman Mystery Theatre Sandman Midnight Theatre

Publications

Dream Dream Girl Justice Society of America Sand and Stars

Related Articles

Earth-Two
Creators

Gardner Fox

Atom Batman Black Canary Brainwave Crimson Avenger Doctor Fate Doctor Mid-Nite Flash Green Lantern Hawkgirl Hawkman

Associated characters

Hourman Huntress Icicle Johnny Quick Johnny Thunder Liberty Belle Mister Terrific Power Girl Psycho-Pirate Robin Robotman Sandman Sandy the Golden Boy Shining Knight Spectre Sportsmaster Starman Star-Spangled Kid Stripesy Superman Ultra-Humanite Wildcat Wizard Wonder Woman

All-Star Squadron Infinity Inc. Injustice Society Justice Society of America Seven Soldiers of Victory

Associated teams

America vs. the Justice Society "Flash of Two Worlds"

Related topics

Miscellaneous

Justice Guild of America

The Sandman by Neil Gaiman

Preludes and Nocturnes The Doll's House Dream Country

Season of Mists A Game of You Fables and Reflections Brief Lives Worlds' End The Kindly Ones The Wake Endless Nights

Destiny Death Dream (Daniel Hall) Destruction Despair Desire Delirium

Endless

Characters

Cain and Abel The Fashion Thing Goldie Matthew Cable Merv Pumpkinhead Corinthian

Dreams

Fury Hector Hall Jed Walker Rose Walker Foxglove Hob Gadling John Constantine Chas Chandler Dr. John Dee Sandman (Wesley Dodds) Element Girl Prez Martian Manhunter Mister Miracle Dr. Jonathan Crane Wildcat

Mortals

Lucifer Mazikeen Etrigan the Demon

Demons

Auberon Titania Nuala

Faire Folk

The Sandman: The Dream Hunters Death: The High Cost of Living Death: The Time of Your Life Destiny: A Chronicle of Deaths Foretold The Little Endless Storybook Death: At Death's Door

Spin-offs

Dust CoversThe Collected Sandman Covers 1989-1997 The Quotable Sandman The Sandman Companion The Dreaming Sandman Midnight Theatre Lucifer House of Mystery

Superheroes and heroines of the Golden Age of Comic Books

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Sandman myth

The Sandman (1816) "Ole Lukje" (1841)

Seminal works

The Sandman (1991) Sleepstalker (1995) The Sandman (2000) The Sandman (2011)

Film

"The Japanese Sandman" (1920) "Mr. Sandman" (1954) "Enter Sandman" (1991)

Songs

Sandman (Marvel Comics) Sandman (Wesley Dodds) Sandy Hawkins

Comics

Characters

The Sandman (Vertigo)

o

characters

Series

Sandman Mystery Theatre Sandman Midnight Theatre "The Sandman Saga"

Literature

The Sandman (2008)

Sandmnnchen (1959 German) Nilus the Sandman (1996 Canadian)

Television

Sandman (Dungeons & Dragons) The Sandman (audio drama) Copplia (ballet)

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Logan's Run (1967)

o o

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Source Material: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandman_(Wesley_Dodds)