Dream Country (The Sandman, Vol. 3)
Review by Dindrane
Story:
Art:

Written by Neil Gaiman
English Adaptation by Kelley Jones, Malcolm Jones III & Colleen Doran

Published by DC Comics
Contents: The Sandman Nos. 17-20, the script of #17 ("Calliope") along with color-coded writer and artist notes
Price: $14.95

Reader's Advisory: Depiction of rape

My Verdict: Buy it at once.

This third edition of the ongoing Sandman tale is interesting in that Morpheus himself plays second fiddle in these four stories. In the first story, "Calliope," we see the results of capturing and assaulting a muse, and a friend of the Sandman's. In "Dream of a Thousand Cats," we see the dark repercussions of human abuse of animals. "A Midsummer Night's Dream," a continuation from The Doll's House, shows Morpheus commissioning a play from a playwright named Shekespear, a play for a very special fey audience. In the last story, "Facade," the reader is re-introduced to an old DC superhero--once a super-soldier for Uncle Sam. Rainie was changed by Ra into a metamorph who can be anything but herself, and then Death comes for a visit.

The plots of these tales are important in that, as I said, Morpheus appears little on these pages. Readers are then introduced to the rest of Gaiman's universe and Morpheus' past, giving these other characters, such as Death, a chance to step forward and enrich us. Also, the later vitally important mythological elements (the Furies, everyone?) have their roots here, with such entities as Calliope and the hinted-at son Orpheus. And who can argue with the fact that one of these stories, "A Midsummer Night's Dream," won the World Fantasy Award for best short story? It's interesting that so many stories in this collection deal with the role of creation in the artist's head. Keep in mind that no brief synopsis can truly do justice to the power of Gaiman's writing.

It is great to see Gaiman's script, too, as well as the notes he added to it in response to the proto-type accompanying art. In one place, we see him write, "His eyes are bright, and he's a total bastard," telling the artists how to draw the character in question to show personality and motive, as well as physical attributes. Would that other comics would allow the reader to see the process like this, instead of just the magical finished package.

The art is not really the focus of this collection, but it's appropriate and lovely nevertheless. In each case, the characters look as they should: Calliope imprisoned is drawn and skeletal, Morpheus looks like a dream, and Element Girl/Rainie is a combination of many substances. The backdrops are beautiful or dark by turns, as called for by the tale. My personal favorite panel is when Rainie, in the final story, looks at Ra and sees his face.

Fans of the Sandman series will want to have this collection, and those new to the Endless will appreciate this as a kind of introduction. Dream Country stands alone, and does a fine job of poking into some of the overlooked and forgotten corners of Dream's world, without forgetting to lay the seeds for future stories and issues. Pick it up and revel in the highs and lows, darks and lights, of Dream's infinite realm.