Comic Review: The Dreaming #1

The Dreaming #1

DC Vertigo

Writer: Simon Spurrier

Artist: Bilquis Evely

Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman is hands down my favorite comic series of all time.  So when Gaiman announced a return to the Sandman universe featuring four books with new authors, I was skeptical, to say the least. Given that the team worked alongside Gaiman to return to the franchise, I was cautiously optimistic. And after The Sandman Special #1 was released, I was on board. Of the four new titles, The Dreaming had me the most interested. Thankfully, this issue lived up to all the hype.

This issue picks up directly where the Sandman special left off. Daniel Hall, Lord of Dreams, abandoned his post, causing the whole realm of the Dreaming to fall into chaos. In his stead, Lucien attempts to prevent the Dreaming from delving further into madness.

Simon Spurrier takes the characters from Sandman in an entirely new direction. Thankfully Spurrier doesn’t attempt to copy the same tone and feel of the original series. Gaiman created a story with a fitting end, and I don’t think anyone could come close to creating a satisfying sequel. Instead, The Dreaming fleshes out many of the Dreaming’s supporting characters. Everyone you love is back: Lucien, Matthew, Merv, Cain, Abel, and others.

However, my favorite character in the issue is Dora, an original creation. Dora is somewhat of an oddity in the Dreaming. Unlike its other residents, Dora has to eat, a burden usually for those with flesh. She also spends her time hopping from world to world, and in this issue, having sex with a demon. Although we don’t know much about her yet, Dora is one of the aspects that I’m looking most forward to in the future.

Whether new or old, Spurrier nails the voices of each of these characters. For anyone scared that no one but Gaiman has the chops to write the residents of the Dreaming, give this issue a chance. You won’t be disappointed. In particular, I thought Spurrier had a great voice for everyone’s favorite pumpkin: Merv.

My only complaint with this issue is the so-so story. Although the issue itself was great, I’m not the biggest fan of the whole “the Dreaming is coming undone” story. There’s nothing wrong with it, but it isn’t anything exciting.

Even if the story isn’t your cup of tea, this issue is worth picking up for the art alone. Bilquis Evely’s pencils are on another level. His style works perfectly for the high-fantasy setting of the Dreaming. The colors are also on point. If the Dreaming is going to come to an end, it couldn’t look any prettier.

The Dreaming #1 is an excellent start to the new Sandman Universe.  I understand that many might be skeptical of a return to the Sandman Universe, but you should give this issue a try.  Great characters, great art, The Dreaming #1 is almost everything I wanted from the series.