The Sandman: Dream Country by Neil Gaiman and various artists

 

(pb; 1990: graphic novel, collects issues 17-20 of the comic book series The Sandman. Fourth book in the thirteen-book Sandman graphic novel series.)

Overall review

Dream Country sports four often dark and melancholic, sometimes charming and wildly varied side-stories relating to the Endless, 1593 to the 1980s. The artists this time around are Gaiman, Kelley Jones, Malcolm Jones III, Charles Vess, Colleen Doran, featuring characters created by Gaiman, Sam Kieth and Mike Dringenberg.

Worth owning, this. Followed by The Sandman: Season of Mists.

 

Review, issue by issue

“Callipe” (#17): May 1986. An acclaimed author with writer’s block (Richard Madoc) imprisons and rapes the “youngest of the nine Muses” and Morpheus’s ex-amour (Caliope) while the Dream King is being held by the Burgesses (issue 1). Then Morpheus gets free, and things change.

 

“A Dream of a Thousand Cats” (#18): A household feline takes a nighttime trip to a local cemetery to hear a human-free cat speak her and her species.

 

“A Midsummer’s Night Dream” (#19): June 23, 1593, England. William Shakespeare and his troupe perform the issue-titular play for Morpheus and members of the Endless.

 

“Façade” (#20): Urania Blackwell, one of the metamorphae created by the sun god Ra, laments her post-battle-with-Apep-the-serpent-that-never-dies existence, has a life-changing conversation with one of the Endless.