In celebration of the premier of The Sandman on Netflix, we’re kicking off the August edition of the Official DC Book Club with Sandman: Preludes & Nocturnes!
After being imprisoned for 70 years, the King of dreams himself, Morpheus of the Endless, returns to his realm only to discover much has changed since the start of his captivity. Follow Dream as he sets out to reclaim his stolen tools and rebuild the once mighty kingdom of dreams!
Running from August 5th to September 1st, this Book Club will cover all of Preludes & Nocturnes! This run includes Sandman #1 - #8, which are free to all registered DCUI users! Grab a snack, find your comfy chair, and join us for weekly discussions in the thread below! Just don’t fall asleep…Morpheus may be waiting for you.
Here are some discussion questions to get things started:
Sandman #1 - #2
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How do you feel about Roderick Burgess’s attempt to capture Death? Do you think this is emblematic of humanity’s general goals?
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How do you think dreams shape our waking world (in real life)? Do you think dreams are important to humanity?
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Why do you think Dream/Morpheus remained so silent during his captivity? What was his goal here?
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What do believe Cain and Abel represent in this story?
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The concept of fate is an important in many fantasy stories. What role does fate play in Morpheus’ journey so far?
Sandman #3 - #4
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In Sandman #3, we are quickly introduced to John Constantine. What do you think are his motivations in this book?
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Morpheus helps Rachel find a peaceful end to her life, as she dreams happily of a life with John. What does this say about the power of dreams? Based on this scene/sequence, do you think dreams are more powerful than death?
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In Sandman #4, Morpheus interacts with Nada, as she sits imprisoned in Hell. What do you think of this side-story? If you are unfamiliar with the Nada plot-line, do you think this was confusing as a reader?
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The battle between Morpheus and Choronzon is an iconic sequence in Sandman history. What do you make of this conflict? Did you enjoy the mechanics the two used to fight each other?
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Hopes and Dreams are two central themes in this story arc. Why do you think both Choronzon and Lucifer were so stunned by Morpheus’ use of these concepts?
Sandman #5 - #6
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How do you feel about the dynamic between Dr. Dee and Rosemary? For a moment, it seems like trust and understanding is established between the two…how do you think these concepts impact their relationship?
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The inclusion of classic characters like Scarecrow and Martian Manhunter is an interesting move in the Sandman’s journey–how do you feel about their appearances in Issue #5?
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Sandman #6 is one of the most iconic (and darkest) books in the Sandman universe. What do you think was Dee’s motivation for unleashing the power of the Ruby on the diner patrons?
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What do you think of the diner patrons’ actions? Do you think they’re just acting on impulse, or do you think Dee actually brought out the worst in them?
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Why do you think Dee is so confident when Morpheus appears? Do you think Dee can actually manage/harness the power of the Ruby?
Sandman #7 - #8
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As Morpheus confronts Dee, he baits Dee, and escapes into the Dreaming. Did you think he had a plan with this move, or did you think Morpheus was just trying to buy time?
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What do you think is Dee’s motivation for killing Morpheus? Why do you think he is so consumed by this obsession with control and power?
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Morpheus tells Dee “you are tampering with the order of things”. What do you think Dream meant by this?
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At the start of Issue #8, we meet an iconic member of the Endless–Death. What is/was your initial opinion of Death, when she first entered the story?
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How do you think this portrayal of the concept of Death compares to how death is portrayed in other media (books, movies, shows, etc.)? Do you think this is a “better” version of Death?
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[BONUS QUESTION]: If you have watched/are watching Sandman on Netflix, how do you think Kirby Howell-Baptiste portrays the character of Death? Do you enjoy the TV adaptation of this important character?
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[BONUS QUESTION]: How do you think Issue #8 compares to Issue #7?
As always, we also have some awesome Sandman themed digital bookmarks and wallpapers for your desktop and mobile devices that you can download for free!
While reading I think I’ll listen to the song from ‘Back To The Future’ “Mr. Sandman.”
