Sandman (Volume 2) #7 is an issue of the series Sandman (Volume 2) with a cover date of July, 1989.
Synopsis for "Sound and Fury"
The world is in violent turmoil and chaos under the influence of John Dee and the Dreamstone. Dream finds him in a diner and demands to know what he is doing.
Dream is confused the man would use the Dreamstone to hurt and harm others. Frustrated at John Dee's lack of repentance, Dream explains that he created the stone out of his own spirit in order to manipulate the fabric of dreams. The stone was not made for evil. He offers that if Dee reverses the changes he made to the stone that prevent its maker from using it, he will take it back and right all of the wrongs that have been wrought. However, when John Dee realizes who he is speaking to, he determines to kill the Lord of Dreams, and take the Dreaming for himself.
Resigned, Dream dons his Helm, and enters the Dreaming, beckoning his adversary to follow. Dee enters the dream world with the ruby in hand. He makes himself appear as a roman leader, though he is confused by the imagery of the dreamscape. Unchecked, Dee wreaks havoc, causing the dreams of the humans on earth to become nightmares. The chaos shakes the inhabitants of the Dreaming into awareness. Finally, Dream approaches him, warning that Dee's actions are hurting the dreamers. In response, the madman screams that he will take all of the power of dreams and kill Dream himself. Using the ruby against Dream, he uses more and more of the power until it cracks and is destroyed in a massive explosion.
Surprised, John Dee finds himself in a blank realm of whiteness. He believes that he has killed the Lord of Dreams and gained control of the Dreaming. However, he is further surprised to discover that the whiteness is merely the pallor of the skin of Dream's massive palm, as he holds the madman within it. As it happens, destroying the ruby returned what power was trapped within it to its maker.
Complacently, Dream returns Dee to Arkham Asylum, offering some forgiveness. Before leaving, he gives restful sleep and good dreams to all the world, including those in the asylum.
Appearing in "Sound and Fury"
Featured Characters:
- Dream (Flashback and main story) (Also in a dream sequence)
Supporting Characters:
- Abel (Cameo)
- Cain (Cameo)
- Destiny (Cameo)
- Eve (Cameo)
- Matthew the Raven (Unnamed) (Cameo)
- Gregory the Gargoyle (Cameo)
- "Irving" (Cameo)
Antagonists:
- Doctor Destiny (Also in a dream sequence) (Impersonates Julius Caesar)
Other Characters:
- Barbara Wong (Single appearance)
- Bobby-Joe McCann (Single appearance)
- Ethel Dee (As an illusion only) (In dream sequence only)
- Harold Smith (Single appearance)
- Joey Campbell (Single appearance)
- Maude Carillion (Single appearance)
- Nan Fowler (Single appearance)
- Scarecrow (Jonathan Crane)
- Frankenstein (Mentioned only)
- God (Mentioned only)
- Harvey Dent (Mentioned only)
- Julius Caesar (Mentioned only)
Locations:
- The Dreaming/Dreamworld
- Ghost Castle (Mentioned only)
- Garden of Forking Ways
- Waking World
- Gotham City
- Mayhew
- 24 Hour Diner
- New York City
- Hell (Mentioned only)
Items:
- Book of Souls (Cameo)
- Dreamstone (Flashback and main story) (Destroyed)
- Dream's Helm (Flashback and main story)
Concepts:
Notes
- This issue features the first appearance of Destiny in this series. He was mentioned as one of the Endless in Sandman (Volume 2) #1, but it was not clear until this issue that he was the same Destiny who hosted Weird Mystery Tales.
- This issue is reprinted in Essential Vertigo: Sandman #7, Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes and The Absolute Sandman, Volume One.
See Also