Sandman Vol 2 24

"Season of Mists: Chapter 3": Across the spiritual and otherworldly planes, gods and goddesses, angels and demons alike are all suddenly alerted to the recent abdication of Hell by Lucifer, and how the keys were passed on to Dream.

"Season of Mists: Chapter 3"
Cover
Sandman Vol 2 #24
March, 1991
Executive Editor	Dick Giordano
Cover Artists	Dave McKean
Season of Mists: Chapter 3
Writers	Neil Gaiman
Pencilers	Kelley Jones
Inkers	P. Craig Russell
Colorists	Daniel Vozzo
Letterers	Todd Klein
Editors	Karen Berger
Previous Issue	Sandman Vol 2 # 23
Next Issue	Sandman Vol 2 # 25

Do? How should I know? What do you want to do? Open a skiing resort? Turn it into a theme park? Sell it to the highest bidder? It's your choice. You've got the place. What do you want to do with it?

— Death

Sandman (Volume 2) #24 is an issue of the series Sandman (Volume 2) with a cover date of March, 1991.

Synopsis for "Season of Mists: Chapter 3"

Across the spiritual and otherworldly planes, gods and goddesses, angels and demons alike are all suddenly alerted to the recent abdication of Hell by Lucifer, and how the keys were passed on to Dream.

In Asgard, Odin gathers together both Thor and Loki, and they make for the Dreaming. Elsewhere, the lords of Order and Chaos send emissaries to stake their own claim on the new real estate.

Meanwhile, Dream has just returned from Hell, no closer to finding Nada than he was when he left. Despairing at his situation, he contacts his sister Death. She reminds him that Hell is his to do with as he pleases, regardless of what that might be. However, Death has her own problems, as the havoc unleashed by Lucifer's abdication has caused the dead to return to life.

In the Silver City, the angels Remiel and Duma decide to make a claim on Hell. In Limbo, many of the former Demons of Hell have congregated under the new leadership of Azazel. He gathers together Merkin and Choronzon to accompany him in their bid to have Hell returned to them. If they meet resistance from Dream, they have something he desires: Nada.

In the Dreaming, Matthew the Raven visits Eve to discuss Dream's state of mind. Eve surmises that his decision to move the Ghost Castle to the top of a mountain is because he is expecting unwelcome visitors. Eve assures Matthew that Dream has been in blacker moods than this, and all they can do for now is wait.

Eventually, Dream receives word that his unwelcome visitors have arrived. Before they can enter, they must each introduce themselves. Along with the Angels, Demons, emissaries of Order and Chaos, and the Gods of Asgard have arrived the Egyptian gods, Anubis and Bast and the Japanese god Susano-o-no-Mikoto.

After welcoming his guests, Dream offers them quarters and promises to discuss the future of Hell tomorrow.

Appearing in "Season of Mists: Chapter 3"

Featured Characters:

• Dream

Supporting Characters:

• Death
• Eve
• The Guardians of the Gate
  • The Gryphon
  • "The Hippogriff"
  • The Wyvern
• Matthew the Raven

Antagonists:

• Aesir
  • Odin the All-Father/Harbard the Ferryman
    • Huginn and Muninn (First appearance)
    • The Wolves of Odin
  • Loki
  • Thor
    • Tangrsni and Tanngnost
• Angels
  • Duma
  • Remiel
• Demons
  • Azazel
    • Choronzon (Revealed to be alive)
    • Merkin (First appearance)
• Gods of Egypt
  • Anubis (Cameo)
  • Bast (First appearance) (Cameo)
  • Bes (First appearance) (Cameo)
• Lords of Chaos
  • The Shallow Brigade (Behind the scenes)
    • Shivering Jemmy (First appearance) (Cameo)
• Lords of Order
  • Lord Kilderkin (First appearance) (Cameo)
    • The Slave of Kilderkin (First appearance; unnamed) (Cameo)
• Susano-o-no-Mikoto (First appearance) (Cameo)

Other Characters:

• Lucifer Morningstar (Flashback only) (Cameo)
• Nada (As a spirit) (Cameo)
• Sigyn (First appearance)
• The Snake with no name (First appearance; unnamed)
• Dark Elves (Mentioned only)
• Dwarfs (Mentioned only)
• Frost Giants (Mentioned only)
  • Fárbauti (Unnamed) (Mentioned only)
  • Laufey (Mentioned only)
  • Nari (Mentioned only)
  • Ymir (Mentioned only)
• Gods of Japan (Mentioned only)
  • Izanagi (Mentioned only)
• Heimdall (Mentioned only)
• Kvasir (Deceased) (Mentioned only)
• Mani (Mentioned only)
• Sol (Mentioned only)

Locations:

• Multiverse (Behind the scenes)
  • Asgard
    • The Cavern beneath the World (First appearance)
    • Valhalla (First appearance)
      • Hall of Gladsheim/"Hall of Warriors"
        • Throne of Asgard (First appearance)
  • The Dreaming
    • Eve's Cave (First full appearance)
    • Ghost Castle
      • The Gallery of Dream
      • The Great Hall
        • Throne of the Dreaming (Mentioned only)
  • Hell (Flashback only) (Cameo)
    • The Eighth Circle of Hell (Mentioned only)
  • "Limbo"
  • Realm of Chaos (First appearance)
  • Realm of Order
  • Heaven/"Paradise" (Mentioned only)
  • Nine Realms
    • Jotunheim (Mentioned only)
    • Nidavellir (Mentioned only)
    • Svartalfheim (Mentioned only)
  • Waking World (Mentioned only)
    • Earth (Mentioned only)
      • Egypt
        • Nile (Mentioned only)
• The Void/"The Darkness before Time"
  • The Silver City (First appearance)
    • The Tower of Unendingly High (First appearance; unnamed) (Cameo)
• Hypertime (Unnamed)
  • Timestream
    • Dawn of Time (Mentioned only)
    • End of Time (Mentioned only)

Items:

• The Goblet of Sigyn (First appearance)
• Mjollnir the Hammer of Thor
• Key to Hell (Flashback and main story)
• Mead of Odin (First appearance)
• Shivering Jemmy's Balloon (First appearance)

Vehicles:

• Harbard's Boat (First appearance)
• Naglfar (Unnamed) (Mentioned only)

Concepts:

• Magic
• Ragnarök (Mentioned only)
  • Fimbulwinter (Mentioned only)
    

Notes

• This issue was directly adapted into an episode of the Sandman audio drama.
• This issue is reprinted in:
  • Essential Vertigo: Sandman #24
  • Sandman: Season of Mists
  • The Absolute Sandman Vol. 2
  • The Sandman: Deluxe Edition, Book Two
  • The Sandman, Book Two

See Also

• Cover gallery for the Sandman series
• Images from Sandman Vol 2 24