Sandman Vol 2 4

""A Hope in Hell"": Dream's next task is to reclaim his missing helm. This will prove a most dangerous endeavour, as it means that he must pass the gates of Hell itself to find it.

"A Hope in Hell"
Cover
Sandman Vol 2 #4
April, 1989
Executive Editor	Dick Giordano
Cover Artists	Dave McKean
"A Hope in Hell"
Writers	Neil Gaiman
Pencilers	Sam Kieth
Inkers	Mike Dringenberg
Letterers	Todd Klein
Editors	Art Young Karen Berger
Previous Issue	Sandman (Volume 2) #3
Next Issue	Sandman (Volume 2) #5

I have always been solitary, but here on the nightward shores of dream, loneliness washes over me in waves, lapping and pulling at my spirit.

— Dream

Sandman (Volume 2) #4 is an issue of the series Sandman (Volume 2) with a cover date of April, 1989.

Synopsis for "A Hope in Hell"

Dream's next task is to reclaim his missing helm. This will prove a most dangerous endeavour, as it means that he must pass the gates of Hell itself to find it.

At the gates, Dream meets resistance from a guard named Squatterbloat. Dream warns him that he is considered a guest and that Lucifer would be very upset if Squatterbloat refused him. Fortunately, the demon Etrigan appears, and offers to take Dream to see Lucifer. He takes Dream through the Wood of Suicides, and then past a prison of souls entombed to pity. Dream has an encounter with a woman he knew long ago - Nada. Nada begs his forgiveness for a prior betrayal, but Morpheus refuses. He tells her, "It has been ten thousand years, Nada. Yes. I still love you. But I have not yet forgiven you".

They eventually arrive at Dis, the Hellcity where the palace of Lucifer Morningstar stands. At the top of his tower, Lucifer greets him. Dream is surprised to learn that Hell is no longer a monarchy, but is now a triumvirate. After the battle between Heaven and the Great Darkness, a civil war sparked in Hell which led to a change in leadership. Lucifer now rules in equal partnership with fellow demons Azazel and Beelzebub.

The triumvirate convenes before Morpheus, and he informs them that a demon stole his helm of office many years ago, and he has come to Hell to reclaim it. They ask which demon is responsible for the offence, but Morpheus doesn't know his name. Mockingly, Lucifer decides to summon all of the demons of Hell together and asks Morpheus to point out which one has his helmet.

Using his magic sand, Dream eventually finds the one in possession of the artifact - Choronzon. Choronzon claims to have acquired the tool fairly, and has broken none of Hell's laws. If Morpheus wants it back, then he must challenge him for it. Morpheus agrees to the challenge, unsure that he has the strength to win.

As the challenged, Choronzon decides upon the rules and setting of their duel. He chooses a contest of wits, in which all of reality is their battlefield. The game involves taking on the identity of an item or animal and using the properties of that item to trump the opponent. After several turns, Dream realizes that taking a defensive approach might serve him better. He manipulates Choronzon into choosing a universe-destroying force, which he believes will leave Dream with no recourse. In response, Dream explains that he will be hope - the only thing that can remain after all is destroyed. With that, he wins the challenge.

Taking back his property, Morpheus thanks the kings of Hell and prepares to leave. Lucifer warns, however, that dreams have no power in Hell, and he has no intention of letting the Dream Lord leave. Morpheus counters that the power of dreams is very strong in Hell. Addressing the entire demon congregation he says, "What power would Hell have if those here imprisoned were not able to dream of Heaven?" With that, the sea of demons parts, and Morpheus is allowed to leave. Lucifer vows that one day he will destroy the Dream King.

Elsewhere, at Arkham Asylum, John Dee receives a gift from his dead mother.

Appearing in "A Hope in Hell"

Featured Characters:

• Dream

Supporting Characters:

• Demons
  • Satanic Triumvirate (First appearance)
    • Azazel
    • Beelzebub
    • Lucifer (First appearance)
  • Template:Apn
  • Squatterbloat

Antagonists:

• Choronzon (First appearance)
• Template:Apn

Other Characters:

• Agony
• Ecstacy
• Ethel Cripps (Behind the scenes)
• Nada (First appearance)

Locations:

• Hell
  • City of Dis
• Gotham County
  • Arkham Asylum
• Dreaming

Items:

• Dream's Helm
• Dream's Sand Pouch

Vehicles:

• None
  

Notes

• This issue is reprinted in Essential Vertigo: Sandman #4, Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes and Sandman: Absolute Edition, Volume 1.

• Dream addresses a tortured prisoner of Hell named Nada who begs his forgiveness. Nada's crime, and the reason why Dream won't forgive her are revealed in greater detail in Sandman #9.

• First actual appearance of Choronzon. He made a behind-the-scenes appearance in Sandman #1 and a behind-the-scenes flashback appearance in issue #2.

• This issue reveals that Dream's name in African culture is Kai'ckul.

• Hell became a triumvirate as a result of a civil war which was sparked by the appearance of the Great Darkness. The events that led to this war culminated in Swamp Thing (Volume 2) #50

• The demons Agony and Ecstacy make cameo appearances in this issue. They were last seen in Hellblazer #12, where they were first introduced.

See Also

• Cover gallery for the Sandman series
• Images from Sandman Vol 2 4

Recommended Reading

• Dreaming (Volume 1)
• Sandman (Volume 2)

Links and References

• Sandman article at Wikipedia
• Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes article at Wikipedia
• Sandman series index at Comicbookdb.com
• Sandman series index at the Grand Comics Database
• Sandman Annotations