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| StoryTitle1 = "A Hope in Hell" |
| StoryTitle1 = "A Hope in Hell" |
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| − | | Synopsis1 = Dream's next mission is to reclaim his missing helm. This looks to be his most dangerous endeavor as it means that he must pass the gates of Hell itself to find it. As he approaches the gates, he rings a massive gong and is received by a guardian named Squatterbloat. Squatterbloat calls Morpheus a clown and refuses to grant him access. Dream warns him that he is considered a guest and that Lucifer would be very upset if Squatterbloat refused him. The demon Etrigan appears and agrees to take Morpheus to see Lucifer. He takes him through the Wood of Suicides and Morpheus has an encounter with a woman he knew long ago - Nada. Nada begs his forgiveness for an unexplained sin, 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". |
+ | | Synopsis1 = Dream's next mission is to reclaim his missing helm. This looks to be his most dangerous endeavor as it means that he must pass the gates of Hell itself to find it. As he approaches the gates, he rings a massive gong and is received by a guardian named [[Squatterbloat]]. Squatterbloat calls [[Morpheus]] a clown and refuses to grant him access. Dream warns him that he is considered a guest and that Lucifer would be very upset if Squatterbloat refused him. The demon Etrigan appears and agrees to take Morpheus to see [[Lucifer]]. He takes him through the Wood of Suicides and Morpheus has an encounter with a woman he knew long ago - Nada. Nada begs his forgiveness for an unexplained sin, 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". |
| − | Etrigan eventually brings him to Dis, the Hellcity and the palace of Lucifer Morningstar. Morpheus goes to the top of the tower and Lucifer greets him. He is surprised to learn that Hell is no longer a monarchy, but now a triumvirate. Lucifer rules in equal partnership with fellow Hell Lords Azazel and Beelzebub. The remaining members of the triumvirate appear before Morpheus. He tells them that a demon stole his helm of office many years ago and he has come to Hell to reclaim it. Beelzebub asks him which demon is responsible for the offense, but Morpheus doesn't know his name. Spitefully, Lucifer decides to summon all of the demons of Hell together and asks Morpheus to point out which one has his helmet. |
+ | Etrigan eventually brings him to Dis, the Hellcity and the palace of Lucifer Morningstar. Morpheus goes to the top of the tower and Lucifer greets him. He is surprised to learn that Hell is no longer a monarchy, but now a triumvirate. Lucifer rules in equal partnership with fellow Hell Lords Azazel and Beelzebub. The remaining members of the triumvirate appear before Morpheus. He tells them that a demon stole his helm of office many years ago and he has come to Hell to reclaim it. [[Beelzebub]] asks him which demon is responsible for the offense, but Morpheus doesn't know his name. Spitefully, 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, he eventually finds the one in possession of the artifact - Choronzon. Choronzon claims to have acquired the tool fairly, and has broken no laws of Hell. If Morpheus wants it back, then he must challenge him for it. Morpheus agrees. As the challenged, Choronzon decides upon the rules and setting of their duel. The two engage in a contest of wits with all of reality as 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, Morpheus ultimately wins the duel when Choronzon hesitates to counter Morpheus' last move. |
+ | Using his magic sand, he eventually finds the one in possession of the artifact - [[Choronzon]]. Choronzon claims to have acquired the tool fairly, and has broken no laws of Hell. If Morpheus wants it back, then he must challenge him for it. Morpheus agrees. As the challenged, Choronzon decides upon the rules and setting of their duel. The two engage in a contest of wits with all of reality as 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, Morpheus ultimately wins the duel when Choronzon hesitates to counter Morpheus' last move. |
Taking back his property he prepares to leave. Lucifer tells him that he has no power in Hell and has no intention of letting the Dream Lord leave. Morpheus counters, citing 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. |
Taking back his property he prepares to leave. Lucifer tells him that he has no power in Hell and has no intention of letting the Dream Lord leave. Morpheus counters, citing 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. |
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* None |
* None |
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| − | | Cast1 = Dream (New Earth) |
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| − | | Cast2 = Agony (New Earth) |
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| − | | Cast3 = Azazel (New Earth) |
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| − | | Cast4 = Beelzebub (New Earth) |
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| − | | Cast5 = Ecstacy (New Earth) |
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| − | | Cast6 = Etrigan (New Earth) |
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| − | | Cast7 = John Dee (New Earth) |
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| − | | Cast8 = Lucifer Morningstar (New Earth) |
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| − | | Location1 = Hell |
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| − | | Location2 = Gotham County |
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| − | | Location3 = Arkham Asylum |
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| − | | Item1 = Dream's Helm |
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| − | | Item2 = Dream's Sand Pouch |
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| − | | Vehicle1 = |
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| − | | Vehicle2 = |
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| Notes = |
| Notes = |
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Revision as of 21:22, 24 November 2008
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 mission is to reclaim his missing helm. This looks to be his most dangerous endeavor as it means that he must pass the gates of Hell itself to find it. As he approaches the gates, he rings a massive gong and is received by a guardian named Squatterbloat. Squatterbloat calls Morpheus a clown and refuses to grant him access. Dream warns him that he is considered a guest and that Lucifer would be very upset if Squatterbloat refused him. The demon Etrigan appears and agrees to take Morpheus to see Lucifer. He takes him through the Wood of Suicides and Morpheus has an encounter with a woman he knew long ago - Nada. Nada begs his forgiveness for an unexplained sin, 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".
Etrigan eventually brings him to Dis, the Hellcity and the palace of Lucifer Morningstar. Morpheus goes to the top of the tower and Lucifer greets him. He is surprised to learn that Hell is no longer a monarchy, but now a triumvirate. Lucifer rules in equal partnership with fellow Hell Lords Azazel and Beelzebub. The remaining members of the triumvirate appear before Morpheus. He tells them that a demon stole his helm of office many years ago and he has come to Hell to reclaim it. Beelzebub asks him which demon is responsible for the offense, but Morpheus doesn't know his name. Spitefully, 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, he eventually finds the one in possession of the artifact - Choronzon. Choronzon claims to have acquired the tool fairly, and has broken no laws of Hell. If Morpheus wants it back, then he must challenge him for it. Morpheus agrees. As the challenged, Choronzon decides upon the rules and setting of their duel. The two engage in a contest of wits with all of reality as 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, Morpheus ultimately wins the duel when Choronzon hesitates to counter Morpheus' last move.
Taking back his property he prepares to leave. Lucifer tells him that he has no power in Hell and has no intention of letting the Dream Lord leave. Morpheus counters, citing 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.
Appearing in "A Hope in Hell"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Villains:
- Choronzon (First appearance)
- Doctor Destiny
Other Characters:
- Agony
- Ecstacy
- Ethel Cripps (Behind the scenes)
- Nada (First appearance)
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
- None
Notes
- This issue is reprinted in Essential Vertigo: Sandman #4, Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes and Sandman: Absolute Edition, Volume 1.
- Etrigan appeared last in Action Comics Weekly #641. He appears next in Detective Comics #602.
- 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 following a demon civil war. The actions that led to this war culminated in Saga of the Swamp Thing #50.
- The demons Agony and Ecstacy make cameo appearances in this issue. They were last seen in Hellblazer #12 where they were first introduced.
Trivia
- The reality game presented in this issue is essentially a verbal contest of wits. Each opponent addresses himself as an animal, item or idea and follows it with a series of adjectives in the form of a poem. The other player then counters the actions of the first by taking on the properties of a more powerful idea. Example: Choronzon opens with "I am a dire wolf. Prey-stalking, lethal prowler." Morpheus counters with "I am a hunter, horse-mounted, wolf-stabbing. Choronzon responds with "I am a horsefly, horse-stinging, hunter-throwing". Choronzon's final bid was "I am Anti-Life, the Beast of Judgment. I am the dark at hte end of everything. The end of universes, gods, worlds... of everything". Morpheus replied with "I am hope". At this, Choronzon hesitated and thus lost the duel.
Related Articles
- 1989
- Endless
- Sandman Characters
- Dream image gallery
- Dream appearances list
- Dream quotes page
See Also
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
Warning: Default sort key "Sandman Vol 2 04" overrides earlier default sort key "Sandman Vol 2 0004".