DC Comics and Neil Gaiman will be celebrating 30 years of the Dreaming when Vertigo launches The Sandman Universe in late-2018, a line of four different comics based on the writer’s critically and fan acclaimed Sandman series.
The imprint will include new incarnations of The Dreaming, Lucifer and Books of Magic, along with new series The House of Whispers. It will kick off with a special Sandman Universe one-shot by Gaiman, Nalo Hopkinson, Kat Howard, Si Spurrier and Dan Watters, featuring art by Bilquis Everly and a Jae Lee cover. The four writers will each script one of the subsequently launching comics. None of the artists were revealed in the announcement.
[The“ Sandman universe is] a huge sandbox with so many wonderful toys that nobody’s getting to play with right now,” Gamin said, explaining why he has returned to Dream’s reality once more. “I started feeling guilty. I liked the idea of getting the toys played with again, reminding people how much fun this is, and also getting the opportunity to work with some fantastic writers. Down the line, there will be fantastic artists as well.
Nalo Hopkinson writes House of Whispers, which features a cover by Yanick Paquette. Hopkinson was hand-picked by Gaiman, who told EW, “if we’re gonna do House of Whispers, if we’re going to do Erzulie and have all this voodoo lore stuff, then I want Nalo to do it because there isn’t anybody better.” The series’ will explore the mystery of the titular house’s appearance alongside the House of Mystery and House of Secrets.
Books of Magic, which will feature the new adventures of Tim Hunter, will be scripted by Cat Howard. “She has the touch, she understands the magic,” Gamain promises.
Assuring fans he understands that previous creators have left an indelible stamp on Lucifer, Gamin assures Dan Watters is more than up to the task of scripting the next chapter in the life of comic book readers’ favorite fallen angel. “Dan is smart and deep, and he gets it,” Gaiman said. “He’s up to the challenge of ‘Okay, can you recreate this thing?’”
Si Spurrier will take readers back to The Dreaming. The series will again be set in the Sandman’s kingdom. Thankfully it will feature the return of fan-favorite supporting characters like Mervyn Pumpkinhead, Lucien the librarian and Matthew the Raven as they attempt to keep things running in the absence of their ruler, Dream.
