Review: THE DREAMING: WAKING HOURS #6
[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]
Writer: G. Willow Wilson
Artist: Javier Rodriguez
Colours: Javier Rodriguez
Letters: Nick Robles
Reviewed By: Derek McNeil
Summary
The Dreaming: Waking Hours #6: As life gets back to something almost like normal for Lindy, sorceress Heather After finds herself plunged into a waking nightmare of her own! The cruel creature known as Puck is stalking her, and no being she could possibly summon can protect her from his wrath! Unless… no, she couldn’t possibly try to summon…really?!
Positives
The Dreaming: Waking Hours #6 shows the aftermath of the series’ first act, catching us up on the title’s main characters. Also, G. Willow Wilson moves her story forward into the next arc. The issue serves gives a satisfying transition between the two acts.
While one might expect that Lindy Morris’ role in the story is finished, we see that she has completed her doctoral dissertation. One of the panel declares that her knowledge of Shakespeare is “almost like you were there”. Clearly, her recent experiences in the Dreaming has helped her in her studies. But given the disapproving looks of her advisor, it seems that we haven’t reached the end of Lindy’s story thread quite yet.
We also see Ruin beginning his life in the waking world. He shows up on Jophiel’s doorstep. It looks like the angel and nightmare will be roommates. It seems likely that this will mean trouble for Jophiel. After all, what worse omen could you have than Ruin setting up residence with you.
Positives Cont.
I was quite pleased to see a number of guest appearances of other Vertigo/Sandman Universe characters in this issue. We catch a glimpse of Dream’s older sister Death, signalling that Heather After is in mortal danger. That mortal danger comes from the Puck, who comes to the fore as the main antagonist for this story arc.
Looking for help, Heather reaches out to her cousin, John Constantine, who advises her to attempt to call on a higher power for protection from Puck. Heather attempts to something big and powerful with a risky spell. However, what she gets is Matthew the Raven and Goldie, Abel’s baby gargoyle.
This would seem a rather disappointing result for Heather. After all, neither Matthew nor Goldie are particularly powerful. However, I suspect that they will prove to be exactly what Heather needs before the story reaches its conclusion. In any case, they are certain to prove interesting additions to the story.
Negatives
I have no complaints with either Wilson’s storytelling, nor with Javier Rodriguez’s art. The story has been fascinating and hasn’t lost any steam as it transitions into the second act.
Verdict
I love that the story initiated by Neil Gaiman in The Sandman has been brought back and is being carried forwards by some of DC’s best talents. Like Simon Spurrier before her, G. Willow Wilson is proving herself worthy of continuing Gaiman’s classic story for a new generation.
