The Sandman (DC Comics Silver Age)
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The Sandman is a comic book superhero in the DC Comics universe. He lives in the Dream Dimension and protects children from their nightmares and occasionally from real-life menaces. He was created as a children's character by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby and first appeared in The Sandman #1 (Winter, 1974).
The Sandman was originally intended to be the actual Sandman of popular myth, "eternal and immortal," despite his superhero-like appearance and adventures. The Sandman is assisted by two living nightmares named Brute and Glob who are depicted as nuisances of no real danger to anyone. With the help of a magic whistle, the Sandman can enter the waking world of reality, and he carries a pouch of dream dust with which he can cause anyone to sleep and dream. The Sandman's main foes are monsters, protecting children within their dreams, especially one young boy named Jed Walker. In one adventure he even assists the legendary Santa Claus against a menacing band of Seal Men who are angry about being sent the wrong presents the previous Christmas.
This version of the Sandman only appeared for a handful of issues and was generally unused for years thereafter. In a retcon by Roy Thomas appearing in Wonder Woman #300 (1983), the Sandman is "revealed" to be Dr. Garrett Sanford, a UCLA psychology professor who became trapped in the Dream Dimension while saving the life of the U.S. President, who was in a coma while being terrorized by a powerful nightmare monster. The Sandman also becomes an honorary member of the Justice League in Justice League of America Annual #3 (1983).
In Infinity Inc. #44 (October 1987), it is revealed that Sanford has gone insane and committed suicide, and that Hector Hall (formerly the Silver Scarab) has now supplanted the deceased Sanford as the Sandman.
In 1990, it was further revealed that the Dream Dimension was in fact a small universe in the head of Jed Walker, created by two escaped creatures from the realm of Dream (Brute and Glob - the Sandman's assistants in the original series). It turned out that Hall had in fact died some years before and his incarnation as the Sandman was merely a shell, which dissipated when Dream defeated the two creatures.
Hall went on to be reincarnated as Doctor Fate. Hall's son, Daniel, eventually became the new Dream when the incumbent one ceased to exist.
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- The Sandman (comics) lists other comic book characters with the same name.