The Sandman - Issue 12 - Playing House

Recap: Next to Collectors, Playing House is probably my second favorite issue in The Doll's House. I was a big DC comics fan then, so this issue, more than any other, reveals the connective tissue between the Sandman and the DC Universe. It layers the bright, spandex-colored world we're accustomed to, where right and wrong are delineated by the hero left standing, and allows for complex character development. After all, even Superman probably comes to the Dreaming when he sleeps.

Playing House opens with Lyta Hall, who Jed Walker met in the Land of Marvelous Dreams in the previous issue. This is one of the most significant deviations from the comics for those who only know The Sandman through the Netflix show. Here is a little background for those who are interested. As mentioned in the previous issue, Lyta and Hector Hall are heroes from Infinity Inc. Lyta Trevor was originally the daughter of Earth-2's Wonder Woman and Steve Trevor. That Wonder Woman was erased following Crisis of the Infinite Earth. Lyta's background was retconned to keep the character in continuity, although Gaiman implies Lyta still possesses vague memories of her mother.

The first pages of this story take us through the surreal landscape of Lyta's world. Lyta is almost as intangible as the realm she inhabits because her thoughts resemble someone in a fugue state. She drifts through her life, snatching snippets of important memories but cannot fully realize their significance. The walls of her unreality are beginning to thin because Lyta knows subconsciously something is wrong, if not what.

Hector, on the other hand, is all in. While Lyta questions her existence, Hector Hall has no doubts about his. He is the Sandman, charged with protecting the sleeping children of the world from any menace. Although, as Lyta indicates earlier, Jed is the only child they've ever seen. I've never read Infinity Inc, but I seriously hope this ridiculous version is a product of Brute and Glob's influence because this cannot be Hector's true personality. When Lyta poses serious questions about the fact that their baby hasn't arrived after years in the Dream Dome, he lays it down to the stork being unable to find them.

Meanwhile, to build the Land of Marvelous Dreams in Jed's head, Brute and Glob have influenced Jed's foster family, Clarice, and Barnaby, to create a horrific home life the boy. He's abused, prisoned and treated like livestock, brought out for show only when Social Services makes their visit. Whether or not their cruelty is a byproduct of the two nightmares' influence, it's hard to say, but Clarice and Barnaby ensure Jed has no means of escape, even if they don't know why.

Back in the Dream Dome, Brute and Glob know the gig is up.

Morpheus, who left the Dreaming so dramatically in the previous issue, is on his way. The barricades erected in Jed's mind will not hold back the Lord Shaper for long, even though it will delay him since there are rules. Morpheus cannot take a human life without good reason. The duo laments their choice in Hector, suggesting that the previous Sandman, Garrett Sanford, wasn't as dumb. Hector then proceeds to prove the point, assuming Morpheus is just another 'Nightmare Monster' he has to fight.

As Morpheus approaches, his anger gives way briefly to admiration at the intricate maze his former servants have created in Jed's mind. It is built on such severe abuse the boy has no choice but to retreat into dreams to escape.

Utterly unaware of impending doom, Lyta continues pushing the walls of her reality without much success. As she ponders her existence in the Dream Dome, we see that her relationship with Hector always involves some form of self-sacrifice. Even after Hector's death, while Lyta was six months pregnant, she was still willing to leave everything behind to join him in the Dream Dome.

We leave the Dream Dome briefly to follow Rose Walker and Gilbert, whose poor rental choice has left them stranded in the rustic back roads of Dodge County, Georgia. With no choice but to find alternate means of transport, Rose and Gilbert return to a motel they sighted a mile and a half back. Once there, they're informed by the proprietor that the hotel is fully booked for a Cereal Convention. However, the man relents enough to rent them rooms, provided they remain only until the 'guests' arrive. A quick glimpse at the guest lists reveals The Corinthian will attend. (Yikes!)

In Atlanta, Georgia, two thugs discover the hard way why it's never wise to accost the Corinthian when he's trolling the red-light district for action. Once again, our view of the living nightmare is seen through the eyes of his victims (while they have them), building our anticipation for the next issue.

Morpheus encounters Hector in the faux-Dreaming created by Brute and Glob and recognizes the dead man immediately as a pawn. As Morpheus closes in on his prey, the effects of this breach are playing havoc with everyone involved. Lyta can feel something happening outside the Dream Dome while Brute and Glob investigate potential escapes once Morpheus gets through Hector. In the real world, Jed pleads to be released from his prison because something is happening in his head.

Tired of parlaying with this little ghost whose ultrasonic whistle did not disperse his fabric (???) Morpheus finally asks for an introduction. I utterly adore Morpheus's reaction to Hector's revelation that he is the Sandman. I could be wrong, but I'm sure it's the only time Morpheus laughs in the entire series. However, despite the amusement of the encounter, Morpheus decides it is time to end this dream.

The result is explosive, with the doors to Jed's prison blown apart when the walls of the Dream Dome collapse for good. As Jed flees, Brute Glob, Lyta, and Hector face Morpheus in the basement now that the faux Dreaming is no more. Facing their master, Brute and Glob explain their plan to create their version of the Dreaming in Jed's mind with their own Sandman. First, Garrett Sandford who ended up suiciding, and then with Hector Hall. The duo reasoned that a dead man would cope better with the dreamscape.

With all truths laid bare, Morpheus proceeds to put everything in order again. Brute and Glob are banished to the Darkness for several thousand years, and Morpheus decides it's time for Hector to go to his fate. Without hesitation, he sends Hector into his afterlife, leaving a devastated Lyta behind. With her dream world destroyed, Lyta vents her rage on the Dream King, who tries to be kind and even reminds Lyta about her unborn child. Lyta hears none of it. Morpheus took her husband and her life. She has nothing but hate for him.

Morpheus prepares to leave, but not before telling Lyta, the baby carried in dreams, belongs to him. Some day, he will come for it.

Lyta's final words in this issue are a grim foreboding for the future.

Still, on the run, Jed is on a lonely road in the middle of the rain when a car stops to pick him up. A car driven by the Corinthian.

Tune in next time for Men of Good Fortune.

NEXT - Issue 13 - Men of Good Fortune

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