The Sandman - Issue 22 - Season of Mists - Chapter One

When I go on a trip, I have a checklist of things to do before I go. A trip to the pharmacy, a check of my documentation, a careful review of clothes to be packed (hey this is important!), travel insurance, who is watering my plants and feeding my cats.

When the Lord of Dreams goes on a trip, it’s slightly more complicated than that. Chapter One of Season of Mists follows Morpheus’s decision to do right by poor Nada languishing these ten thousand years in a prison of sharp glass. Thanks to Death’s very correct admonishing of his behavior, Morpheus realizes he’s been a tool (come on, he is!) and needs to make amends by going to Hell and freeing her.

The issue opens with a proper introduction to Hell. Unlike Hope in Hell, where we viewed it from Morpheus’s perspective as he enters its gates, this introduction exposes the genuine horror of the place. Hell feels more like a dark mirror to the Dreaming, where every horrible thing one can ever imagine comes alive except the souls here can never leave. It’s a place where even the demons are as trapped as the damned sentenced here for eternity. Kelly Jones’ artwork on the first page is phenomenal, it nails the nightmare of Hell without being excessive.

We then shift to the Dreaming and a rather fun scene between Matthew and Lucien in the Library. Lucien is tending to his restored library, stacking the shelves with unwritten works of authors, living only in dreams. I don’t know about you but I wish I could visit the Dreaming to read Tolkien’s Lost Road. Matthew confesses to being not much of a reader, a statement proven when he thinks that the phrase ‘Nevermore’ was a creation of Roger Corman’s film and not Edgar Allan Poe. Lucien’s comment about how he would join the library if it falls into ruin makes me wonder how close he came to blinking out of existence during Morpheus’s absence.

This fun bit of banter is interrupted when Morpheus (ala holo-vision) summons Lucien to the Great Hall. Not just Lucien, it seems, but all the Dreaming’s residents. Once everyone is assembled, Morpheus from his throne explains the situation to his subjects. Kudos to the Lord Shaper for not trying to shirk away his culpability. He lays it on the line, from his ill-fated romance with Nada to his unconscionable act of locking her in Hell and how Death’s reality check has set him on a course to free her. Nor does he hide that his most recent trip to Hell resulted in Lucifer’s humiliation and the Lord of Hell may not receive him kindly.

Aware of what happened to the Dreaming when he didn’t return the last time, Morpheus assures his subjects that he has taken steps to ensure the place survives even if he does not.

When he dismisses them, everyone but Matthew stays because he is a loyal raven and is going nowhere if he thinks his ‘boss’ needs him. Thanks to Matthew, we get some exposition regarding Lucifer and where he sits in the hierarchy of power in the Sandman universe. Lucifer Morningstar, or Samael ‘the Bringer of Light’, is the wisest, most powerful and most beautiful of the Creator’s children. Lucifer is second in strength only to the Creator and far more formidable than Morpheus and possibly the rest of the Endless. Despite this, Morpheus reveals his entry into Hell must be conducted according to form. Matthew, who hoped for the element of surprise, is not pleased.

Meanwhile, in Hell, the unfortunate courier sent to convey Morpheus’s intention to visit is brought before Lucifer by Mazikeen and Alchino (a demon of the Eight Circle, I think). Lucifer recognises Cain immediately and listens to the somewhat exaggerated introduction until his patience bids Cain to get onto the gist of it. Cain reveals Morpheus is coming to Hell with the hopes Lucifer will allow him passage, but won’t be stopped if the Morningstar denies him. Naturally, this provokes Mazikeen's and Alchino’s outrage who insist on killing Cain brutally until Lucifer reminds them that Cain cannot be harmed. The first man born of woman is protected by someone greater than the Lord of Dreams.

He sends Mazikeen and Alchino away and commends Morpheus on his choice of messenger, aware that Cain is the only entity incapable of being harmed in Hell. Lucifer knows more about Cain and the mark than Cain himself, explaining the history of the Cainites and then reiterating his vow to destroy Morpheus for the embarrassment of two years ago.

He’s utterly thrilled that Morpheus is now coming back.

We now drop in on Lyta Hall and her child Hey You (she hasn’t named the kid yet) tentatively beginning a new life with her baby. She’s at a crossroads, uncertain of what comes next. Although money is not an issue, she tells Carla that superheroing is no longer an option with Hank gone and may consider going back to school. After Lyta sees Carla out the door, she returns to find Morpheus in her son’s bedroom. Considering their last meeting, Lyta’s reaction to Morpheus is extreme, still blaming him unjustly for Hank’s death. Morpheus dismisses her vehement reaction, more interested in seeing the infant, a child who has gestated entirely in dreams. This doesn’t quell Lyta’s hatred one bit and promptly tells Morpheus to get out.

He leaves, but not before he reveals the baby’s name is Daniel.

Once her anger evaporates, Lyta sees it too. Yes, the baby’s name is Daniel. I personally would have gone with Stormageddon, Dark Lord of all. 🙂

Morpheus has one last stop to make and takes a journey through the dreams of sleepers to do a bit of shopping. He arrives at the wine cellar belonging to Cecille Latour’s father and helps himself to a bottle of Chateau Latiffe 1828 before disappearing into another sleeper’s dream. Hob Gadling. Hob’s currently having a rather surreal encounter with Queen Elizabeth and a crappy 386 computer when Morpheus intrudes. As always, Hob is happy to see his old friend, but wonders why since this is far earlier than their usual 100 year appointment. Morpheus doesn’t reassure him much, providing ambiguous answers to some of his questions, and outright ignoring others.

Hob’s toast, however, very much encapsulates what Season of Mists is about.

To absent friends, lost loves, old gods, and the Season of Mists; and may each and every one of us always give the devil his due.

With that, Morpheus says goodbye and Hob wakes up to be told by his lover that he was talking in his sleep. Hob apologizes for his silly dream whilst staring at an open bottle of Lattiffe.

Back in Hell, Cain, gripped by the hair, is given a personal tour by Lucifer. Ouch. Once on the ground, Lucifer reveals his boredom with his existence, especially with the minor demons rising now and then with delusions of grandeur, claiming to be king of Hell. Others are even more presumptuous, insisting he shares rule with them in a triumvirate as if he couldn't swat them away like flies. There is only one being in all of existence greater than Lucifer and to him, Lucifer no longer speaks. Cain, a blubbering wreck by now, is told to return to his master and deliver Lucifer’s message.

Hell will await his return avidly.

Once Cain is sent back to the Dreaming, Lucifer summons all his subjects to him and reveals the Lord Shaper’s intention to return to Hell. This plan has become the impetus Lucifer needed to reach some decisions of his own, pondered over a millennium. He reveals to everyone when Morpheus arrives to free Nada, it will be an occasion no one in Hell will forget, most of all Morpheus.

A traumatized Cain returns to the Dreaming and delivers his message to Morpheus that Lucifer is expecting him. Lucien begs Morpheus to reconsider his decision, but Morpheus cannot. His mind is made up. He is going to free Nada or die trying. Morpheus leaves the Dreaming with Lucien watching helplessly.

And that’s Chapter One! Hope you enjoyed it.

NEXT - Issue 23 - Chapter Two

PREVIOUS - Issue 21 - Prologue