The Sandman - Issue 24 - Season of Mists - Chapter Three

In the High Hall of Gladsheim, the Lord of the Aesir sits and waits for thought and memory to return to him.

This beautifully simple opening is how we begin Chapter Three of Season of Mists. Those familiar with Neil's works recognise the seeds he's planting in this issue in American Gods and his epic opus Norse Mythology. Even in its truncated telling, one of the best aspects of this story is the question that if the old gods existed, what would they be doing now? How did they survive the two-pronged assault by Christianity and science? While Neil does answer some of those questions in the American Gods novel and in the outstanding first season of the tv series, the question is still thought-provoking.

Anyway, onto the recap.

Our story begins in Asgard, with that glorious opening line with Odin sitting on his throne, his wolves Geri and Freki (tell me their story is not waiting for a Disney movie) at his feet. A far cry from Ian McShane's stellar portrayal in, this Odin is austere and solemn, weighted down by Ragnarok which consumes much of his thoughts. He is soon joined by his ravens Huginn and Muninn, who are his eyes and ears abroad and have brought him some fairly important intelligence. Upon receiving this news, All Father drinks his mead and is off. He's got a purpose.

It takes him to a cave in the depths of the world where Loki (not the hot Marvel version) is paying penance for causing Baldur's death and sins the rest of the gods are just plain fed up with. Bound by the entrails of his son, fashioned into chains, he is pinned to a rock beneath a large, venomous snake with his wife Sigyn in attendance. The snake oozes venom from its fangs, and while Sigyn catches most of it with a bowl to avoid its splatter on Loki's face, she must empty the bowl when filled. During this brief interlude, Loki screams and writhes as venom spills onto his skin.

Amid this torment, Odin appears. At first, Loki thinks All Father is there to gloat at his suffering, but Odin reveals that while Ragnarok cannot be avoided, perhaps the Aesir can save themselves by going elsewhere. Loki reminds Odin there is nowhere they can go to avoid their fate. Except for Hell, Odin says. Naturally, Loki is sceptical, accusing Odin of becoming senile if he thinks he can take Hell from Lucifer Morningstar. That is until Odin informs Loki that the King of Hell has abdicated his throne and abandoned his realm. Hell could be their sanctuary after Ragnarok, but the time to take it is now, and he needs Loki's help to make this happen. Loki agrees to help (giving fellow readers the fisheye here), and Odin ferries him away from the cave, leaving Sigyn alone, waiting.

In the Dreaming, Morpheus returns from his trip to Hell, still somewhat shell-shocked by what happened in the previous issue. Lucien, Cain and Matthew are there to greet him and immediately bombard him with questions. Unfortunately, the Lord Shaper is in no mood to answer, and his responses are short on details. He leaves them in the dark and retreats to his sanctum.

Once there, Morpheus begins to understand the full scope of Lucifer's 'gift' to him, resulting in an explosive bout of rage that does nothing to alleviate his burden. Poor Morpheus.

We return to Asgard, where Thor (definitely NOT the Chris Helmsworth version) is having a conniption about Odin's decision to trust Loki. Thor's convinced that this whole business is a mistake but agrees to join All Father's mission to acquire Hell. If Odin wants him to keep Loki in check, Thor will do that with some fairly gruesome punishments if Loki misbehaves. He summons his goats, Tanngnos and Tangrisni (I can still hear those stupid screams from Love and Thunder - Thank you, Taika Waititi!), and they're off to the Dreaming.

In the realm of Order, which is perfectly represented as a place sterile as a hospital room, with its perfect angles and colourless tones, words are spoken with the charm of a dot matrix printer. Like the rest of the supernatural world, the Lords of Order also covet Lucifer's Hell and decide to send their own emissary, Kilderkin, to negotiate with Morpheus to acquire it. On the flip side, similar conversations are being held by the Lords of Chaos. whose depiction is not an outright opposite of Order. Instead, it's a skewed version of it, which is the best way to describe Chaos since their conversations about Hell are more or less identical. They send Shivering Jemmy of the Shallow Brigade as their representative to the Dreaming.

Morpheus stands in his gallery needing counsel and asks Death for her help. Thanks to the rather seismic repercussions of Lucifer's decisions to shut down Hell, Death's a little frazzled. However, when Morpheus reminds her that she's the one throwing bread at him for not asking for help when he needs it, she takes a moment to listen. Death is fully abreast of what's going on. When Morpheus questions what's to be done with Hell, she asks him what he wants to do. Morpheus can't answer that question yet, and unfortunately, Death can't stick around to help him figure it out.

She's got work to do because the dead are coming back.

Years ago, when I first watched the tv series Supernatural and saw all these demons running around, I wondered if they existed, then angels must too, right? In this tale, the existence of Hell must, by definition, include Heaven. Although Neil doesn't call it that here, there's no doubt what the Silver City is and where God (whatever your view of him is) is the creator of all. His kingdom sits outside of everything, in a null space that looks down on the universe the way we look at a snow globe. From it, two beings, created simultaneously with the city, who may or may not possess free will, are dispatched through the void, falling to earth.

Finally, and most importantly, we see what became of the poor refugees from Hell now congregating in limbo, homeless and adrift. Azazel, a member of the brief triumvirate Lucifer permitted in Issue 4, is weaponising their sense of abandonment. The former prince taps into their outrage by proposing a new Hell that is run fairly and merit-based. I half expected him to bring out a whiteboard and pie charts. Azazel proclaims his intent to go to the Dreaming and demand the return of Hell to its citizens. With him is The Merkin (really Neil?), the mother of spiders and Choronzon, failed oldest game contestant. However, his real prize is Nada. Since Nada is the reason for Morpheus's quest to Hell, Azazel is confident that when the time comes, Morpheus will deal.

At the Dreaming, Matthew goes to the Old Woman (who transforms cyclically into the Triple Goddesses), obviously worried about Morpheus. She soothes his fears, aware that he has been a raven for a short time and explains that this is just how the Dream King behaves when he's about to have visitors. There's nothing to be done but to wait him out.

Unfortunately, one of his gatekeepers interrupts Morpheus's quiet, brooding time. The Griffin dutifully informs Morpheus that there are many visitors at the gate. Morpheus orders them to be sent away until the Griffin reveals that many of them have been his guests before, and all are important and powerful. If intruders decide to storm the gates, its keepers may not be able to prevent it unless Morpheus endows them with some of their power. Realising there is no avoiding this, Morpheus tells the Griffin to allow the visitors entrance.

This timely order arrives when Thor is throwing verbal thunderbolts at the poor gatekeepers about being barred from entering the Dreaming. The Griffin apologises to the guests and bids them to pass through the gates. They are to introduce themselves and state their names and business upon entry. Aside from the gods we've already been introduced to, we are shown a few new faces. Among these is Lord Anubis, accompanied by Bast, the Lady of Cats and Bes, another household deity of Egyptian mythology. Like the Asgardians, they seek Lucifer's Hell.

Also present is Susano-O-No Mikoto, a Shintō kami deity who is the son of Izanagi, one of their Three Precious Children. Susano-O-No is the Japanese god of Storm and Sea. With traditional Japanese elegance, he has come to discuss a matter of territory. Susano-O-No's announcement is followed by Azazel, who introduces his own entourage, minus Nada, who will undoubtedly make her appearance during negotiations. This is followed by the Lords of Order and Chaos. A personal slave carries Kilderkin, who is personified by a box. Shivering Jemmy introduces herself in the guise of a little girl going to a party, complete with face paint and a red balloon. She makes a child's request for Hell.

Also present is the Angel Remiel, Set over Those that Rise and Duma, the Angel of Silence. They are there to observe.

Morpheus, dressed in official regalia, bids them welcome. He invites them into his home, aware of their reasons for coming, being the disposition of Lucifer's Hell, and extends his hospitality to them all. Like any good host, Morpheus offers them suites for their stay and refreshments after their long journey. This is to provide any stragglers with additional time to arrive. Later tonight, a banquet will be held for all honoured guests.

Tomorrow, they'll talk.

And that’s it! Be back next week for The Banquet.

NEXT - Issue 25 - Chapter Four

PREVIOUS - Issue 23 - Chapter Two