The Sandman - Issue 32- Slaughter on Fifth Avenue - Part One of A Game of You

Yesterday, I stumbled upon a reference about Matthew Shepard, the young man whose life was tragically cut short by bigoted savages. Matthew lost his life in 1998, but his violent end left an enduring legacy in the United States and worldwide. The Hate Crimes Prevention Act exists because of Matthew Shepard and also because of James Byrd, another victim of horrific violence.

Why am I bringing this up when I'm writing a Sandman recap? I'm doing it because this was the world that existed when Neil Gaiman presented us with Part One of A Game of You - Issue 32 of The Sandman.

At the time of publication, LGBT rights were under attack (as LGBTIQA+ rights are now) due to the victim-blaming that resulted from the AIDs epidemic. As a Singaporean who had just arrived in Australia, I was aware of the trans community but wasn't supposed to discuss it. Since then, I've met many in the community and considered some my family. I'm damn proud of LJ, the child of my best friend and her husband, who is about to leave for university to study astrophysics. LJ's parents have been unfailing supporters of LJ's transition, and I'm damn proud of them too.

A Game of You might be a comic book story to some, but for others like myself, it was an awakening to the existence of a group society had no wish to see or wanted to deal with. Getting to know Wanda taught me how to regard the gay and trans people I would encounter later in life. Like everyone else. With the same respect I expected to be treated. I know many readers found Wanda's fate in A Game of You wanting. I hope Neil, when adapting the story for Netflix, addresses some of their concerns because Wanda is a terrific character, period.

I want her and Barbie to have coffee every morning until they're old and grey.

A Game of You isn't just a landmark story because of its LGBTIQA+ characters. It is in its own right, an engaging fantasy tale. With colourful characters (I'm looking at you, Martin Tenbones), a magical MacGuffin, an enemy with a dark army and a beautiful princess, this could have been a Disney movie. Although much of the tale occurs in The Dreaming, Morpheus observes the unfolding events like the rest of us.

Slaughter on Fifth Avenue begins in an icy wilderness where unseen characters Prinaldo, Luz, Wilkinson and Martin Tenbones lament the impending death of The Land and the dominion of the Cuckoo and her Black Guards over them. Their ally, the Tantobin, is dead, and they're hiding out, cold and hungry in a cave, believing their Princess has abandoned them. Martin refuses to believe this, believing instead that the Princess may be hurt and unable to reach them. If so, he has the Porpentine, which will lead him to her. He will travel to whatever distant world the Princess is in and bring her back, or The Land will fall to the Cuckoo and darkness.

We now switch to Barbie, the other half of the couple Barbie and Ken, whom we met in Moving In - Issue 11 of The Doll's House. Barbie, who looks like she had a hell of a night, wakes up groggily in an apartment in New York. She answers the door buzzer and introduces us to Wanda, an upbeat trans woman who wants Barbie to join her shopping. Wanda notices Barbie's condition and apologises for yanking her friend out of what must have been either a good dream involving bearskin rugs and a hunk (it would be Eric Close for me - don't ask) or a dull one about homework. Yikes. Barbie reveals that she doesn't dream.

Wanda reiterates her invitation to go shopping, breezing through panel after panel like a breath of fresh air. Whether it's a debate about making coffee or the lack of milk in Barbie's fridge, Neil establishes Wanda as the best friend we all wish we had. When Wanda goes hunting for milk in the rest of the building, we are introduced to the central characters in A Game of You.

First up is Thessaly, a mousy librarian type who drinks soy milk and is a testament to how looks can be deceiving. Then we meet Hazel and Foxglove, a gay couple. After a funny, snark-filled exchange, which gives us a brief glimpse of the trio's dynamic, Wanda leaves with the cream in a cute froggy mug, encountering the last player in this tale. A creepy little incel named George who scowls and ignores Wanda's greeting.

Wanda doesn't let the man's attitude bother her and returns to Barbie's apartment to find Barbie ready for their outing, complete with checkerboard makeup on half her face.

For the first time in the issue, Morpheus makes his appearance with Matthew. Both are standing on a rather desolate shore in the Dreaming, waiting. When Matthew asks why they are here, Morpheus cannot answer, only aware that a convergence of some kind is happening, and he's been drawn to this place before it manifests. A tremor grips the Dreaming at that moment that startles Matthew. Morpheus explains that something has left one of the distant skerries of the Dreaming to enter another existence. Upon further investigation using his pouch, he discovers that one of these skerries will die after much darkness and pain. What does he plan to do about it, Matthew asks. Nothing. Skerries die all the time on the shoals of the Dreaming. Why should Morpheus do anything to stop this one?

Back in New York, Wanda and Barbie are travelling the subway. They encounter an old woman panhandling for change, which Barbie provides. A dog in the carriage provokes the woman's terror. Despite assurances by Rowley, the puppy's owner, that the animal isn't dangerous, she's in a panic, repeating her fear of dogs until the train doors open at the next stop. As she flees in terror, Wanda remarks she's just another product of their fair city. Barbie is a little more sympathetic, but Wanda advises Barbie to develop a thicker hide if she's going to survive in New York.

"This is a city of crazies. The art is not letting them get to you."

Crazy lady continues out of the subway, still hysterical from her canine encounter. When she emerges, she is confronted by a golden-haired giant, Martin Tenbones, who resembles an adorable dog/bear, and promptly faints.

Before embarking on their window shopping spree at Tiffany's, Barbie and Wanda stop at a diner for breakfast, and Wanda quizzes Barbie further on the fact she doesn't dream. Wanda counters that she must dream. Everybody does, even if Barbie doesn't remember it. Barbie reveals that when she used to, she had lucid dreams where she remembered everything. More importantly, her dreams were like a storybook, where the next chapter would be revealed the next time she slept. However, after the events in Into the Night (Issue 15 - The Doll's House) and Rose Walker's shenanigans as a dream vortex, those dreams merged, and she hasn't dreamt since.

Wanda reveals her dreams to Barbie involving the Weirdzo Lila Lake (or really Bizarro Lois Lane to anyone who reads Superman comics) and the Weirdzo world portrayed in Hyperman comics. Assuming the Sandman exists in the DC Universe, the everyday man would have only a passing knowledge of the Bizarros, and this is an excellent way to reference that.

Returning to the lack of dreams, Barbie explains to Wanda that she only has passing memories of hers, involving a big dog thing named Mr Boney and of a land in danger. The disconnection from that fantasy world after being drawn into Rose's dream vortex led to Barbie's life falling apart. Her relationship with Ken crumbled, first from lack of communication and then from physical intimacy. Ken met Sindy (ooh burn) and brought her home, worsening the situation. Thankfully, Hal (the glorious Miss Dolly) contacted Scarlett, Barbie's current landlord, who found Barbie a room in New York.

As they leave, Wanda admits she always wanted to be a Weirdzo. Weirdzo Alvin. It's the first time Wanda reveals this to Barbie, who asks if that is her real name. Wanda replies that her real name is Wanda. Alvin was just what she was born with. Oh, and if Barbie tells anyone this, she's dead meat.

Poor Martin Tenbones is going through a terrible time navigating our world. He's bruised and bloody, afraid of the surrounding skyscrapers and the people shouting at him. Please Neil, do not kill him off in the Netflix series! He prays to Princess Barbara and Murphy for deliverance even as he's cornered in a scene reminiscent of the last act in An American Werewolf in London.

Barbie and Wanda continue to talk, with Barbie explaining why she knows nothing about Weirdzo comics because her father told her it was unladylike. Bah! What would he think of her if he saw her now? On the other hand, Wanda has no contact with her family except for her Aunt Dora. The rest of the family tells friends Alvin is dead, keeping his room as a shrine while Dora talks to Wanda only so far as to admonish her for her choices.

The duo walk into a police cordon, and Barbie sees, for the first time, Martin Tenbones and recognises him. When Martin hears her call, he tries to reach her but is brutally cut down by police rifles. He heartbreakingly collapses at her feet, bleeding. As Barbie kneels beside her beloved friend, Martin reveals he came to bring her home. Even though he failed in this, she can still save The Land. He has the Porpentine for her. Before he dies, he gives her his love and reiterates his promise to remain at her side. Yes, I'm misting up just re-reading this bit. The police push Barbie away from Martin, and Wanda comes to her aid, finding a shell-shocked Barbie in tears.

Back in The Land, we see Luz, a parrot, Prinaldo, a monkey in a bellboy's outfit and Wilkinson, a rat dressed up like Sam Spade, huddled around the fire of their cave. Luz has felt Martin Tenbones death. Luz is sure Martin died without reaching the Princess. Otherwise, she would have protected him. Wilkinson thinks that if Martin is dead and the Princess isn't coming, they might consider Martin's quick death more merciful than what they may face at the Cuckoo's hands.

Wanda brings a distraught Barbie home, misreading the reasons for Barbie's distress and is wary of leaving her. However, Barbie asks to be left alone. Her encounter with Martin has been overwhelming, and she needs to process. Wanda finally goes, assuring Barbie she's just a knock against the wall if Barbie needs her. In the hallway, Wanda spots creepy George, who witnessed Barbie's return home and asks Wanda if Barbie is okay. Barbie's had a hard day, Wanda reveals after giving George some snark.

In her apartment, Barbie wrestles with the memories Martin's appearance has unlocked in her mind. Martin Tenbones, the Porpentine, The Land and finally, the Cuckoo, it's all coming back. As she tries to tell herself it's all a dream, a flock of ghost crows appear and then vanish, fracturing Barbie's fragile grasp on reality even further.

One of the ghost crows returns to creepy George in the hallways. He takes it and returns to the privacy of his apartment. Once there, he consumes or absorbs the bird. With sinister malevolence, while staring at a picture of Barbie, George reveals the children of the Cuckoo know her well.

And that's it! The first part of Game of You. More next week.

Next - Issue 32 - Lullabies on Broadway

Previous - Issue 31 - Three Septembers and a January