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in: Comics, Vertigo, 1993, 1993, April

Sandman Mystery Theatre Vol 1 1

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Sandman Mystery Theater 1

Sandman Mystery Theater #1

The Tarantula (Act I of IV)

"When heroes are clowns who jump, run and hop – no honour in service ne'er doctor nor cop."
--The Sandman


Summary

Volume: 1
Issue: 1
Month: April
Year: 1993

Credits

Editor in Chief: Jenette Kahn
Head Writer: Matt Wagner
Cover Artists: Gavin Wilson and Richard Bruning
Pencilers: Guy Davis
Inkers: Guy Davis
Colourists: David Hornung
Editors: Matt Wagner, Shelly Roeberg and Karen Berger

Synopsis

Cast of Characters:

Locations:

Items:

First Appearances: Albert Goldman (a gangster); Catherine van der Meer (a socialite); Celia Goldman (Albert Goldman's daughter); Charlie Malloy (a cab driver); Lenny Green (a gangster); Miriam Goldman (Albert Goldman's wife); Moses Berman (a gangster); Pascal (a police officer); Roger Goldman (Albert Goldman's son); Ross O'Donald (a police detective); Solly (a dishwasher); Tarantula (a kidnapper); Thomas Schaffer (a retired judge);

Final Appearances: Pascal; Solly

Synopsis:
1938
District attorney Larry Belmont engages in an argument with his daughter, Dian. Larry doesn't want Dian going out for the evening, but Dian reminds him that she is an adult now, and not a little girl any longer. Dian storms out of the house and Larry retreats to his study. Inside, he finds the Sandman skulking about the office. The Sandman douses Belmont with a blast of sleeping gas and leaves the brownstone.

Dian meanwhile goes to a jazz club where she meets her friend, Catherine van der Meer. After several hours of drinking and dancing, they take a taxi home.

That evening, Wesley Dodds, recently returned from abroad, attends a fundraising campaign where he meets district attorney Belmont and Dian. He also meets his father's old friend, retired judge Thomas Schaffer. Belmont learns that somebody has abducted Catherine van der Meer. The kidnapper leaves a calling card, referring to himself as the Tarantula. Larry informs Dian, and Wesley overhears the conversation. He races back to his manor to investigate the matter as the Sandman.

Meanwhile, former mob leader, Albert Goldman welcomes several old colleagues into his home. Moses Berman and Lenny Green meet Goldman's wife, Miriam, and children, Roger and Celia. Celia acts flirtatious and her brother looks on scornfully. Nobody notices the Sandman lurking outside the brownstone windows.

After spying on the Goldmans for a short time, Wesley pays a visit to the Belmont brownstone. While he converses with Dian, he overhears Larry talking about a second victim. Wes leaves, and Dian accompanies her father to the police station. Dian steps into the station and restroom and finds the Sandman.

Notes

  • Sandman Mystery Theater is an ongoing series published under DC Comics' Vertigo imprint. Each issue is marked with a "Suggested for Mature Readers" warning.
  • This issue is reprinted in Sandman Mystery Theater: The Tarantula (trade paperback).
  • This is the earliest chronlogical appearance of Wesley Dodds - the Sandman. This storyline takes place in the year 1938 and partially revamps the Sandman story chronicled in Adventure Comics #40. The two tales should be considered as separate stories however, as the Tarantula that appears in Adventure Comics #40 makes return appearances in the pages of the All-Star Squadron, while the Tarantula from Sandman Mystery Theater makes his final appearance in issue #4.
  • The Tarantula from this story should also not be confused with Jonathan Law, the crime-fighting member of the All-Star Squadron, or the above mentioned Golden Age villain, Crossart.
  • This storyline presents the first meeting between Wesley Dodds and Dian Belmont. Wes and Dian will become lifelong companions, sharing many adventures together. In time, Dian will come to learn that Wes is also the Sandman.
  • This issue establishes that Wesley Dodds has only recently returned to New York City after spending a great deal of time in the Orient.
  • Although they both share the same alias, Wesley Dodds has almost no connection to Dream of the Endless. However, Dream is responsible for Wesley's penchant for prophetic dreaming, as revealed in Sandman: Midnight Theater #1.
  • Charlie Malloy is the taxi-cab driver that drives Dian and Catherine home. He is not referenced by name until issue #2.
  • Ross O'Donald is a police detective. He is referenced only as O'Donald in this issue. His first name is not provided until issue #2.
  • Moses Berman is referenced only as Mister Berman in this issue. His first name is not provided until issue #3.

Trivia

  • Although Wesley Dodds is an American, he demonstrates certain European grammatical traits in the prose that he writes; example: he writes the word honour instead of honor.
  • Several real-world personalities make guest appearances in this issue.
  • Bugsy Siegel and Meyer Lansky were both famous underworld gangsters whose careers have been documented in both books and film.

Recommended Readings

  • Adventure Comics
  • All-Star Comics
  • All-Star Squadron
  • Sandman Mystery Theater
  • The Shadow Strikes

Related Articles

External Links

References



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—		 Sandman Mystery Theater
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Sandman #2
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