Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.misc
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 14:32:41 -0500 
From: "Andrew C. Plotkin" <ap1i+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Re: Sandman Thoughts!!!

Excerpts from netnews.rec.arts.comics.misc: 20-Jan-93 Sandman
Thoughts!!! U58505@uicvm.uic.edu (4575)

> By the same token, are there any atheists out there who read Sandman?
> How do you feel about Gaiman "espousing" the existence of a supreme
> god like being by implication.

It's fiction, yes? Thus no problem. (I don't believe there's a talking
head out on some Greek island, but *that* doesn't make me dislike the
comic.)

Actually, I take all of the _Sandman_ theology as metaphors for Gaiman's
ideas about people and the world. Some of them are obvious (the Endless
themselves), some are more complicated and draw on a lot of our
civilization's ideas and myths (God, Lucifer, etc.) This is why I find
_Sandman_ fascinating, even though I have no vestige of Christian
religious belief myself. (Much less any belief in Bast, Odin, Susa-no-o,
or any of the other deities that have appeared.)

> 1)  Were the Endless created by God directly or came into existence as a
>     side effect of his creations?  

The question remains open. I would say that there is no meaningful
distinction -- there are no "side effects" for an omnipotent Creator. 

> 3)  Dream tells Matthew that except for the creator, Lucifer is the most
>     powerful being in the universe.  So does this mean that the triumvirate
>     existed because Lucifer let it happen out of boredom?

Yes. Lucifer states this explicitly somewhere in the Season of Mists sequence.

> After the hosts cast Lucifer and his followers through the
> Chaoplasm (the icky goo that disfigured the defeated angels and turned them
into demons); 

I assume that chaoplasm is from some bit of Catholic theology. Gaiman
hasn't mentioned it. He may, of course, but if he doesn't then we really
shouldn't bring it into the discussion.
(Actually, you were talking about Phantom Stranger. I guess any of the
DC mature-fantasy writers could bring up that concept as an explanation
for why demons are icky. However, none have.)
Also recall that not all demons are fallen angels; I don't remember
where in _Sandman_ this is mentioned.
All of the above is nitpicking, and should not be taken as criticism of
your theory. :-)

> Points that I liked about the Season of Mists:

> 1)  Lucifer acknowledging the power behind the mark of Cain.

And then finding a way to hurt Cain anyway. Heh.

>     I loved it when he thought he was defying God and then came to
>     realize it was all part of the great plan.  That would mean that
>     he's actually rebelling for the first time, I don't think God
>     saw that one coming.

Oh really? Again, we're talking about Mr. Omniscient here.

>  So hell is now being ruled
>     by two angels, who'd a thunk it.  

I will repeat my opinion: that storyline is not finished. I believe that
Lucifer's resignation was part of some machination that will be resolved
before Gaiman leaves Sandman; and I think Lucifer will wind up back in
Hell.
BTW, every other guess I have made about the plot of Sandman has been wrong.

--Z

"And Aholibamah bare Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah: these were the borogoves..."
Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.misc