Wake up, listeners! It’s a beautiful day for a walk in the park with a new episode of THE SANDMAN SLEPT HERE. Max Romero, Ryan Daly, and Paul Kien are back to discuss the story in Sandman Mystery Theatre Annual #1, featuring a ton of strange and familiar contributors on art. Who is the Mugger terrorizing people in Central Park? Why hasn’t Wes received any prophetic dreams about him? And what the hell is he wearing on his feet?!! Also, what’s with all the statues? And is that really Alex Ross in the credits?!! Find out the answer to these questions, and more! Max, Ryan, and Paul also review a special Golden Age Sandman story from Adventure Comics #47, featuring the first appearance of Dian Belmont. Plus, listener feedback and another Dream Sequence question. Check it out!
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Music: “Moonlight and Shadow” by Shep Fields and His Rippling Rhythm Orchestra featuring Bobby Goday
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Great episode. Haven’t read this in a looooooong time so forget the murderers row of artists. Is this Ross’ first work for the big 2 chronologically?
I thought the mugger was just trying to intimidate his victims hoping for a quick cash grab. And he looks like he would be short (and therefore less intimidating) without whatever he has strapped to his shoes. For me they were always meant to be cheap lifts. Same with the nail truncheon. This was just another scary thing he probably only thought he would use in defense for anyone trying to get him (like the cop).
Great list of annuals from all of you including some of my faves – Superman Annual #10 (man who has everything) and the Titans annuals (especially that first one with Starfire fighting Blackfire).
I am very torn and therefore I am going to give two answers.
First off, Swamp Thing Annual #2 by Moore, Bissette, and Totleben – Swamp Thing goes to Hell to save Abby’s soul. Moore’s first look at the mystic side of things – Phantom Stranger, Spectre, Etrigan. Almost a tour of the DC’s afterlife.
And Legion of Super-Heroes Annual #1 – very early Levitz/Giffen (maybe their first together?) – the return of Computo, the new Invisible Kid, a couple of panels teasing the Great Darkness Saga – but you can feel the magic. All those annuals – the second is Projectra marrying Karate Kid, the third is Darkseid’s Curse revisited – from Levitz/Giffen are fantastic.
Love seeing you mention the Legion Annuals, Anj. Storylines that mattered to the overall scope of the ongoing title and given the larger page count needed to play out. Great picks!
Great episode. Enjoyed all the discussion of how the stories are connected. After listening, I went back through the annual with connections in mind. I noticed a cool connection: in ch 2 when Humphries finds Wesley behind the wheel of car injured, I believe this right after Wesley gets cut/injured in ch 4. He is wearing the scarf and not gas mask in the park. If you look, Wesley is wearing a scarf. Since these are both flash backs and the nature of stories, I believe these 2 scenes in ch 2 and 4 are connected.
BTW annual is available on DC infinite. It is under omnibus in book 2.
That’s a great catch! As I was editing the episode, I had a fleeting thought that he might have passed out behind the wheel from the knife wound and I never looked close enough at the panels, and then I forgot to check it. Thanks for the comment so we can mention it next episode!
The highest compliment I can give you three is that I hadn’t the time to read the Annual or The Scorpion issues before listening to your last two episodes, but your recaps and discussion brings it all rushing back as I listen along on my long drives. You’re podcast is my favorite thing to see show up on my playlist.
As for the Golden Age Sandman portion of the show, I loved this recent one from Adventure Comics 47 introducing Dian. I wouldn’t want one every episode, as I think your discussions of the standard four-issue storylines are already a good length. But working one in here with the Annual worked incredibly well. Maybe plan more for when you need to record the Sandman Midnight Theatre one-shot, and the issues of Vertigo: Winter’s Edge with SMT short stories.
Dream Sequence Q: my favorite Annual is Marvel Two-In-One Annual #2 titled “Death Watch!” written and drawn by Jim Starlin. It was the sequel to Avengers Annual #7 which make up the finale to the Thanos War, bringing an end to Starlin’s cosmic odyssey strung together primarily through the pages of Warlock and Captain Marvel. I actually read this Annual first, fell in love with Marvel Cosmic side of the universe, and made my backward though all the other comics to learn how events led to a Thing and Spider-Man team-up comic bringing it all to a close.
I had those Jim Starlin annuals from avengers ant MTIO on my list when we started thinking about the question. I knew someone would mention them!
I may have missed it but was it mentioned that Chapter 5’s photographer Feegee must have been based on Weegee, a real-life photojournalist who chronicled the underbelly of NYC in the 30’s and 40s? Joe Pecsi played him in the move “The Public Eye” and I believe that I read that Weegee inspired the Jake Gyllenhaal movie, “Nightcrawler”.
My favorite annual: Detective Comics Annual 2 from 1989. I haven’t read it since it came out but it left an impact. It’s an early Mark Waid story that does a post-crisis rework of a silver age story as young Bruce Wayne goes to Southern master detective Harvey Harris for training and gets involved in a Faulkner-esque murder mystery.
And I vote for more golden age Sandman stories. I’ve read every issue SMT but very few of the original. I’m fine if you do it every episode.
Cool info about Feegee/Weegee. I saw “The Public Eye” when it came out, but never would’ve thought about that again.
Boy, each chapter in this annual had something fun to offer. I really enjoyed the ghost narration of The Body. That really feels like a Matt Wagner kind of story. I do wonder what a chapter narrated by Burke if it would have given a new dimension to his personality, but honestly, he gets lots of attention in the series, so maybe that’s why he didn’t get a focus in the annual.
But without a doubt, the Butler was my favorite chapter. I always gravitate to supporting characters getting the spotlight, and Humphries has been fairly undeveloped until now. And we see a man with a strong sense of honor and principle, held past jobs before working for Wesley and not a lifelong fixture, who wasn’t forced to assist the Sandman, but chooses to. In just a few pages, he went from being a trope to a fully realized character. Simply fantastic.
Paul already shouted out my favorite annual, Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1. In addition to everything he said, it’s also fascinating that every Marvel superhero at the time had a cameo in that issue, which wasn’t too hard. Imagine trying to do that today! But I’ll give an honorable mention to Avengers Annual #10. The team fights the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, debut of Rogue, guest starring Spider-Woman, cameo by the X-Men, produced by Claremont and Golden. ‘Nuff said.
I thought the golden age was fun to include. I’d say yes to more for special episodes like this one. Thanks for another great show, sleepyheads!
You asked, so I’ll answer. Yes, bring in more Golden Age Sandman stories. Not all the time. Just as a special treat. Or as an excuse to make Ryan read another story and do more work. Whatever gets me more of this wonderful show as often as possible.
Max is right. Favorite annual is indeed a hard question. Let’s see if I can limit my choices to under 10. In no particular order: Action Comics Annual #10 (with a bevy of Superman stories), Superman Annual #3 (surely you knew at least one Armageddon 2001 story would be here), Justice League of America Annual #1 (Dr. Destiny antics ahoy!), Justice League of America Annual #2 (Detroit League represent!), and while not an annual per se I’m going to include Secret Origins Special #1 here just so Ryan can relive those wonderful Bat-villain origins again. OK, so I kept it to 5 books. Fair enough? Picking favorites sure is hard.
So I think they are showing the dichotomy of the mugger. He dressed as an Allied WWI trench raider. So he has a revolver, trench club, and is wearing what appears to be an M2 gas mask with a British broodie helmet. So if a raider clearly not someone who hasn’t killed people but is trying not to with what he knows. Also the M2 would show why the gas had a hard time working as it had to make it’s way in. Plus for him WWI trench fighting would be probably one of the scariest things he can probably think of and would have PTSD from it.
Also I think he is wearing wooden pattens on his feet to show him as an immigrant and his lack of money.
Another great episode, guys! I haven’t dug out my original issues to reread as you go along, but as someone said above, you’re bringing back all the memories! (Did I buy the Compendiums? Of course I did! But those are heavy, haha)
I’m definitely in favor of the occasional spotlight on a classic Golden Age adventure, sticking to the suit-and-mask adventures of course.
As for the question about favorite annuals, I have a few that stand out in my memory despite it being ages since I’ve reread them. If I can only pick one, I think I have to go with All-Star Squadron Annual 1, the one where we find out that the same coach, Joe Morgan, mentored Al Pratt, Ted Grant, and Jim Harper (who of course went on to become The Atom, Wildcat, and The Guardian). But if I can have more than one: DC Comics Presents Annual 1 (where the Earth-1 and Earth-2 Supermen fight both Luthors and Ultraman from Earth-3). Actually give me all four DCCP Annuals — numbers 2 and 4 being sequels to one of my favorite novels, Elliot S! Maggin’s Superman: Miracle Monday and #3 being a Superman/Captain Marvel team-up which I’m never able to resist. On the Marvel side: Marvel Two-In-One Annual 1, where the Thing time travels and meets the Liberty Legion.
Oh, and how can we not mention All-Star Squadron Annual 2, the Ian Karkull story! (Shagg’s ears are turning red, I’m sure…)
Shang-a-lang -quote the bay city rollers (I’ve bin listening to bay city rollers , monkees & Beatles .)
Any ways first to answer your question: yes when you can yes keep the sandman golden age stories when you can they are part of his past .
Now to answer your second question two annuals come mind Star Wars annual 2 with Han Solo on cover , and nick furry’s howling commandos
Annual 2.
I’ve bin on marvel kick
Also I know this is JSA podcast
But got secret dream question for every one
Willam shakes sphere once said to sleep for a perchance to dream….”
So speaking of dreaming what is your favorite what if and else world issues ?
For me it’s
1. What if wolverine had become a agent of
Shield.
2. Else world issue: though it wasn’t titled
A else world it’s silver age Batman story
But there is Batman story that when
It ends the writer takes us to earth
Prime and shows a alternate take on the tale where Batman dies and Robin finishes, the case
And earth 2 Alfred and Batman show up Batman show up . Did Batman never visit earth prime ?
Note if you need a proper else world Batman vampire.
Another fantastic episode! Really enjoyed the Golden Age story coverage, probably because of how it echoes forward to the Mystery Theatre comic. So if you can find other Golden Age stories that echo forward as well, would love to hear that coverage.
Regarding the dream question of favorite annuals, I’ll echo Max’s love of X-Men annuals – in particular X-Men Annual #9 by Chris Claremont and Art Adams, which is part of “The Asgardian Wars”, along with New Mutants Special #1. So good!
But my all time favorite annual is Blue Devil Summer Fun Annual #1! Such a fun romp and adventure. In addition to silly magic hijinks, it also includes pinups and even a board game for kids to play. It really understood that Annuals were supposed to be something truly special and fun.
Thanks for a fun listen and keep up the great work!