Pornsak Pichetshote, Jeff Stokely, Javier Rodríguez and Miquel Muerto join the Sandman universe in the story of the dead detective published by ECC Ediciones.
The Sandman lore has focused, or not, on some of its secondary characters, sometimes resulting in more and sometimes less connection to the parent series. After the success of Netflix’s adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s work, it seems that the platform dares to continue to look for the origin of new quality television creations in these stories. Now using the first step of the new experiment, ECC Ediciones publishes the volume Sandman Universe – The Dead Detectives.
Sandman, Origin of Stories
It’s interesting to think about how Morpheus, the protagonist of The Sandman, and his ability to create stories that come true in dreams can be interpreted as a metacomic source. “Sandman presents” tagline or something similar in the title.
The series began publication in 1989, and a few years later, serialization began to be marketed in an ongoing trick that continues to this day, turning the Sandman universe into something meaningful. To trace the origins of the dead detectives, we have to go back to issue 25 of the series, where we are introduced to the two main characters.
In the year In 1991, we find ourselves in the famous arc named after Lucifer abandons Hell and leaves Morpheus with the keys. This condition causes lost souls to wander the earth, unable to reach their dire destination, and this is the case of Edwin Payne, who was murdered in 1916, wandering around his former boarding school. There he meets Charles Rowland, a young man who soon becomes his friend, but despite his best efforts, he cannot help him avoid death.
Since then, thanks to their taste for detective novels, amateurs become detectives (and ghosts) and hire them to solve some cases. His adventures have been chronicled in several DC Comics Vertigo imprints, one of which was written by Ed Brubaker himself.
Noir, ghosts and Thai black magic
If we combine the setting of Los Angeles with the case of a missing girl and some detectives trying to solve it, it looks like we’re dealing with a classic noir story. The vision changes if we add that the detectives are not only dealing with dead children, but with a group of young Thai ghosts who have been killed in the city in recent decades.
Here on the equation we must also add the participation of the witch Thessaly, an old woman known to Gaiman readers since the time of the game of thrones, here he must fight with powerful magical forces of Thai origin (it is not strange if we take the account to Los). Angeles is the only place in the world where many Thais live outside their homeland) putting their lives at risk. And we’ll also have cameos from our favorite Forever members…
Mostly, we are treated to a horror story with some juvenile touches, as the background of which is the plot of two boys whose relationship is ups and downs and the reality that they are doomed to be eternal children beyond death.
Not only are there several characters from the pages of Gaiman’s magnum opus, but the fact that you’re immersed in the Sandman universe is noticeable many times because of the breathy tone. And even though it is a standalone story, those who enjoy this universe should beware when they realize that the plot of one character continues in another series in this universe.
with Thai flavor
Pornsak Pichetshote is an author of Thai descent, notably in two of his previous works: Unfaithful and Good Asia. It’s interesting to me that in both cases we have characters who are victims of xenophobia (a Chinese American in the first case, a Pakistani American in the second), but this is where it takes its toll. Culture. And this is exactly one of the points that support the script of this story.
Another is the author’s ability to maintain a perfect balance of different genres in his narrative. However, the plot never seems to find the spark that could make this comic something great. Given the success of productions like Wednesday, it’s easy to see why Netflix would be interested in this adaptation, but in order for the series to succeed, it needs to offer something the comic can’t.
As for the graphics department, those involved here do a great job. On the one hand, Jeff Stockley more than fulfills the style expected from Archie Comic, which works well here, especially when colored by Michael Murtaugh, one of the greats.
However, it should be noted that when we reach the number led by Mr. Javier Rodriguez, his work remains a little in the background. Once again, Javier proved to be a great illustrator, a great page setter and a gifted and unparalleled graphic narrator.
This volume is presented in hardcover, 176 color pages and includes the American edition of the limited series Sandman Universe: Dead Child Detectives, as well as covers of the included issues and a nice optional section. It covers at the end. It has a recommended retail price of €24 and goes on sale in March 2024.
Sandman Universe – Dead Detectives
Even dead people are afraid of something…
Charles Rowland and Edwin Payne have been detectives for decades…and many more years as best friends. But their investigation into the disappearance of a Thai-born girl in Los Angeles eventually leads them to confront a terrifying new Thai ghost that can haunt even a dead boy! And what’s scarier than ghosts?
Although neither of them wants to admit it, the children may be growing apart. And dangerously close to Charles and Edwin’s adventure, the witch Thessaly is possessed by a powerful spell that threatens her life and insults her ego, something she can’t answer…
Eisner Award-winning screenwriter Poornsak Picheshott and Eisner Award-nominated artist Jeff Stockley take two of the Sandman universe’s most beloved characters from the scariest place to the heart of Hollywood!
A recent series on Netflix Spain.
Authors: Pournsac Picheshotte, Jeff Stockley, Javier Rodriguez, and Mikel Murto.