Mr. Sandman: The Dream Lord Awakens

By Robert Jeschonek

A new master of dreams rules the night, battling nightmares from beyond the edge of reality! The godlike Dream Lord keeps the Dream Zone safe from the terrors of the night. But when the Bogeyman strikes, Dream Lord meets his greatest enemy, a force of evil determined to turn all existence into a nightmare from which no one will ever awaken. Dream Lord declares war, but Bogeyman buries him under the weight of his own secrets. Can Dream Lord overcome his own dark past to redeem his tragic soul and become the true hero and legend he needs to be? Can he triumph over Bogeyman and make the Dream Zone safe for humanity? As the sins of his past bring Dream Lord to his knees, an unexpected ally from the razor's edge of sanity could be the only hope for his future. Don't miss this exciting graphic novel script by award-winning storyteller and DC Comics writer Robert Jeschonek, a master of unique and unexpected superhero adventures that really pack a punch. The author of the FORCED HEROICS stories brings you another epic saga of twisted heroes and villains unlike any you've ever met.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Robert Jeschonek
• Release date: Dec 11, 2018
• ISBN: 9781301900817

Book preview

Part One

MERRILY, MERRILY, MERRILY, MERRILY, LIFE IS BUT A DREAM

Page 1 (5 panels)

Page 1 panel 1

Medium shot of two couples playing bridge around a card table. Both couples are in their late 40s. One of the wives is quite heavy.

Narrator: Like I was saying, it was the wife's bridge night, and we had these jerks over from next door. Ed from Topglo, you know, and his pig wife Adella. He tried to shoot her last year, remember? He should'a used a harpoon.

Page 1 panel 2

Medium shot of wife waving goodbye to one couple as they walk out the door

Narrator: I finally managed to get rid of them with my act...you know, I'm just sittin' there playin' cards and the next minute I grab my chest and groan like I'm havin' a heart attack. I'm turnin' blue and kickin' the table, and I grunt I need my heart pills. It never fails, buddy! They got this crazy look on their faces and they both jumped up to help me to the bathroom. That broke up the bridge game pretty quick.

Page 1 panel 3

Medium shot of wife screaming at husband

Narrator: Of course, Bev knew what I was up to. She was really mad, screamed bloody murder and locked me out of the bedroom. I had a good laugh at the bitch, went downstairs and watched ESPN all night.

Page 1 panel 4

Closeup of guy's face, sound asleep in front of TV set in dark living room

Narrator: Sometime, I conked out, though. Out like a light, missed the end of the field hockey game. Y'know, Tommy, I had the weirdest damn dream...

Page 1 panel 5

Large splash panel, wide shot of the Dream Lord, in his original red and gold costume from the 1970s. He is riding in an open convertible, standing and waving as he is carried through a huge, smiling crowd and a tickertape parade.

Narrator: I dreamed I was king of the world.

Page 2 (5 panels)

Page 2 panel 1

Narrator: I was in a big parade, with confetti flyin' all over the place and people laughin' and cheerin'. I felt like the astronauts when they got back from the moon, or Jack Kennedy.

The Dream Lord leans down from the car and shakes hands of people in the crowd.

Page 2 panel 2

Narrator: Everyone was giving me money, big wads of bills with the faces of presidents I'd never seen on money before. And they threw coins, bucketfuls of gold and silver coins like a shiny shower in the street.

Closeup of the smiling Dream Lord, holding out arms as money washes over him.

Page 2 panel 3

Narrator: They gave me a crown and a robe, too, and they fit just right. I held up my arms, like I was champion, like I just won a boxing match. Dream Lord, now wearing a luxurious red velvet cape and sparkling crown, stretches his arms toward the sky.

Page 2 panel 4

Narrator: And everybody yelled my name. Over and over, all those thousands of people kept repeating my name and jumpin' around...King Murray, King Murray, King Murray.

Wide shot of the crowd chanting and waving excitedly

Page 2 panel 5

Narrator: Then, I was suddenly in another city, bigger than the first and full of Chinese, and they were all dancin' and shoutin' my name, too.

Wide shot of the Dream Lord in a rickshaw, surrounded by cheering Chinese

Page 2 panel 6

Narrator: And then I was in Africa, in a city full'a Blacks, and they were doin' the same thing. All whoopin' and reachin' for the king...me.

Wide shot of the Dream Lord on the back of an elephant, parading through streets of an African city full of adorers.

Page 2 panel 7

Narrator: Next, I was in this castle, this great big castle with gold everywhere and all the food and booze I wanted.

Medium shot of the Dream Lord on an ornate throne in a palace, smiling and looking at tables of food and drink, with servants hustling around attending him

Page 2 panel 8

Narrator: I could have anything, anything I asked for.

Closeup of the Dream Lord's lips as he speaks

Dream Lord: I want a family.

Page 3 (8 panels)

Page 3 panel 1

Narrator: I had a beautiful wife, and these perfect kids.

The Dream Lord hugs a lovely, blonde wife, while three smiling, blonde kids stand politely before him.

Page 3 panel 2

Closeup of the Dream Lord's face.

Narrator: But there was more.

Dream Lord: I want sex.

Page 3 panel 3

Narrator: I had harems, rooms full of the most beautiful women in the world, all just for me.

Medium shot of the Dream Lord sprawled on pillows in an Arabian harem, kissing a scantily-dressed slave girl while others dance around him.

Page 3 panel 4

Narrator: I was king of the world! I didn't have to take no crap from anybody! I could do anything I wanted!

Dream Lord: I want to fly.

Page 3 panel 5

Narrator: I felt better than I ever felt in my life, strong and young and able to take on anything or anyone! I jumped up in the sky and flew like a 747 over the whole world! It was all mine!

Dream Lord is soaring through blue sky and wispy clouds, his face contemplative and godlike.

Page 3 panel 6

Narrator: Boy, it was somethin' else. And so real! What's that, buddy? Dream Lord: I want rain!

Thunder booms and rain pours down around the flying, costumed figure.

Page 3 panel 7

Narrator: Aw, hey Tommy...quit laughin', huh?

Dream Lord: Lightning! I want lightning!

Huge bolts of lightning flash around the Dream Lord.

Page 3 panel 8

Dream Lord: (bolts of energy shooting from his fingertips) Ha ha ha! I am like a god! (He is laughing and shouting hysterically.)

Narrator: I can dream, can't I?

Page 4 (10 panels)

Page 4 panel 1

Bogg and Gorr, two nightmarish creatures, are standing below their cavorting master, watching him. They are bathed in light from the flashing lightning bolts above. Bogg is a bald, green-skinned gargoyle creature with massive muscles, bulging black eyes, and leathery, ragged black wings. Gorr looks like a gnarled brown hairball with bright red eyes and scrawny arms and legs.

Gorr: He's crazy, Bogg. He's finally going over the deep end.

Bogg: Relax, worrywart. He's always been crazy.

Page 4 panel 2

Gorr: True. Not this crazy, though. He's zoning out, losing control.

Bogg: Aw, blow it out yer halo, Goody Two-Shoes! He's the Boss! He's Numero Uno, King of the Hill! Yeah, he's loony as a lemming, all right, but in this place, he's always in control.

Bogg and Gorr continue to watch the Dream Lord from below.

Page 4 panel 3

Closeup of the Dream Lord, floating on fluffy green clouds, surrounded by weird, winged creatures, flying fish and snakes, fairies. He is ecstatic in his power.

Bogg (off-panel): He's the Dream Lord!

Page 4 panel 4

Gorr: You big goof! He's completely whacked! While he gets lost in his own private Disneyland, things are happening! Remember what we saw? Big problems are on the way, and he won't be ready for them!

Page 4 panel 5

Bogg: Aw, the Dream Lord can handle anything! No problem's too big for our boy!

Gorr: You stupid boob! Things are about to come apart! Everything! Including him! Damn!

Page 4 panel 6

Gorr: He's completely oblivious. Like a baby on a railroad track.

The Dream Lord spins gleefully through the air, heading for a landing near his two creatures.

Page 4 panel 7

The Dream Lord drops lightly to the ground beside Bogg and Gorr, holding out a bouquet of flowers.

Dream Lord: My friends! Greetings! Have a posy, please. I picked them myself...or should I say, I made them myself!

Bogg (reaching for a flower): Gee, thanks, Dream Lord!

Page 4 panel 8

Gorr: And on the seventh day, you made hay fever.

Dream Lord: Ha ha! Wrong, Gorr! On the seventh day, I rented a condo in Bermuda! Air conditioning, running hot water, and a bit of the bubbly...

(He waves his hand at the bouquet, and light flashes.)

Page 4 panel 9

Dream Lord: ...Like so! An excellent vintage, wouldn't you agree?

The bouquet transforms into a beautiful, black-haired woman, devotedly wrapped around the Dream Lord.

Bogg: Hee hee! That's a good one, Dream Lord! See, dummy, I toldja' he wasn't crazy!

Page 4 panel 10

Startled, Dream Lord looks down at Gorr, who kicks Bogg in the behind.

Dream Lord: What's this? You think I'm crazy, Gorr?

Gorr: Aw, fooey! You fig-brain! You got the tact of a rabid moose in heat! Numbskull!

Page 5 (6 panels)

Page 5 panel 1

Dream Lord: No, stop it, Gorr. Are you concerned about me? Bogg did the right thing in bringing it up.

Bogg: Yeah, I did right. See? (He leans on the Dream Lord and sticks his tongue out at Gorr.)

Gorr: Well...

Page 5 panel 2

Gorr: ...yeah, as a matter of fact. You're spending all your time playing around, creating your own little fantasy world. You don't patrol the Dream Zone anymore, or watch the Dream Screens. Things are happening..

Page 5 panel 3

Dream Lord (patting Gorr and smiling condescendingly): Now, now, take it easy. I don't have to patrol, little guy, or even look at those screens. I have unlimited power here, remember? I'm practically omnipotent and omnipresent. I'm aware of everything that occurs in the Dream Zone, even the tiniest change!

Page 5 panel 4

Dream Lord: And can you blame me for having a little fun? This is a high-pressure job, fellas, guarding the dreams of all humanity! Plus, I'm all alone here, except for you two. I have the power, so why not whip up a little pleasure? I'm entitled to my fantasy world. This is all a fantasy world, right? It's the Dream Zone! Nothing here is real! It's like the song says, guys...

Page 5 panel 5

Large panel as Dream Lord strolls off into the Dream Base headquarters, a lovely girl on each arm, a servant lifting his cape, tiny creatures fluttering around him.

Dream Lord (singing): Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream...

TITLE: ...Merrily, Merrily, Merrily, Merrily, Life is But a Dream!

Page 5 panel 6

A small panel, within panel 5, or off to the side of the title and credits -- Gorr is throwing a fit because he failed to bring the Dream Lord to his senses.

Gorr: Dream Lord! Dream Lord! Awww, nuts!

Page 6 (10 panels)

Page 6 panel 1

Wide shot of the Dream Lord walking through an ornate entrance into the Dream Base. The huge first room he enters looks like a grand European ballroom, filled with an incongruous mix of opulent artifacts and futuristic technology. A crowd of people is gathered in the room; they are all dressed in the style of the 17th century European aristocracy, complete with huge, powdered wigs. They are mulling about, apparently having some sort of party. As the Dream Lord enters, one of the people calls out to him.

Guy: Oh, Dream Lord!

Dream Lord: Hello! What is it, my friends?

Page 6 panel 2

Lady: We just thought you should know, sir...

Phelps: You really are quite remarkable, sir!

Other Guy: Hear, hear!

Page 6 panel 3

Closeup of the Dream Lord's pleased and flattered face as the crowd applauds in the background.

Dream Lord: Why, thank you, Phelps, everyone. That means a lot to me. You didn't have to.

Page 6 panel 4

Phelps: Actually, sir, we did.

Page 6 panel 5

A silent closeup of the Dream Lord's face as he ponders what his creation has said. His expression is unchanged from before--proud, happy, flattered--but there is something beneath that, as if once again he senses the depth of his loneliness in the Dream Zone.

Page 6 panel 6