History Characters / TheSandmanSuperheroes

For information about him as Silver Scarab, go [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Characters/Hawkman here]]

Neil Gaiman's ''ComicBook/TheSandman'' revealed that some mortals were affected by the cosmic imbalance resulting from Dream of the Endless' imprisonment during the 20th century. Dodds held a piece of the Dreaming inside him, and this was the cause of his prophetic dreams. Dodds also had his own 1930s-set Vertigo series, ''ComicBook/SandmanMysteryTheatre''.

* GoOutWithASmile: He knew his death was coming and was completely content with it, wanting to be with his wife again. He even says he's gleefully excited for it.

* [[MilitarySuperHero Ex-Military Super Hero]]: Wesley was a military aviator before becoming a costumed crime-fighter. He keeps in contact with former members of his unit, who are aware that he's now the Sandman.

First appeared in ''"Adventure Comics''" #69 (December, 1941), created by Mort Weisinger and Paul Norris. Assumed the Sandman mantle in ''"Justice Society of America'" vol. 3 #1 (February, 2007). The original "Sandy the Golden Boy", nephew of Wesley Dodds. He grew up into the first chairman of the modern incarnation of the ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica, leading the team through many adventures. He gained super-powers and, after Wesley's death, inherited his prophetic dreams, but eventually got written out as the writer-switch between David Goyer and Creator/GeoffJohns went underway, disappearing into the Earth for a while, and losing his leadership position to Mr. Terrific. He eventually changed his name to the Sandman like his mentor.

* RichIdiotWithNoDayJob: Averted at first. Wesley Dodds is very rich, but he's doesn't even pretend to be an idiot, and he does in fact have a job as a corporate executive, at least early in the series. Once the writer and artist change about six issues into the run, Wes becomes the standard "wealthy playboy" in the Bruce Wayne mold.

* WeekendInventor: Though his "hobby" is fighting crime, Wesley is also an inventor, mainly of weapons. His very first story has him turning the plans for a "ray gun" over to the government, and he also carries a gas gun and sleeping gas of his own invention. Later on, he would invent the "wirepoon" and ultimately the silicon gun that would have a catastrophic effect on Sandy.

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Other than Dream of the Endless, the Sandman was also the name of several superheroes from the Golden Age to the Modern Age.

First appeared in ''"New York World's Fair Comics''" #1 (April, 1939), created by Gardner Fox and Bert Christman. One of the first superheroes of the 20th century, Wesley Dodds was plagued with prophetic dreams that impelled him to fight crime. He invented a sleeping-gas gun and "wirepoon" (a gun-mounted grappling hook) to help him in his cause and became a founding member of the ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica. Shortly before the refounding of the modern JSA, the 86 year old Wesley Dodds committed suicide to prevent the EvilSorcerer [[Comicbook/LegionOfSuperHeroes Mordru]] from extracting important information from him; his funeral set the stage for the JSA's rebirth.\\

Neil Gaiman's ''ComicBook/TheSandman'' revealed that as a result of Dream of the Endless' imprisonment during the 20th century, some mortals were affected by the cosmic imbalance. Dodds held a piece of the Dreaming inside him, and this was the cause of his prophetic dreams. Dodds also had his own, 1930s-set Vertigo series ''ComicBook/SandmanMysteryTheatre''.

* BadassNormal: Besides his prophetic dreams, he had no powers just his sleeping gas and other gadgets to fight with alongside characters like Franchise/{{Superman}}.

* {{Expy}}: He didn't start out this way, but once Sandman switched costumes and got a kid sidekick, he was essentially an expy of Batman.

* GenreShift: The Sandman started out as more pulp adventure than superhero, but the tone shifted over time, eventually culminating in a costume change and an all out embracing of superhero comics.

* GoodCostumeSwitch: In Adventure Comics #68, Wesley is still fighting crime in his fedora, suit and gas mask. In issue #69, he's in a yellow and purple spandex suit fighting giant bees with his wirepoon, and he gains a kid sidekick. There's no reason given in-story at all, though in real life the character was simply adjusted to be more like the popular Batman and Superman.
* GrapplingHookPistol: the Wirepoon, the Sandman's second signature weapon after he abandons the gas gun. Decades before a grappling gun became standard equipment for Batman, the Sandman was using one.

* Ex- MilitarySuperHero: Wesley was a military aviator before becoming a costumed crime-fighter. He keeps in contact with former members of his unit, who are aware that he's now the Sandman.

* NonPoweredCostumedHero: Wesley has no superpowers. His costume at first is a business suit with a cape and gas-mask, but later he goes all out with a gold and purple superhero costume.

* SuperheroesWearTights: Averted at first with the hat, suit and gas mask combo, but later played straight when Sandman switched to the yellow and purple spandex, complete with kid sidekick.
* TripleShifter: when does Wesley sleep?

* WeekendInventor: though his "hobby" is fighting crime, Wesley is also an inventor, mainly of weapons. His very first story has him turning the plans for a "ray gun" over to the government, and he also carries a gas gun and sleeping gas of his own invention. Later on, he would invent the "wirepoon" and ultimately the silicon gun that would have a catastrophic effect on Sandy.
* WhereDoesHeGetAllThoseWonderfulToys: he invented them himself.

First appeared in ''"Sandman''" vol. 1 #1 (Winter, 1974), created by Creator/JackKirby and Joe Simon. Originally supposed to be the Sandman of legend, this bizarre character patrolled the "Dream Stream" to fight nightmares with the aid of two dreams named Brute and Glob, often helping out a young boy named Jed. After his short-lived series ended, it was {{Retcon}}ned that he was actually a psychologist named Garrett Sanford whose mind was trapped in a "Dream Dimension" while his physical body was in a coma. An appearance in ''ComicBook/InfinityInc'' revealed that Sanford had gone insane after his last appearance and committed suicide. Gaiman's ''Sandman'', finally, revealed that Brute and Glob were rogue nightmares from the Dreaming who were running amok in Morpheus's absence, the Dream Dimension was a pocket universe they created inside the mind of Jed Walker, and Sanford was just a plaything for them.

First appeared as Silver Scarab in ''"All-Star Squadron''" #25 (September, 1983). Became the Sandman in ''"Infinity, Inc.'" #49 (May, 1988). After Garrett Sanford's death, DC superhero Silver Scarab--the son of the GoldenAge ComicBook/{{Hawkman}}--had his soul stuck in Sanford's body (long story) and his mind filling the same role under Brute and Glob. His wife, Lyta "the Fury" Hall, went to live with him in the Dream Dimension, and there they conceived Daniel Hall, who would later replace Morpheus as Dream. After Morpheus escaped his captivity, he destroyed the Dream Dimension, causing Hector's spirit to depart the mortal plane.

Hector Hall was later reincarnated as the new ComicBook/DoctorFate and joined the JSA, only to be killed again by ComicBook/TheSpectre. His soul now resides in the Dreaming alongside his once-son, Dream/Daniel.

* {{Brainwashed}}: Like Lyta, Hector was brainwashed into compliance with Brute and Glob's schemes. In his case he became a stereotypical [[TheCape Cape]] who had wacky adventures.

* NoAnimosityInTheAfterlife: He no longer has the perpetual chip on his shoulder he did in life...of course he's not really his old self at all, thanks to Brute and Glob's influence.
* TookALevelInDumbass: Was completely oblivious to the fact that his wife had been pregnant for about two years, and when it was finally brought to his attention, he didn't really give much thought to it. Really, Hall's mentality had slightly devolved as his wife drifted away from reality. He went from a competent superhero to one who fought rather nonsensical battles against bizarrely weak villains.

First appeared in ''"Adventure Comics''" #69 (December, 1941), created by Mort Weisinger and Paul Norris. Assumed the Sandman mantle in ''"Justice Society of America'" vol. 3 #1 (February, 2007). The original "Sandy the Golden Boy", nephew of Wesley Dodds. Grew up into the first chairman of the modern incarnation of the ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica, leading the team through many adventures. He gained super-powers and, after Wesley's death, inherited his prophetic dreams, but eventually got written out as the writer-switch between David Goyer & Creator/GeoffJohns went underway, disappearing into the Earth for a while, and losing his leadership position to Mr. Terrific. Eventually changed his name to the Sandman like his mentor.

* DishingOutDirt: Gains these powers after the first arc thanks to his past as a silica-based creature, thus becoming decent in a fight rather than a BadassNormal.
* LegacyCharacter: Of the original Sandman, Wesley Dodds.
* OutOfFocus: ''Heavily'' out of focus. People tend to forget that he was even ''on'' the JSA. He shows up to have a fortuitous dream, but rarely gets involved in any fights. And he was once the leader and main character of the book.

First appeared in ''New York World's Fair Comics'' #1, created by Gardner Fox and Bert Christman. One of the first superheroes of the 20th century, Wesley Dodds was plagued with prophetic dreams that impelled him to fight crime. He invented a sleeping-gas gun and "wirepoon" (a gun-mounted grappling hook) to help him in his cause and became a founding member of the ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica. Shortly before the refounding of the modern JSA, Wesley Dodds committed suicide to prevent the EvilSorcerer [[Comicbook/LegionOfSuperHeroes Mordru]] from extracting important information from him; his funeral set the stage for the JSA's rebirth.

Gaiman's ''Sandman'' revealed that as a result of Dream's imprisonment during the 20th century, some mortals were affected by the cosmic imbalance. Dodds held a piece of the Dreaming inside him, and this was the cause of his prophetic dreams. Dodds also had his own, 1930s-set Vertigo series ''ComicBook/SandmanMysteryTheatre''.

* BadassNormal: His prophetic dreams were the only power he had.

* DemotedToExtra: Reading ''ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica'' can be a bit jarring if you're a fan of ''ComicBook/SandmanMysteryTheatre''. After the Golden Age Sandman spent years as the hero of his own cult classic series, he's reduced to a mere scene-filler in JSA.
* GasMaskLongcoat: The UrExample.

First appeared in ''New York World's Fair Comics'' #1, created by Gardner Fox and Bert Christman. One of the first superheroes of the 20th century, Wesley Dodds was plagued with prophetic dreams that impelled him to fight crime. He invented a sleeping-gas gun and "wirepoon" (a gun-mounted grappling hook) to help him in his cause and became a founding member of the ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica. Shortly before the refounding of the modern JSA, Wesley Dodds committed suicide to prevent the EvilSorcerer [[Comicbook/{{Legion of Super-Heroes}} Mordru]] from extracting important information from him; his funeral set the stage for the JSA's rebirth.

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Before Neil Gaiman's ''ComicBook/TheSandman'', the Sandman was the name of several superheroes.