Who was the first Sandman (from DC) you ever read about?

Who was the first character called "Sandman" you ever read about in a DC (or Vertigo) comic book?[size=1]
(And, no, we're not concerned with the William Baker / Flint Marko character from Marvel Comics.)[/size]

Using my memory and additional help from [i]Wikipedia[/i], these appear to be the characters who have been known by the name "Sandman" at some point in comic books from DC (or Vertigo):[indent]* [b]Wesley Dodd/Dodds[/b] - first appearance in [i]Adventure Comics #40[/i] (July 1939)
* [b]Garrett Sanford[/b] - first appeared [i]The Sandman #1[/i] (Winter 1974); identity as Garrett Sanford in [i]Wonder Woman #300[/i] (Feb. 1983)
* [b]Hector Hall[/b] - originally the Silver Scarab; revealed to have taken over Sanford's Sandman role in [i]Infinty Inc. #50[/i] (May 1988)
* [b]Dream / Morpheus[/b] - [i]The Sandman #1[/i] (January 1989); originally DC / later an imprint of Vertigo
* [b]Daniel Hall[/b] - son of Hector Hall; took over for Dream / Morpheus in [i]Sandman #69[/i] (July 1995)
* (Sanderson) [b]"Sandy" Hawkins[/b] - originally the Golden Age sidekick to Wes Dodds' Sandman, later gained silicon-based abilities and eventually was known as "Sand". Still later, as part of the JSA, gained abilities similar to Wes Dodds in terms of prophetic dreams. Eventually began dressing in a costume similar to Dodds original outfit and became known as Sandman
* [b]Col. Larry Wilton[/b] - from the 2002 one-shot [i]Just Imagine Stan Lee With Walter Simonson Creating Sandman[/i]
* [b]Kieran Marshall[/b] - from the 2007 [i]Sandman Mystery Theatre: Sleep of Reason[/i] mini-series[/indent]

So, which was the first "Sandman" of these that you read about in a comic book from DC / Vertigo?
(For those characters that weren't originally called "Sandman" when they first appeared, please base your response on when they were first referred to as "Sandman".)

My first experience with the Sandman "Franchise" was when reading the trade paperback for [I]The Season of the Mist [/I] story-arc. I don't think it occurred to me it was connected to the DC Universe.

I was aware of Wesley Dodds before Morpheus, but the first actual Sandman comics I read were Gaiman's so a vote for Dream.

[QUOTE=Hilden B. Lade;2937759]I was aware of Wesley Dodds before Morpheus, but the first actual Sandman comics I read were Gaiman's so a vote for Dream.[/QUOTE]But did you read any comic book stories with Wes Dodds before reading the Gaiman [I]Sandman[/I] comic books?
(After all, Wes had gone without a regular comic book feature for a [FONT=Comic Sans MS]loooooooooong[/FONT] time after the Golden Age ended.)

[QUOTE=MajorHoy;2937805]But did you read any comic book stories with Wes Dodds before reading the Gaiman [I]Sandman[/I] comic books?
(After all, Wes had gone without a regular comic book feature for a [FONT=Comic Sans MS]loooooooooong[/FONT] time after the Golden Age ended.)[/QUOTE]

Not to my recollection. Bulk of my exposure to Sandman prior to reading the Gaiman series came from a book about comics that I had checked out from the library. I don't recall the title, but it was an A-Z encyclopedia sort of book.

Wesley Dodd/Dodds from the Annual JLA/JSA crossovers.

[QUOTE=MajorHoy;2937717]Who was the first character called "Sandman" you ever read about in a DC (or Vertigo) comic book?[size=1]
(And, no, we're not concerned with the William Baker / Flint Marko character from Marvel Comics.)[/size]

Using my memory and additional help from [i]Wikipedia[/i], these appear to be the characters who have been known by the name "Sandman" at some point in comic books from DC (or Vertigo):[indent]* [b]Wesley Dodd/Dodds[/b] - first appearance in [i]Adventure Comics #40[/i] (July 1939)
* [b]Garrett Sanford[/b] - first appeared [i]The Sandman #1[/i] (Winter 1974); identity as Garrett Sanford in [i]Wonder Woman #300[/i] (Feb. 1983)
* [b]Hector Hall[/b] - originally the Silver Scarab; revealed to have taken over Sanford's Sandman role in [i]Infinty Inc. #50[/i] (May 1988)
* [b]Dream / Morpheus[/b] - [i]The Sandman #1[/i] (January 1989); originally DC / later an imprint of Vertigo
* [b]Daniel Hall[/b] - son of Hector Hall; took over for Dream / Morpheus in [i]Sandman #69[/i] (July 1995)
* (Sanderson) [b]"Sandy" Hawkins[/b] - originally the Golden Age sidekick to Wes Dodds' Sandman, later gained silicon-based abilities and eventually was known as "Sand". Still later, as part of the JSA, gained abilities similar to Wes Dodds in terms of prophetic dreams. Eventually began dressing in a costume similar to Dodds original outfit and became known as Sandman
* [b]Col. Larry Wilton[/b] - from the 2002 one-shot [i]Just Imagine Stan Lee With Walter Simonson Creating Sandman[/i]
* [b]Kieran Marshall[/b] - from the 2007 [i]Sandman Mystery Theatre: Sleep of Reason[/i] mini-series[/indent]

So, which was the first "Sandman" of these that you read about in a comic book from DC / Vertigo?
(For those characters that weren't originally called "Sandman" when they first appeared, please base your response on when they were first referred to as "Sandman".)[/QUOTE]

[center]This is a photo of the first [B]Sandman[/B] comic I read in the 1980's. I was about 5 and I liked the giant cat. Lol.

[IMG]http://i64.tinypic.com/2bcsuh.jpg[/IMG]

I don't have the cover anymore (my brother did not take care of his stuff all that well), but I'm pretty sure it's from this:

[img]https://d1466nnw0ex81e.cloudfront.net/n_iv/600/1605614.jpg[/img]

Saw this ad when I was in junior high; thought it looked cool:

[IMG]http://i65.tinypic.com/2ro2a37.jpg[/IMG][/center]

10 characters

[img]https://myfavouritefunnies.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/jla94goldenage-original.gif[/img]

Wesley for me. I can't remember if it was a JLA/JSA team-up, a reprint of a JSA story, oer a sandman reprint in one of the Kirby 4th World books.

But Morpheus was the first I followed. Sandman Mystery Theatre brought me back into Dodds' corner.

[QUOTE=Jim Kelly;2937928][img]https://myfavouritefunnies.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/jla94goldenage-original.gif[/img][/QUOTE]Since that appears to be a b&w reproduction of a page that appeared in color in [I]Justice League of America #94[/I] (November 1971)
[img]https://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/marvel_dc/images/a/ae/JLA_v.1_94.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20081227154140[/img]

does that mean you saw this in
[img]https://static.comicvine.com/uploads/scale_small/6/67663/2898734-05.jpg[/img]
?

The first I can vividly remember reading was Daniel in JLA but it's possible I came across Wesley Dodds before that.

[QUOTE=MajorHoy;2938032]Since that appears to be a b&w reproduction of a page that appeared in color in [I]Justice League of America #94[/I] (November 1971)
[img]https://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/marvel_dc/images/a/ae/JLA_v.1_94.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20081227154140[/img]

does that mean you saw this in
[img]https://static.comicvine.com/uploads/scale_small/6/67663/2898734-05.jpg[/img]
?[/QUOTE]

Actually, that original art page by Murphy Anderson is published in R.C. Harvey’s THE LIFE AND ART OF MURPHY ANDERSON (2003, TwoMorrows Publishing), p. 148.

But I bought the actual JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA No. 94 new when it came out and it immediately became one of my favourite comic books of all time. Not just for those two reprints, but also for the new story, "Where Strikes Demonfang?"

I think it was probably Gaiman's Sandman, but the one I really fell in love with was [i]Sandman Mystery Theatre[/i].

Wesley Dodds! I first read about him in All Star Squadron then he quickly became one of my all times favorite characters.

The Sandman character I first recall reading about was Sandy in his Sand identity in JSA, but later went back and read Wesley, my earliest exposure to him may have been outside his Sandman ID in Kingdom Come

Not an official Sandman but the 1971 sand creature in the Amazing New Adventures of SUPERMAN No. 233 - 242 was sometimes referred to as the Sandman--in the letter columns but maybe not in the actual stories. If that counted, then he'd be my first (DC) Sandman.

Wes during the mid-'70s for me.

[QUOTE=Jim Kelly;2942230]Not an official Sandman but the 1971 sand creature in the Amazing New Adventures of SUPERMAN No. 233 - 242 was sometimes referred to as the Sandman--in the letter columns but maybe not in the actual stories. If that counted, . . . [/quote]Unless it's mentioned in the stories themselves, I don't consider it as "counting".

[QUOTE=The Darknight Detective;2942328]Wes during the mid-'70s for me.[/QUOTE]

It doesn't count, but Michael Rennie's character on Batman was the first Sandman I recall beyond comics. In fact, I believe it's the first time I ever heard the word (circa 1970).

Daniel in that JLA 2-parter.

At last check,[indent]* [B]Wesley Dodd/Dodds[/B] (Golden Age Sandman) = 18 votes
* [B]Dream[/B] / [B]Morpheus[/B] (mostly from Vertigo) = 9 votes
* [B]Hector Hall[/B][SIZE=1] (took over for Garrett Sanford's version of Sandman) [/SIZE]= 1 vote
* [B]Daniel Hall[/B] (son of Hector Hall) = 1 vote
* (Sanderson)[B] "Sandy" Hawkins [/B][SIZE=1](original Golden Age Sandy) [/SIZE]= 1 vote
* [B]Kieran Marshall[/B][SIZE=1] ([I]Sandman Mystery Theatre: Sleep of Reason[/I]) [/SIZE]= 1 vote[/indent]

[QUOTE=MajorHoy;3377256]At last check,[indent]* [B]Wesley Dodd/Dodds[/B] (Golden Age Sandman) = 18 votes
* [B]Dream[/B] / [B]Morpheus[/B] (mostly from Vertigo) = 9 votes
* [B]Hector Hall[/B][SIZE=1] (took over for Garrett Sanford's version of Sandman) [/SIZE]= 1 vote
* [B]Daniel Hall[/B] (son of Hector Hall) = 1 vote
* (Sanderson)[B] "Sandy" Hawkins [/B][SIZE=1](original Golden Age Sandy) [/SIZE]= 1 vote
* [B]Kieran Marshall[/B][SIZE=1] ([I]Sandman Mystery Theatre: Sleep of Reason[/I]) [/SIZE]= 1 vote[/indent][/QUOTE]Since back in (mid-)January,[indent][B]Wesley Dodd/Dodds[/B][SIZE=1] (first appearance = Adventure Comics #40, July 1939) [/SIZE]= [B]20[/B] votes[SIZE=1] (+2)[/SIZE][/indent]
while all others appear to have remained the same.

While he appeared in SANDMAN, Dream of the Endless (aka Morhpeus) was rarely ever addressed as Sandman as far as I remember.

I believe in the pages of The Amazing [I]New[/I] Adventures of SUPERMAN, the Sand Superman was called the "Sand Creature." Sandy Hawkins later showed up as a sand creature in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA 113. Many years after, Sandy took the codename "Sand." I don't recall him ever going by the codename "Sandman." If he did, that would have been an improvement as I always found the Sand name annoying.

It makes one wonder why Sandy ever bothered with a mask as he was Sandy in his civilan life and Sandy in his super-hero life. Just like Bucky. Did these kids think they were fooling anyone?

It's pretty convenient how people in comic book realities get powers that match the names they have, after they get those names. The Invisible Hood called himself the Invisible Hood but he was powerless crimefighter, then in a subsequent appearance, he was so overjoyed when he happened to get invisibility powers.

Black Canary on Earth-Two had no powers, then she comes to Earth-One and she has a canary cry.

So be careful what super-hero name you choose, because you might end up in an accident that gives you those powers.

[QUOTE=Jim Kelly;3834075]While he appeared in SANDMAN, Dream of the Endless (aka Morhpeus) was rarely ever addressed as Sandman as far as I remember.[/quote]However, the comic book was titled "Sandman", and that was how he was referred to for his [I]Who's Who in the DC Universe[/I] entry in 1990.

[img]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/68/DreamOfTheEndless.jpg[/img]

[QUOTE=Jim Kelly;3834075] . . . Sandy Hawkins later showed up as a sand creature in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA 113. Many years after, Sandy took the codename "Sand." I don't recall him ever going by the codename "Sandman." If he did, that would have been an improvement as I always found the Sand name annoying.[/quote]I believe the transition to calling himself "Sandman" took place with the [I]post-[B]Infinite Crisis[/B][/I] series [I]Justice Society of America[/I] from 2007.

[QUOTE=Jim Kelly;3834075]It makes one wonder why Sandy ever bothered with a mask as he was Sandy in his civilan life and Sandy in his super-hero life. Just like Bucky. Did these kids think they were fooling anyone?[/quote]The name may have been more common back then, and writers/editors didn't worry about those things back then.

[QUOTE=Jim Kelly;3834075]Black Canary on Earth-Two had no powers, then she comes to Earth-One and she has a canary cry.[/QUOTE]That was in +/-1969; writers and editors probably felt she needed a power boost. The relocation from Earth-X to Earth-1 was also the reason used for giving several members of the Freedom Fighters power changes/upgrades back in the 1970s, too.

Ah okay, I stopped reading the JSA as the post-Infinite-Crisis run ran on, because I found it boring and not really about the JSA anymore.

Sandy was a common name for boys that had sandy hair--not really for boys named Sanderson (which were pretty rare). Also if the boy was named Alexander, then Sandy might fit. Anyway I'm just having fun here. The logic of comic books opens itself up to a lot of "deep thoughts." But maybe my sense of humour is off the mark.

[QUOTE=MajorHoy;3833977]Since back in (mid-)January,[indent][B]Wesley Dodd/Dodds[/B][SIZE=1] (first appearance = Adventure Comics #40, July 1939) [/SIZE]= [B]20[/B] votes[SIZE=1] (+2)[/SIZE][/indent]
while all others appear to have remained the same.[/QUOTE]And now we've got:[indent]* [B]Wesley Dodd/Dodds[SIZE=1] (Golden Age Sandman) [/SIZE]= 21 votes[/B] (+ 1)
* Dream[SIZE=1] / [/SIZE]Morpheus (mostly from Vertigo) = 9 votes
* [B]Garrett Sanford[SIZE=1] (1st appeared in [B]The Sandman #1[/B], Winter '74) [/SIZE]= 2 votes[/B]
* Hector Hall[SIZE=1] (took over for Garrett Sanford's version of Sandman) [/SIZE]= 1 vote
* Daniel Hall (son of Hector Hall) = 1 vote
* (Sanderson) "Sandy" Hawkins [SIZE=1](original Golden Age Sandy) [/SIZE]= 1 vote
* Kieran Marshall[SIZE=1] ([I]Sandman Mystery Theatre: Sleep of Reason[/I]) [/SIZE]= 1 vote[/indent]

It was the Fedora/Gasmask version from one of the JL/JSA crossovers; I'm pretty sure it was the Earth-X story. I then saw an reprint in somebody's back pages (again, Fedora/Gasmask version), and a reprint of [I]All-Star Comics[/I] #3.

It was an utter shock to me when I first encountered his skin-suit costume in Thomas' [I]All-Star Squadron[/I]! I had the same reaction to Half-a-Helmet Dr. Fate in the same issue.

The first Sandman I ever saw was Morpheus, in a very early issue of Wizard Magazine (some silly Top Ten list or another). I was intrigued, but when I asked my LCS guy about the book, he wouldn't sell it to me since I was under 18.

All of the "Mature Reader" labeled books were kept in a small room at the back of the shop; complete with a "18+ Only!" sign and a beaded curtain for a door - the same kind they kept the Adult Films behind at your local video store... :confused: :D

Time for a new update:[indent]* [B]Wesley Dodd/Dodds[SIZE=1] (Golden Age Sandman) [/SIZE][/B]= 22 votes (+ 1)
* [B]Dream[/B][SIZE=1] / [/SIZE][B]Morpheus[/B] (mostly from Vertigo) = 11 votes (+ 2)
* Garrett Sanford[SIZE=1] (1st appeared in [B]The Sandman #1[/B], Winter '74) [/SIZE]= 2 votes ([SIZE=1]no change[/SIZE])
* Hector Hall[SIZE=1] (took over for Garrett Sanford's version of Sandman) [/SIZE]= 1 vote ([SIZE=1]no change[/SIZE])
* Daniel Hall (son of Hector Hall) = 1 vote ([SIZE=1]no change[/SIZE])
* (Sanderson) "Sandy" Hawkins [SIZE=1](original Golden Age Sandy) [/SIZE]= 1 vote ([SIZE=1]no change[/SIZE])
* Kieran Marshall[SIZE=1] ([I]Sandman Mystery Theatre: Sleep of Reason[/I]) [/SIZE]= 1 vote ([SIZE=1]no change[/SIZE])[/indent]

Wesley in his yellow/purple spandex (a Superboy reprint in the early 70s that featured young heroes -- in this case --Sandy along with Sandman).

[QUOTE=kcekada;4047837]Wesley in his yellow/purple spandex (a Superboy reprint in the early 70s that featured young heroes -- in this case --Sandy along with Sandman).[/QUOTE]Was it
[img]https://static.comicvine.com/uploads/scale_large/7/74848/2554631-100pagedc19_001.jpg[/img]
from early 1973?

[QUOTE=Jim Kelly;3834283]Ah okay, I stopped reading the JSA as the post-Infinite-Crisis run ran on, because I found it boring and not really about the JSA anymore.

Sandy was a common name for boys that had sandy hair--not really for boys named Sanderson (which were pretty rare). Also if the boy was named Alexander, then Sandy might fit. Anyway I'm just having fun here. The logic of comic books opens itself up to a lot of "deep thoughts." But maybe my sense of humour is off the mark.[/QUOTE]

Sandy is also a common nickname for Sanford, as Sandy Koufax or I could have told you. (Wait! I just did!)

Sandy Hausler

I know that I (like co-mod Darknight Detective) first encountered Wesley Dodds Sandman in the mid-seventies. For me, it was in JLA/JSA team-ups (the gas mask version) and in reprints appearing in a variety of DC Giants (as they were called then) and maybe in Wanted (though I'm not sure if there were any Sandman stories in that book; there could have been) (mostly the yellow and purple costume version). It's funny. I'm not sure if I realized they were the same character at the time.

Sandy Hausler

[QUOTE=Sandy Hausler;4050115] . . . and maybe in Wanted (though I'm not sure if there were any Sandman stories in that book; there could have been) (mostly the yellow and purple costume version) . . . [/QUOTE][img]https://static.comicvine.com/uploads/scale_large/7/70196/1283011-wanted_09_01.jpg[/img]

Also, if you bought any issues of Kirby's [B][I]Forever People[/I][/B] in 1971-72 when they were cover-priced 25¢ (U.S.) and had a mix of new and reprinted stories, the Simon & Kirby [I]Sandman[/I] (with [I]Sandy[/I]) stories were the "[B]Golden Age [FONT=Comic Sans MS]'Grabbers'[/B][/FONT]" for that series.

This guy...
[ATTACH=CONFIG]74302[/ATTACH]

[QUOTE=MajorHoy;4050194][img]https://static.comicvine.com/uploads/scale_large/7/70196/1283011-wanted_09_01.jpg[/img]

Also, if you bought any issues of Kirby's [B][I]Forever People[/I][/B] in 1971-72 when they were cover-priced 25¢ (U.S.) and had a mix of new and reprinted stories, the Simon & Kirby [I]Sandman[/I] (with [I]Sandy[/I]) stories were the "[B]Golden Age [FONT=Comic Sans MS]'Grabbers'[/B][/FONT]" for that series.[/QUOTE]

I remember that issue. As to the Forever People, I did read that book, and saw those stories.

Sandy Hausler

At last check, the only two characters receiving any new votes are:[indent]* [B]Wesley Dodd/Dodds[/B][SIZE=1] (Golden Age Sandman) [/SIZE]= 28 votes (+ 6)
* [B]Dream[/B][SIZE=1] / [/SIZE][B]Morpheus[/B] ([SIZE=1]mostly from Vertigo[/SIZE]) = 15 votes (+ 4)[/indent]

Morpheus for me. I was reading any stories I could that had John Constantine at the time, which lead me to his guest appearance in The Sandman #3.

[QUOTE=MajorHoy;4147637]At last check, the only two characters receiving any new votes are:[indent]* [B]Wesley Dodd/Dodds[/B][SIZE=1] (Golden Age Sandman) [/SIZE]= 28 votes (+ 6)
* [B]Dream[/B][SIZE=1] / [/SIZE][B]Morpheus[/B] ([SIZE=1]mostly from Vertigo[/SIZE]) = 15 votes (+ 4)[/indent][/QUOTE]And two months later,[indent]* [B]Wesley Dodd/Dodds[SIZE=1] (Golden Age Sandman) [/SIZE][/B]= 29 votes (+1)
* [B]Dream[/B][SIZE=1] / [/SIZE][B]Morpheus[/B] (mostly from Vertigo) = 17 votes (+2)
* Garrett Sanford[SIZE=1] (1st appeared in [B]The Sandman #1[/B], Winter '74) [/SIZE]= 2 votes ([SIZE=1]no change[/SIZE])
* Hector Hall[SIZE=1] (took over for Garrett Sanford's version of Sandman) [/SIZE]= 1 vote ([SIZE=1]no change[/SIZE])
* Daniel Hall (son of Hector Hall) = 1 vote ([SIZE=1]no change[/SIZE])
* (Sanderson) "Sandy" Hawkins [SIZE=1](original Golden Age Sandy) [/SIZE]= 1 vote ([SIZE=1]no change[/SIZE])
* Kieran Marshall[SIZE=1] ([I]Sandman Mystery Theatre: Sleep of Reason[/I]) [/SIZE]= 1 vote ([SIZE=1]no change[/SIZE])[/indent]

Morpheus - The Dream, Sandman of Neil Gaiman is my first Sandman.