Daniel Hall: The Sandman (New Age)/Issue 1

The first issue of the series Daniel Hall: The Sandman. Upon experiencing the birth of a new universe, The Sandman finds himself at the beginning of time and experiences as the universe slowly forms around him. But he can't help but wonder, was it worth it to wipe out a world, or even worlds just to replace it immediately after?

Plot
A black void.


 * Daniel Hall (thinking): In the beginning, there was nothing. And then God said "let there be light".

An explosion erupts from the void. It's glorious, the colours dancing and the fires crackling. With each up burst of flames, an asteroid, a star, and even an entire world is created. One after the other until the entire universe is filled.


 * Daniel Hall (thinking): ...And then God said "let there be light" again.

A light that glows black creeps from the back of the universe, engulfing all of the worlds and stars. Only for another explosion, just as beautiful, to come from inside of the blackness, birthing more worlds.


 * Daniel Hall (thinking): And he said it again. And again. And again.

Worlds live. Worlds die. With every word he says, the universe is reset. Then, when it finally stops, we find ourselves on a planet. It resembles Earth, but there is no grass or vegetation to speak of.


 * Daniel Hall (thinking): I can't help but wonder...

A being crashes from the atmosphere. In the crater left behind from the impact stands the titular Sandman, Dream of The Endless. His clothes are burning on his back and he's rubbing his head as he gazes around at the environment he finds himself in. He simply allows his clothes to burn off of his back, the fire not seeming to hurt or even faze him in the slightest.


 * Daniel Hall (thinking): ...Why does he keep rebuilding the universe? Was he not satisfied with his first attempt? Or is it like a child playing with building blocks and he simply keeps breaking everything apart just for the sake of remaking it again, with only minor alterations...?

The Sandman crawls out of his crater and gazes at the world before him. One made of dirt and stone. He wanders for some time, the sun in the sky slowly setting behind him. He's been walking for hours. Then, he finally finds it. A single large insect on the ground. He crouches down, his hands hesitantly hovering above it as he stares at the bug in awe, acting as if it's the most impressive thing he's ever seen in his life.


 * Daniel Hall (thinking): This. This is what brought me into existence. The first being in the known universe to have the ability to dream... On the planet Oa far away, the first living beings, a reptile-like species born in the planet's deserts, were born. And on Mars, much closer, the cells that will eventually evolve to be the Martian people slowly form. But here, on Earth... they manage to evolve the first being to truly be able to dream.

He lowers his hand, picking up the insect as gently as he can, staring down at it.

The insect fidgets around, uncomfortable in his hand. However, with a single touch from the Sandman, it stops
 * Daniel Hall (thinking): I do love Earth. So much...


 * Daniel Hall (thinking): Sleep, little one. Ignore my grasp. Let's see what you dream of...

The world around him warps, bending in towards him until it's sucked completely away, revealing a white void. His head darts around the room until he spots a single patch of dirt in the nothingness. He walks over to it, still carrying the insect in his hand, and crouches down, spotting the insect's dream self digging in and out of the dirt. The Sandman smiles.


 * Daniel Hall (thinking): Of course. A simple dream for a simple creature. Its purpose is to scavenge and in a world newly born it can't dream of doing something more. So, in its dreams... digs.

He chuckles but he stops when the world around him shatters away to reveal the real world once again. He confusedly looks around before he feels the insect crawling in his hand. His laughing had woken it up. It extends its wings and flies off away from him and he does nothing but stand and watch it. When it's out of sight, he grips his shirt.


 * Daniel Hall (thinking): ...I have a feeling in my chest that I can't identify.

Later, the Sandman, now in a new outfit, sits on an ivory wall, looking down at a truly beautiful patch of the Earth. Within the wall, there are animals of all kinds, luscious trees and shrubbery, sparkling water, and more. Behind the Sandman though, on the outside of the wall, is a wasteland of dirt, with only patches of grass and trees that have clearly been decayed by the elements. He simply stares inside.


 * Daniel Hall (thinking): By this point, I have lived on this world for millions of years. It took until now for one of the most famous, and one of my favorite, stories to take form. That of the Garden of Eden. A beautiful garden, supposedly built by the Creator himself although none of the stories explain why he did it. "The Lord works in mysterious ways" as they say. All that is known is that it is the home of the supposed first man.

A naked man within the ivory walls stabs a fish swimming in a river with a spear, looking quite pleased with himself.


 * Daniel Hall (thinking): Adam. A name that simply means "man". But, what the many retellings don't tell you, is that in some of the stories God made a mistake. His first mistake...

Adam looks over and smiles as a woman approaches him through the bushes.


 * Daniel Hall (thinking): Was Lilith. Most retellings choose to skip over her tale to simplify the Garden's story, but I believe her role is important, as it shows that even the unknowable and all-powerful are able to make mistakes.

The Sandman watches as the tale plays out, Lilith and Adam beginning with them being happy only to start arguing with and berating each other. As the tale progresses, they drift further and further apart, both metaphorically and literally, sleeping on opposite ends of the Garden.


 * Daniel Hall (thinking): Lilith refused to follow Adam's will, which was seen as her duty as his wife. Lilith was eventually banished from Eden for this.

Lilith wanders the barely formed wasteland outside of Eden, naked and covered in bruises and blood. She trips over a vine, collapsing and crying on the dirt. She then feels a presence and looks up, revealing a group of horrific beings covered in shadows staring down at her.


 * Daniel Hall (thinking): Lilith was eventually taken in by demons. I'm unsure how she felt in the moment. But I can't help but wonder how she would feel if she found out this has happened over and over again... Her destiny is to be kicked out of Eden. Every time the world is reborn a new, her story always has her losing everything and accepting evil to find it all again.

Sandman remains perched on the ivory wall. He attempts to remain blank faced, but subtle traces of sadness and rage come through.


 * Daniel Hall (thinking): Everything is eventually reset. Time and time again. I am unable to do anything to stop this. All of these stories are forced to start from scratch and the people within them must relearn their lessons and experience everything they already experienced. Not even I am free of this fate. In this new world, I have no doubt that I will be forced to relive events I have already lived through.

His hands grip his knees, his barely contained anger becoming evident.


 * Daniel Hall (thinking): Why? Is it fun? Is watching people go through the same stories, just slightly differently, fun? Is that it?

The Sandman's eyes are filled with rage and it's clear that behind his closed lips are gritted teeth. His lips part slightly, allowing his enraged heavy breathing to escape. However, he then very suddenly stops and his face returns back to normal. He sighs and stands up, now suddenly standing on a different ivory wall within his realm of The Dreaming, his entire dream-like kingdom behind him. He stares at nothing in particular, processing his thoughts.


 * Daniel Hall (thinking): ...Stories are wonderful things. But a story with no ending is a pointless one. For the world to matter, it has to end. Not just repeat. And repeat. And repeat...

More will be added soon.