Sandman Mystery Theatre (Book 7): The Mist & the Phantom of the Fair [Paperback]

Matt Wagner (Author), Steven T. Seagle (Illustrator), Guy Davis (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 17, 2009

In this series of noir detective tales of intrigue, bigotry and incest, millionaire Wesley Dodds takes on the costumed persona of the Sandman in 1930s New York donning a gas mask, fedora, suit and cloak to fight the forces of evil.

In this volume, The Sandman uncovers the origin of The Mist, from the pages of STARMAN. Then, on the site of the 1939 New York World's Fair, The Sandman must unravel the mystery of a series of brutal murders.

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Vertigo (March 17, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401221394
• ISBN-13: 978-1401221393
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 0.4 x 10.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #941,105 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Steven T. Seagle is an American writer who works in the graphic novel/comic book, television, film, live theater, video game, and animation, industries.

He is best known for his acclaimed graphic novel memoir IT'S A BIRD... and, as part of Man of Action Studios (along with Duncan Rouleau, Joe Casey and Joe Kelly) as co-creator of the animated Cartoon Network series BEN 10 and GENERATOR REX. Man of Action Studios recently launched its own comic book imprint published through Image Comics. Seagle has contributed to the line with the graphic novel SOUL KISS. Seagle and Rouleau also created the Marvel Comics super-hero team Big Hero 6.

Seagle is also a founding member of Speak Theater Arts, creators of innovative live stage productions. Most recently he co-wrote, co-directed and produced two live stage comedies. N*GGER WETB*CK CH*NK (www.NWClive.com) continues to tour nationally after three years generating explosive laughs, a massive fan base, and impressive reviews including full-page features in both The LA Times and the New York Times. ArmeniaMania! (www.armeniamania.com) staged two preview performances as part of the Los Angeles Grand Performances series and will open in LA early next year. Seagle also co-directed one of the national world premiere stagings of The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later, An Epilogue with a celbrity cast and a full musical compliment.

Seagle's original comic book series HOUSE OF SECRETS was sold as a feature to Marc Canton/Warner Brothers, and Seagle wrote the screenplay (unproduced). The same week he also sold the genre action pilot CARNIVAL(not Carnivale) to FOX in association with Spelling Entertainment (unproduced). In that same week he sold the action/comedy DOT'S BOTS to Mainframe Animation completing an amazing week and an "unproduced" trifecta.

Seagle's comics work has received numerous Eisner Award nominations, including twice for best writer - in 1995 for his work on SANDMAN MYSTERY THEATRE(DC/Vertigo) and in 1999 for the same title and his story "Drive By" in ONI DOUBLE FEATURE #10 (Oni Press). Seagle's work on AMERICAN VIRGIN has been nominated twice for the GLAAD Meida Award for Best Comic Book. Seagle's run on UNCANNY X-MEN was awarded the Wizard Fan Award for Favorite Ongoing Series. His original graphic novel SOLSTICE was named Comic Book Resources 2007 Graphic Novel of the Year.

Seagle is a former college instructor having taught at Ball State University, Pasadena City College and Mt. San Antonio College where he also served as a coach for the Forensics team during many of their national championship seasons.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Peerless Period Piece, February 15, 2010

By 

Kauffinbauchser (Tacoma, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sandman Mystery Theatre (Book 7): The Mist & the Phantom of the Fair (Paperback)

Any fan of the golden age of comics, or any fan of 1930's themselves should love this book.
Wagner and Seagle continue this outstanding run with two more story arcs highlighting not just the Sandman, but his supporting cast, and the time when the greatest generation was growing up.
There are a few JSA cameo appearances that brought a huge smile to my face. Wesley's relationship with Dian Belmont is the most fleshed out and developed that I've encountered in comics.
I can't say enough about this excellent series. Easily one of my favorite books anywhere.
Strangers to this series probably would like to start with The Tarantula (Sandman Mystery Theater, Book 1)

5.0 out of 5 stars SMT: an underappreciated classic, July 12, 2011

By 

Sean Rueter "s1rude" (Baltimore, MD) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sandman Mystery Theatre (Book 7): The Mist & the Phantom of the Fair (Paperback)

The 90s were a strange time for mainstream comics, and in the midst of shoulder pads, belt pouches and big ass guns, DC's Vertigo imprint was quietly creating some interesting stuff. Matt Wagner, Steven T Seagle and Guy Davis produced 70 issues of a favorite of mine, Sandman Mystery Theatre.

Every volume of this series is an outstanding period crime drama, deliciously noir-ish and pulp-y. Both Wesley Dodds and Dian Belmont are great characters on their own and their relationship is as real and believable as anything in world of masked vigilantes and science criminals possibly could be. What is truly amazing is how Wagner, Seagle and Davis serve multiple masters...in addition to character-rich, gritty detective stories, the book manages to seemlessly tie in Golden Age origins and continuity and even small nods to Neil Gaiman's more fantasy-oriented Sandman series that was published just before it.

This volume contains two stories that are perfect examples of what makes this such a classic series. "The Mist" is a gangster tale that serves as the origin for a super-villain, evolves Wesley and Dian's relationship and explores racial tensions in the U.S. immigrant community during the first half of Hitler's European campaigns. "The Phantom of the Fair" discusses sexual orientation and its place in an idealized future in a thriller centered on how abuse can lead to self-loathing and worse while giving Wesley a human flaw and a hint of supernatural "dream" abilities.

Great stuff through and through. Start with volume 1 and join in the push to get & keep this series in publication.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The 7th book, May 2, 2009

By 

Joseph R. Mcconnell (Alexandria, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sandman Mystery Theatre (Book 7): The Mist & the Phantom of the Fair (Paperback)

This book contains two storylines. To me, the first one, "The Mist", was the only good one of this book. It is about a scientist who makes a machine that can rip molecules apart in metals, therefore creating a catastraphe for aircraft and buildings. I won't say anything else, except that the story ends in a twist for the evil scientist. The second story, "The Phantom of the Fair" was a bore for me. It is plainly about a psycho who goes around killing homosexuals. In the first story, Wesley Dodds, or the "Sandman", invents a new gas mask that is less flimsy (It looks just like the one on the cover that Amazon shows).