Sandman Mystery Theatre (Book 4): The Scorpion [Paperback]

Matt Wagner (Author), Steven T. Seagle (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2006

Writer Matt Wagner's acclaimed reimagination of the original Golden Age Sandman, SANDMAN MYSTERY THEATRE: THE SCORPION finds Wesley Dodds still driven by his dreams to fight injustice in the dark of night while trying to make sense of a world slipping into the madness of war. Taking on a twisted anti-capitalist vigilante wielding a poisoned whip, Dodds finds himself closer than ever to death -- and to revealing his secret life to his paramour, Dian Belmont.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The titular hero of Sandman Mystery Theatre isn't Neil Gaiman's supernatural headliner but rather an updated though period-based version of Wesley Dodds, the original comics Sandman of six decades ago. Driven by troubling dreams, Lamont Cranston-style millionaire Dodds dons a trenchcoat and gas mask and uses a sleep-inducing-gas gun to bring criminals to justice in pre-World War II New York. Writers Wagner and Steven T. Seagle offer an R-rated take on 1930s pulp magazines--in the story arc collected here, a masked vigilante uses a poisoned whip to brutally murder wealthy businessmen--and populate it with characters far richer than their unsophisticated inspirations. The contrast between Dodds' thoughtful, compassionate daytime persona and his nocturnal, crime-fighting role fascinates, and his relationship with Dian Belmont is one of the most nuanced in mainstream comics. The pulp connection is sustained by Guy Davis' pen-and-ink drawings' evoking, though with far greater animation and vitality than their models, the illustrations that accompanied the original pulps' tales. Gordon Flagg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Paperback: 104 pages
• Publisher: Vertigo (May 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401210406
• ISBN-13: 978-1401210403
• Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 0.3 x 10.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #381,324 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

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GORY CRIME NOIR WITH THE SANDMAN, June 8, 2007

By 

Tim Janson (Michigan) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Sandman Mystery Theatre (Book 5): Dr. Death and the Night of the Butcher (Paperback)

I've always thought that The Sandman Mystery Theatre was one of the most underrated titles of the 1990's. To be sure, it was a niche title, but the fact that it ran for 70 issues is testament to the fact that it had a loyal audience. The book had a strong 30's crime noir look and feel to it both in the stories by Matt Wagner and the art by Guy Davis and Vince Locke. Both artists used a palette of washed out greens, browns, and grays and various half-tones. This re-imagining of the Sandman portrayed him as less superhero and more influenced by 30's pulp action heroes like The Shadow or the Spider, as he faced off against sinister and often bizarre villains.

The Wesley Dodds of this series was far from an archetype hero...the artists depicted him as a sort of frumpy, bespectacled man, who looked more like an accountant that an avenging crusader of the night. Dodds was almost like a junior Bruce Wayne, complete with a secret lab/hideout and a doting butler. What set The Sandman Mystery Theatre apart from other titles, and I resist calling this a super hero title, is that Dodds appears far more than the Sandman, and the emphasis is on the man more than the alter ego. Center in the series is his relationship with girlfriend Dian Belmont, daughter of the District Attorney. Belmont will discover Wesley's secret during the first story in this trade paperback and almost leave him. But she's also intrigued and will end up essentially as Wes' partner and assisting him.

For those wondering about continuity, the tales throughout the run of the title take place very early in his career. In fact, it is in this book, which collects issues #21 - 28, where the Sandman is first given his name by the local newspapers. There are two story arcs in this trade, "Dr. Death" and "Night of the Butcher" and if those are titles straight out the Shadow Magazine then I don't know what is!

"Dr. Death" features art by one of my personal favorites Vince Locke. Vince and I grew up in the same suburb west of Detroit and he was the first comic talent that I ever interviewed some twenty years ago when he was doing "Deadworld" for Arrow Comics. Few artists handle morbid subjects as well as Locke does and he and Wagner make a great team on "Dr. Death." A wannabe Doctor, who is dating Dian's best friend, is giving out sinister prescriptions to his patients, predicting their impending doom. The Doctor is targeting those he deems unworthy of life by society's standards; a washed up prize-fighter, a once renowned pianist, an aged dancehall girl. All die agonizing deaths and the Sandman has to figure out just who the killer is and how he's managing to kill them.

Regular series artist, Guy Davis, is back for "Night of the Butcher" a horrific tale about a string of serial killings where the victims are brutally hacked to death. Even more gruesome is that the victims are missing several body parts. The police make a grisly discovery in a sewer pipe of a lower half of a man's torso. The Sandman butts head with a hardnosed police lieutenant who considers the vigilante more of a threat than the killer. Things are about go get a whole lot more nauseating for both men once they follow the killer's trail deep into long forgotten parts of the city's sewer system.

Both of these stories display the Sandman's resourcefulness as well as his vulnerability, he even gets his butt kicked but good by the tough cop, escaping only when a records clerk his the Lieutenant with a broom handle.

Sandman Mystery Theatre is some of Wagner's finest work. Note that as the book is part of the Vertigo line, it is intended for mature readers due to language, violence, nudity, and gore. Great title!

REVIEWED BY TIM JANSON

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Series makes a statement, April 30, 2007

By 

Abe Sapien - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sandman Mystery Theatre (Book 5): Dr. Death and the Night of the Butcher (Paperback)

This particular volume is a bit more voluminous than earlier installments and once read in full the choice to combine these two stories into one volume is fully justified.

There are certainly 2 entertaining pulp/horror tales taking place, but the focus shifts more fully to Wesley and Dian's growing relationship. The secret of Dodds' alter ego threatens to split the two lovers and this is the true reason to purchase this volume. Wesley is confronted by the lifestyle he has chosen to lead and is forced to deal with the consequences of his heroism and secret life.

Dian comes out the better of the two as far as reader sympathy, but even she is not completely safe from some much needed soul searching. She struggles with the last vestiges of her lazy, naive, rich girl persona; baggage she hautily thought herself rid of after a few real world experiences.

If you are already invested in the series this is a must read as it delivers a true pay out for the characters and the reader.

If you haven't read the series up till now then after a brief 5 minute spoiler session with a fan you will be primed to jump in at this point.

Happy reading.

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent series. Two weak arcs in this trade, May 15, 2007

By 

Nolan J. Werner "Writer" (Chicago, Ill.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sandman Mystery Theatre (Book 5): Dr. Death and the Night of the Butcher (Paperback)

I have loved everything in the series that I have read. This trade, however, contains two of the weakest arcs. It is still very much worth reading but I'd recommend waiting for the next volume first.

This series does perfectly capture the period noir tone and it does not hold back on the racism and sexism that were pretty common discourse at the time. It is quite refreshing to see this shown frankly since it is something that nostalgia often covers up.