Writer: Pornsak Pichetshote
Artists: Jeff Stokely, Craig Taillefer, Javier Rodríguez
Color Artist: Miquel Muerto
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou

Reviewed By Steve J. Ray

Summary

The Sandman Universe: Dead Boy Detectives -Collected Edition is finally here, and Charles and Edwin are back! Who? You may ask. Worry not, dear reader, I’ll have you caught up before you can say, Thessaly.

Charles Rowland and Edwin Paine first appeared in the now-classic The Sandman #25 (April 1991). They were created by Neil Gaiman, Matt Wagner, and Malcolm Jones III during the brilliant “Season of Mists” story arc (Volume 4 of the Sandman graphic novels series, which is reprinted in Book Two of the lovely new set of collected editions).

This vintage tale saw Lucifer give up his throne and relinquish the key to the gates of hell. The underworld was then emptied and the dead once again roamed the Earth. Death of the Endless had a tough time rounding up the denizens of hell and both Charles and Edwin, rather than move on, decided to stay on Earth and solve supernatural crimes.

A lot more has happened in one-shots, crossovers, a mini-series, as well as in an ongoing Dead Boy Detectives series, over the years, but that’s all everyone needs to know, in a nutshell. Oh, and the characters have appeared in the HBO Max TV series Doom Patrol too.

Positives

If you’ve read The Sandman Universe: Nightmare Country, you’ll know that it ended in a cliffhanger. This issue follows on directly, making the two stories almost feel like one. Another Sandman character, the witch Thessaly, made an appearance at the end of Nightmare Country, and she plays a part in this book, too.

Eisner Award-winning writer, Pornsak Pichetshote (The Good Asian, Infidel), has woven a tale of horror and dark magic that gripped me from page one. His use of Thai folklore and legend is fascinating and engaging. His resumé speaks for itself, as he’s written Swamp Thing stories for DC, TV’s Cloak & Dagger for Marvel, and many other horror comics and books. As a writer of Thai-American heritage, his insight into Asian supernatural lore is refreshing and intriguing.

In the story we meet three Thai ghosts; Melvin, a Snake Ghost, Jai, a Hollow-Backed Ghost, and Tanya, a Mother Ghost. Having died between the 1970s and the present the three were taken care of by the Thai “Ghost Doctor”, Dom. The main antagonist in the book is a fourth ghost, the deadly Krasue. This monster is a normal human woman by day, but at night her head and spine detach and fly around the city, hunting down helpless victims. I know… right?!?

Our heroes are also attacked by a horde of mutilated ghost babies (known as the Kumanthong), who are both stomach-churning and heartbreaking. Pornsak Pichetshote’s scripts are textured and his imagination is wonderful. Dead baby ghosts are terrifying, but the fact that they may also have feelings makes them all the more tragic.

Edwin and Charles have an unorthodox relationship, and we’ve seen that. The fact that these are ghosts with feelings and emotions elevates the intensity of events and makes the characters so much more relatable.

I’m totally into this mythology. Thai culture and spiritual beliefs are brand new to me and I find them fascinating. The way the new ghosts only appear at night makes Charles and Edwin’s work harder, and the book that much more fun to read. This adds a whole extra layer of tension and drama to the proceedings.

Pichetshote’s tale is part whodunnit, part thriller, and 100% horror. The best bit is, that while every cast member is dead, they’ve all got more spark, humanity, and personality than some folks that are still alive. The script is great fun to read and every character has their own strengths and characteristics, making them fascinating to follow.

The art by Jeff Stokely and Miquel Muerto (what a great name for a color artist working on a horror book) is lovely. The characters and colors are quite bright and punchy, and even though the visuals are quite simple-looking (in a good way), this makes the grotesquery of the gore and horror that much more powerful. This story’s brand new, yet it looks and feels like it would fit in my 1990s Sandman library effortlessly. Muertos’s lovely colors make the art shine and don’t overshadow or smother the subtle line work.

From chapter two onward, the creative team is joined by inker Craig Taillefer, who does what any great inker should do; finish the penciller’s art in a way that highlights both artists’ skills, but doesn’t wash away the penciller’s style. Yes, the visuals in this book are fairly cartoony in style, but the skill is in the storytelling, the characters’ faces, and the deep, rich backgrounds.

Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou had already impressed me with his excellent work on Sword Of Azrael, so I knew the lettering on this book would be great too. Yay, me… I was right! His ghost text, sound effects, and chapter headings are simply gorgeous. From little notepads showing us what the characters are thinking (nope I really don’t miss thought bubbles at all), to ghostly dream speak, and big loud, almost manga-style arguments between the characters. All of his work is stellar.

We have a guest artist drawing all but the final page of chapter four, the brilliant Javier Rodríguez. I’ve been following this artist’s work since the late 90s when he worked for the publisher Ediciones La Cúpula. He was one of many artists working on the wild and whacky title El Víbora, published in my native country of Spain between 1979 and 2005. American comics fans may primarily know him as a color artist, from titles such as Batgirl: Year One for DC, but this guy can draw! His work on this chapter is lovely, and I would dearly love to see even more of his art across DC in months and years to come.

This book raises so many fascinating questions. If ghosts are already dead, how can they be “killed”? Pornsak Pichetshote’s written one hell of a tale, not just because of the haunted goings on, but also because of all the wonderful semi-autobiographical touches he adds, due to being a Thai-American. Honestly, this book is great.

The Sandman Universe: Dead Boy Detectives isn’t just a horror story either, as we also get some amazing social commentary. Shootings in schools, bullying, racism; all these topics are handled in this book. The best thing is that Pichetshote’s not smacking us around the head with politics, he’s doing what all the best writers do and uses fiction to hold a cautionary mirror over fact. Why is it only children who seem to be capable of learning and wanting change? Have all adults truly just given up?

The fascinating glimpse into ghosts from across the globe, the re-introduction of three favorite characters from Neil Gaiman’s legendary Sandman series, and the horror and humor they all bring have been an absolute delight. I know that’s a weird thing to say about a horror comic, but it’s true.

Negatives

None. Whether you only know Charles and Edwin from this book, or if you’ve followed their adventures for decades, writer Pornsak Pichetshote has you covered. With every chapter, we learn more about our heroes.

Verdict

I’ve learned about new mythologies, felt scared, laughed, and had my heart broken. As a lifelong comics fan, this is the kind of series that proves the validity and power of the medium. It still upsets me when people put comics down, particularly when there are great stories like Dead Boy Detectives on the shelves.

The entire Sandman Universe has always been built on diversity and representation; both in its cast of characters and in the depth of stories it’s always told. The creative team behind Dead Boy Detectives is honoring that legacy and building on it beautifully.

Sandman Universe: Dead Boy Detectives delivers everything I love about comics. Great characters, next-level threats, humor, scares, and thrills. The fact that it also educates while it entertains is a huge bonus. While this is a brilliant horror story, it also sheds light on life, love, and the problems faced by the children of immigrants.

This terrific book collects all six issues. It also presents the main and standard variant covers before each chapter, and has a nine-page gallery with all the other variant covers at the back of the book. For anyone wanting to know or read more about The Sandman Universe, there’s also a four-page reading guide.

The post Book Review: The Sandman Universe: Dead Boy Detectives – Collected Edition appeared first on DC Comics News.

Writer: Pornsak Pichetshote

Artists: Jeff Stokely, Craig Taillefer

Color Artist: Miquel Muerto

Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou

Reviewed By Steve J. Ray

Summary

The Sandman Universe: Dead Boy Detectives #6 brings the series to a surprising, but hugely satisfying close.

The immortal witch, Thessaly, has discovered the cause of the Thai ghost invasion and knows a way to end it. While that sounds like good news, one of the friendly spirits has already been destroyed and it seems like getting rid of the evil ones will also destroy Charles and Edwin’s friends, Melvin and Tanya.

Positives

This finale had me on the edge of my seat throughout. Ever since Charles started rotting away and Jai was “killed” I’ve been expecting the worst. Even when Thessaly finally appeared I knew that, even though she’s a capable and extremely powerful witch, her methods tend to suit her own needs and “the greater good”, with little thought about anyone else, living or (un)dead, that doesn’t fit in with her methods or ideals.

I’ve learned about new mythologies, felt scares, laughed, and had my heart broken. As a huge comics fan, this is the kind of series that proves the validity and power of the medium. It still upsets me when people put comics down, particularly when there are great stories like Dead Boy Detectives on the shelves.

What I really liked was the fact the “villain” of the piece wasn’t a foul demon, dark wizard, or megalomaniac bent on world domination, but a distraught and grieving father. On the opposite side of the coin, the “savior” of the piece was Thessaly, a character who’s frequently as bad as everything she tries to fight.

The writing’s great, the art is quirky, horrific and fun, the colors add to the texture and atmosphere of the line art, and the letters help evoke and underline all the emotions from the writing and artwork. This is a collaborative medium and this creative team show how brilliantly teamwork can produce a brilliant final product from a diverse and talented group of creators.

Oh… and look out for a fabulous little cameo from one of the Endless, near the end of the issue.

Negatives

As final chapters go, The Sandman Universe: Dead Boy Detectives #6 is about as good as it gets. I didn’t expect it to end the way it did, have no issues with the conclusion; and, best of all, as all great stories tend to do, what was the conclusion to one tale is just the beginning of another. The Dead Boy Detectives will be back (although they may need to change their name), and Thessaly’s role and connection to he larger, overall arc will continue, over in the pages of Nightmare Country.

This entire team has created a memorable, fun, scary romp that has never ceased to delight. I have bought the individual issues, and would happily own a collected version too.

Images Courtesy of DC Entertainment

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Writer: Pornsak Pichetshote

Artists: Jeff Stokely, Craig Taillefer

Color Artist: Miquel Muerto

Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou

Reviewed By Steve J. Ray

Summary

Sandman Universe: Dead Boy Detectives #5 brings us more thrills, scares, and deeply philosophical viewpoints on the deaths and “lives” of ghosts.

While on a case in L.A., ghost detectives Edwin Paine and Charles Rowland befriended three Thai spirits, Melvin, Tanya, and Jai.

 

While investigating the impossibility of these Thai ghosts even existing in America, their human mentor, Dom, was killed. Now malevolent Thai spirits have infected Charles, leaving his ghost-form slowly deteriorating.

 

Believing their only hope of undoing both horrors to be finding out who’d summoned the many Thai ghosts, the gang finally stumbled upon he person responsible, only for another ghost to bite and “kill” Jai.

Positives

There are so many. Whether you only know Charles and Edwin from this issue and the four preceding ones, or if you’ve followed their adventures for decades, writer Pornsak Pichetshote has you covered. With every chapter, we learn more about our heroes. In this issue alone, another element from Charles’ past is revealed.

The visuals by Jeff Stokely, Craig Taillefer, Miquel Muerto, and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou continue to impress as much as the script does. The Krasue are terrifying, just as the more heroic protagonists are far more sympathetic and lovable, both in the way they act and speak, as well as in how they’re portrayed by the artists. Hassan’s lettering and Miquel’s colors deserve extra special mentions this month, particularly on the pages where Melvin and Charles encounter these monsters.

Oh, and our friends finally come face-to-face with Thessaly!

Charles’ condition is definitely cause for concern and, knowing Thessaly, I still believe that any fixes she may have for it, and for solving the problem of impossible Thai ghosts existing in America, may be worse than the problems themselves.

Negatives

This superb series only has one issue left.

Verdict

Sandman Universe: Dead Boy Detectives #5 delivers everything I love about comics. Great characters, next-level threats, humor, scares, and thrills. The fact that it also educates while it entertains is a huge bonus. While this is a brilliant horror series, it also sheds light on life, love, and the problems faced by the children of immigrants.

If you’ve been sleeping on this series, I highly recommend picking up the collected edition (out in November 2023).

Images Courtesy of DC Entertainment

The post Review: Sandman Universe: Dead Boy Detectives #5 appeared first on DC Comics News.

Writer: Pornsak Pichetshote
Artists: Javier Rodríguez, Jeff Stokely, Craig Taillefer
Color Artist: Miquel Muerto
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou

Reviewed By Steve J. Ray

Summary

Ghosts, maggots, amulets, floating heads, and cubism (ish). All of these and more can be found on the pages of Sandman Universe: Dead Boy Detectives #4.

Positives

Oh, wow! This issue’s absolutely brilliant! The action ramps up, the mystery deepens, and we get answers… plus even more questions.

We left Charles, Edwin, Jai, Tanya, and Melvin on the search for who could possibly summon Thai spirits in America, and an amulet of power. Let’s just say that even ghosts should be careful about what they wish for. Oh… and poor old Charles has been cursed for falling in love with Tanya.

This series raises so many fascinating questions. If ghosts are already dead, how can ghost flesh rot? How do ghosts have feelings if they don’t have bodies, nerve endings, or hormones? Can a ghost, a being that’s already dead, be killed? Pornsak Pichetshote’s writing one hell of a tale, not just because of the haunted goings on, but also because of all the wonderful semi-autobiographical touches he adds, due to being a Thai-American. Honestly, this series is great.

This isn’t just a horror story either, as we get some amazing social commentary here too. Shootings in schools, bullying, racism; all these topics are handled in this issue. The best thing is Pichetshote’s not smacking us around the head with politics, he’s doing what all the best writers do by using fiction to hold a cautionary mirror over fact. Why is it only children that seem to be capable of learning and wanting change? Have all adults truly just given up?

We have a guest artist drawing all but the final page this month, too. (Jeff Stokely fans, worry not, as the regular team handles the final page, which will blow your minds!) The art in Sandman Universe: Dead Boy Detectives #4 is handled by the brilliant Javier Rodríguez. I’ve been following this artist’s work since the late 90s when he worked for the publisher Ediciones La Cúpula. He was one of many artists working on the wild and whacky title El Víbora, published in our native country of Spain between 1979 and 2005. American comics fans may primarily know him as a color artist, from titles such as Batgirl: Year One for DC, but this guy can draw! His work on this issue’s lovely, and I would dearly love to see even more of his art across DC in months and years to come.

Miquel Muerto and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou continue to delight with their colors and letters, with pages 23 and 24 being real standouts for both artists.

Negatives

Again, I’m just nit-picking… where’s Thessaly?!?

Verdict

Gun crime, the problems faced by immigrants, the struggle to be heard, and the loss of innocence. All of these and more can be found on the pages of Sandman Universe: Dead Boy Detectives #4.

If you’re not picking this series up, then you’re seriously missing out.

Images Courtesy of DC Entertainment

The post Review: Sandman Universe: Dead Boy Detectives #4 appeared first on DC Comics News.

Writer: Pornsak Pichetshote
Artists: Jeff Stokely, Craig Taillefer
Color Artist: Miquel Muerto
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou

Reviewed By Steve J. Ray

Summary

Sandman Universe: Dead Boy Detectives #3 sees our heroes come under siege by the dead ghost babies (known as the Kumanthong). While visiting the US, Edwin Payne and Charles Rowland came across three Thai-American ghosts, Jai, Tanya, and Melvin. Their human friend, Dom was killed by a fourth, malevolent Thai Spirit while seeking to aid the other three.

Now the five ghosts are seeking a mystic amulet they believe to be responsible for these Thai entities being able to exist in America. What’s the link between Thessaly, the ancient Greek witch, and the Kumanthong? This issue begins to give us answers, though not necessarily ones we might like.

Positives

This series is firing on all thrusters. The fascinating glimpse into ghosts from across the globe, the re-introduction of three favorite characters from Neil Gaiman’s legendary Sandman series, and the horror and humor they all bring, has been an absolute delight. I know that’s a weird thing to say about a horror comic, but it’s true.

Edwin and Charles have an unorthodox relationship, and we’ve seen that, even though they don’t have bodies, somehow they still have the equivalent of rampaging teen hormones. The fact that these are ghosts with feelings and emotions elevates the intensity of events and makes the characters so much more relatable.

Pornsak Pichetshote’s scripts are textured and his imagination is wonderful. Dead baby ghosts are terrifying, but the fact that they may also have feelings makes them all the more tragic.

The team behind the visuals on this book are no slouches, either. The art by Jeff Stokely and Craig Taillefer brilliantly balances the line between cartoony and grotesque, while Miquel Muerto (what a great name for an artist on a horror book) provides colors that add to the creepiness, but without making it stomach churning.

I have to say that Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou’s letters are nothing short of outstanding. His sound effects and the way he delivers captions and dialogue is wonderful. From little notepads showing us what the characters are thinking (nope I really don’t miss thought bubbles at all), to ghostly dream speak, and big loud, almost manga-style arguments between the characters. All of his work is stellar.

Negatives

I actually don’t have any gripes this time. Dead Boy Detectives #3 was intriguing, fun and scary, and the cliffhanger’s a doozy!

Verdict

We get to see more of Thessaly this month, and she is not happy! Anyone familiar with this character will know that she’s not a person to be messed with. The whole plot of ghosts, monsters and amulets is right up my street and I will sing this series’ praises from the rooftops, particularly if the quality remains this high.

Images Courtesy of DC Entertainment

The post Review: Sandman Universe: Dead Boy Detectives #3 appeared first on DC Comics News.

Writer: Pornsak Pichetshote
Artists: Jeff Stokely, Craig Taillefer
Color Artist: Miquel Muerto
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou

Reviewed By Steve J. Ray

Summary

Dead Boy Detectives #2 sees Edwin and Charles help their new friends track down a killer ghost, while a horde of ghouls begins to hunt them.

Last month we met three Thai ghosts; Melvin, a Snake Ghost, Jai, a Hollow-Backed Ghost, and Tanya, a Mother Ghost. Having died between the 1970s and the present the three were taken care of by the Thai Ghost Doctor, Dom, until his untimely demise at the hands/claws/ethereal talons of a fourth ghost, the deadly Krasue. This fourth monster is a normal human woman by day, but at night her head and spine detach as she hunts down helpless victims.

Positives

Pornsak Pichetshote is weaving a fascinating tale; part whodunnit, part thriller, and 100% horror. The great part is, while every cast member is dead, they’ve all got more spark, humanity, and personality than some folks that are still alive. The script is great fun to read and every character has their own strengths and characteristics, making them fascinating to follow.

Edwin’s crush on Tanya and Charles’ unspoken, yet all too clear, unrequited love for Edwin are sure to cause fireworks in later issues. Oh, the joy and pain of passion! It’s fascinating to see that this isn’t just something that just affects the living.

This month the creative team’s joined by inker Craig Taillefer, who does what any great inker should do; finish the penciller’s art in a way that highlights both artists’ skills, but doesn’t wash away the penciller’s style. Yes, the visuals in this book are fairly cartoony in style, but the skill is in the storytelling, the characters’ faces, and the deep, rich backgrounds.

Miquel Muertos’s lovely colors make the art shine and don’t overshadow or smother the subtle line work. Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou’s ghost text, sound effects, and chapter headings are simply gorgeous.

I’m totally into this mythology. Thai culture and spiritual beliefs are brand new to me and I find them fascinating. The way the new ghosts only appear at night makes Charles and Edwin’s work harder, and the book that much more fun to read. This adds a whole extra layer of tension and drama to the proceedings.

Negatives

This is just nit-picking, but where’s Thessaly? Hopefully, we’ll find out in issue #3.

Verdict

The entire Sandman Universe has always been built on diversity and representation; both in its cast of characters and in the depth of stories it’s always told. The creative team behind Dead Boy Detectives #2 is honoring that legacy and building on it beautifully. Two issues in, and I’m well and truly hooked! The new horde of mutilated ghost babies is both stomach-churning and heartbreaking. More, please!

Images Courtesy of DC Entertainment

The post Review: Sandman Universe: Dead Boy Detectives #2 appeared first on DC Comics News.

Writer: Pornsak Pichetshote
Artist: Jeff Stokely
Color Artist: Miquel Muerto
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou

Reviewed By Steve J. Ray

Summary

Sandman Universe: Dead Boy Detectives #1 is finally here, and Charles and Edwin are back! Who? you may ask. Worry not, dear reader, I’ll have you caught up before you can say, “Sandman Universe”.

Charles Rowland and Edwin Paine first appeared in the now-classic The Sandman #25 (April 1991). They were created by Neil Gaiman, Matt Wagner, and Malcolm Jones III during the brilliant “Season of Mists” story arc (Volume 4 of the Sandman graphic novels series, which is reprinted in Book Two of the lovely new set of collected editions).

This vintage tale saw Lucifer give up his throne and relinquish the key to the gates of hell. The underworld was then emptied and the dead once again roamed the Earth. Death of the Endless had a tough time rounding up the denizens of hell and both Charles and Edwin, rather than move on, decided to stay on Earth and solve supernatural crimes.

A lot more has happened in one-shots, crossovers, a mini-series, as well as in an ongoing Dead Boy Detectives series, over the years, but that’s all everyone needs to know, in a nutshell. Oh, and the characters have appeared in the  HBO Max series Doom Patrol too.

Positives

Well, issue #1 has left me very happy indeed. If you’ve been reading this title’s companion series, Sandman Universe: Nightmare Country, you’ll know that it ended in a cliffhanger. This issue follows on directly, making the two titles feel almost like one. Another Sandman character, the witch Thessaly, starred in Nightmare Country #6, and it seems like she’ll have a part to play in this series, too.

Writer, Pornsak Pichetshote, is weaving a tale of horror and dark magic that gripped me from page one. His use of Thai folklore and legend is fascinating and engaging. His resumé speaks for itself, as he’s written Swamp Thing stories for DC, TV’s Cloak & Dagger for Marvel, and many other horror comics and books. As a writer of Thai-American heritage, his insight into Asian supernatural lore is refreshing and intriguing.

The art by Jeff Stokely and Miquel Muerto is lovely. The characters and colors are quite bright and punchy, and even though the visuals are quite cartoony this makes the grotesquery of the gore and horror that much more powerful. This story’s brand new, yet looks and feels like it would fit in my 1990s Sandman library effortlessly.

Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou has already impressed me with his excellent work on Sword Of Azrael, so I knew the lettering on this book would be great too. Yay, me… I was right!

Negatives

I don’t have any real gripes other than anyone who’s not familiar with Thessaly, Edwin, or Charles may come into this series feeling a little lost. Pichetshote does clear up some details as the issue progresses, and I’m sure more questions will be answered as the series continues. I do believe this to be a better method of storytelling than using tons of exposition or alienating readers with a massive info dump.

Verdict

Sandman Universe: Dead Boy Detectives #1 is a solid opening issue. Seeing favorite characters return is always fun, but when they’re well-written and drawn, and the work honors what came before, I’m automatically left feeling a lot happier.

I’m looking forward to #2, and feel very sorry for Thessaly’s captors, when, not if, she finally gets out.

Images Courtesy of DC Entertainment

The post Review: Sandman Universe: Dead Boy Detectives #1 appeared first on DC Comics News.

Here’s the full press release, direct from DC Comics:

DC Black Label’s
‘The Sandman Universe: Nightmare Country’
Comic Book Series
Returns in 2023 with
‘Nightmare Country: The Glass House’

‘The Sandman Universe: Nightmare Country’ Vol. 1
To Simultaneously Publish as a
Collectible Hardcover and a New-Reader-Friendly Softcover,
Built to Welcome Fans to ‘The Sandman Universe’

New DC Comic Book Series
‘The Sandman Universe: Dead Boy Detectives’
Launches December 27

Acclaimed horror writer James Tynion IV (Something Is Killing The Children, The Nice House On The Lake) has waited his whole career to pay tribute to the mythos of The Sandman, the work that made him the writer he is today, and now that time has come! With lush, gorgeous art from Redneck’s Lisandro Estherren and a who’s-who of superstar guest artists, The Sandman Universe: Nightmare Country is designed to welcome new readers into one of the greatest worlds in DC’s library, The Sandman Universe.

To make welcoming new readers easier, the collected edition of The Sandman Universe: Nightmare Country arrives in two different formats. The collectible hardcover release with cover art by Alex Eckman-Lawn will be available wherever books are sold and is packaged with a mini-print of the iconic Death, as illustrated by artist Jenny Frison.

A softcover edition with cover art by Reiko Murakami, priced as an easy jump-on point, will be available exclusively at direct market comic book stores. Both are out April 4, the same day as the launch issue of Nightmare Country’s spectacular follow-up miniseries, The Sandman Universe: Nightmare Country – The Glass House!

James Tynion IV:

I’m thrilled to announce that Nightmare Country’s follow-up miniseries, The Glass House, is coming early in 2023.

 

The Corinthian is going to be making his way to Silicon Valley, where he will go head-to-head with Angels, Demons, and a breed of creature far more terrifying that anything he’s faced before, Venture Capitalists.

 

Lisandro and I are excited to continue this nightmare tour through modern America and can’t wait for you all to see what we’ve got in store for you.

The Sandman Universe: Nightmare Country – The Glass House, launching on April 4, 2023, brings Tynion and Estherren back into DC’s The Sandman Universe with a new story and new setting for the second act of their DC Black Label epic. The series will continue featuring covers by Reiko Murakami, as seen above.

Launching between the first two Nightmare Country narratives is The Sandman Universe: Dead Boy Detectives by Pornsak Pichetshote (The Good Asian) and Jeff Stokely, featuring Thessaly the witch along with series regular ghost detectives Edwin and Charles.

Their investigation into a Thai American girl’s disappearance from her Los Angeles home puts them on a collision course with new and terrifying ghosts straight from Thai folklore that could give even a dead boy nightmares!

How exciting is that? As a fan of Neil Gaiman’s Sandman Universe for over 30 years, this news is a dream come true.

As an added bonus, check out the main cover for Dead Boy Detectives #1 and the updated Sandman Universe reading guide, which now includes book six of the beautiful new collected editions!

Images and Press Release Courtesy of DC Entertainment

The post DC Black Label Announces ‘The Sandman Universe: Nightmare Country: The Glass House’ and more appeared first on DC Comics News.

Check out the official press release below for all the details.

Per DC Comics:

DC’s Dead Boy Detectives Are Back!

The Sandman Universe grows as two of its
most beloved characters return to the spotlight!

Charles Rowland and Edwin Paine have been detectives for decades – and dead best friends even longer. But their investigation into a Thai American girl’s disappearance from her Los Angeles home puts them on a collision course with new and terrifying ghosts straight from Thai folklore that could give even a dead boy nightmares! Eisner Award-winning writer Pornsak Pichetshote (The Good Asian, Infidel) is joined by Eisner Award-nominated artist Jeff Stokely to take the Dead Boys to the scariest place of all: the heart of Hollywood!

The Sandman Universe: Dead Boy Detectives kicks off on December 27th with a bloodthirsty krasue—a floating, severed head whose internal organs trail beneath it—and amps up the mysteries and horrors from there!

“The genius of Sandman is how seamlessly it fits different genres, histories, and folklores together, something that definitely inspired Jeff and I for Dead Boy Detectives,” said Pichetshote. “As a Thai-American, I grew up around all this wonderful Thai folklore that’s never made it to American pop culture, so by introducing some of my favorite Neil Gaiman characters to the truly terrifying and bizarre world of Thai ghosts, we will give horror and Sandman fans something new.”

In Pichetshote and Stokely’s new six-issue comic book miniseries, Edwin and Charles are hired to find a missing Thai-American girl named Jai, only for her to turn up dead. Except not. Because Jai, along with her two friends Tanya and Melvin, are all ghosts like Edwin and Charles. Except not. Each child is Thai, with power unlike anything Edwin and Charles have ever seen before, and they all died in LA at different times over the past fifty years! And perilously close by to the boys’ adventure, Thessaly the witch finds herself held hostage by dangerous magics—both a threat to her life and an insult to her ego that simply will not go unanswered…

“This is definitely a horror book,” continued Pichetshote, “as the boys discover Thai black magic’s getting more powerful in Los Angeles (the home of the largest Thai population outside Thailand), and it might even be changing the rules governing ghosts. All this, while Charles and Edwin, two ghost detectives, are secretly craving changes themselves—in a coming-of-age story starring two boys who can’t grow up.”

The Sandman Universe: Dead Boy Detectives #1, written by Pornsak Pichetshote with art by Jeff Stokely, colors by Miquel Muerto, letters by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou and a cover by Nimit Malavia, arrives wherever comic books are sold on December 27, 2022, and carries DC’s Black Label descriptor, identifying the content as appropriate for readers ages 17+. The Sandman Universe: Dead Boy Detectives #1 will also feature variant covers by Alex Eckman-Lawn, Tyler Crook, Filipe Andrade (1:25) and Yoshitaka Amano (1:50).

THE SANDMAN UNIVERSE: DEAD BOY DETECTIVES #1
Written by PORNSAK PICHETSHOTE
Art by JEFF STOKELY
Cover by NIMIT MALAVIA
Variant cover by ALEX ECKMAN-LAWN
Variant cover by TYLER CROOK
1:25 variant cover by FILIPE ANDRADE
1:50 variant cover by YOSHITAKA AMANO
$3.99 US | 32 pages | 1 of 6 |
Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 12/27/22

The Sandman Universe grows as two of its most beloved characters return to the spotlight! Charles Rowland and Edwin Paine have been detectives for decades—and dead best friends even longer. But their investigation into a Thai American girl’s disappearance from her Los Angeles home puts them on a collision course with new and terrifying ghosts that could give even a dead boy nightmares—including a bloodthirsty krasue. Even scarier than the ghosts? Though neither wants to admit it, the boys might be growing apart. And perilously close by to the boys’ adventure, Thessaly the witch finds herself held hostage by dangerous magics—both a threat to her life and an insult to her ego that simply will not go unanswered…

Eisner Award-winning writer Pornsak Pichetshote (The Good Asian, Infidel) is joined by celebrated artist Jeff Stokely to take the Dead Boys to the scariest place of all: the heart of Hollywood!

The post Dead Boy Detectives Return To The Sandman Universe appeared first on DC Comics News.