Warning: This list contains spoilers for Netflix's The Sandman!

Netflix's Sandman has been a long-awaited adaptation of one of Neil Gaiman's most famous creations. The comics, graphic novels, and stories are truly the stuff of nightmares and dreams alike, and there's certainly plenty to love across the genres. However, although no comic book adaptation will ever be 100% perfect, there are several noticeable variations, nods, and references to the original source material that fans of the original work will recognize.

The series takes some artistic liberties here and there, but not so much that it completely deviates from the source material. Gaiman and the rest of the filmmakers have given audiences an adaptation that does its absolute best to satisfy comic fans and casual ones alike.

Dream's Eyes

Morpheus is captured in The Sandman

The talented Tom Sturridge leads the charge in the role of Morpheus, better known as Dream of the Endless, and while he proves to be an impressive interpretation of the character, he misses one major element of the Lord of Dreams that is present in nearly every incarnation he takes in the comic books. He lacks that mythical, otherworldly appearance that separates him from the humans he interacts with.

That being said, the adaptation does reference Dream's true form, particularly the star-like eyes made so famous in the artwork, on multiple occasions. This can be seen in intense closeups, especially when he becomes angered, or on reflective surfaces such as when he is summoning the Hecate. He may not be the version some fans were expecting, but his true form does still exist.

Unity Was Not The Only Notable Sleeping Sickness Victim

Unity Kincaid as she appeared In The Sandman TV show

Unity Kincaid was the most famous victim of the sleeping sickness during Morpheus's absence, namely because she was destined to be the Vortex. However, the series did not cover the full expanse of the sickness that fell upon the world. Because while some, like Unity, ended up sleeping for decades, there were those who never got to sleep at all.

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In the original Preludes and Nocturnes, there are several examples of people not being able to fall asleep, including one such individual who is rendered into a zombified state after sleep deprivation wrecks his body and mentality. It's one thing to be stuck in the Dreaming, but it's likely worse to never be able to sleep again.

Squatterbloat’s Rhyming Is A Reference To Etrigan

Etrigan The Demon as he appears in DC comics

"There's one at the door at the gates of damnation..." are the words Dream is greeted with as he makes his way all the way down to the gates of Hell where he is met by the rhyming and wretched Squatterbloat. Those who have read the comics will know that the ax-wielding demon does indeed appear at the gate to usher Dream to Lucifer's throne, but there's a more famous demon surprisingly absent from this exchange.

In the comics, Dream is met at the gate by Squatterbloat, but is ushered through the circles of Hell by DC's Etrigan. As impressive as it might have been to have the demon get a live-action appearance, he was ultimately absent. However, Squatterbloat's manner of speaking is possibly a reference to Etrigan's own iambic pentameter.

Nods To DC/Vertigo Superheroes Are Scattered Throughout The Series

Martian Manhunter appears in Sandman

Constantine, Etrigan, and even Martian Manhunter are all DC superheroes Dream encounters in the first volume of Sandman, but they make no appearance in the Netflix series. However, there are dozens of references to other DC Comics characters and properties such as Hellblazer, the Justice League, and even Static Shock.

Fans of the original series will note these as easter eggs and nods to the Sandman's origins through DC and Vertigo comics. While Dream might not rub elbows with the likes of Batman or Wonder Woman, it's clear they still exist in his universe.

There’s A Reason Dream’s Beloved Is In Hell

Nada is trapped in Hell in The Sandman.

In one of the most chilling scenes from "A Hope In Hell," in both the comic chapter and TV episode, Dream encounters the shade of Nada of The First People. She is introduced briefly in Hell, but her true origins lie in The Doll's House where she is revealed in a folktale to be Dream's first love, and the reason behind her damnation.

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Dream states she "defied him" 10,000 years ago and that he has not yet forgiven her, but those who read the comics will know Nada's motives, origins, and that the two will eventually be reunited. Of course, Death has to do a little convincing first.

Lucifer Is Supposed To Look Like She Does

Dream squares off against Lucifer in Sandman

Game of Thrones star Gwendoline Christie portrays perhaps the most fascinating Lucifer brought to a screen of any size. However, this is not the first time that the character of Lucifer Morningstar created by Neil Gaiman has been brought to life. Chances are, many fans of his work were expecting the version portrayed by Tom Ellis in Lucifer instead of the blonde, winged, androgynous version seen in Sandman.

The show's version of Lucifer is a near-perfect recreation of the one seen on the comic panels, complete with bat wings and white robe. Gaiman's vision was meant to portray the beauty of heaven corrupted by the influence of sin, resulting in the character's Bowie-esque design.

Lucifer Does Not Rule Hell Alone

Azazel from The Sandman appears as a mass of eyes and teeth.

Although the series shows that Lucifer rules Hell with the burned Mazikeen of the Lilim at their side, comic fans know that there are a couple of demons missing from this meeting of the malicious minds when the Sandman arrives at the gate in search of his helmet. Lucifer is a powerful and frightening presence all on their own, but the ruling of Hell is not a solo act.

Hell is ruled by an unholy triumvirate consisting of Lucifer, Beelzebub, and Azazel, the latter of which makes an appearance towards the end of the season, but it seems Lucifer is the one running the show. Considering how well Christie plays the character, that's probably for the best.

Fiddler's Green Is G.K. Chesterton

Stephen Fry plays Gilbert In Sandman

While this does happen in the series, it's a great deal subtler than it is in the comics. Fiddler's Green, or Gilbert as he's known in the Waking World, appears as a bespectacled English gentleman who comes to Rose's aid. However, readers know that he has assumed a form that has existed in the waking world before.

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G.K. Chesterton, the author of such books as the Father Brown series, was an influence on Gaiman's style and the author even quotes him at the beginning of Coraline. While the reveal happens in the comic by way of a well-placed photograph Rose discovers, Gilbert is shown in the series reading a copy of one of Chesterton's works, implying the connection.

Who Is The Prodigal Sibling

Destruction wanders away from his domain in Sandman

In Desire's chambers, they keep a sigil of all of their siblings to draw them forth, such as the Dream's mask or Despair's hook, but, as their twin points out, one sigil is missing. Referred to as "The Prodigal," the missing sibling is left a mystery to be revealed likely in a future season. If fans have read Gaiman's work, however, they know exactly who it is and what his domain represents.

Ultimately, The Endless are powerful anthropomorphic personifications of abstracts like death, dreams, desires, etc., but the missing sibling is Destruction, a being who abandoned his realm in search of other, more noble pursuits. Essentially wanting more than literal destruction from life, the Prodigal abdicated his throne upon witnessing the wonders of creation.

The Endless Are Too Human

Morpheus pictured next to his Netflix counterpart in Sandman

Except for Desire, the Endless are portrayed as far more humanlike beings than they are in the comics and it's not entirely clear why. In the comics, whenever characters like Dream or Death interact with humans, they normally do little to hide their otherworldly nature. Sometimes they even appear as alien-like monsters, so it's strange that they appear more human in the series.

It might be the director's vision, it might be the implication that the human viewers are seeing these beings as humans, but it's one of the most noticeable deviations from the source material. Needless to say, comic fans probably weren't expecting the visual change.

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