Content Warning: The following article contains spoilers for the Netflix show The Sandman and the comics it’s based on.
The highly anticipated Netflix adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s iconic Sandman comic book series premiered to critical acclaim. Its accurate depiction of storylines, events, and characters from the comics has impressed fans and critics alike.
It’s easy to compare the unforgettable characters from the show with their well-written counterparts from the comics, as the Netflix series’ portrayal of beings like Death and Dream stays faithful to their versions from the pages. As fans eagerly wait to see if more characters from the comics will be depicted in a potential second season, it’s the perfect time to delve into the similarities and differences between the show’s characters and their comic book counterparts so far.
Lucienne / Lucien
There was little to no difference in the way they portrayed Dream’s trusty head librarian, Lucien, who’s called Lucienne in the Netflix series. Both are in charge of the library in the Dreaming, which contains all written and unwritten works.
Just like in the comic book series, Lucienne takes on a bigger role after Dream’s departure, as she’s one of his few subjects who stay behind. She does what she can to maintain the integrity of the realm in the absence of its ruler. While it hasn’t been revealed on the show yet that Lucienne is actually Dream’s first raven, it’s likely the case considering how accurate her and Matthew’s story arcs have been.
John Dee / Doctor Destiny
John Dee is a minor villain who manages to get Dream’s ruby and use it for his own nefarious purpose. Fans of the Sandman comics know that he is actually a DC supervillain known as Doctor Destiny and the original version of the diner scene is much more gruesome than what was depicted on the show.
What’s more, there’s a slight change in John’s motivation in the Netflix series, as his TV version wants a more honest world. His counterpart in the comics just wants chaos by driving everyone mad enough to accept him as their new king.
The Corinthian
There’s an obvious difference in the way the Corinthian is shown in the Netflix series compared to the comics, as the nightmare takes on an expanded role in the show. The Corinthian doesn’t meet the main characters in the comics as he does in the show, and he is certainly never strong enough to hurt Dream with a knife.
In both cases, though, the Corinthian hates the rules Dream tries to make him follow, as he believes there should be no boundary between the Dreaming and the waking world. He craves power and control, which is precisely why he has to be unmade (and soon created again for a different purpose).
Johanna Constantine / John Constantine
Depicted as Johanna rather than John, Constantine is a powerful character who is an expert in all things occult. Much of the storyline on the Netflix series is the same as the comics, except for the part where Johanna exorcises a princess’ fiancee.
In the comics, John is also portrayed as a cynical and disillusioned occult detective who helps Dream search for his pouch of sand. Just like in the show, they find it with Johanna/John’s ex-girlfriend, who has been corrupted and hurt by her addiction to the sand.
Matthew
Fans of the comics were likely excited to see the wisecracking raven, Matthew, come to life on the Netflix series. He’s just as witty, hilarious, and sometimes clueless as his comic book counterpart, often complaining to Dream about how strange it is to be a human one second and a bird the next.
Matthew does a great job at being Dream’s loyal companion in both the comics and the show, with the slight difference being that Jessamy doesn’t have such a big role in the source material. If the series continues to be faithful to the comics, fans can expect Matthew and Dream to develop a close bond all the way to the overarching narrative’s heartbreaking conclusion.
Lucifer Morningstar
The cunning and villainous Lucifer Morningstar is introduced as an antagonist in the Netflix series, which is setting up one of the best storylines in the Sandman comics. She’s much like her comic book counterpart and is perhaps even more invested in Dream’s demise and the loss of his realm.
Unlike her role in the comics, Lucifer plays “the oldest game” with Dream and loses, which is something that Choronzon does in the source material. The slight change helps give Lucifer’s character more motivation for what’s coming next, as readers know that she’s about to leave it all behind and give Dream the key to Hell.
Hob Gadling
It’s exciting to see one of the immortal characters from the comics on the Netflix series, with Hob Gadling’s backstory being depicted exactly as it happened in the source material. His arrogant rant about death leads to an experiment and agreement with Dream who meets him in the same tavern every hundred years to see if he still wants eternal life.
Just like in the comics, no matter what life throws at him, Hob enjoys saying yes to another hundred years. The scene in the show where Dream is offended by Hob’s suggestion happens in the comics as well, which leads to a similar conclusion where he admits they have become friends.
Rose Walker
The Vortex known as Rose Walker has a challenging time in the show, as not only does she have to find her missing brother Jed, but she also has to come to terms with a sacrifice she must make to save everyone. That task is slightly easier in the comics, as her mother, Miranda, isn’t dead.
It’s Miranda, not Lyta, who accompanies Rose to meet Unity Kinkaid for the first time. Rose doesn’t even meet dream in the comics until the Cereal Convention where she’s attacked by Fun Land. In the Netflix series, it’s Jed who’s almost attacked by Fun Land. In the comics, Rose uses Gilbert’s advice and calls Dream to help. In both versions, Unity steps in to save her life right before Dream takes it.
Death
Whether it’s the comics or the show, Death is a likable character with a surprisingly cheerful attitude about life and all it has to offer. Her appearance in the show is taken straight out of the storyline from the comics where she shows Dream what her job is like, while teaching him important lessons about their purpose.
Even small details like her appreciation for apples are based on the comics, as well as her warm personality and genuine love for her sibling. Viewers have only seen a tiny glimpse of what Death is capable of and future episodes will hopefully show more of her iconic actions from the comics.
Dream
He may not have his signature dark eyes and wild hair, but the show’s depiction of Dream is as accurate as it gets. The brooding and powerful character is caught and imprisoned by Roderick Burgess, which is exactly how the overarching narrative starts in the comics.
Dream is changed by this experience, which shows him the worst of humanity. It also forces him to go on a quest to retrieve his tools, which is portrayed on the show just as it happens in the source material. Dream’s transformation has only just begun, as the first season barely touches the surface of what he’s about to go through.