Warning: contains potential spoilers forJohn Constantine: Dead in America#11!
DC just upendedThe Sandman’siconic ending, thanks to Dream…andJohn Constantine?Regarded as one of the all-time greats,The Sandmanreceived a pitch-perfect conclusion, one that tied up loose ends and brought the character’s arc to a close. Now, in a preview forJohn Constantine: Dead in America#11,the titular sorcerer, trying to save Dream’s powers from the forces of evil, brings the Furies down on his head.
John Constantine: Dead in America#11 is written by Si Spurrier and drawn by Aaron Campbell.John Constantine has seemingly killed someone, an act that catches the attention of the Furies. They descend on him, tormenting him both physically and mentally. Invoking the numerous times Constantine has cheated death, they tell him he has three hours left in his life, and they plan to enjoy every minute of his torture. The Furies also reference their attack on Morpheus at the climax ofThe Sandman.
The SandmanWas a Stand-Out Title For a Lot of Reasons
Morpheus,The Sandman’sPrimary Character, Died in the Book’s Climax
The Sandmanpremiered in 1988, rising to become one of DC’s most popular titles. From its inception,The Sandmanwas a different kind of DC comic: while set in the DC Universe, and drawing on its vast mythology, superheroes were largely non-existent.Furthermore,The Sandmanhad a definitive beginning, middle and end–common in comics elsewhere in the world but virtually unheard of in the American scene.These two qualities helpedThe Sandmanbecome one of the most critically acclaimed comics of all time, as well as reach an audience not normally interested in comic books.
Morpheus’ passing was poignant and bittersweet, and remains one of the most gut-wrenching moments ofThe Sandman’srun.
The Sandmanended with issue #75 in 1996, but Morpheus’ story came to an end sooner, in issue #69. The final chapter ofThe Kindly Ones,the Furies came for Dream, or Morpheus. Asa member of the Endless, who were personifications of abstract concepts, Dream could not technically “die.” Instead, Morpheus, the current embodiment of the concept, died at the Furies’ hands, and Daniel Hall became his successor. Morpheus’ passing was poignant and bittersweet, and remains one of the most gut-wrenching moments ofThe Sandman’srun.The Furies remind fans there is always a bigger fish waiting.
John Constantine Is About to Learn What Morpheus Knew About the Furies
It Is Shocking The Furies Did Not Come for Constantine Sooner
Now, years after the Furies took Morpheus’ life,they have come for John Constantine, and given the sheer amount of death, heartbreak and misery he has been responsible for, it is a small wonder the Furies did not attack him sooner. The trail of chaos and destruction Constantine has left in his wake is great, and nearly everyone close to him has suffered at some point or another. John tries to do right by the people around him, but often falls short. Constantine knows this fact, and it eats at him constantly.
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TheFuries acknowledge this fact, stating John Constantine has “many sins” he can be punished for. Indeed, there is far more blood on Constantine’s hands than ever was on Morpheus’. Just as the Furies reminded Morpheus of his mortality, they do the same for Constantine, and not even his deals with demons can save him. The Furies are a primal force in the DC Universe. It has been implied that even the most powerful forces in the DC Universe are still beholden to the Furies, and that is made clear inJohn Constantine: Dead in America#11.
Can John Constantine One-Up Morpheus, and Stop the Furies?
The Furies Are Some of the Most Powerful Beings in the DC Universe
John Constantine, on the other hand, is going to try and do everything in his power to outwit the Furies, and given his track record with similar beings, he may actually be successful.
As befitting his trickster nature, Constantine’s potential ending subvertsThe Sandman’sepic conclusion. When the Furies came for Morpheus atThe Kindly Ones’climax, it gave Dream a heroic death. Morpheus knew his story was coming to an end, going to his death with honor.John Constantine, on the other hand, is going to try and do everything in his power to outwit the Furies, and given his track record with similar beings, he may actually be successful. If Constantine could get the Furies to leave him alone, then he would have accomplished something even Morpheus was incapable of doing.
John Constantine: Dead in America#11 is on sale December 18 from DC Comics!
