From the publisher: The Dream Hunters chart the footsteps of their absent lord through realms infernal and external, stumbling at last upon an unexpected treasure...while the new incumbent upon the throne of the Dreaming—scared of its own mind—at last decides who, and how, to be.
The Dreaming #10 by Simon Spurrier continues the search for Daniel, the Lord of the Dreaming. While Code (or whatever its name is), the new Lord of the Dreaming, is trying to figure out just what exactly it is, with some help from Abel, Code decides to follow Dora's quest by seeing through Matthew the Raven's eyes. Meanwhile, Dora and Matthew arrive in Hell and run into a Balaam, with whom Dora had a relationship once. Balaam has been demoted, but is eager to help in exchange for a payment. There is also some other weird demon creature that shows up.
So, Spurrier seems to be telling two stories here. One is the quest, where Dora and Matthew discover that Daniel exchanged a dream with an ancient demon for an egg, which hatched. What was in the egg is still a mystery. Along the way, they have a discussion about the shapes of things. Meanwhile, Abel and Code (?) are discussing how dreams (and events in general, I believe) don't make a lot of sense or are understood until/unless a shape is enforced upon them. This seems to have been some part of Daniel/Dream's job as Lord of the Dreaming, and it also sparks a conversation about things should have just one shape, or many different varieties.
As a story, I'm really enjoying The Dreaming. Spurrier is telling an interesting tale that seems to be adding to the Sandman mythology. I'm also anxious to find out what is happening to and with Daniel, and then move on to some other story arc. Spurrier also seems to be commenting on the nature of stories (and life), much as Gaiman did throughout the original Sandman series. It's this, in my opinion, that gave Sandman it's lasting appeal, and I appreciate Spurrier following along the same lines, while still telling something wholly new. It's a fine line to walk when you're following a master storyteller and his famous work, trying to honor it yet push it in new directions. At this point, I think Spurrier is doing a fine job.
Once again, I recommend The Dreaming by Simon Spurrier. This latest issue (#10) continues the quest for Daniel story arc and throws out some interesting ideas about stories. I recommend it, particularly to fans of Neil Gaiman.
I received a preview copy of this book from DC Comics and Vertigo in exchange for an honest review.
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