Mr. Sandman (5 page)

 

Page
18
p
anel 1

 

Dream Lord: It worked! I was physically transported into another dimension, where dreams have solid form! I discovered I suddenly had super powers, and used them to destroy the President's nightmare and free him from his sleep.

 

Adams, in his protective suit, punches a huge nightmare creature to the ground, while the President watches with relief and joy.

 

 

 

Page
18
p
anel 2

 

Dream Lord: Of course, it was a one-way trip for me! I was
stuck
in the Dream Zone...but there are worse fates. Not only did I have super powers, but I found that I could create anything I wanted here, just by
imagining
! I made the Dream Base as my headquarters, and produced a whistle which gave me power over all nightmare creatures.

 

Stranger: Hmmm...how fascinating!

 

Image shows Adams blowing into a whistle around his neck, and a bunch of horrible-looking nightmare beasts dancing in a chorus line under his control.

 

 

 

Page
18
p
anel 3

 

Dream Lord: I even created the Snooze Tubes, which allowed me to travel to Earth once more. After a while, I decided to use my powers for the good of mankind, to protect the world from nightmare creatures who crossed the dimensional barrier.

 

Adams battles a dream monster on a busy city street.

 

 

 

Page
18
p
anel 4

 

Dream Lord: I became the Dream Lord.

 

Full-length shot of the Dream Lord in his red and yellow costume.

 

 

 

Page
18
p
anel 5

 

The flashback is over, and the misty images disappear as Adams addresses the Stranger.

 

Dream Lord: And that's it. That's my story. Now, how about yours?

 

Narrator: Dear Diary: In my dream on the beach, I told the handsome man all about my life.

 

 

 

Page
18
p
anel 6

 

Narrator: He only laughed.

 

Stranger (laughing hilariously, bent over and clutching the table): Ha ha ha ha ha! That's
it
, you say? That's your
story
? How amusing! Ha ha ha!

 

 

Page
18
p
anel 7

 

Dream Lord (surprised at the reaction): Excuse me, but did I miss something? I had no idea my life story was so humorous.

 

Stranger: Oh, but it
is
, Kubla! My, but you can spin a tall tale, my friend! You should be a grandfather, spitting tobacco on a front porch while you tell the children stories! Better yet, you should be a comedian!

 

 

 

Page
18
p
anel 8

 

Narrator: All of a sudden, the man was cruel. I couldn't understand it.

 

Dream Lord (angrily, intensely): You know, I believe I've had enough of you. I don't particularly care who you are or where you come from anymore.

 

 

 

 

Page 1
9
(
8
panels)

 

Page
19
p
anel 1

 

Stranger: Oh, but Kubla, your story was so
good!
It was such a joke! It was all a fable, a grand
lie!
I know, Adams,
I k
now!

 

Narrator: He was mean and made fun of me like the people I work with.

 

 

 

Page
19
p
anel 2

 

Dream Lord: You're insane.

 

Stranger (poking a finger at Adams): And
you
are full of it! You lie like a rug!

 

Narrator: He called me a liar.

 

 

 

Page
19
p
anel 3

 

Dream Lord: That's enough! I've
had it
with you! Ever since you got here, you've been playing games and avoiding my questions. I put up with it because I was glad for the company...but
no more!

 

The Dream Lord is standing now, energy crackling around his furious form.

 

 

 

Page
19
p
anel 4

 

Stranger: Come now, Pinocchio! You're a damn liar! You speak with forked tongue, paleface! Why, it's plain as the nose on your ugly mug!

 

 

 

Page
19
p
anel 5

 

The Dream Lord gazes into a silver plate on the table, and notices that his nose is suddenly a foot long.

 

Stranger: You see what I mean? You ought to consider rhinoplasty, Fibber McGee! Ha ha ha ha ha!

 

The Dream Lord gasps in shock.

 

 

 

Page
19
p
anel 6

 

Dream Lord (staring unbelievingly at the plate): How did you...how could you...

 

Stranger: It's done with mirrors, of course! Isn't it
neat?
It's what a liar
deserves!

 

 

 

Page
19
p
anel 7

 

Closeup of the Dream Lord as he looks up furiously at the Stranger, energy again dancing around his body.

 

Dream Lord: No!
You
are the liar!
I'm
the Dream Lord!
I'm
in charge here!

 

Stranger (off-panel): Oh, you're definitely ahead by a nose, I'd say!

 

 

 

Page
19
p
anel 8

 

Dream Lord: I am the Dream Lord, and I want you out of here.

 

He thrusts his arms toward the Stranger, pouring out bursts of surging power.

 

 

 

 

Page 20 (7
panels)

 

Page
20
p
anel 1

 

The energy envelopes the Stranger, bathing him in radiant light. He stands, unafraid, against the attack.

 

 

 

Page
20
p
anel 2

 

The Stranger holds his pose, completely unaffected by the Dream Lord's force. Smoke curls around his feet, and there are a few twinkles in the air around him, but otherwise, there is no trace of the incredible blast hurled at him.

 

Stranger (calmly, smiling): You can't get rid of me. You can't make me go away. The truth hurts, doesn't it, Adams?

 

 

 

Page
20
p
anel 3

 

Adams spreads his arms in the air, and, in a flash of light, his Dream Lord costume appears on his body.

 

Dream Lord: You're very amusing, but the game is now over. You have forfeited your right to exist.

 

Stranger: Oh, Kubla, must you be so difficult? This was
not
the dessert I had in mind.

 

 

 

Page
20
p
anel 4

 

Dream Lord: Dinner is over. Now, I have some friends I would like you to meet.

 

Dream Lord lifts his hypnogogic whistle to his mouth, and blows into it, producing a high-pitched whine.

 

 

 

Page
20
p
anel 5

 

The Dream Lord glares at the Stranger as the wall behind him bursts inward, and a troop of nightmare demons comes charging into the room. The demons are repulsive, squirming and hopping and slobbering, obviously ready to viciously attack.

 

Dream Lord: As you can see, they're a sociable bunch. They'd like to get to know you better...

 

 

 

Page
20
p
anel 6

 

A long panel showing the army of dream beasts swooping and tumbling past the Dream Lord, flashing fangs and claws and about to pounce on the Stranger.

 

Dream Lord: ...sort of on a first-come, first-served basis.

 

Stranger: Ha ha! Well, I'll be! If I didn't know better, I would swear you're threatening me with
nightmare beasts!

 

 

 

Page
20
p
anel 7

 

The Stranger snaps his fingers at the onrushing horde.

 

Stranger: "E" for effort, Kubla, but really, you know what they say...

 

 

 

 

Page
21 (7
panels)

 

Page
21
p
anel 1

 

Stranger: ...You just
can't
find
good help
anymore!

 

The creatures stop in their tracks and whirl around to face the Dream Lord.

 

 

 

Page
21
p
anel 2

 

Shocked, the Dream Lord is beaten to the floor by the creatures as they fly across the room and attack him instead of the Stranger.

 

Dream Lord: No!! Get off!! Aaarrgh! Get
off
me!

 

 

 

Page
21
p
anel 3

 

Dream Lord: Get
away!

 

He flings them away and disintegrates them all with a flare of energy.

 

(His nose is still long)

 

Dream Lord: I don't know how you did that, but the game is
over!

 

 

 

Page
21
p
anel 4

 

Dream Lord: Now, you will
burn
at my hands!

 

The Dream Lord gestures, and the dining hall disappears. He and the Stranger are suddenly floating in a hell-like environment, surrounded by leaping flames, volcanoes, and fireballs.

 

Stranger: Such histrionics, Kubla! Haven't you gotten it through your thick skull yet? None of this is necessary! I'm impervious!

 

 

 

Page
21
p
anel 5

 

The Dream Lord gestures again, and the environment changes again. This time, the two men are standing in a prehistoric jungle, and a Tyrannosaurus is trying to snap up the Stranger in its jaws.

 

Dream Lord: You are
nothing
in my land!
Less
than nothing! I will obliterate you!

 

Stranger: Ho hum. They say that the smallest dogs always bark loudest, don't they? Give it up, twinkle toes.

 

 

 

Page
21
p
anel 6

 

Dream Lord: You will suffer!

 

Stranger: Oh, Kubla, your food chain is all wrong! I am not
your
prey! You remind me of a rabbit threatening a
tiger!

 

The Stranger waves his arm, and the Tyrannosaurus topples dead to the ground.