Wesley Dodds: The Sandman # 1 2023 VF/NM

Wesley Dodds: The Sandman # 1, released on October 10, 2023, is the first of a six-issue limited series that reimagines the original Golden Age Sandman in a gritty noir mystery. Part of DC’s The New Golden Age initiative, the series takes place in 1940s New York and focuses on Wesley Dodds' internal struggle between his humanitarian ideals and his role as a vigilante. 

Set in 1940 Manhattan, Wesley Dodds is a scientist plagued by prophetic nightmares who uses sleep gas as a non-lethal tool to fight crime. 

• The Proposition: Seeking a way to save lives on a larger scale, Dodds petitions the U.S. military to adopt his research for non-lethal warfare. The military rejects his proposal, with a colonel bluntly stating that killing enemy soldiers is more cost-effective than capturing sedated ones.
• The Conflict: Despondent over his failed attempt to help the war effort, Dodds continues his nightly vigilante activities. However, dark forces operating from the shadows target him, leading to the theft of his secret science journal.
• The Stakes: The journal contains not only his perfected sleep gas formula but also his failed, lethal chemical discoveries. Wesley must track down the thief before these deadly weapons are unleashed on a world already on the brink of war.
• The Ending: The debut issue concludes with sirens blaring as Dodds' own mansion is set on fire, shattering his secret life. 

Key Characters 

• Wesley Dodds (The Sandman): A wealthy scientist and visionary who fights crime while struggling with disturbing visions of the future.
• Dian Belmont: Wesley's girlfriend and secret confidante who supports his dual life.
• Lawrence Belmont: Dian's father and an influential figure in Wesley's social circle.
• Rex Tyler: The Golden Age hero known as Hourman, who makes a guest appearance at a party, revealing he has been following Wesley's career.
• Colonel Malcolm Breckenridge: The military official who rejects Wesley’s gas formula, later becoming a person of interest in the theft.