“24 Hours” is quite possibly the scariest mainstream comic book ever published.
Warning: This article contains spoilers for the fifth episode of Netflix’sThe Sandman, “24/7.”
The Sandmanis not primarily a horror series.
The cover of ‘The Sandman’ #6, a.k.a. ‘24 Hours.’ Cover art by Dave McKean.DC Comics
ButThe Sandmandid get very scary, especially in its early run.
The sixth issue in particular might be the scariest horror comic ever published.
Back in 2017,EW interviewed Gaiman about “24 Hours"for a special Halloween-focused issue.
The first page of ‘The Sandman’ #6, written by Neil Gaiman with art by Mike Dringenberg and Malcolm Jones III.DC Comics
What was nice is I never had to go that dark again.
Here we are five years later, andThe Sandmanhas finally been adapted for screen byNetflix.
“Our whole approach to the show was emotional and character first,” showrunner Allan Heinberg tells EW.
John Dee as seen in ‘The Sandman’ #6 by Neil Gaiman, Mike Dringenberg, and Malcolm Jones III.DC Comics
“So we changed our approach to John Dee’s story.
John Dee was part of that and is the human name of the old Justice League supervillain Doctor Destiny.
He’s just a normal human who’s been in and out of asylums his whole life.
John Dee (David Thewlis) terrorizes a diner full of people in Netflix’s ‘The Sandman’.Liam Daniel/Netflix
“Instead of wanting to destroy the world, he wants to save it,” Heinberg says.
“That was a huge thing for us.
What we were all craving at the time was an honest world.
John Dee (David Thewlis) is up to no good with a magical ruby in ‘The Sandman’.Netflix
At first, it all seems to go well.
But eventually they all realize that Dee is manipulating them and they don’t like it.
“We knew that we were never gonna go for pure shock or gross-out horror.
Kate Fletcher (Lourdes Faberes), Marsh (Steven Brand), Bette (Emma Duncan), Judy (Daisy Head), and Mark (Laurie Davidson) in Netflix’s ‘The Sandman’.Liam Daniel/Netflix
It had to be psychological, it had to be emotional,” Heinberg says.
The Sandmanis streaming now on Netflix, and the original comics are available wherever books are sold.
