Rustichello Of Pisa (illustrated by Ron Chan)

Rustichello of Pisa was the cell mate of Marco Polo when he was captured and imprisoned after returning home from his journey to China. In Prison Marco Polo told Rustichello about his travels across the world, which were later recounted in the book Il Milione (the Million, in Italian) or The Travels Of Marco Polo.

Rustichello meets Marco Polo in a Soft Place, which is an area where the borders between Reality and The Dreaming have eroded or are not fully formed. In Soft Places, time loops around itself and dream geographies intrude on reality.

Rustichello had already met Marco Polo, back in his prison cell, but Polo had not yet met Rustichello since he was lost and trapped in the Soft Place during his journey, which he would later recount 24 years later.

Rustichello and Marco Polo share wine with a gentleman named Fiddler’s Green and talk about Polo’s journey to the empire of Kubilai Khan.

As the night comes to an end, Marco Polo accuses Rustichello of being a dream and Rustichello responds by saying “Oh, you’re a dream all right. Only question is whose. I think you’re mine, but maybe I’m wrong. Hey, Boy. Who’s dreaming you?”

Rustichello was one of the first portraits that Ron drew for the project and it’s absolutely fabulous. I really love the details here. It makes him feel like a real person. Also, Ron did a great job capturing the attitude of the character.

He appears in Sandman # 39.

Here is Rustichello of Pisa…

Faery # 9 (illustrated by Lars Brown)

Here is another faery who attended the first performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

This faery can be seen crossing into England from Faery with Titania, Oberon and their entourage.

He is in Sandman # 19, page 5, panel 4. He’s nearly impossible to miss.

Lars did a great job with this portrait.

Boy At Guy Fawkes Bonfire # 8 (illustrated by Max Rugers)

When William Shakespeare and Ben Johnson walk home from a visit to the pub they encounter a group of boys building a bonfire to burn an effigy of Guy Fawkes. This happens on November 5th.

This boy can be seen in the background near the pile of wood, which will soon be a bonfire, running with his arms in the air.

He is from Sandman # 75, page 14, panel 3.

With this portrait, Max created the illusion of fire behind the boy. I really like that. It adds a cool contrast between the boy and the fire.

Max also did a painting on the back of this portrait...so here is the portrait and the back painting.

Reveler At Alain’s Masked Ball # 1 (illustrated by Isabelle Melançon)

This character is a character from one of my three favorite stories in Endless Nights, “Death In Venice.”

This person is one of the people who attended Alain’s masked ball “of unparalleled splendor and magnificence” the night Death entered into the court.

This Reveler can be seen standing at the bottom of the stairs talking with some other party guests.

You can see this character Endless Nights, “Death In Venice” page 13, panel 1.

Isabelle did a fantastic job with this character. It’s one of my favorites that she’s done so far. She made this character more feminine than in the original comic, which I appreciate because it seems like there are a lot of male characters in this story and so it’s nice to have a woman in a lovely masquerade costume.

Man # 201 (illustrated by Max Rugers)

This is a man you’ve probably never noticed when reading the comic. I hadn’t until I started this project.

This man appears in Preludes And Nocturnes and is one of the men on the streets of London as the newspapers reported Dr. Hathaway’s mysterious suicide.

He appears in Sandman # 1, page 14, panel 1. He is visible in the lower right corner of the panel.

I like this portrait. I like the colors and the contrast with the blackness. I also like how that man is almost a silhouette, but he’s not. This is a really fun portrait, I think. Max did an excellent job with this obscure character.

Dead Man # 102 (illustrated by Lars Brown)

And here we have another Dead Man from Hades.

When Orpheus is singing to Lord Hades and Queen Persephone his voice is carried throughout the underworld. In Tartarus, the deepest level of the Underworld this dead man is standing on the shore of a river, perhaps watching Tantalus reaching for some fruit from a low hanging tree.

This dead man can be seen in The Sandman Special # 1 (The Song Or Orpheus) on page 34, in panel 4. He is standing naked at the edge of the river.

This is another great portrait from Lars. He’s drawn several dead people and each one is completely unique and I really like that. This dead man looks so miserable.

Rimmon (illustrated by Ron Chan)

Rimmon is one of the last demons to leave Hell when Lucifer decided he was abandoning his responsibilities and locking the doors behind him.

When Lucifer and Dream travelled through Hell checking to make sure all the residents had left, Rimmon, along with Ketele and a strange fly looking demon were sitting around a camp fire and refused to leave. They did not believe that the true Lucifer would expel the souls held in Hell or end his war with Heaven.

In the end, Lucifer forced them to leave just as he did with all of the other demons and residents of Hell. Rimmon was beautifully drawn by Ron Chan. In the published comic Rimmon is almost comical, a oversized baby with a snake emerging from his stomach. Ron’s version of the character is not at all comical. He looks mean and a bit sinister. He is definitely not a demon I’d ever want to meet.

Ghost Boy # 16 (illustrated by Max Rugers)

This Ghost Boy returned to St. Hilarion’s School For Boys after Lucifer emptied Hell in the Season Of Mists storyline.

He attended the assembly, sitting in the front row, and was listened to the speech given by Headmaster Parkinson. He is sitting near Charles Rowland.

He can be seen in Sandman # 25, page 15, panel 1. He is sitting on the far left in the front row.

I like Max’s take on this character. I like his use of the color blue because it gives the portrait a colder feeling, which seems appropriate for someone who is dead.

Dreamer # 4 & 5 (illustrated by Lars Brown)

As Dream and John Dee battle for control of the dream ruby, the waking world slips into chaos and those who were asleep, slept uneasily. Sleepers all over the world thrashed and whimpered and moaned as if caught in a nightmare.

These two Dreamers are asleep during that battle.

These two Dreamers appear in Preludes and Nocturnes, in Sandman # 7 on page 13.

I really like these two portraits from Lars. If you notice, these two portraits go together. You see the man (Dreamer # 4) in the portrait of the woman (Dreamer # 5), and in the man’s portrait, you can catch a glimpse of the woman. This subtle little detail is awesome. I was super excited when I saw how Lars did these two character portraits.

Sailor (illustrated by Ron Chan)

This man, who I have called Sailor, appears in “Three Septembers And A January.” Is he really a sailor? I have no idea, he just sort of looks like one.

What we know about the character is very little. He approaches The Chamberlain Of Emperor Norton in the park and asks him where to find a good opium den so he can “dream that special dream.” The Chamberlain pretends to not speak English and the sailor leaves in search of someone who can help him find opium.

He appears in Sandman # 31 on page 15 in panels 3 and 5.

Ron did a great job with this portrait. Once again he managed to capture the personality of this character perfectly!!!

Faery # 24 (illustrated by Max Rugers)

This faery is one of the faeries that can be seen crossing into England with Titania and Auberon. He does not look like a typical faery (if there can be such a thing).

He is not visible at any other point throughout the performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

He is from Sandman # 19, page 5, panel 4.

I like what Max did with this character. He took the original drawing and made the character look more realistic. He made the fur seem more natural and made it look more like a rat. This is another great portrait, I think.

Here is Faery # 24…

Corpse # 4 (illustrated by Lars Brown)

Is a corpse a character? I think that’s a very tricky question. Some might say no, but even a corpse has a story to tell and so I consider it a character.

Here is a corpse.

This corpse is in the morgue that The Corinthian and Matthew visit while trying to discover who abducted Daniel.

The corpse appears in Sandman # 64, on page 11, in panel 2. Only his feet are visible.

I really like how Lars approached this character.

Stefan Wasserman (illustrated by Ron Chan)

Stefen Wasserman was one of many people affected by the Sleeping Sickness in 1916. When he was 13 he enlisted in the army and was a soldier during World War I. He did not expect war to be as horrific as it is.

When Dream is captured by Burgess, Stefan can no longer fall asleep and sometimes he has nightmares that surface, even while he is awake. The doctors have never seen anything like this before.

In 1920, Stefan kills himself due to his inability to sleep. He had been discharged from the army only a year prior. He was 16.

Ron did a fantastic job with Stefan. He did a great job capturing the torment he had from his lack of sleep. You can really tell that he’s a bit crazy from this portrait.

Serial Killer # 27 (illustrated by Max Rugers)

This man is one of many serial killers who attended the Cereal Convention that Rose Walker and Gilbert accidentally stumble into.

This killer appears in Sandman # 14 on page 2, panel 1. He is standing near the counter, next to a serial killer who looks like a mall security guard.

Max drew this serial killer. There are a lot of things I love about this portrait. First, and I don’t think you can tell this from the scan, this portrait is made up of tiny pieces of paper torn and glued down giving the portrait a fractured look (in person). I really like that effect, especially for this character. Secondly, I really like how there are splotches of read on the sides. To me that gives the portrait the sense that there is blood involved and that is particularly relevant for a serial killer.

Here is Serial Killer # 27…

Worlds’ End Patron # 80 (illustrated by Lars Brown)

This “mouse man” is one of the characters trapped in Worlds’ End waiting for the storm to pass.

He is one of the first people to the window as a spectral procession passed by the inn.

This patron can be seen in Sandman # 56 on page 9, panel 7.

Lars did a great job with this character. I like that he added his own personal touch to the character, giving him a personality that is missing from the original comic.

Demon # 159 (illustrated by Ron Chan)

In Dream Hunters, a Badger and a Fox attempt to force a young Monk to leave his temple. They both play tricks on the Monk, but everything they try fails.

This demon was one of the illusions created by the Badger to scare the Monk.

I cannot even tell you how awesome this Demon is. Ron did an amazing job with this character. He took a character that is noticeable, but not super prominent and made him scary and creepy and exactly what a demon should be.

This demon appears on Dream Hunters page 13.

Strip Club Patron # 13 (illustrated by Max Rugers)

This man is one of the many men who were in Suffragette City when the strip club exploded. Desire, speaking to Tiffany, quotes The Book of Job (Job 1:15) and says “And I Only Am Escaped Alone To Tell Thee.” This implies that everyone inside the strip club has been killed, including this particular strip club patron.

He appears in Sandman # 45, page 21, panel 1. He is to the right.

Max did a great job with this background character. He seems like a real person. Max’s details on this portrait are awesome!!!

Bull Elephant (illustrated by Lars Brown)

One morning Count Alain decided that he wanted to be crushed to death by a bull elephant, between two beautiful virgins, at the moment of orgasm.

At 3:02 pm that day everything was prepared for the night’s festivities.

And according to his plan, at the moment of orgasm, the bull elephant sat on Alain and the two virgins. Everyone who attended the party “clapped and laughed with delight.”

Lars drew this elephant, not quite from Alain’s view (that would just be disturbing), but from the perspective of the people watching the performance. I like this portrait.

The Cuckoo (illustrated by Isabelle Melançon)

When Barbie falls asleep and enters into her dream world she discovers that her kingdom, simply called The Land (which is a part of The Dreaming), faces a horrible threat…The Cuckoo.

Barbie, along with her companions, Luz, Wilkinson and Primando travel through The Land until they are eventually captured by The Black Guard and taken to the stronghold of The Cuckoo, which resembles Barbie’s childhood home.

When Barbie enters the house she discovers that The Cuckoo looks just as she did when she was a child, down to the scar on her knee when she jumped off the roof and had to get stitches. The Cuckoo tells Barbie that she “left yourself wide open for me” and that she “was everything I needed” due to Barbie’s overactive imagination. The Cuckoo moved into Barbie’s Dreamland.

Unfortunately children grow up and as they do, according to The Cuckoo “they divide themselves up into such complex puzzles.”

The Cuckoo wants to leave The Land. She wants leave and fly thought the worlds to lay her own eggs in other young girl’s minds (sort of like the cuckoo bird will lay it's eggs in the nests of other birds and wait for them to hatch).

Barbie destroys the Porpentine and the Monolith, enabling The Cuckoo to leave. Thessaly asks Dream to kill The Cuckoo, but Dream says “Dangerous? Perhaps. But evil? She acts according to her nature. Is that evil?” In the end, Dream offers Barbie one wish and she “takes the Dorothy option” and asks to be sent home along with her friends. This frees The Cuckoo from The Land and she is last seen flying away.

Isabelle specifically asked if she could draw The Cuckoo. I really like her portrait of this character. She managed to capture the innocent look, but the eyes seem to be a bit more manipulative than the eyes of a young girl should be. I think she did a great job with The Cuckoo.

Police Officer # 14 (illustrated by Max Rugers)

When a giant dog-like beast wanders into downtown New York City, the New York Police Department rush to stop the beast from destroying the city and hurting the citizens.

This police officer is one of the officers who was on the scene when Martin Tenbones, a peaceful and loving animal friend to Barbie, was killed.

This police officer appears in the A Game of You storyline. He is in Sandman # 32, on page 19, in panel 4. He is the police officer in the middle, running to confront the “dangerous monster,” Martin Tenbones.

Max did a great job with this character. I really like the contrast between the police officer and the background. It’s very vibrant.

Jude (illustrated by Ron Chan)

Jude appears in Death: The Time Of Your Life.

She works at the hotel in New York where Foxglove is staying before her David Letterman appearance. Jude brings Foxglove her room service order. She is a fan of Foxglove’s music and absolutely loved her album “The Poetry Inspector.”

Jude appears in Death: The Time Of Your Life # 1 on page 6.

Ron did a fantastic job drawing Jude. He really captured her excitement of meeting Foxglove.

Campbell (illustrated by Lars Brown)

The Worlds’ End storyline is contains five fantastic stories told by five people stranded in the Worlds’ End pub. One of these stories is told by Jim, a young sailor who was aboard a ship that was washed against some rocks and to shore during a storm at sea and the crew found themselves at Worlds’ End. Jim’s story recounts a particular event that happened while aboard the Sea Witch. One of the members of the Sea Witch crew was a man named Campbell.

Campbell was a member of the Sea Witch’s crew. Campbell was a Scottish engineer who was in charge of the engines that pumped water out of the bilges. The Captain would call him Donkeyman because prior to engines, donkeys would be used to remove water from the bilges by walking on a treadmill.

Campbell is introduced in Sandman # 53 page 6 and panel 7.

Once again Lars did a fantastic job with this character.

Club Goer # 2 (illustrated by Max Rugers)

When Sexton and Didi (the human incarnation of Death…for a day) set out in search of Mad Hettie’s heart they spend an evening wandering around New York City. They ride around in a taxi and as they pass a club called The Undercut, Didi decides she wants to attend the concert playing there, which happens to be Foxglove’s first concert.

This man is one of the people waiting outside in the line as Sexton and Didi go to the club.

He is in Death: The High Cost Of Living # 2, page 8, panel 2. He is standing near a window and behind Sexton.

I always liked this character. I think he was drawn to look a little like Brad Pitt.

I think Max did a great job with this character.

Sleeping Sickness Patient # 9 (illustrated by Lars Brown)

Between 1916 and 1988 countless people succumbed to the Sleeping Sickness.

Many of the victims were admitted to charity wards to care for them during their illness.

This man is one of the patients who were taken to the charity ward. He was in the same room as Ellie Marsten in July 1939.

He can be seen in Sandman # 1, page 18, panel 1.

Once again Lars did a great job with this incredibly obscure character. I like that Lars let him dream about food…I know that’s what I’d probably dream about if I was asleep for 72 years.

Kyrielle (illustrated by Ron Chan)

Kyrielle is one of four citizens from the Necropolis Litharge trapped in World’s End during the storm.

She is always seen with Klaproth, Eucrasia and Petrefax, although her relationship to these characters is unknown.

Kyrielle appears several times throughout the Worlds’ End storyline.

I really like Ron’s drawing of Kyrielle. She definitely has the whole gothy Necropolis thing going on.

Resident Of The Dreaming # 19 (illustrated by Max Rugers)

This character is one of the many residents of The Dreaming that gathered to hear Morpheus speak prior to going to Hell to rescue Nada in the Season Of Mists storyline.

This background character is definitely awesome. I can’t help but wonder if he is somehow related to the Nybbas or the Great Spider who both appear in The Kindly Ones.

Max did an amazing job with this character. I don’t know if you can tell from the scan, but there is a definite texture to this character’s body. I really like it.

As with all of Max’s portraits there is a drawing on back of this one. The back portrait is pretty cool as well, so I thought you’d want to see both.

Here is The Resident Of The Dreaming…

and here is the painting on the back...

Dead Man # 110 (illustrated by Lars Brown)

When Orpheus goes into the underworld to rescue his wife he presents himself before Lord Hades and Queen Persephone and sings them a song about grief and love. As he sings, the dead begin to cry and float in the air.

This Dead Man is one of the dead who began to float during Orpheus’ song.

She can be seen in The Sandman Special # 1, Page 35, panel 2.

Lars seems to really have a knack for drawing dead people. He did a fantastic job with this character.

Dead Woman # 16 (illustrated by Max Rugers)

Wow. Max did an amazing job with this Dead Woman. I really like the colors he chose and the line work. Even the angle is unique and fun. This is a lovely portrait.

This Dead Woman is one of the many dead people who are in Hades as Orpheus attempts to rescue his deceased wife, Eurydice.

She can be seen in The Sandman Special # 1, page 33, panel 1. She is to the right.

Here is the original panel in which she appears as well as Max’s portrait of her.