Barbie first appeared in The Sandman #11 - The Doll's House. She had a minor role in The Doll's House, but she would reappear in A Game of You with a far more substantial role.
History[]
Barbie was a resident of the same apartment building as Rose Walker, and she was happily involved with a man called Ken; they made a very yuppie couple.[1] Barbie used to dream of being in a world called The Land.
The Land was a magical, fantasy kingdom in which she was a princess deposed by the evil Cuckoo. She was protected and loved by a band of courageous anthropomorphic animals, including Wilkinson, Prinado, a dodo named Luz, and Martin Tenbones.
However, as soon as Barbie and her friends were able to retrieve the Porpentine, a quartz amulet of great power, Rose Walker's Dream vortex abilities left Barbie unable to dream.[2] The relationship with Ken broke down, and she moved to New York to try to redefine herself.[3]
She became very close with her transgender neighbor, Wanda, who lived in her building. Other residents included Thessaly, Mad Hettie, Hazel, Foxglove, and a quiet man called George. Unexpectedly, while she was out with Wanda, she encountered Martin Tenbones in the middle of Manhattan. Martin was one of the fantasy denizens of The Land Barbie had once dreamed about. Martin had traveled from the Dreaming to give Barbie the Porpentine. Martin tried to warn Barbie of the Cuckoo but was gunned down by the police.[4]
Barbie dreamed that night, for the first time in years, as a result of the Porpentine. She returned to The Land, and while she slept, George, an agent of the Cuckoo, made his move, and tried to disable of all Barbie's housemates and hurt Barbie.[5] His plan was foiled by Thessaly, resistant to his magic, and she killed him. She traveled into the Dreaming but her passage in the Dreaming created a storm, causing destruction in the waking world, and Wanda died in the storm.
In the Dreaming, Barbie was captured by the Cuckoo who told her it wanted to destroy the dreamland so it could go free, and to do this it needed the Porpentine. But when the Cuckoo attempted to destroy it, Morpheus was summoned by the action.
Morpheus then unmakes the Land, and grants Barbie one boon. She asks that she and her friends be taken back to the real world safe and sound. Upon her return to the real world, however, Barbie found her home destroyed, and Wanda dead.
At Wanda's funeral, Barbie crossed out Wanda's birth name, Alvin, from the tombstone, and wrote in "Wanda" as a tribute to her friend.[6]
Appearance[]
Barbie is a beautiful young woman with long blonde hair and blue eyes. After the events of The Doll's House she starts wearing face paint with a different design everyday. (i.e. a chessboard in half her face, a fishnet veil).
Personality[]
When Barbie was in a relationship with Ken she showed a cheerful but shallow façade. However she was a deep person and also really imaginative, a bit eccentric and a fantasy lover since she was a child. Barbie also proved to be open-minded as she was very respectful of Wanda's gender identity.
Relationships[]
Ken[]
Barbie and Ken seem the perfect couple, but far from it.
Wanda[]
Barbie and Wanda were neighbors aside from best friends.
Trivia[]
- Ken and Barbie's names are a callback to popular toys, and the characters are very aware of that.
References[]
- ↑ The Sandman: The Doll's House #2, "Moving In".
- ↑ The Sandman: The Doll's House #6, "Into the Night".
- ↑ The Sandman: The Doll's House #7, Lost Hearts".
- ↑ The Sandman: A Game of You #1, "Slaughter on Fifth Avenue".
- ↑ The Sandman: A Game of You #2, "Lullabies of Broadway".
- ↑ The Sandman: A Game of You #6, "I Woke Up and One of Us Was Crying".