A Hope in Hell is issue 4 of the Sandman comic series, created by Neil Gaiman, Sam Keith, and Mike Dringenberg. It was originally released on February 28, 1989.
Synopsis[]
Still tracking his objects of power, Morpheus travels to Hell itself in search of his helm. He learns that it has fallen into the hands of a higher demon, a duke of Hell, and there's a realm of devils standing between Morpheus and his property...
Summary[]
Morpheus travels to Hell to reclaim his helm. He is met by the gatekeeper Squatterbloat and is guided through the realm by the cruel demon Etrigan. The demon brings Dream face to face with a woman he condemned 10,000 years prior, but Dream is seemingly unfazed by the demon's machinations and makes his way to Lucifer's palace.
After the battle between Heaven and the Great Darkness, a civil war in Hell led to a change in leadership. Lucifer now rules in partnership with the demons Azazel and Beelzebub. The triumvirate receives Morpheus, and he informs them that a demon stole his helm of office. He has come to Hell to reclaim it. They ask which demon is responsible for the offence, but Morpheus admits he doesn't know the name.
Mockingly, Lucifer decides to summon all of the demons of Hell together and asks Morpheus to point out which one has his helm. Using his sand, which he retrieved in the previous issue, Dream finds that the one in possession of the artifact is a demon called Choronzon. Choronzon claims to have acquired the helm fairly, and has broken none of Hell's laws. If Morpheus wants it back, then he must challenge him for it.
Morpheus challenges Choronzon, and together they play the Oldest Game, a game of reality, imagination, and transformation in which the players attempt to destroy one another. The stakes are very high: if Morpheus wins, he retrieves his helm. If he loses, he becomes Choronzon's slave for eternity. Morpheus wins the game by playing the ultimate trump: "I am hope," which Choronzon cannot beat; for what can destroy hope? He retrieves his property, then thanks the kings of Hell and prepares to leave. Lucifer, however, points out dreams have no power in Hell, and he wonders why the Dream Lord thought he could enter Hell and leave without trouble. Morpheus argues dreams are strong in Hell, saying, "What power would Hell have if those here imprisoned were not able to dream of Heaven?" With that, the mass of demons parts, and Morpheus leaves. Feeling slighted, Lucifer vows that he will destroy the Dream King one day.
Meanwhile, in Arkham Asylum, a guard informs John Dee about the death of his mother and gives him an amulet that she had left him.
Appearances[]
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Continuity Notes[]
- The Great Darkness, the civil war in Hell and the emergence of the triumvirate were first described in Hellblazer and Swamp Thing as aftermaths of the global DC event "Crisis on Infinite Earths".
- Dream's history with Nada will later be explained in Tales in the Sand.
Trivia[]
- Forthcoming