Men of Good Fortune is issue 13 of the Sandman comic series, created by Neil Gaiman, Sam Keith, and Mike Dringenberg. It was originally released on January 2, 1990.
Synopsis[]
In a stand-alone story spanning six centuries, Morpheus grants an ordinary man named Hob Gadling a gift, allowing him to cheat death. Over the many years, Morpheus revisits Hob to see how a human would deal with unlimited life - for better or worse. But both Hob and Morpheus learn surprising lessons...
Summary[]
In 1389, Death invites Dream into a tavern, insisting that, for once, he should meet the humans "on their terms, instead of yours." They overhear a man named Hob Gadling who claims that people only die because it's what everybody does. He says that's a stupid reason to die, and that he intends never to do it. Dream believes this might be an interesting experiment and Death agrees not to take him. Morpheus tells Hob that, if he truly believes the way to live forever is to simply not die, he will meet him in one hundred years in the same tavern for a drink. Although his drinking buddies think both men are mad, Hob agrees.
In 1489, Dream and Hob meet again at the White Horse tavern. Hob is on edge, believing that he made some kind of deal with the Devil. Dream assures him this is not the case, only that Death will not take him if he does not want it. He is interested in Hob's experience. They exchange a brief conversation about how things have changed, and Hob expresses his desire to live for another hundred years.
In 1589, Hob is clearly doing well. He boasts of his newfound prosperity as a knight of the crown, and his wealth in not just gold, but the treasure of a beautiful family. While they talk, Dream notices the aspiring playwright Will Shaxberd, who will one day be the famous William Shakespeare. Will tells his famous colleague, Kit Marlowe, "I would give anything to have your gifts. Or more than anything to give men dreams that would live on long after I am dead. I'd bargain, like your Faustus, for that boon." Dream decides to make a deal with Will and they leave to discuss it, the details of which are undisclosed.
In 1689, it is immediately clear that Hob's good fortune has turned on him. He lost both his wealth and his family not long after their last meeting, and vehemently states that he has hated every second of the last 80 years. After everything, he's now reduced to a beggar who can't even starve to death. However, despite the bad that has happened, he still wants to live.
In 1789, the two meet again at the White Horse. Hob is now as a slave trafficker, and Dream strongly discourages him from continuing that trade. Hob questions Dream about making a deal with William Shakespeare, and Dream reveals that he commissioned two plays, though he does not mention which plays those were. They are then ambushed by Lady Johanna Constantine, a descendant of Hob's deceased friend Jack Constantine. Lady Johanna suspects the pair to be the Devil and Wandering Jew and wants to use them to achieve wealth and power. However, Dream easily subdues her with his dream sand, and he and Hob leave the pub.
In 1889, things begin to change. Hob mentions Lady Johanna, and Dream tells him she undertook an important task for him and succeeded admirably. Hob then states that he knows the reason why he and Dream keep meeting every hundred years. It isn't really about learning what the human experience is like, it is because Dream is lonely and needs friendship. Dream is enraged at the suggestion and storms out of the tavern. Hob yells after him that he will be there in a hundred years, and if Dream shows up, it will be because they're friends.
In 1989, Hob waits for Dream at the bar. When Dream finally arrives, Hob admits that he wasn't sure he'd show. Dream replies, "I have always heard it was impolite to keep one's friends waiting."
Appearances[]
Featured Characters[]
Supporting Characters[]
Antagonists[]
Other Characters[]
- Geoffrey Chaucer
- Edmund (Chaucer's companion)
- Crispin (Hob's companion, 1389)
- William Shakespeare
- Kit Marlowe
- Michael and Tobias (Lady Johanna's companions)
- Lushing Lou
- Darren (1989 patron)
Objects[]
Locations[]
Continuity Notes[]
- Meeting with Hob is the "prior engagement" Dream mentions in the previous issue, which places the end of this story firmly in the middle of The Doll's House.
- The two plays William Shakespeare wrote for Dream will be revealed in Sandman 19 and Sandman 75.
- The task Dream asked Lady Johanna to do for him is revealed in Sandman 29.
Trivia[]
- The issue mentions multiple historical events, from Peasants' Revolt of 1381 and the Western Schism to Margaret Thatcher's tax policy. Most of the relevant events are linked in Hob Gadling's article.
- The alliterative poem Piers Plowman that Edmund praises to Chaucer, curiously, is an allegory that mostly takes place in dreams.
- Will Shaxberd quotes Dr. Faustus, which was written by Christopher (Kit) Marlowe in or around 1592.
- The vicar joke that survived centuries can be found here; reader discretion advised.
- Lushing Loo [sic] was a real person whose life story and mannerisms were taken from the book London Labour and the London Poor by Henry Mayhew (Vol. 4, p. 224). Her caution about "bloody Jack" is, of course, a reference to Jack the Ripper.