Collectors is issue 14 of the Sandman comic series, created by Neil Gaiman, Sam Keith, and Mike Dringenberg. It was originally released on January 30, 1990.
Synopsis[]
You're cordially invited to a convention unlike any other, where murder and chaos are praised and the depraved urges of psychos are openly celebrated. Will accidental attendee Rose Walker make it out alive, and can she find her brother in time?
Summary[]
At the Empire Hotel in Georgia, "collectors" (i.e. serial killers) from all over the country are checking in for the weekend Cereal Convention. Committee chairman Nimrod is panicking: the event is about to start and their guest of honor, the Family Man, is a no-show. Luckily, his idol, the Corinthian, arrives in time and agrees to be the new guest of honor. Nimrod gives his opening speech and the gathering of serial killers takes off. It isn't unlike any other convention - featuring discussion panels, a disco, and a movie program. However, the content of the discussions make it clear just how violent and depraved the convention attendees really are.
On their way to reunite with Jed, Rose Walker and Gilbert have managed to stay at the very hotel where this gruesome convention is taking place. However, before leaving to meet Jed, Rose had phoned ahead and was informed by the police about a disaster at the farm where he had been living. She was instructed to stay put in case the police would need to contact her; however she can't explore the rest of the hotel because of the convention. Gilbert tries to quell her anxiety by telling her a story: an older, more explicit version of Little Red Riding Hood. This doesn't help much, and Gilbert suggests they get some fresh air. On their way down to the lobby, they bump into two convention attendees, one of which is the Corinthian. Gilbert clearly recognizes him and is deeply shaken. When they are alone again, he gives Rose a note with a name she should read out loud in case of trouble.
The Corinthian and his companion in the elevator, Flay-by-Night, are on their way to inform Nimrod of a new problem: there is an impostor among them. Philip Sitz, an amateur journalist and a fanboy of serial killers, has infiltrated the convention under the guise of another dead "collector" to learn from the best. The trio ambush Philip, drive him out to the woods and promptly teach him their deadliest tricks by torturing him to death.
The next morning, Rose finds Gilbert's room empty. While she wanders around the convention, she is spotted by another "collector", Fun Land. The predator later breaks into her room, overpowering her, and all Rose is able to do is call out the name that Gilbert had written on the piece of paper: Morpheus. This summons the King of Dreams, who puts Fun Land to sleep and secures Rose's safety. He then proceeds to the auditorium where the Corinthian is giving his inspirational speech to a room full of serial killers. Dream scolds the rogue nightmare for straying from his purpose. He was meant to be a "black mirror" for humanity, but has only become something else for people to be afraid of. Dream blames himself for how the Corinthian turned out and uncreates him, saying, "The next time I create you, you shall not be so flawed and petty, little dream." He then curses the "collectors" by taking away their delusions of believing they were in the right.
While the distraught convention attendees disperse, Gilbert returns. He is carrying an unconscious Jed, whom he found in the trunk of the Corinthian's car.
Appearances[]
Featured Characters[]
Supporting Characters[]
Antagonists[]
Other Characters[]
- Moon River
- Candyman
- Dog Soup
- The Choirboy
- Hello Little Girl
- Carrion
- The Connoisseur
- The Grass Widow
- Dark Angel
- El Dorado
- Psycho-Killer
- Chris
Objects[]
- Corinthian's skull
Locations[]
Continuity Notes[]
- The absence of Family Man, John Constantine's enemy, is explained in Hellblazer #30 (1990).
- Another absent killer, the Bogeyman, met his fate in Alan Moore's Swamp Thing #44 (1986).
- The issue mentions "late autumn wind" and "the first wind of winter". Combined with the dates from Lost Hearts, this presumably places the events in early October, 1989.
Trivia[]
- Forthcoming