Collectors is issue 14 of the Sandman comic series, created by Neil Gaiman, Sam Keith, and Mike Drigenberg. It was originally released 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. At this convention of serial killers, the only admission is your life. Hopefully accidental attendee Rose Walker can make it out alive.
Summary[]
In the Empire hotel in Georgia, "collectors" from all over the country are checking in for the weekend convention. The commitee chairman Nimrod is panicking: the event is about to start, and their guest of honor, Family Man, is no-show. Luckily for Nimrod, his idol, the Corinthian, arrives in time and agrees to be the new guest of honor. The chairman gives his opening speech, and the gathering of serial killers takes off, not that different from any other convention - featuring discussion panels, disco and a movie program.
Before leaving the same hotel to finally reunite with her brother Jed, Rose Walker had phoned ahead and was informed by the police about a disaster at the farm where the boy had been living. She now has to stay put in case the police would need to contact her. Gilbert tries to quell her anxiety by telling her an older, gorier version of Little Red Riding Hood. This doesn't help much, and after a while Gilbert advises Rose to get some fresh air. On their way down, they bump into two convention attendees. Recognizing the Corinthian, Gilbert recoils in terror. He doesn't explain why, but gives Rose a note with a name she should read out loud in case of trouble.
The Corinthian and Flay-by-Night were 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.
Next morning, Rose finds Gilbert's room empty. While she wanders around, she is spotted by another "collector", Fun Land. The predator breaks into her room, overpowering her, and all Rose is able to do is call out the name - Morpheus. This summons the king of dreams, who puts Fun Land to sleep and proceeds to the auditorium where the Corinthian is giving his inspirational speech. Morpheus scolds the rogue nightmare for straying from his purpose of being a "black mirror" for humanity, but blames only himself for creating the Corinthian poorly. He uncreates the psycho and then curses the "collectors" by taking their delusions away.
While the distraught collectors disperse, Gilbert shows up again, carrying an unconscious Jed whom he found in the Corinthian's trunk.
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