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- Netflix’s The Sandman covers the first 16 comic issues but condenses arcs, sometimes blending stories together for pacing.
- Major changes include Johanna Constantine replacing John, the Corinthian becoming the main villain, and Dream’s look being more human.
- Despite adjustments, the show remains one of the most faithful comic adaptations ever — with Neil Gaiman himself ensuring its integrity.
The Sandman: From Comic Pages to Netflix Screens — What Changed and What Stayed True
When Netflix announced it was adapting Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman, fans of the legendary comic series braced themselves. For decades, Gaiman’s dark, dreamlike saga was labeled “unfilmable.” It wasn’t just the sheer scope of the story — blending horror, fantasy, mythology, and superhero cameos — but the surreal tone that felt like it lived best on the page.
And yet… here we are. The 10-episode first season arrived, and while not flawless, it might just be the most faithful adaptation of a comic book saga we’ve ever seen. The creative team — showrunner Allan Heinberg, executive producers David S. Goyer, and Neil Gaiman himself — clearly worked to honor the source while reshaping it for modern TV.
So how does the Netflix show compare to the comics? Let’s dive into the biggest differences, boldest choices, and what makes this adaptation surprisingly magical.
Time Shift: From the ’80s to Now
In the comics, Dream (aka Morpheus) is captured in 1916 and escapes decades later in the late 1980s. The show updates this, setting his escape in 2021. It’s a smart change — modernizing the story without losing its weight. Seeing Dream navigate the 21st century makes him feel more alien, as if time really has left him behind.
Condensing 16 Issues into 10 Episodes
Season one adapts Preludes & Nocturnes and The Doll’s House arcs — about 16 comic issues total. That’s a lot of material to fit into 10 episodes, so the show combines some stories.
- Episode 4, “A Hope in Hell” merges Dream’s duel with Lucifer and John Dee’s escape from Arkham, building tension by cutting between two storylines. It works.
- Episode 6, “The Sound of Her Wings” tries a similar trick, stitching Dream’s walk with Death to Hob Gadling’s immortality story. Both are great on the page — together, the pacing feels off, like two meals shoved onto the same plate.
Sometimes it sings, sometimes it stumbles, but you can feel the effort to make the show bingeable.
The Corinthian: A Villain Given More Room to Breathe
In the comics, the Corinthian — the nightmare with teeth for eyes — doesn’t show up until The Doll’s House. On Netflix, he’s woven in from the beginning, becoming the season’s central antagonist. Smart move. Boyd Holbrook plays him with Southern charm and simmering menace, and his presence ties the season together.
It’s one of the adaptation’s boldest deviations, and honestly, one of the best.
Constantine Becomes Johanna
One of the biggest shakeups was swapping out John Constantine for Johanna Constantine, played by Jenna Coleman. Why? Two reasons: rights issues (Constantine is tied up with other DC projects) and narrative neatness.
In the comics, Dream meets both an 18th-century Johanna and her descendant John. The show just keeps them both as Johanna, played by the same actress. It works surprisingly well, and Coleman brings both grit and tragedy to the role.
Her arc with ex-girlfriend Rachel hits harder here too — less about drugs, more about love and regret. It’s devastating in a very human way.
Lighter DC Connections
The comics often nodded to the larger DC Universe — Doctor Destiny (John Dee) was a Justice League villain, Hector and Lyta Hall had ties to Hawkman and Wonder Woman, and Arkham Asylum popped up more directly.
The show trims these ties. John Dee is just John Dee — scarier because he feels like a broken human, not a cape villain. Lyta and Hector are grounded as friends of Rose Walker, with their “dream baby” arc intact but streamlined.
It makes the show feel more focused on The Sandman itself, rather than juggling superhero baggage.
Dream’s Look: Less Alien, More Human
In the comics, Dream is a walking void: chalk-white skin, star-filled eyes, hair like an inky mess of night. Netflix tones this down. Tom Sturridge still looks ethereal, but his starry eyes are only hinted at occasionally.
Why the change? Gaiman himself said they tested heavy makeup and CGI, but it killed Sturridge’s performance. And honestly, he sells Dream’s aloof, otherworldly vibe without the effects. Sometimes less is more.
New Touches That Add Heart
Some additions are pure wins:
- Hal Carter, Rose’s landlord, gets to sing on stage — something comics couldn’t capture.
- Ethel Cripps (John Dee’s mom) gets a heartbreaking farewell scene with her son before handing over her protective amulet.
- The Corinthian’s expanded role adds tension throughout.
These aren’t betrayals of the comic. They’re expansions, filling in corners that the comic only hinted at.
Pros
- Hugely faithful to Gaiman’s story and tone
- Fantastic casting (Tom Sturridge, Kirby Howell-Baptiste as Death, Boyd Holbrook as Corinthian)
- Visuals nail the dreamlike atmosphere
- Smart streamlining of DC references
Cons
- Pacing can stumble when multiple stories are jammed into one episode
- Some supporting characters feel underwritten
- Dream’s toned-down look may disappoint hardcore comic purists
⭐ Rating: 4 out of 5 Sand Pouches
The Sandman on Netflix isn’t perfect, but it’s probably the most faithful adaptation we could hope for. It captures the melancholy, the weirdness, and the humanity of Gaiman’s work while making just enough changes to function as modern television.
If the show can maintain (or even sharpen) this balance in future seasons, we might finally see The Sandman live up to its myth as a story too big for any medium — except, maybe, all of them.
Stay dreaming with more deep dives into comics and adaptations at Land of Geek Magazine!
