James Tynion IV’s The Sandman Universe: Nightmare Country, Vol. 1 collects the first six issues of the Sandman spin-off comic featuring art by Lisandro Estherren, Maria Llovet, Yanick Paquette, Andrea Sorrento, Francesco Francavilla, Dani, and Aaron Campbell, color by Patricio Delpeche, Jordie Bellaire, Nathan Fairbairn, and Tamra Bonvillain, letters by Simon Bowland, and covers by Reiko Murakami and Alec Eckman-Lawn. The story alternates between the new Corinthian, who retains some memories of his predecessor prior to Dream of the Endless deconstructing him, and art student Madison Flynn, who keeps seeing a man with mouths for eyes that inspires her artwork. Both seek answers as to what these visions mean and their search for those answers lead them together. Meanwhile, Mr. Agony and Mr. Ecstasy, two hitmen and torturers, seek Madison for their own purposes. A celestial appears to have taken an interest in Madison as well and he manipulates a wealthy collector of murder souvenirs to seek her out on his behalf.

The story ably introduces new characters and sets up the mystery at the heart of this horror title in the Sandman universe. Cameos from Thessaly and Daniel – the new Dream – help link this to the larger Sandman titles while the majority of the story focuses on the new Corinthian’s crisis of identity and Madison’s desperation to understand why she keeps seeing the man with mouths for eyes. The effect of Tynion’s first volume is a good introduction to this corner of the Sandman universe that is fully steeped in the series’ horror elements. ( )

excellent new graphic novel title in the newish Sandman Universe series, billed as the first book of three, true to the intent of the original series. this project concentrates on The Corinthian, one of the most enigmatic and fascinating characters inhabiting the horror end of the dreamverse. it's a right-down-his-alley subject for the writer, and not only the main artist, but also the various artists who draw the vignettes at the heart of each part, do a fine job with the content. ( )