Morpheus has done a lot of regrettable things in his existence, but this story features one of his most remorseful as his son, Orpheus, comes to terms with his place in the Endless family--and his own limits in a gruesome parable.
The story concerns a theatrical author/director Todd Faber who is afraid of the consequences of his new play, be it success or failure. One night before a rehearsal, he meets Morpheus and his raven Matthew in his dream.
The story follows an unnamed aging Satyr, the last of his kind, who pleads to Desire for a gift, invoking the promise the Satyrs had been given "at a wedding, in the dawn of the world".
Delirium enlists her brother, The Sandman, in her quest to find their long-lost brother, Destruction. And much to the surprise of Morpheus's servants, their master agrees to walk the waking world in search of their prodigal sibling.
Dream and his sister, Delirium, are walking the world in search of their long-lost brother, Destruction. They've made contacts and arranged transportation, but their presence in the world is beginning to cause some strange behavior.
Dream and Delirium retrace their brother Destruction's footsteps, taking them to a dance club for a meeting with the Goddess of Love, Ishtar. Readers get to see a different side of Delirium and Matthew the raven joins the crew.
Dream begs out of Delirium's quest to find their missing brother--which leads to Delirium locking herself up in solitude. However, big sister Death is none to pleased with her brother's actions and confronts him.
Running out of ideas, Delirium and Dream meet with their brother Destiny, who gives Dream some information he may not want to hear. The siblings' search for their missing brother nears completion.
With their quest at an end, Dream, Delirium and the rest of the family go their separate ways. Actions in this issue hold great consequences for the rest of The Sandman series and mold the shape of things to come.
The plot follows the story behind the creation of a real-world painting of the same name. In New Year of 1862, the artist Dante Gabriel Rossetti is on the way to have a countryside picnic with his wife and former model and their friend.
As a reality storm rages, travelers take shelter at the Worlds' End tavern and share stories. Up first, a tale where a city dweller discovers the city of his dreams...or is it really the dreams of his city?
The storm outside rages as another traveler--and familiar face--tells their tale. The Faerie Cluracan heads to Aurelian during a political upheaval and ends up causing an uproar of his own.
Head onto the seven seas with a girl who poses as a boy in order to sail the oceans. There, "Jim" meets an old friend to The Sandman world, Hob Gadling, who shares a tale of his own.
An American Tale, but one with a twist. Meet Prez Rickard, elected to the office of the Presidency in 1972. But how exactly does his victory tie into the plans of the mysterious Boss Smiley?
The reality storm still rages outside as an apprentice from the Necropolis Litharege tells his tale of death and burial, featuring an appearance by the lost Endless: Destruction.