As becomes more and more clear with each trade paperback issued, SANDMAN MYSTERY THEATRE is the greatest comic of the ’90s that no one seems to talk about. SANDMAN MYSTERY THEATRE: THE HOURMAN AND THE PYTHON is the sixth such collection, with eight issues, two complete story arcs and one damned excellent concept.

Wesley Dodds is like the nerdy version of Bruce Wayne: a bespectacled, mild-mannered, slightly doughy bachelor who moonlights as a crimefighter – in this case, The Sandman, of course, clad in a regular, 1930s-era suit, hat and overcoat, plus the telltale gas mask. His gun emits a gas that acts as a truth serum.

In THE HOURMAN, a local gang of hoods is plotting a jewel heist during a gala costume ball, one which Dodds plans on attending with his harried girlfriend Dian, daughter of the D.A. Now that she knows of her boyfriend’s moonlighting identity, he’s involving her more in his “work,” and he also gets some help from another do-gooder: a mysterious for-hire helper who has superhuman strength; he eventually reveals himself to be The Hourman (later to become one of the original members of the Justice Society of America).

Dodds gets no such assistance in THE PYTHON, in which a string of city residents turn up dead, apparently strangled by a giant snake. Dodds does his best, but Dian is becoming increasingly disillusioned with his absences, causing a rift in their relationship that verges on becoming irreparable.

Part of that continuing, developing drama is what grounds SMT; its adherence to film noir sensibilities keeps things gritty and raw. As written by Matt Wagner and Steven T. Seagle, the series does not shy away from portraying vice and evil; sex, drugs and profanity are commonplace, though never gratuitous. It’s an adult book that actually treats and respects its readers as adults.

Consider the costume party scene in the first arc; so much is going on in that sequence on so many different levels, it’s a storytelling marvel. Having the virtue of being illustrated gives it further depth, and Guy Davis and Warren Pleece handle the duties in this collection. One thing I continue to admire about SMT is how the color is handled: It’s always washed-out, never vibrant, which goes a long way in furthering mood and tone.

But at its core, SMT is about telling mysteries, and these are top-notch crime tales for any genre. If you’ve not read the series yet, you’re sorely missing out. –Rod Lott

Buy it at Amazon.

OTHER BOOKGASM REVIEWS OF THIS SERIES:
• SANDMAN MYSTERY THEATRE: DR. DEATH AND THE NIGHT OF THE BUTCHER by Matt Wagner, Steven T. Seagle, Guy Davis and Vince Locke
• SANDMAN MYSTERY THEATRE: THE SCORPION by Matt Wagner, Steven T. Seagle and Guy Davis