Sandman Mystery Theatre #2

Written by: Matt Wagner

Art by: Guy Davis

It's 1938 and a Tarantula still stalks the streets of New York City.

Last issue ended with Dian walking in on our titular hero in the ladies room (he was listening to a conversation between the police chief and the district attorney) - the Sandman spins her around and jumps out the window. Startled, Dian emerges in time to hear her father say that they recovered a body, a victim of the Tarantula. Dian volunteers to ID the body and we cut to the morgue - turns out this isn't her friend Catherine.

Insert torture scene - and Wesley just happens to be outside of the police station to offer Dian a ride home. Cut to scene with Al Goldman (known bootlegger) and his daughter; she says to daddy "You know I only have eyes for you" while rubbing on him. Something isn't right at the Goldman house.

Lt. Burke is looking to question Catherine's cab driver, but on the way up to his apartment Burke notices something outside the window. He opens said window and in pours a cloud of green smoke. Nighty night. The Sandman proceeds to question the cabbie. Burke wakes to find the cabbie passed out.

Dian and Wesley have dinner. Burke finds out that a delivery truck at the kidnap scene belongs to a company that has been out of business for 5 years, meanwhile another woman is kidnapped. The issue ends with some more torture of Catherine.

I enjoyed this issue. Not a lot of action, but the mystery is shaping up. This is one of the more cerebral titles I've read - it keeps the mind sharp. Matt is a very good mystery writer. Guy's art fits perfectly. Has a very real quality to it, like an old photograph pulled from a box in your grandfather's attic.

Lots of questions still to be answered in the first story arc of this title. I know there is a trade out there - so go buy it. Until tomorrow - happy reading.