Thanks to the Netflix adaptation, The Sandman has found a new audience for both its stories and comic books amongst fans. Since its premiere, viewers have been introduced to a whole slew of characters in and out of The Dreaming. While Neil Gaiman has no shortage of fascinating characters, the dreams and nightmares of Morpheus's kingdom truly help to breathe life into the realm.
Whether they're golden gargoyles, living gardens who assume the guise of G.K. Chesterton, or shapeshifting beings of cosmic energy, the creatures that call the Dreaming their home are as vivid as the imaginations that dreamt them up.
Fiddler’s Green
As far as entities of the Dreaming go, there's probably no one more approachable and amiable than Fiddler's Green. Although he might look like a certain famous British author, Fiddler's Green/Gilbert is a living garden who is just as beautiful on the inside as he is noble, honest, and true on the outside.
It can be inferred that Gilbert is one of Morpheus's most treasured creations, and watching him turn from man to pastoral landscape in such a serene way is one of the most visually stimulating sequences of the series. Indeed, a dream in the strictest definition.
Goldie
Every living thing starts out as a baby at least some point in its life, and that includes gargoyles. Goldie, or Irving as he's referred to by Abel, is a tiny squawking gargoyle chick who is brought to Cain and Abel as their new guardian-to-be. Although he's not exactly a monster by Neil Gaiman's standards, he will grow up to be a massive beast like his predecessor.
Traditionally, gargoyles are put on buildings, churches, or temples to ward off evil spirits. While it doesn't look like Goldie will be accomplishing that feat anytime soon, he's definitely in the best of hands if left to Abel's care.
Matthew The Raven
Although he's easily one of the show's most entertaining characters, fans of The Sandman can't help but think Matthew might have had more of an intimidation factor if he were played by Andy Serkis like he was in the audiobook, rather than comedian Patton Oswalt. That being said, the bird is far from the standard issue comic relief character.
Across many cultures, ravens are considered omens, both good and bad. Ergo, a talking raven could be considered an amplified version of that thought. While not intimidating like some of his peers, Matthew acts as the herald and sidekick for the Sandman.
Mervyn Pumpkinhead
He might look like a Halloween decoration, but the custodian of the Dreaming just might freak a few people out upon first introductions. Mervyn Pumpkinhead is certainly one of the more comedic residents of Morpheus's kingdom, but he's not exactly the jolliest fellow someone could run into.
Mervyn is a curmudgeonly working stiff who keeps the Dreaming functioning. Where someone like Lucien is the brains of the outfit, Mervyn is the nuts and bolts of the entire operation. The fact that he also resembles a scarecrow probably falls somewhere in his landscaping duties.
Lucien
Although she might not look very intimidating, Lucien is an unassuming being that wields a surprising amount of power with or without her master's absence. She is much more than just a magical librarian that a reader might find at Hogwarts. Given the fact that she has access to every book ever written, that means she has access to an exponential wealth of information that could be used for good or for bad.
While she might be one of the Dreaming's more approachable denizens, Lucien has the ability to hold similar authority to Morpheus, establishing her position as second in command. Since she holds the position for over a century, it can be said that she is perhaps the second most powerful character in the Sandman's realm, and easily one of the smartest characters in the series.
Gault
Readers and fans of the comics know that Gault is a hybrid of two existing characters, but she manages to do the job perfectly well. Although she has no malicious intent when fans are introduced to her, she is still one of the nightmares from the Dreaming. Shapeshifters cannot be trusted, according to Dream at least, but she does seem to have turned over a new leaf.
What makes Gault intimidating is her shapeshifting abilities, as they can be used for good or for evil. Being a nightmare, she's inclined to behave as the latter. However, she obviously underwent an alignment change during the Dream Lord's absence. Thankfully, Morpheus restores her and grants her a new lease on life.
Judge Gallows
Quentin Gallows is the mad judge of the Dreaming, and his obsession with crime, punishment, and execution is what earns him a nightmarish status. He is a nightmare from the days of the old west, sealed away in the Dreaming to prevent him from becoming too powerful. His dangerous fixation on law and order has proven disastrous for many in the past, yet his services are called upon in the comics more than once.
The Judge's most famous exploit concerns the "Trial and Error" storyline, in which Abel calls forth Gallows to try his brother Cain on the multiple charges of murder he has committed over the centuries. Although he's essentially just a dangerous force, his intimidation factor and unstable nature make him a considerable threat.
Brute And Glob
Gault was inspired by a pair of nightmarish creatures from The Sandman: The Dolls' House, and they're frankly less fearsome than their appearances might suggest. That being said, they are still two nightmares that managed to escape the Dreaming and meddle in the lives of Jed and Hector Hall.
One's a brutish green monster and the other is a glob of flesh with arms and legs, but they're still able to craft vivid nightmares for Jed as he is kept in the basement of his foster parents' house. Thankfully, Dream is able to swoop in and put them in their place.
Cain And Abel
Cain and Abel are scary on more of a concept level, but that doesn't detract from their eternal fate. As the first murderer and the first victim, they are constantly in conflict with one another, resulting in Abel's death time and time again. In both theory and in practice, that is a terrifying existence
Just because Abel is restored and possesses the ability to come back from the dead every single time doesn't diminish the brutality of his brother's actions. He still feels the pain, the anguish, and the death every time Cain has a violent outburst.
The Corinthian
There are a few characters or creatures more terrifying in the realms of Neil Gaiman than the Corinthian. The Corinthian is what happens when a nightmare seeps out from the Dreaming and enters the real world, causing massive damage to reality. Known for his terrifying teeth and appetite for human eyes, the Corinthian is an immortal serial killer who infects humanity with a similar bloodlust.
His tenacity, cruelty, and gory appetites are what separate him from actual monsters like Brute and Glob. He's terror made flesh, and he makes no attempt to hide it. Being free of the Dreaming allows him to spread his work further than the imagination.