sandman

Sandman is a name used for several figures in folklore and modern media. It commonly denotes a supernatural being associated with sleep and dreams, but its usage spans literature, comics, and film.

In European folklore, the sandman is a bedtime figure who sprinkles sand or dust into children's eyes to bring on sleep and dreams. Variants exist in different cultures, sometimes with protective or mischievous traits.

In literature, The Sandman is a 1816 short story by E. T. A. Hoffmann (Der Sandmann) that blends Gothic fantasy with psychological horror. It centers on Nathanael and a menacing figure linked to a nocturnal loss of sight and reality.

In comics, The Sandman most famously refers to the DC/Vertigo series The Sandman by Neil Gaiman (1989–1996), featuring Dream of the Endless as he governs the world of dreams. The series is noted for mythic storytelling and influences on modern comics; a 2022 Netflix adaptation retold parts of the saga.

In Marvel Comics, Sandman is a supervillain named Flint Marko who can convert his body into living sand, able to reshape his form. He is primarily depicted as an adversary of Spider-Man and has appeared in various media.

Other uses include adaptations and references in film, television, and games that draw on the Sandman concept, often exploring themes of sleep, dreams, and the boundary between reality and imagination.