Eric Kripke Says Supernatural Was Inspired by Neil Gaiman’s Sandman

Last Friday, Rolling Stone launched a characteristic on Neil Gaiman, an impressively intensive interview that coated the creator’s storied profession, beginning within the ‘80s, when a then-26-year-old Gaiman began writing The Sandman for Vertigo comics. During the interview, he related how he succeeded in an attempt to tank a Jon Peters adaptation of the comic. What wasn’t talked about within the article was that The Sandman was additionally optioned by Eric Kripke as a community tv adaption.

I needed to discover out from Twitter that this was within the works. First; Gaiman responded to a fan like this–

And then Kripke thanked Gaiman, and talked about slightly little bit of one thing that I form of knew all alongside, which was that The Sandman impressed a whole lot of Supernatural:

Readers, once I let you know I dropped into the io9 slack like a banshee screaming that my time has come, I meant it actually. I’ve been on a Supernatural marathon ever since I used to be on The Boys protection (God, do I like something? Am I able to having fun with media anymore? Something to unpack later.) and I’m right here to let you know that the inspiration right here is extremely sturdy. Let’s dive in.

First, one of many causes that I really like Supernatural, and the explanations I believe that the present did so properly (and lasted so lengthy) was as a result of it centered on a relationship between siblings, one thing that’s not typically the main focus of procedural reveals, however actually made Supernatural work on an emotional stage. Sandman can also be a narrative about siblings, about how they struggle, betray, and help one another in several measures throughout time. The first few seasons are very a lot horror-focused, sort of leaning into the procedural monster-of-the-week vibe, and a whole lot of how the ghosts, ghouls, and different supernatural creatures are depicted are according to a few of Sandman’s visuals. During my rewatch I used to be really stunned at how gross Supernatural was allowed to get in these first seasons. Genuinely scary sensible results and creepy storytelling methods are used to develop fairly improbable outcomes.

Impossible to miss is that John Constantine’s outmatch is mainly recreated in Castiel’s wardrobe. Much like a comic book character who solely has one outfit, Castiel at all times wears the trenchcoat, unfastened tie, white button-down, and black slacks. It’s Constantine! And truthfully, Castiel’s entrance when he tells Dean that he lifted him out of hell? I imply… that connection attracts itself. Hellblazer generally appears to be a large a part of Supernatural’s complete vibe, however that’s a unique article.

A variety of particulars from Sandman appear to permeate Supernatural. The method that summoning circles that may entrap or hold out numerous entities are drawn and used very equally to the look of the spell that’s used to lure Dream. Cain reveals up in Supernatural and Sandman as properly, each iterations present him as a creature doomed to repeatedly kill due to destiny. God is depicted as a author in Supernatural, and whereas the connection to Gaiman’s Richard Madoc is tenuous, there’s sufficient there to attract parallels particularly when Madoc’s books are referenced as in-jokes all through the collection. In Supernatural, God/Chuck Shurly’s books, famously, are Supernatural collection–retelling the principle characters’ tales as a really meta wink on the viewers.

The method that demons escape of hell, the Lucifer storylines in each, the best way that Death is portrayed in Supernatural as a creature far older than heaven, hell, or something in between? When Death is in a diner ready for Dean to return discover him? It feels just like the diner scene in a way more self-aware method. Dean is aware of he’s dealing with down a creature far past him, and it’s genuinely terrifying.

I do know there are different references I’ve missed, however it is a fast overview, and covers Sandman’s first season, so I really feel fairly good about it. Last level, in Supernatural Season 11, episode 10, a Reaper is actually studying a Sandman comedian. Granted, that is after Kripke left the present, however the inspiration was clearly going sturdy.

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