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Death (Endless)
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Creation & Design

Death was created by Neil Gaiman as part of The Endless, a group of anthropomorphic personifications. She was designed to be a more approachable and compassionate representation of death.

Early Years

Death first appeared in The Sandman series, where she was depicted as a goth girl who guides souls to the afterlife. Her character quickly became a fan favorite due to her relatable personality and unique perspective on life and death.

Character Development

Over the years, Death has evolved from a mere personification of death to a complex character with her own storylines and emotional depth. Her interactions with other Endless and mortals have shaped her into a beloved figure in the comic book world.

Cultural Reception

Death has been widely praised for her unique portrayal, breaking stereotypes associated with death. She has garnered a significant fanbase and is often cited as a positive representation of mortality.

Character Details

Real Name:
Death
First Appearance:
The Sandman #8
Aliases:
Death of the Endless, Sister of Dream
Species:
Endless
Gender:
Female
Affiliations:
The Endless, The Sandman
Abilities:
Immortality, Control over death, Empathy
Equipment:
Scythe, Book of the Dead
Weight:
100lbs
Height:
5' 3"
Eye Color:
blue
Hair Color:
black

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The Sandman #8
DC Vertigo ⋅ 1989
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The Sandman #8
 
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1st appearance of Death, Dream’s sister

Captain Atom #42
DC ⋅ 1990
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Captain Atom #42
 
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$25

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1st appearance of Death of The Endless in the DC Universe, outside of Vertigo

Cameo appearance of the death entity known as The Black Racer from Kirby's Fourth World

Dream makes his first appearance in the DC Universe and third overall appearance in Swamp Thing #84

Vertigo Sampler
DC Vertigo ⋅ 1992
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Vertigo Sampler
 
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Key Facts

Six-page preview of Death: The High Cost of Living #1

Three-page preview of Sandman Mystery Theatre #1

Two-page preview of Enigma #1

Comics Interview #116
Comics Interview ⋅ 1992
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Comics Interview #116
 
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Cover art by Chris Bachalo featuring Death of the Endless

Vertigo Preview #1
DC Vertigo ⋅ 1992
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Vertigo Preview #1
 
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7-page original story written by Neil Gaiman, featuring Sandman that did not appear in the periodical Sandman comic book series

Story was later reprinted in trade paperbacks Fables & Reflections (Library Edition Book and Absolute Sandman Book 3)

Story synopsis: Sandman enters the dream of a young man to help him cope with his fear of falling

Two-page preview of Death: The High Cost of Living, the first solo series featuring Death of the Endless

Shade the Changing Man #32
DC Vertigo ⋅ 1993
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Shade the Changing Man #32
 
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Seven-page promotional insert featuring Death from the Sandman series

AIDS awareness story with Death demonstrating how to properly wear a condom using a banana as a prop

Guest-starring John Constantine who provides the banana

Reprinted as a standalone promotional giveaway

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This issue went on-sale one week before Hellblazer #62 and Sandman #46 which also included the insert

Death: The High Cost of Living #1
DC Vertigo ⋅ 1993
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Death: The High Cost of Living #1
 
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First solo miniseries featuring Death of The Endless

Death: The High Cost of Living #2
DC Vertigo ⋅ 1993
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Death: The High Cost of Living #2
 
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Mini-series

Musings #1
Calliope Comics ⋅ 1993
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Musings #1
 
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Cover art by Jill Thompson featuring Sandman of the Endless and his siblings Death and Delirium

Musings was a four-issue comic review journal published in 1993 by Calliope Comics

Death: The High Cost of Living #3
DC Vertigo ⋅ 1993
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Death: The High Cost of Living #3
 
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Mini-series

Death Talks About Life #1
Promo ⋅ DC Vertigo ⋅ 1994
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Death Talks About Life #1
 
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7-page promotional giveaway featuring Death from the Sandman series

AIDS awareness story with Death demonstrating how to properly wear a condom using a banana as a prop

Guest-starring John Constantine who provides the banana

Originally printed in Shade the Changing Man #32

Incredible Hulk #418
Marvel ⋅ 1994
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Incredible Hulk #418
 
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1st appearance of Talos the Untamed

[December 2020 - confirmed to appear with Nick Fury in Secret Invasion]

Cameo appearance by Death of the Endless from DC Vertigo's Sandman series

Marriage of Marlo Chandler and Rick Jones

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Peter David, the writer, officiates the ceremony

ROM appears in human form

Death: The Time of Your Life
Preview ⋅ DC Vertigo ⋅ 1997
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Death: The Time of Your Life
 
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Promotional preview edition of issue #1 - #3 of the series

Monograficos Dolmen #16
Dolmen Editorial ⋅ 2004
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Monograficos Dolmen #16
 
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Cover art by Adam Hughes featuring Death from Neil Gaiman's 'Sandman' - originally published in the one-shot 'A Death Gallery'As of Nov 2023 there are 7 graded copies of this rare Spanish comic, none higher than 9.2

Madame Xanadu #6
Variant ⋅ DC ⋅ 2008
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Madame Xanadu #6
 
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Variant cover art by Frank Quitely featuring Death of the Endless

Action Comics #894
DC ⋅ 2010
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Action Comics #894
 
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1st cover appearance of Death on a mainstream DC book

It is a common misconception that Death first appears in DC’s mainstream universe in this issue but a decade earlier she appears in Captain Atom #42. In fact, she appears in the Marvel Universe prior to her appearance in Action Comics when she makes a cameo at the wedding of Rick Jones and Marlo Chandler in the Incredible Hulk #418

Action Comics #894
Newsstand ⋅ DC ⋅ 2010
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Action Comics #894
 
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Newsstand edition, UPC box does not include the text ‘DIRECT EDITION’

Action Comics #894
Variant ⋅ DC ⋅ 2010
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Action Comics #894
 
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Variant cover art by P. Craig Russell

Sandman Universe: Nightmare Country, The #1
1:100 ⋅ DC ⋅ 2022
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Sandman Universe: Nightmare Country, The #1
 
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Variant cover art by Jenny Frison

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