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Destiny is one of the Endless, fictional characters from Neil Gaiman's comic book series, The Sandman. He was originally created by Marv Wolfman and Berni Wrightson in Weird Mystery Tales #1 (1972), and was regular host of that series as well as Secrets of Haunted House. In the Sandman Special #1, he was also referred to as Potmos.
Like Lucien, Cain and Abel and some other Sandman characters, Destiny was initially the host of a 1970s DC horror comic, Weird Mystery Tales. In this title the Book of Destiny was called the Cosmic Log, and there was, of course, no mention of his family, though a more traditional version of Death did appear in it. Destiny began appearing in some of the stories beginning in issue #10 (though he said that as all the stories he tells deal with destiny, he is in all of them, as well), but by issue #15, Eve had taken over the series, and had been wheedling in since early in the run, but Destiny now hosted a new title, Secrets of Haunted House, which was initially hosted by all four characters. The other hosts regarded him as the dullest storyteller, and as the hosts supposedly controlled the letters pages (responses were written in-character), that attitude was generally reflected there as well.
Destiny met Superman in Superman #352, preventing Superman from helping people in order to break a forming destiny of Metropolis becoming dependent upon him, and met the New Teen Titans on several occasions, all of these written by Wolfman. He met Chronos in Chronos # 9. He also met Lobo and Supergirl in his labyrinth in The Brave and the Bold volume 2, #4. He is more nervous and absent-minded in his demeanor, as a result of having to give up his book.
Vertigo
Destiny is the oldest of the Endless, and is portrayed as a tall figure, obscured within a brown (originally purple) robe and cowl. He reads from a large book chained to his right wrist, which contains all past, present, and future events. He does not leave footprints, nor does he cast a shadow. Destiny's realm is a garden, the maze-like paths of which he walks continually. His book is his sigil in the galleries of the other Endless. Destiny is blind, although this doesn't appear to hinder him, and is always calm, detached and sombre even in extreme situations.
He is the least characterized and least used of the Endless in the series. Though he was first depicted in the series in a picture at the end of the first collection (in the penultimate issue), his first actual appearance is in the fourth collection, Season of Mists. In a quiet way he seems to direct the family affairs of the Endless; it is he who calls the family meeting that begins Season of Mists.
In the series Lucifer by Mike Carrey, Destiny is shown talking to Lucifer. Both seem to have a contempt for each other, where Lucifer favours chaos and freedom, and Destiny favours order and control. Lucifer seems to be less powerful than Destiny, as even Lucifer is bound by Destiny's book.
Destiny is also featured in the three-issue miniseries Destiny: A Chronicle of Deaths Foretold, authored by Alisa Kwitney with art by Kent Williams, Michael Zulli, Scott Hampton, and Rebecca Guay. Destiny is there shown transforming the son of Byzantine Empress Theodora into a pestilence-bearing Horseman of the Apocalypse. The Horseman spreads bubonic plague throughout eras of human civilization while searching for a woman he can love and spare. The frame story focuses on the Horseman's appearance in the 21st century, where he offers a glimpse of Destiny's book to the frightened survivors of the latest plague.
In Gaiman's graphic novel The Books of Magic, Mister E and Timothy Hunter see Destiny at the end of the universe, shortly before he is taken by Death.
Recently
Destiny lost the Book of Destiny in the opening storyline of the new Brave and the Bold series, and when Lobo and Supergirl arrive in his garden he speaks about it being sent off to be found by those outside its pages. As it turns out, the Challengers of the Unknown were those outside of its pages, as well as the recipients Destiny had sent it off to be procured by. After a struggle between all factions at the culmination of the arc, the Challs arrive by Zeta beam to Rann and defeating the opposition acquire the book. Now it is to be in their care.
Trivia
- Destiny's garden is clearly indebted to Jorge Luis Borges's story "The Garden of Forking Paths". Destiny himself bears similarities to Borges, blind Director of the Argentine National Library.
References
- Bender, Hy (1999), The Sandman Companion, New York: Vertigo DC Comics, ISBN 1563896443
External links
See also
| The Sandman (Vertigo) | ||
|---|---|---|
| The Sandman Library | 1: Preludes and Nocturnes •
2: The Doll's House • 3: Dream Country • 4: Season of
Mists • 5: A Game of You 6: Fables and Reflections • 7: Brief Lives • 8: Worlds' End • 9: The Kindly Ones • 10: The Wake • 11: Endless Nights |
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| from the World of The Sandman | The Sandman: The Dream Hunters • Death: The High Cost of Living • Death: The Time of Your Life • Destiny: A Chronicle of Deaths Foretold • The Little Endless Storybook • Death: At Death's Door • Dust Covers - The Collected Sandman Covers 1989-1997 • The Quotable Sandman • The Sandman Companion • The Dreaming | |
| Characters of The Sandman | The Endless: Destiny • Death • Dream • Destruction • Desire • Despair • Delirium | |
| Dreams and nightmares •
Gods, demigods, and major personifications Angels, fallen angels, and devils • Immortals, witches, and long-lived humans • Fair folk • Mortals • Superheroes |
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| Other topics | ||
| Neil Gaiman • Other books and series | ||
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