Daniel (DC Comics)

Daniel is a fictional character in the Sandman comic book series by Neil Gaiman.

An infant for the majority of the series, Daniel is the son of Hippolyta 'Lyta' and Hector Hall, conceived and born in the dreaming, where the Halls were being held prisoner by Brute and Glob, two nightmares who had escaped during Dream's earthly exile (see Preludes and Nocturnes, The Doll's House). Hector Hall is a perennial DC character, and has assumed many guises during his stay in the DC Universe, and was at one point the Sandman, hence his inclusion.

Daniel enters the Dreaming while asleep, and is regaled with stories by Cain, Abel and Eve, while Matthew watches (see Fables and Reflections), and returns to Earth clutching one of Matthew's feathers. Later, Daniel, Lyta believes, is 'abducted' by Dream of the Endless, since it is his destiny to fill Dream's shoes, and he belongs in the Dreaming, since he was conceived and born there. This explanation doesn't sit well with Lyta Hall, who feels that Dream has not only robbed her of her husband (Hector was dead, but lived with her in her dreams until Dream put Hector back in his natural place when he took care of Brute and Glob), years of her life, but also now her son.

It is Lyta therefore that plays a crucial part in taking her grievance to the Eumenides/Fates/Kindly Ones, and ultimately brings about Dream's downfall, sealing her son's place in the Dreaming for all eternity. (Ironically, Lyta was once a superheroine called the Fury.)

Daniel was named in accordance with Neil Gaiman's decision to give the Endless names or titles beginning with the letter 'D', and after the Biblical prophet who interpreted Dreams. Whereas Dream almost always wears black, Daniel is robed in white once incarnated into the "office." Where Dream had his power vested in a ruby worn at his neck, Daniel has an emerald.

Daniel has made guest appearances in at least one issue of the JLA and a handful of issues of JSA.