Posted in: Comics, Recent Updates | Tagged: Comics, dc, dc comics, entertainment, sandman, sleepwalker, tom defalco

Did Tom DeFalco Ever Say That Sleepwalker Was Sandman Done Right? (UPDATE)

Earlier this week, Bleeding Cool broke the news that ex-Marvel EIC and current DC writer Tom DeFalco would be getting an editorial role at DC Comics to pitch in during the move from New York to Burbank. Indeed, now it's looking that only a quarter of staff will be joining them in the move, it could be that this role might be readily extended. Hmm, isn't that how Marvel Knights started, also under Bob Harras?

Anyway, that news brought back the one fact so many folk (including me) know about Tom. That he used the line "Sandman done right" to describe nineties Marvel comic Sleepwalker by Bod Budiansky..

Sandman is now regarded as a classic of comic book literature and worlds away from anything Marvel Comics has ever published. Sleepwalker, a quirky comic soon cancelled, is seen as an example of Marvel publishing excess in the nineties. The quote was the epitome of Marvel not understanding quality, or seeking a very trashy way to emulate its sales and impact.

The only trouble is, it doesn't seem to be true.

The most I can find through research is mention of a press release that described the comic as "Sandman done the Marvel way." But that's only a reference, never an actual quoted piece.

If it is true, it will still not have been penned by Tom DeFalco. And it's something he denies.

On this, it's probably time to give DeFalco some slack. I mean, it's not as if we're likely to see this any time soon…

UPDATE: A Marvel ex-employee writes to state that "X done right" was always a Jim Shooter expression. And while this was long after Shooter's departure from the company, it was often used as a gag, to make fun of him and his attitude. So its possible, if this was ever used, that it was only done as a joke, as part of a Shooter impersonation and not meant to be taken seriously…

Enjoyed this? Please share on social media!

Stay up-to-date and support the site by following Bleeding Cool on Google News today!