Biography

The Sandman Awakens

By 1938, Wesley began experiencing strange, vivid dreams: visions of murder, cruelty, and impending danger. These dreams disturbed him deeply, often depicting crimes before they happened. Unable to ignore them, Wesley built a secret laboratory in the basement of his townhouse, hidden behind a bookcase. There, he returned to his Eastern teachings and created a series of sedative and hypnotic gases. Armed with gas guns and a protective mask, he adopted the identity of The Sandman, a shadowy figure who hunted the darkest criminals his dreams foretold.

The Sandman became known for targeting particularly brutal figures such as the Scorpion, Dr. Death, and the Butcher. After each takedown, he would leave a haunting poem, folded into a piece of origami, at the scene, a cryptic calling card for the villain he’d just put to sleep.

Later that same year, Wesley attended a local high-society ball, where he met Dian Belmont, daughter of District Attorney Larry Belmont. The two quickly became lovers. In time, Dian discovered Wesley’s secret life as the Sandman. Though it strained their relationship at first, she eventually accepted it and became his partner in crime-fighting. Dian began feeding Wes information stolen from her father’s files and even acted as his getaway driver on occasion. She also brought along her adventurous young nephew, Sandy Hawkins, who would become Wesley’s loyal sidekick, Sandy the Golden Boy.

Justice Society

In 1940, Wesley was visited by the powerful mystical being known as the Spectre, who summoned him for a mission that would determine the fate of the world. Having seen this exact vision in his dreams, Wesley agreed without hesitation. Alongside a team of other mystery men gathered by the Spectre, he traveled to Berlin to aid Flash and Green Lantern, who were battling a legion of Valkyries summoned by Hitler using the Spear of Destiny. Together, the heroes turned the tide of battle and brought the two captured heroes home. That victory led to the formal creation of the Justice Society of America, a team committed to protecting peace and justice.

Following the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, Wesley and the other heroes were drafted into the All-Star Squadron, a government initiative to protect the U.S. homeland from foreign threats while avoiding the influence of Hitler’s mystical artifact. The Squadron operated strictly within American borders to prevent any manipulation from the Spear of Destiny.

In 1951, a tragedy struck close to home. Wesley was experimenting with a new prototype weapon, a silicone-based gun when it accidentally malfunctioned. Sandy was caught in the blast, his body transformed into a radioactive sand creature. Unable to cure him, Wesley placed Sandy in suspended animation, hoping one day to find a solution and restore his young friend.

Just a few years later, in 1954, Wesley and the rest of the Justice Society were summoned before the House of Un-American Activities Commission. Accused of possibly harboring Communist agendas, they were ordered to unmask and reveal their identities. Wesley, along with his teammates, refused to compromise their principles and chose instead to disband the Justice Society.