Matthew the Raven

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Matthew Cable was introduced in Swamp Thing (Volume 1) in November 1972, created by writer Len Wein and artist Bernie Wrightson. He was a government agent assigned to protect Alec Holland and Linda Holland as they worked on their bio-restorative formula in the Louisiana bayou. Cable failed to save them from the Conclave, and the Hollands were killed. Believing Swamp Thing responsible, Cable set out to avenge them. His search took him through the Balkans, where he met Abby Arcane. For years, Swamp Thing believed himself to be Holland; after learning this, Cable let him go. Cable and Abby later married and settled in Houma, Louisiana. Eventually, Cable's mind became damaged, giving him the ability to alter reality. After a fight with Abigail, he drove after her while drinking heavily, crashed his car, and was mortally wounded. A large fly appeared and offered to revive Cable, who agreed. In reality, Anton Arcane, who died and went to Hell, found a way out by possessing the fly and then Cable's body, gaining Cable's godlike power. Cable managed to send Arcane back to Hell, but at the cost of the car crash's effects catching up with him. Still possessing enough power to repair one body and not wanting to live, Cable brought Abigail back to life before falling into a coma. After lessons learned within the Dreaming while comatose, Cable rose one final time and destroyed the machinery sustaining him, ending his life. Since Cable technically died while in the Dreaming, Dream resurrected him in the form of a raven.

In Their Own Story

Matthew the Raven appears in The Sandman (2022), voiced by Patton Oswalt. He also appears in The Sandman (2020) audio drama series, voiced by Andy Serkis. As Dream's raven, Matthew lives with Eve in Dream's domain. His purpose, and the purpose of all the ravens that Dream had previously, is somewhat questionable. Dream seems to keep the ravens around out of some sort of unspoken need for companionship. The ravens are created by Dream, offering the position to people who died, usually while dreaming, and releasing them from service if they so wish.

Reader's Guide

Matthew the Raven serves as Dream's raven in The Sandman. He was originally Matthew Cable, a character from DC Comics' Swamp Thing series who died in The Dreaming and was resurrected as a raven by Dream. In The Sandman (2022), Matthew's raven form is voiced by Patton Oswalt. In The Sandman (2020) audio drama series, he is voiced by Andy Serkis. Matthew lives with Eve in Dream's domain. His purpose is somewhat questionable, as Dream seems to keep the ravens around out of an unspoken need for companionship. The ravens are created by Dream, offering the position to people who died, usually while dreaming, and releasing them from service if they so wish.

Did You Know?

• Matthew Cable was originally a government agent in DC Comics' Swamp Thing series, introduced in Swamp Thing (Volume 1) in November 1972.
• Matthew Cable was created by writer Len Wein and artist Bernie Wrightson.
• Matthew Cable died in The Dreaming and was later resurrected as Dream's raven in Neil Gaiman's rendition of The Sandman.
• In The Sandman (2022), Matthew's raven form is voiced by Patton Oswalt.
• In The Sandman (2020) audio drama series, Matthew the Raven is voiced by Andy Serkis.