News > Geek > Wil Wheaton's Geek in Review: The Absolute Sandman

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WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 25 2006 12:00 PM

Wil Wheaton's Geek in Review: The Absolute Sandman

Submitted by WilWheaton

Edited by Rahodeb

Tags: sandman, graphic novels, neil gaiman

Neil Gaiman's Sandman was originally released in 1989 to massive critical and commercial success. It is one of the graphic novels that helped DC Comics launch its hugely popular Vertigo imprint, and redefined the genre.

It is difficult to overstate its impact on the comic and literary world. Before Sandman, the artists were the real rock stars of comic books, and superheroes ruled the day. Once Sandman was released, though, writers became more respected -- and had more creative control -- and it was proved that non-superhero characters could carry a title, and indeed an entire series. Sandman helped lay the foundation that allowed books like Preacher, Fables, and Transmetropolitan to be published.[1]

Though I loved it the first time around, and I own mint copies of each original issue, boarded and bagged and stored in a climate-controlled location beside the Ark of the Covenant, where they are looked after by top men, I haven't read Sandman since its original run. After I picked up The Absolute Sandman Volume One last week, my initial excitement was quickly tempered with a sobering reality: what if, in reading it as a 34 year-old man, it didn't live up to the mythical status I bequeathed upon it as a 16 year-old boy?

I'll spare you the false suspense: it does more than just hold up. It's better the second time around, as an adult, in this volume, than it was the first time around, whether in single issues or as collections. It turns out that "for mature readers" didn't only refer to tender young minds that could be adversely affected by a boob or a bit of harsh language; there are several concepts and storylines in here that simply flew past my immature mind when I was a teenager.

The Absolute Sandman Volume One collects the first twenty issues of the series. It is entirely recolored and the bright, vibrant result is the visual equivalent of hearing Dark Side of the Moon in 5.1, after listening to it through a transistor radio your whole life. The pages are also larger than they were the first time around, revealing environmental details and facial expressions that were easy to miss before.

At the end of the collection, Neil Gaiman's entire original pitch for the series, featuring several concept sketches that lead to the now-iconic design of Dream is included, as well as the entire script, pencils, and thumbnails for issue #20, the World Fantasy Award-winning "A Midsummer Night's Dream." The whole thing is wrapped up in a gorgeous, leather binding, embossed with Dream's sigul key and a lock, with a newly-drawn Dave McKean portrait on the front.

It's not cheap: it retails for $99 in the US, (though you can pick it up for about $63 at Amazon[2] as of this writing) but it really does offer something wonderful to more than just the hardcore collector. Like I said, these stories really do hold up.

The first seven issues span Dream's capture and seventy years of imprisonment at the hands of an occultist who wished to snare Death, through Dream's escape and (apparently obligatory) journey through the DC universe, with visits to Hellblazer's John Constantine and the Justice League, a battle with Dr. Destiny, and a trip to Arkham Asylum. When that story arc finishes Sandman truly begins, with issue #8, one of my all-time favorites in the entire series. It's an issue called "The Sound of Her Wings" and it introduces us, subtly and quite beautifully, to Dream's older sister, Death. It also establishes the mood for the rest of the series. In fact, in his pitch, Neil Gaiman said it would "basically be a mood piece," and it's widely accepted that this issue is where the obligations to DC and the "origin" end, and the real Sandman begins.

From there, we get to see exactly who Dream is, how he interacts with the other Endless in his family, and how he is perceived by other cultures. I won't spoil the joy of experiencing the story arcs for yourself as they unfold, but we visit a serial killer convention, discover Dream's connection to William Shakespeare, and see what happens when he falls in love with a mortal (a storyline that comes back more than once over the life of the series.) For those of us who have read all 75 issues, we can also see that Neil Gaiman knew exactly where he was going and exactly how he was going to get there from the very beginning.

I said that it's hard to overstate the significance and impact that Sandman had on an industry and on a generation of artists, writers, and readers . . . but I'll still try: without these stories and their critical and commercial success, there may not have been a Vertigo. There may not have been Preacher, Y: The Last Man, Fables, or 100 Bullets. There certainly wouldn't have been Death: The High Cost of Living, or Death: The Time of Your Life, and who knows if anyone would have given Neil Gaiman the freedom to pen and publish Neverwhere and American Gods?

Its historical significance aside, Sandman remains a series of simply outstanding, beautiful, thought-provoking, and unique stories, that have stood the test of time. While The Absolute Sandman Volume One is far too large and unwieldly to casually pick up and carry around, it's perfect for reading on the couch with a cup of tea. In fact, its size and stature invokes a bit of reverence that is well-earned by the stories inside. And if you happen to fall asleep with it open across your lap, well, you may just find your way into a rather remarkable Dreamscape.

[1] Of course, Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons deserve to be included in this revolution. Actually, it is required.
[2] That's an affiliate link. If you choose to purchase it through that link, I'll get a kickback that I'll honestly spend on more comic books.

Wil Wheaton is the author of Just A Geek. He hasn't been able to adequately explain to his wife exactly why he has and needs to keep all his comic books.

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Comments

GabrielNotchear

Mystic, CT

September 2004

OCT 25, 2006 02:59 PM

Mine came in today.

The recoloring, the larger size... it is better than I could have hoped.

I cannot stress buying this enough.

Jackowisp

Berkeley, CA

January 2004

OCT 25, 2006 06:16 PM

Fractal said:

How can you possibly state that his work since Sandman hasn't been phenomenal? He has released a number of comics, children's books, and a movie, not to mention his novels. I feel that Sandman was his stepping stone, and has opened up the entire genre into the surreal fantasy realm, without ever crossing over into the Heavy Metal area. He is a pioneer in his field. The other artists and authors that you have listed I feel are more of the noir category, and not the specific brand that is Sandman, so I really can't agree with you that he "outshines" those other artists.

And PS - it's Jhonen Vasquez, not Vasguez.

Sorry but its true, none of those works are as good as Sandman. Do you really think anything has compared since? I won't badmouth your opinion, your entitled. But honestly, I see a downcurve. Its great that he is still working but alot of his later successes may have more to do with Dave McKean and a pre-established fanbase from Sandman.

For consistency, try an Alan Moore or Grant Morrison book. However, I will say that Moore's Lost Girls sucks but at least he's getting laid! That aside, these men are clearly in the same genre. They rewrite history, mythology, not to mention challenging the very way we see things. Moore's Swamp Thing and Morrisons' Doom Patrol are clear examples of this. Swamp Thing being older and Doom Patrol, a contemporary of Sandman.

I'm not saying Sandman is bad, far from it. I'm just saying that NG is not responsible for opening the doors for other artists. The original article even maintains that its Moore who established the "vertigo genre" if we can call it that. But still these writers should be given their own due not dismissed as living in NG's shadow. AND I miss good NG comics and I don't miss new NG novels.

Sorry for long windedness. Also, should I really care how to spell JV's name? I'll start caring when he produces again.

thanks for some lively discussion!

ASSH0LE

Las Vegas, NV

June 2003

OCT 25, 2006 06:29 PM

Jackowisp said:
I feel bad for Gaiman bashing

Damnit, I come to this thread only for the purpose of an evil pun on the guy's name, and you've proven to be quicker on the draw.

_DictionaryGirl_

NEWSWIRE

San Diego, CA

OCT 25, 2006 06:42 PM

Oh, man... I need this.

MrCrisp

I'm lost

August 2004

OCT 25, 2006 06:47 PM

_DictionaryGirl_ said:
Oh, man... I need this.

how about we both pay half the price and then share joint-custody?

Volkov

San Antonio, TX

OLD SKOOL

OCT 25, 2006 07:32 PM

easily one of my favorite writers of all time and an absolutely amazingly well conceived series.

I am going to have to get this.

especially if it has the McKean covers included with it.

WilWheaton

Los Angeles, CA

June 2005

OCT 25, 2006 10:09 PM

Volkov said:
easily one of my favorite writers of all time and an absolutely amazingly well conceived series.

I am going to have to get this.

especially if it has the McKean covers included with it.

Every one of the McKean covers is included, and they are all slightly oversized (like the rest of the volume). Unencumbered by the text that they had all over them when these books were initially released, they are even more beautiful and complex works of art.

attn_ho

Brooklyn, NY

February 2004

OCT 25, 2006 10:17 PM

you are absolutely dead on on this will. i remember borrowing sandman and the flaming carrot from another comic book nerd in 1990. there was never anything like it (there were hints in the swamp thing), and i think i felt that on my first reading.

if im correct, i would say that john constantine's appearance in issue 3 cemented his role as a leading man, after which he moved out of his sporadic swamp thing appearances? is that right?

trocc

Chicago, IL

March 2003

OCT 25, 2006 10:29 PM

i've been waiting for something like this, as i find it difficult to bring myself to peel all my original issues out of the plastic to re-read them...

your trepidation about whether the stories would hold up is exactly how i've felt when hovering over them in the past - it's good - no, great - to hear that they continue to stand up. it's been a good 15 years since i've read those stories - i think i need to get this book soon.

McK

United Kingdom

October 2004

OCT 26, 2006 01:40 AM

Sandman is responsible for adult-me reading comics. Not only that, it is also directly responsible for me working in comics. When I read the Kindly Ones, I was blown away by Marc Hempel's work.I didn't realise comic book art could be like that. So I started drawing, and 5 years later it's my job.

So, thanks, Neil, for making sure I'll always be poor.