daBlog by goddess101

Neil Gaiman's Sandman

I’ve been a lover of comics for as long as I can remember. My mom may even still have old issues of my old well-worn superhero comics (usually sans covers), which I would occasionally grab on trips to Safeway. Later as a teen, jumpstarted by my Robotech obsession, I started collecting comic books more seriously, investing in plastic sleeves and relatively expensive mylar bags to preserve my treasures. I also ventured outside the typical superhero realm, taking great pleasure in reading graphic novels which dealt with more serious and mature material.

“Neil Gaiman’s Sandman” is most definitely one of them, and one of the best I’ve ever read. I had bought the first volume, Preludes and Nocturnes, years ago, which is a collection of the first 8 issues. I had actually tried on numerous occasions to read it, having read that Sandman was one the premier titles to own in the comics universe, but ironically (or maybe not so, given the title!) I would fall asleep. Not that the material wasn’t any good. I just couldn’t get into it, similar to how the first 50 pages of a good book are a bit tough to absorb at first. However, a week ago, I decided to give it another try, and, well, I’ve reached that tipping point. Now I must read the rest!

What’s so great about it? It’s creatively written and meticulously planned out. In fact, there have been a few moments when I’ve had to stop and say to myself, “Wow, this is bloody brilliant!” I don’t want to give away any of the good stuff, but in summary, the series is about Morpheus (a.k.a. the Sandman), ruler of the Dream Realm, who is removed from his world by cultists seeking immortality and held captive for decades. The book follows the affects of his imprisonment and the inevitability of his escape. Sounds simple, sure, but Gaiman has written some pretty trippy stuff in here that will not only tap into your own dream experiences but maybe expand your mind a bit.