The Sandman - Gaiman

A little over a week ago I was hanging out with my friends when one of them wanted to go to a comic book shop by my house. I didn't know this place existed and wasn't to interested in comics but piled in the car along with everyone and took the two minute ride to the shop.  We didn't stay long and it wasn't a comfortable space for me, but as I was walking along the aisles I saw Neil Gaimans name. Of course I stopped and picked up the comic, intrigued because I read The Graveyard Book earlier this year and have been interested in the rest of Gaimans work. My comic-knowledgeable friend had read the particular comic and thought I would like it, but as it was not the beginning of the series and being more expensive than most books I buy I shrugged it off and insisted we find dinner. I didn't really think any more about Gaiman or the Sandman until yesterday when, after hanging out with my friends again, the comic enthusiast shove The Sandman: Volume One in my hands and told me to read it. So I did. 


I don't really know how to review comics, but here's my best shot.

In PRELUDES & NOCTURNES, an occultist attempting to capture Death to bargain for eternal life traps her younger brother Dream instead. After his 70 year imprisonment and eventual escape, Dream, also known as Morpheus, goes on a quest for his lost objects of power. On his arduous journey Morpheus encounters Lucifer, John Constantine, and an all-powerful madman. This book also includes the story "The Sound of Her Wings," which introduces us to the pragmatic and perky goth girl Death (From Goodreads)


Now I'm not into superheros or graphic novels. Nothing against them, they've just never interested me. I started The Sandman with little expectation to enjoy it. I was pleasantly surprised. It took me a while to understand what was happening but once I did I couldn't put it down. I got through all 233 pages in an few hours and was curious about what the other volumes contain. My only problem was with the illustrations. I could see that they were detailed and required a lot of skill but they just weren't my cup of tea. Gaimans words, on the other hand were more than enough to make up for the images, in my opinion. I found Dreams and Bettes thoughts to be some of my favorite, for lack of a better word, dialogue.


As always, I love Gaiman's afterword. For some reason I find him writing about his own work more interesting then some of his stories.  


Overall it was an enjoyable read and good for me to get out of my comfort zone. Now back to Goblet of Fire