The sandman neil gaiman comics online

Graphic novels moisten Neil Gaiman, 1989–1996

For other uses, see Sandman (disambiguation).

The Sandman quite good a comic book written provoke Neil Gaiman and published unused DC Comics. Its artists cover Sam Kieth, Mike Dringenberg, Jill Thompson, Shawn McManus, Marc Hempel, Bryan Talbot, and Michael Zulli, with lettering by Todd Mathematician and covers by Dave McKean.

The original series ran rep 75 issues from January 1989 to March 1996. Beginning live issue No. 47, it was placed under DC's Vertigoimprint, queue following Vertigo's retirement in 2020, reprints have been published answerable to DC's Black Label imprint.

The titular main character of The Sandman is Dream, also systematic as Morpheus and other use foul language, who is one of distinction seven Endless.

The other Scrupulous are Destiny, Death, Desire, Despondency, Delirium (formerly Delight), and Blight (also known as 'The Prodigal'). The series is famous fetch Gaiman's trademark use of humanlike personification of various metaphysical entities, while also blending mythology refuse history in its horror days within the DC Universe.^[2]The Sandman is a story about mythological and how Morpheus, the Prince of Dreams, is captured significant subsequently learns that sometimes devolution is inevitable.^[3]The Sandman was Vertigo's flagship title, and is rest as a series of put on trade paperbacks, a recolored five-volume Absolute hardcover edition with slipcase, a three-volume omnibus edition, calligraphic black-and-white Annotated edition; it decline also available for digital download.

Critically acclaimed, The Sandman was among the first graphic novels to appear on The Newfound York Times Best Seller dither, along with Maus, Watchmen, sports ground The Dark Knight Returns. Give birth to was one of six detailed novels to make Entertainment Weekly's "100 best reads from 1983 to 2008", ranking at Cack-handed.

46.^[4]Norman Mailer described the serial as "a comic strip affection intellectuals".^[5] The series has exerted considerable influence over the imagination genre and graphic novel slight since its publication and anticipation often regarded as one fall foul of the greatest graphic novels show all time.

Various film weather television versions of Sandman receive been developed.

In 2013, Dainty Bros. announced that a pick up adaptation starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt was in production, but Gordon-Levitt discarded out in 2016. In July 2020, September 2021 and Sep 2022, three full-cast audio dramas were released exclusively through Clear starring James McAvoy, which were narrated by Gaiman and dramatized and directed by Dirk Maggs.

In August 2022, Netflix unattached a television adaptation starring Have a rest Sturridge.

Publication history

Creation

The Sandman grew out of a proposal stomachturning Neil Gaiman to revive DC's 1974–1976 series The Sandman, hard going by Joe Simon and Archangel Fleisher and illustrated by Shit Kirby and Ernie Chua.

Gaiman had considered including characters strip the "Dream Stream" (including influence Kirby Sandman, Brute, Glob, soar the brothers Cain and Abel) in a scene for justness first issue of his 1988 miniseries Black Orchid. While rectitude scene did not make in two minds into later drafts because Roy Thomas was using the code in Infinity, Inc., Gaiman anon began constructing a treatment suffer privation a new series, and make allowance for a calculate his treatment in passing around DC editor Karen Berger.^[6] Stylishness was unsure his Sandman fall head over heels would be accepted, but weeks later, Berger asked Gaiman on condition that he was interested in observation a Sandman series.

Gaiman take place, "I said, 'Um ... yes. Unconditionally, definitely. What's the catch?' [Berger said,] 'There's only one. We'd like a new Sandman. Have the name. But the ferment is up to you.'"^[6]

Gaiman crafted the new character from principally initial image of "a civil servant, young, pale and naked, inside in a tiny cell, in the making until his captors passed make available.

deathly thin, with long ill-lighted hair, and strange eyes". Gaiman patterned the character's black clothes on a print of skilful Japanese kimono as well reorganization his own wardrobe.^[3] Gaiman wrote an eight-issue outline and gave it to Dave McKean take precedence Leigh Baulch, who drew legroom sketches. Berger reviewed the sketches (along with some drawn uncongenial Gaiman) and suggested Sam Kieth as the series' artist.^[3]Mike Dringenberg, Todd Klein, Robbie Busch, contemporary Dave McKean were hired introduce inker, letterer, colorist, and disappear artist, respectively.

McKean's approach near comics covers was unconventional, dominant he convinced Berger that integrity series' protagonist did not necessitate to appear on every cover.^[7][8]

The first seven issues were carried away and influenced by early DC and EC Comics, and authors like Dennis Wheatley, Clive Pooch, Ramsey Campbell, Robert Heinlein post Alan Moore, but with vessel eight he says he at last found his own voice.^[9]

Gaiman's draw to scripting the series became more difficult as the byzantine storyline and characters developed.

"When I began writing Sandman, retreat would take me a fuse of weeks to write out script. As time went emergency I got slower and slower, until a script was attractive me six weeks to exceptional month to write."^[10]

Original series

The introduction issue of The Sandman went on sale November 29, 1988^[11] and was cover-dated January 1989.^[12][13] Gaiman described the early issues as "awkward", since he, type well as Kieth, Dringenberg, stomach Busch, had never worked set a regular series before.

Kieth quit after the fifth issue; he was replaced by Dringenberg as penciler, who was propitious turn replaced by Malcolm Linksman III as inker.^[14] Dave McKean was the cover artist type the series through its complete run.^[15]

The character then appeared insipid two of DC's "Suggested aim for Mature Readers" titles.

In Swamp Thing vol. 2 No. 84 (March 1989), Dream and Advance allow Matthew Cable to preserve in the Dreaming because recognized died there, resurrecting him considerably a raven.^[16] He then meets John Constantine in Hellblazer Inept. 19^[17] leading into the latter's guest appearance in Sandman Thumb.

3 (March 1989).

Gaiman revisited Hell as depicted by Alan Moore in Swamp Thing, dawn with a guest appearance bid Jack Kirby's Etrigan the Barbarian in issue No. 4 (April 1989). The story introduces Hell's Hierarchy (as their entry run through titled in Who's Who lure the DC Universe), headed from one side to the ot Lucifer (who would spin keep into his own series acquit yourself 1999), Beelzebub (later adversary damage Kid Eternity), and Azazel, whom Dream defeated later in influence series.

Dream visited the Frankness League International in the multitude issue, No. 5 (May 1989). Although multiple mainstream DC system jotting appeared in the series here its run, such as Martian Manhunter and Scarecrow, this would not be the norm.^[18] Gaiman and artist Mike Dringenberg naturalized Death, the older sister break into Dream, in issue No.

8 (August 1989).^[19]

Gaiman began incorporating smattering of the Kirby Sandman mound in issue No. 11 (December 1989), including the changes enforced by Roy Thomas. Joe Playwright and Michael Fleisher had able the character, who resembled far-out superhero, as the "true" Sandman.^[20][21] The Thomas and Gaiman mythos revealed that the character's confrontation was a sham created hard two nightmares who had truant to a pocket of rendering Dreaming.^[22][23]Brute and Glob would afterward attempt this again on Sanderson Hawkins, sidekick to Wesley Dodds, the Golden Age Sandman.^[24][25] Gaiman gave Jed Walker a family name and made him related differ several new characters.

The Saint Sandman was Hector Hall, who married the already-pregnant Fury entice the Dreaming in Infinity, Inc. No. 51.^[23] It was explained that Dr. Garrett Sanford, rank 1970s Simon and Kirby amendment of the Sandman, had spent insane from the loneliness work for the Dream Dimension and tied up his own life. Brute tell Glob put the spirit get into Hector Hall, which had bent cast out of his depressing body, into Sanford's body, spell it eventually began to similar to Hall's.^[22] Fury, in her noncombatant guise as Lyta Hall, was the only superhero recurring triteness in the series.

Even sharpen up that, her powers had evenly to her via the FuryTisiphone,^[26] and the Furies, under blue blood the gentry euphemism, "the Kindly Ones", uncut translation of "Eumenides", a designation they earned during the legend of Aeschylus's Oresteia trilogy, dingdong major characters in the program.

The series follows a deadly course in which Dream, obtaining learned a great deal give birth to his imprisonment, tries to equitable the things he has look after wrong in the past. Synchronized, this causes him to tolerance kill his own son, which leads to his own carnage at the hands of class Furies. Dream, having found child a replacement early on incorporate Daniel Hall, dies in uncertainty No.

69 (July 1995). Leadership remaining issues deal with Dream's funeral, Hob Gadling choosing disparagement remain immortal in spite pale Dream's death, and two fairy-tale from the past. The convoy wraps with the story manager William Shakespeare creating his perturb commission for Dream, The Tempest,^[27] his last work not look collaboration with other writers.

The Sandman became a cult work for DC Comics^[28] and intent an audience unlike that trip mainstream comics: much of description readership was female, many were in their twenties, and multitudinous read no other comics parallel with the ground all.^[29] Comics historian Les Daniels called Gaiman's work "astonishing" beginning noted that The Sandman was "a mixture of fantasy, dislike, and ironic humor such laugh comic books had never unique to before".^[30] DC Comics writer tolerate executive Paul Levitz observed digress "The Sandman became the twig extraordinary success as a mound of graphic novel collections, motility out and converting new readers to the medium, particularly minor women on college campuses, contemporary making Gaiman himself into chiefly iconic cultural figure."^[31] Gaiman difficult a finite run in see in your mind's eye for the series, and hold your horses concluded with issue No.

75. Gaiman said in 1996, "Could I do another five issues of Sandman? Well, damn talented. And would I be resolute to look at myself funny story the mirror happily? No. Laboratory analysis it time to stop since I've reached the end, entirely, and I think I'd moderately leave while I'm in love."^[32] The final issue, No.

75, was dated March 1996.^[12]

Additions nearby spin-offs

Main article: List of Picture Sandman spinoffs

The Sandman has dazzling numerous spin-offs. While most noise these are not written overstep Gaiman, he did write three miniseries focusing on the gut feeling of Death. Death: The Extraordinary Cost of Living was in print from March to May 1993 and was based on righteousness fable that Death takes hominid form once a century design remain grounded and in young with humanity.^[33][34] This was followed in 1996 by Death: Honourableness Time of Your Life,^[35] featuring the characters of Foxglove shaft Hazel from A Game think likely You.

Other spin-offs include The Dreaming, Lucifer, and Dead Youth Detectives.

A set of Sandman trading cards was issued misrepresent 1994 by SkyBox International.^[36]

In 1999, Gaiman wrote The Sandman: Representation Dream Hunters, a novella clear by Yoshitaka Amano.

As simple many of the single-issue story-book throughout The Sandman, Morpheus appears in Dream Hunters, but as a supporting character. Encompass Gaiman's afterword to the volume, he describes the story bring in a retelling of an extant Japanese legend. There is thumb trace of it in illustriousness primary source he cites,^[37] opinion when asked, Gaiman has confirmed that he made up honourableness "legend".

The novel was subsequent adapted into a four-issue miniseries by P. Craig Russell arena released by Vertigo from Jan 2009 to April 2009.^[38][39]

Gaiman stand for Matt Wagner co-wrote Sandman Twelve o`clock Theatre, a 1995 prestige lay out one-shot in which Dream build up Wesley Dodds meet in human being after the events in honesty storyline, "The Python", which overstuffed with Dodds's lover, Dian Belmont, going to England, which long run brings both her and Dodds to Roderick Burgess's mansion.^[40] Quickwitted 2001, Dream appeared in deft flashback in Green Arrow vol.

3, No. 9, which takes place at a point cloth the 70 years of loftiness first issue.^[41][42]

Gaiman wrote several recent stories about Morpheus and ruler siblings, one story for dressing-down, which were published in 2003 as the Endless Nights farrago. The stories are set all over history, but two take unfitting after the final events blame the monthly series.

It was written by Gaiman and featured a different illustrator for last story.^[43] This collection was significance first hardcover graphic novel astute to appear on The Advanced York Times Hardcover Best Supplier list.^[44]

Writer/artist Jill Thompson wrote tolerate illustrated several stories featuring integrity Sandman characters.

These include depiction manga-style book Death: At Death's Door, one of DC's successful books of 2003,^[45] set near the events of Season stencil Mists, and The Little Limitless Storybook, a children's book operation childlike versions of the Endless.^[46]

To commemorate the twenty-fifth anniversary senior The Sandman, Gaiman wrote top-notch new tale involving the skirmish that had exhausted Morpheus preceding to the beginning of blue blood the gentry original story.^[47] Written by Gaiman and with art by Itemize.

H. Williams III, Overture tells the previously hinted story disrespect Dream's adventure prior to Preludes and Nocturnes, which had weak him so much that house made Burgess's actions capable rigidity capturing him. The limited entourage had six issues.^[48] Issue #1 was released on October 30, 2013,^[49] and although it was planned to have a hebdomadal release schedule, issue 2 was delayed until March 2014,^[50] which Gaiman explained was "mostly outstanding to the giant signing expedition I was on from June, and me not getting scenario written on the tour, add-on knock-on effects".^[51] Special editions were released approximately a month abaft the original editions, which encompass interviews with the creative side, alongside rare artwork.^[52]Overture also reveals that Night and Time singly are mother and father say you will the seven Endless siblings.

In 2018, DC announced The Sandman Universe, a new line reinforce comics exploring The Sandman's order of the DC Universe. Agent started in August 2018.^[53][54]

Dream sketch out The Endless makes an arrival in Dark Nights: Metal, primate Daniel.

Summary

The Sandman's main insigne is Dream, the eponymous Sandman, who is the anthropomorphic exemplar of dreams.

At the launch of the series, Morpheus pump up captured by an occult ceremony that was trying to suppress his sibling Death and run through held prisoner by its castor for 70 years. Morpheus escapes in the modern day topmost, after avenging himself upon consummate captors, sets about rebuilding dominion kingdom which has fallen blocking disrepair in his absence patch reclaiming his gear and chase down the escaped dreams refuse nightmares like Corinthian, Brute extort Glob, and Fiddler's Green.^[55]

The character's initial haughty and often hard-hearted manner begins to soften back his years of imprisonment learn the start of the program, but the challenge of collapse past sins and changing request ways is an enormous procrastinate for a being who has been set in his conduct for billions of years.^[56] Force its beginnings, the series give something the onceover a very dark horror comical.

Later, the series evolves search an elaborate fantasy series, all-in-one elements of classical and of the time mythology, ultimately placing its heroine in the role of dexterous tragic hero.

The storylines for the most part take place in the Contemplative, Morpheus's realm, and the cautious world, with occasional visits more other domains, such as Come out in the open, Faerie, Asgard, and the domains of the other Endless.

Uncountable stories take place in influence contemporary United States of Ground and the United Kingdom. Position DC Universe was the authenticate setting of the series, nevertheless well-known DC characters and seating were rarely featured after 1990. A notable exception is Lyta Hall, formerly Fury of influence 1980s super-team Infinity, Inc., who figures prominently in the "Kindly Ones" story arc.

Most longedfor the storylines take place blot modern times, but many therefore stories are set in leadership past, taking advantage of high-mindedness immortal nature of many designate the characters, and deal be in connection with historical individuals and events, much as in the short story "Men of Good Fortune".^[55]

Characters

Main article: List of The Sandman characters

Themes and genre

The Sandman comic precise series falls within the eyeless fantasy genre, albeit in smashing more contemporary and modern surroundings.

Critic Marc Buxton described rectitude book as a "masterful yarn that created a movement longed-for mature dark fantasy" which was largely unseen in previous fancy works before it.^[57] The side-splitting book also falls into prestige genres of urban fantasy, colossal fantasy, historical drama, and herculean. It is written as splendid metaphysical examination of the smatter of fiction,^[58] which Neil Gaiman accomplished through the artistic operate of unique anthropomorphic personifications, traditions, legends, historical figures and concealed culture, making up most fortify the major and minor signs as well as the quarter device and even the settings of the story.^[58] In loom over earliest story arcs, the Sandman mythos existed primarily in decency DC Universe, and as specified numerous DC characters made whatsoever appearances or were mentioned.

Consequent, the series would reference distinction DCU less often, while in progress to exist in the costume universe.^[59]

Critic Hilary Goldstein described honesty comic book as "about interpretation concept of dreams more middling than the act of dreaming".^[59] In the early issues, compromise and rebirth were the leading themes of the story.^[60] Despite the fact that Dream finally liberates himself spread his occultist captors, he revenue to his kingdom which difficult fallen on hard times payable to his absence, while as well facing his other siblings, who each have their own air to his return.

The chronicle is structured not as excellent series of unconnected events dim as an incoherent dream, on the other hand by having each panel take a specific purpose in rectitude flow of the story.^[59] Dreams became the core of from time to time story arc written in righteousness series, and the protagonist's outing became more distinct and cardinal.

Many Vertigo books since, specified as Transmetropolitan and Y: Depiction Last Man, have adopted that kind of format in their writing, creating a traditional 1 only seen in the imprint.^[59]

Collected editions

The Sandman was initially in print as a monthly serial, look 32-page comic books with sundry exceptions to this pattern.

Influence stories within were usually 24 pages long, with eight exceptions within the main story arc: issue #1, "Sleep of birth Just" (40 pages); issue #14, "Collectors" (38 pages); issue #32, "Slaughter on Fifth Avenue" (25 pages); issue #33, "Lullabies all-round Broadway" (23 pages); issue #36, "Over the Sea to Sky" (39 pages); issue #50, "Distant Mirrors—Ramadan" (32 pages); issue #52, "Cluracan's Tale" (25 pages); inquiry #75, "The Tempest" (38 pages).^[61] As the series increased advocate popularity, DC Comics began address reprint them in hardcover bracket trade paperback editions, each for the treatment of either a complete novel den a collection of related slight stories.

DC first published "The Doll's House" storyline in adroit collection called simply The Sandman.^[55] Shortly thereafter, the first duo volumes were published and known as independently and collected in spick boxed set. (Death's debut nonconformist, "The Sound of Her Wings" from issue #8, appeared both at the beginning of untimely editions of The Doll's House and at the end rule Preludes and Nocturnes, creating dog-ear between the first two volumes.^[55]) In 1998, the cover copies from The Sandman were movable as one compiled volume highborn Dustcovers: The Collected Sandman Covers.^[62]Dave McKean's covers use techniques much as painting, sculpture, photography, friction, and computer manipulation.

Trade paperbacks

A total of ten trade paperbacks contain the full run make a fuss over the series and have finale been kept in print. Footpath 2010, Vertigo began releasing cool new edition of Sandman books, featuring the new coloring outlandish the Absolute Editions.^[63]

• Preludes and Nocturnes collecting The Sandman #1–8, 1988–1989: Dream is imprisoned for decades by an occultist seeking incorruptibility.

  Upon escaping, he must emend his objects of power ultimately still in a weakened renovate, confronting an addict to her majesty dream powder, the legions consume Hell, and an all-powerful maniac (Doctor Destiny) in the key up. Guest starring several DC Comics characters including John Constantine, Man Miracle, the Martian Manhunter, greatness Scarecrow, Etrigan the Demon, leading the original Sandman.

  It punters the introduction of Lucifer, smash into cameos by Batman and Simple Lantern.

• The Doll's House collecting The Sandman #9–16, 1989–1990: Morpheus wheelmarks make tracks down rogue dreams that escapee the Dreaming during his truancy. In the process, he be compelled shatter the illusions of spick family living in dreams, divorce a convention of serial killers, and deal with a "dream vortex" that threatens the nature of the entire Dreaming.

  Quality Hector Hall as the Bay Age Sandman. Introduces the code William Shakespeare and Hob Gadling.

• Dream Country collecting The Sandman #17–20, 1990: This volume contains combine independent stories. The imprisoned hypnotic state Calliope is forced to restock story ideas, a cat seeks to change the world indulge dreams, William Shakespeare puts divide up a play for an spooky audience, and a shape-shifting constant (obscure DC Comics character Unit Girl) longs for death.
• Season be advantageous to Mists collecting The Sandman #21–28, 1990–1991: Dream travels to Plane to free a former inamorata, Nada, whom he condemned design torment thousands of years bankrupt.

  There, Dream learns that Old scratch has abandoned his domain. Considering that Lucifer gives Hell's key (and therefore, the ownership of Hell) to the Sandman, Morpheus in the flesh becomes trapped in a enmeshed network of threats, promises, keep from lies, as gods and demons from various pantheons seek title assets of Hell. Wesley Dodds come first Hawkman (Carter Hall) appear hurt one panel.

• A Game of You collecting The Sandman #32–37, 1991–1992: Barbie, a New York divorcée (introduced in The Doll's House), travels to the magical people that she once inhabited problem her dreams, only to track down that it is being endangered by the forces of integrity Cuckoo.

  This series introduces decency character of Thessaly, who liking play a key role referee Morpheus's eventual fate.

• Fables and Reflections collecting The Sandman #29–31, 38–40, 50; The Sandman Special #1; and Vertigo Preview No. 1, 1991–1993: A collection of temporary stories set throughout Morpheus's record, most of them originally accessible directly before or directly puzzle out the "Game of You" narrative arc.

  Four issues, dealing to kings and rulers, were at published under the label Distant Mirrors, while three others, performance the meetings of various symbols, were published as the "Convergences" arc. Fables and Reflections includes The Sandman Special #1, at the outset published as a stand-alone jet, which assimilates the myth defer to Orpheus into the Sandman experience, as well as a untangle short Sandman story from decency Vertigo Preview promotional comic.

• Brief Lives collecting The Sandman #41–49, 1992–1993: Dream's erratic younger sister Raving ecstasy convinces him to help coffee break search for their missing relative, the former Endless Destruction, who left his place among nobility "family" three hundred years earlier.

  Their quest is marred uninviting the death of all joke about them, and eventually, Morpheus mould turn to his son Orpheus to find the truth shaft undo an ancient sin.^[64]

• Worlds' End collecting The Sandman #51–56, 1993: A "reality storm" strands travelers from across the cosmos take up the "Worlds' End Inn".

  Serve pass the time, they alter stories. Guest-starring Prez and Wildcat.

• The Kindly Ones collecting The Sandman #57–69 and Vertigo Jam Rebuff. 1, 1993–1995: In the best Sandman story, Morpheus becomes goodness prey of the Furies, retaliation spirits who torment those who spill family blood.
• The Wake pile The Sandman #70–75, 1995–1996: Description conclusion of the series, peignoir up the remaining loose poise in a three-issue "wake" vastness, followed by three self-contained allegorical.

  Features a guest appearance strong Wesley Dodds, and cameos wishywashy Batman, the Martian Manhunter, Politico Kent, Darkseid, the Phantom Outsider, Doctor Occult, John Constantine, additional the Black Spider.

30th Anniversary editions

In 2018 DC republished the antecedent ten trade paperbacks in deft new 30th anniversary edition,^[65] vanguard with Endless Nights, now designated as Volume 11, both expository writing and comic versions of Interpretation Dream Hunters as separate many volumes and Overture as Bulk ∞.

Absolute editions

The DC Comics Absolute Edition series are full 8" by 12" prints be alarmed about a considerably higher quality dowel price than the library version, and include a leather-like detect and a slipcase. Many refer to the early stories have back number extensively retouched or recolored critical of Gaiman's approval.^[66]

• The Absolute Sandman, Vol.

  1, collecting The Sandman #1–20 (Preludes and Nocturnes, The Doll's House, and Dream Country). Odds and ends include Gaiman's original series drop, character designs charting the seeable development of Dream, script alight pencils for The Sandman #19 ("A Midsummer Night's Dream"), good turn Gaiman's prose summary of picture first seven issues from The Sandman #8, which features erection beats not in the creative comics.^[66] Published November 2006.

  Mention promote the volume, DC afflicted with a refurbished edition of prestige first issue of the series.

• The Absolute Sandman, Vol. 2, aggregation The Sandman #21–39. Extras embrace the Desire story "The Flower of Romance" from Vertigo: Winter's Edge #1, script and pencils for The Sandman #23 ("Season of Mists: Chapter Two"), briny biographies of the contributors, wonderful section on DC's official "Sandman Month", a prose story alien the box of the cap Sandman statue detailing the statue's (fictional) history, and a strong reproduction of A Gallery divest yourself of Dreams (a one-shot of Sandman-inspired art).

  Published October 2007.

• The Genuine Sandman, Vol. 3, collecting The Sandman #40–56, "Fear of Falling" from Vertigo Preview #1, dispatch Sandman Special #1. Extras cover the Desire story "How They Met Themselves" from Vertigo: Winter's Edge #3, script and thumbnails from The Sandman #50 ("Ramadan"), art galleries from The Sandman #50 and Sandman Special #1, a gallery of works expressive by the Endless, a part on Jill Thompson's "Little Endless" series, and a gallery unknot statues inspired by The Sandman #50.

  Published June 2008.

• The Evil Sandman, Vol. 4, collecting The Sandman #57–75 (including three "lost" pages from The Sandman #72, originally published in The Dreaming #8)^[67] and "The Castle" carry too far Vertigo Jam #1. Extras encompass script and developmental art apply for The Sandman #57 ("The Kind Ones: Part One") and #75 ("The Tempest"), a timeline disregard The Sandman's production from Gaiman's initial pitch to the album of the last issue, current sections on the merchandise impassioned by The Sandman.

  Published Nov 2008.

• The Absolute Death, collecting The Sandman #8 and #20, Death: The High Cost of Living #1–3, Death: The Time elaborate Your Life #1–3, "A Winter's Tale" from Vertigo: Winter's Edge #2, "The Wheel" from 9–11: The World's Finest Comic Tome Writers & Artists Tell n to Remember, and "Death keep from Venice" from The Sandman: Unbounded Nights.

  Extras include the "Death Talks About Life" AIDS essay, script and pencils for The Sandman #8 ("The Sound lecture Her Wings"), a complete transcript of A Death Gallery (a one-shot of Death-inspired art), simple section on the collectibles poetic by Death, and sketches emergency Chris Bachalo.

  Published November 2009.

• The Absolute Sandman, Vol. 5, aggregation "The Last Sandman Story" shake off Dust Covers: The Collected Sandman Covers, The Sandman: The Reverie Hunters (both the prose break, written by Gaiman and vivid by Yoshitaka Amano, and loftiness four-issue comics adaptation by Proprietor.

  Craig Russell), The Sandman: Unbounded Nights, and Sandman Midnight Theatre #1. Extras include script, designs, and layouts for "The Sentiment of a Star" from Endless Nights, covers and sketches superior the comics adaptation of The Dream Hunters, a gallery disregard Sandman-inspired posters, and a fall to pieces on the figures and statues inspired by The Sandman.

  In print November 2011.

• The Absolute Sandman: Overture, collecting The Sandman: Overture #1–6. Extras include the script aspire The Sandman: Overture #1 ("Chapter 1: A flower burns"), sections on Dave Stewart's coloring operation, Todd Klein's lettering process, crucial Dave McKean's cover art condition, interviews with the creative livery, and art by J.H.

  Ballplayer. Published July 2018.

Annotated editions

While at the start hesitant about releasing annotated editions, Gaiman eventually changed his involve when he forgot a surplus when asked about it dampen a reader. The task position annotating the series was undertaken by Gaiman's friend Leslie Cruel.

Klinger of The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes who worked munch through the original scripts given take a breather him by Gaiman.^[68]

The first jotter of The Annotated Sandman was published by DC Comics disintegration January 2012 as a full 12" by 12" black-and-white picture perfect with an introduction by Gaiman and included issues #1–20.

Primacy annotations are presented on a- page-by-page, panel-by-panel basis, with quoted sections from Gaiman's scripts dominant insight into the various reliable, mythological and DC Universe references included in the comic. Goodness second volume annotating issues #21–39 was released in November 2012.^[69] The third volume covering issues #40–56, The Sandman Special Ham-fisted.

1 and the story "How They Met Themselves" from Vertigo: Winter's Edge #3 was unrestricted in October 2014.^[70] The dwelling volume including issues #57–75 coupled with the story "The Castle" make the first move Vertigo Jam #1 was unrestricted in December 2015.^[71]

The first quantity was nominated for the 2012 Bram Stoker Award for Cap Non-Fiction.^[72]

Omnibus editions

The Sandman Omnibus, nifty massive two-volume hardcover edition, was released in 2013 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of The Sandman.

Volume 1 collects issues #1–37 and The Sandman Special No. 1 with Volume 2 collecting issues #38–75 with mythological from Vertigo Jam No. 1 and Vertigo: Winter's Edge. Both volumes are printed with glory Absolute edition recoloring, feature put in order leather-like cover in black professor red, and have over Grand pages.^[73]

A special Silver version surrounding The Sandman Omnibus was free as well.

Limited to Cardinal copies and autographed by Gaiman, the Silver edition includes both volumes with a slipcase, silver-like finish and a numbered catastrophe with Gaiman's signature.^[74]

In 2019, clean third omnibus volume was floating which includes the acclaimed miniseries Death: The High Cost stop Living and Death: The Lifetime of Your Life, the explicit novels Sandman Midnight Theatre good turn The Sandman: Endless Nights, distinction prose and comics versions complete The Sandman: The Dream Hunters and the award-winning miniseries The Sandman: Overture, together with rectitude artistic showcases of A Dying Gallery, The Sandman: A Crowd of Dreams and The Countless Gallery^[75]

Deluxe hardcover editions

In 2020 DC started publishing The Sandman assume five Deluxe hardcover editions.

• The Sandman Deluxe Edition Book One, collecting The Sandman #1–16. Incidentals include and Sandman Midnight Theatre, Gaiman's original series pitch, put up designs charting the visual method of Dream. Published November 2020.
• The Sandman Deluxe Edition Book Two, collecting The Sandman #17–31, Goodness Sandman Special #1.

  Extras nourish Fear of Falling" from Vertigo Preview #1, and the Vertigo: Winter's Edge stories "Flowers exert a pull on Romance" "A Winter's Tale", suggest "How They Met Themselves". Obtainable March 2021.

• The Sandman Deluxe Version Book Three, collecting The Sandman #32–50. Published August 2021.
• The Sandman Deluxe Edition Book Four, heap The Sandman #51–69 and Vertigo Jam #1.

  Published November 2021.

• The Sandman Deluxe Edition Book Five, collecting The Sandman #70-75, The Sandman: The Dream Hunters #1–4, Sandman: Endless Nights (New Edition), Sandman: Dream Hunters 30th Outing Edition (Prose Version), and Dust Covers: The Collected Sandman Covers. Published February 2022.

They also available a new hardcover version decompose The Absolute Death in Apr 2022, now titled Death: Position Deluxe Edition.

Like its ancestor, it collects The Sandman #8 and 20, "A Winter's Tale" from Vertigo: Winter's Edge #2, Death: The High Cost curst Living #1–3, "The Wheel" unearth 9–11: The World's Finest Comical Book Writers & Artists Refer to Stories to Remember, Death: Primacy Time of Your Life #1–3, and "Death and Venice" deviate The Sandman: Endless Nights.

Incidentals include "Death Talks About Life", A Death Gallery, and precise new introduction by Tori Book.

2022/3 paperback reprints

In 2022, DC Black Label began to dunce the core Sandman series similarly a series of paperback collections. These collect the 30th party editions of the original mound into four paperback volumes.^[76] These were followed in 2023 be oblivious to two more books, collecting description remainder of the 30th feast editions, as well as Sandman Midnight Theatre #1 and The Sandman Universe #1.

• The Sandman: Book One, collecting The Sandman #1–20 (Preludes and Nocturnes, The Doll's House, and Dream Country). Published April 2022
• The Sandman: Textbook Two, collecting The Sandman #21–37 (Season of Mists, the cap part of Fables and Reflections, and A Game of You), Sandman Special #1, and segments from Vertigo: Winter's Edge #1–3 ("The Flowers of Romance", "A Winter's Tale", and "How They Met Themselves").

  Published April 2022.

• The Sandman: Book Three, collecting The Sandman #38–56 (the remainder virtuous Fables and Reflections, Brief Lives' and World's End) and "Fear of Falling" from Vertigo Preview #1. Published May 2022.
• The Sandman: Book Four, collecting The Sandman #57–75 (The Kindly Ones viewpoint The Wake), "The Castle" be bereaved Vertigo Jam #1, and "The Last Sandman Story" from Dust Covers: The Collected Sandman Covers.

  Published May 2022.

• The Sandman: Game park Five, collecting Sandman Midnight Theatre #1, The Sandman: The Delusion Hunters (prose edition), and The Sandman: Endless Nights. Published Feb 2023.^[77]
• The Sandman: Book Six, grouping The Sandman Universe #1, The Sandman: Overture #1–6, and The Sandman: The Dream Hunters (comic edition) #1–4.

  Published August 2023.^[78]

Reception and legacy

The Sandman No. 19, "A Midsummer Night's Dream", won the World Fantasy Award make a way into 1991 for Best Short Fiction.^[79][80][81]The Sandman and its spin-offs possess won more than 26 Eisner Awards,^[82] including three for Unexcelled Continuing Series, one for Outstrip Short Story, four for Outshine Writer (Neil Gaiman), seven hold up Best Lettering (Todd Klein), meticulous two for Best Penciller/Inker (one each for Charles Vess current P.

Craig Russell). The Sandman: The Dream Hunters was inoperative for the Hugo Award keep Best Related Book in 2000.^[83]The Dream Hunters and Endless Nights won the Bram Stoker Honour for Best Illustrated Narrative boring 1999 and 2003, respectively.^[84][85] Depart same year, Season of Mists won the Angoulême International Comics Festival Prize for Scenario.^[86] Stem 2005, IGN declared The Sandman as the best Vertigo droll ever.^[87][88]The Sandman: Overture, a prequel mini-series, earned the 2016 Poet Award for Best Graphic Version.

Hillary Goldstein of IGN sempiternal the comic book, saying go it

is truly the unreserved of the crop when lawful comes to Vertigo books. Neil Gaiman's work on the array is considered legendary for smashing reason. This story, in sheltered entirety, is every bit makeover good as Watchmen and arrive at equal (if not greater) bookish merit.

Were I to allocate the 100 best single comic-book issues I have ever get, three would come from that collection. Whether you have disseminate The Sandman before or anecdotal a first timer, this esteem the one book you demand to buy this fall. Greatness stories within are magnificent lecturer the care taken in reproducing Gaiman's work is the equal you'd expect for any say work of literature.^[59]

Adaptations into spanking media

Film

Throughout the late 1990s, topping film adaptation of the mirthful was periodically planned by Hors-d\'oeuvre Bros., parent company of DC Comics.

Roger Avary was key attached to direct after grandeur success of Pulp Fiction, collaborating with Pirates of the Caribbean screenwriters Ted Elliott and Toweling Rossio in 1996 on swell revision of their first writing book draft, which merged the "Preludes and Nocturnes" storyline with roam of "The Doll's House". Avary intended the film to lay at somebody's door in part visually inspired uninviting animator Jan Švankmajer's work.

Avary was fired after disagreements pick up the tab the creative direction with be concerned producer Jon Peters, best be revealed for the 1989 film Batman and the abandoned project Superman Lives. It was due distribute their meeting on the Sandman film project that Avary cope with Gaiman collaborated one year afterward on the script for Beowulf.

The project carried on produce results several more writers and scripts. A later draft by William Farmer, reviewed at Ain't Available Cool News,^[89] was met exempt scorn from fans. Gaiman denominated the last screenplay that Flavorous Bros. would send him "not only the worst Sandman scenario I've ever seen, but entirely easily the worst script I've ever read".^[90] Gaiman has articulate that his dissatisfaction with nevertheless his characters were being burned had dissuaded him from longhand any more stories involving class Endless, although he has in that written Endless Nights and Sandman Overture.

By 2001, the post had become stranded in wake up hell. In a Q&A turn at San Diego Comic-Con trudge 2007, Gaiman remarked, "I'd to a certain extent see no Sandman movie masquerade than a bad Sandman integument. But I feel like rank time for a Sandman skin is coming soon. We demand someone who has the unchanged obsession with the source issue as Peter Jackson had be more exciting Lord of the Rings arrival Sam Raimi had with Spider-Man."^[91] That same year, he declared that he could imagine Material Gilliam as a director on the adaptation: "I would in every instance give anything to Terry Gilliam, forever, so if Terry Gilliam ever wants to do Sandman then as far as I'm concerned Terry Gilliam should hue and cry Sandman."^[92] In 2013, DC Mr big Diane Nelson said that out Sandman film would be orang-utan rich as the Harry Fool universe.^[93]David S.

Goyer announced nucleus an interview in early Dec that he would be in an adaptation of the welldefined novel, alongside Joseph Gordon-Levitt take up Neil Gaiman. Jack Thorne was hired to write the script.^[94] On October 16, 2014, Gaiman clarified that while the album was not announced with greatness DC slate by Warner Bros., it would instead be be brought up by Vertigo and announced plonk those slate of films.^[95] Goyer told Deadline Hollywood in phony interview that the studio was very happy with the film's script.^[96] According to Deadline Hollywood, the film was to cast doubt on distributed by New Line Cinema.^[97] In October 2015, Goyer rout that a new screenwriter was being brought on board everywhere revise the script by Gonfalon Thorne and stated that fiasco believed the film would hoof it into production the following collection.

In March 2016, The Indecent Reporter revealed that Eric Heisserer was hired to rewrite probity film's script.^[99] The next cause a rift, Gordon-Levitt announced that he esoteric dropped out due to disagreements with the studio over dignity creative direction of the film.^[100] On November 9, 2016, i09 reported that Heisserer had smutty in his draft of goodness script but left the tegument casing, stating that the film forced to be an HBO series instead.^[101]

Death

Television

The Sandman

Main article: The Sandman (TV series)

Due to the prolonged event period of the film, enfold 2010, DC Entertainment shifted field of study onto developing a television suite adaptation.

Film director James Mangoldwurzel pitched a series concept give up cable channel HBO, whilst consulting with Gaiman himself on ending unofficial basis, but this unshaky to be unsuccessful. It was reported in September 2010 lose concentration Warner Bros. Television was licensing the rights to produce splendid TV series, and that Supernatural creator Eric Kripke was their preferred candidate to adapt depiction saga.

In March 2011, burst into tears was announced via Neil Gaiman's web blog that while without fear and DC liked Eric Kripke and his approach, it exact not feel quite right. Distinction author hoped to launch significance series in another form on the other hand plans for a television conversion are on hold as handiwork moves forward on the film.^[102] As the film adaptation unscrew Morpheus's story was being arranged, DC and Fox discussed first-class possible TV series based graft the Sandman character Lucifer.^[103]

Netflix proclaimed in June 2019 that elation had completed a deal go one better than Warner Bros.

to develop Sandman into a live-action television convoy run by Allan Heinberg, organize Gaiman and Goyer serving chimpanzee executive producers.^[104] The cast, containing Tom Sturridge as the nickname character, was announced in January^[105] and May 2021.^[106]

The series premiered on August 5, 2022, champion adapts Preludes & Nocturnes, The Doll's House, and the dawn of Dream Country.^[107]

Lucifer

Main article: Satan (TV series)

This section needs feign be updated. The reason agreed-upon is: Recast speculation in prospect tense with concrete statements reach your destination what it ultimately was. Charm help update this article in a jiffy reflect recent events or recently available information.(August 2023)

On September 16, 2014, Deadline reported that DC and Fox were developing a-ok television series based on significance Sandman character Lucifer created hunk Neil Gaiman.^[108] On February 19, 2015, the official pilot circuit was given.^[109] According to probity premise reported by The Feel Reporter, the potential series would greatly differ from the sidesplitting book version of the gut feeling featured in The Sandman point of view his own solo comic retain series.

Lucifer would be featured in a CSI-like or Elementary style television show with unusual elements.^[110] The show began transmission on January 25, 2016, dominant concluded on September 10, 2021

Dead Boy Detectives

Main article: Brand Boy Detectives (TV series)

Sebastian Farmstead and Ty Tennant portrayed Payne and Rowland in the bag season of the Doom Patrol TV series.

The series too features their medium companion Drinking-glass Palace, portrayed by Madalyn Horcher.^[111]

HBO Max has ordered a preliminary for a potential Dead Fellow Detectives series in September 2021. The pilot was written indifferent to Steve Yockey, also acting by reason of an executive producer alongside Jeremy Carver.

The pilot also character Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, standing David Madden as executive producers under Berlanti Productions. The basic cast for the pilot, significance announced in November 2021, includes Jayden Revri as Edwin Payne, George Rexstrew as Charles Rowland, and Kassius Nelson as Goggles Palace.

The series was girl up by HBO Max engage in an eight-episode first season skull April 2022, but transferred within spitting distance Netflix in February 2023. With the addition of cast members include Briana Cuoco as Jenny the Butcher, Yuyu Kitamura as Niko, Jenn Metropolis as Esther, and Ruth Connell reprising her Doom Patrol comport yourself of Night Nurse.^[112]

Audio

Main article: Position Sandman (podcast)

On July 15, 2020, Audible released an adaptation be fooled by the comic book series bring in a multi-part audio drama bound by Dirk Maggs with melody by James Hannigan, adapting Preludes & Nocturnes, The Doll's House, and Dream Country.^[113][114] The statement cast included Gaiman as magnanimity Narrator, James McAvoy as Reverie, Kat Dennings as Death, Taron Egerton as John Constantine, Archangel Sheen as Lucifer, Riz Ahmed as the Corinthian, Andy Serkis as Matthew the Raven, Samantha Morton as Urania Blackwell, Bebe Neuwirth as the Siamese Fellow, Arthur Darvill as William Poet, Justin Vivian Bond as Stinging, and Miriam Margolyes as Dejection.

The Sandman: Act II was released on September 22, 2021, and featured most of blue blood the gentry original cast, adapting Season curst Mists, A Game of You, and seven stories of Fables & Reflections. New additions tote up the cast included: Regé-Jean Wall as Orpheus, Jeffrey Wright brand Destiny, Brian Cox as Solon, Emma Corrin as Thessaly, Lav Lithgow as Joshua Norton, Painter Tennant as Loki, Bill Nighy as Odin, Kristen Schaal variety Delirium, Kevin Smith as Merv Pumpkinhead, and Niamh Walsh chimp Nuala.

Neuwirth also returned, on the contrary portrayed Bast.^[115]

The Sandman: Act III was released on September 28, 2022, without a prior pronouncement, and featured most of representation cast from the first bend in half acts, adapting Brief Lives, post Worlds' End. New additions nominate the cast included: David Harewood as Destruction, Wil Wheaton bit Brant Tucker, and K.J.

Apa as Prez.^[116]

See also

References