The Sandman

The Sandman

Neil Gaiman's 'The Sandman' is one of the seminal works of this or any period in comics history. With complicated adult themes and revolutionary art it pushed the limits of what a comic book could be, and forced people to realize that the medium was as valid an artform as any other. The story of the Endless, and the countless complex characters that inhabit their universe, reveals the best and worst of human nature with a literary maturity rarely seen in the best of novels, let alone comic books. Which is not surprising, considering Gaiman's many contributions to literature. It's considered by some to be 'required reading' for those of the gothic persuasion, but the overall theme is one of hope, and beauty.

Here are a few of the panels that I consider most memorable. More will be coming soon!

Dream takes a moment to feed the birds, while Death comes to have a talk with her younger brother. Issue 8.

Death making her rounds. "Do you know who I am?" Issue 8.

"Them? THEY are the family." The Endless. Issue 70.

Another Kodak moment between Death and Dream. Issue 8.

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! Issue 8.

Death's concern for her brother. Issue 8.

Dream contemplates humans' reactions to his sister's gifts. I've always thought this is the right way to approach mortality, not as an enemy but as the friend at the end of the journey. Issue 8.

"...But they enter your realm each night without fear."

"And I am far more terrible than you, my sister." Issue 8.

"I'm sorry Esme. Your time was up." Issue 8.

"So I'm dead. Now what?" Issue 8.

Dream walks with Death, and learns. Issue 8.

"She draws him close. From the darkness I hear the beating of mighty wings." Issue 8.

John Constantine's experience with The Prince of Stories. Issue 3.

"Count yourself lucky..." Issue 1.

Death will fight on his own ground. Issue 7.

"Are you going to kill me?" Issue 7.

The oh-so-sweet sibling relationship of Cain and Abel. Issue 2.

"And the Lady Bast pulls together tiny strands of belief...Head held high, eyes clear, fur sleek, she walks to the Dreaming." Bast was always one of my favorite characters. Probably has something to do with my affinity for cats. Issue 70.

Matthew in mourning. He was another of my absolute favorites, and while I was crying throughout this entire volume, this moment was one of the worst.

Delirium gets to pick the name for the golem she and her sisters created. Personally, I like the first one.

Daniel, the sucessor. The art in this final volume is the best of the entire series.

Sandman isn't Gaiman's only comic, or the only one in which those characters show up. Here's Dream, in the first volume of Books of Magic.

Does this kid not look like Harry Potter? And yet the first volume of Books of Magic, where Tim Hunter came from, was released before that series.

And at the end of it all, is Death. Books of Magic Volume 1.

Death sends Timothy back when he belongs. Books of Magic Volume 1.

A pretty stippled montage with Morpheus. Sadly I have no idea which issues this and the next three pics come from. I think it could be the very last one, #75, but don't quote me on that O_o.

"You know whom you have called..."

Morpheus accompanying his sister, Death.

Perhaps one of my favorite pictures in the whole series. Yes, I think so. What Bast and Morpheus have is so bitterly beautiful.

-Back to the pics!

-Home sweet home!

-Talk to Spooky!

Disclaimer: The Sandman, and all characters and likenesses thereof, belong to Neil Gaiman and DC/Vertigo comics, and are reprinted here without permission. Please don't sue me. I'm poor. All scans were created by me. Please ask if you want to use them. I'd hate to have to hunt you down and do unpleasant things to you.

Dream takes a moment to feed the birds, while Death comes to have a talk with her younger brother. Issue 8.
Death making her rounds. "Do you know who I am?" Issue 8.
"Them? THEY are the family." The Endless. Issue 70.
Another Kodak moment between Death and Dream. Issue 8.
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! Issue 8.
Death's concern for her brother. Issue 8.
Dream contemplates humans' reactions to his sister's gifts. I've always thought this is the right way to approach mortality, not as an enemy but as the friend at the end of the journey. Issue 8.
"...But they enter your realm each night without fear." "And I am far more terrible than you, my sister." Issue 8.
"I'm sorry Esme. Your time was up." Issue 8.
"So I'm dead. Now what?" Issue 8.
Dream walks with Death, and learns. Issue 8.
"She draws him close. From the darkness I hear the beating of mighty wings." Issue 8.
John Constantine's experience with The Prince of Stories. Issue 3.
"Count yourself lucky..." Issue 1.
Death will fight on his own ground. Issue 7.
"Are you going to kill me?" Issue 7.
The oh-so-sweet sibling relationship of Cain and Abel. Issue 2.
"And the Lady Bast pulls together tiny strands of belief...Head held high, eyes clear, fur sleek, she walks to the Dreaming." Bast was always one of my favorite characters. Probably has something to do with my affinity for cats. Issue 70.
Matthew in mourning. He was another of my absolute favorites, and while I was crying throughout this entire volume, this moment was one of the worst.
Delirium gets to pick the name for the golem she and her sisters created. Personally, I like the first one.
Daniel, the sucessor. The art in this final volume is the best of the entire series.
Sandman isn't Gaiman's only comic, or the only one in which those characters show up. Here's Dream, in the first volume of Books of Magic.
Does this kid not look like Harry Potter? And yet the first volume of Books of Magic, where Tim Hunter came from, was released before that series.
And at the end of it all, is Death. Books of Magic Volume 1.
Death sends Timothy back when he belongs. Books of Magic Volume 1.
A pretty stippled montage with Morpheus. Sadly I have no idea which issues this and the next three pics come from. I think it could be the very last one, #75, but don't quote me on that O_o.
"You know whom you have called..."
Morpheus accompanying his sister, Death.
Perhaps one of my favorite pictures in the whole series. Yes, I think so. What Bast and Morpheus have is so bitterly beautiful.