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The Absolute Sandman
The Absolute Sandman, Volume 3
One of the most popular and critically acclaimed comic book titles of all time, New York Times best-selling author Neil Gaiman's masterpiece
The Sandman
set new standards for mature, lyrical fantasy and graphic narrative. Now, Vertigo and DC Comics are proud to present the third of four definitive Absolute Editions collecting this groundbreaking series in its entirety.
The Absolute Sandman, Volume Three reprints issues 40-56 of The Sandman and The Sandman Special 1 and features remastered coloring prepared especially for this edition on issues 40-49 and the Special. This volume also includes an introduction by Jill Thompson (artist for The Sandman, Vol 7: Brief Lives ), a never-before-reprinted story by Gaiman and artist Michael Zulli, a complete reproduction of the one-shot The Endless Gallery as well as two additional 8-pages galleries, and the original script and thumbnail pencils by Gaiman and artist P. Craig Russell for the acclaimed story "Ramadan" from The Sandman 50.
The Absolute Sandman, Volume Three reprints issues 40-56 of The Sandman and The Sandman Special 1 and features remastered coloring prepared especially for this edition on issues 40-49 and the Special. This volume also includes an introduction by Jill Thompson (artist for The Sandman, Vol 7: Brief Lives ), a never-before-reprinted story by Gaiman and artist Michael Zulli, a complete reproduction of the one-shot The Endless Gallery as well as two additional 8-pages galleries, and the original script and thumbnail pencils by Gaiman and artist P. Craig Russell for the acclaimed story "Ramadan" from The Sandman 50.
616 pages, Slipcased Hardcover
First published December 1, 1993
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 202 reviews
December 19, 2022
There are a few Neil Gaiman masterworks with 'Brief Lives', 'Worlds End' and the haunting tale in this volume, and one of my favourites in the entire Sandman cannon - 'Death - The High Cost Of Living'. Despite finding some of it pretty good, I gave up my rereading of Sandman at this point, it's just not for me, the whole anthropomorphic personification of various metaphysical entities thingy! 7 out of 12, Three Stars. I read the Sandman comic books #41-56 and Death #1-3 online, which cover this volume.
2017 read; 2013 read
2017 read; 2013 read
December 8, 2024
Neil Gaiman and crew continue to not disappoint! Art direction and writing still very good. For more details please see my review of #1. :)
January 2, 2021
Collects the back half of Fables & Reflections, Brief Lives and Worlds' End. There's also an enormous collection of back matter including a Desire story from Vertigo: Winter's Edge #3 that has never been reprinted. There are 40 pages of pinups from various Sandman books, statues and the script and thumbnails for Issue #50. This oversized edition is glorious blowing up the art very nicely. Although it weighs enough that I had to read it at the kitchen table. I've left links to my reviews of the individual books collected here below.
My reviews of:
Fables & Reflections
Brief Lives
Worlds' End
My reviews of:
Fables & Reflections
Brief Lives
Worlds' End
July 31, 2016
Gaiman je definitivno previše razvukao Sandmana. Glavni likovi su već prošli sve konflikte koje su mogli imati bez zaranjanja u tešku sapunicu. Ovdje je problem i to što Gaiman pokušava iste stvari napisati na drugi način. I u prethodnom Apsolutnom Sandmanu je bilo lošijih epizoda, ali svejedno sam mu dao peticu zbog dobrog ukupnog dojma. Ovaj treći dio kolekcije mi je već od početka bio dosadan i naporan za čitanje. Ostavljao sam ga i vraćao mu se, ali na kraju sam ipak odustao.
U stripovima mi je crtež uvijek bio manje bitan od same priče, no u Sandmanu je baš ružan koji god ga crtač crtao, a neki su i na granici amaterizma. No, to mi nije smetalo dok je strip bio zanimljiv.
Čitao sam Fibrino izdanje koje je odlično za jačanje mišića ruku jer je teško barem 10 kila. Kvalitetno je izrađeno kao i sva njihova dosadašnja izdanja, a i prijevod i lektura su također dobro odrađeni i daleko iznad prosjeka našeg tržišta. Kolekcionari Sandmana jedino trebaju osigurati čvrstu policu ako će kupovati cijeli komplet.
Pročitao sam prvih stotinjak stranica i stao nakon prve epizode serijala Kratki životi. Tako da je ocijena samo za taj dio.
U stripovima mi je crtež uvijek bio manje bitan od same priče, no u Sandmanu je baš ružan koji god ga crtač crtao, a neki su i na granici amaterizma. No, to mi nije smetalo dok je strip bio zanimljiv.
Čitao sam Fibrino izdanje koje je odlično za jačanje mišića ruku jer je teško barem 10 kila. Kvalitetno je izrađeno kao i sva njihova dosadašnja izdanja, a i prijevod i lektura su također dobro odrađeni i daleko iznad prosjeka našeg tržišta. Kolekcionari Sandmana jedino trebaju osigurati čvrstu policu ako će kupovati cijeli komplet.
Pročitao sam prvih stotinjak stranica i stao nakon prve epizode serijala Kratki životi. Tako da je ocijena samo za taj dio.
September 14, 2016
#!¿*!??? NEEE. NECU. TO. TAKO.
To je moja jedina reakcija na kraj Kraja svijeta.
Prva knjiga me osvojila na prvu zato jer je spajala sve stvari koje zivot cine lijepim i uzbudljivim, na nacin da spekulativno i kreativno intervenira u poznate price stvarajuci od njih jos divnije mitove. Sve to nose likovi u koje se lako zaljubiti. Vjecni su, ali i ljudski glupi, bezobzirni, melankolicni i cesto ocajavaju ili upropaste stvari. Njihova obitelj je standardno disfunckionalna, a scenarij unutar kojeg ona ozivljava inovativan i ne nalikuje nicemu sto postoji. Ne karikiram, zaista je tako. Cim sam pocela listati znala sam da je to "to". Onaj osjecaj kad je nesto napisano za tebe, pa te pokusava cijeli zivot pronaci. Uzivas u mekoci svog samozadovoljstva, odobravanju i sl. (premda si u konstantno neudobnoj pozi jer s ovih 10kg nije lako)... Ako se zaigras, pitat ce te bliski ljudi nesto u stilu, trebam li se zabrinuti za tvoje plave ruke, a ti ces pokusati odmahnuti glavom sve dok ne skuzis da ni vrat nije bas u top formici. Previse objasnjavanja, pa ces morati ukljucuti auto pilota za ekspresnu promjenu teme razgovora. No, da se vratim na strip.
Ono sto me svaki put nanovo iznenadilo je sarolikost tema i emocija kojom su epizode obojane. Od nekih njeznih prekrasnih tipa Prica u pijesku- ma ono, nema ih niti u jednoj slikovnici, pa naletis na ozbiljni drustveni komentar na svega par stranica kao u Snu tisucu macaka, a nemali broj puta te prikuje za pod s totalno bolesnom, jeza uvrnutom pricom tipa konvencija serijskih ubojica ili Caliope i uvijek se vracas po jos. Jednom kad dozivis ta vizualna cudesa, tesko se vratiti na uobicajeni font uobicajene knjige ili bilo kojeg drugog crteza tko zna kojeg stripa.
U tom stanju apsolutne opsjednutosti zavirim u drugu knjigu. Dozivim kaos, manje odusevljenja jer sam sad vec razmazena i daj mi sve sto mi pripada i daj mi to odmah :) Gaiman ne reagira. Nije da sam razocarana jer tome prethodi sumnja koja ipak trenutno nije toliko jaka... Neka, Sandman je to - oprastam sve.
Sad vec iskusna i kriticnija, otvaram trecu knjigu. Redaju se likovi, situacije - nisam narocito impresionirana, crtezi mi ne leze sasvim i fale mi one moje crtacke ruke (lijena sam pogledati koje tocno, ali bit ce mi na polici pa cu virit! Znam samo kad ih vidim :)
Dok grintam i gundam pritom ljuteci se na sebe sto si uopce dopustam grintanje i gundanje, dogadaju se Vjecni kao djeca, Kratki zivoti (u kojoj me potresa scena s Morfeusom i Orfejem - odnosno ignorantan komentar blentave bundeve), Ramazan koji je uvjerljivo najljepse vizualno iskustvo i takoder tragican da to boli, a onda i taj nesretni Kraj svijeta. Sve mi je jasno, nije bas iz vedra neba i lik zasluzuje na neki nacin, ali ne prihvacam nakon 2000 str. druzenja da ode samo tako... Pa ne mo's mi to radit.
Pitam se, unatoc instinktivnom, prvotnom otporu, jesam li negdje u dubini duse kompletno ovisna o nesretnim zavrsecima? Pitam se i kako dalje? Kazu da je cetvrta knjiga svejedno gorko slatka. Dvojim da l' da ju potegnem s nocnog ormarica odmah sad ili da ju nikad ne otvorim...
Bit ce ovo prvo, vjerojatno :)
Mislim da mi Gaiman duguje Dobre predznake na teveu. Prasac. :D
To je moja jedina reakcija na kraj Kraja svijeta.
Prva knjiga me osvojila na prvu zato jer je spajala sve stvari koje zivot cine lijepim i uzbudljivim, na nacin da spekulativno i kreativno intervenira u poznate price stvarajuci od njih jos divnije mitove. Sve to nose likovi u koje se lako zaljubiti. Vjecni su, ali i ljudski glupi, bezobzirni, melankolicni i cesto ocajavaju ili upropaste stvari. Njihova obitelj je standardno disfunckionalna, a scenarij unutar kojeg ona ozivljava inovativan i ne nalikuje nicemu sto postoji. Ne karikiram, zaista je tako. Cim sam pocela listati znala sam da je to "to". Onaj osjecaj kad je nesto napisano za tebe, pa te pokusava cijeli zivot pronaci. Uzivas u mekoci svog samozadovoljstva, odobravanju i sl. (premda si u konstantno neudobnoj pozi jer s ovih 10kg nije lako)... Ako se zaigras, pitat ce te bliski ljudi nesto u stilu, trebam li se zabrinuti za tvoje plave ruke, a ti ces pokusati odmahnuti glavom sve dok ne skuzis da ni vrat nije bas u top formici. Previse objasnjavanja, pa ces morati ukljucuti auto pilota za ekspresnu promjenu teme razgovora. No, da se vratim na strip.
Ono sto me svaki put nanovo iznenadilo je sarolikost tema i emocija kojom su epizode obojane. Od nekih njeznih prekrasnih tipa Prica u pijesku- ma ono, nema ih niti u jednoj slikovnici, pa naletis na ozbiljni drustveni komentar na svega par stranica kao u Snu tisucu macaka, a nemali broj puta te prikuje za pod s totalno bolesnom, jeza uvrnutom pricom tipa konvencija serijskih ubojica ili Caliope i uvijek se vracas po jos. Jednom kad dozivis ta vizualna cudesa, tesko se vratiti na uobicajeni font uobicajene knjige ili bilo kojeg drugog crteza tko zna kojeg stripa.
U tom stanju apsolutne opsjednutosti zavirim u drugu knjigu. Dozivim kaos, manje odusevljenja jer sam sad vec razmazena i daj mi sve sto mi pripada i daj mi to odmah :) Gaiman ne reagira. Nije da sam razocarana jer tome prethodi sumnja koja ipak trenutno nije toliko jaka... Neka, Sandman je to - oprastam sve.
Sad vec iskusna i kriticnija, otvaram trecu knjigu. Redaju se likovi, situacije - nisam narocito impresionirana, crtezi mi ne leze sasvim i fale mi one moje crtacke ruke (lijena sam pogledati koje tocno, ali bit ce mi na polici pa cu virit! Znam samo kad ih vidim :)
Dok grintam i gundam pritom ljuteci se na sebe sto si uopce dopustam grintanje i gundanje, dogadaju se Vjecni kao djeca, Kratki zivoti (u kojoj me potresa scena s Morfeusom i Orfejem - odnosno ignorantan komentar blentave bundeve), Ramazan koji je uvjerljivo najljepse vizualno iskustvo i takoder tragican da to boli, a onda i taj nesretni Kraj svijeta. Sve mi je jasno, nije bas iz vedra neba i lik zasluzuje na neki nacin, ali ne prihvacam nakon 2000 str. druzenja da ode samo tako... Pa ne mo's mi to radit.
Pitam se, unatoc instinktivnom, prvotnom otporu, jesam li negdje u dubini duse kompletno ovisna o nesretnim zavrsecima? Pitam se i kako dalje? Kazu da je cetvrta knjiga svejedno gorko slatka. Dvojim da l' da ju potegnem s nocnog ormarica odmah sad ili da ju nikad ne otvorim...
Bit ce ovo prvo, vjerojatno :)
Mislim da mi Gaiman duguje Dobre predznake na teveu. Prasac. :D
November 26, 2019
3/3.5
Tercer volumen de uno de los cómics de Sandman escrito por Neil Gaiman y dibujado por bastantes artistas de distintos estilos. Se le considera por muchos como una de las obras más sofisticadas series de comics. Su argumento no trata de series de superhéroes sino que pertenece al género fantástico al que se le añaden algunos elementos de mitología clásica como contemporánea.
Al contrario del segundo tomo, la historia no se centra en Morfeo sino en sus personajes secundarios más relevantes junto a otros que aparecieron vagamente en el primer tomo. Creo que esta fue la razón por la cual no disfruté tanto de la lectura. Me esperaba que siguiesen las aventuras del protagonista vagando por el mundo de los sueños y afrontando desafíos. A decir verdad, las historias que se mostraban eran bastante buenas…pero no eran para mí. Encima no es hasta el final cuando comienzan con un arco argumental bastante importante que llevaba esperando desde el primer tomo. Qué injusticia. Espero que en el cuarto lo desarrollen mucho más.
Tercer volumen de uno de los cómics de Sandman escrito por Neil Gaiman y dibujado por bastantes artistas de distintos estilos. Se le considera por muchos como una de las obras más sofisticadas series de comics. Su argumento no trata de series de superhéroes sino que pertenece al género fantástico al que se le añaden algunos elementos de mitología clásica como contemporánea.
Al contrario del segundo tomo, la historia no se centra en Morfeo sino en sus personajes secundarios más relevantes junto a otros que aparecieron vagamente en el primer tomo. Creo que esta fue la razón por la cual no disfruté tanto de la lectura. Me esperaba que siguiesen las aventuras del protagonista vagando por el mundo de los sueños y afrontando desafíos. A decir verdad, las historias que se mostraban eran bastante buenas…pero no eran para mí. Encima no es hasta el final cuando comienzan con un arco argumental bastante importante que llevaba esperando desde el primer tomo. Qué injusticia. Espero que en el cuarto lo desarrollen mucho más.
June 30, 2019
I didn’t expect a lot from the little ten-page “Fear of Falling”, but I forget how good Gaiman is with shorts. This has great characters and a terrific punchline [9/10]. “The Parliament of Rooks” offers a nice look at the background of Eve, Cain, and Abel. When I first read it, it might have seemed more important than it does now [7/10]. “Orpheus” is a bit more straightforward than many of the other Sandman stories, probably because it was created as the foundation of the entire back-half of the series. Still, it has its minutes of shock and grief that raise the story up, and when it was came out, the first look at the missing Endless was probably pretty exciting [8/10]. “Brief Lives” is the picture-perfect center to Sandman. It cleans up the plotlines hinted at throughout the first half of the series and sets in motion everything that follows. The interactions of Dream and Delirium in the real world are also some of the funniest parts of the whole series [10/10]. “Ramadan” is the most fairy tale like of the Sandman stories and beautifully drawn [8/10]. “World’s End” is an interesting new take on a short story collection. The frame itself is actually quite intriguing, both in the story of our two modern people and in the Reality Storm they see. The stories themselves vary. Some are just OK, but “Hob’s Leviathan” is very good and the Prez story is entirely brilliant [8.5/10]. As usal, the stuff that closes out the volume is nice.
May 6, 2016
This was wonderful. <3
Also, little Dream and Death were adorable, though they weren't there very long.
Also, little Dream and Death were adorable, though they weren't there very long.
March 3, 2017
Στον πρώτο τόμο του Sandman στην πρώτη του σελίδα γράφει με έντονα γράμματα: "A Lot of things start from the letter D". Kαι είναι αλήθεια. Στην τρίτη συνέχεια λοιπόν του 5τομου έργου, η Delirium ζητάει από τις αδερφές της Desire, Death και Despair βοήθεια για να αναζητήσει τον χαμένο της αδερφό Destruction και όταν όλες της γυρίζουν την πλάτη τότε εκείνη απευθύνεται στον μεγάλο της αδερφό Dream ο οποίος και την βοηθάει να κάνει πραγματικότητα την επιθυμία της. Η πραγματική ιστορία του Ορφέα και της Ευρυδίκης, ο Ελληνικός καφές που τους σερβίρει ο Καταστροφέας και το ΜΝΗΜΕΙΩΔΕΣ 50ο τεύχος του Sandman που είναι αφιερωμένο στις Χίλιες και Μία νύχτες σου φέρνουν δάκρυα στα μάτια. Πάμε τώρα για τον 4ο τόμο, περάσαμε για τα καλά τη μέση!
Read
April 2, 2025I picked this up and started reading it the moment I finished volume 2. I hardly remember what was what anymore, and since it's all really one big story it hardly matters. I have read Sandman through at least four times (I've read individual storylines or even individual issues even more than that) and I will read it at least that many times again. It seems like I give the whole thing a re-read every three years or so. What can I say, it's pure magic.
September 7, 2023
Contains The Sandman 40-56, The Sandman Special 1, and a short story drawn by Michael Zulli.
40 Convergence – The Parliament of Rooks
Hippolyta Hall's baby boy Daniel goes to sleep and ends up in Dreaming where he gets to meet Cain, Abel, Eve and the Raven Matthew. Abel tells a story of the early days about Adam's first three wives.
The Song of Orpheus (Sandman Special)
The Greek myth of Orpheus retold in the Sandman style. Orpheus (the son of Morpheus) has his wife dies on their wedding day. He travels to Hell against the wishes of Morpheus with the help of Destruction (another of the Endless). Morpheus refuses to help Orpheus after a series of disasters.
50 Distant Mirrors – Ramadan
Beautifully illustrated by P. Craig Russell. Definitely one of my favourite Sandman stories. Its a pretty simple story, the ruler of Baghdad, the greatest city of all time, gives the city to Morpheus so it will last forever.
The Sandman #41–49 Brief Lives
Delirium wants to find Destruction. Perhaps manipulated by Desire+Despair? She enlists the help of Morpheus and they go to Earth and try to track down Destruction. Dream decides they should travel like mortals and enlists the help of an immortal human-like person who works in transportation. And they go out in the country tracking down the people on Delirium's list. It's pretty cool to see Morpheus just go with the flow. Unfortunately the people helping them and the people on the list start dying! (view spoiler)
All drawn by Jill Thompson, this is the most consistent book yet from an art standpoint. She's not my favourite artists, but it was a well told story. I liked the depictions of the different realms of the Endless.
The Sandman 51–56 Worlds' End
What a fantastic concept. I feel like Gaiman could just write an anthology of 100s of issues with this concept.
A man finds himself in a snowstorm in July, crashes his car, and walks to an odd Inn full of strange creatures. It turns out he got caught in a reality storm and is now at an Inn between realms, the Inn at the End of the World. The intelligent creatures within, Faeries, mythological, other humans etc. all tell stories to pass the time. Some of the stories feature people telling stories! Lots of stories within stories within stories.
All the individual stories are fascinating. I especially liked the story (within a story) of the woman getting lost in the necropolis.
40 Convergence – The Parliament of Rooks
Hippolyta Hall's baby boy Daniel goes to sleep and ends up in Dreaming where he gets to meet Cain, Abel, Eve and the Raven Matthew. Abel tells a story of the early days about Adam's first three wives.
The Song of Orpheus (Sandman Special)
The Greek myth of Orpheus retold in the Sandman style. Orpheus (the son of Morpheus) has his wife dies on their wedding day. He travels to Hell against the wishes of Morpheus with the help of Destruction (another of the Endless). Morpheus refuses to help Orpheus after a series of disasters.
50 Distant Mirrors – Ramadan
Beautifully illustrated by P. Craig Russell. Definitely one of my favourite Sandman stories. Its a pretty simple story, the ruler of Baghdad, the greatest city of all time, gives the city to Morpheus so it will last forever.
The Sandman #41–49 Brief Lives
Delirium wants to find Destruction. Perhaps manipulated by Desire+Despair? She enlists the help of Morpheus and they go to Earth and try to track down Destruction. Dream decides they should travel like mortals and enlists the help of an immortal human-like person who works in transportation. And they go out in the country tracking down the people on Delirium's list. It's pretty cool to see Morpheus just go with the flow. Unfortunately the people helping them and the people on the list start dying! (view spoiler)
All drawn by Jill Thompson, this is the most consistent book yet from an art standpoint. She's not my favourite artists, but it was a well told story. I liked the depictions of the different realms of the Endless.
The Sandman 51–56 Worlds' End
What a fantastic concept. I feel like Gaiman could just write an anthology of 100s of issues with this concept.
A man finds himself in a snowstorm in July, crashes his car, and walks to an odd Inn full of strange creatures. It turns out he got caught in a reality storm and is now at an Inn between realms, the Inn at the End of the World. The intelligent creatures within, Faeries, mythological, other humans etc. all tell stories to pass the time. Some of the stories feature people telling stories! Lots of stories within stories within stories.
All the individual stories are fascinating. I especially liked the story (within a story) of the woman getting lost in the necropolis.
December 7, 2017
just one word: PERFECTION!
November 7, 2017
things start to click for me, The Sandman is a magical reading experience, but sometimes very difficult for me to follow, the stories and art all over the place, but its done so well, this volume contains great stories like brief lives, the fantastic Ramadan, seriously the art is jawdropping, and worlds end, a story in a story in a story or something like that. A true classic, and i keep saying this, The Sandman is made for the Absolute form, with the oversized art, the leatherbound cover and all the great extra's and extra info. Just wow !
January 7, 2020
Well, this is of course, brilliant. But why? It occurs to me that the world Gaiman set up for himself was in fact the perfect tool for him: He could incorporate any mythology, religion, genre, location or time and still make it all self-consistent, hence allowing his imagination to go wherever it wanted or needed to. This particular volume is a great showcase for this variety and it is enhanced by the various changes in art style accompanying the changes in mood, atmosphere, character and location.
Bring on Vol. IV!
Bring on Vol. IV!
December 9, 2016
Svratište na kraju svijeta je najbolji dio Sandmana u ove tri knjige što sam pročitao. Baš sam oduševljen iz nekog razloga.
March 27, 2019
I think the first two were better
November 12, 2022
(Zero spoiler review) 4.5/5
I can think of little else that is new to write, other than echo again the sentiments I have expressed across my last two reviews. The greatness of this book (when it is great, which is often) continues, possibly even slightly improves, which is no mean feat. Two lengthy and fantastic arcs, the highlight being the nine part epic, wherein Delirium comes into her own, and almost supersedes Death as my favourite character. Jill Thompson excels here on art. Something for which the series doesn't quite get the recognition it deserves. It has been consistently strong throughout, but Thompson really nails it on page after page here. Yet, as unfortunately criticised in my two previous reviews of these deluxe editions, whenever Gaiman feels the need to interrupt the flow with a one off, historically based arc, the greatness comes to a grinding halt. At least when compared to his works heavily featuring Dream and the growing cast of characters. I elucidate on these criticisms with a little more depth in my previous reviews, so maybe you would be best to read those for grater context. Although for now, this series is steadily becoming more and more special to me as it goes on. The odd dud issue here and there notwithstanding. Still, an absolute must read. 4.5/5
OmniBen.
I can think of little else that is new to write, other than echo again the sentiments I have expressed across my last two reviews. The greatness of this book (when it is great, which is often) continues, possibly even slightly improves, which is no mean feat. Two lengthy and fantastic arcs, the highlight being the nine part epic, wherein Delirium comes into her own, and almost supersedes Death as my favourite character. Jill Thompson excels here on art. Something for which the series doesn't quite get the recognition it deserves. It has been consistently strong throughout, but Thompson really nails it on page after page here. Yet, as unfortunately criticised in my two previous reviews of these deluxe editions, whenever Gaiman feels the need to interrupt the flow with a one off, historically based arc, the greatness comes to a grinding halt. At least when compared to his works heavily featuring Dream and the growing cast of characters. I elucidate on these criticisms with a little more depth in my previous reviews, so maybe you would be best to read those for grater context. Although for now, this series is steadily becoming more and more special to me as it goes on. The odd dud issue here and there notwithstanding. Still, an absolute must read. 4.5/5
OmniBen.
June 2, 2019
What can I possibly add to the already tremendous chorus of praise for these books. Everything about this volume is wonderful, from the gorgeous and varying artwork, to Gaiman's masterful story-telling, weaving disparate threads into the finest tapestry. It has been just as good the second time around.
July 22, 2024
wanda tu es le meilleur perso du sandman universe merci d'avoir existé. jtm
October 13, 2023
Neil Gaiman is a cat lady through and through. And he preceds to proove it to me more and more with every book i read from him
November 5, 2016
I didn't really care for the first arc in this book. It was nice too see a bit more of the endless, but the quest is so so. I like the Orpheus bit, but Desire is starting to give me the creeps...
Then came the tavern at the end of the worlds arc. This is another multiple PoV arc, most of the stories only connect marginally with the endless, but I need an annotated sandman to get all the references in the stories, because I spotted enough of them to know there are many more I didn't get.
This arc plot goes: several travelers are caught in a storm, find refuge in a tavern, and tell stories, to pass the time and earn their keep.
Between this 2 arcs there's this beautiful Arabian Nights style story called Ramadan. I believe it's issue 50. It is one of my favourite issues so far, along with the closing the gates of Hell issue. In the end there's the script and the behind the scenes, how this came to be, story.
I switched to the Absolute version of Sandman because it does wonders for the art. And in this book there are some of the most beautiful pages I have seen.
In Ramadan there is this beautiful Arabian Nights style, full of merengue toped spires, and Arabian inspired lettering, and jewels and markets full of people and wonders.
In the tavern arc, each story is drawn in a very different style, some of them I loved, they could almost tell the story with no words, some were more normal comics style, some were creepy, but they fitted the stories being told...
And for all the Fables fans out there I'll just say this. Jack of Fables is a total Easter Egg. I'm not the recognised the artist type of girl, but I totally guessed who draw the art on the first arc. There is a character there that could be Jack's brother.
Then came the tavern at the end of the worlds arc. This is another multiple PoV arc, most of the stories only connect marginally with the endless, but I need an annotated sandman to get all the references in the stories, because I spotted enough of them to know there are many more I didn't get.
This arc plot goes: several travelers are caught in a storm, find refuge in a tavern, and tell stories, to pass the time and earn their keep.
Between this 2 arcs there's this beautiful Arabian Nights style story called Ramadan. I believe it's issue 50. It is one of my favourite issues so far, along with the closing the gates of Hell issue. In the end there's the script and the behind the scenes, how this came to be, story.
I switched to the Absolute version of Sandman because it does wonders for the art. And in this book there are some of the most beautiful pages I have seen.
In Ramadan there is this beautiful Arabian Nights style, full of merengue toped spires, and Arabian inspired lettering, and jewels and markets full of people and wonders.
In the tavern arc, each story is drawn in a very different style, some of them I loved, they could almost tell the story with no words, some were more normal comics style, some were creepy, but they fitted the stories being told...
And for all the Fables fans out there I'll just say this. Jack of Fables is a total Easter Egg. I'm not the recognised the artist type of girl, but I totally guessed who draw the art on the first arc. There is a character there that could be Jack's brother.
January 18, 2009
This sat on my shelves for about 6 months before I read it. I was saving it for when I could really enjoy it, and I'm glad I did. The "Brief Lives" storyline is significantly longer and more personal than some of the more adventure-centric fun of earlier stories. "Brief Lives" is bookended by one-shot views of how dreams effect history, mythology and the way our stories are told and remembered. There are stories-within-stories, and the context only gets thicker after that. Interestingly, the titular characters plays only a tangential role in many of the stories, which gives this volume a less focussed air than the two preceeding. I had the feeling that Gaiman was enjoying the world he had created, but had more ideas in him than could be wrapped around the one character. The result is a series of diversions from the overarching "plot" that all share the same thrust. Interestingly, I was expecting a big payoff at the end of "Brief Lives" because it's the central narrative, but you really don't get it until the end of all the disjointed stories.
Also, I'm not the first to be profoundly impressed by P. Craig Russel's treatment of Gaiman's "Ramadan" story for issue #50. I'm going to have to track down more of his work.
Enthralling, through-and-through.
Also, I'm not the first to be profoundly impressed by P. Craig Russel's treatment of Gaiman's "Ramadan" story for issue #50. I'm going to have to track down more of his work.
Enthralling, through-and-through.
December 11, 2017
Vai ser bom assim lá na pqp!
April 7, 2019
Absolute Sandman is heavy literature in the literal way, I stopped reading every time holding up the book started to hurt.
It is no secret that I love the Endless. I carry Death's symbol with me a lot. This book is just as deep and complex, the art just as captivating as the first two. I've been in love, I'm still in love. One could say - my love for them is endless. /pun alert/
It is no secret that I love the Endless. I carry Death's symbol with me a lot. This book is just as deep and complex, the art just as captivating as the first two. I've been in love, I'm still in love. One could say - my love for them is endless. /pun alert/
November 7, 2021
I don’t actively hate it enough to give it 1 star, but I’m disinterested enough that I skimmed the last several comics. Only one more massive volume to go. I remember when I first read these comics that I liked the ending and found it very affecting. Don’t have the highest hopes for this time through
January 25, 2018
Loved A Game of You and World's End. The story about the fantastical city of Baghdad is a particular favorite.
How much of reality is reality and how much of it is filled in by story?
Naked endless, do not like. Chibi endless are super cute.
How much of reality is reality and how much of it is filled in by story?
Naked endless, do not like. Chibi endless are super cute.
August 15, 2022
o arco "vidas breves" é maravilhoso, e o final do arco "fim dos mundos" me pegou demais. não tô pronto pro vol 4 e pro que vem aí!!!!!!!!
February 3, 2024
8,5/10
June 29, 2021
Maybe I would like these better not in huge volumes like this. It seems to just go on and on with no real direction.
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