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The Annotated Sandman #1
The Annotated Sandman, Vol. 1
A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
Meet the Endless, a family of immortals that govern all aspects of life and death throughout the universe. However, one of theirown lays captured--Dream, the Lord of Sleep. As Dream makes his escape and returns to his duties after 70 years of imprison-ment, he encounters countless characters from myth, legend and comics, from Lucifer himself to the tragic Greek hero Orpheusto the HELLBLAZER John Constantine. New York Times best-selling author Neil Gaiman's transcendent series SANDMAN is often hailed as the definitive Vertigo titleand one of the finest achievements in graphic storytelling. Gaiman created an unforgettable tale of the forces that exist beyondlife and death by weaving ancient mythology, folklore and fairy tales with his own distinct narrative vision.
Meet the Endless, a family of immortals that govern all aspects of life and death throughout the universe. However, one of theirown lays captured--Dream, the Lord of Sleep. As Dream makes his escape and returns to his duties after 70 years of imprison-ment, he encounters countless characters from myth, legend and comics, from Lucifer himself to the tragic Greek hero Orpheusto the HELLBLAZER John Constantine. New York Times best-selling author Neil Gaiman's transcendent series SANDMAN is often hailed as the definitive Vertigo titleand one of the finest achievements in graphic storytelling. Gaiman created an unforgettable tale of the forces that exist beyondlife and death by weaving ancient mythology, folklore and fairy tales with his own distinct narrative vision.
560 pages, Hardcover
First published January 27, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
July 26, 2017
In Sandman, a powerful group of mortals is trying to trap Death itself. Instead, they catch another important figure, the Lord of Dream. This volume details the Lord of Dream's struggle to reassert his power after being locked away for so many years.
He's lost his symbols of authority, which are literally pieces of his power. So, he needs to get those back.
Also, the denizens of the realm of Dream have gone off the rails since their lord has been missing. Some of these are nightmare creatures- fatal to humankind. This isn't going to be simple.
Sandman, Vol. 1 was very dark. Neil Gaiman is known for his dark fantasy, but there are usually moments of light. In Neverwhere or The Ocean at the End of the Lane, there is darkness, but nothing like this.
Within these pages, there's serial killers, child abusers, psychotic mental ward escapees, kidnapping rapists- one after another in a seemingly endless parade. It's a lot to take.
I found I wasn't a fan of the Lord of Dream himself. His immortal nature has made him unable to understand emotions or even desire to. I suspect that subsequent volumes deal with this exact issue. But, he's rather unlikeable in Vol. 1.
I really disliked the way he treated women- in multiple relationships. The worst being Nada. Again, I'm guessing that this is a story of redemption. But in that one moment, no spoilers but readers know what I'm talking about... his behavior was unforgivable.
Honestly, I liked Watchmen more. So far. The characters in that tale weren't necessarily likeable either. I suppose we'll have to see how the story develops in the next volume.
Recommended for graphic novel readers who like their stories gothic, mythical and with a sprawling storyline.
He's lost his symbols of authority, which are literally pieces of his power. So, he needs to get those back.
Also, the denizens of the realm of Dream have gone off the rails since their lord has been missing. Some of these are nightmare creatures- fatal to humankind. This isn't going to be simple.
Sandman, Vol. 1 was very dark. Neil Gaiman is known for his dark fantasy, but there are usually moments of light. In Neverwhere or The Ocean at the End of the Lane, there is darkness, but nothing like this.
Within these pages, there's serial killers, child abusers, psychotic mental ward escapees, kidnapping rapists- one after another in a seemingly endless parade. It's a lot to take.
I found I wasn't a fan of the Lord of Dream himself. His immortal nature has made him unable to understand emotions or even desire to. I suspect that subsequent volumes deal with this exact issue. But, he's rather unlikeable in Vol. 1.
I really disliked the way he treated women- in multiple relationships. The worst being Nada. Again, I'm guessing that this is a story of redemption. But in that one moment, no spoilers but readers know what I'm talking about... his behavior was unforgivable.
Honestly, I liked Watchmen more. So far. The characters in that tale weren't necessarily likeable either. I suppose we'll have to see how the story develops in the next volume.
Recommended for graphic novel readers who like their stories gothic, mythical and with a sprawling storyline.
September 13, 2017
There are things I absolutely love about
The Annotated Sandman
, and things I am enormously disappointed with.
I am hugely disappointed with the lack of commentary on most pages, especially as this was sold as Gaiman's way of jotting down his reasons for writing The Sandman, and his driving inspirations for the stories. Given what a landmark series The Sandman was and what an influence it continues to be, I expected more profound notes than the history of British rock bands or song lyrics to show tunes. I would much rather have had in-depth commentaries from Gaiman, the artists and the rest of the creative team. Instead, we are left with an enormous amount of blank pages with no comments whatsoever. There are also a plethora of pages where "In Issue --, this page was followed by an ad page" is the only commentary listed.
Powerful stuff, I know. If you are buying this edition for stellar commentary and insight into the creative process, the characters and the world itself, you will be highly disappointed.
What I LOVE about this volume, is that it is presented entirely in black and white. The uncolored pages are absolutely gorgeous and add a whole new layer of depth and emotion to the story. I find it interesting that so many of the reviews I have read elsewhere are put off more by the lack of colorization than the trivial (and often absent) annotations.
I could never get the hang of the late-80's/ early 90's style of coloring and always considered it a bit on an eyesore. (I know this is how things were done in that age due to printing limitations, etc, but it has still always been a turnoff for me personally). Seeing the Endless, especially Dream and Death, rendered this way, almost makes it feel as though this is how the stories should've been presented in the first place. It is beautiful, and it is haunting in a way that the bold, stark colors are not. I can't wait to see future issues (Season of Mists, The Kindly Ones and Michael Zulli's visually stunning The Wake, in particular) rendered in this stark style.
On a side note: Readers may want to be careful with the pages when thumbing through this book. The black paper is highly absorbent and shows fingertip oils very very easily.
I am hugely disappointed with the lack of commentary on most pages, especially as this was sold as Gaiman's way of jotting down his reasons for writing The Sandman, and his driving inspirations for the stories. Given what a landmark series The Sandman was and what an influence it continues to be, I expected more profound notes than the history of British rock bands or song lyrics to show tunes. I would much rather have had in-depth commentaries from Gaiman, the artists and the rest of the creative team. Instead, we are left with an enormous amount of blank pages with no comments whatsoever. There are also a plethora of pages where "In Issue --, this page was followed by an ad page" is the only commentary listed.
Powerful stuff, I know. If you are buying this edition for stellar commentary and insight into the creative process, the characters and the world itself, you will be highly disappointed.
What I LOVE about this volume, is that it is presented entirely in black and white. The uncolored pages are absolutely gorgeous and add a whole new layer of depth and emotion to the story. I find it interesting that so many of the reviews I have read elsewhere are put off more by the lack of colorization than the trivial (and often absent) annotations.
I could never get the hang of the late-80's/ early 90's style of coloring and always considered it a bit on an eyesore. (I know this is how things were done in that age due to printing limitations, etc, but it has still always been a turnoff for me personally). Seeing the Endless, especially Dream and Death, rendered this way, almost makes it feel as though this is how the stories should've been presented in the first place. It is beautiful, and it is haunting in a way that the bold, stark colors are not. I can't wait to see future issues (Season of Mists, The Kindly Ones and Michael Zulli's visually stunning The Wake, in particular) rendered in this stark style.
On a side note: Readers may want to be careful with the pages when thumbing through this book. The black paper is highly absorbent and shows fingertip oils very very easily.
January 16, 2012
When Sandman, written by the then-unknown Gaiman with images by Sam Keith and Mike Dringenberg, launched in January 1989, very few comics required annotations. Gaiman, much like his mentor Alan Moore, littered the series with obscure reference and marginalia. The DC title proved to be one of the most popular and endearing of the 90s, running 75 issues and spawning several spin-off series. Eventually Sandman garnered three deserved Eisners and is the only comic book to win a World Fantasy Award. DC collected the entire series in ten volumes, which have enjoyed numerous reprints including re-colored and hardcover editions. They were also produced in five over-sized hardcover books as part of DC's Absolute Edition line. And now, almost exactly 23 years after its initial appearance, comes the first of five over-sized annotated editions. The lauded Klinger supplies fascinating annotations alongside the original story art, reproduced in black & white, for the first 20 issues. He employs not only text reference but befitting the subject material uses images when appropriate. When referring to the first appearance of the gates of Hell (Sandman #4, page 4, panel 3), Klinger reproduces Auguste Rodin's sculpture The Gates of Hell, and later in Sandman #11 (page 13, panel 5) the annotations mention that Gilbert physically is based on G.K. Chesterton, a photo of the author is shown. Sadly, the handsome, informative volume lacks a much needed index.
January 26, 2018
Okay, I'm going to assume that anyone reading this is already familiar with Sandman. I mean, no point in reading annotations if you're clueless about what they're annotating, right? This volume contains issues #1 - #20 of Neil Gaiman’s classic series, reprinted in black and white, along with copious notes about people and places and other references that readers may not have picked up on.
As is typical with annotated volumes, it's a mixed bag, ranging from, “Oh yeah. I knew that already,” to, “Holy smokes! That’s fascinating.” There's one note that reprints Gaiman’s essay, “The Origin of the Comic You Are Now Holding,” from Sandman #4, which is cool, except that the entire essay already appears as part of the text piece, “The Context of the Sandman,” that precedes the reprints. Not sure why the editor felt the need to include it twice like that …
The book is well worth reading. It's not the ideal way to read the series--that would be the Absolute volumes--but it's worth it for all of the insights that the notes convey. The book is a little unwieldy. I found that having a small folding table to support it helped the reading experience immensely. A lectern would probably have been even better. Highly recommended!
As is typical with annotated volumes, it's a mixed bag, ranging from, “Oh yeah. I knew that already,” to, “Holy smokes! That’s fascinating.” There's one note that reprints Gaiman’s essay, “The Origin of the Comic You Are Now Holding,” from Sandman #4, which is cool, except that the entire essay already appears as part of the text piece, “The Context of the Sandman,” that precedes the reprints. Not sure why the editor felt the need to include it twice like that …
The book is well worth reading. It's not the ideal way to read the series--that would be the Absolute volumes--but it's worth it for all of the insights that the notes convey. The book is a little unwieldy. I found that having a small folding table to support it helped the reading experience immensely. A lectern would probably have been even better. Highly recommended!
December 4, 2013
This is an excellent collection, presenting all sorts of tidbits about the history of the Sandman, and, more interesting in my mind, clues about many of the allusions built into the series. There are also little asides dealing with inspiration for the art, or other little details. For example, in Issue 13 - Men of Good Fortune - the exchanges between Shakespeare, Marlowe, and the Sandman are all in Iambic Pentameter. There's plenty here to fascinate the fan of the Sandman.
The first volume provides some background information about how the series started, covers the first twenty issues of the series - from the very beginning through the end of Dream Country. It should be noted that, while the issues are presented in full, they are not presented in color. Most pages are presented in literal black and white, though some panels are grayscale, instead. I would recommend having a color copy (compilation or Absolute edition) on hand as well.
The first volume provides some background information about how the series started, covers the first twenty issues of the series - from the very beginning through the end of Dream Country. It should be noted that, while the issues are presented in full, they are not presented in color. Most pages are presented in literal black and white, though some panels are grayscale, instead. I would recommend having a color copy (compilation or Absolute edition) on hand as well.
May 18, 2013
I'd been wanting to get into Gaiman's Sandman for quite a while so I was really excited to see that the university library had a copy of the annotated volume 1 (Issues 1-20). The annotations were really helpful in keeping me from getting lost. Gaiman draws from so many different sources of inspiration that without this little road map, I don't know that I would have felt the full effect of the writing. I really loved the first 16 or so issues, the continuing stories were really interesting and there was some great suspense. However, when I got to the latter section of the book, they become one-off stories that didn't really interest me very much. I definitely want to continue and read more, but if it continues to just be one-offs, I don't know how much longer it can keep my interest.
June 23, 2022
I am not much of a graphic novel reader. However, when you mix folklore and mythos, and flawed immortals, I daresay, I am piqued. The story centers around Sandman, his capture, escape and journey through the ages. Meeting and bargaining with legends, like William Shakespeare and John Constatine. He commingled with Faerie folk, hobgoblins, and other otherworldly creatures. It is a vast beautiful world, the artistry stark, vast and dark. I would like to continue this journey....perchance to dream, in dreamworld.
November 20, 2020
Another series I have been terribly slow getting to: Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman. I picked up the annotated series' first instalment a couple years back. It sat gathering dust as I mulled about it sitting on my desk beside a coffee plant. I am not sure why, maybe because it looked like a hulking tome more than a series of comic books or graphic novels, but I felt that it was a daunting task, and so I let it slip a little too long. Either way, I feel that what I lost in delaying I made up for by reading this collection in a few days.
It is clear from this introduction that Gaiman himself was unsure of how to feel about his work with The Sandman. He begins this piece retelling a story from when he was at a literary party and was asked by the editor of The Sunday Telegraph what he wrote. Gaimen’s reply of “comic books” left the editor stumped until he came back exclaiming, “‘hang on, I know you, you’re Neil Gaiman. My dear fellow, you don’t write comics, you write graphic novels’.” I enjoy this story, not for its defence of the series—because comic books are literature and need not be defended—, but because it shows Gaiman’s own fragility in considering himself as a writer; albeit, he is well established as one of the greatest writers of our time.
As far as The Sandman comics go, holy cow, what a ride this was. Volume one holds the first 20 comics, as Gaiman put it: the first three main story lines. If, like me, you have not read the series, you have no idea what to expect. Although Sandman is the protagonist, the way he sits in the narrative is not like anything I have ever encountered. Whole narratives pass without focusing on him. Yet, like Gaiman, Sandman is there in the background weaving the threads of each character together. I am not sure if there really is a better way to look at it: Sandman is the conductor of a great orchestra and each full narrative is one piece he has put together for us.
I have to be up front, this collection is not for all ages. It deals with mature content and ideas. These stories explore many sides of humanity, and some are found in dark places. Gaiman notes that he struggles with it at times too: “the trouble I have with some stories is they’re so bleak I hate writing them because I don’t enjoy the frame of mind I end up in while I’m writing; I hated issue 14… because I had to spend a month with these people.” In the end, these stories are not about Sandman; they are about us, about humanity. As Gaiman warmly sums it up in one of the final annotations: “we’ve been looking at the role of mythology in life… mythology of creation… religion… the cost of the artistic role.” He continues jokingly, “I bet all of you thought we were just telling stories, huh?”
You can’t review a collection of this sort without mentioning the artwork. A few people pencil this collection in, and they do an amazing job. The book has a unique way of setting them up. Gaiman opted to use black and white images instead of the original coloured ones. I love the feel they add to the text. I have not seen the coloured yet, and I do plan on collecting them, but honestly, the black and white images add to the atmosphere of the text. I think they strengthen Gaiman’s tone. I am actually interested in comparing this with the coloured ones when they arrive.
In the end, I give this book ⅘, and I feel bad about it. However, I have to say, for an annotated collection, there are many pages lacking annotations. However, if it wasn’t for the lack of some annotations, this is easily a 5/5. I can’t wait to get volume 2!
It is clear from this introduction that Gaiman himself was unsure of how to feel about his work with The Sandman. He begins this piece retelling a story from when he was at a literary party and was asked by the editor of The Sunday Telegraph what he wrote. Gaimen’s reply of “comic books” left the editor stumped until he came back exclaiming, “‘hang on, I know you, you’re Neil Gaiman. My dear fellow, you don’t write comics, you write graphic novels’.” I enjoy this story, not for its defence of the series—because comic books are literature and need not be defended—, but because it shows Gaiman’s own fragility in considering himself as a writer; albeit, he is well established as one of the greatest writers of our time.
As far as The Sandman comics go, holy cow, what a ride this was. Volume one holds the first 20 comics, as Gaiman put it: the first three main story lines. If, like me, you have not read the series, you have no idea what to expect. Although Sandman is the protagonist, the way he sits in the narrative is not like anything I have ever encountered. Whole narratives pass without focusing on him. Yet, like Gaiman, Sandman is there in the background weaving the threads of each character together. I am not sure if there really is a better way to look at it: Sandman is the conductor of a great orchestra and each full narrative is one piece he has put together for us.
I have to be up front, this collection is not for all ages. It deals with mature content and ideas. These stories explore many sides of humanity, and some are found in dark places. Gaiman notes that he struggles with it at times too: “the trouble I have with some stories is they’re so bleak I hate writing them because I don’t enjoy the frame of mind I end up in while I’m writing; I hated issue 14… because I had to spend a month with these people.” In the end, these stories are not about Sandman; they are about us, about humanity. As Gaiman warmly sums it up in one of the final annotations: “we’ve been looking at the role of mythology in life… mythology of creation… religion… the cost of the artistic role.” He continues jokingly, “I bet all of you thought we were just telling stories, huh?”
You can’t review a collection of this sort without mentioning the artwork. A few people pencil this collection in, and they do an amazing job. The book has a unique way of setting them up. Gaiman opted to use black and white images instead of the original coloured ones. I love the feel they add to the text. I have not seen the coloured yet, and I do plan on collecting them, but honestly, the black and white images add to the atmosphere of the text. I think they strengthen Gaiman’s tone. I am actually interested in comparing this with the coloured ones when they arrive.
In the end, I give this book ⅘, and I feel bad about it. However, I have to say, for an annotated collection, there are many pages lacking annotations. However, if it wasn’t for the lack of some annotations, this is easily a 5/5. I can’t wait to get volume 2!
April 13, 2021
The only reason I even considered giving this four stars is because this book seems to be out of print and I can't find a new, reasonably priced, copy on Barnes and Noble or Amazon.
I was always curious to read "Sandman" when I saw it heavily advertised through Audible. Because audiobooks don't work for me, I decided to pick up a copy of the story and read it during our school's spring break (one of the perks of being a teacher). Come to find out the series is LOOONG and buying all the books to get a full read would run me well over $150 dollars (at best). Unsure of what to do, I reached out to the other English teachers in my school for advice and one of them was extremely gracious enough to lend me her four annotated "Sandman" books to read. This is how I came across the annotated version of this story and I am glad I have the annotations to guide me through this journey.
This book collects the first 20 issues of Sandman. The foreword by Neil Gaiman was surprisingly impactful as NG's first annotated read was "The Annotated Alice." Coincidentally, that was the first book I read with annotations as well. NG describes annotations as having a secret key that unlocks some larger mysteries in the story. That's what the annotations do here are well. Leslie Klinger's annotations provide much needed backstories to a series that taps into pop culture, literary history, and comic book history.
The story begins when a magician acquires a grimoire and uses it to cast a spell that would summon and bind Death. Hoping to use Death as a source of power, the magician is disappointed to see he summoned something else. He summoned Dream, or The Sandman. Stripped of all his magical possessions, The Sandman waits for years to escape, only to find himself in need of his helmet, jewel, and sand pouch (the three magical items he was stripped of). He summons Hecate, the goddess of witchcraft and crossroads, and is given a clue as to where to find each item. With this goal in mind, his journey begins.
Very rarely does a story grab my interest as quickly and strongly as this premise did. I was immediately interested in this story and was excited to see what would happen next. The annotations helped me make sense of some of the characters that appear, ranging from Hellblazer's Constantine to David Bowie (of all people). Some of the stories in here hit HARD, and the content is definitely something that would make any adaptations rated R, but so far the story is paying off in stratifying ways.
Because this book comprises 20 issues I would like to say I am 20 books further along into my reading goal, but that just seems unfair. I will definitely be reading books 2 - 4 and am excited to see what this story has in store!
I was always curious to read "Sandman" when I saw it heavily advertised through Audible. Because audiobooks don't work for me, I decided to pick up a copy of the story and read it during our school's spring break (one of the perks of being a teacher). Come to find out the series is LOOONG and buying all the books to get a full read would run me well over $150 dollars (at best). Unsure of what to do, I reached out to the other English teachers in my school for advice and one of them was extremely gracious enough to lend me her four annotated "Sandman" books to read. This is how I came across the annotated version of this story and I am glad I have the annotations to guide me through this journey.
This book collects the first 20 issues of Sandman. The foreword by Neil Gaiman was surprisingly impactful as NG's first annotated read was "The Annotated Alice." Coincidentally, that was the first book I read with annotations as well. NG describes annotations as having a secret key that unlocks some larger mysteries in the story. That's what the annotations do here are well. Leslie Klinger's annotations provide much needed backstories to a series that taps into pop culture, literary history, and comic book history.
The story begins when a magician acquires a grimoire and uses it to cast a spell that would summon and bind Death. Hoping to use Death as a source of power, the magician is disappointed to see he summoned something else. He summoned Dream, or The Sandman. Stripped of all his magical possessions, The Sandman waits for years to escape, only to find himself in need of his helmet, jewel, and sand pouch (the three magical items he was stripped of). He summons Hecate, the goddess of witchcraft and crossroads, and is given a clue as to where to find each item. With this goal in mind, his journey begins.
Very rarely does a story grab my interest as quickly and strongly as this premise did. I was immediately interested in this story and was excited to see what would happen next. The annotations helped me make sense of some of the characters that appear, ranging from Hellblazer's Constantine to David Bowie (of all people). Some of the stories in here hit HARD, and the content is definitely something that would make any adaptations rated R, but so far the story is paying off in stratifying ways.
Because this book comprises 20 issues I would like to say I am 20 books further along into my reading goal, but that just seems unfair. I will definitely be reading books 2 - 4 and am excited to see what this story has in store!
August 30, 2018
Editorial annotations are mixed with notes from the author's scripts to round out this already full volume. This tome includes the first three storylines of The Sandman; illustrations are in black and white. Many helpful notes indicate where Gaiman pulled ideas from, or references to other literature. A comment or phrase in the story may seem inconsequential but when viewed with the highlights in the margin, the audience can gain insight into the breadth of the tale.
June 28, 2022
i had been putting off reading this for so many years as i wanted to read the colored version first, but now as the Netflix adaptation is coming i’ve decided to read it, and i do not regret it even a little. The comic being black & white gave it such a cool vibe, loved the story completely and as someone being introduced to the universe, the annotations were very useful (although sometimes they can give small spoilers).
When i read Neil Gaiman’s introduction on triggering warnings, i was very curious when he mentioned how he was somewhat aware of triggering warnings because of The Sandman, so obviously i was expecting some sensible topics to be covered in the comic, which honestly was a relief because otherwise i would have been terribly disturbed while reading it.
Overall an incredible story, there is no mystery on why this series is as famous as it is. Looking forward to read the rest of it.:)
When i read Neil Gaiman’s introduction on triggering warnings, i was very curious when he mentioned how he was somewhat aware of triggering warnings because of The Sandman, so obviously i was expecting some sensible topics to be covered in the comic, which honestly was a relief because otherwise i would have been terribly disturbed while reading it.
Overall an incredible story, there is no mystery on why this series is as famous as it is. Looking forward to read the rest of it.:)
November 25, 2017
This was weird.
Confusing, touching and kinda gross at times, or gory rather.
The Annotations was kinda wasted on me, the write small writing was difficult for me to read so I only looked at it if I was confused by anything.
I might continue this but not with the annotations.
I'm just left wanting more to understand it and not wanting more cause I didnt understand so much of it...
Confusing, touching and kinda gross at times, or gory rather.
The Annotations was kinda wasted on me, the write small writing was difficult for me to read so I only looked at it if I was confused by anything.
I might continue this but not with the annotations.
I'm just left wanting more to understand it and not wanting more cause I didnt understand so much of it...
August 30, 2021
I can’t believe it took me so long to delve into the Sandman comics. I really loved the stories. This edition was extra fun to read because of all the annotations and back stories about the characters and panels.
October 20, 2017
This is a thing of beauty. The info, the art, the black and white, everything. If you loved the comics, you'll love this. Enough said, enjoy it.
November 18, 2024
I have the annotated version so I will be reading it again with the annotations. What a great story with so many references!
If there’s “room for one more” can, count me in.
If there’s “room for one more” can, count me in.
April 5, 2023
Wersja z adnotacjami to must have, nie mogę się doczekać następnych części i drugiego sezonu serialu
September 12, 2022
I think this is the first graphic novel I’ve read. Got it finished before it was due back at the library and now I want the whole series.
December 29, 2021
I own and love my copy of the Sandman series, and since I'm not a need-to-own-every-variant type of fan, the books with extras are a definite library pick-up. Thank goodness. I'm reviewing only the "Annotated" part of The Annotated Sandman when I say that I was disappointed--Gaiman's story itself is as excellent as ever.
In hindsight, I think I went in with expectations too high, in part because I didn't do my research. The other annotated books I've seen are The Annotated Wizard of Oz and The Annotated Peter Pan , both published by W. W. Norton. I don't have them on hand, but I remember annotations on almost every page, introductions so long that even I almost (almost) gave up on them, and full-color photos and illustrations galore. It's probably immensely helpful that the books in question, and probably a lot of the supplementary materials, are in the public domain.
In contrast, The Annotated Sandman is in black and white, a few issues have almost no notes in them, and there are very few photos or additional illustrations. I just looked up The Absolute Sandman, Volume One , which is apparently chock-full of the kind of supplementary material I was hoping to find; I suspect that D.C. Comics was stringently avoiding cross-pollination. Unfortunately, The Annotated Sandman is the poorer for it. Imagine my frustration when I hit this note in Gaiman's World Fantasy Award-winning Midsummer Night's Dream issue: "The 'Letters in the Sand' feature of Issue #19 contains a summary of Shakespeare's play, entitled 'Classics Eviscerated,' which is omitted here." Gee, thanks for letting us know what we're not getting. Every single note telling us where there had been an ad page stung a bit too, because it reminded me that the original flow of the story was no longer in tact.
But even the robust annotations that we did get weren't always great, either. Gaiman mentions in his foreword that Burgess's house in Wych Cross was inspired by a real building, but editor/annotator Leslie S. Klinger doesn't discuss this in the notes. Instead, he rambles about bad roads and which trains require transfers and whether the car Hathaway is in is a private car or a taxi and how all of this might have contributed to whether or not he could fall asleep in the car, all just to stoke a *fascinating* (sarcasm) discussion of whether the "Royal Museum" is in London or Edinburgh. But there's no comment about most of Burgess's summoning spell, and I'd been really interested in where Gaiman might have gotten inspiration for some of the words and symbols. Additionally, in the notes for Issue #1, it isn't always clear from the writing whether Klinger is talking about Gaiman's notes for a character, something that happens in another comic, or a real person on which the character is based. Both Hathaway and Burgess are described as if they are real people, and I had to Google them both to discover that they actually aren't. Burgess, in particular, would have benefited from notes that compare and contrast him with the real Aleister Crowley, or a bio flagged with, "Acccording to NG's notes" or the like.
A few other missing things, as they caught my eye:
> In Issue #2, Cain names Goldie the gargoyle for "a friend who went away." Is there a story here?
> In Issue #6, Klinger notes that Dee doesn't recognize what AIDS is...but he doesn't explain the cultural significance of AIDS at the time the comic was published. That's not something you can count on people born after, say, the year 2000 to understand.
> In Issue #7, Dee sings "I think I'm gonna like it here." If this reference to Annie goes unremarked, what other cultural references did Klinger miss?
> Issue #9 and Issue #16 have nearly-identical panels with hands exchanging a heart-shaped piece of glass; from an ancient city in the first and a heart/vortex in the latter. This isn't noted in Issue #9, only in Issue #16 with, "The significance is unclear--is the presence of vortices the price of Morpheus's love for Nada?" (Probably not--see next my note.) It seems odd that this note only appears in the one place. I was also surprised that Klinger doesn't note that a similar image (though in a much smaller-sized panel) appears in Issue #38, where the heart-shaped shard of glass/jewel is the emerald heart of Koschei the Deathless. The black-and-white print in The Annotated Sandman rendered impossible any comment on the coloring, something that has interested me for a long time: my first copy of The Doll's House (Sandman Vol. 2) was an older one in which the glass heart in Issue #9 was green, which made me wonder if there was a connection between it and Koschei the Deathless's heart; in the recolored version (which I bought later to match the other 9 volumes I owned) the glass is blue/clear, which seems to make more sense with the story. I wonder which version Gaiman prefers...
> Though I didn't keep track of them all, there are places where it's obvious that Gaiman hadn't yet published The Sandman: Overture when The Annotated Sandman was published. Huge shame there, because Overture contains so many callouts to previously published issues. It also addresses Klinger's speculation, described in my note above, with a very likely "No." Morpheus met Nada on earth--so long, long after he first encountered a vortex.
> On an editorial/production side, there were a few places where notes did not appear on the correct page to correspond with where their subject appears in the comic. The particular one I flagged has the added problem of appearing twice: correctly on page 447, noting that the image in panel 6, page 18, Issue # 16, is of G. K. Chesterton; and incorrectly on the following page, 448, where it says that panel 6 on page 19 is a photo of G. K. Chesterton--though there is no photo on that page at all.
Finally...Klinger doesn't ever discuss what the Sandman is in history. He discusses Dream's connections to the earlier D.C. character, but not the cultural figure that inspired that one in the first place. Kind of a big omission.
Okay, so I've done a lot of grousing here, but the book is far from a total wash. For me, Klinger more than succeeded in his goal of helping folks unfamiliar with the larger historical D.C. universe understand the connections between Sandman and its contemporaries and predecessors. I know enough about John Constantine now to be intrigued by Hellblazer (though probably not enough to seek them out). The notes on the Midsummer Night's Dream issue were excellent even for someone familiar with Shakespeare's work, revealing just how much research Gaiman did on for this one issue. My favorite parts, as you can probably guess from my early paragraphs about what I felt The Annotated Sandman was lacking, were quotes from Gaiman's scripts in which he described the images he wanted. They were particularly fascinating for how often the final illustrations varied from the descriptions, and I would have also loved to get the artists' views on what worked, what didn't, and why they opted to take images in different directions (when not simply because of the limits of the printing process). Perhaps some of this appears in The Absolute Sandman.
TLDR: A bit lackluster for this reader who had ridiculously high expectations, not absolutely necessary to appreciate the depth and nuance of the broader Sandman series, but still recommended for anyone on the nerdier side, the kind like me who's willing to buy the originals for multiple readings.
In hindsight, I think I went in with expectations too high, in part because I didn't do my research. The other annotated books I've seen are The Annotated Wizard of Oz and The Annotated Peter Pan , both published by W. W. Norton. I don't have them on hand, but I remember annotations on almost every page, introductions so long that even I almost (almost) gave up on them, and full-color photos and illustrations galore. It's probably immensely helpful that the books in question, and probably a lot of the supplementary materials, are in the public domain.
In contrast, The Annotated Sandman is in black and white, a few issues have almost no notes in them, and there are very few photos or additional illustrations. I just looked up The Absolute Sandman, Volume One , which is apparently chock-full of the kind of supplementary material I was hoping to find; I suspect that D.C. Comics was stringently avoiding cross-pollination. Unfortunately, The Annotated Sandman is the poorer for it. Imagine my frustration when I hit this note in Gaiman's World Fantasy Award-winning Midsummer Night's Dream issue: "The 'Letters in the Sand' feature of Issue #19 contains a summary of Shakespeare's play, entitled 'Classics Eviscerated,' which is omitted here." Gee, thanks for letting us know what we're not getting. Every single note telling us where there had been an ad page stung a bit too, because it reminded me that the original flow of the story was no longer in tact.
But even the robust annotations that we did get weren't always great, either. Gaiman mentions in his foreword that Burgess's house in Wych Cross was inspired by a real building, but editor/annotator Leslie S. Klinger doesn't discuss this in the notes. Instead, he rambles about bad roads and which trains require transfers and whether the car Hathaway is in is a private car or a taxi and how all of this might have contributed to whether or not he could fall asleep in the car, all just to stoke a *fascinating* (sarcasm) discussion of whether the "Royal Museum" is in London or Edinburgh. But there's no comment about most of Burgess's summoning spell, and I'd been really interested in where Gaiman might have gotten inspiration for some of the words and symbols. Additionally, in the notes for Issue #1, it isn't always clear from the writing whether Klinger is talking about Gaiman's notes for a character, something that happens in another comic, or a real person on which the character is based. Both Hathaway and Burgess are described as if they are real people, and I had to Google them both to discover that they actually aren't. Burgess, in particular, would have benefited from notes that compare and contrast him with the real Aleister Crowley, or a bio flagged with, "Acccording to NG's notes" or the like.
A few other missing things, as they caught my eye:
> In Issue #2, Cain names Goldie the gargoyle for "a friend who went away." Is there a story here?
> In Issue #6, Klinger notes that Dee doesn't recognize what AIDS is...but he doesn't explain the cultural significance of AIDS at the time the comic was published. That's not something you can count on people born after, say, the year 2000 to understand.
> In Issue #7, Dee sings "I think I'm gonna like it here." If this reference to Annie goes unremarked, what other cultural references did Klinger miss?
> Issue #9 and Issue #16 have nearly-identical panels with hands exchanging a heart-shaped piece of glass; from an ancient city in the first and a heart/vortex in the latter. This isn't noted in Issue #9, only in Issue #16 with, "The significance is unclear--is the presence of vortices the price of Morpheus's love for Nada?" (Probably not--see next my note.) It seems odd that this note only appears in the one place. I was also surprised that Klinger doesn't note that a similar image (though in a much smaller-sized panel) appears in Issue #38, where the heart-shaped shard of glass/jewel is the emerald heart of Koschei the Deathless. The black-and-white print in The Annotated Sandman rendered impossible any comment on the coloring, something that has interested me for a long time: my first copy of The Doll's House (Sandman Vol. 2) was an older one in which the glass heart in Issue #9 was green, which made me wonder if there was a connection between it and Koschei the Deathless's heart; in the recolored version (which I bought later to match the other 9 volumes I owned) the glass is blue/clear, which seems to make more sense with the story. I wonder which version Gaiman prefers...
> Though I didn't keep track of them all, there are places where it's obvious that Gaiman hadn't yet published The Sandman: Overture when The Annotated Sandman was published. Huge shame there, because Overture contains so many callouts to previously published issues. It also addresses Klinger's speculation, described in my note above, with a very likely "No." Morpheus met Nada on earth--so long, long after he first encountered a vortex.
> On an editorial/production side, there were a few places where notes did not appear on the correct page to correspond with where their subject appears in the comic. The particular one I flagged has the added problem of appearing twice: correctly on page 447, noting that the image in panel 6, page 18, Issue # 16, is of G. K. Chesterton; and incorrectly on the following page, 448, where it says that panel 6 on page 19 is a photo of G. K. Chesterton--though there is no photo on that page at all.
Finally...Klinger doesn't ever discuss what the Sandman is in history. He discusses Dream's connections to the earlier D.C. character, but not the cultural figure that inspired that one in the first place. Kind of a big omission.
Okay, so I've done a lot of grousing here, but the book is far from a total wash. For me, Klinger more than succeeded in his goal of helping folks unfamiliar with the larger historical D.C. universe understand the connections between Sandman and its contemporaries and predecessors. I know enough about John Constantine now to be intrigued by Hellblazer (though probably not enough to seek them out). The notes on the Midsummer Night's Dream issue were excellent even for someone familiar with Shakespeare's work, revealing just how much research Gaiman did on for this one issue. My favorite parts, as you can probably guess from my early paragraphs about what I felt The Annotated Sandman was lacking, were quotes from Gaiman's scripts in which he described the images he wanted. They were particularly fascinating for how often the final illustrations varied from the descriptions, and I would have also loved to get the artists' views on what worked, what didn't, and why they opted to take images in different directions (when not simply because of the limits of the printing process). Perhaps some of this appears in The Absolute Sandman.
TLDR: A bit lackluster for this reader who had ridiculously high expectations, not absolutely necessary to appreciate the depth and nuance of the broader Sandman series, but still recommended for anyone on the nerdier side, the kind like me who's willing to buy the originals for multiple readings.
August 14, 2013
Essentially, graphic novels/comic books are somewhat lost on me. I am awful at slowing to appreciate the artwork and its contribution to the story.
I'd long been curious about Gaiman's Sandman due to it having long been lauded as an exemplary piece of the art form.
I don't get it.
"It" not being whether Sandman is a major milestone in its genre's lifespan, rather the entire endeavor altogether. I kept getting the idea in my head that were this same story being related in the form of a novel, I'd be enjoying it immensely. I'm just the wrong audience.
Further proof of that would be that after getting through the Sandman stuff only, I went back for a second read-through taking in the annotations. I enjoyed it a LOT more with the annotations, even when Neil Gaiman told me I was stupid and should be reading something else. Though, all the reference to all these various stories and comic books were a bit much for someone who doesn't read them. It's definitely the sort of thing one would appreciate as an avid reader who has been through all the connected stories, but without the annotations, it would be impossible for a below-average reader to appreciate all the depth.
For those who got a lot out of this piece of work, I'm glad. It definitely seems to have a lot on offer for the right mind. That's simply not me.
I'd long been curious about Gaiman's Sandman due to it having long been lauded as an exemplary piece of the art form.
I don't get it.
"It" not being whether Sandman is a major milestone in its genre's lifespan, rather the entire endeavor altogether. I kept getting the idea in my head that were this same story being related in the form of a novel, I'd be enjoying it immensely. I'm just the wrong audience.
Further proof of that would be that after getting through the Sandman stuff only, I went back for a second read-through taking in the annotations. I enjoyed it a LOT more with the annotations, even when Neil Gaiman told me I was stupid and should be reading something else. Though, all the reference to all these various stories and comic books were a bit much for someone who doesn't read them. It's definitely the sort of thing one would appreciate as an avid reader who has been through all the connected stories, but without the annotations, it would be impossible for a below-average reader to appreciate all the depth.
For those who got a lot out of this piece of work, I'm glad. It definitely seems to have a lot on offer for the right mind. That's simply not me.
February 11, 2017
All good things end.
But with Sandman I am lucky enough to get editions that make me enjoy the story all over again.
Of course, I know what's going to happen, but reading it in black and white and notes that brings deepness to this masterpiece I can feel it again through a brand new perspective.
After all, I'm reading Sandman. So of course I will enjoy it.
June 28, 2015
5 stars really. Why don't I give it 5 then? I think my head is averaging out story arcs. Sandman as a concept character, realised character, the Endless- all their D names, the inclusion of myth and archetypes and multi-cultural Pantheons, (also DC back-catalogue, which is where annotations came in handy, me being raised on Marvel), the look of Death (brilliant) and Dream (Robert Smith and the Crow's lovechild) and then Gaiman's pathos, humour, wisdom, classical, cult and goth leanings. Gorgeous. Brilliant. Clever.
But there is a bit of ick and aimlessness that keeps me from clicking that last star. Some Sandman is gloriously worthy of 5 unreserved shiners but, speaking only from my own tastes as outlined above, these tend to be the stand alones.
But there is a bit of ick and aimlessness that keeps me from clicking that last star. Some Sandman is gloriously worthy of 5 unreserved shiners but, speaking only from my own tastes as outlined above, these tend to be the stand alones.
March 4, 2025
It is so hard to reconcile with my love of this series versus the horrible accusations that have come to light about Gaiman. I honestly felt bad reading it, as if I was supporting a monster. I will never forget how much this and other Gaiman stories impacted me. To support any new work of his is clearly wrong and I will not be making any additional purchases. However, after revisiting this annotated Sandman, I accept that the fond connections that I made to the art are mine to own. I can both enjoy this work and rebuke the author for his actions. I don’t think that I will revisit the series for quite some time. The news against Gaiman really made the entire graphic novel much less enjoyable. It’s hard to hold these conflicting feelings together but will do my best.
kannski
January 8, 2016I´ve seen this one in my bookstore and gonna buy it next week. So happy tho.
August 30, 2022
I read the Sandman comics probably 10 years ago, so when I started watching the Netflix show I realized I had completely forgotten everything about it. Like, Sandman looked familiar, but everything else? I had a vague recollection of Death. That was about it.
So I requested this massive book from the library. I seemed to recall there being a lot of references when I read it the first time around, and the annotations really did add a lot to the reading - most specifically, the annotations that included information from Gaiman's script that talked about his vision and intent with some of the story arcs. As I read on, I realized there were a few story arcs I remembered, such as the Cereal Convention, Calliope, and the one where Dream and Death meet in the park for some reason really hit me.
This time around I feel like the overall story arc and smaller story arcs firmed up in my brain, and I really hope they make a season 2!
The first annotated volume contains #1-20, and in general the TV series follows each issue per episode - I was trying to read then watch, but it wasn't quite exact:
Episode 1-3 = Issues 1-3
Episode 4 = Issues 4-5
Episode 5 = Issues 5-6
Episode 6 = Issues 8 & 13
Episode 7-8 = Issues 10-12
Episode 9-10 = Issues 14-16
Episode 11 = Issues 18 & 17 (with a hint at Issue 22)
So I requested this massive book from the library. I seemed to recall there being a lot of references when I read it the first time around, and the annotations really did add a lot to the reading - most specifically, the annotations that included information from Gaiman's script that talked about his vision and intent with some of the story arcs. As I read on, I realized there were a few story arcs I remembered, such as the Cereal Convention, Calliope, and the one where Dream and Death meet in the park for some reason really hit me.
This time around I feel like the overall story arc and smaller story arcs firmed up in my brain, and I really hope they make a season 2!
The first annotated volume contains #1-20, and in general the TV series follows each issue per episode - I was trying to read then watch, but it wasn't quite exact:
Episode 1-3 = Issues 1-3
Episode 4 = Issues 4-5
Episode 5 = Issues 5-6
Episode 6 = Issues 8 & 13
Episode 7-8 = Issues 10-12
Episode 9-10 = Issues 14-16
Episode 11 = Issues 18 & 17 (with a hint at Issue 22)
June 16, 2020
I have a lot of mixed feelings about Neil Gaiman's work I like some of it. I don't like other bits of it. I mean he's a great writer. don't get me wrong. I do enjoy some of his novels, but again certain books just don't do anything for me, and others are really great. The first twenty issues of his epic Sandman series was the same way. Some of the comics were brilliant. I enjoyed them. They were a lot of fun, they were dark, they were interesting and others made no sense whatsoever and didn't even seem to fit into the overall arcing story line. so I'm not sure if I'm going to continue reading the other fifty issues or not based on I kind of felt like there were more issues that I didn't care for than I did, But the ones that I liked were amazing, especially when he had to retrieve his mask from hell. As I said it's very difficult sometimes with his work because it's well written but some of it just doesn't move me. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't read it because he is a great writer.
November 7, 2020
I didn’t love this as much as I was expecting to. The way folks talk about this series, I was expecting something truly masterful, but this first volume feels very much like an experimentation, of Gaiman testing the boundaries of what he can do both in terms of content and style. I loved some of the one-offs here, particularly A DREAM OF A THOUSAND CATS and 24 HOURS (truly one of the most disturbing comics I’ve ever read), where it feels like you have no idea what’s coming on the next page, but on the whole I found the larger story arc of Dream reclaiming his kingdom kind of dull. The nods to old DC characters and storylines gets old pretty quick, and Klinger’s annotations make it clear just how niche a history is often being played with (“this is a reference to a comic series that lasted 11 issues in 1971” sort of becomes an expected footnote at one point). I’m on board for more, but this was a bumpy start.
September 19, 2024
Having listened to the Audible audiobook, watched the Netflix show, and now read the comics, I think it would not be wrong to say I really enjoy the world of The Sandman. I like the nuances that each media form has on the source material. It is hard to talk about - let alone rate - this book, in light of the recent allegations, so I won't harp for too long.
I liked the storytelling, there was a clear goal and there were no characters introduced that didn't play some part in the plot. I liked the inclusion of the DC universe which is missing in the Netflix adaptation (a rights issue?) And I loved the last 4 stories, the one-offs, that give Morpheus some more personality.
There is some extremely graphic content in here: multiple rapes, an entire serial killer convention where they brag about their kills and how the killers prefer to kill, Self mutilation, more murder, weird animalistic behavior in a diner, etc. So read at your own risk.
I liked the storytelling, there was a clear goal and there were no characters introduced that didn't play some part in the plot. I liked the inclusion of the DC universe which is missing in the Netflix adaptation (a rights issue?) And I loved the last 4 stories, the one-offs, that give Morpheus some more personality.
There is some extremely graphic content in here: multiple rapes, an entire serial killer convention where they brag about their kills and how the killers prefer to kill, Self mutilation, more murder, weird animalistic behavior in a diner, etc. So read at your own risk.
November 28, 2017
"We of the endless are the servants of the living--we are NOT their masters. We exist because they know, deep in their hearts, that we exist."
I was kind of iffy on reading this book/graphic novel, but so so glad i did! I would’ve never picked it up, this was a buddy read for a readathon I’m participating in. First let me start by saying that this graphic novel is extremely gorey, not at all times but there were some parts that woah, were INTENSE!! The first few issues were extremely confusing, but it works itself out after. Though i must admit there is an issue i still don’t understand nor do i get the point of (issue 13). Other than that I very much enjoyed Dream, though i wish there was more of him! His character is enthralling, witty, dark, and kind (towards the latter issues). Will definitely be reading the rest! Definitely recommend!
I was kind of iffy on reading this book/graphic novel, but so so glad i did! I would’ve never picked it up, this was a buddy read for a readathon I’m participating in. First let me start by saying that this graphic novel is extremely gorey, not at all times but there were some parts that woah, were INTENSE!! The first few issues were extremely confusing, but it works itself out after. Though i must admit there is an issue i still don’t understand nor do i get the point of (issue 13). Other than that I very much enjoyed Dream, though i wish there was more of him! His character is enthralling, witty, dark, and kind (towards the latter issues). Will definitely be reading the rest! Definitely recommend!
April 11, 2023
I absolutely adore The Sandman, I feel like that's very obvious by now, so of course I'd love this. I wanted to read it since basically I found out it was a thing, and I'm so glad I finally got the chance to. It's such a well-formatted book, firstly, which makes it enjoyable to read (and to display!). I loved all the annotations, they were so enlightening. I found out a lot about the background of the comics, where things came from and what they might mean, how things tie together, et cetera. It's genuinely so interesting to read about all this, it just made me more excited to read the other annotated editions and maybe, if I can find it, the Sandman Companion. Highly recommended for any fan of the series, it's absolutely worthwhile. I feel like I'll definitely have to reread Sandman again, with all I know about it now.
September 22, 2020
I love Neil Gaiman's Sandman Comics. The strength of the comics is the only reason I gave this 4 stars, as these annotated versions came with 2 problems.
Firstly, it was in black and white. Which takes a lot away from the actual comic as color does make a huge difference to most people. I kind of felt cheated of the color.
Secondly, I was expecting a lot of in depth Neil Gaiman thoughts from the annotated versions, similar to the script like instructions he gives to the artists that render his work. Instead there are very few Gaiman type thoughts, this is mostly historical references, and references to music of that particular era or which inspired that panel. Not what I was hoping for or expecting at all.
Firstly, it was in black and white. Which takes a lot away from the actual comic as color does make a huge difference to most people. I kind of felt cheated of the color.
Secondly, I was expecting a lot of in depth Neil Gaiman thoughts from the annotated versions, similar to the script like instructions he gives to the artists that render his work. Instead there are very few Gaiman type thoughts, this is mostly historical references, and references to music of that particular era or which inspired that panel. Not what I was hoping for or expecting at all.
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