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Collected Sandman Covers #1
Dustcovers: The Collected Sandman Covers, 1989-1996
Written by Neil Gaiman; painted art and cover by Dave McKean In stores April 18. Reoffered to coincide with the release of THE QUOTABLE SANDMAN HC, this comprehensive collection contains all the painted covers that Dave McKean produced for THE SANDMAN series, including all the collections, one-shots, trading cards, and more. Writer Neil Gaiman and McKean offer running commentary throughout. SC, 8x11, 208pg, FC
208 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 1997
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2274 people want to read
About the author
Dave McKean
448 books691 followersDave McKean is a world-renowned artist, designer, and film director who has illustrated several books for children, including The Savage by David Almond, and Coraline, The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish, and The Wolves in the Wall, all by Neil Gaiman. Dave McKean lives in England.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
March 9, 2016
Not what I expected but still a good book to buy
This is a book featuring the art by Dave McKean from all 75 covers of the original run of “The Sandman” (including the following "Endless" run), along with an exclusive short story by Neil Gaiman.
THE LAST STORY
Now I understand, I was a child who believed all he was told. My parents told me true things.
--/--
So I believed in the Sandman, when I was three. Ask me if I still do.
When this “Last Story” was written, obviously the storyarc Overture still wasn’t written, so the meaning of being the “Last Story” isn’t about when it was written, but that not matter how much more about The Sandman would be written in the future, THIS short story ALWAYS will be “The Last Sandman Story”.
It’s a very personal tale of Neil Gaiman and his own experience with the main character and other support characters, while he was working with them and how he met them in the real world.
Priceless short story. I am truly glad that I was able to read it. Greatness isn’t about how many words are in the narrative, but how they are managed and how much they impacted in your soul.
THE COVERS
Honestly I expected something else, something more detailed, since I believed that I’d get deep explanations about what each cover meant and/or the particular reason of the use of elements on each cover.
You certainly get some comments about the covers, but the most of them are too general or the behind-the-scenes process while doing the covers. That’s not bad, however I did expected to read deeper information about what the artista (Dave McKean) wanted to express on each cover.
It’s artwork, I can understand that it’s much about what each person thinks about them, like paintings in a museum, no doubt the painter wanted to say something, but at the end, it’s what each observer makes out of them. I get it. However, usually the paintings in a museum don’t come with a guide by the painter.
Here, my impression about the whole point of publishing such a book like this one, it was to expose the inspirations of the artist behind each cover.
You don’t need explanations to appreciate the covers, but again, if a book is published about the subject, well, the least that anyone can expect is to receive something with real content, deep information, and not comments kinda superficial that at the end they didn’t gave away much additional about what you could already perceive about the covers of each comic book issue and TPB editions.
SATISFIED NEVERTHELESS
Still, thanks to “The Last Sandman Story”, I am satisfied with my purchase of the book. Also, since it’s the hardcover edition having an actual dust cover, that considering the chosen title of the book, it’s indeed a key element to have, if you seek for this particular book. And certainly a cool collector’s item in any The Sandman-related collection.
This is a book featuring the art by Dave McKean from all 75 covers of the original run of “The Sandman” (including the following "Endless" run), along with an exclusive short story by Neil Gaiman.
THE LAST STORY
Now I understand, I was a child who believed all he was told. My parents told me true things.
--/--
So I believed in the Sandman, when I was three. Ask me if I still do.
When this “Last Story” was written, obviously the storyarc Overture still wasn’t written, so the meaning of being the “Last Story” isn’t about when it was written, but that not matter how much more about The Sandman would be written in the future, THIS short story ALWAYS will be “The Last Sandman Story”.
It’s a very personal tale of Neil Gaiman and his own experience with the main character and other support characters, while he was working with them and how he met them in the real world.
Priceless short story. I am truly glad that I was able to read it. Greatness isn’t about how many words are in the narrative, but how they are managed and how much they impacted in your soul.
THE COVERS
Honestly I expected something else, something more detailed, since I believed that I’d get deep explanations about what each cover meant and/or the particular reason of the use of elements on each cover.
You certainly get some comments about the covers, but the most of them are too general or the behind-the-scenes process while doing the covers. That’s not bad, however I did expected to read deeper information about what the artista (Dave McKean) wanted to express on each cover.
It’s artwork, I can understand that it’s much about what each person thinks about them, like paintings in a museum, no doubt the painter wanted to say something, but at the end, it’s what each observer makes out of them. I get it. However, usually the paintings in a museum don’t come with a guide by the painter.
Here, my impression about the whole point of publishing such a book like this one, it was to expose the inspirations of the artist behind each cover.
You don’t need explanations to appreciate the covers, but again, if a book is published about the subject, well, the least that anyone can expect is to receive something with real content, deep information, and not comments kinda superficial that at the end they didn’t gave away much additional about what you could already perceive about the covers of each comic book issue and TPB editions.
SATISFIED NEVERTHELESS
Still, thanks to “The Last Sandman Story”, I am satisfied with my purchase of the book. Also, since it’s the hardcover edition having an actual dust cover, that considering the chosen title of the book, it’s indeed a key element to have, if you seek for this particular book. And certainly a cool collector’s item in any The Sandman-related collection.
November 2, 2016
Since I got other unread Gaiman-McKean collaborations out of the library, I got this even though I own all the Sandman volumes that at least include each of these fabulous 75 covers, but in this book you get an inside view of the process, commentary, email exchanges between them. If you are reading Sandman, you may just zip right through the cover to get to the story, but the story would not be the same without these covers. Gaiman had different artists throughout but always buddy McKean's amazing dark fantasy artwork framing it all, giving it a kind of aesthetic framework for it all. It's good to slow down and just see them for what they are: Works of dark and sensuous art.
March 19, 2021
This book is really great. Its arts are fantastic. I know not every reader will want to buy it and keep it, but I'm sure it's a good one to keep in the physical collection.
January 16, 2022
Este libro de Dave McKean recopila las portadas que realizó para el cómic The Sandman de Neil Gaiman entre 1989-1997, tengo que decir que el trabajo de McKean no es de mis favoritos, pero si admito que sin su visión y estética The Sandman no sería lo que es, lo que más disfruté fueron las anécdotas que acompañan a cada portada e ilustración, donde va contando como fueron creando los conceptos e ideas. Recomendado para los fanáticos del cómic.
October 5, 2022
Llevaba tiempo cazando este libro con la esperanza de encontrar abundantes perspectivas internas de McKean sobre el arte de las portadas de Sandman y su proceso; en cambio encontré un esfuerzo anémico por contar someramente cada una de estas, en serio en algunas portadas el autor se limita a decir: esta portada quedó linda y se la quedó Gaiman.
Las cuatro estrellas son generosas, para la obra, cada una de ellas son para el arte de McKean.
Las cuatro estrellas son generosas, para la obra, cada una de ellas son para el arte de McKean.
September 16, 2018
Dave McKean’s Sandman covers are probably some of my favorite art ever. They were great. This book has some interesting commentary on them from mcKean and Neil Gaiman. There is also extra photographs and art on every facing page. The commentary could be more in-depth but it’s still pretty good.
November 9, 2024
While the art was not always pretty it was always interesting and I enjoyed Dave McKean and Neil Gaiman’s words. Sometimes it seemed like they were engaged but in banter. Also the repeated requests for the inclusion of a fish was amusing.
June 15, 2011
Posted on my book blog.
A book about the wonderful work of Dave McKean for the Sandman comics. There really isn't much else to say - if you love Dave McKean's artwork you will love this book. Each cover has a story, and all the little details will have you stare at the images for a long time. It's interesting to see how his work evolved over the years, and the commentary from both the artist and Neil Gaiman (who also wrote a short story for the book) is funny and insightful.
Definitely worth it if you're a Sandman fan. If you're not, I'm sure you'll be interested in checking it out after you read this book.
A book about the wonderful work of Dave McKean for the Sandman comics. There really isn't much else to say - if you love Dave McKean's artwork you will love this book. Each cover has a story, and all the little details will have you stare at the images for a long time. It's interesting to see how his work evolved over the years, and the commentary from both the artist and Neil Gaiman (who also wrote a short story for the book) is funny and insightful.
Definitely worth it if you're a Sandman fan. If you're not, I'm sure you'll be interested in checking it out after you read this book.
December 22, 2014
A compilation of all the Sandman covers done by McKean...
LSD FOR THE EYES !
LSD FOR THE EYES !
June 25, 2016
5th book read in 2016.
Number 154 out of 498 on my all time book list.
Review Pending:
Number 154 out of 498 on my all time book list.
Review Pending:
November 20, 2024
Ось я і завершив читання - розглядання найкращого артбука в цьому році. І це колекція обкладинок для серії "Sandman" з коментарями та історіями їх створення від Ґеймана та Маккіна. Окрім того, на початку розміщена унікальна історія для цього видання про появу Морфея та інших героїв в реальному житті Ніла і Дейва.
Маккін згадує учителів: Бреда Голланда і Бердслі, а також роботу над своїм культовим коміксом "Cages". Експерименти з фотографією та іншими матеріалами. Наприклад, до одного кавера він додав аплікацію з мертвим пташеням,яке знайшов у себе на порозі. Для інших робіт використав ляльок, засушених комах, різні предмети з антикварних крамниць, а також фото з полароїда.
Розповідає, як забанили сосок на одному з перших випусків,а потім дозволили на наступному.
Цікаві нотатки Маккіна про перші невдалі спроби роботи з комп'ютером. "I got depressed and eat ice cream."
Також весело спостерігати за тим, як Дейв постійно просить в Ґеймана помістити на обкладинці рибу:
I mostly remember phone calls where I'd say to Dave, for example, "Could I have a lot of blood on the next one. Maybe a puddle." And he'd say "What about a fish? I want to put some fish on the cover, you know."
Коротше, такі взаємини між письменником та ілюстратором взагалі ідеальні, як на мене.
Маккін:
I want to put a fish on the cover and I'm GONNA put a fish on the cover, partly because it's an important statement I need to make, but mostly because that bloody fish has been in the studio too long and is stinking the place out. Why wasn't it in the fridge, I hear you ask? Well, who thinks of
Ґейман:
I wrote a sequence with rainbow-minded Delirium holding a fish on a string, while she spoke to someone playing the piano, in the issue following this one, and forgot to mention it to Dave. Why did he wrap this herring in string, and place it on a music stand with a crayon rainbow behind? Perhaps we will never know. If it was synchronicity.
Маккін:
Whenever I asked Dave what was
going to be on the cover of this
issue, he said it would have to be a
surprise, as he was unable to explain
Висновок: беруся за другий том де зібрані обкладинки для серії "Dreaming", а на початку - бонусна історія від Маккін і Ґеймана під назвою "Fish out of water"!
Маккін згадує учителів: Бреда Голланда і Бердслі, а також роботу над своїм культовим коміксом "Cages". Експерименти з фотографією та іншими матеріалами. Наприклад, до одного кавера він додав аплікацію з мертвим пташеням,яке знайшов у себе на порозі. Для інших робіт використав ляльок, засушених комах, різні предмети з антикварних крамниць, а також фото з полароїда.
Розповідає, як забанили сосок на одному з перших випусків,а потім дозволили на наступному.
Цікаві нотатки Маккіна про перші невдалі спроби роботи з комп'ютером. "I got depressed and eat ice cream."
Також весело спостерігати за тим, як Дейв постійно просить в Ґеймана помістити на обкладинці рибу:
I mostly remember phone calls where I'd say to Dave, for example, "Could I have a lot of blood on the next one. Maybe a puddle." And he'd say "What about a fish? I want to put some fish on the cover, you know."
Коротше, такі взаємини між письменником та ілюстратором взагалі ідеальні, як на мене.
Маккін:
I want to put a fish on the cover and I'm GONNA put a fish on the cover, partly because it's an important statement I need to make, but mostly because that bloody fish has been in the studio too long and is stinking the place out. Why wasn't it in the fridge, I hear you ask? Well, who thinks of
Ґейман:
I wrote a sequence with rainbow-minded Delirium holding a fish on a string, while she spoke to someone playing the piano, in the issue following this one, and forgot to mention it to Dave. Why did he wrap this herring in string, and place it on a music stand with a crayon rainbow behind? Perhaps we will never know. If it was synchronicity.
Маккін:
Whenever I asked Dave what was
going to be on the cover of this
issue, he said it would have to be a
surprise, as he was unable to explain
Висновок: беруся за другий том де зібрані обкладинки для серії "Dreaming", а на початку - бонусна історія від Маккін і Ґеймана під назвою "Fish out of water"!
March 5, 2019
Cuando entre al mundo de los comics en serio,recuerdo dos cosas que compre : Gen 13, dibujado por J.Scott Campbell y el Arkham Asylum de Grant Morrison y Dave McKean. En ese momento me di cuenta que este medio era mas complejo de lo que parecía, y el arte de Campbell era hermoso , con mujeres preciosas e imposibles , un dulce, mientras que el arte de McKean era sobrecogedor, con un joker que era salido de una pesadilla, una mujer que comía insectos en su cama te hacia querer desviar la mirada.
El libro se compone de las portadas de Sandman, una explicación sobre la concepción de las mismas, como las creo, además de la ultima historia de Sandman, que no es para lanzar cohetes,es algo anecdotico. El libro es potente, hermoso , con unas imágenes que te fulminan y no te dejan.
El libro se compone de las portadas de Sandman, una explicación sobre la concepción de las mismas, como las creo, además de la ultima historia de Sandman, que no es para lanzar cohetes,es algo anecdotico. El libro es potente, hermoso , con unas imágenes que te fulminan y no te dejan.
July 1, 2023
Ideal para fãs de Sandman e estudantes de artes
Achei essa edição muito interessante, principalmente por ter lido os quadrinhos do Sandman. Achei bem legal conhecer o processo criativo por trás das capas, e acredito que todo estudante de artes, como design gráfico, e também das pessoas que gostam de experimentações artísticas e criativas, também irão gostar de conhecer.
O que me incomodou um pouco foi a diagramação. Fiquei um pouco perdida no começo, tentando entender sobre qual arte estavam falando, sendo que cada página havia uma, e a página tinha a descrição sobre as duas artes ou até as das páginas seguintes.
Achei essa edição muito interessante, principalmente por ter lido os quadrinhos do Sandman. Achei bem legal conhecer o processo criativo por trás das capas, e acredito que todo estudante de artes, como design gráfico, e também das pessoas que gostam de experimentações artísticas e criativas, também irão gostar de conhecer.
O que me incomodou um pouco foi a diagramação. Fiquei um pouco perdida no começo, tentando entender sobre qual arte estavam falando, sendo que cada página havia uma, e a página tinha a descrição sobre as duas artes ou até as das páginas seguintes.
February 26, 2025
We get Gaiman’s “Last Sandman Story” which came out before Sandman Overture, it’s Gaiman’s personal experiences with Sandman, not so much a Sandman story
Then we get all of the beautiful covers and some behind the scenes tings
Then we get all of the beautiful covers and some behind the scenes tings
December 27, 2025
compilation of some of my fav pieces of art!! i love dave mckeans work so much!! the banter between him and gaiman was fun to read throughout and i really really enjoyed the behind the scenes info for some of the pieces, i just wish there was more!! anyway great book i love it!!
July 5, 2018
Beautiful artwork. Loved the reminiscences.
November 6, 2019
I liked the part where Dave McKean starts haranguing Neil Gaiman to put more fish in the comic because he wants to draw them on the cover. "I'm starting to think that Neil can't write fish at all."
Read
December 19, 2019The Sandman art captured the feel of the excellent series.
July 4, 2021
Dave McKean commenting with Neil Gaiman about his work on The Sandman. Also how his work shifted from physical to digital.
September 21, 2021
My coolest Dollar Tree find
February 26, 2022
The series is really fantastic.
June 22, 2022
Dave Mckean is a true genius
January 10, 2025
Minimal commentary from McKean and Gaiman, but the artwork is exquisite.
May 26, 2019
This was a joy to read. Not only do you get to see all of Dave McKean's beautiful Sandman work without trade-dress, not only do you get behind-the-scenes anecdotes on the process and creation of these pieces from McKean and Gaiman themselves, but the book itself is so stylishly and beautifullybdesigned that it's something of an experience just working your way through it. An absolute recommend for fans of these creator's works.
March 9, 2011
I love Dave McKean's art, so even if I weren't a Sandman fan this book would've been in my library. As it is, it was McKean that got me into Sandman (and vice versa), so this was a natural.
While this oversized book does collect all the individual issue covers for the Sandman series including the special & gallery issues (all sans title, price, logo, indicia, etc.), it is by no means a comprehensive collection of the Sandman-related covers. Almost none of the hardcover collection jackets are herein, and (I think) not all the softcovers, but there are a few extra non-Sandman pieces, as well as some trading card art and nearly every other page has an additional piece of McKean ephemera.
The book is designed by the man himself, with 'commentary' by he and Gaiman, as well as an all-new story penned by Gaiman & illustrated beautifully by McKean. It's a gorgeous package overall, and a must-have for any McKean fan (and a should-have for Sandman fans).
While this oversized book does collect all the individual issue covers for the Sandman series including the special & gallery issues (all sans title, price, logo, indicia, etc.), it is by no means a comprehensive collection of the Sandman-related covers. Almost none of the hardcover collection jackets are herein, and (I think) not all the softcovers, but there are a few extra non-Sandman pieces, as well as some trading card art and nearly every other page has an additional piece of McKean ephemera.
The book is designed by the man himself, with 'commentary' by he and Gaiman, as well as an all-new story penned by Gaiman & illustrated beautifully by McKean. It's a gorgeous package overall, and a must-have for any McKean fan (and a should-have for Sandman fans).
November 8, 2012
Because I was only a baby when the Sandman single issue comics were being released I am extremely glad that this collection of the original covers was published. Someday, I might be lucky enough to have some of the original issues, but for now I'll have to be satisfied with the collected edition graphic novels and supplementary commentary publications.
This book is very useful not only as a mode of collection, but as a presentation of additional commentary by McKean and Gaiman on the creative process behind the creation of the cover imagery. I especially found their ongoing argument about fish hilarious, and the synchronicity of having them create a story and cover with fish on a leash without actual discussion was an interesting piece of trivia about the series and the creative process.
This book is very useful not only as a mode of collection, but as a presentation of additional commentary by McKean and Gaiman on the creative process behind the creation of the cover imagery. I especially found their ongoing argument about fish hilarious, and the synchronicity of having them create a story and cover with fish on a leash without actual discussion was an interesting piece of trivia about the series and the creative process.
March 14, 2015
I've been a fan of Dave McKean for most of my life. Between his work on various comics and album covers for the likes of Front Line Assembly, Download and Skinny Puppy, McKean was a massively influential part of my youth.
...And while you judge me on my taste in music as a teen, let's move on to the book, shall we?
Neil Gaiman's The Sandman is probably my favourite comic series of all time, and Dave McKean's cover art was always an essential part of the experience: dark, dreamlike and utterly surreal - hauntingly beautiful, yet undeniably nightmarish. In Dust Covers, Dave and Neil guide us through a tour of the full set of Sandman cover art, with commentary and anecdotes for each and every one.
I can't rate this highly enough. Brilliant.
...And while you judge me on my taste in music as a teen, let's move on to the book, shall we?
Neil Gaiman's The Sandman is probably my favourite comic series of all time, and Dave McKean's cover art was always an essential part of the experience: dark, dreamlike and utterly surreal - hauntingly beautiful, yet undeniably nightmarish. In Dust Covers, Dave and Neil guide us through a tour of the full set of Sandman cover art, with commentary and anecdotes for each and every one.
I can't rate this highly enough. Brilliant.
February 19, 2019
I love Sandman, so when I saw this in a second-hand bookshop I thought, "Why not? I shall become a Sandman completest..." Obviously, I already own (several times over) each of the volumes containing Dave McKean's cover art. However, it's quite mind-blowing to have the whole lot collected in one place - there's some psychedelic stuff there...
The commentary, though, from McKean and Neil Gaiman, is fairly 'once over lightly'. Don't expect in-depth analysis about what everything means, and/or the design process.
The commentary, though, from McKean and Neil Gaiman, is fairly 'once over lightly'. Don't expect in-depth analysis about what everything means, and/or the design process.
December 18, 2013
La început imaginile păreau să mă cucerească prin mesajul lor oniric, suprarealist, horific, prin contrastul tipator al culorilor şi al elementelor îmbinate in colaje. Dar în scurt timp m-a dezamagit prin repetitivitatea de la o lucrare la alta, prin senzaţia de amatorism, de kitch, de artă de afiş. Şi, fără o istorie pe care să o ilustreze, lucrările devin pur şi simplu lipsite de sens, nişte divagaţii schizofrenice. Categoric nu este genul de artist care să-mi placă.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews