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The Sandman
Neil Gaiman's Midnight Days
Gathered from Gaiman's long career, this omnibus edition includes Gaiman's early work on John Constantine: Hellblazer and Swamp Thing, as well as a never-before-reprinted Sandman story. An introduction by Gaiman himself is also included.
208 pages, Paperback
First published December 8, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 205 reviews
October 26, 2018
A short story collection of early works of Gaiman's. Includes:
Jack in the Green
Brothers
Shaggy God Stories
Hold Me
Sandman Midnight Theatre
Welcome back to the House of Mystery
He started out with such a strong voice. The man is a storyteller. He has a way with words.
Jack in the Green is a swamp Thing type story.
Brothers was indeed strange. Something about hippies and aliens of some kind or rag dolls
Shaggy God Stories is another Swamp Thing type story. Psychedelic.
Hold me has John constantine in it. It was very moody.
the last two are tied into the Sandman stories that he wrote.
It is an interesting collection and I admit that I did not enjoy these stories as much as I have enjoyed other Gaiman works. I think I have a lot going on it not as much focus. Still, I'm glad I read these. It's good to know where an author comes from.
Jack in the Green
Brothers
Shaggy God Stories
Hold Me
Sandman Midnight Theatre
Welcome back to the House of Mystery
He started out with such a strong voice. The man is a storyteller. He has a way with words.
Jack in the Green is a swamp Thing type story.
Brothers was indeed strange. Something about hippies and aliens of some kind or rag dolls
Shaggy God Stories is another Swamp Thing type story. Psychedelic.
Hold me has John constantine in it. It was very moody.
the last two are tied into the Sandman stories that he wrote.
It is an interesting collection and I admit that I did not enjoy these stories as much as I have enjoyed other Gaiman works. I think I have a lot going on it not as much focus. Still, I'm glad I read these. It's good to know where an author comes from.
December 18, 2015
I love reading an author's early work, and Gaiman has had mad skills since the beginning of his publishing career. He's so worth your time. Also check out Trigger Warning and the complete Sandman series.
December 2, 2011
I am completely biased, but any collection of early Neil Gaiman stories that has 'Hold Me' from Hellblazer gets five stars. I'd been looking for that story for years after someone lent me the single issue comic. It had a physical impact - and even now 26 years later it still gets me in the gut every time.
I also really enjoyed the Sandman Midnight Theatre story, which has an epic feel for a short story. Oh, and it also has that wonderful creation Dream of the Endless trapped in his glass jar. Not being a total Swampy convert I suspect some of Brothers finer nuances were lost on me, but it's a powerful story nonetheless and well worth reading. Jack in the Green and Shaggy God Stories both contain some wonderful ideas, though I'm not quite as keen on these as the other tales - possibly as they seem a little more unfinished than the others (and they were written earlier).
All in all I love this small collection.
I also really enjoyed the Sandman Midnight Theatre story, which has an epic feel for a short story. Oh, and it also has that wonderful creation Dream of the Endless trapped in his glass jar. Not being a total Swampy convert I suspect some of Brothers finer nuances were lost on me, but it's a powerful story nonetheless and well worth reading. Jack in the Green and Shaggy God Stories both contain some wonderful ideas, though I'm not quite as keen on these as the other tales - possibly as they seem a little more unfinished than the others (and they were written earlier).
All in all I love this small collection.
July 27, 2022
(Zero spoiler review)
I feel like a nit picky, miserable old sourpuss. I mean, even more than I normally do, for I really, really wanted to give this full marks. I had every intention of giving this full marks. That is of course, until I came to the end of this book, seeing that the Sandman Mystery Theatre story was included to close out this little collection. For I had read it only a couple of months ago, as part of the Sandman Deluxe editions, volume one to be precise. And it was one of the worst parts of that entire collection. I sighed, lamented the final star falling away from the score, then promptly turned to the 'actual' final story. A six page 70s horror comedy throwback that doesn't even warrant consideration. Just pretend it never existed.
Imagine you've sat down to a five course meal, with the first four courses being delectable culinary creations, the likes of which you've rarely tasted, at least not in a long time. And then, the final dish is served. A pillowy soft, mouth watering bowl of dark, rich chocolate mousse. Then you take a bite, and its something else entirely. And those amazing first four courses end with the unmistakeable taste of shit in your mouth.
You definitely need to eat those first four courses though. Just skip the dessert. 4/5
OmniBen.
I feel like a nit picky, miserable old sourpuss. I mean, even more than I normally do, for I really, really wanted to give this full marks. I had every intention of giving this full marks. That is of course, until I came to the end of this book, seeing that the Sandman Mystery Theatre story was included to close out this little collection. For I had read it only a couple of months ago, as part of the Sandman Deluxe editions, volume one to be precise. And it was one of the worst parts of that entire collection. I sighed, lamented the final star falling away from the score, then promptly turned to the 'actual' final story. A six page 70s horror comedy throwback that doesn't even warrant consideration. Just pretend it never existed.
Imagine you've sat down to a five course meal, with the first four courses being delectable culinary creations, the likes of which you've rarely tasted, at least not in a long time. And then, the final dish is served. A pillowy soft, mouth watering bowl of dark, rich chocolate mousse. Then you take a bite, and its something else entirely. And those amazing first four courses end with the unmistakeable taste of shit in your mouth.
You definitely need to eat those first four courses though. Just skip the dessert. 4/5
OmniBen.
November 9, 2016
Kinda disappointing that this is not new content...just reprints from other issues of Sandman, Hellblazer, etc.
June 29, 2017
Midnight Days is a collection of short stories (actually individual comics) that he wrote early on in his career. As such, there are some decent tales, but this is not the greatest example of his talents. I understand that it takes time for him to find his unique style and form wonderful stories around them.
There are a variety of stories- some with Swamp Thing and some with John Constantine. For the most part-the best way to sum up the stories are "ok". This is not a bad book. Neil Gaiman's stories are always imaginative and show tremendous promise. I just don't feel that Gaiman had crafted his art to the point of perfection.
Thus we have a series of decent stories. The artwork is all over the place from mediocre to awful. I understand that it is older work-and it shows. Perhaps, lovers of the old school, will enjoy this group of short stories. People more used to the polished Gaiman works of later years will likely be disappointed. Each story is prefaced by a small introduction by NG, as he explains what he was thinking or creating. That was interesting. It is a shame that the stories are not of the excellent quality that later becomes his hallmark.
Still I think hard-core Neil Gaiman fans will enjoy this. The rest of us? I think you can give this one a pass and not be any the worse off for it.
There are a variety of stories- some with Swamp Thing and some with John Constantine. For the most part-the best way to sum up the stories are "ok". This is not a bad book. Neil Gaiman's stories are always imaginative and show tremendous promise. I just don't feel that Gaiman had crafted his art to the point of perfection.
Thus we have a series of decent stories. The artwork is all over the place from mediocre to awful. I understand that it is older work-and it shows. Perhaps, lovers of the old school, will enjoy this group of short stories. People more used to the polished Gaiman works of later years will likely be disappointed. Each story is prefaced by a small introduction by NG, as he explains what he was thinking or creating. That was interesting. It is a shame that the stories are not of the excellent quality that later becomes his hallmark.
Still I think hard-core Neil Gaiman fans will enjoy this. The rest of us? I think you can give this one a pass and not be any the worse off for it.
April 25, 2009
The stories in this collection show the early evolution of this great fantasy writer, and those expecting Gaiman at the top of his game will be disappointed. This compilation is like Gaiman 101 because you get to see the foundations. I found it a tad fascinating to see little gems of what was to come twinkling through the growth.
At least Gaiman has written an introduction to each of these stories as well, which is a definite bonus.
"Jack in the Green" >> Apparently the second comics story Gaiman had ever written, and it remained a pictureless script until it was drawn especially for this collection. It's unique because it sees a reunion of the original Swamp Thing artistic team, who worked with Moore on the now classic first issues - Stephen Bissette, John Totleben and Tatjana Wood. Neil's writing is clearly in very early stages of its development, and the story is good, if nothing else, as a curiosity for loyal Gaiman fans. As a non-fan of The Swamp Thing, this has only small appeal for me.
"Brothers" >> From "Swamp Thing Annnual," it features a second strange being, seemingly animated by forces similar to the ones behind Swamp Thing, but more of a hippie-stereotype mannikin as well as a vegetal elemental - again, something that would probably appeal more to Swamp Thing regulars than to me.
"Shaggy God Stories" >> I'm not, other than Neil Gaiman's stuff, a comics-literate person: I'm a total stranger to Swamp Thing, although I may remedy this situation someday; but as it is, I was unable to appreciate these stories. They were okay, but I was mostly lost. This one deals with the Swamp Thing's great nemesis, Jason Woodrue aka the Floronic Man.
"Hold Me" >> The somber, elegant mood of the piece will be instantly familiar to Sandman fans. A collage of loneliness's different faces: improbable coincidences help at least some of the solitary ones provide solace for each other. It was originally published in 1995, several months before Garth Ennis took over the series and turned it upside down, and is now a rare and precious collectors' item for fans of Gaiman and/or Hellblazer. A one-shot story about John Constantine, brilliantly illustrated by the always artful Dave McKean.
"Sandman Midnight Theatre" >> This one's the best of the lot, a collaboration between Neil Gaiman and Matt Wagner, which allows for the inevitable crossover between Gaiman's Sandman (Morpheus of the Endless) and Wagner's Golden Age Sandman (Man of Mystery Wesley Dodds--a reincarnation of the DC hero from the 40s). The story focuses more on Dodds please remember that Morpheus is well locked in a glass prison during the time of Dodds's stories, as you'd remember if you've read the first Sandman volume, "Preludes & Nocturnes").
Gaiman proves his ability to seamlessly incorporate other DC characters within his milieu while retaining there inherent characteristics. It defintely adds a new chapter to the Sandman saga, complete with painterly artwork and a generally subdued palette set a mood that matches the story well.
Book Details:
Title Neil Gaiman's Midnight Days
Author Neil Gaiman & Matt Wagner
Reviewed By Purplycookie
At least Gaiman has written an introduction to each of these stories as well, which is a definite bonus.
"Jack in the Green" >> Apparently the second comics story Gaiman had ever written, and it remained a pictureless script until it was drawn especially for this collection. It's unique because it sees a reunion of the original Swamp Thing artistic team, who worked with Moore on the now classic first issues - Stephen Bissette, John Totleben and Tatjana Wood. Neil's writing is clearly in very early stages of its development, and the story is good, if nothing else, as a curiosity for loyal Gaiman fans. As a non-fan of The Swamp Thing, this has only small appeal for me.
"Brothers" >> From "Swamp Thing Annnual," it features a second strange being, seemingly animated by forces similar to the ones behind Swamp Thing, but more of a hippie-stereotype mannikin as well as a vegetal elemental - again, something that would probably appeal more to Swamp Thing regulars than to me.
"Shaggy God Stories" >> I'm not, other than Neil Gaiman's stuff, a comics-literate person: I'm a total stranger to Swamp Thing, although I may remedy this situation someday; but as it is, I was unable to appreciate these stories. They were okay, but I was mostly lost. This one deals with the Swamp Thing's great nemesis, Jason Woodrue aka the Floronic Man.
"Hold Me" >> The somber, elegant mood of the piece will be instantly familiar to Sandman fans. A collage of loneliness's different faces: improbable coincidences help at least some of the solitary ones provide solace for each other. It was originally published in 1995, several months before Garth Ennis took over the series and turned it upside down, and is now a rare and precious collectors' item for fans of Gaiman and/or Hellblazer. A one-shot story about John Constantine, brilliantly illustrated by the always artful Dave McKean.
"Sandman Midnight Theatre" >> This one's the best of the lot, a collaboration between Neil Gaiman and Matt Wagner, which allows for the inevitable crossover between Gaiman's Sandman (Morpheus of the Endless) and Wagner's Golden Age Sandman (Man of Mystery Wesley Dodds--a reincarnation of the DC hero from the 40s). The story focuses more on Dodds please remember that Morpheus is well locked in a glass prison during the time of Dodds's stories, as you'd remember if you've read the first Sandman volume, "Preludes & Nocturnes").
Gaiman proves his ability to seamlessly incorporate other DC characters within his milieu while retaining there inherent characteristics. It defintely adds a new chapter to the Sandman saga, complete with painterly artwork and a generally subdued palette set a mood that matches the story well.
Book Details:
Title Neil Gaiman's Midnight Days
Author Neil Gaiman & Matt Wagner
Reviewed By Purplycookie
December 27, 2014
***Update/request*** I read the paperback collection back in '09 and would like to know if there are any must-have additions to the 2012 Deluxe Edition hardcover re-release. Please comment on this review to let me (and others) know.
In the main introduction to this collection of mostly stand-alone comics, Neil Gaiman says that one of them is the best short story he's done. Having read a lot of Neil Gaiman and loved most of it, this struck me as a big piece of genuine hype, and I hoped that he would leave the readers to pick for themselves which story he was talking about. I have an aversion to superlatives in general, and it seemed to me that for an acclaimed author to declare such a thing would be folly, for it would set up a good thing for perceptual failure by calling it great.
The Swamp Thing stories kicking the book off were fantastic, and their individual intros by Gaiman gave tremendously appreciated insights into the behind-the-scenes of comic production. Then he went ahead and did what I hoped he wouldn't do. He set up a rare John Constantine: Hellblazer story called "Hold Me" by talking about how we were about to read the greatest comic he'd ever written and how the art was going to be amazing (Dave McKean) and how it sells for more on its own than the retail price of the entire Midnight Days collection.
I took a deep breath, tried clearing my mind of expectations one way or the other, and read it. And he wasn't lying. It was great. I won't declare it to be the #1 Best Ever, but it made me, a person who gets all her comic books from the library, deem it worthy of not only my praise but my money. This is a collection I would very much like to own, re-read, and share.
In the main introduction to this collection of mostly stand-alone comics, Neil Gaiman says that one of them is the best short story he's done. Having read a lot of Neil Gaiman and loved most of it, this struck me as a big piece of genuine hype, and I hoped that he would leave the readers to pick for themselves which story he was talking about. I have an aversion to superlatives in general, and it seemed to me that for an acclaimed author to declare such a thing would be folly, for it would set up a good thing for perceptual failure by calling it great.
The Swamp Thing stories kicking the book off were fantastic, and their individual intros by Gaiman gave tremendously appreciated insights into the behind-the-scenes of comic production. Then he went ahead and did what I hoped he wouldn't do. He set up a rare John Constantine: Hellblazer story called "Hold Me" by talking about how we were about to read the greatest comic he'd ever written and how the art was going to be amazing (Dave McKean) and how it sells for more on its own than the retail price of the entire Midnight Days collection.
I took a deep breath, tried clearing my mind of expectations one way or the other, and read it. And he wasn't lying. It was great. I won't declare it to be the #1 Best Ever, but it made me, a person who gets all her comic books from the library, deem it worthy of not only my praise but my money. This is a collection I would very much like to own, re-read, and share.
November 17, 2017
Great to reread these stories, each and every one.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
December 25, 2019
3.5 / 5
Un par de historias maravillosas pero otras a las que la falta de contexto me impidieron apreciarlas como debería. Aún así vale la pena leerlo.
Un par de historias maravillosas pero otras a las que la falta de contexto me impidieron apreciarlas como debería. Aún así vale la pena leerlo.
December 21, 2017
I've probably been annoyed with Neil Gaiman for most of my adult life for not being as good as he was when I was a teenager. This resentment is partially unfounded (because The Sandman is still really good, but not quite as good as I want to remember) and partially, I swear, totally real, because anytime I pick up one of his newer books (I have Norse Mythology in front of me right now and good lord is it the laziest thing) I am so unimpressed, just distinctly bored by how light and meaningless and unrigorous the work is.
Anyway. But a couple of old Vertigo rabbitholes recently pointed me toward Midnight Days, and despite it being a sort of half-formed grab bag (there's really just, like, three-and-a-half issues of material here), I'm reminded that Gaiman really did used to be really good. And the fact that he was writing this stuff in his early twenties, when I was just sort of floundering, badly, as a clerk in a used bookstore -- honestly, thinking back, I'm pretty sure that it was this realization, way back then (Neil Gaiman was writing for DC when he was your age) that sent me into a blackened death-spiral of self-loathing for most of my 20s.
But man, you read this old stuff and you know why. Even in a slapdash collection like this one, it's just so clear. The narrative voice just seems, like, a thousand years old, and is so smart and well-versed not just in DC lore but in pretty much everything; it's just really no wonder. He was really good.
And like, I can't tell you what it would be like to be Neil Gaiman now -- maybe you just don't give a fuck anymore, and like, that's fine. I don't know. Maybe I wouldn't give a fuck either. Maybe I don't give a fuck already. The old stuff was good. That's the stuff, so.
Anyway. But a couple of old Vertigo rabbitholes recently pointed me toward Midnight Days, and despite it being a sort of half-formed grab bag (there's really just, like, three-and-a-half issues of material here), I'm reminded that Gaiman really did used to be really good. And the fact that he was writing this stuff in his early twenties, when I was just sort of floundering, badly, as a clerk in a used bookstore -- honestly, thinking back, I'm pretty sure that it was this realization, way back then (Neil Gaiman was writing for DC when he was your age) that sent me into a blackened death-spiral of self-loathing for most of my 20s.
But man, you read this old stuff and you know why. Even in a slapdash collection like this one, it's just so clear. The narrative voice just seems, like, a thousand years old, and is so smart and well-versed not just in DC lore but in pretty much everything; it's just really no wonder. He was really good.
And like, I can't tell you what it would be like to be Neil Gaiman now -- maybe you just don't give a fuck anymore, and like, that's fine. I don't know. Maybe I wouldn't give a fuck either. Maybe I don't give a fuck already. The old stuff was good. That's the stuff, so.
December 22, 2015
I am a Neil Gaiman’s fan, so I was ecstatic when a friend gave me this book. It’s a collection of five comics of this author in collaboration with several illustrators. The stories were written by Gaiman since the 80s to the present day. As usual, the author makes an introductory note to every story worth reading.
Not a spectacular book. The stories had varied subjects. I’ve never read the Swamp Thing comic, so the first two stories didn’t piqued my interest, though I’ve liked the illustrations. My favourite stories were "Hold Me" and "Sandman Midnight Theatre". The first was based on Constantine; the story is intriguing, slightly confusing and the design is full of drama. It’s beautiful. The second story is based on the Sandman series. Although Dream only makes a shot appearance, it is interesting and I liked the art work. The last story fell short in terms of narrative and drawing.
This is a book for the Neil Gaiman fans. I don’t recommend it to people who have never read any of his other works. They are likely to be confused and disappointed.
Not a spectacular book. The stories had varied subjects. I’ve never read the Swamp Thing comic, so the first two stories didn’t piqued my interest, though I’ve liked the illustrations. My favourite stories were "Hold Me" and "Sandman Midnight Theatre". The first was based on Constantine; the story is intriguing, slightly confusing and the design is full of drama. It’s beautiful. The second story is based on the Sandman series. Although Dream only makes a shot appearance, it is interesting and I liked the art work. The last story fell short in terms of narrative and drawing.
This is a book for the Neil Gaiman fans. I don’t recommend it to people who have never read any of his other works. They are likely to be confused and disappointed.
September 25, 2013
My son bought me this at the Bristol Comics Fare this year, knowing how much I love the Sandman graphic novels.
Midnight Days is a collection of shorter pieces. Like a Monty Python show it has touches of genius and parts that fall flat.
The 'Sandman' section had some great writing and was good to read having read the Sandman books, but it did rather drag.
Early work by Gaiman showing a ton of promise. Not quite there yet - but when he does get 'there' in his later work he does it in spades.
I've read and enjoyed Anansi Boys and hope to get around to American Gods one of these days.
Midnight Days is a collection of shorter pieces. Like a Monty Python show it has touches of genius and parts that fall flat.
The 'Sandman' section had some great writing and was good to read having read the Sandman books, but it did rather drag.
Early work by Gaiman showing a ton of promise. Not quite there yet - but when he does get 'there' in his later work he does it in spades.
I've read and enjoyed Anansi Boys and hope to get around to American Gods one of these days.
August 13, 2016
A biased purchase purely for the Writer-Artist combination that is Gaiman-McKean. The collection is a hit or miss given one's affection for the characters that are re-imagined.
Hold Me, a Hellblazer story, is brilliant. Midnight Theater set in The Sandman universe is fantastic. The rest are good; nothing great, nothing exceptional.
Hold Me, a Hellblazer story, is brilliant. Midnight Theater set in The Sandman universe is fantastic. The rest are good; nothing great, nothing exceptional.
March 26, 2020
When we hold each other, in the darkness, it doesn't make the darkness go away. The bad things are still out there. The nightmares still walking. When we hold each other we feel not safe, but better. "It's all right" we whisper, "I'm here, I love you." and we lie: "I'll never leave you." For just a moment or two the darkness doesn't seem so bad.
March 5, 2010
Suma cuatro estrellitas por acumulación. Quizás ninguna de las historias que recopila este tomo sea espectacular (con excepción de "Abrázame"), pero la suma de todas ellas dan por resultado un tomo de lo más entretenido y recomendable. Cuando lo relea seguro lo rerreseñe.
September 4, 2012
This was a beautiful book in every way. I am now a Neil Gaiman fan!
November 7, 2020
Komik yang aku biasa baca ada 2: manga (Jepun) & manhwa (Korea). Aku ambil masa juga untuk membiasakan diri dengan komik gaya Amerika ini.
Strok lukisan mereka jauh berbeza, itu yang pasti. Aku tahu Neil Gaiman pernah menulis untuk DC Comics; kisah adiwira, seram dll.
Midnight Days menghimpunkan 6 komik terawal Neil sewaktu bekerja dengan DC Comics.
Sedang-sedang sahaja bagi aku, kerana setiap wataknya berkonteks (Swamp Thing, John Constantine dalam DC Universe), jadi aku tak boleh nak appreciate cerita mereka sebagai standalone story sebab tak biasa.
Strok lukisan mereka jauh berbeza, itu yang pasti. Aku tahu Neil Gaiman pernah menulis untuk DC Comics; kisah adiwira, seram dll.
Midnight Days menghimpunkan 6 komik terawal Neil sewaktu bekerja dengan DC Comics.
Sedang-sedang sahaja bagi aku, kerana setiap wataknya berkonteks (Swamp Thing, John Constantine dalam DC Universe), jadi aku tak boleh nak appreciate cerita mereka sebagai standalone story sebab tak biasa.
May 6, 2025
Did not enjoy , glad it’s off my bookshelf
April 2, 2017
This graphic novel collects six of Neil Gaiman's early comics work for DC. Of the six stories in the collection, there are three that are from different aspects of Swamp Thing, one Hellblazer, one Sandman and a little framing story for another collection.
I'm not hugely familiar with Swamp Thing so I perhaps didn't get as much out of those stories as someone more familiar with the mythos. The first, Jack in the Green shows a Swamp Thing somewhere in England when the Black Death is sweeping the land as he tends to a dying friend. Even without knowing much about about the character or history, you can relate to that. The second Brothers is an odd little story that does rely more on DC/Swamp Thing continuity, telling the story of a living puppet who falls to earth from a satellite. Even without knowing the history though, there's enough human stories - with hippy Chester and his damaged partner Liz; and with bitter government agent Gideon Endor - to hold interest. Shaggy God Stories on the other hand, seems to be an interlude between two big stories and I don't think I got an awful lot out of it.
Moving away from Swamp Thing, the next story in the collection Hold Me which is a touching Hellblazer story, where John Constantine encounters a dead man who just wants someone to, well, hold him. The penultimate story, Sandman Midnight Theatre sees the single meeting between Dream of the Endless and Wesley Dodds, another character to bear the name 'Sandman'. Set on the eve of WW2, Wesley Dodds is drawn to England after the suicide of an old friend, and finds himself investigating the Order of Ancient Mysteries, who still hold Morpheus in a glass box. The collection is finished off with a little framing story for a horror anthology called Welcome Back to the House of Mystery featuring the Cain and Abel who live in the Dreaming. Very much more cartoony in tone than the rest of the book, it's an odd choice to finish the volume, but not necessarily an inappropriate one.
The art throughout is lovely, Gaiman can always find good artists to work with him; the painted, appropriately dreamlike, art for Sandman Midnight Theatre especially drew my eye. A lot of this is fairly early work by Gaiman so it isn't always the most polished, but it all has heart and the storytelling confidence that marks his work. Even if you're not familiar with the characters within, the stories are (mostly) able to hold their own.
I'm not hugely familiar with Swamp Thing so I perhaps didn't get as much out of those stories as someone more familiar with the mythos. The first, Jack in the Green shows a Swamp Thing somewhere in England when the Black Death is sweeping the land as he tends to a dying friend. Even without knowing much about about the character or history, you can relate to that. The second Brothers is an odd little story that does rely more on DC/Swamp Thing continuity, telling the story of a living puppet who falls to earth from a satellite. Even without knowing the history though, there's enough human stories - with hippy Chester and his damaged partner Liz; and with bitter government agent Gideon Endor - to hold interest. Shaggy God Stories on the other hand, seems to be an interlude between two big stories and I don't think I got an awful lot out of it.
Moving away from Swamp Thing, the next story in the collection Hold Me which is a touching Hellblazer story, where John Constantine encounters a dead man who just wants someone to, well, hold him. The penultimate story, Sandman Midnight Theatre sees the single meeting between Dream of the Endless and Wesley Dodds, another character to bear the name 'Sandman'. Set on the eve of WW2, Wesley Dodds is drawn to England after the suicide of an old friend, and finds himself investigating the Order of Ancient Mysteries, who still hold Morpheus in a glass box. The collection is finished off with a little framing story for a horror anthology called Welcome Back to the House of Mystery featuring the Cain and Abel who live in the Dreaming. Very much more cartoony in tone than the rest of the book, it's an odd choice to finish the volume, but not necessarily an inappropriate one.
The art throughout is lovely, Gaiman can always find good artists to work with him; the painted, appropriately dreamlike, art for Sandman Midnight Theatre especially drew my eye. A lot of this is fairly early work by Gaiman so it isn't always the most polished, but it all has heart and the storytelling confidence that marks his work. Even if you're not familiar with the characters within, the stories are (mostly) able to hold their own.
April 4, 2017
The short of it:
This is a collection of some of the work that Neil Gaiman had done for Vertico, DC's alternate, more mature imprint. This features few stories from The Swamp Thing, a couple of stand alones, and a longer story set in the Sandman universe.
Why did I pick this book up?
I was at my favorite bookshop in Denver (The Denver Book Mall) and saw this on the shelves. I first saw Neil Gaiman's name picked it up, and flipped through a few pages. When I saw that it featured some Swamp Thing stories, I immediately bought this. I though to myself, "what could go wrong?"
What did I think?
I was disappointed. This was simply too good to be true. This seems to be a collection that contains the obscure, rather than the best of what Gaiman is capable of. In short, this is a collection for the completest, rather than one looking for some really cool stuff. I am also really disappointed because of the Sandman story. I have never read any of the celebrated series, and have wanted to for some time now, but may not - this was a bad introduction to the celebrated series (or is it?). Normally, Gaiman shits gold or silver. This work is a weak alloy.
This is a collection of some of the work that Neil Gaiman had done for Vertico, DC's alternate, more mature imprint. This features few stories from The Swamp Thing, a couple of stand alones, and a longer story set in the Sandman universe.
Why did I pick this book up?
I was at my favorite bookshop in Denver (The Denver Book Mall) and saw this on the shelves. I first saw Neil Gaiman's name picked it up, and flipped through a few pages. When I saw that it featured some Swamp Thing stories, I immediately bought this. I though to myself, "what could go wrong?"
What did I think?
I was disappointed. This was simply too good to be true. This seems to be a collection that contains the obscure, rather than the best of what Gaiman is capable of. In short, this is a collection for the completest, rather than one looking for some really cool stuff. I am also really disappointed because of the Sandman story. I have never read any of the celebrated series, and have wanted to for some time now, but may not - this was a bad introduction to the celebrated series (or is it?). Normally, Gaiman shits gold or silver. This work is a weak alloy.
April 21, 2016
Esta edição de luxo da Panini Books é uma boa adição às estantes de leitores que sejam fãs do trabalho de Neil Gaiman nos diferentes media, bem como aos conhecedores do trabalho inovador para a época de edição da Vertigo. Ler as traduções para o vernacular brasileiro tem o seu quê de doloroso, mas é o preço a pagar para ter esta obra em português. Recensão completa no aCalopsia: Dias da Meia Noite.
October 20, 2018
Perhaps some things remain uncollected for a reason. To be fair, I think my lack of enjoyment comes mostly from my lack of context. I know absolutely nothing about Swamp Thing and even the Sandman entry I remember reading previously and being a bit confused because my only familiarity was with the Gaiman side of things, not the other version of the character. I appreciated the art for sure and the preface work that Gaiman provided but the actual stories themselves didn't do much for me.
March 17, 2013
March 16'th, 2013:
Read "Hold Me." I'd never read an issue of Hellblazer, so I was a little confused at first, but wow does it end strong. A line from the book has instantly become one of my favorite quotes. I propose we put "In Gaiman We Trust" on our money. Yeah, I know he's not American, but neither is God. ;)
Read "Hold Me." I'd never read an issue of Hellblazer, so I was a little confused at first, but wow does it end strong. A line from the book has instantly become one of my favorite quotes. I propose we put "In Gaiman We Trust" on our money. Yeah, I know he's not American, but neither is God. ;)
April 18, 2013
Awesome collection of short stories by Neil Gaiman. After reading this collection, I need to jump back into my Sandman trades and continue where I left off.
November 23, 2016
What an incredible beginning, Mr. Gaiman. Very nice!
August 18, 2020
This is another multiple re-read of a Neil Gaiman collection that, somehow, it seems I never reviewed before. So first thing is that in my last review of a Gaiman collection I claimed that my favourite was whichever one I happened to be reading. Here, with the very next one I am contradicting myself with a measly three stars - why would that be?
Part of it is that the collection does not have the cohesiveness and integrity of some other collections, the stories seem to have little in common except that they don't have anywhere else to share-house, and those kinds of share-houses never work well. Because of this lack of cohesiveness I am breaking a personal rule and reviewing the stories separately.
Also bring on the classic 'it's not you, it's me' excuse: Here is my confession, I am not a HARDCORE comic geekgrl, I liked comics as a kid but was not passionate about them, and until I discovered the adult graphic novels in my 30's I had not read any for years. Several (all?) of these stories are for the hardcore comic geek, that person who still has cartons they have kept from childhood and are word perfect on EXACTLY which episode Medusa went from a villain to a hero, what comic Robin first appeared solo in ect ect. I know people like that, but I am not really one of their tribe.
There are six stories in this collection and the first three are Swamp Thing stories. I like Swamp Thing in the Hellraiser series, I can't get into the spirit of the thing elsewhere, as a rule, though and I have tried really hard because the artwork is good and I started running out of comic favourites ages ago. The first one here is 'Jack In The Green' it is short, set in the plague years of the 17th century (so, really topical right now) and it is apparently the first script Gaiman ever wrote and it is an excellent story with perfect artwork.
The next one is Brothers; another Swamp Thing story, good writing, pretty funky with some wacky concepts and artwork to match. It is not bad but suffers a bit in the telling if you do not already know a lot of ST history as it was written for an Annual and presumably anyone buying an annual is following the characters and the story. As I do not follow ST, I have fairly hazy notions of who and what Chester, Liz and Abby are, why Abby has a bun in the oven which seems to be part of the plot. Maybe.
The third is another Swamp Thing, Shaggy God Stories, it has that very classic 60's - 70's feel comic artwork which I like. It is good that I like the artwork because I have absolutely no idea what the story is. While reading it I have no idea, when I finish reading it I am clueless and on re-reading I remain mystified. It must be a ST companion to some other story I never read. It gets two stars for the artwork.
The next story moves away from the Swamp Thing (thank goodness), to John Constantine of Hellblazer. Drawn by Dave McKean, a virtuoso among artists. As I adore Hellblazer, Constantine, Gaiman AND McKean this story was a huge win for me. It is one of the rarer of Gaimans stories and it is brilliant it has that edginess of the better Helblazers and that strange 'mythic' element that Gaiman captures so well in the writing. The artwork is the final, perfect piece to an extraordinary story and there is not a single panel I would not hang on my wall for it's artistic perfection. It was entirely worth buying the volume just so I could own this story: Hold Me.
Next is a Sandman companion story - kind of. There was an original DC Comics Pulp hero in a gas mask called The Sandman. I encountered it briefly and with no real interest long ago and never thought of it at all until I came across Gaiman's Sandman many years later. Gaiman incorporated that original pulp hero, apparently effortlessly, into the Dream of the Endless story line and so you see tidbits of him a few times through the series. This is a collaboration between Matt Wagner who took on the DC sandman, Wesley Dodds and Gaiman who wrote Dream. It is a pretty good story with very nice artwork exceptionally well suited to the story, the era, which is 1939 and it's society, which is England on the brink of war. It is pretty good and it does not matter too much that I have not read too much of the Mystery Theater or of Wesley Dodds.
The last story is Welcome Back to the House of Mystery.
What can I say?
I want those minutes of my life back.
Every minute that I tried to read this thing is wasted, because I don't especially like the artwork, I can't read the script and I have no idea if there is a story or a narrative and if so what it is. This one is where I prove I am not a real comic geek as it is a throwback to the old-style kiddie 'horror stories' and humour and I don't know that I have ever successfully finished it.
Jack In The Green 5*
Brothers 3*
Shaggly God Stories 2*
Hold Me 5*
Sandman Midnight Theater 4*
Welcome back to the House of Mystery 1*
For a total rating of 3.3 stars which I am rounding down to 3, purely on the annoyance of that last story (Sorry Neil, sorry Dave, I still love you in other ways).
Part of it is that the collection does not have the cohesiveness and integrity of some other collections, the stories seem to have little in common except that they don't have anywhere else to share-house, and those kinds of share-houses never work well. Because of this lack of cohesiveness I am breaking a personal rule and reviewing the stories separately.
Also bring on the classic 'it's not you, it's me' excuse: Here is my confession, I am not a HARDCORE comic geekgrl, I liked comics as a kid but was not passionate about them, and until I discovered the adult graphic novels in my 30's I had not read any for years. Several (all?) of these stories are for the hardcore comic geek, that person who still has cartons they have kept from childhood and are word perfect on EXACTLY which episode Medusa went from a villain to a hero, what comic Robin first appeared solo in ect ect. I know people like that, but I am not really one of their tribe.
There are six stories in this collection and the first three are Swamp Thing stories. I like Swamp Thing in the Hellraiser series, I can't get into the spirit of the thing elsewhere, as a rule, though and I have tried really hard because the artwork is good and I started running out of comic favourites ages ago. The first one here is 'Jack In The Green' it is short, set in the plague years of the 17th century (so, really topical right now) and it is apparently the first script Gaiman ever wrote and it is an excellent story with perfect artwork.
The next one is Brothers; another Swamp Thing story, good writing, pretty funky with some wacky concepts and artwork to match. It is not bad but suffers a bit in the telling if you do not already know a lot of ST history as it was written for an Annual and presumably anyone buying an annual is following the characters and the story. As I do not follow ST, I have fairly hazy notions of who and what Chester, Liz and Abby are, why Abby has a bun in the oven which seems to be part of the plot. Maybe.
The third is another Swamp Thing, Shaggy God Stories, it has that very classic 60's - 70's feel comic artwork which I like. It is good that I like the artwork because I have absolutely no idea what the story is. While reading it I have no idea, when I finish reading it I am clueless and on re-reading I remain mystified. It must be a ST companion to some other story I never read. It gets two stars for the artwork.
The next story moves away from the Swamp Thing (thank goodness), to John Constantine of Hellblazer. Drawn by Dave McKean, a virtuoso among artists. As I adore Hellblazer, Constantine, Gaiman AND McKean this story was a huge win for me. It is one of the rarer of Gaimans stories and it is brilliant it has that edginess of the better Helblazers and that strange 'mythic' element that Gaiman captures so well in the writing. The artwork is the final, perfect piece to an extraordinary story and there is not a single panel I would not hang on my wall for it's artistic perfection. It was entirely worth buying the volume just so I could own this story: Hold Me.
Next is a Sandman companion story - kind of. There was an original DC Comics Pulp hero in a gas mask called The Sandman. I encountered it briefly and with no real interest long ago and never thought of it at all until I came across Gaiman's Sandman many years later. Gaiman incorporated that original pulp hero, apparently effortlessly, into the Dream of the Endless story line and so you see tidbits of him a few times through the series. This is a collaboration between Matt Wagner who took on the DC sandman, Wesley Dodds and Gaiman who wrote Dream. It is a pretty good story with very nice artwork exceptionally well suited to the story, the era, which is 1939 and it's society, which is England on the brink of war. It is pretty good and it does not matter too much that I have not read too much of the Mystery Theater or of Wesley Dodds.
The last story is Welcome Back to the House of Mystery.
What can I say?
I want those minutes of my life back.
Every minute that I tried to read this thing is wasted, because I don't especially like the artwork, I can't read the script and I have no idea if there is a story or a narrative and if so what it is. This one is where I prove I am not a real comic geek as it is a throwback to the old-style kiddie 'horror stories' and humour and I don't know that I have ever successfully finished it.
Jack In The Green 5*
Brothers 3*
Shaggly God Stories 2*
Hold Me 5*
Sandman Midnight Theater 4*
Welcome back to the House of Mystery 1*
For a total rating of 3.3 stars which I am rounding down to 3, purely on the annoyance of that last story (Sorry Neil, sorry Dave, I still love you in other ways).
February 14, 2020
Neil Gaiman reminds me why I love comics in every one of these stories. His passion for stories, and most importantly for the medium of comics, shines through in every page and by the end of this book I felt a tear on my cheek as I closed this book.
In this time when stories are ever-present and seemingly as cheap as the wrapping paper of bubblegum, it's beautiful to see an artist that breathes stories as if they aren't just petty trinkets and entertainments. Comics, and the stories found in them, are part of Neil Gaiman and this collection is a wonderful reminder that ate the core of this medium is humanity gently asking for the reader's attention, and maybe in the case of "Hold me" the understanding of a simple embrace.
In this time when stories are ever-present and seemingly as cheap as the wrapping paper of bubblegum, it's beautiful to see an artist that breathes stories as if they aren't just petty trinkets and entertainments. Comics, and the stories found in them, are part of Neil Gaiman and this collection is a wonderful reminder that ate the core of this medium is humanity gently asking for the reader's attention, and maybe in the case of "Hold me" the understanding of a simple embrace.
April 8, 2023
While an interesting collection of some of Gaiman’s early DC material, this probably will only appeal to a die-hard fan of Gaiman’s work. I’m a fan, but even for me his Swamp Thing stuff can be rather dull. Sandman Midnight Theatre, however, makes up for it, as Wesley Dodds comes face to face with the imprisoned Morpheus in the basement of Fawney Rig.
May 9, 2019
Mostly read this for Sandman Midnight Theater, which was quite good
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