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The Sandman (DC Black Label)
The Sandman: Book Two
From the award-winning writer of American Gods and Coraline, The Sandman is one of the most popular and critically acclaimed graphic novels of all time. Neil Gaimain's award-winning masterpiece set the standard for mature, lyrical fantasy in the modern comics era.
Illustrated by an exemplary selection of the medium's most gifted artists, the series is a rich blend of modern and ancient mythology in which contemporary fiction, historical drama, and legend are seamlessly interwoven.
In this second volume of the unforgettable epic—drawn by Kelley Jones, Mike Dringenberg, Shawn McManus, and Collen Doran, with guest art by P. Craig Russell, Bryan Talbot, Matt Wagner, and more—Morpheus of the Endless must journey into Hell to rectify a ten-thousand-year-old injustice. But that means traveling through the realm of Lucifer, who after their last encounter swore he would destroy the King of Dreams...
Collects stories from The Sandman #21-37, The Sandman Special #1, and Vertigo: Winter's Edge #1-3, including the classic story arcs "Season of Mists" and "A Game of You," among others.
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Illustrated by an exemplary selection of the medium's most gifted artists, the series is a rich blend of modern and ancient mythology in which contemporary fiction, historical drama, and legend are seamlessly interwoven.
In this second volume of the unforgettable epic—drawn by Kelley Jones, Mike Dringenberg, Shawn McManus, and Collen Doran, with guest art by P. Craig Russell, Bryan Talbot, Matt Wagner, and more—Morpheus of the Endless must journey into Hell to rectify a ten-thousand-year-old injustice. But that means traveling through the realm of Lucifer, who after their last encounter swore he would destroy the King of Dreams...
Collects stories from The Sandman #21-37, The Sandman Special #1, and Vertigo: Winter's Edge #1-3, including the classic story arcs "Season of Mists" and "A Game of You," among others.
Read less
544 pages, Paperback
First published March 24, 1992
238 people are currently reading
900 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews
December 12, 2023
To my taste, The Sandman: Book Two is much more entertaining and less violent than The Sandman: Book One. Volume two continues arcs of Nada (resolving it in the positive way) and Lucifer Morningstar who decided to quit Hell (the Dream world almost collapsed without Morpheus, but nothing has happened to Hell - why?). The authors go deeper into the philosophy, ruminating on the matters of life, death, desire, despair, and afterlife. I found a lot of themes that have been further exploited in the modern TV series, for example, intertwining and finding connections between different religious systems in order to create a universal theory, encompassing all gods.
Progressively for its time, the comics depict a lot of LGBTQ characters and show the society's reluctance to accept the changes. Within the Endless, though some of them have a stereotypical role (or, maybe, in the later issues the Sandman turns into 'she,' I don't know), others don't identify themselves as belonging to any gender. After all, how can Despair or Desire, or Delirium be associated with one gender but not the other?
Progressively for its time, the comics depict a lot of LGBTQ characters and show the society's reluctance to accept the changes. Within the Endless, though some of them have a stereotypical role (or, maybe, in the later issues the Sandman turns into 'she,' I don't know), others don't identify themselves as belonging to any gender. After all, how can Despair or Desire, or Delirium be associated with one gender but not the other?
November 18, 2022
Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman Book Two, in which: Dream’s sister, Death, reveals to him that he has a pretty horrible track record with women because he’s kind of a dick, and, surprisingly, he agrees; out of a sense of guilt, Morpheus travels to Hell to save an ex-girlfriend that he had banished there several thousand years ago because she wouldn’t be his queen (total dick move); expecting to go to war with Hell, Morpheus finds that Lucifer has just up and quit, unleashing all the demons and the dead unto Earth and other realms and leaving Morpheus the keys to Hell; Gods and deities are flocking to the Dreaming to strike a deal with Morpheus in regards to taking possession of the keys; Barbie (a character from “The Doll’s House”) has lost her connection with her dream-world, which has serious repercussions in the Dreaming and the real world; the tragic story of Orpheus, son of Morpheus, is told, revealing that not only was Morpheus a shitty boyfriend but also a shitty dad…
It’s hard to believe that these stories are thirty years old, as they seem as fresh and exciting as they were when I first read them in high school.
It’s hard to believe that these stories are thirty years old, as they seem as fresh and exciting as they were when I first read them in high school.
September 10, 2022
I always find it hard to rate these books, because some stories don't interest me that much, while others move me to tears. In general... I really, really love this book (even when I'm not that much of a comic book or graphic novel fan). I couldn't wait to continue reading Seasons of Mist, while the ending of Game of You made me cry. I love the art, and I love that the story is still taking centre stage. The themes are still as valid as they were back then, and the writing is simply beautiful.
August 13, 2022
I'm not a comic book lover. You won't see me reading all those superhero stories. I'm not even a graphic novel novel lover either. Reading and images are just not a great combination for me. When I read I don't see movies or videos. And when I watch art I don't have a story going with it in my head. And yet, yet I love love love Sandman.
I'm pretty sure that it's partly Gaiman's influence changing the game for me. There's surprisingly enough a lot of text in Sandman. There are these beautiful sentences and these wonderful atmospheric paragraphs. Some of those texts would have worked without the art too, just like Gaiman's other books.
However, the art does enhance each and every word in this series. Even the way the spoken text is written is art in itself. You never have to look who's mouth the text connects to. The fond, the style and the way it is drawn will already give it away. Combine that with paintings, some small and some as big as a page and you get art.
Because that's what Sandman is. Art. The storytelling, the graphics and the plotlines. It's amazing how inclusive the stories are. How Gaiman portrays issues in such a way that both the timely prejudice, although a lot of it still hasn't disappeared, and his love and understanding shines clearly true. It's art. It's love. It's perfection and addictive.
The next two books are on the way!
I'm pretty sure that it's partly Gaiman's influence changing the game for me. There's surprisingly enough a lot of text in Sandman. There are these beautiful sentences and these wonderful atmospheric paragraphs. Some of those texts would have worked without the art too, just like Gaiman's other books.
However, the art does enhance each and every word in this series. Even the way the spoken text is written is art in itself. You never have to look who's mouth the text connects to. The fond, the style and the way it is drawn will already give it away. Combine that with paintings, some small and some as big as a page and you get art.
Because that's what Sandman is. Art. The storytelling, the graphics and the plotlines. It's amazing how inclusive the stories are. How Gaiman portrays issues in such a way that both the timely prejudice, although a lot of it still hasn't disappeared, and his love and understanding shines clearly true. It's art. It's love. It's perfection and addictive.
The next two books are on the way!
January 9, 2023
this took me four months to complete, and it's only about five hundred pages. the sandman is absolutely crazy to me. neil gaiman's writing is incredible, whether it be for comics or novels. the way he's able to fit these complex stories into a measly ten or less pages is mind boggling. every work in this series could be it's own fully fledged out story. with every volume it somehow gets better and better.
August 15, 2022
The series just keeps getting better and better and the audiobooks from Audible are spectacular. I love seeing the lore and worldbuilding expand with each volume and can't wait to read more!
November 1, 2022
Ah, The Sandman...
A book that has forever changed my life.
Alright, so this is book two of The Sandman series. Which is my absolute favorite volume of Sandman. Neil Gaiman is an author that I have fallen in love with since reading The Sandman. I'm a 16 year old, Aspiring writer and The Sandman is a book that made me realise the stories I want to tell.
Enough of that now, There's plenty of chapters in this but there are two main storylines I would like to discuss. Seasons of Mist, and A Game of You. These two stories are my favorite stories of all time. A Game of You takes the cake for me. Sandman is a fantasy but not a fantasy about a Endless creature adventuring the cosmos, now yes we do get that sometimes in the series but really what The Sandman is, is the stories within us.
Dream makes huge changes in his personality in this book. He went from being a hard headed godlike figure who didn't like being bossed around, into a somewhat compassionate person.
A book that has forever changed my life.
Alright, so this is book two of The Sandman series. Which is my absolute favorite volume of Sandman. Neil Gaiman is an author that I have fallen in love with since reading The Sandman. I'm a 16 year old, Aspiring writer and The Sandman is a book that made me realise the stories I want to tell.
Enough of that now, There's plenty of chapters in this but there are two main storylines I would like to discuss. Seasons of Mist, and A Game of You. These two stories are my favorite stories of all time. A Game of You takes the cake for me. Sandman is a fantasy but not a fantasy about a Endless creature adventuring the cosmos, now yes we do get that sometimes in the series but really what The Sandman is, is the stories within us.
Dream makes huge changes in his personality in this book. He went from being a hard headed godlike figure who didn't like being bossed around, into a somewhat compassionate person.
December 29, 2022
"Dreams are "nothing," sister? Wihout dreams, there could be no despair."
What happens when lucifer resigns from Hell? Where do all the dead and damned go when they are met with the closed gates of Hell? When do we forgive old lovers? How do we dream to make a life as opposed to live in a dream?
This second book has the same witty tone as the first though feels a bit more choppy, as there are more separate stories in this one. They are all good and interesting, pushing you to consider big questions but also telling genuinely good stories. I always forget Gaiman likes a little gore and it really hits you as I think it would in a jump-scare movie set-up. Dream is by far my favourite character. He is arrogant and still has a lot to learn but he is just so fascinating.
I am flying through these... I'll have to get my hands on book 3 soon! This is just too good.
What happens when lucifer resigns from Hell? Where do all the dead and damned go when they are met with the closed gates of Hell? When do we forgive old lovers? How do we dream to make a life as opposed to live in a dream?
This second book has the same witty tone as the first though feels a bit more choppy, as there are more separate stories in this one. They are all good and interesting, pushing you to consider big questions but also telling genuinely good stories. I always forget Gaiman likes a little gore and it really hits you as I think it would in a jump-scare movie set-up. Dream is by far my favourite character. He is arrogant and still has a lot to learn but he is just so fascinating.
I am flying through these... I'll have to get my hands on book 3 soon! This is just too good.
April 26, 2023
So unlike the first volume/book I read this one was definitely more of an Anthology of loosely attached stories set in the Sandman world/universe (idk what to call it im new to all of this haha). I definetely did enjoy it overall - Morpheus and his siblings are such interesting characters and as always I love Gaiman's storytelling - That being said I do have 2 notes I want to add here
So there is a Trans character called Wanda (and she's amazing, we love her) in this story and while (From what I understand having done a little research) I understand this was moderately well received at the time and was well intentioned but the way things were handled gave me a bit of the ick - for context Gaiman has said he regretted doing this and I assume will fix these issues in the show but I feel like its fair to put a bit of a Trigger Warning (although I am really bad at doing these so idk if its comprehensive or spoilery but I feel like I'd want to know what happens) this is not in a lot of detail but just mostly what I remember but please don't click on it if youre not able to deal with Transphobia
I also wanted to say say I skipped through 1 story (Augustus) because I have been a bit of an anxious wreck for the past few days or so and I then just couldn't deal with the imagery of skin in this story but maybe I'll feel different about it if I read it in a better state of mind (also like - im aware its not bad - like its just skin and superficial, and it really doesn't matter - but when my skin already feels like bugs I'm just more sensitive to these sort of things I guess? and I chose enjoyment over pushing through something that would put me in a worse headspace) but that's 100% me and not the story?
Anyway - still an enjoyable comic, really enjoying the story overall although sometimes im a little unsettled - but I am excited to read more
So there is a Trans character called Wanda (and she's amazing, we love her) in this story and while (From what I understand having done a little research) I understand this was moderately well received at the time and was well intentioned but the way things were handled gave me a bit of the ick - for context Gaiman has said he regretted doing this and I assume will fix these issues in the show but I feel like its fair to put a bit of a Trigger Warning (although I am really bad at doing these so idk if its comprehensive or spoilery but I feel like I'd want to know what happens) this is not in a lot of detail but just mostly what I remember but please don't click on it if youre not able to deal with Transphobia
I also wanted to say say I skipped through 1 story (Augustus) because I have been a bit of an anxious wreck for the past few days or so and I then just couldn't deal with the imagery of skin in this story but maybe I'll feel different about it if I read it in a better state of mind (also like - im aware its not bad - like its just skin and superficial, and it really doesn't matter - but when my skin already feels like bugs I'm just more sensitive to these sort of things I guess? and I chose enjoyment over pushing through something that would put me in a worse headspace) but that's 100% me and not the story?
Anyway - still an enjoyable comic, really enjoying the story overall although sometimes im a little unsettled - but I am excited to read more
Read
August 11, 2024> είχα ήδη ξεχάσει βασικά σημεία από το πρώτο και καλά να πάθω γιατί το είχα πολύ νωρίτερα το δεύτερο και το άφηνα
> οι ιστορίες είναι πολλές αλλά δεν μπορεί, κάπου θα πηγαίνουν
> φταίω κι εγώ που αφήνω το κεφάλι μου να τριγυρνάει
> έχει αρκετή πλάκα να διαβάζεις στοιχεία ελληνικής μυθολογίας στα αγγλικά
> κάποιος ΤΟ ΕΦΤΙΑΞΕ ΑΥΤΟ. ΜΕ ΤΟ ΧΕΡΙ ΤΟΥ. ρισπεκτ
> I might have a crush on the older D sibling (iykyk) (προσπαθώ να είμαι διακριτική εδω)
“The truth here is a matter of conjecture”
και κλείνω με πολυ meta ατάκα και γιατί καταγράφει κάπως το essence του δεύτερου τόμου ΚΑΙ γιατί (ακριβώς επειδή το κεφάλι μου τριγύριζε όσο το διάβαζα) δεν ξέρω όντως -ακόμα- ποιά είναι η αληθής εκδοχή της εμπειρίας μου από αυτό
/πολύ καλά πέρασα πάντως, παράπονα δεν έχω/
> οι ιστορίες είναι πολλές αλλά δεν μπορεί, κάπου θα πηγαίνουν
> φταίω κι εγώ που αφήνω το κεφάλι μου να τριγυρνάει
> έχει αρκετή πλάκα να διαβάζεις στοιχεία ελληνικής μυθολογίας στα αγγλικά
> κάποιος ΤΟ ΕΦΤΙΑΞΕ ΑΥΤΟ. ΜΕ ΤΟ ΧΕΡΙ ΤΟΥ. ρισπεκτ
> I might have a crush on the older D sibling (iykyk) (προσπαθώ να είμαι διακριτική εδω)
“The truth here is a matter of conjecture”
και κλείνω με πολυ meta ατάκα και γιατί καταγράφει κάπως το essence του δεύτερου τόμου ΚΑΙ γιατί (ακριβώς επειδή το κεφάλι μου τριγύριζε όσο το διάβαζα) δεν ξέρω όντως -ακόμα- ποιά είναι η αληθής εκδοχή της εμπειρίας μου από αυτό
/πολύ καλά πέρασα πάντως, παράπονα δεν έχω/
September 14, 2023
I used to be a princess. I had a cuckoo in my head.
They say miracles are past; and we have our philosophical persons to make modern and familiar things supernatural and causeless. Hence it is that we make trifles of terrors, ensconcing ourselves into seeming knowledge when we should submit ourselves to an unknown fear.
They say miracles are past; and we have our philosophical persons to make modern and familiar things supernatural and causeless. Hence it is that we make trifles of terrors, ensconcing ourselves into seeming knowledge when we should submit ourselves to an unknown fear.
November 9, 2022
4.5 Loved this collection!
May 2, 2023
My eyes are permanently scarred by some of the artwork and some of the dialogue was really cringe but still enjoyed for the most part
April 8, 2024
I love how these comics really blend genres but still maintain overarching themes and have returning characters. The different art styles are always fun to see. Also, there trans representation that is well depicted.
January 24, 2023
Obsessed with Gaiman’s renditions of death and dreams in particular, but everything about this is quite glorious and ahead of its time.
August 10, 2022
4.5/5. It’s hard to rate and review a compilation of so many issues and volumes, and even moreso when I don’t have much on the level of this to compare it to.
I loved the beginning and end the most respectively, but felt less interested in aspects of the two main story arcs here for different reasons. It feels really petty to narrow it own to the first half feeling a bit sluggish with the focus on the other dieties and not the endless, or the latter being similar due to Dream’s specific absence, but that was part of it. I think both for the most part stepped back from some of the magic of the first two storylines which were more grounded in elevating and mystifying the waking world if that makes any sense. A balancing act between the raw human experience and the surreal bittersweet fantasy of the dreaming, and how it reveals the former. While Barbie’s story on paper would fulfill this for me, it felt like a shadow compared to Rose’s in book one which I was much more invested in, until this one’s end and funeral which admittedly was one of my most emotional moments from all of this so far.
Despite this not being as good as the first one for me there were still specific issues and moments like that which I loved, and I continue to really appreciate how everything is so woven together in a way it feels like I would reach the full picture of until I finish the entire run. It feels really rewarding to read and the literary writing style is absolutely unmatched for me. And because of that I feel like the above problems might end up being completely resolved for me given how much we learn down the line, so I hold my full judgement and might fully change my perspective in the future.
But like my thoughts with the first book, there’s some complicated messaging here. This time with the LGBT characters in Barbie’s arc that I referenced above. It lead me to seek out articles and discussions to see how specifically the trans community felt about it. On one hand the representation seems to have been truly groundbreaking at the time, but aspects of the excecution to my modern eyes made me feel uncomfortable even if the final message was clearly well intentioned, and I’m clearly not alone in that. I don’t know how fair it is to criticise by today’s standards when I can’t fully know what they were then, but it still dampened what I can’t help but see is some of the first parts of all of this so far that really could use some revision and stick out like a sore thumb.
And while there thankfully wasn’t anymore of the slight overuse of sexual violence in the first book, I did feel that there was one particular part related to gender that bothered me. During that same arc, we are told (for context, by a villain) that boys and girls are different because boys dream of being smarter, stronger heroes and girls dream of becoming princesses with secret parents in far away lands. As silly as this feels to point out, this isn’t grounded in my reality to an extent that felt borderline alienating for me. I understand the point this conversation had in the narrative, but it felt strange to read right next to the author supporting subverting gender norms while feeling like this character’s perspective is supposed to hold an element of truth within the story. But maybe I need to give it more thought.
I don’t think any of this will have made any sense to anybody who hasn’t read the book, but hey, I want to put my thoughts somewhere. I’m excited to read more and see where the rest takes me.
I loved the beginning and end the most respectively, but felt less interested in aspects of the two main story arcs here for different reasons. It feels really petty to narrow it own to the first half feeling a bit sluggish with the focus on the other dieties and not the endless, or the latter being similar due to Dream’s specific absence, but that was part of it. I think both for the most part stepped back from some of the magic of the first two storylines which were more grounded in elevating and mystifying the waking world if that makes any sense. A balancing act between the raw human experience and the surreal bittersweet fantasy of the dreaming, and how it reveals the former. While Barbie’s story on paper would fulfill this for me, it felt like a shadow compared to Rose’s in book one which I was much more invested in, until this one’s end and funeral which admittedly was one of my most emotional moments from all of this so far.
Despite this not being as good as the first one for me there were still specific issues and moments like that which I loved, and I continue to really appreciate how everything is so woven together in a way it feels like I would reach the full picture of until I finish the entire run. It feels really rewarding to read and the literary writing style is absolutely unmatched for me. And because of that I feel like the above problems might end up being completely resolved for me given how much we learn down the line, so I hold my full judgement and might fully change my perspective in the future.
But like my thoughts with the first book, there’s some complicated messaging here. This time with the LGBT characters in Barbie’s arc that I referenced above. It lead me to seek out articles and discussions to see how specifically the trans community felt about it. On one hand the representation seems to have been truly groundbreaking at the time, but aspects of the excecution to my modern eyes made me feel uncomfortable even if the final message was clearly well intentioned, and I’m clearly not alone in that. I don’t know how fair it is to criticise by today’s standards when I can’t fully know what they were then, but it still dampened what I can’t help but see is some of the first parts of all of this so far that really could use some revision and stick out like a sore thumb.
And while there thankfully wasn’t anymore of the slight overuse of sexual violence in the first book, I did feel that there was one particular part related to gender that bothered me. During that same arc, we are told (for context, by a villain) that boys and girls are different because boys dream of being smarter, stronger heroes and girls dream of becoming princesses with secret parents in far away lands. As silly as this feels to point out, this isn’t grounded in my reality to an extent that felt borderline alienating for me. I understand the point this conversation had in the narrative, but it felt strange to read right next to the author supporting subverting gender norms while feeling like this character’s perspective is supposed to hold an element of truth within the story. But maybe I need to give it more thought.
I don’t think any of this will have made any sense to anybody who hasn’t read the book, but hey, I want to put my thoughts somewhere. I’m excited to read more and see where the rest takes me.
September 10, 2024
Good stuff, if you like that sort of stuff.
June 6, 2022
Disclaimer: I've previously sworn off Gaiman's work, deciding it just wasn't for me, with the exception of the Sandman series. Now I'm finally getting to read it.
I get it now. I see the appeal of this series: it's an open world with this loose framework of the Endless, driving/reacting to various characters, both human and not. It's a dark fantasy world, with twisted fairy tales that have an element of the horror genre. This setting leaves the possibilities open so that they aren't always directly about the Endless themselves, but their involvement gives a peak at their human-like personalities.
This volume starts with a major arc, Seasons of Mists that gives a better view of each of the Endless, but more importantly it develops Morpheus as he is given a gift that he doesn't want, but many others covet it.
After that are three short stories, all of which I really enjoyed: Thermidor, which features what seems to be an ancestor of John Constantine, as well as Morpheus' son. August, details a day in the life of Augustus Caesar as he pretends to be a beggar. Both of these appealed to me because they took a moment in history and injected this bit of fantasy within it. And the last is Three Septembers and a January a fairly simple tale of someone who lives in a fantasy world in his mind, even though everyone else thinks he's crazy. There's something there about life and the perception of who you are.
The second larger arc is A Game for You. This is one that walks the line of fairy tale and darker subtext. I felt like it went a long way to discuss imagination and the death or letting go of childhood things. I liked his comments on boy's vs. girl's fantasy. Wasn't bad, just didn't appeal to me. This story is also very pro LGBQT; praise to Gaiman for doing that decades ago.
Lastly is The Song of Orpheus detailing just what happened to him to be in the state he was in with Thermidor. It's a Greek Tragedy, and further describes Sandman's softened heart.
I get it now. I see the appeal of this series: it's an open world with this loose framework of the Endless, driving/reacting to various characters, both human and not. It's a dark fantasy world, with twisted fairy tales that have an element of the horror genre. This setting leaves the possibilities open so that they aren't always directly about the Endless themselves, but their involvement gives a peak at their human-like personalities.
This volume starts with a major arc, Seasons of Mists that gives a better view of each of the Endless, but more importantly it develops Morpheus as he is given a gift that he doesn't want, but many others covet it.
After that are three short stories, all of which I really enjoyed: Thermidor, which features what seems to be an ancestor of John Constantine, as well as Morpheus' son. August, details a day in the life of Augustus Caesar as he pretends to be a beggar. Both of these appealed to me because they took a moment in history and injected this bit of fantasy within it. And the last is Three Septembers and a January a fairly simple tale of someone who lives in a fantasy world in his mind, even though everyone else thinks he's crazy. There's something there about life and the perception of who you are.
The second larger arc is A Game for You. This is one that walks the line of fairy tale and darker subtext. I felt like it went a long way to discuss imagination and the death or letting go of childhood things. I liked his comments on boy's vs. girl's fantasy. Wasn't bad, just didn't appeal to me. This story is also very pro LGBQT; praise to Gaiman for doing that decades ago.
Lastly is The Song of Orpheus detailing just what happened to him to be in the state he was in with Thermidor. It's a Greek Tragedy, and further describes Sandman's softened heart.
July 24, 2022
Book two is even better than book one.
I'll admit that I wasn't entirely satisfied with the end of A Game of You. The first end, not the post-end ending. I assume that many unanswered questions will be covered in future issues.
I could kick myself for not reading this years ago.
I'll admit that I wasn't entirely satisfied with the end of A Game of You. The first end, not the post-end ending. I assume that many unanswered questions will be covered in future issues.
I could kick myself for not reading this years ago.
November 5, 2022
World's most powerful and fucked up family continues to fuck shit up for everyone else as their actions continue to have massive consequences (not clickbait)(extremely delightful tho)
November 18, 2022
The second book in the new collection that ties in with the TV series feel like a much needed sequel that picks up loose end and develops them into full stories, as well as revisiting some previous characters.
In the first book, as well as in the TV series, Morpheus briefly encounters his past lover Nada in Hell and we learn more about how the lord of dreams appears to different cultures. The end of the first book also contains a stand alone story within a story about how the two met. The second book starts with the excellent story arc "Season of Mists", which sees Dream journey into Hell to free Nada, but things get complicated fast.
Another good story arc is "A game of you', in which Gaiman returns to the character Barbie and the dream land she used to visit.
The third story arc, "The song of Orpheus", aims to give insight into the relationship of Morpheus and his other lover, the muse Calliope (seen in the first book and season 1) and what happened to their son, the mythical Orpheus. The story feels lazy, relying too much on mythology. There is little development or actual insight into their relationships.
The last story arc, "Thermidor" is even weaker. It stars the Roman caesar Augustus, contemplating life, dreams and death, while dressed as a beggar.
There are also 2 short stories at the end, one about a satyr of Desire and another about Death. They are ok, with different art, but not really mind blowing.
Overall, this book feels like a mixed bag. 2 very good story arcs, 2 that are forgettable and 2 decent short stories.
In the first book, as well as in the TV series, Morpheus briefly encounters his past lover Nada in Hell and we learn more about how the lord of dreams appears to different cultures. The end of the first book also contains a stand alone story within a story about how the two met. The second book starts with the excellent story arc "Season of Mists", which sees Dream journey into Hell to free Nada, but things get complicated fast.
Another good story arc is "A game of you', in which Gaiman returns to the character Barbie and the dream land she used to visit.
The third story arc, "The song of Orpheus", aims to give insight into the relationship of Morpheus and his other lover, the muse Calliope (seen in the first book and season 1) and what happened to their son, the mythical Orpheus. The story feels lazy, relying too much on mythology. There is little development or actual insight into their relationships.
The last story arc, "Thermidor" is even weaker. It stars the Roman caesar Augustus, contemplating life, dreams and death, while dressed as a beggar.
There are also 2 short stories at the end, one about a satyr of Desire and another about Death. They are ok, with different art, but not really mind blowing.
Overall, this book feels like a mixed bag. 2 very good story arcs, 2 that are forgettable and 2 decent short stories.
January 27, 2023
This Book Two is a collection of Sandman comics, some are part of longer stories and some aren't.
Going into this I was so excited about the battle between Dream and Lucifer and it just... [redacted]. Then some of the other stories were rewrites of mythology or lore, and I found these so dull and kind of agonizing, even the original storie were predictable. I almost didn't finish all of them but my husband's making me read all of these so we can watch the show
To quote my husband, upon seeing me reading something other than this Book:
"Hey, why aren't you reading the Sandman? Just because it's bad?"
Lmaoo
That being said, every once in a while something so profound will be said that you're just standing there like. Wig
Also during the end of the Barbie series barbie describes Dream as "beautiful"? No! He's the creepy slenderman lookin guy from the original cover get it right bitch
Going into this I was so excited about the battle between Dream and Lucifer and it just... [redacted]. Then some of the other stories were rewrites of mythology or lore, and I found these so dull and kind of agonizing, even the original storie were predictable. I almost didn't finish all of them but my husband's making me read all of these so we can watch the show
To quote my husband, upon seeing me reading something other than this Book:
"Hey, why aren't you reading the Sandman? Just because it's bad?"
Lmaoo
That being said, every once in a while something so profound will be said that you're just standing there like. Wig
Also during the end of the Barbie series barbie describes Dream as "beautiful"? No! He's the creepy slenderman lookin guy from the original cover get it right bitch
November 30, 2025
Generally speaking, I liked the art here more than Book One. The pencils of Kelley Jones and Michael Zulli and the inking of P. Craig Russell and Dick Giordano. As for the stories, my favourite arc was "A Game of You" (except its epilogue) and my favourite issue was "Three Septembers and a January".
March 3, 2023
This one really wasn't for me. The artwork is stunning, particularly towards the end, but it was a collection of stories - a bit of a hodge podge that lacks cohesion. I was expecting everything to be tied together in the end. I also felt like some of the tales were just too fantastical and 'crazy' to the point where I started wondering if Gaiman did any drugs writing this.
January 3, 2024
the sandman universe has become so much more familiar to me—i know i'm going to be devastated when i finish the comics, but i'm hoping the show continues for more seasons to keep me going. 🙏 i just love neil gaiman's writing throughout this story, and i can't wait to see what happens next with the endless, not just morpheus although his character is so intriguing to me!!!
January 5, 2023
I like Gaiman's Sandman graphic novels better than most of his other fiction. Many of his stories are much too whimsical to keep me happy. The Sandman also has its moments of whimsy, however, overall it is a much darker, edgier story. I love jumping around throughout history and finding out how the Endless influenced people and events. This volume was a touch better than number one due to all the storylines that included Morpheus' siblings.
January 28, 2023
It's pretty good but I realized that I rated the first one a little too high. These comics are good but the wacky plots sometimes kinda suck. Usually, each chapter has like a crazy plot, which is entertaining, but they don't always feel satisfying because of how crazy they are.
May 2, 2023
disturbing, and i mean that as a compliment. neil gaiman and the artists are talented as all hell…but i also think they need a tiny bit of help. just a smidge. some of this was truly jarring but it just fits, at least for the most part haha
May 22, 2024
I enjoyed the short series’ somewhat less than Book One but really loved the one off’s a lot more. Gaiman’s blend of history and myth is remarkable and each series has a different artistic take that keeps things interested.
May 12, 2025
The first half of this book was slow and in no way engaging, but the final few arcs were masterful, so it averages out to 3 stars (loved a game of you, song of Orpheus, a winter tale, and how they met themselves)
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