The Sandman, #1
Hardcover, 240 pages
English language
Published Nov. 30, 1998 by DC Comics.
Preludes and Nocturnes collects the first eight issues of The Sandman comic by Neil Gaiman published by DC Vertigo.
The series centers on Morpheus (Dream of the Endless). Dream is imprisoned for decades by an occultist seeking immortality.
Upon escaping, he must reclaim his objects of power while still in a weakened state, confronting an addict to his dream powder, the legions of Hell, and an all-powerful madman (Doctor Destiny) in the process.
Rereading because of the TV series, which has a lot more warmth than I get from this book. I think I like this more now, because of that.
Whenever I review a graphic novel I have to begin by mentioning I'm not much of an enthusiast for the genre. But this was on the giveaway shelf in my building's laundry room and Neil Gaiman is pretty famous so I figure I'd take a look.
As graphic novels go, this one's pretty decent. The story kept me interested, it has some fine vignettes, and the drawing is quite good.
I know I'm rating this low relative to what genre fans give it, but for me, for a graphic novel, this is me saying it's good for what it is.
The Lord of the Dreams has been kept captive for seventy years. When he gets free, he has to recover his powers objects. He is looking for revenge, too. Very dark and hopeless story.
While the DC-universe jumping in the first volume makes it a bit weird, Sandman's first volume is still a great intro to the world of the Endless. Plus, this has the Sound of her Wings, my favourite Sandman comic of all time.
