Sandman

by Elijah Gemmill

I’ve read a few comics in my spare time. Y: The Last Man, Preacher,Watchmen… The last one in particular holds a special place in my heart,since it's the story that made me want to write reviews. But Neil Gaiman’s“The Sandman” was a comic that kept getting recommended to me. I hadread the first two volumes and didn't care to read more. The main characterwasn't that likable, some of the stories led nowhere and I didn’t have a cluewhere it was going. But now that I had some free time over the summer, Idecided to stick with it and try to see what all the fuss was about.... And Ireally think it’s worth your time!

What’s “The Sandman” about? Well, it’s hard to say. It doesn't follow atraditional structure, continually hopping around its timeline, changingperspectives between many diverse characters and their stories. This formatwas jarring at first, but soon grew on me, since a new setting ensured thatthe storylines always felt fresh. Will the next one be in Ancient Rome?Shakespearean England? The French Revolution? It’s an exciting collectionof vastly different tales, all connected by Morpheus, A member of TheEndless that oversees the dreams of every living thing. I mentioned that Sandman

Morpheus isn’t likable, and I still think that’s true at first. But as his journey continues, he’s forced to make difficult choices, inspire dreamers and occasionally prevent supernatural threats, that he grows into a sympathetic character who acts with kindness at key moments and justified cruelty in others. Also, seeing Morpheus at different times means that you can’t always get a grasp on him, and you’ll always wonder what he’ll do next, keeping him intriguing for the duration of the long storyline. Other characters vary in quality. Some simply don’t have time for their characters to be fleshed out while others (like Rose Walker from “The Doll’s House”) have little impact and aren’t that fun to read. Thankfully, characters like the musical Orpheus, the charming Gilbert and the mischievous Lucifer are absorbing characters who, while not present for long, greatly affect the story and pressure Morpheus in interesting ways.

Themes of dreams, wishes and responsibility are explored through the short stories as well as longer plotlines (like Season of Mists). Morpheus isn’t always the protagonist of the story, since Gaiman will focus on supporting characters and how his influence changes the world around them. The struggles of these characters lead to fascinating situations, from a man that believes himself to be the Emperor of the United States, to a magical rendition of "A Midsummer Night's Dream", to a meeting of oppressed house cats. Some of these stories resonate more than others, but all of them are unique, mature and sometimes raise interesting questions. The fiercely imaginative writing makes them feel like mature fairy tales that stay engraved in your mind.

There are longer plotlines which have higher stakes. This includes (but is not limited to) saving a fantasy land from a powerful being, finding magical artifacts and taking over Hell. They don’t last longer than a single volume, but this prevents the series from stretching its ideas thin, telling more stories without being constrained by an overarching narrative.

Characters in this series are brilliantlydesigned, from brightly coloured cartooncharacters to grotesque demons to TheEndless. Especially Morpheus, whose darkwardrobe, pale physical appearance andblack and white word bubbles make himespecially mysterious, imposing andotherworldly.

The locations are brilliantly drawn, too. Often filled with small details or creative creatures that make the world come to life.

Throughout the saga, the artwork style can subtly change depending on the story. An example thatsprings to mind is the mesmerizing tale of “Ramadan”. P. Craig Russel uses border panels similar to Islamic art and utilises a wide range of colours to enhance the beauty of the setting while giving it an “Arabian Nights” feel. Subtle differences in the artwork exemplify that a wide range of writers and artists made this series a reality. And just like the dreamers of “The Sandman” they all have magical worlds to bring to the pages.

It has a rocky start, but “The Sandman” quickly becomes an imaginative, diverse and magical series with colourful characters, dozens of memorable stories and gorgeous artwork. If you enjoy comic books or fantasy, this is a series you can’t afford to miss.

Preludes & Nocturnes: A decent introduction to Morpheus and some of the story's themes, but it can be hard to follow due to some unclear artwork. Also, the inclusion of Martian Manhunter and some Batman villains feel out of place. However, the final issue, "The Sound of Her Wings" is beautiful, and a better indication of what to expect from the series.

The Doll's House: A small step in the right direction. The short stories are memorable, and set up future plotlines well. The main narrative involves a twisted, erm… Let’s call it a “Cereal Convention”. And has some truly depraved moments that will shock you. I personally didn’t care for the protagonist, Rose. She was much less interesting than the characters around her and doesn’t affect the story in a meaningful way.

Dream Country: The length of this volume is almost laughable. Only four issues? Really? Thankfully, quality makes up for quantity as this is when the series finally kicks into gear. The stories are well drawn (especially “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, an endlessly colourful reimagining of Shakespeare’s play) while tales of inspiration, the price of greatness and the power to change the world? They’ll stick with you long after the book is closed.

Season of Mists: The best extended story that mixes horror, dark humour and fantasy brilliantly. It’s thoughtful and gripping tale that highlights Morpheus' growth as a character while displaying the enormous scope of the universe and its characters.

A Game of You: Leaving Morpheus in the background for a while, this story focuses on a group of women forced to overcome threats from the dream world. The setting is creative in its character design, almost like a nightmarish children's book. The lead character here is more memorable than Rose mainly because she actually furthers the plot and makes meaningful decisions that affect the story. I should mention Gaiman received some flak for his portrayal of a trans woman in this volume. Yet, I have seen some trans people praise this character and personally found her story moving.

Fables & Reflections: A collection of nine short stories makes this one of the longest volumes, almost like “Dream Country” but with more stories to pad the pages. Some issues are only passable, but "Orpheus" and "Ramadan" contain some of the best artwork in the series and are ones that you should definitely read.

*The Sandman is a big series with many potential points to start reading. I've been readingVolumes 1-6 for this review; in roughly the order they were published.