Review: The Absolute Sandman, Vol. 1

The Absolute Sandman, Vol. 1 by Neil Gaiman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This book is simply stunning. These are the comics that made Neil Gaiman famous, and justly so. I was lucky enough (back in 2006) to buy this from Amazon for $14.95. It was a very special offer that they gave out for a very limited time--and it brought this beautiful edition within my price range. As I was a newbie fan of the Sandman, I would not have been able to convince myself to buy this book at the full price. However, after owning it, I more than willingly paid $60 or so for volumes 2 & 3. (I have yet to buy volume 4.) If you aren't sure whether you're going to love this book or not, and you're hesitant to spend the money on it, buy Preludes and Nocturnes. It's the first book in the Sandman series, and it'll convince you that you want more. (However, it is worth noting that the storytelling got progressively better with each volume. If you're still hesitant after the first book, the second one will seal the deal.)

I don't know why it took me four years to finish this book. It's huge, yes. But it's also beautiful and horrifying and dreamy and terrifying. I wanted to take this slow and draw out the pleasure of reading each story. I don't think I'm going to have the same discipline when it comes to the next volumes . . .



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