The Sandman is a comic book series written by Neil Gaiman. Published in the United States by the DC Comics imprint Vertigo for 75 issues from 1989 until 1996, the series chronicles the adventures of Dream of The Endless, who rules over the world of dreams. It occurs within the DC Universe, but the stories themselves are generally only slightly connected to the mainstream DC canon. Vertigo logo Vertigo is an imprint of comic book and graphic novel publisher DC Comics. ... ‹ The template below (Expand) is being considered for deletion. ... See also: 1995 in comics, other events of 1996, 1997 in comics, 1990s in comics and the list of years in comics Publications: January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December Publications This is an incomplete list. ... Dream is one of the Endless, fictional characters from Neil Gaimans comic book series, The Sandman. ... The Endless, as a family The Endless (Destiny, Death, Dream, Destruction, Desire, Despair and Delirium) are a group of beings who embody various aspects of the universe in the DC comic book series The Sandman, by Neil Gaiman. ... Neil Richard Gaiman (IPA: ) (born November 10, 1960[2]) is an English author of science fiction and fantasy short stories and novels, graphic novels, comics, and films. ... David Tench McKean (born 29 December 1963 in Maidenhead, England) is an illustrator, photographer, comic book artist, graphic designer, filmmaker and musician. ... Sam Kieth is a writer and illustrator of comic books. ... Death, from The Sandman #8, drawn by Mike Dringenberg Mike Dringenberg is a French/American comics artist best known for his work on DC/Vertigos Sandman series with writer Neil Gaiman. ... Malcolm Jones III (born 1970, died 1996) was an American comics artist best known as an inker on The Sandman, where he added his illustrative line and textures to the work of pencillers such as Mike Dringenberg, Kelley Jones and Colleen Doran. ... Kelley Jones (born July 23, 1962 in Sacramento, CA) is a comic book artist best known for his runs on Batman with writer Doug Moench and on Sandman (DC Comics/Vertigo) with writer Neil Gaiman. ... Jill Thompson (1966 - ) is a comic book writer and illustrator. ... Marc Hempel is an American cartoonist/comics artist best known for his work on The Sandman with Neil Gaiman, Breathtaker with Mark Wheatley, his own characters Gregory and Tug & Buster, and the anthology series Marc Hempels Naked Brain. ... Michael Zulli is an American comics artist best known for his work on The Sandman with writer Neil Gaiman. ... Charles Vess (born 1951) is an American illustrator. ... Todd Klein is a well-known and respected comic book letterer. ... Neil Richard Gaiman (IPA: ) (born November 10, 1960[2]) is an English author of science fiction and fantasy short stories and novels, graphic novels, comics, and films. ... Death, from The Sandman #8, drawn by Mike Dringenberg Mike Dringenberg is a French/American comics artist best known for his work on DC/Vertigos Sandman series with writer Neil Gaiman. ... Sam Kieth is a writer and illustrator of comic books. ... A comic book is a magazine or book containing the art form of comics. ... Neil Richard Gaiman (IPA: ) (born November 10, 1960[2]) is an English author of science fiction and fantasy short stories and novels, graphic novels, comics, and films. ... DC Comics is an American comic book and related media company. ... Vertigo logo Vertigo is an imprint of comic book and graphic novel publisher DC Comics. ... ‹ The template below (Expand) is being considered for deletion. ... See also: 1995 in comics, other events of 1996, 1997 in comics, 1990s in comics and the list of years in comics Publications: January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December Publications This is an incomplete list. ... Dream is one of the Endless, fictional characters from Neil Gaimans comic book series, The Sandman. ... The Endless are a group of beings who embody various aspects of the universe in the DC comic book series The Sandman, by Neil Gaiman. ... Cover to the History of the DC Universe trade paperback. ... Canon, in the context of a fictional universe, comprises those novels, stories, films, etc. ...

The Sandman was one of Vertigo's flagship titles, and is currently kept in print as a series of ten trade paperbacks. Critically acclaimed, The Sandman was the only comic to ever win the World Fantasy Award,^[1] and Norman Mailer described the series as "a comic book for intellectuals."^[2] In comics, a trade paperback (TPB or simply trade) specifically refers to a collection of stories originally published in comic books reprinted in book format, usually capturing one story arc from a single title or a series of stories with a connected story arc or common theme from one or... First awarded in 1975, the World Fantasy Awards are handed out annually at the World Fantasy Convention (WFC) to recognize outstanding achievement in the field of fantasy. ... Norman Kingsley Mailer (January 31, 1923 – November 10, 2007) was an American novelist, journalist, playwright, screenwriter, and film director. ...

Summary

The Sandman's main character is Morpheus, the Lord of Dreams, who is essentially the anthropomorphic manifestation of dreams. At the start of the series, Morpheus is captured by an occult ritual and held prisoner for 80 years. Morpheus escapes in the modern day and sets about rebuilding his kingdom, which has fallen into disrepair in his absence. Gaiman himself has summarized the plot of the series (in the foreword to Endless Nights) as "The Lord of Dreams learns one must change or die and then makes his decision." Anthropomorphism, also referred to as personification or prosopopeia, is the attribution of human characteristics to inanimate objects, animals, forces of nature, and others. ... Dreaming is the subjective experience of imaginary images, sounds/voices, thoughts or sensations during sleep, usually involuntarily. ... The Sandman: Endless Nights is a graphic novel by Neil Gaiman as a follow-up (but not a sequel) to his ground-breaking Sandman series. ...

Recently talks are underway between the acclaimed British/Pakistan based director Kamran Yar Khan & the studios for a film version based on the original Sandman series from 1989 - 1996. Tentative release date is May 2011.

The character's initially haughty and often cruel manner begins to soften after his years of imprisonment at the start of the series, but the challenge of undoing past sins and changing old ways is an enormous one for a being who has been set in his ways for billions of years. Later, the series evolves into an elaborate fantasy series, incorporating elements of classical and contemporary mythology, ultimately placing its protagonist in the role of a tragic hero. For other uses, see Fantasy (disambiguation). ... Classical or Greco-Roman mythology usually refers to the mythology, and the associated polytheistic rituals and practices, of Classical Antiquity. ... For other uses, see Mythology (disambiguation). ... A tragic hero is a literary character who makes a judgment error that inevitably leads to his/her own destruction. ...

The story-lines primarily take place in the Dreaming, Morpheus's realm, and the waking world, with occasional visits to other domains, such as Hell, Faerie, Asgard, and the domains of the other Endless. Many used the contemporary United States of America and the United Kingdom as a backdrop. The DC Universe was the official setting of the series, but well-known DC characters and places were rarely featured after 1990, with one exception: Lyta Hall, formerly Fury of the 1980s super-team Infinity Inc., figures prominently in the "Kindly Ones" story arc. John Constantine, Etrigan the Demon, Element Girl, and Doctor Destiny are also key characters in several of the early issues, which also feature cameos by Mister Miracle, Martian Manhunter, Batman, and Green Lantern. And in the final volume, Superman, Batman, Darkseid and the Martian Manhunter all make very brief appearances. The Dreaming is a fictional place, the domain of Dream of the Endless in Neil Gaimans The Sandman comic book series. ... This article is about the theological or philosophical afterlife. ... by Sophie Anderson For other uses, see Fairy (disambiguation). ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Cover to the History of the DC Universe trade paperback. ... Fury is the codename shared by two DC Comics superheroines, who are mother and daughter. ... Infinity Inc. ... John Constantine (born May 10, 1953 in Liverpool, England) is the fictional protagonist of the comic series Hellblazer. ... The Demon is a DC Comics superhero series created by prolific comic book writer-artist Jack Kirby. ... Element Girl is the name of a DC Comics superhero. ... Doctor Destiny is a fictional supervillain published by DC Comics. ... Mister Miracle is a fictional superhero published by DC Comics. ... Martian Manhunter is the superhero alias of Jonn Jonzz, alternately known as the Manhunter from Mars, a fictional comic book superhero who was created by DC Comics. ... Batman (originally referred to as the Bat-Man and still referred to at times as the Batman) is a DC Comics fictional superhero who first appeared in Detective Comics #27 in May 1939. ... The Green Lantern redirects here. ... Superman is a fictional character and comic book superhero , originally created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian artist Joe Shuster and published by DC Comics. ... Darkseid is a fictional comic book supervillain in the DC Comics Universe. ...

Most of the storylines take place in modern times (presumably the late 1980s and early 1990s), but many short stories are set in the past, taking advantage of the immortal nature of many of the characters, and deal with historical individuals and events. The 1980s refers to the years from 1980 to 1989. ... For the band, see 1990s (band). ...

Publication history

The Sandman grew out of a proposal by Neil Gaiman to revive the 1970s Sandman series by Jack Kirby. Gaiman had considered including characters from DC Comics' "Dream Stream" (including the Kirby Sandman, Brute, Glob, and the brothers Cain and Abel) in a scene for the first issue of his 1988 miniseries Black Orchid. While the scene did not make it into later drafts, Gaiman soon began constructing a treatment for a new series. Gaiman mentioned his treatment in passing to DC editor Karen Berger. While months later Berger offered Gaiman a comic title to work on, he was unsure his Sandman pitch would be accepted. However, weeks later Berger asked Gaiman if he was interested in doing a Sandman series. Gaiman recalled, "I said, 'Um...yes. Yes, definitely. What the catch?' [Berger said] 'There's only one. We'd like a new Sandman. Keep the name. But the rest is up to you.'"^[3] Sandman, alias Wesley Dodds, is a comic book superhero in the DC Comics universe, best known for his stories set during the 1940s and his costume consisting of a green business suit, fedora, and gas mask. ... Jack Kirby (born Jacob Kurtzberg, August 28, 1917 – February 6, 1994) was one of the most influential, recognizable, and prolific artists in American comic books, and the co-creator of such enduring characters and popular culture icons as the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, the Hulk, Captain America, and hundreds... Lets us talks some realities here before we get into the fictional works here. ... Karen Berger is the editor of the Vertigo imprint of DC Comics and one of the most influential comic book editors of the 1990s. ...

Gaiman crafted the new character from an initial image of "a man, young, pale and naked, imprisoned in a tiny cell, waiting until his captors passed away [...] deathly thin, with long dark hair, and strange eyes." Gaiman patterned the character's black attire on a print of a Japanese kimono as well as his own wardrobe. Gaiman wrote an eight-issue outline and gave it to Dave McKean and Leigh Baulch, who drew character sketches. Berger reviewed the sketches (along with some drawn by Gaiman) and suggested Sam Keith as the series' artist.^[4] Mike Dringenberg, Todd Klein, Robbie Busch, and Dave McKean were hired as inker, letterer, colorist, and cover artist, respectively. McKean's approach towards comics covers was unconventional, for he convinced Berger that the series' protagonist did not need to appear on every cover.^[5] David Tench McKean (born 29 December 1963 in Maidenhead, England) is an illustrator, photographer, comic book artist, graphic designer, filmmaker and musician. ... Death, from The Sandman #8, drawn by Mike Dringenberg Mike Dringenberg is a French/American comics artist best known for his work on DC/Vertigos Sandman series with writer Neil Gaiman. ... Todd Klein is a well-known and respected comic book letterer. ... The inker is one of the two line artists in a traditional comic book, or graphic novel. ... In comic books, the letterer is the person who draws the letters in the word balloons, draws in sound effects and usually designs a books logo. ...

The debut issue of The Sandman was cover-dated January 1989. Gaiman described the early issues as "awkward", for he, as well as Keith, Dringenberg and Busch, had never worked on a regular series before. Kieth quit while working on the third issue; he was replaced by Dringenberg as penciler, who was in turn replaced by Malcolm Jones III as inker.^[4] Malcolm Jones III (born 1970, died 1996) was an American comics artist best known as an inker on The Sandman, where he added his illustrative line and textures to the work of pencillers such as Mike Dringenberg, Kelley Jones and Colleen Doran. ...

The Sandman became a cult success for DC Comics and attracted an audience unlike that of mainstream comics: half the readership was female, many were in their twenties, and many read no other comics at all. By the time the series concluded in 1996, it was outselling the titles of DC's flagship character Superman. Gaiman had a finite run in mind for the series, and it concluded with issue 75. Gaiman said in 1996, "Could I do another five issues of Sandman? Well, damn right. And would I be able to look at myself in the mirror happily? No. Is it time to stop because I've reached the end, yes, and I think I'd rather leave while I'm in love."^[6] Superman is a fictional character and comic book superhero , originally created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian artist Joe Shuster and published by DC Comics. ...

Collections

The Sandman was initially published as a monthly serial, in 32-page comic books (with some exceptions to this pattern). As the series quickly increased in popularity, DC Comics began to reprint them in hardcover and paperback editions, each representing either a complete novel or a collection of related short stories.

DC first published "The Doll's House" storyline in a collection called simply The Sandman. Shortly thereafter, the first three volumes were published and named independently and also collected in an eponymous boxed set. (Death's debut story, "The Sound of Her Wings" from issue #8, appeared both at the beginning of The Doll's House and at the end of early editions of Preludes and Nocturnes, creating overlap between the first two volumes. This overlap isn't present in newer editions.) Further collections would then be released shortly after their completion in serial form.

The Sandman Library

A total of ten collections contain the full run of the series, and have all been kept in print. They are as follows:

• Preludes and Nocturnes (collecting The Sandman #1-8, 1988-1989, ISBN 1-56389-011-9): 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 a dream junkie, the legions of Hell, and an all-powerful madman in the process. Guest starring several DC Universe characters including John Constantine, Scott Free, J'onn J'onzz, Scarecrow, Etrigan the Demon, and Doctor Destiny. It also features the introduction of Lucifer.
• The Doll's House (collecting The Sandman #9-16, 1989-1990, ISBN 0-930289-59-5): Morpheus tracks down rogue dreams that escaped the Dreaming during his absence. In the process, he must shatter the illusions of a family living in dreams, disband a convention of serial killers, and deal with a "dream vortex" that threatens the existence of the entire Dreaming.
• Dream Country (collecting The Sandman #17-20, 1990, ISBN 1-56389-016-X): This volume contains four independent stories. The imprisoned muse Calliope is forced to provide story ideas, a cat seeks to change the world with dreams, Shakespeare puts on a play for an unearthly audience, and a shape-shifting immortal (obscure DC comics character Element Girl) longs for death.
• Season of Mists (collecting The Sandman #21-28, 1990-1991, ISBN 1-56389-041-0): Dream travels to Hell to free a former lover, Nada, whom he condemned to torment thousands of years ago. There, Dream learns that Lucifer has abandoned his domain. When Lucifer gives the Hell's key (and therefore, the ownership of Hell) to the Sandman, Morpheus himself becomes trapped in a tangled network of threats, promises, and lies as gods and demons from various pantheons seek ownership of Hell.
• A Game of You (collecting The Sandman #32-37, 1991-1992): Barbie, a New York divorcée (introduced in The Doll's House), travels to the magical realm that she once inhabited in her dreams, only to find that it is being threatened by the forces of the Cuckoo. This series introduces the character of Thessaly, who will play a key role in Morpheus' eventual fate.
• Fables and Reflections (collecting The Sandman #29-31, 38-40, 50, Sandman Special #1 and Vertigo Preview #1, 1991, 1992, 1993): A collection of short stories set throughout Morpheus' history, most of them originally published both before and after the "Game of You" story arc. Four issues dealing with kings and rulers, were originally published under the label Distant Mirrors, while three others, detailing the meetings of various characters, were published as the Convergences arc. Fables and Reflections also includes the Sandman Special, originally published as a stand-alone issue, which assimilates the myth of Orpheus into the Sandman mythos as well as a very short Sandman story from the Vertigo Preview promotional comic.
• Brief Lives (collecting The Sandman #41-49, 1992-1993): Dream's erratic younger sister Delirium convinces him to help her search for their missing brother, the former Endless Destruction, who left his place among the "family" three hundred years before. However, their quest is marred by the death of all around them, and eventually Morpheus must turn to his son Orpheus to find the truth, and undo an ancient sin.
• Worlds' End (collecting The Sandman #51-56, 1993): A "reality storm" (see Zero Hour) strands travelers from across the cosmos at the "Worlds' End Inn". To pass the time, they exchange stories.
• The Kindly Ones (collecting The Sandman #57-69 and Vertigo Jam #1, 1994-1995): In the longest Sandman story, Morpheus becomes the prey of the Furies, avenging spirits who torment those who spill family blood.
• The Wake (collecting The Sandman #70-75, 1995-1996): The conclusion of the series, wrapping up the remaining loose ends in a three-issue "wake" sequence, followed by three self-contained stories.

In addition, the cover images from The Sandman have been compiled into one volume: Preludes and Nocturnes is the first graphic novel collection of the comic book series The Sandman, published by DC Comics. ... John Constantine (born May 10, 1953 in Liverpool, England) is the fictional protagonist of the comic series Hellblazer. ... Mister Miracle is a fictional superhero published by DC Comics. ... Martian Manhunter is the superhero alias of Jonn Jonzz, alternately known as the Manhunter from Mars, a fictional comic book superhero who was created by DC Comics. ... This article deals with the Scarecrow of DC Comics. ... The Demon is a DC Comics superhero series created by prolific comic book writer-artist Jack Kirby. ... Doctor Destiny is a fictional supervillain published by DC Comics. ... Lucifer is a comic book published by Vertigo, an imprint of DC Comics. ... Dream Country is the third graphic novel collection of the comic book series The Sandman, published by DC Comics. ... This article is about the muse. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Element Girl is the name of a DC Comics superhero. ... Season of Mists (1992) is the fourth collection of issues in the DC Comics series, The Sandman, written by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Kelley Jones, Mike Dringenberg, Malcolm Jones III, Matt Wagner, Dick Giordano, George Pratt and P. Craig Russell, coloured by Steve Oliff and Danny Vozzo, and lettered by... Lucifer is a comic book published by Vertigo, an imprint of DC Comics. ... A Game of You (1993) is the fifth collection of issues in the DC Comics series, The Sandman. ... Fables and Reflections (1993) is the sixth collection of issues in the DC Comics series, The Sandman. ... For other uses, see Orpheus (disambiguation). ... Brief Lives (1994) is the seventh collection of issues in the DC Comics series, The Sandman. ... Zero Hour: Crisis in Time was a 1994 comic book miniseries and crossover storyline that ran in DC Comics. ... The Kindly Ones (1996) is the ninth collection of issues in the DC Comics series, The Sandman. ... Two Furies, from an ancient vase. ... This article is about The Wake, the graphic novel in The Sandman series. ... A wake is a ceremony associated with death. ...

• Dustcovers: The Collected Sandman Covers (1998): Dave McKean's covers use techniques such as painting, sculpture, photography, drawing, and computer manipulation.

In 1999, some years after Gaiman completed The Sandman, he wrote a lavishly illustrated Sandman novel, Sandman: The Dream Hunters with art by Yoshitaka Amano. Like many of the single-issue stories throughout The Sandman, Morpheus appears in Dream Hunters, but is a supporting character at best. In Gaiman's afterword to the book, it is claimed that the story was a retelling of an existing Japanese legend. However, the books he cites as sources for it do not exist, and when asked Gaiman has stated that he made up the "legend" out of whole cloth. David Tench McKean (born 29 December 1963 in Maidenhead, England) is an illustrator, photographer, comic book artist, graphic designer, filmmaker and musician. ... Sandman: The Dream Hunters is a graphic novel by Neil Gaiman and Yoshitaka Amano. ... Yoshitaka Amano (天野 喜孝 Amano Yoshitaka, originally 天野 嘉孝 (pronounced the same), born July 28, 1952) is a Japanese artist, best known for his illustrations for Vampire Hunter D and for his character designs for the video game series Final Fantasy. ...

The Absolute Sandman, #1 slipcover.

As the 10th anniversary arrived, Gaiman wrote several new stories about Morpheus and his siblings, one story for each, which were published in 2003 as the Endless Nights anthology. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... A slipcover (also called loose cover) is a fitted protective cover that may be slipped off and on a piece of upholstered furniture. ... The Sandman: Endless Nights is a graphic novel by Neil Gaiman as a follow-up (but not a sequel) to his ground-breaking Sandman series. ...

Neil Gaiman, on his blog, announced plans for an Absolute Sandman, a new set of oversized editions with slipcases which would compile all 10 volumes.^[7] In October 2006, the first of four volumes of the Absolute Edition Sandman was published; it collected the first 20 issues (that is, Preludes and Nocturnes, The Doll's House, and Dream Country). The issues in the first volume of Absolute Sandman have been recolored with reference to the original prints. The volume also features a copy of the original series outline and other bonus features, such as a new introduction by the president of DC Comics, a new afterword, and a reproduction of the original comic draft and notes for A Midsummer Night's Dream.^[8] In celebration of this reissuing DC also issued a refurbished edition of the first issue of the series. Volume 2 of The Absolute Sandman was officially released October 31, 2007[3]. A slipcase is a five-sided box, usually made of high-quality cardboard, in which books or book sets are slipped for protection. ... DC Comics Absolute Editions are a series of archival quality printings of graphic novels published by DC Comics and Wildstorm Productions. ... Dream Country is the third graphic novel collection of the comic book series The Sandman, published by DC Comics. ...

Spinoffs

Because of the amount of critical acclaim Sandman received and because of its commercial viability (at the time of its conclusion, it was DC’s best-selling series), a number of spin-off volumes have been produced. Subsidiary works include: The DC comic book series The Sandman may have concluded with Issue 75, but numerous comics, novels and spin-offs continue to make use of its characters, concepts and universe. ...

• Death: The High Cost of Living (1993), a three-issue, Gaiman-penned limited series starring Morpheus’ older sister.
• Sandman Midnight Theatre (1995), in which Wesley Dodds, the Golden Age Sandman, meets Lord Morpheus of The Endless, the Modern Age Sandman. Published between issues #71 and #72, the latter of which showed Dodds out of costume.
• Death: The Time of Your Life (1996): another three-issue, Gaiman-penned Death limited series, also featuring supporting characters from A Game of You.
• The Sandman: Book of Dreams (1996), an original anthology of prose short stories co-edited with Ed Kramer, featuring the world of The Sandman in some way. It contains work from some notable contributors, among them Caitlin R. Kiernan, Tad Williams, Gene Wolfe, Tori Amos and Colin Greenland. Publisher DC Comics imposed restrictive copyright terms on contributing authors, leading to a few withdrawing their stories.
• The Dreaming (1996 - 2001), a monthly series set in Morpheus’ realm but revolving around the supporting characters with little or no interaction from the Endless. It was written and illustrated by a variety of writers and artists; Caitlin R. Kiernan wrote the largest number of scripts for the series.
• The Sandman Presents (1999-2004): a collection of limited series by various authors and illustrators featuring secondary characters from The Sandman.

1. Lucifer (1999) (3 issues)
2. Love Street (1999) (3 issues)
3. Petrefax (2000) (4 issues)
4. Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Dreams...But Were Afraid To Ask (2001) (1 issue)
5. The Deadboy Detectives (2001) (4 issues)
6. The Corinthian (2001-2002) (3 issues)
7. The Thessaliad (2002) (4 issues)
8. The Furies (2002) (2 issues)
9. Bast (2003) (3 issues)
10. Taller Tales (2003) (1 issue)
11. Thessaly: Witch for Hire (2004) (4 issues)
12. Marquee Moon (written in 1997, published online in 2007)

• Sandman: The Dream Hunters (1999): a prose novella that incorporates a so-called Japanese folk tale into the Sandman mythos, written by Gaiman and featuring illustrations by Yoshitaka Amano. It is not actually based on any existing Japanese folklore, but rather incorporates elements of Chinese and Japanese folklore and mythology into a new "myth". It was nominated for the Hugo Award for Best Related Book in 2000.
• The Sandman Companion by Hy Bender (2000), a non-fiction work providing extra information about the series. Its first section discusses the ten Sandman collections sequentially, analyzing their meaning, explaining some of Gaiman's myriad references and sometimes providing information on the writing of the comics. It also features a lengthy interview about the series with Gaiman himself.
• The Little Endless Storybook (2001), a one-shot comic/story book which depicts The Endless as toddlers and follows Delirium's dog Barnabas as he attempts to find the missing Delirium, written and illustrated by Jill Thompson.
• Lucifer (2001 - 2006): a monthly series written by Mike Carey continuing the story of Lucifer following the events of the fourth collection, Season of Mists.
• Sandman: Endless Nights (2003): a graphic novel with one story for each of the Endless. They are set throughout history but two take place after the final events of the monthly series. It was written by Gaiman and featured a different illustrator for each story. This collection is notable as it is the first hardcover graphic novel ever to appear on the New York Times Hardcover Bestseller list.
• Death: At Death’s Door (2004): a manga-style graphic novel, written and illustrated by Jill Thompson, showcasing Death’s activities during Season of Mists. This may become part of a series of manga novels starring Death.
• The Dead Boy Detectives (2005): a sequel to Death: At Death's Door, also by Jill Thompson, featuring the two young ghosts from Season of Mists. (The title was previously used for a The Sandman Presents limited series about the same characters.)

Death as illustrated by Chris Bachalo. ... The limited series is a term referring to a comic book series with a set finite number of issues. ... Death is a fictional character from the DC comic book series, The Sandman (1988 - 1996). ... Sandman Midnight Theatre is the title of a graphic novel in which two DC comics characters called the Sandman, Morpheus and Wesley Dodds, encounter each other. ... The Sandman, alias Wesley Dodds, is a fictional masked crimefighter in the DC Comics universe. ... The story Death: The Time of Your Life was written by Neil Gaiman, and is one of many spinoffs from his graphic novel series The Sandman. ... The limited series is a term referring to a comic book series with a set finite number of issues. ... Edward E. Kramer was born on March 20, 1961 in Brooklyn, New York. ... Caitlín Rebekah Kiernan (born May 26, 1964 in Skerries, Dublin, Ireland) is the author of numerous science fiction and dark fantasy works, including many comics, more than seventy published short stories, and numerous scientific papers. ... Robert Paul Tad Williams (born March 14, 1957) is the author of several fantasy and science fiction novels, including Tailchasers Song, the Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn series, the Otherland series, and The War of the Flowers. ... Gene Wolfe (born May 7, 1931, New York, New York) is an American science fiction and fantasy writer. ... Tori Amos (born Myra Ellen Amos on August 22, 1963) is an American pianist and singer-songwriter. ... Colin Greenland (b. ... The Dreaming is a fictional place, the domain of Dream of the Endless in Neil Gaimans The Sandman comic book series. ... The DC comic book series The Sandman may have concluded with Issue 75, but numerous comics, novels and spin-offs continue to make use of its characters, concepts and universe. ... Sandman: The Dream Hunters is a graphic novel by Neil Gaiman and Yoshitaka Amano. ... Yoshitaka Amano (天野 喜孝 Amano Yoshitaka, originally 天野 嘉孝 (pronounced the same), born July 28, 1952) is a Japanese artist, best known for his illustrations for Vampire Hunter D and for his character designs for the video game series Final Fantasy. ... The Hugo Awards are given annually by members of the World Science Fiction Convention for the best science fiction or fantasy works. ... Hy Bender is an author who has written or cowritten 14 books. ... The Little Endless Storybook is a graphic novel by Jill Thompson published by the Vertigo imprint of DC Comics. ... Lucifer is a comic book published by Vertigo, an imprint of DC Comics. ... Mike Carey is the writer of the Eisner Award nominated Lucifer and Hellblazer, comic book titles published by the Vertigo imprint of DC Comics. ... The Sandman: Endless Nights is a graphic novel by Neil Gaiman as a follow-up (but not a sequel) to his ground-breaking Sandman series. ... Cover to the Comic Death at Deaths Door is a comic penned and inked in the manga-style, by Jill Thompson, author of the Little Endless. ... This article is about the comics published in East Asian countries. ... The Dead Boy Detectives are fictional characters that have appeared in comic books published by DC Comics Vertigo imprint. ...

Awards and recognition

The Sandman issue #19 "A Midsummer Night's Dream" won the World Fantasy Award in 1991 for Best Short Fiction. The following morning, the rules of the award were changed to ensure no other comics could get that award. As a result, it is the only comic that will ever win a World Fantasy Award, unless the rules are again changed. Also, Sandman and its spin-offs have won eighteen Eisner Awards, including three for Best Continuing Series, one for Best Short Story, four for Best Writer (Neil Gaiman), seven for Best Lettering (Todd Klein) and one for Best Graphic Album:Reprint. The Sandman: The Dream Hunters was nominated for the Hugo Award for Best Related Book in 2000. First awarded in 1975, the World Fantasy Awards are handed out annually at the World Fantasy Convention (WFC) to recognize outstanding achievement in the field of fantasy. ... The Eisner Awards are given for achievement in comic books. ... Neil Richard Gaiman (IPA: ) (born November 10, 1960[2]) is an English author of science fiction and fantasy short stories and novels, graphic novels, comics, and films. ... Todd Klein is a well-known and respected comic book letterer. ... The Hugo Awards are given annually by members of the World Science Fiction Convention for the best science fiction or fantasy works. ...

Movie

Throughout the late 1990s, a movie adaption of Preludes and Nocturnes was sporadically planned. Roger Avary was originally attached to direct, but was fired after the project went through three writers (including Terry Rossio) and eight scripts. It was due to their meeting for the Sandman movie that Avary and Gaiman later collaborated on Beowulf. A later script, released onto the Internet, met with wide scorn from fans, with Gaiman calling it "not only the worst Sandman script I've ever seen, but quite easily the worst script I've ever read." Gaiman also has said that his dissatisfaction with how his characters were being treated dissuaded him from writing any more stories involving the Endless (although he has since written Endless Nights). By 2001 the project had become stranded in "development hell".^[9] Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ... Roger Avary, photographed for Score Magazine at the Hotel Costes K, Paris. ... Terry Rossio, born July 2, 1960 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, is an American screenwriter screenwriting guru and film producer. ... Beowulf is a 2007 animated epic film adapted from the Old English heroic epic poem of anonymous authorship, Beowulf. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... Development hell is media-industry jargon for a film, television screenplay, or computer program[1] (or sometimes just a concept or idea) getting stuck in development and never going into production. ...

See also

• List of characters in The Sandman (Vertigo)

This is a list of characters appearing in The Sandman comic book, published by DC Comics Vertigo imprint. ...

References

• Bender, Hy (2000). The Sandman Companion : A Dreamer's Guide to the Award-Winning Comic Series. DC Comics. 1-56-389644-3. 
• Gaiman, Neil; Sam Kieth (Illustrator), Mike Dringenberg (Illustrator), Charles Vess (Illustrator), Michael Zulli (Illustrator), Kelley Jones (Illustrator), Chris Bachalo (Illustrator), Malcolm Jones (Illustrator), Danny Vozzo (Illustrator) (November 1, 2006). The Absolute Sandman, Vol. 1 (in English). Vertigo Comics -(imprint of DC Comics). ISBN 1-4012-1082-1. 
• Stephen Rauch, Neil Gaiman's The Sandman and Joseph Campbell: In Search of the Modern Myth (2003) Holicong, PA : Wildside Press; ISBN 1-592-24212-X.
• The Sandman Papers: An Exploration of the Sandman Mythology, edited by Joe Sanders, preface by Neil Gaiman (2006). ISBN 1-560-97748-5. Seattle, WA : Fantagraphics.
• Sandman at the Comic Book DB

Vertigo logo Vertigo is an imprint of comic book and graphic novel publisher DC Comics. ... Wildside Press is an independent publishing company located in Maryland. ...

Footnotes

First awarded in 1975, the World Fantasy Awards are handed out annually at the World Fantasy Convention (WFC) to recognize outstanding achievement in the field of fantasy. ... is the 27th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 211th day of the year (212th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... October 9 is the 282nd day of the year (283rd in Leap years). ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 248th day of the year (249th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ...

External links

• Video Interview with Neil Gaiman on the origins of Sandman at Spacecast.com
• A short summary of the main Sandman series
• Summaries of many issues of the Sandman
• The Annotated Sandman
• Gaiman's thoughts on a Sandman movie