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''The Sandman'' is a
comic book A comic book, also called comicbook, comic magazine or (in the United Kingdom and Ireland) simply comic, is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panels that represent individual scenes. Panels are oft ...
written by
Neil Gaiman Neil Richard MacKinnon GaimanBorn as Neil Richard Gaiman, with "MacKinnon" added on the occasion of his marriage to Amanda Palmer. ; ( Neil Richard Gaiman; born 10 November 1960) is an English author of short fiction, novels, comic books, gra ...
and published by
DC Comics DC Comics, Inc. (doing business as DC) is an American comic book publisher and the flagship unit of DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. DC Comics is one of the largest and oldest American comic book companies, with their f ...
. Its artists include
Sam Kieth Sam Kieth (born January 11, 1963) is an American comics artist and writer, best known as the creator of ''The Maxx'' and '' Zero Girl''. Career Comics Kieth's first published work was "a story in the back of a Comico comic" when he was "abou ...
,
Mike Dringenberg Mike Dringenberg (born ) is an American comics artist best known for his work on DC Comics/Vertigo's ''Sandman'' series with writer Neil Gaiman. Early life Mike Dringenberg was born in Laon, France and raised in Germany before moving to the ...
,
Jill Thompson Jill Thompson (born November 20, 1966) is an American illustrator and writer who has worked for stage, film, and television. Well known for her work on Neil Gaiman's '' The Sandman'' characters and her own '' Scary Godmother'' series, she has wo ...
,
Shawn McManus Shawn McManus (born June 30, 1958) is an American artist who has worked extensively over three decades for DC Comics and other companies, notably for DC's Vertigo imprint including the ''Fables'' series. Comics Born in Brookline, Massachusett ...
,
Marc Hempel Marc Hempel (born May 25, 1957) is an American cartoonist/ comics artist best known for his work on '' The Sandman'' with Neil Gaiman. Biography Writer and artist Marc Hempel grew up in the northwest suburbs of Chicago and now lives in Baltimor ...
,
Bryan Talbot Bryan Talbot (born 24 February 1952) is a British comics artist and writer, best known as the creator of '' The Adventures of Luther Arkwright'' and its sequel '' Heart of Empire'', as well as the ''Grandville'' series of books. He collaborate ...
, and
Michael Zulli Michael Zulli is an American artist known for his work as an animal and wildlife illustrator and as a comic book illustrator. Career Michael Zulli's career in the comics industry began in October 1986 with '' The Puma Blues'', on which he colla ...
, with lettering by
Todd Klein Todd Klein (born January 28, 1951) is an American comic book letterer, logo designer, and occasional writer, primarily for DC Comics. Biography Early career Todd Klein broke into comics in the summer of 1977, hired by DC Comics as a staff pro ...
and covers by
Dave McKean David McKean (born 29 December 1963) is an English illustrator, photographer, comic book artist, graphic designer, filmmaker and musician. His work incorporates drawing, painting, photography, collage, found objects, digital art, and sculptur ...
. The original series ran for 75 issues from January 1989 to March 1996. Beginning with issue No. 47, it was placed under DC's
Vertigo Vertigo is a condition where a person has the sensation of movement or of surrounding objects moving when they are not. Often it feels like a spinning or swaying movement. This may be associated with nausea, vomiting, sweating, or difficulties w ...
imprint, and following Vertigo's retirement in 2020, reprints have been published under DC's Black Label imprint. The main character of ''The Sandman'' is
Dream A dream is a succession of images, ideas, emotions, and sensations that usually occur involuntarily in the mind during certain stages of sleep. Humans spend about two hours dreaming per night, and each dream lasts around 5 to 20 minutes, althou ...
, also known as Morpheus and other names, who is one of the seven
Endless Endless or The Endless may refer to: Business * Endless (private equity), a British firm * Endless.com, an e-commerce website selling shoes and accessories * Endless Computers, an American operating system company Film * ''The Endless'' (fil ...
. The other Endless are
Destiny Destiny, sometimes referred to as fate (from Latin ''fatum'' "decree, prediction, destiny, fate"), is a predetermined course of events. It may be conceived as a predetermined future, whether in general or of an individual. Fate Although ofte ...
,
Death Death is the irreversible cessation of all biological functions that sustain an organism. For organisms with a brain, death can also be defined as the irreversible cessation of functioning of the whole brain, including brainstem, and brain ...
,
Desire Desires are states of mind that are expressed by terms like "wanting", "wishing", "longing" or "craving". A great variety of features is commonly associated with desires. They are seen as propositional attitudes towards conceivable states of affa ...
, Despair,
Delirium Delirium (also known as acute confusional state) is an organically caused decline from a previous baseline of mental function that develops over a short period of time, typically hours to days. Delirium is a syndrome encompassing disturbances in ...
(formerly Delight), and
Destruction Destruction may refer to: Concepts * Destruktion, a term from the philosophy of Martin Heidegger * Destructive narcissism, a pathological form of narcissism * Self-destructive behaviour, a widely used phrase that ''conceptualises'' certain k ...
(also known as 'The Prodigal'). The series is famous for Gaiman's trademark use of anthropomorphic personification of various metaphysical entities, while also blending mythology and history in its horror setting within the
DC Universe The DC Universe (DCU) is the fictional shared universe where most stories in American comic book titles published by DC Comics take place. Superheroes such as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Robin, Martian Manhunter, The Flash, Green Lantern, ...
. ''The Sandman'' is a story about stories and how Morpheus, the Lord of Dreams, is captured and subsequently learns that sometimes change is inevitable. ''The Sandman'' was Vertigo's flagship title, and is available as a series of ten
trade paperbacks A paperback (softcover, softback) book is one with a thick paper or paperboard cover, and often held together with glue rather than stitches or staples. In contrast, hardcover (hardback) books are bound with cardboard covered with cloth, lea ...
, a recolored five-volume ''Absolute'' hardcover edition with slipcase, a three-volume
omnibus edition An omnibus edition or omnibus is a creative work containing one or more works by the same or, more rarely, different authors. Commonly two or more components have been previously published as books but a collection of shorter works, or shorter wor ...
, a black-and-white ''Annotated'' edition; it is also available for digital download. Critically acclaimed, ''The Sandman'' was among the first
graphic novel A graphic novel is a long-form, fictional work of sequential art. The term ''graphic novel'' is often applied broadly, including fiction, non-fiction, and anthologized work, though this practice is highly contested by comic scholars and industry ...
s to appear on ''The New York Times'' Best Seller list, along with '' Maus'', '' Watchmen,'' and ''
The Dark Knight Returns ''The Dark Knight Returns'' (alternatively titled ''Batman: The Dark Knight Returns'') is a 1986 four-issue comic book miniseries starring Batman, written by Frank Miller, illustrated by Miller and Klaus Janson, with color by Lynn Varley, and pub ...
''. It was one of five graphic novels to make '' Entertainment Weekly''s "100 best reads from 1983 to 2008", ranking at No. 46.
Norman Mailer Nachem Malech Mailer (January 31, 1923 – November 10, 2007), known by his pen name Norman Kingsley Mailer, was an American novelist, journalist, essayist, playwright, activist, filmmaker and actor. In a career spanning over six decades, Mailer ...
described the series as "a comic strip for intellectuals". The series has exerted considerable influence over the fantasy genre and graphic novel medium since its publication and is often regarded as one of the greatest graphic novels of all time. Various film and television versions of ''Sandman'' have been developed. In 2013,
Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (commonly known as Warner Bros. or abbreviated as WB) is an American film and entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California, and a subsidiary of Warner Bros. D ...
announced that a film adaptation starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt was in production, but Gordon-Levitt dropped out in 2016. In July 2020, September 2021 and September 2022, three full-cast audio dramas were released exclusively through
Audible Audible may refer to: * Audible (service) Audible is an American online audiobook and podcast service that allows users to purchase and stream audiobooks and other forms of spoken word content. This content can be purchased individually or unde ...
starring
James McAvoy James McAvoy (; born 21 April 1979) is a Scottish actor. He made his acting debut as a teen in '' The Near Room'' (1995) and appeared mostly on television until 2003, when his feature film career began. His notable television work includes ...
, which were narrated by Gaiman and dramatized and directed by Dirk Maggs. In August 2022, Netflix released a
television adaptation An adaptation is a transfer of a work of art from one style, culture or medium to another. Some common examples are: * Film adaptation, a story from another work, adapted into a film (it may be a novel, non-fiction like journalism, autobiography, ...
starring
Tom Sturridge Thomas Sidney Jerome Sturridge is an English actor. His early films include ''Being Julia'' (2004), '' Like Minds'' (2006), and ''The Boat That Rocked'' (2009). He was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for his performances i ...
.


Publication history


Creation

''The Sandman'' grew out of a proposal by Neil Gaiman to revive DC's 1974–1976 series '' The Sandman'', written by Joe Simon and
Michael Fleisher Michael Lawrence Fleisher (November 1, 1942 — February 2, 2018) was an American writer known for his DC Comics of the 1970s and 1980s, particularly for the characters Spectre and Jonah Hex. Biography Early life and career Fleisher was raised ...
and illustrated by Jack Kirby and Ernie Chua. Gaiman had considered including characters from the "Dream Stream" (including the Kirby Sandman, Brute, Glob, and the brothers
Cain and Abel In the biblical Book of Genesis, Cain ''Qayīn'', in pausa ''Qāyīn''; gr, Κάϊν ''Káïn''; ar, قابيل/قايين, Qābīl / Qāyīn and Abel ''Heḇel'', in pausa ''Hāḇel''; gr, Ἅβελ ''Hábel''; ar, هابيل, Hābīl ...
) in a scene for the first issue of his 1988 miniseries '' Black Orchid''. While the scene did not make it into later drafts because Roy Thomas was using the characters in ''
Infinity, Inc. Infinity, Inc. is a team of superheroes appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The first incarnation is mostly composed of the children and heirs of the Justice Society of America (JSA), making them the Society's analogue to t ...
'', Gaiman soon began constructing a treatment for a new series, and mentioned his treatment in passing to DC editor Karen Berger. He was unsure his ''Sandman'' pitch would be accepted, but weeks later, Berger asked Gaiman if he was interested in doing a ''Sandman'' series. Gaiman recalled, "I said, 'Um ... yes. Yes, definitely. What's the catch?' erger said,'There's only one. We'd like a new Sandman. Keep the name. But the rest is up to you.'" 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 David McKean (born 29 December 1963) is an English illustrator, photographer, comic book artist, graphic designer, filmmaker and musician. His work incorporates drawing, painting, photography, collage, found objects, digital art, and sculptur ...
and Leigh Baulch, who drew character sketches. Berger reviewed the sketches (along with some drawn by Gaiman) and suggested
Sam Kieth Sam Kieth (born January 11, 1963) is an American comics artist and writer, best known as the creator of ''The Maxx'' and '' Zero Girl''. Career Comics Kieth's first published work was "a story in the back of a Comico comic" when he was "abou ...
as the series' artist.
Mike Dringenberg Mike Dringenberg (born ) is an American comics artist best known for his work on DC Comics/Vertigo's ''Sandman'' series with writer Neil Gaiman. Early life Mike Dringenberg was born in Laon, France and raised in Germany before moving to the ...
,
Todd Klein Todd Klein (born January 28, 1951) is an American comic book letterer, logo designer, and occasional writer, primarily for DC Comics. Biography Early career Todd Klein broke into comics in the summer of 1977, hired by DC Comics as a staff pro ...
, Robbie Busch, and Dave McKean were hired as
inker The inker (sometimes credited as the finisher or embellisher) is one of the two line artists in traditional comic book production. The penciller creates a drawing, the inker outlines, interprets, finalizes, retraces this drawing by using a pencil ...
,
letterer A letterer is a member of a team of comic book creators responsible for drawing the comic book's text. The letterer's use of typefaces, calligraphy, letter size, and layout all contribute to the impact of the comic. The letterer crafts the com ...
, colorist, and cover artist, respectively. McKean's approach towards comics covers was unconventional, and he convinced Berger that the series' protagonist did not need to appear on every cover. The first seven issues were inspired and influenced by early DC and EC Comics, and authors like Dennis Wheatley,
Clive Barker Clive Barker (born 5 October 1952) is an English novelist, playwright, author, film director, and visual artist who came to prominence in the mid-1980s with a series of short stories, the '' Books of Blood'', which established him as a leading ...
,
Ramsey Campbell Ramsey Campbell (born 4 January 1946) is an English horror fiction writer, editor and critic who has been writing for well over fifty years. He is the author of over 30 novels and hundreds of short stories, many of them winners of literary awa ...
, Robert Heinlein and
Alan Moore Alan Moore (born 18 November 1953) is an English author known primarily for his work in comic books including ''Watchmen'', ''V for Vendetta'', ''The Ballad of Halo Jones'', ''Swamp Thing'', ''Batman:'' ''The Killing Joke'', and ''From Hell' ...
, but with issue eight he says he finally found his own voice. Gaiman's approach to scripting the series became more difficult as the complex storyline and characters developed. "When I began writing ''Sandman'', it would take me a couple of weeks to write a script. As time went by I got slower and slower, until a script was taking me six weeks to a month to write."


Original series

The debut issue of ''The Sandman'' went on sale November 29, 1988 and was
cover-date The cover date of a periodical publication is the date displayed on the cover, which is not necessarily the true date of publication (the on-sale date or release date); later cover dates are common in magazine and comic book publishing. More unus ...
d January 1989. Gaiman described the early issues as "awkward", since he, as well as Kieth, Dringenberg, and Busch, had never worked on a regular series before. Kieth quit after the fifth issue; he was replaced by Dringenberg as penciler, who was in turn replaced by
Malcolm Jones III Malcolm Jones III (1959–1996) was an American comic book 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. H ...
as inker. Dave McKean was the cover artist for the series through its entire run. The character then appeared in two of DC's "Suggested for Mature Readers" titles. In '' Swamp Thing'' vol. 2 No. 84 (March 1989), Dream and Eve allow Matthew Cable to live in the Dreaming because he died there, resurrecting him as a raven. He then meets
John Constantine John Constantine () is a fictional character who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. Constantine first appeared in ''Swamp Thing'' #37 (June 1985), and was created by Alan Moore, Stephen R. Bissette, Rick Veitch, and John To ...
in '' Hellblazer'' No. 19 leading into the latter's guest appearance in ''Sandman'' No. 3 (March 1989). Gaiman revisited
Hell In religion and folklore, hell is a location in the afterlife in which evil souls are subjected to punitive suffering, most often through torture, as eternal punishment after death. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hells ...
as depicted by
Alan Moore Alan Moore (born 18 November 1953) is an English author known primarily for his work in comic books including ''Watchmen'', ''V for Vendetta'', ''The Ballad of Halo Jones'', ''Swamp Thing'', ''Batman:'' ''The Killing Joke'', and ''From Hell' ...
in ''Swamp Thing'', beginning with a guest appearance by Jack Kirby's
Etrigan the Demon Etrigan the Demon is an antihero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Jack Kirby, Etrigan is a demon from Hell who, despite his violent tendencies, usually finds himself allied with the forces of good, mainly beca ...
in issue No. 4 (April 1989). The story introduces Hell's Hierarchy (as their entry is titled in ''
Who's Who in the DC Universe ''Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe'' (1985–87), usually referred to simply as ''Who's Who'', is the umbrella title for a number of comic book series which DC Comics published to catalogue the wide variety of fictional cha ...
''), headed by Lucifer (who would spin off into his own series in 1999),
Beelzebub Beelzebub ( ; he, ''Baʿal-zəḇūḇ'') or Beelzebul is a name derived from a Philistine god, formerly worshipped in Ekron, and later adopted by some Abrahamic religions as a major demon. The name ''Beelzebub'' is associated with the Cana ...
(later adversary to
Kid Eternity Kid Eternity is a fictional character, a comic book superhero that premiered in '' Hit Comics'' #25 written by Otto Binder, drawn by Sheldon Moldoff, and published by American company Quality Comics in December 1942. All of Quality's intellectual ...
), and
Azazel In the Bible, the name Azazel (; he, עֲזָאזֵל ''ʿAzāʾzēl''; ar, عزازيل, ʿAzāzīl) appears in association with the scapegoat rite; the name represents a desolate place where a scapegoat bearing the sins of the Jews during ...
, whom Dream defeated later in the series. Dream visited the
Justice League International Justice League International (JLI) is a fictional DC comics superhero team that succeeded the original Justice League from the late 1980s to the early 2000s. The team enjoyed several comic books runs, the first being written by Keith Giffen and ...
in the following issue, No. 5 (May 1989). Although multiple mainstream DC characters appeared in the series throughout its run, such as Martian Manhunter and
Scarecrow A scarecrow is a decoy or mannequin, often in the shape of a human. Humanoid scarecrows are usually dressed in old clothes and placed in open fields to discourage birds from disturbing and feeding on recently cast seed and growing crops.Lesle ...
, this would not be the norm. Gaiman and artist Mike Dringenberg introduced
Death Death is the irreversible cessation of all biological functions that sustain an organism. For organisms with a brain, death can also be defined as the irreversible cessation of functioning of the whole brain, including brainstem, and brain ...
, the older sister of Dream, in issue No. 8 (August 1989). Gaiman began incorporating elements of the Kirby ''Sandman'' series in issue No. 11 (December 1989), including the changes implemented by Roy Thomas. Joe Simon and Michael Fleisher had treated the character, who resembled a superhero, as the "true" Sandman. The Thomas and Gaiman stories revealed that the character's existence was a sham created by two nightmares who had escaped to a pocket of the Dreaming. Brute and Glob would later attempt this again on
Sanderson Hawkins Sanderson "Sandy" Hawkins, formerly known as Sandy the Golden Boy, Sands, Sand and eventual successor of his mentor Wesley Dodds as Sandman, is a fictional character and a superhero in the DC Comics universe. Created by writer Mort Weisinger and ...
, sidekick to
Wesley Dodds Sandman (Wesley Dodds) is a superhero who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. The first of several DC characters to bear the name Sandman, he was created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Bert Christman. Attired in a green bus ...
, the Golden Age Sandman. Gaiman gave Jed Walker a surname and made him related to several new characters. The Thomas Sandman was
Hector Hall Hector Hall is a fictional character, a superhero appearing in DC Comics's '' Infinity, Inc.'', ''Sandman'' and '' JSA''. He has gone by the names Silver Scarab, Sandman, and Doctor Fate. Publication history Hector Hall first appeared in '' All-S ...
, who married the already-pregnant Fury in the Dreaming in ''Infinity, Inc.'' No. 51. It was explained that Dr. Garrett Sanford, the 1970s Simon and Kirby version of the Sandman, had gone insane from the loneliness of the Dream Dimension and taken his own life. Brute and Glob put the spirit of Hector Hall, which had been cast out of his own body, into Sanford's body, and it eventually began to resemble Hall's. Fury, in her civilian guise as Lyta Hall, was the only superhero recurring character in the series. Even at that, her powers had come to her via the Fury Tisiphone, and the Furies, under the euphemism, "the Kindly Ones", a translation of " Eumenides", a name they earned during the events of
Aeschylus Aeschylus (, ; grc-gre, Αἰσχύλος ; c. 525/524 – c. 456/455 BC) was an ancient Greek tragedian, and is often described as the father of tragedy. Academic knowledge of the genre begins with his work, and understanding of earlier Greek ...
's '' Oresteia'' trilogy, are major characters in the series. The series follows a tragic course in which Dream, having learned a great deal from his imprisonment, tries to correct the things he has done wrong in the past. Ultimately, this causes him to mercy kill his own son, which leads to his own death at the hands of the Furies. Dream, having found himself a replacement early on in Daniel Hall, dies in issue No. 69 (July 1995). The remaining issues deal with Dream's funeral,
Hob Gadling Hob Gadling, also known as Robert, Robbie, or Bobby, is a fictional character from the ''Sandman'' comic book A comic book, also called comicbook, comic magazine or (in the United Kingdom and Ireland) simply comic, is a publication that cons ...
choosing to remain immortal in spite of Dream's death, and two stories from the past. The series wraps with the story of William Shakespeare creating his other commission for Dream, '' The Tempest'', his last work not in collaboration with other writers. ''The Sandman'' became a cult success for DC Comics and attracted an audience unlike that of mainstream comics: much of the readership was female, many were in their twenties, and many read no other comics at all. Comics historian
Les Daniels Leslie Noel Daniels III, better known as Les Daniels (October 27, 1943 – November 5, 2011), was an American writer. Background Daniels attended Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, where he wrote his master's thesis on ''Frankenstein ...
called Gaiman's work "astonishing" and noted that ''The Sandman'' was "a mixture of fantasy, horror, and ironic humor such as comic books had never seen before". DC Comics writer and executive Paul Levitz observed that "''The Sandman'' became the first extraordinary success as a series of graphic novel collections, reaching out and converting new readers to the medium, particularly young women on college campuses, and making Gaiman himself into an iconic cultural figure." Gaiman had a finite run in mind for the series, and it concluded with issue No. 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." The final issue, No. 75, was dated March 1996.


Additions and spin-offs

The Sandman has inspired numerous spin-offs. While most of these are not written by Gaiman, he did write two miniseries focusing on the character of Death. '' Death: The High Cost of Living'' was published from March to May 1993 and was based on the fable that Death takes human form once a century to remain grounded and in touch with humanity. This was followed in 1996 by '' Death: The Time of Your Life'', featuring the characters of
Foxglove ''Digitalis'' ( or ) is a genus of about 20 species of herbaceous perennial plants, shrubs, and biennials, commonly called foxgloves. ''Digitalis'' is native to Europe, western Asia, and northwestern Africa. The flowers are tubular in sha ...
and Hazel from ''A Game of You''. Other spin-offs include '' The Dreaming'', '' Lucifer,'' and ''
Dead Boy Detectives The Dead Boy Detectives are fictional characters that have appeared in comic books published by DC Comics' Vertigo imprint. They were created by writer Neil Gaiman and artists Matt Wagner and Malcolm Jones III in '' The Sandman'' #25 (April 1991 ...
''. A set of ''Sandman'' trading cards was issued in 1994 by
SkyBox International SkyBox International Inc., formerly Impel Marketing, was an American trading card manufacturing company based in Durham, North Carolina started in 1990 and operated until 1995. History Impel Marketing In 1990, The Liggett Group Inc., a U.S. tobacc ...
. In 1999, Gaiman wrote '' The Sandman: The Dream Hunters,'' a novella illustrated by Yoshitaka Amano. As in many of the single-issue stories throughout ''The Sandman'', Morpheus appears in ''Dream Hunters'', but only as a supporting character. In Gaiman's afterword to the book, he describes the story as a retelling of an existing Japanese legend. There is no trace of it in the primary source he cites, and when asked, Gaiman has stated that he made up the "legend". The novel was later adapted into a four-issue miniseries by
P. Craig Russell Philip Craig Russell (born October 30, 1951) is an American comics artist, writer, and illustrator. His work has won multiple Harvey and Eisner Awards. Russell was the first mainstream comic book creator to come out as openly gay. Biography ...
and released by Vertigo from January 2009 to April 2009. Gaiman and Matt Wagner co-wrote '' Sandman Midnight Theatre'', a 1995 prestige format
one-shot One shot may refer to: Film and television * One-shot film, a feature film shot in one long take with no edits, or manufactured to look like so * ''One Shot'' (2005 film), a Sri Lankan action film directed by Ranjan Ramanayake * ''One Shot'' (2 ...
in which Dream and Wesley Dodds meet in person after the events in the storyline, "The Python", which ended with Dodds's lover, Dian Belmont, going to England, which eventually brings both her and Dodds to Roderick Burgess's mansion. In 2001, Dream appeared in a flashback in ''
Green Arrow Green Arrow is a superhero who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Mort Weisinger and designed by George Papp, he first appeared in ''More Fun Comics'' #73 in November 1941. His secret identity, real name is Olive ...
'' vol. 3, No. 9, which takes place at a point during the 70 years of the first issue. Gaiman wrote several new stories about Morpheus and his siblings, one story for each, which were published in 2003 as the '' Endless Nights'' anthology. The stories 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 was the first hardcover graphic novel ever to appear on ''The New York Times'' Hardcover Best Seller list. Writer/artist
Jill Thompson Jill Thompson (born November 20, 1966) is an American illustrator and writer who has worked for stage, film, and television. Well known for her work on Neil Gaiman's '' The Sandman'' characters and her own '' Scary Godmother'' series, she has wo ...
wrote and illustrated several stories featuring the Sandman characters. These include the manga-style book '' Death: At Death's Door'', one of DC's best-selling books of 2003,Arnold, Andrew D. (February 16, 2004). "Drawing in the Gals; Move over, guys. Graphics for girls are the hot new genre in Japanese comics". '' Time''. p. 97 set during the events of '' Season of Mists'', and '' The Little Endless Storybook'', a children's book using childlike versions of the Endless. To commemorate the twenty-fifth anniversary of ''The Sandman'', Gaiman wrote a new tale involving the battle that had exhausted Morpheus prior to the beginning of the original story. Written by Gaiman and with art by
J. H. Williams III James H. Williams III (born 1965), usually credited as J. H. Williams III, is an American comics artist and penciller. He is known for his work on titles such as '' Chase'', ''Promethea'', '' Desolation Jones,'' '' Batwoman'', and '' The Sandman ...
, '' Overture'' tells the previously hinted story of Dream's adventure prior to ''Preludes and Nocturnes'', which had exhausted him so much that it made Burgess' actions capable of capturing him. The limited series had six issues. Issue #1 was released on October 30, 2013, and although it was planned to have a bi-monthly release schedule, issue 2 was delayed until March 2014, which Gaiman explained was "mostly due to the giant signing tour I was on from June, and me not getting script written on the tour, with knock-on effects". Special editions were released approximately a month after the original editions, which contain interviews with the creative team, alongside rare artwork. In 2018, DC announced '' The Sandman Universe'', a new line of comics exploring ''The Sandman''s part of the DC Universe. It started in August 2018.


Summary

''The Sandman''s main character is
Dream A dream is a succession of images, ideas, emotions, and sensations that usually occur involuntarily in the mind during certain stages of sleep. Humans spend about two hours dreaming per night, and each dream lasts around 5 to 20 minutes, althou ...
, the eponymous Sandman, also known to various characters throughout the series as Morpheus,
Oneiros In Greek mythology, dreams were sometimes personified as Oneiros () or Oneiroi (). In the ''Iliad'' of Homer, Zeus sends an Oneiros to appear to Agamemnon in a dream, while in Hesiod's ''Theogony'', the Oneiroi are the sons of Nyx (Night), and br ...
, the Shaper, the Shaper of Form, Lord of the Dreaming, the Dream King, Dream-Sneak, the Cat of Dreams, Murphy, Kai'ckul and Lord L'Zoril, who is the anthropomorphic personification of dreams. At the start of the series, Morpheus is captured by an occult ritual and held prisoner for 70 years. Morpheus escapes in the modern day and after avenging himself upon his captors, sets about rebuilding his kingdom, which has fallen into disrepair in his absence. The character's initial 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. In its beginnings, the series is a very dark horror comic. 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. The storylines primarily take place in the Dreaming, Morpheus's realm, and the waking world, with occasional visits to other domains, such as
Hell In religion and folklore, hell is a location in the afterlife in which evil souls are subjected to punitive suffering, most often through torture, as eternal punishment after death. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hells ...
,
Faerie Fairyland (''Faerie'', Scottish ''Elfame'', c.f. Old Norse ''Álfheimr'') in English and Scottish folklore is the fabulous land or abode of fairies or ''fays''. Old French (Early Modern English ) referred to an illusion or enchantment, the land ...
,
Asgard In Nordic mythology, Asgard (Old Norse: ''Ásgarðr'' ; "enclosure of the Æsir") is a location associated with the gods. It appears in a multitude of Old Norse sagas and mythological texts. It is described as the fortified home of the Æsir ...
, and the domains of the other Endless. Many use the contemporary United States of America and the United Kingdom as a backdrop. The
DC Universe The DC Universe (DCU) is the fictional shared universe where most stories in American comic book titles published by DC Comics take place. Superheroes such as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Robin, Martian Manhunter, The Flash, Green Lantern, ...
was the official setting of the series, but well-known DC characters and places were rarely featured after 1990. A notable exception is Lyta Hall, formerly Fury of the 1980s super-team
Infinity, Inc. Infinity, Inc. is a team of superheroes appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The first incarnation is mostly composed of the children and heirs of the Justice Society of America (JSA), making them the Society's analogue to t ...
, who figures prominently in the "Kindly Ones" story arc, and her superhuman abilities are not ignored. Most of the storylines take place in modern times, 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 such as in the short story "Men of Good Fortune".


Themes and genre

''The Sandman'' comic book series falls within the dark fantasy genre, albeit in a more contemporary and modern setting. Critic Marc Buxton described the book as a "masterful tale that created a movement of mature dark fantasy" which was largely unseen in previous fantasy works before it. Archive requires scrolldown The comic book also falls into the genres of
urban fantasy Urban fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy which places imaginary and unreal elements in an approximation of a contemporary urban setting. The combination provides the writer with quixotic plot-drivers, unusual character traits, and a platform for c ...
, epic fantasy, historical drama, and superhero. It is written as a metaphysical examination of the elements of fiction, which Neil Gaiman accomplished through the artistic use of unique anthropomorphic personifications, mythology, legends, historical figures and
occult The occult, in the broadest sense, is a category of esoteric supernatural beliefs and practices which generally fall outside the scope of religion and science, encompassing phenomena involving otherworldly agency, such as magic and mysticism ...
culture, making up most of the major and minor characters as well as the plot device and even the settings of the story. In its earliest story arcs, the ''Sandman'' mythos existed primarily in the
DC Universe The DC Universe (DCU) is the fictional shared universe where most stories in American comic book titles published by DC Comics take place. Superheroes such as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Robin, Martian Manhunter, The Flash, Green Lantern, ...
, and as such numerous DC characters made some appearances or were mentioned. Later, the series would reference the DCU less often, while continuing to exist in the same universe. Critic Hilary Goldstein described the comic book as "about the concept of dreams more so than the act of dreaming". In the early issues, responsibility and rebirth were the primary themes of the story. As Dream finally liberates himself from his occultist captors, he returns to his kingdom which had fallen on hard times due to his absence, while also facing his other siblings, who each have their own reaction to his return. The story is structured not as a series of unconnected events nor as an incoherent dream, but by having each panel have a specific purpose in the flow of the story. Dreams became the core of every story arc written in the series, and the protagonist's journey became more distinct and deliberate. Many Vertigo books since, such as ''
Transmetropolitan ''Transmetropolitan'' is a cyberpunk transhumanist comic book series written by Warren Ellis and co-created and designed by Darick Robertson; it was published by the American company DC Comics in 1997–2002. The series was originally part of ...
'' and '' Y: The Last Man'', have adopted this kind of format in their writing, creating a traditional prose only seen in the imprint.


Collected editions

''The Sandman'' was initially published as a monthly serial, in 32-page comic books with some exceptions to this pattern. The stories within were usually 24 pages long, with eight exceptions within the main story arc: issue #1, "Sleep of the Just" (40 pages); issue #14, "Collectors" (38 pages); issue #32, "Slaughter on Fifth Avenue" (25 pages); issue #33, "Lullabies of Broadway" (23 pages); issue #36, "Over the Sea to Sky" (39 pages); issue #50, "Distant Mirrors—Ramadan" (32 pages); issue #52, "Cluracan's Tale" (25 pages); issue #75, "The Tempest" (38 pages). As the series increased in popularity, DC Comics began to reprint them in hardcover and trade 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 collected in a boxed set. (Death's debut story, "The Sound of Her Wings" from issue #8, appeared both at the beginning of early editions of ''The Doll's House'' and at the end of ''Preludes and Nocturnes'', creating overlap between the first two volumes. In 1998, the cover images from ''The Sandman'' were released as one compiled volume titled '' Dustcovers: The Collected Sandman Covers''.
Dave McKean David McKean (born 29 December 1963) is an English illustrator, photographer, comic book artist, graphic designer, filmmaker and musician. His work incorporates drawing, painting, photography, collage, found objects, digital art, and sculptur ...
's covers use techniques such as painting, sculpture, photography, drawing, and computer manipulation.


Trade paperbacks

A total of ten
trade paperbacks A paperback (softcover, softback) book is one with a thick paper or paperboard cover, and often held together with glue rather than stitches or staples. In contrast, hardcover (hardback) books are bound with cardboard covered with cloth, lea ...
contain the full run of the series and have all been kept in print. In 2010, Vertigo began releasing a new edition of ''Sandman'' books, featuring the new coloring from the ''Absolute Editions''. * '' Preludes and Nocturnes'' collecting ''The Sandman'' #1–8, 1988–1989: 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 In religion and folklore, hell is a location in the afterlife in which evil souls are subjected to punitive suffering, most often through torture, as eternal punishment after death. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hells ...
, and an all-powerful madman (
Doctor Destiny Doctor Destiny (John Dee) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Jeremy Davies played the character in his live-action debut on the Arrowverse crossover "Elseworlds". David Thewlis plays a version of the char ...
) in the process. Guest starring several DC Comics characters including
John Constantine John Constantine () is a fictional character who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. Constantine first appeared in ''Swamp Thing'' #37 (June 1985), and was created by Alan Moore, Stephen R. Bissette, Rick Veitch, and John To ...
, Mister Miracle, the Martian Manhunter, the
Scarecrow A scarecrow is a decoy or mannequin, often in the shape of a human. Humanoid scarecrows are usually dressed in old clothes and placed in open fields to discourage birds from disturbing and feeding on recently cast seed and growing crops.Lesle ...
,
Etrigan the Demon Etrigan the Demon is an antihero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Jack Kirby, Etrigan is a demon from Hell who, despite his violent tendencies, usually finds himself allied with the forces of good, mainly beca ...
, and the original Sandman. It features the introduction of Lucifer, with cameos by Batman and Green Lantern. * '' The Doll's House'' collecting ''The Sandman'' #9–16, 1989–1990: 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. Features
Hector Hall Hector Hall is a fictional character, a superhero appearing in DC Comics's '' Infinity, Inc.'', ''Sandman'' and '' JSA''. He has gone by the names Silver Scarab, Sandman, and Doctor Fate. Publication history Hector Hall first appeared in '' All-S ...
as the Bronze Age Sandman. Introduces the characters William Shakespeare and Hob Gadling. * '' Dream Country'' collecting ''The Sandman'' #17–20, 1990: This volume contains four independent stories. The imprisoned muse
Calliope In Greek mythology, Calliope ( ; grc, Καλλιόπη, Kalliópē, beautiful-voiced) is the Muse who presides over eloquence and epic poetry; so called from the ecstatic harmony of her voice. Hesiod and Ovid called her the "Chief of all Muses". ...
is forced to provide story ideas, a cat seeks to change the world with dreams, William 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: 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 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. Wesley Dodds and
Hawkman (Carter Hall) Hawkman (Carter Hall) is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. He is the first character to use the name Hawkman. There are two separate origins of Carter Hall; the Golden Age origin and the Post-Hawkworld (or curr ...
appear in one panel. * '' 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; ''The Sandman Special'' #1; and ''Vertigo Preview'' No. 1, 1991–1993: A collection of short stories set throughout Morpheus' history, most of them originally published directly before or directly 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'' includes ''The Sandman Special'' #1, 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 ''Brief Lives'' is a collection of short biographies written by John Aubrey (1626–1697) in the last decades of the 17th century. Writing Aubrey initially began collecting biographical material to assist the Oxford scholar Anthony Wood, who ...
'' 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. 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" strands travelers from across the cosmos at the "Worlds' End Inn". To pass the time, they exchange stories. Guest-starring Prez and
Wildcat The wildcat is a species complex comprising two small wild cat species: the European wildcat (''Felis silvestris'') and the African wildcat (''F. lybica''). The European wildcat inhabits forests in Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus, while the ...
. * '' The Kindly Ones'' collecting ''The Sandman'' #57–69 and ''Vertigo Jam'' No. 1, 1993–1995: 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. Features a guest appearance by Wesley Dodds, and cameos by Batman, the Martian Manhunter,
Clark Kent Superman is a superhero who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, and debuted in the comic book ''Action Comics'' #1 (cover-dated June 1938 and publish ...
,
Darkseid Darkseid () is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by writer-artist Jack Kirby to serve as the primary antagonist of his "Fourth World (comics), Fourth World" metaseries, and was firs ...
, the Phantom Stranger,
Doctor Occult Doctor Occult (sometimes dubbed the Ghost Detective, one time referred to as Doctor Mystic) is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster (known commonly as the creators ...
, John Constantine, and the
Black Spider Black Spider is the name of several fictional DC Comics supervillains. The first two were both primarily enemies of Batman. Fictional character biographies Eric Needham The original Black Spider first appeared in ''Detective Comics'' #463 (Septe ...
. ''The Sandman'' returned in October 2013 as a six-part prequel
limited series Limited series may refer to: *Limited series, individual storylines within an anthology series *Limited series, a particular run of collectables, usually individually numbered *Limited series (comics), a comics series with a predetermined number of ...
titled ''Overture''. Written by Gaiman and illustrated by
J. H. Williams III James H. Williams III (born 1965), usually credited as J. H. Williams III, is an American comics artist and penciller. He is known for his work on titles such as '' Chase'', ''Promethea'', '' Desolation Jones,'' '' Batwoman'', and '' The Sandman ...
, the series tells the previously untold story that led to Morpheus' capture by Roderick Burgess in the first issue of the monthly series.


30th Anniversary editions

In 2018 DC republished the previous ten trade paperbacks in a new 30th-anniversary edition, along with Endless Nights, now numbered as Volume 11, both prose and comic versions of The Dream Hunters as separate unnumbered volumes and Overture as Volume ∞.


Absolute editions

The
DC Comics Absolute Edition DC Comics Absolute Edition is a series of archival quality printings of graphic novels published by DC Comics and its imprints WildStorm Productions and Vertigo. Each is presented in a hardcover and slipcased edition with cloth bookmark consisting ...
series are large 8" by 12" prints of a considerably higher quality and price than the library edition, and include a leather-like cover and a slipcase. Many of the early stories have been extensively retouched or recolored with Gaiman's approval. * ''The Absolute Sandman, Vol. 1'', collecting ''The Sandman'' #1–20 (''Preludes and Nocturnes'', ''The Doll's House'', and ''Dream Country''). Extras include Gaiman's original series pitch, character designs charting the visual development of Dream, script and pencils for ''The Sandman'' #19 ("A Midsummer Night's Dream"), and Gaiman's prose summary of the first seven issues from ''The Sandman'' #8, which features story beats not in the original comics. Published November 2006. To promote the volume, DC issued a refurbished edition of the first issue of the series. * ''The Absolute Sandman, Vol. 2'', collecting ''The Sandman'' #21–39. Extras include the Desire story "The Flowers of Romance" from ''Vertigo: Winter's Edge'' #1, script and pencils for ''The Sandman'' #23 ("Season of Mists: Chapter Two"), humorous biographies of the contributors, a section on DC's official "Sandman Month", a prose story from the box of the first Sandman statue detailing the statue's (fictional) history, and a complete reproduction of ''A Gallery of Dreams'' (a one-shot of ''Sandman''-inspired art). Published October 2007. * ''The Absolute Sandman, Vol. 3'', collecting ''The Sandman'' #40–56, "Fear of Falling" from ''Vertigo Preview'' #1, and ''Sandman Special'' #1. Extras include the Desire story "How They Met Themselves" from ''Vertigo: Winter's Edge'' #3, script and thumbnails from ''The Sandman'' #50 ("Ramadan"), art galleries from ''The Sandman'' #50 and ''Sandman Special'' #1, a gallery of works inspired by the Endless, a section on Jill Thompson's "Little Endless" series, and a gallery of statues inspired by ''The Sandman'' #50. Published June 2008. * ''The Absolute Sandman, Vol. 4'', collecting ''The Sandman'' #57–75 (including three "lost" pages from ''The Sandman'' #72, originally published in ''The Dreaming'' #8) and "The Castle" from ''Vertigo Jam'' #1. Extras include script and developmental art for ''The Sandman'' #57 ("The Kindly Ones: Part One") and #75 ("The Tempest"), a timeline of ''The Sandman'' production from Gaiman's initial pitch to the publication of the last issue, and sections on the merchandise inspired by ''The Sandman''. Published November 2008. * ''The Absolute Death'', collecting ''The Sandman'' #8 and #20, ''Death: The High Cost of Living'' #1–3, ''Death: The Time of Your Life'' #1–3, "A Winter's Tale" from ''Vertigo: Winter's Edge'' #2, "The Wheel" from ''9–11: The World's Finest Comic Book Writers & Artists Tell Stories to Remember'', and "Death and Venice" from ''The Sandman: Endless Nights''. Extras include the "Death Talks About Life" AIDS pamphlet, script and pencils for ''The Sandman'' #8 ("The Sound of Her Wings"), a complete reproduction of ''A Death Gallery'' (a one-shot of ''Death''-inspired art), a section on the collectibles inspired by Death, and sketches by Chris Bachalo. Published November 2009. * ''The Absolute Sandman, Vol. 5'', collecting "The Last Sandman Story" from ''Dust Covers: The Collected Sandman Covers'', ''The Sandman: The Dream Hunters'' (both the prose version, written by Gaiman and illustrated by Yoshitaka Amano, and the four-issue comics adaptation by P. Craig Russell), ''The Sandman: Endless Nights'', and ''Sandman Midnight Theatre'' #1. Extras include script, designs, and layouts for "The Heart of a Star" from ''Endless Nights'', covers and sketches from the comics adaptation of ''The Dream Hunters'', a gallery of ''Sandman''-inspired posters, and a section on the figures and statues inspired by ''The Sandman''. Published November 2011. * ''The Absolute Sandman: Overture'', collecting ''The Sandman: Overture'' #1–6. Extras include the script for ''The Sandman: Overture'' #1 ("Chapter 1: A flower burns"), sections on Dave Stewart's coloring process, Todd Klein's lettering process, and Dave McKean's cover art process, interviews with the creative team, and art by J.H. Williams. Published July 2018.


Annotated editions

While initially hesitant about releasing annotated editions, Gaiman eventually changed his mind when he forgot a reference when asked about it by a reader. The task of annotating the series was undertaken by Gaiman's friend
Leslie S. Klinger Leslie S. Klinger (born May 2, 1946, in Chicago, Illinois) is an American attorney and writer. He is a noted literary editor and annotator of classic genre fiction, including the Sherlock Holmes stories and the novels '' Dracula'', ''Frankenst ...
of ''
The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes ''The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes'' is a series of three annotated books edited by Leslie S. Klinger, collecting all of Arthur Conan Doyle's short stories and novels about Sherlock Holmes. The books were originally published by W. W. Norton i ...
'' who worked from the original scripts given to him by Gaiman. The first volume of ''The Annotated Sandman'' was published by DC Comics in January 2012 as a large 12" by 12" black-and-white book with an introduction by Gaiman and included issues #1–20. The annotations are presented on a page-by-page, panel-by-panel basis, with quoted sections from Gaiman's scripts and insight into the various historical, mythological and
DC Universe The DC Universe (DCU) is the fictional shared universe where most stories in American comic book titles published by DC Comics take place. Superheroes such as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Robin, Martian Manhunter, The Flash, Green Lantern, ...
references included in the comic. The second volume annotating issues #21–39 was released in November 2012. The third volume covering issues #40–56, ''The Sandman Special'' No. 1 and the story "How They Met Themselves" from ''Vertigo: Winter's Edge'' #3 was released in October 2014. The fourth volume including issues #57–75 and the story "The Castle" from ''Vertigo Jam'' #1 was released in December 2015. The first volume was nominated for the 2012
Bram Stoker Award for Best Non-Fiction The Bram Stoker Award for Best Non-Fiction is an award presented by the Horror Writers Association (HWA) for "superior achievement" in horror writing for non-fiction. Winners and nominees Nominees are listed below the winner(s) for each year. * ...
.


Omnibus edition

''The Sandman Omnibus'', a massive two-volume hardcover edition, was released in 2013 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of ''The Sandman''. ''Volume 1'' collects issues #1–37 and ''The Sandman Special'' No. 1 with ''Volume 2'' collecting issues #38–75 with stories from ''Vertigo Jam'' No. 1 and ''Vertigo: Winter's Edge''. Both volumes are printed with the ''Absolute edition'' recoloring, feature a leather-like cover in black and red, and have over 1000 pages. A special Silver version of ''The Sandman Omnibus'' was released as well. Limited to 500 copies and autographed by Gaiman, the ''Silver edition'' includes both volumes with a slipcase, silver-like finish and a numbered page with Gaiman's signature. In 2019, a third omnibus volume was released which "includes the acclaimed miniseries ''Death: The High Cost of Living'' and ''Death: The Time of Your Life'', the graphic novels ''Sandman Midnight Theatre'' and ''The Sandman: Endless Nights'', the prose and comics versions of ''The Sandman: The Dream Hunters'' and the award-winning miniseries ''The Sandman: Overture'', together with the artistic showcases of ''A Death Gallery'', ''The Sandman: A Gallery of Dreams'' and ''The Endless Gallery''".


Reception and legacy

''The Sandman'' No. 19, "A Midsummer Night's Dream", won the World Fantasy Award in 1991 for Best Short Fiction. ''The Sandman'' and its spin-offs have won more than 26
Eisner Awards The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, commonly shortened to the Eisner Awards, are prizes given for creative achievement in American comic books, sometimes referred to as the comics industry's equivalent of the Academy Awards. They are named in ...
, including three for Best Continuing Series, one for Best Short Story, four for Best Writer (
Neil Gaiman Neil Richard MacKinnon GaimanBorn as Neil Richard Gaiman, with "MacKinnon" added on the occasion of his marriage to Amanda Palmer. ; ( Neil Richard Gaiman; born 10 November 1960) is an English author of short fiction, novels, comic books, gra ...
), seven for Best Lettering (
Todd Klein Todd Klein (born January 28, 1951) is an American comic book letterer, logo designer, and occasional writer, primarily for DC Comics. Biography Early career Todd Klein broke into comics in the summer of 1977, hired by DC Comics as a staff pro ...
), and two for Best Penciller/Inker (one each for
Charles Vess Charles Vess (born June 10, 1951) is an American fantasy artist and comics artist who has specialized in the illustration of myths and fairy tales. His influences include British "Golden Age" book illustrator Arthur Rackham, Czech Art Nouveau pain ...
and
P. Craig Russell Philip Craig Russell (born October 30, 1951) is an American comics artist, writer, and illustrator. His work has won multiple Harvey and Eisner Awards. Russell was the first mainstream comic book creator to come out as openly gay. Biography ...
). ''The Sandman: The Dream Hunters'' was nominated for the Hugo Award for Best Related Book in 2000. ''The Dream Hunters'' and ''Endless Nights'' won the Bram Stoker Award for Best Illustrated Narrative in 1999 and 2003, respectively. That same year, ''Season of Mists'' won the
Angoulême International Comics Festival Prize for Scenario This Prize for Scenario is awarded to comics authors at the Angoulême International Comics Festival. In the following list, the winner of the award is listed first, followed by the nominees. 1990s * 1993: '' Saigon-Hanoï'' by Cosey, Dupuis * ...
. In 2005,
IGN ''IGN'' (formerly ''Imagine Games Network'') is an American video game and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa dist ...
declared ''The Sandman'' as the best Vertigo comic ever. ''The Sandman: Overture'', a prequel mini-series, earned the 2016
Hugo Award for Best Graphic Story The Hugo Award for Best Graphic Story is given each year for science fiction or fantasy stories told in graphic form and published or translated into English during the previous calendar year. It has been awarded annually since 2009. The Hugo A ...
. Hillary Goldstein of IGN praised the comic book, saying that it "is truly the cream of the crop when it comes to Vertigo books. Neil Gaiman's work on the series is considered legendary for a reason. This story, in its entirety, is every bit as good as ''Watchmen'' and of equal (if not greater) literary merit. Were I to list the 100 best single comic-book issues I have ever read, three would come from this collection. Whether you have read ''The Sandman'' before or are a first timer, this is the one book you need to buy this fall. The stories within are magnificent and the care taken in reproducing Gaiman's work is the same you'd expect for any great work of literature."


Adaptations into other media


Film

Throughout the late 1990s, a film adaptation of the comic was periodically planned by
Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (commonly known as Warner Bros. or abbreviated as WB) is an American film and entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California, and a subsidiary of Warner Bros. D ...
, parent company of DC Comics.
Roger Avary Roger Roberts Avary (born August 23, 1965) is a Canadian-American film and television director, screenwriter, and producer. He collaborated with Quentin Tarantino on ''Pulp Fiction'', for which they won Best Original Screenplay at the 67th Acade ...
was originally attached to direct after the success of ''
Pulp Fiction ''Pulp Fiction'' is a 1994 American crime film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, who conceived it with Roger Avary.See, e.g., King (2002), pp. 185–7; ; Starring John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis, Tim Roth, Ving Rham ...
,'' collaborating with '' Pirates of the Caribbean'' screenwriters Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio in 1996 on a revision of their first script draft, which merged the "Preludes and Nocturnes" storyline with that of "The Doll's House". Avary intended the film to be in part visually inspired by animator Jan Švankmajer's work. Avary was fired after disagreements over the creative direction with executive producer
Jon Peters John Peters (born June 2, 1945) is an American film producer and former hairdresser. Early life Peters was born on June 2, 1945 in Van Nuys, California. Peters is of Cherokee (father) and Italian (mother) descent. While growing up in a rough n ...
, best known for '' Batman'' and '' Superman Lives''. It was due to their meeting on the Sandman film project that Avary and Gaiman collaborated one year later on the script for ''
Beowulf ''Beowulf'' (; ang, Bēowulf ) is an Old English epic poem in the tradition of Germanic heroic legend consisting of 3,182 alliterative lines. It is one of the most important and most often translated works of Old English literature. The ...
''. The project carried on through several more writers and scripts. A later draft by William Farmer, reviewed at
Ain't It Cool News Ain't It Cool News (AICN) is an entertainment news website founded by Harry Knowles and run by his sister Dannie Knowles since September 2017, dedicated to news, rumors, and reviews of upcoming and current films, television, and comic book proje ...
, was met with scorn from fans. Gaiman called the last screenplay that Warner Bros. would send him "not only the worst ''Sandman'' script I've ever seen, but quite easily the worst script I've ever read". Gaiman has said that his dissatisfaction with how his characters were being treated had dissuaded him from writing any more stories involving the Endless, although he has since written ''Endless Nights'' and ''Sandman Overture''. By 2001, the project had become stranded in development hell. In a Q&A panel at Comic-Con 2007, Gaiman remarked, "I'd rather see no ''Sandman'' movie made than a bad ''Sandman'' movie. But I feel like the time for a ''Sandman'' movie is coming soon. We need someone who has the same obsession with the source material as Peter Jackson had with ''
Lord of the Rings ''The Lord of the Rings'' is an Epic (genre), epic high-fantasy novel by English author and scholar J. R. R. Tolkien. Set in Middle-earth, intended to be Earth at some time in the distant past, the story began as a sequel to Tolkien's 1937 c ...
'' or
Sam Raimi Samuel M. Raimi ( ; born October 23, 1959) is an American filmmaker. He is best known for directing the ''Spider-Man'' trilogy (2002–2007) and the '' Evil Dead'' franchise (1981–present). He also directed the 1990 superhero film ''Darkman' ...
had with '' Spider-Man''." That same year, he stated that he could imagine Terry Gilliam as a director for the adaptation: "I would always give anything to Terry Gilliam, forever, so if Terry Gilliam ever wants to do ''Sandman'' then as far as I'm concerned Terry Gilliam should do Sandman." In 2013, DC President Diane Nelson said that a Sandman film would be as rich as the Harry Potter universe.
David S. Goyer David Samuel Goyer (born December 22, 1965) is an American filmmaker, novelist and comic book writer. He is best known for writing the screenplays for several superhero films, including '' Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.'' (1998), the '' Blade'' ...
announced in an interview in early December that he would be producing an adaptation of the graphic novel, alongside Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Neil Gaiman.
Jack Thorne Jack Thorne FRSL (born 6 December 1978) is a British playwright, television writer, screenwriter, and producer. He is best known for writing the stage play '' Harry Potter and the Cursed Child'', the films '' Wonder'' and '' Enola Holmes'', ...
was hired to write the script. On October 16, 2014, Gaiman clarified that while the film was not announced with the DC slate by Warner Bros., it would instead be distributed by
Vertigo Vertigo is a condition where a person has the sensation of movement or of surrounding objects moving when they are not. Often it feels like a spinning or swaying movement. This may be associated with nausea, vomiting, sweating, or difficulties w ...
and announced with those slate of films. Goyer told '' Deadline Hollywood'' in an interview that the studio was very happy with the film's script. According to Deadline.com, the film was to be distributed by New Line Cinema. In October 2015, Goyer revealed that a new screenwriter was being brought on board to revise the script by Jack Thorne and stated that he believed the film would go into production the following year. In March 2016, ''The Hollywood Reporter'' revealed that
Eric Heisserer Eric Andrew Heisserer (born 1970) is an American filmmaker, comic book writer, television writer, and television producer. His screenplay for the film ''Arrival'' earned him a Best Adapted Screenplay nomination at the 89th Academy Awards in 201 ...
was hired to rewrite the film's script. The next day, Gordon-Levitt announced that he had dropped out due to disagreements with the studio over the creative direction of the film. On November 9, 2016, i09 reported that Heisserer had turned in his draft of the script but left the film, stating that the film should be an
HBO Home Box Office (HBO) is an American pay television, premium television network, which is the flagship property of namesake parent subsidiary Home Box Office, Inc., itself a unit owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The overall Home Box Office busi ...
series instead. Death * In a ''
DC Showcase The DC Universe Animated Original Movies (DCUAOM; also known as DC Universe Original Movies or DC Universe Movies or DC Animated Movies) are a series of American direct-to-video Superhero fiction, superhero animated films based on the DC Comics ...
''
animated short Animation is a method by which still figures are manipulated to appear as moving images. In traditional animation, images are drawn or painted by hand on transparent celluloid sheets to be photographed and exhibited on film. Today, most anim ...
, Death made her first official appearance outside of comics. In the short, Death (voiced by
Jamie Chung Jamie Jilynn Chung (born April 10, 1983) is an American actress and former reality television personality. She began her career in 2004 as a cast member on the MTV reality series '' The Real World: San Diego'' and subsequently through her appe ...
) meets Vincent (voiced by Leonardo Nam), a failed artist struggling with his personal demons. It was directed by
Sam Liu Sam Liu is an American animation producer, director, storyboard artist and character designer. He is best known for directing animated superhero films at both Marvel Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation. Sam attended the University of Califor ...
, and written by
J.M. DeMatteis John Marc DeMatteis (; born December 15, 1953) is an American writer of comic books, television and novels. Biography Early career J. M. DeMatteis's earliest aspirations were to be a rock musician and comic book artist. He began playing in ban ...
. The short was released as a special feature with the '' Wonder Woman: Bloodlines'' Blu-Ray.


Television


''The Sandman''

Due to the prolonged development period of the film, in 2010,
DC Entertainment DC Entertainment is an American entertainment company that was founded in September 2009 and was based in Burbank, California. The company is a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery that manages its DC Comics units and characters in other units ...
shifted focus onto developing a television series adaptation. Film director James Mangold pitched a series concept to cable channel
HBO Home Box Office (HBO) is an American pay television, premium television network, which is the flagship property of namesake parent subsidiary Home Box Office, Inc., itself a unit owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The overall Home Box Office busi ...
, whilst consulting with Gaiman himself on an unofficial basis, but this proved to be unsuccessful. It was reported in September 2010 that
Warner Bros. Television Warner Bros. Television Studios (operating under the name Warner Bros. Television; formerly known as Warner Bros. Television Division) is an American television production and distribution studio of the Warner Bros. Television Group division of ...
was licensing the rights to produce a TV series, and that '' Supernatural'' creator
Eric Kripke Eric Kripke (born 1974) is an American writer and television producer. He came to prominence as the creator of the fantasy drama series ''Supernatural'' (2005–2020) which aired on The CW. He served as the showrunner during the first five seasons ...
was their preferred candidate to adapt the saga. In March 2011, it was announced via Neil Gaiman's web blog that while he and DC liked Eric Kripke and his approach, it didn't feel quite right. The author hoped to launch the series in another form but plans for a television adaptation are on hold as production moves forward on the film. As the film adaptation of Morpheus' story was being planned, DC and Fox discussed a possible TV series based on the ''Sandman'' character Lucifer. Netflix announced in June 2019 that it had completed a deal with Warner Bros. to develop ''Sandman'' into a live-action television series.
Allan Heinberg Allan Heinberg (born June 29, 1967) is an American film screenwriter, television writer and producer and comic book writer. Heinberg is the screenwriter of the 2017 film ''Wonder Woman'', directed by Patty Jenkins. His television writing and pr ...
is set to be the showrunner, with Gaiman and Goyer to serve as executive producers. In January 2021,
Tom Sturridge Thomas Sidney Jerome Sturridge is an English actor. His early films include ''Being Julia'' (2004), '' Like Minds'' (2006), and ''The Boat That Rocked'' (2009). He was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for his performances i ...
was announced to star in the series as the titular character
Dream A dream is a succession of images, ideas, emotions, and sensations that usually occur involuntarily in the mind during certain stages of sleep. Humans spend about two hours dreaming per night, and each dream lasts around 5 to 20 minutes, althou ...
, with
Gwendoline Christie Gwendoline Tracey Philippa Christie (born 28 October 1978) is an English actress who is best known for portraying Brienne of Tarth in the HBO fantasy-drama series '' Game of Thrones'' (2012–2019). She is also widely known for her role the Firs ...
as Lucifer, Vivienne Acheampong as Lucienne,
Boyd Holbrook Robert Boyd Holbrook (born September 1, 1981) is an American actor. He has starred in the Netflix series ''Narcos'' (2015-2017) as DEA agent Steve Murphy and '' The Sandman'' (2022-) as the Corinthian, as well as in the History miniseries '' Ha ...
as the Corinthian,
Charles Dance Walter Charles Dance (born 10 October 1946) is an English actor. He is known for playing strict, authoritarian characters and villains. His most notable film roles include Sardo Numspa in ''The Golden Child'' (1986), Dr. Jonathan Clemens in ''A ...
as
Roderick Burgess This is a list of characters appearing in '' The Sandman'' comic book, published by DC Comics' Vertigo imprint. This page discusses not only events which occur in ''The Sandman'' (1989–1994), but also some occurring in spinoffs of ''The Sandman ...
,
Asim Chaudhry Asim Chaudhry is a British comedian, writer, director and actor best known for playing Chabuddy G in the BBC mockumentary series '' People Just Do Nothing'', which he co-created. For this role, he won a Royal Television Society Award and was nom ...
as
Abel Abel ''Hábel''; ar, هابيل, Hābīl is a Biblical figure in the Book of Genesis within Abrahamic religions. He was the younger brother of Cain, and the younger son of Adam and Eve, the first couple in Biblical history. He was a shepherd w ...
, and
Sanjeev Bhaskar Sanjeev Bhaskar (born 31 October 1963) is a British actor, comedian and television presenter. He is best known for his work in the BBC Two sketch comedy series '' Goodness Gracious Me'' and as the star of the sitcom ''The Kumars at No. 42''. H ...
as
Cain Cain ''Káïn''; ar, قابيل/قايين, Qābīl/Qāyīn is a Biblical figure in the Book of Genesis within Abrahamic religions. He is the elder brother of Abel, and the firstborn son of Adam and Eve, the first couple within the Bible. He wa ...
. In May 2021, more cast members were announced, including
Kirby Howell-Baptiste Kirby Howell-Baptiste (born 7 February 1987) is a British actress. She has appeared as a series regular on ''Downward Dog'' (2017), ''Killing Eve'' (2018), '' Why Women Kill'' (2019), and '' The Sandman'' (2022). Her television appearances also ...
as
Death Death is the irreversible cessation of all biological functions that sustain an organism. For organisms with a brain, death can also be defined as the irreversible cessation of functioning of the whole brain, including brainstem, and brain ...
, Mason Alexander Park as
Desire Desires are states of mind that are expressed by terms like "wanting", "wishing", "longing" or "craving". A great variety of features is commonly associated with desires. They are seen as propositional attitudes towards conceivable states of affa ...
, Donna Preston as Despair, Jenna Coleman as Johanna Constantine, Joely Richardson as Ethel Cripps, Niamh Walsh as young Ethel, David Thewlis as John Dee / Doctor Destiny, Kyo Ra as
Rose Walker This is a list of characters appearing in '' The Sandman'' comic book, published by DC Comics' Vertigo imprint. This page discusses not only events which occur in ''The Sandman'' (1989–1994), but also some occurring in spinoffs of ''The Sandman' ...
, Stephen Fry as Gilbert,
Razane Jammal Razane Jammal ( ar, رزان جمّال; born on 7 August 1987) is a British- Lebanese actress, best known for her roles in the Netflix Original series ''Paranormal'', and her work in films by Kanye West, Robert Guédiguian, Tobe Hooper and Oliv ...
as Lyta Hall, Sandra James-Young as Unity Kinkaid, and
Patton Oswalt Patton Peter Oswalt (born January 27, 1969) is an American stand-up comedian, actor and writer. He is known as Spence Olchin in the sitcom '' The King of Queens'' (1998–2007) and for narrating the sitcom '' The Goldbergs'' (2013–present) as ...
as the voice of Matthew the Raven. The series premiered on August 5, 2022, and adapts '' Preludes & Nocturnes'', '' The Doll's House'', and the beginning of '' Dream Country''.


''Lucifer''

On September 16, 2014, Deadline.com reported that DC and Fox were developing a television series based on the ''Sandman'' character Lucifer created by Neil Gaiman. On February 19, 2015, the official pilot order was given. According to the premise reported by '' The Hollywood Reporter'', the potential series would greatly differ from the comic book version of the character featured in ''The Sandman'' and his own solo comic book series. Lucifer would be featured in a '' CSI''-like or '' Elementary'' style television show with supernatural elements. Dead Boy Detectives *
Sebastian Croft Sebastian Theodore Kemble Croft (born 16 December 2001) is a British actor. He began his career as a child actor on stage before making his television debut as Young Ned Stark in ''Game of Thrones'' (2016). He earned a BAFTA Children's Award no ...
and Ty Tennant portrayed Payne and Rowland in the third season of the ''
Doom Patrol Doom Patrol is a superhero team from DC Comics. The original Doom Patrol first appeared in ''My Greatest Adventure'' #80 (June 1963), and was created by writers Arnold Drake and Bob Haney, along with artist Bruno Premiani. Doom Patrol has appe ...
'' TV series. The series also features their medium companion Crystal Palace, portrayed by Madalyn Horcher. * HBO Max has ordered a pilot for a potential ''Dead Boy Detectives'' series in September 2021. The pilot will be written by
Steve Yockey Steve Yockey is an American playwright, producer and screenwriter. He is known as the developer of the HBO Max comedy-drama television series ''The Flight Attendant'', which was an adaptation of the 2018 novel of the same name. Yockey began his ...
, also acting as an executive producer alongside Jeremy Carver. The pilot will also feature
Greg Berlanti Gregory Berlanti (born May 24, 1972) is an American screenwriter, producer and director of film and television. He is known for his work on the television series ''Dawson's Creek'', '' Brothers & Sisters'', ''Everwood'', '' Political Animals'', ...
, Sarah Schechter, and David Madden as executive producers under
Berlanti Productions Berlanti Productions is an American film and television production company founded by screenwriter, producer and filmmaker Greg Berlanti and producer Mickey Liddell. History The company was founded in 2000 as Berlanti-Liddell Productions by ...
. The main cast for the pilot, as announced in November 2021, will be Jayden Revri as Edwin Payne, George Rexstrew as Charles Rowland, and Kassius Nelson as Crystal Palace. The series was picked up by HBO Max for an eight-episode first season in April 2022. Additional cast members include Briana Cuoco as Jenny the Butcher, Yuyu Kitamura as Niko,
Jenn Lyon Jennifer Lyon is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as Jennifer Husser on the TNT series ''Claws'' (2017), Mackenzie Bradford-Lopez on the FX sitcom ''Saint George'' (2014), and Lindsey Salazar on the FX drama '' Justified'' ( ...
as Esther, and Ruth Connell reprising her ''
Doom Patrol Doom Patrol is a superhero team from DC Comics. The original Doom Patrol first appeared in ''My Greatest Adventure'' #80 (June 1963), and was created by writers Arnold Drake and Bob Haney, along with artist Bruno Premiani. Doom Patrol has appe ...
'' role of Night Nurse.


Audio

On July 15, 2020,
Audible Audible may refer to: * Audible (service) Audible is an American online audiobook and podcast service that allows users to purchase and stream audiobooks and other forms of spoken word content. This content can be purchased individually or unde ...
released an adaptation of the comic book series as a multi-part audio drama directed by Dirk Maggs with music by
James Hannigan James Hannigan (born 23 July 1971) is a British composer with credits in the ''Harry Potter'', ''The Lord of the Rings'', ''Command and Conquer'' (including Red Alert 3's well-known Soviet March), ''Dead Space'', ''Warhammer'', ''Cloudy With ...
, adapting '' Preludes & Nocturnes'', '' The Doll's House'', and '' Dream Country''. The voice cast included Gaiman as the Narrator,
James McAvoy James McAvoy (; born 21 April 1979) is a Scottish actor. He made his acting debut as a teen in '' The Near Room'' (1995) and appeared mostly on television until 2003, when his feature film career began. His notable television work includes ...
as
Dream A dream is a succession of images, ideas, emotions, and sensations that usually occur involuntarily in the mind during certain stages of sleep. Humans spend about two hours dreaming per night, and each dream lasts around 5 to 20 minutes, althou ...
, Kat Dennings as
Death Death is the irreversible cessation of all biological functions that sustain an organism. For organisms with a brain, death can also be defined as the irreversible cessation of functioning of the whole brain, including brainstem, and brain ...
, Taron Egerton as
John Constantine John Constantine () is a fictional character who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. Constantine first appeared in ''Swamp Thing'' #37 (June 1985), and was created by Alan Moore, Stephen R. Bissette, Rick Veitch, and John To ...
, Michael Sheen as Lucifer,
Riz Ahmed Rizwan Ahmed (; ; born ) is a British actor and rapper. As an actor, he has won an Emmy Award and has received nominations for a Golden Globe and three British Independent Film Awards, and as a rapper he has won an Academy Award for the short ...
as the Corinthian,
Andy Serkis Andrew Clement Serkis (born 20 April 1964) is an English actor, director, and producer. He is best known for his performance capture roles comprising motion capture acting, animation, and voice work for computer-generated characters such as Goll ...
as Matthew the Raven, Samantha Morton as Urania Blackwell,
Bebe Neuwirth Beatrice "Bebe" Jane Neuwirth ( ; born December 31, 1958) is an American actress, singer, and dancer. On television, she played Dr. Lilith Sternin, Frasier Crane's wife, on both the TV sitcom ''Cheers'' (in a starring role) and its spin-off ''F ...
as the Siamese Cat,
Arthur Darvill Thomas Arthur Darvill (born 17 June 1982) is an English actor. He is known for portraying Rory Williams, a companion of the Eleventh Doctor in the television series ''Doctor Who'' (2010–2012), as well as Rip Hunter in ''Legends of Tomorrow'' ( ...
as William Shakespeare, and Justin Vivian Bond as Desire. ''The Sandman: Act II'' was released on September 22, 2021 and featured most of the original cast, adapting '' Season of Mists'', '' A Game of You'', and seven stories of '' Fables & Reflections''. New additions to the cast included:
Regé-Jean Page Regé-Jean Page (; born Regererai Page on 27 April 1988) is a British actor. He is known for his breakout role in the first series of the Netflix period drama ''Bridgerton'' (2020). Acting professionally since 2001, Page has also appeared in ...
as Orpheus, Jeffrey Wright as Destiny, Brian Cox as Augustus, Emma Corrin as Thessaly,
John Lithgow John Arthur Lithgow ( ; born , 1945) is an American actor. Lithgow studied at Harvard University and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art before becoming known for his work on the stage and screen. He has been the recipient of numerous ...
as Joshua Norton, David Tennant as Loki,
Bill Nighy William Francis Nighy (; born 12 December 1949) is an English actor. Nighy started his career with the Everyman Theatre, Liverpool and made his London debut with the Royal National Theatre starting with '' The Illuminatus!'' in 1977. There he ga ...
as Odin,
Kristen Schaal Kristen Joy Schaal (; born January 24, 1978) is an American actress, comedian, and writer. She is best known for her voice roles as Louise Belcher on ''Bob's Burgers'' and Mabel Pines on '' Gravity Falls''. She's also known for playing Mel on '' ...
as Delirium, Kevin Smith as Merv Pumpkinhead, and Niamh Walsh as Nuala. Neuwirth also returned, but portrayed Bast. ''The Sandman: Act III'' was released on September 28, 2022 without a prior announcement, and featured most of the cast from the first two acts, adapting ''
Brief Lives ''Brief Lives'' is a collection of short biographies written by John Aubrey (1626–1697) in the last decades of the 17th century. Writing Aubrey initially began collecting biographical material to assist the Oxford scholar Anthony Wood, who ...
'', and '' Worlds' End''. New additions to the cast included: David Harewood as Destruction, Wil Wheaton as Brant Tucker, and K.J. Apa as Prez.


See also

* '' Sandman: 24 Hour Diner'', fan film * Sandman, the Golden Age DC character * Sandman (Garrett Sanford/Hector Hall), the Bronze Age DC character


References


Further reading

* * * * * * (HC). (TPB). * *
Sharkey, Rodney
(2008).
Being' Decentered in Sandman: History, Dreams, Gender, and the 'Prince of Metaphor and Allusion
'"
ImageText: Interdisciplinary Comics Studies
' 4 (1).


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Sandman, The 1989 comics debuts 1996 comics endings Adult comics Comics adapted into television series Fiction about the Devil Dreams in fiction Eisner Award winners for Best Continuing Series Fantasy comics Harvey Award winners for Best Continuing or Limited Series Horror comics Fiction about personifications of death Vertigo Comics graphic novels Vertigo Comics titles Mythology in comics Sandman Articles containing video clips Gothic comics