Reviews

The Sandman: The Dream Hunters by Neil Gaiman

labunnywtf's review against another edition

5.0

I think I loved this artwork more than any other so far from The Sandman series. Which is strange, considering that I really enjoy looking at The Endless and their features, and in this one Dream is background material to the main story.

This story is beautiful. It's beautifully told, and amazing to read. The artwork is so amazing, it feels like it should be hung on a wall instead of being hidden away in a book. Just so beautiful to look at, and so fun to read.

I tend to read all forwards and post scripts on books, and that is especially true with ones written by Neil Gaiman. I loved his notes on this, and his explanation of the original Japanese folk tale. I hope the original is as beautiful as this retelling.

evabails's review against another edition

3.0

An immersive Japanese fairytale set in The Sandman universe. I read this in one sitting, the art is incredible.

has3000's review against another edition

adventurous dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

There’s not much to say about the story here beyond the Prose Version, which I adored. I think I preferred that one slightly, but this one was also very good.

The afterword carried a bit of information which I quite enjoyed, but I would recommend reading the Prose version first, as it was released first.

theseventhl's review against another edition

4.0

Funny enough, I think I read this a long time ago without realizing it was part of a larger series. Rereading it after reading the Sandman series proper, I can appreciate the references to other series characters as well as the overall connections between this story steeped in Japanese folklore and Gaiman’s universe. Loved the art and the storytelling, and the Cain and Abel cameo truly tickled me. I would love to read the prose version of this as well.

chimpapple's review against another edition

emotional inspiring mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

ramsfan1963's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

One of the best written, most beautifully drawn graphic novels I've ever read. It is the sad, heart wrenching story of a fox who falls in love with a monk, and must save his life from an evil overlord. Neil Gaiman writes with such tenderness, such wit, that even when you know the story is going to end tragically, it's still a beautiful love story.

dinnureads's review against another edition

5.0

And it is even more approriate to start my reading year with Sandman...as I also finished last year with it :)
a very cute and melancholic story :)

bigbookslilreads's review against another edition

4.0

I kind of expected Dream Hunters to be another "short story collection", kind of like [b:The Sandman: Endless Nights|47720|The Sandman Endless Nights|Neil Gaiman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327948224l/47720._SX50_.jpg|460092], but it was actually a self-contained story within the Sandman universe, one inspired by Japanese folklore and thus occurring in what we can consider the "past" relating to the overall Sandman series. This version is also an comic book adaptation of the original prose story, done in collaboration between Neil Gaiman and Yoshitaka Amano, one of my favourite artists. You can check that original version here.

You can read this volume at any time, though I would recommending reading it after the core 10 Sandman novels since you are introduced to a few characters that are adapted here to the Japanese folklore context

Spoiler

like the Furies

. This volume focuses on a Gaiman-imagined legend about a Buddhist monk that is pulled into some supernatural shenanigans, first with a fox and badger that are trying to steal his temple, then with a magician that is trying to steal his inner peace. It is, however, mostly a story of tragic love, and I couldn't help but melt at that. The Japanese setting already had me intrigued, but on top of that the are by P. Russell succeeds in portraying that old school Japanese art so well that I couldn't help but screenshot my way through this. Truly magnificent.
I thought only that the plot could be slightly better. But other than that, it was a thoroughly enjoyable read.
I don't consider it completely necessary to read the original prose of the 1999 Amano collaboration, as they are pretty similar, just perhaps with a few more descriptions of the setting in the original. However, I would at least recommend a perusal of the original because of Amano's art! *.*

chibisparx's review

4.0

The story is short and simple, but it is enjoyable. The illustrations by Yoshitaka Amano by themselves are worth picking up the novella/graphic novel.

alannajane's review against another edition

5.0

Beautifully written. Beautifully illustrated. All-in-all, a rare treat for the senses.