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4.44 AVERAGE
4.44 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I liked this installment. The Sandman decides to revisit hell to rescue a past lover. Once there, he finds Lucifer abandoning hell. The sandman is given the key to hell, the dead are rising, and competitors compete for ownership of hell.
I enjoyed the inclusion of different death gods. Egyptian, Japanese, Norse, etc. They make mention of the missing Hades. I assume it was for an inside joke and nothing serious though I'd have liked to see him and some aztec/indigenous american gods. A native american god would also have been interesting.
Like the other volumes, there are some tangents. One story follows that of a young boy at a boarding school. He's the only child there when the dead residents come back. It was rather sad.
Compared to the other volumes, I thought this was one of the better ones. The story was solid all the way through and flowed rather nicely. Some characters could have used more development (who were all his siblings again?), and there were a number of unanswered questions (did death go back for the boy?). Did Lucifer receive any punishments?
I enjoyed the inclusion of different death gods. Egyptian, Japanese, Norse, etc. They make mention of the missing Hades. I assume it was for an inside joke and nothing serious though I'd have liked to see him and some aztec/indigenous american gods. A native american god would also have been interesting.
Like the other volumes, there are some tangents. One story follows that of a young boy at a boarding school. He's the only child there when the dead residents come back. It was rather sad.
Compared to the other volumes, I thought this was one of the better ones. The story was solid all the way through and flowed rather nicely. Some characters could have used more development (who were all his siblings again?), and there were a number of unanswered questions (did death go back for the boy?). Did Lucifer receive any punishments?
Dare I say, my favourite thus far? At least since the first volume.
I absolutely love the long-awaited introduction of the rest of the Endless and the dramatic family reunion. Look at this beautiful panel:
The premise of this volume was interesting because it absolutely does not turn out how you expect it to. The prologue and first chapter set up such suspense and danger which becomes surprisingly hilarious once you realise there's going to be no dramatic fight but that Lucifer's just casually shutting down hell because he's tired (absolutely iconic behaviour). There's also wonderful commentary on the idea of "Hell" and how humanity invents and relishes in it's iterations of hell because we revel in the retribution we think we deserve- I love that even amidst the fantastical comic-book/graphic novel realm Neil Gaiman manages to question what humanity means.
I think the illustrations in this one might be the best so far- the scenery of Hell and the starry Dreaming was great. There was also such a diversity and breadth of characters and they were all so vividly rendered. I loved the subtly updated character designs for the Endless and also the various mythological figures- the way Neil Gaiman blended so many myths and folklore was absolutely delightful and every other page was a new adventure that introduced new characters gearing up to demand Hell's key from Morpheus. I think this volume also managed to be the wittiest just because of the sheer range of characters and their dubious motives and threats to get the key.
Lastly, I just want to say: justice for Delirium's butterflies because Desire really did not have to do that (I love their sheer audacity but I will also stab them with extreme prejudice).
I absolutely love the long-awaited introduction of the rest of the Endless and the dramatic family reunion. Look at this beautiful panel:
The premise of this volume was interesting because it absolutely does not turn out how you expect it to. The prologue and first chapter set up such suspense and danger which becomes surprisingly hilarious once you realise there's going to be no dramatic fight but that Lucifer's just casually shutting down hell because he's tired (absolutely iconic behaviour). There's also wonderful commentary on the idea of "Hell" and how humanity invents and relishes in it's iterations of hell because we revel in the retribution we think we deserve- I love that even amidst the fantastical comic-book/graphic novel realm Neil Gaiman manages to question what humanity means.
I think the illustrations in this one might be the best so far- the scenery of Hell and the starry Dreaming was great. There was also such a diversity and breadth of characters and they were all so vividly rendered. I loved the subtly updated character designs for the Endless and also the various mythological figures- the way Neil Gaiman blended so many myths and folklore was absolutely delightful and every other page was a new adventure that introduced new characters gearing up to demand Hell's key from Morpheus. I think this volume also managed to be the wittiest just because of the sheer range of characters and their dubious motives and threats to get the key.
Lastly, I just want to say: justice for Delirium's butterflies because Desire really did not have to do that (I love their sheer audacity but I will also stab them with extreme prejudice).
I think this might be my favourite of the series so far! The plot itself binds most of the issues together (except for one), which I appreciate. It's definitely the most cohesive volume I think I've seen so far in the series. There were also plenty of good moments: .
But don't get me wrong, I have a lot to vent about still. While this volume is well-constructed and filled with precious little gems of world-building and odd-but-pleasing character interactions, I don't think Gaiman took it quite as far as he could've. He played it safe in my opinion. Dream's 'growth' was lacklustre at best, too quick and mostly spurred by... brotherly shame? Also, so much build-up for a confrontation, with no actual pay. And I feel this has been a theme in the story. I'm always expecting something big to happen, and then I'm just left feeling "eh". I am more interested in the angels' story than anything else at this point.
Something else that has p*ssed me off in the series, and that made me reach a tipping point in this one, is the blatant overssexualisation of female characters, and that is clearly a Neil Gaiman trend, sorry to burst anyone's bubble. Whenever there's a female character appearing on page, there needs to be some comment on her body, on how she'd be like in bed, breasts and the overall female form are always accentuated, and I'm pretty sure it's him stressing that out on page, because damn, his American Gods novel is filled with it. Want an example from this volume?. Sure enough, in every volume there's at least one example of him sexualising or patronising women. But alas. No one online seems to care, as far as I could find.
As I said, I reached a tipping point, but please consider that this is one of the best in series so far! So don't exclude it just because of what I wrote above.
Spoiler
like the Endless siblings gathering, Lucifer having had enough and having a heart-to-heart with Dream as he's packing up his things in Hell, the dinner with the deities, Dream vs Azazel, sunsets...But don't get me wrong, I have a lot to vent about still. While this volume is well-constructed and filled with precious little gems of world-building and odd-but-pleasing character interactions, I don't think Gaiman took it quite as far as he could've. He played it safe in my opinion. Dream's 'growth' was lacklustre at best, too quick and mostly spurred by... brotherly shame? Also, so much build-up for a confrontation, with no actual pay. And I feel this has been a theme in the story. I'm always expecting something big to happen, and then I'm just left feeling "eh". I am more interested in the angels' story than anything else at this point.
Something else that has p*ssed me off in the series, and that made me reach a tipping point in this one, is the blatant overssexualisation of female characters, and that is clearly a Neil Gaiman trend, sorry to burst anyone's bubble. Whenever there's a female character appearing on page, there needs to be some comment on her body, on how she'd be like in bed, breasts and the overall female form are always accentuated, and I'm pretty sure it's him stressing that out on page, because damn, his American Gods novel is filled with it. Want an example from this volume?
Spoiler
Just read over the appearances of Fae Nuala, and even Bast. Better yet! Maybe that principal's dead mom and her weird sexual stories. Oh, and let's not mention that weird never-born embryo ghost baby that had to appear and talk?? That seems like a not so disguised political position? Oh! And can we discuss that Nada redeeming thing?? Seriously? Dream submitted you to torture for 10 thousand years, and after an "I'm sorry" you kiss him and it's all good? You both got issues, smhAs I said, I reached a tipping point, but please consider that this is one of the best in series so far! So don't exclude it just because of what I wrote above.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A family dinner, a conclusion to Nada's story and a new Hell – this was perhaps the most enjoyable book so far in the Sandman series!
The entire Endless family gets introduced, which finally ends up leading to Nada getting her freedom, while every other mythological figure makes an appearance in the Dreaming. It was fun to read that certainly – Dream being a powerful monarch of his realm, toe-to-toe with other deities.
Looking forward to where this goes next!
4
The entire Endless family gets introduced, which finally ends up leading to Nada getting her freedom, while every other mythological figure makes an appearance in the Dreaming. It was fun to read that certainly – Dream being a powerful monarch of his realm, toe-to-toe with other deities.
Looking forward to where this goes next!
4
A dream like tale. I really liked the twists false anticipation that carried a lot of the story.
Dream country had me better. I felt like the whole Satan leaving thing was a deus ex machina inserted to make a point rather than to tell a story (daemon ex machina? diablo ex machina?)
But I'll still give it four stars because... well... Gaiman.
But I'll still give it four stars because... well... Gaiman.
Probably my favorite of the Sandman books so far. It shows the dreamlord as fallible, and after three books returning him to his power in the Dreaming it's a nice change.
adventurous
dark
reflective
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:
Yes