Reviews

I have owned The Sandman in almost every iteration, from the original monthly comic books to softbound 'graphic novel' collected works. With Absolute Sandman, I will never need another copy as they are simply beautiful. Each large leather bound tome is encased in a matching sleeve with artwork by the legendary Dave McKean. His distinctive stylings are further reproduced on each cover, with attractive stamped detail and silver lettering. Whether you are an old fan or a newcomer, I can't recommend this set of books highly enough. They are still as fresh and immersive today as the first time I found them, and stand up well as the pinnacle of the author's storytelling powers. I'll forever be appreciative of Neil Gaiman's other work but for me The Sandman is a true legacy.

Volume Two begins with a foreword by Alisa Kwitney. The cover is teasingly decorated with the all too familiar key to Hell, which heralds the brilliant Season of Mists story arc. It may be these particular books that galvanized me as a Sandman fan for life, with its depictions of Lucifer, Heaven and Hell. The artwork too still has the power to surprise. Further into the series is the Game of You storyline, which introduces us to characters that will become familiar such as Thessaly, Barbie and Wanda. At the end of the book is a ten page story from 1997, reprinted for the very first time. It's a rare glimpse of Desire in solo form, featuring beautifully painted panels by John Bolton.
Like the first collection, Volume Two also ends with the script and unfinished pencils, this time for Sandman #23. But it's the pages of artwork preceding that are the true treasure trove, showcasing work by names like Mike Mignola, Jamie Hewlett, Simon Bisley and Alex Ross. Truly stunning.

chrismarnone's review against another edition

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4.0

It's hard not to just gush about a beautiful volume of an amazing series. Like many, however, A Game of You is not my favorite Sandman story, so it feels like a bit of a slog compared to some other stories. Even so, Sandman never fails to rise above nearly every other story. Beautiful writing, gorgeous artwork, and the oversized leather hardcover is just a joy.

grahamiam's review against another edition

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4.0

While a little more directionless than the first volume, still top tier storytelling with some fantastic artwork to boot.

vylotte's review against another edition

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5.0

Glorious book, eagerly anticipating volume 3

littlemaddi's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.25

laurabearhere's review against another edition

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5.0

This is a beautiful continuation of the collected issues in volume 1. If I wasn't hooked by that, I was mesmerized by the Season of Mists story. Who can deny that they loved meeting the rest of the Eldest? The story that follows, with the contest for the key to Hell, was not only incredible in its story, but breathtaking in its art. I wasn't such a big fan of A Game of You -- Barbie just never caught my interest as a character. Yet the joy of Sandman lies in the digressions -- which, as the introduction rightly points out, are not digressions. They are part of the story of Dream. The stories from Thermidor, from Augustus, from Marco Polo -- they each pulled me in so quickly, each made me care about their own characters and own stories before tying into the fortunes of the Sandman. And that is Neil Gaiman's brilliance.

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