|
| Absolute Sandman | 
 enlarge | Authors: Neil Gaiman, Mike Dringenberg, Sam Kieth, Malcolm Jones
Publisher: Titan Books Ltd
Category: Book
This item is no longer available
Avg. Customer Rating:  52 reviews
Sales Rank: 5742702
Format: Box Set, Import
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 612
Shipping Weight (lbs): 6.7
Dimensions (in): 12.8 x 8.7 x 2.1
ISBN: 1845763564
EAN: 9781845763565
ASIN: 1845763564
Publication Date: November 24, 2006
|
| Customer Reviews:
Sandman at its finest (re-read 10/10) January 9, 2007
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
As a longtime Sandman reader, I found this volume to be everything I could ever desire in an Absolute Sandman. This book collects all of the first 20 issues of the landmark series, has re-colored 18 of the 20 issues (this is a HUGE upgrade) from and of the old trades. Trust me, if you are reading anything but the Absolute Edition, you are missing out on a lot of detail and pleasant art. And if you don't care about art (like I don't), you will still find the stories more enjoyable. This book will look good on your shelf, the spine will not break when you lay it flat, and if you ever enjoyed Sandman at all, you will love this series. Just think, these are the weakest issues of the series. Can't wait for Vol 2 and 3!
Re-readability: 10/10
*I always put re-readability in my reviews for people who like to keep their TPB to re-read*
 A book only as Oversized as the Series itself September 28, 2007
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Anyone who wants to start with Sandman I think should start by heading to the library and borrowing several volumes first. Anyone who's a fan should own this.
Neil Gaiman's Sandman is a wonderful series; a mythos that encompasses many other cultural mythologies into one nifty little setting. Anyone can pull up a short little synopsis about the series, but that would be an understatement of a task, for the series is so much more than just that. For the series is itself a mythology, a fantasy, and a reality, and anyone who comes across it, with a little patience, will immediately be swept away by the unfathomable truths contained within these tomes, and for once, being lost in a desert of dreams won't be such a bad idea.
However, I do have a few issues. The wonderful facet of a comic book (in the case of Sandman, Graphic Novels or Visual Literature) is that it is a collaborative medium. While Gaiman is undoubtedly a tour de force, the art itself helps to raise the bar of that force. Initially reading the series, you get a sense of its visceral visions and its somber tones, all through vibrant background colors. In the Absolute Sandman, however, the re-colors have somehow nullified some of that mood that was so powerfully combined with the writing itself. Newcomers to the series won't notice it if they start with this edition, but fans will. If you don't believe me, just compare the print from any of the previous TPB's or hardcovers of Issue #6 "24 Hours" (a shocking high-voltage horror tribute) or Issue #8 "The Sound of Her Wings" (this is the issue which for me is the definitive beginning of the mythos) with the Absolute editions. While the writing is still strong, I miss some of the old coloring, which helped to evoke a certain mood that solidified the series place in the comic book world. That isn't to say that some of the coloring hasn't actually improved on the old. In most cases, the recoloring was actually smoother and stronger, and set the mood more proper.
Newcomers should borrow from the library or from friends who have previous versions, to get a sense of the original mood (also, the book is just way too huge for carrying around), then if they see fit can buy the Absolute editions. I still think this is a wonderfully (and adequately) oversized edition, and some of the new coloring isn't bad, but bland in some cases. The large size magnifies the series in proper grandeur, and is an apt edition for fans to collect. It's not such a bad idea to own previous versions, in which there are those wonderful introductions by authors such as Clive Barker, Peter Straub, Stephen King, etc., with the Absolute editions (despite the costs), which I proudly own.
good stuff.. January 16, 2007
3 out of 5 found this review helpful
I got this book for my girlfriend for christmas. (she is a huge Neil Gaiman fan) Not only do i prefer to buy books from amazon because they usually have exactly what i want, but it is nice that their stock is in such good quality. The book was wrapped in its plastic and there wasnt a ding or dent on the whole book. Oh yeah, it was also the cheapest I could find it. Good job amazon. Anyway, about the product... The book is amazing, the art top notch and the storytelling unmatched by anyone. I used to collect comics at the time that the original sandman books came out. I didnt buy them because at that time I was more into the art of books than the actual story. I regret not picking them up. thank goodness that these books are now put together in a cool hardback and not to sound too nerdy, it actually comes with one of those red string bookmark things that holds your place in the book. I am not smart enough to know the proper name of it but it is little things like that that shows that i am easy to please.. pick up the book.
Simply Stunning October 20, 2006
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Sandman is such an obvious choice for reprinting in the Absolute format, I'm surprised DC took this long to think of it. Previous reviewers have hit all the right points: the full leather binding, the extra heftiness of the volume, the glorious new look to the color. Nothing seems held back. I'm already salivating over the future volumes. Here are some questions DC should consider answering: Will the final volume include the two Death series? Will any volume include the 7-page story that appeared in a DC Sampler, and was later reprinted in the Fables and Reflections HC?
One final note: the back cover of my copy came with glue smudges from the slipcase. I guess the book was placed in the case before the glue was fully dry. Anyone else experience this problem?
Sandman Fan November 1, 2006
2 out of 6 found this review helpful
I received my copy yesterday when I got home from work. It is better than I expected. I have two of the Sandman books (Preludes and Nocturnes & Dream Country) from the second edition, and wanted to own the rest of that edition. My problem had been that I could no longer find that edition, and I did not want the new edition. However, this hardback book is wonderful, even better than the second edition that I preferred the artwork in.
|
|
|
Powered by Associate-O-Matic
| |
