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| 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: 5261885
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
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Product Description
THE SANDMAN, written by New York Times bestselling author Neil Gaiman, was the most acclaimed comic book title of the 1990s. A rich blend of modern myth and dark fantasy in which contemporary fiction, historical drama and legend are seamlessly interwoven, THE SANDMAN is also widely considered one of the most original and artistically ambitious series of the modern age. By the time it concluded in 1996, it had made significant contributions to the artistic maturity of comic books and become a pop culture phenomenon in its own right.Now, DC Comics is proud to present this comics classic in an all-new Absolute Edition format. The first of four beautifully designed slipcased volumes, THE ABSOLUTE SANDMAN VOL. 1 collects issues 1-20 of The Sandman and features completely new coloring, approved by the author, on the first 18 issues, as well as a host of never-before-seen extra material, including the complete original Sandman Proposal, a gallery of character designs from Gaiman and the artists who originated the look of the Sandman, and the original script to the World Fantasy Award-winning THE SANDMAN #19, "A Midsummer Night's Dream," together with reproductions of the issue's original pencils by Charles Vess. Also included are a new introduction by DC's president Paul Levitz and a new afterword by Gaiman.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 47 more reviews...
Absolute WOW! November 9, 2006
47 out of 52 found this review helpful
Every fan of the graphic novel format chooses for themselves the moment at which the medium "broke out." Watchmen. Miracle Man. Dark Knight Returns. The Contract With God Trilogy. While there can be no right answer to this question, for me it lies with Sandman, Neil Gaiman's brilliant, literate, and highly entertaining romp through areas as diverse as pop culture, Kaballah, Freudian analysis, serial killers, Shakespeare, death, and other areas too many to number. The story follows one of the endless, creatures that exist as personifications of certain eternal forces, Despair, Destiny, Delusion, Desire, etc, in this case Dream.
The story begins with Dream's capture by mystics in Britain between the world wars and takes off at his release in modern times, following his struggle to rebuild his realm, shattered and abandoned for his absence. While the first few issues touch at the edges of the traditional comic universe, Gaiman quickly departs this and enters his own deep textual musings. While a thread binds all the tales here together, a passion play of rise, fall, and self realization, what one finds here most pleasurable are the stories. Dream is the keeper of tales and many are to be found here. Shakespeare's troop performing a Midsummer Night's Dream for the real King Oberon, a man gifted with eternal life, another of a writer who captures and holds bound a muse for her stories, yet another of the trials of ruling hell, and many others.
Nor does this volume stand along on its prose, for the art too may be some of the most lovely in any modern graphic novel, rich and varied. While the book comes pricey, fans will love the oversized format and those beginning the collection will quickly notice that the price is only nominally higher then buying the individual soft back volumes. Of one thing I am certain, no one will likely regret taking this fine work home.
A Tome of Exquisite Beauty! Truly what Dreams are made of! October 6, 2006
30 out of 39 found this review helpful
Received mine today and it exceeds all expectations. I've always regretted not getting the original hardcovers as they were released and this surpasses those in every respect. The new coloring is gorgeous and the extras fascinating. I cannot wait to revisit this amazing story in this format. Also, its heft will assurredly stun any burglar that comes calling in the night. Sweet Dreams indeed! Cudos and thanks to all involved!
What you need to Know January 27, 2007
14 out of 18 found this review helpful
"Oversize. The first of four slipcased volumes. Collects issues 1-20 of the comic series, with completely new, author-approved coloring of issues 1-18 (issues 19 and 20 were fine already, says Neil). Art by Sam Kieth, Mike Dringenberg, Malcolm Jones III, Chris Bachalo, Michael Zulli, Steve Parkhouse, Kelley Jones, Charles Vess, and Colleen Doran. Includes a host of never before seen material, including the complete original Sandman proposal, a gallery of character designs from Gaiman and the artists who originated the look of the Sandman, and the original script for the World Fantasy Award-winning issue 19, "A Midsummer Night's Dream", together with reproductions of the issue's original pencils by Charles Vess. Plus a new introduction by Paul Levitz, and an afterword by Neil."
 They recolored shoddy coloring with... computerized shoddy coloring July 15, 2007
14 out of 27 found this review helpful
I just heard about this book, and almost jumped for joy when I heard it was recolored. I always thought Sandman is so rich a mythology surely they could someday release a paint-over of the material as rich and artistically skilled as the material is imaginatively written. Well, this isn't it. The "recoloring" is just a bunch of Photoshop gradient color fills, and at that the job seems very amateur. If you're going to use gradients, AT LEAST know how to use them to create depth and roundness and shadows... this is just straight drops of color change... very boring. I know this won't bother everyone, people have different takes on art. For me it's a dealbreaker and I'll stick to the old versions which are cheap and have bad coloring rather than spending more money on new bad coloring.
The most beautiful book I own October 12, 2006
13 out of 13 found this review helpful
I received mine in the mail yesterday, and it blew me away. This is a large, girthy, edifice of a volume. The black leather cover comes complete with raised flourishes on the spine and a subtle embossed key and lock motif on the front and back. The letters are embossed in silver, all in a subtle yet glorious old-style script. There is a wide, heavy black silk bookmarker anchored to the center of the spine. The pages are sturdily bound and obviously built to last. This book would look at home in any of the ancient, eldritch libraries Gaiman's artists draw so well throughout the series.
Much has been made of the recoloring job in this edition, and I can now fully endorse it. I do not own any other edition (and now I'm glad that I waited to buy it), but my roommate does, and comparing my copy to his is like comparing old and new photographs. Mine is crisp, clear, and beautiful. His looks muddy and decrepit by comparison.
If you have never bought an edition of Sandman before, this is the one to get. Gaiman's masterpiece in a presentation that rivals anything I've seen. Fully worth all the money spent on it. I just wish more publishers would give their masterworks this luxurious treatment.
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