Creators: Neil Gaiman

Original Date(s) of Publication: Jan 1989 - Mar 1996

Publisher: Initially DC Comics, then later placed under the company's more "mature" label, Vertigo.

The series follows the journeys of the ruler of the world of dreams, known by many names, including Dream, Morpheus, Oneiros, and others. Due to the nature of his realm and the many different types of characters that Morpheus encounters, The Sandman is a complex work which blurs genre. It is one of a small number of graphic novels to be listed on the New York Times bestseller list, which also includes Watchmen and The Dark Night Returns.

Plot Summary

The Sandman follows Morpheus, the Lord of Dreams, over the course of 10 volumes (75 issues). The series begins with Morpheus’s imprisonment at the hands of bumbling human occultists, who intended to entrap Dream’s older sister, Death. His incarceration lasts for 70 years, after which he seeks revenge upon his captors and seeks to rebuild his kingdom, which had waned in his absence. The story lines are not told linearly and take place in a variety of locations, both fantastical and mundane. The ultimate arc throughout the volumes details Morpheus’s journey from a cold and indifferent immortal being, to a tragic hero who sets about to atone for his past mistakes.  Over the course of this journey, with the help of his sister Death, as well as a handful of beings ranging from unemployed waitresses to prominent figures of myth and legend, he eventually learns to empathize with others. Neil Gaiman has said that the summary of the plot could be most simply put as “The Lord of Dreams learns that one much change or die, and makes his decision.”

Significant Features

It is significant for its ability to blend multiple forms of storytelling, narrative traditions, and genres within the broader context of the comic medium.  The series won the World Fantasy Award in 1991, the Bram Stoker Award for Best Illustrated Narrative, the Angouléme International Comics Festival Prize for Scenario, as well as 26 Eisner awards, including 3 for Best Continuous Series, 1 for Best Short Story, and 4 for Best Writer.

Publication History / Historical Context

Gaiman was originally approached to revive the early Jack Kirby era Sandman series in 1988, but was asked by then-DC editor Karen Berger to make it a new character with the same name, giving him free reign over the direction in which to take the story. Gaiman’s contract stipulated that the series would be complete if/when he decided to leave it, effectively ensuring that Gaiman would have the first and last say on all things canonical about Dream and his siblings. It became a cult success for DC and attracted many of readers not typically interested in mainstream comics, including a large female audience. At the time of its conclusion in 1996, The Sandman was outselling Superman comics.

Critical Reception 

Describe the critical reception (popular and academic) of the work.

• Parker, Sabadino. 2007. Dream's Odyssey: A Jungian Analysis. Hartford, CT: Trinity College.
• Rauch, Stephen. 2003. Neil Gaiman's The Sandman and Joseph Campbell: In Search of the Modern Myth. Holicong, PA: Wildside Press. 
• Awards: See Significant Features, above.

References

1. http://comicbookdb.com/title.php?ID=376
2. http://www.neilgaiman.com/p/Cool%20Stuff/Essays/Essays%20About%20Neil/The%20Sandman%20Summary
3. http://www.arschkrebs.de/sandman/