From Powells.com
"Alisa Kwitney's book, The Sandman: King of Dreams, is somewhere between a primer and a glossy yearbook. The full-color, hardcover volume contains a gallery of McKean's gorgeous covers for both the comic series and the graphic novel collections along with sample pages from the series, various artists' renditions of characters, and brief overviews of each book in the series. It is a perfect, albeit costly, introduction for newcomers or casual readers who aren't sure they want to read a book with pictures and for fans, it's a fun, casual reminiscence. It certainly inspired me to crack open my graphic novels and revisit the series." Chris Bolton, Powells.com (read the entire Powells.com review)
Synopses & Reviews
A visual journey through the award-winning comic book series.
In 1988, New York Times best-selling author Neil Gaiman first revealed the shadowy places where personal demons bleed into the realms of superheroes and ancient gods. His vehicle was The Sandman the acclaimed comics series that broke new ground in the medium and beyond. In 1991 it was the first, and only, comic book to receive the World Fantasy Award.
The tales that this master storyteller spins for his haunting and haunted protagonist wield immense power in both the land of dreams and in the waking world. By intermingling a dazzling array of narrative and artistic styles, Gaiman and a team of gifted artists, such as Dave McKean and Yoshitaka Amano, have created a stunning tableau where the psyche of the individual recedes into the panorama of folklore and fairy tales.
Here, in the lavishly illustrated pages of The Sandman: King of Dreams, author Alisa Kwitney, writing from firsthand experience as a member of The Sandman's editorial team, richly illustrates the comic's history, from its beginnings as simple sketches in Neil Gaiman's notebooks to its emergence as a unique and undeniable force in the literary world. With illustrations never before published, behind-the-scenes stories, and quotes from Gaiman himself, this volume is a true testament to the Dream King and the writer and artists who brought him to life.
Synopsis
The first and only comic book to receive the World Fantasy Award, The Sandman continues to break new ground in the comic book medium and beyond. Author Alisa Kwitney explores its beginnings and chronicles the comic's emergence as a unique and undeniable force in the literary world. Richly illustrated, this history shows how Gaiman and The Sandman's gifted artists, such as Dave McKean and Yoshitaka Amano, create a haunting (and haunted) main character who wields immense power. With illustrations never before published, behind-the-scenes stories, handwritten notes, and interviews with Gaiman himself, this volume is a true testament to the dream king and his creator.
About the Author
Alisa Kwitney is a former Vertigo Comics editor and writer. The author of three novels, a graphic novel, and a work of nonfiction, she lives in New York City.
Neil Gaiman is the New York Times best-selling author of American Gods and Coraline. He is the recipient of numerous awards for The Sandman.
Table of Contents
Introduction by Neil Gaiman 7
The Sandman 101 11
Preludes & Nocturnes 29
The Doll's House 45
Dream Country 55
Season of Mists 65
A Game of You 87
Fables & Reflections 93
Brief Lives 113
Worlds' End 127
The Kindly Ones 139
The Wake 157
Apocrypha 171
Acknowledgments 179