beckynachos's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
witch_dagger's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.5
guinness74's review against another edition
5.0
Arguably the finest artwork of the series, this encore presentation of ‘The Sandman’ series was an author’s dream (no pun intended) list of artists to celebrate this magnificent work. And, while the stories seemed to pale a bit in comparison to the art, they were no less entertaining and engaging than previous iterations. Gaiman is a master storyteller and that is on display in this volume, so much so that one of the stories is illustrated twice and I read it both times just to experience it, albeit with strikingly different art.
So, now that I’ve finished with ‘The Sandman’ (is it really finished? Time will tell.), I can say it is one of the finest graphic collections I’ve ever had the pleasure of experiencing. I do hope there’s more in the future.
So, now that I’ve finished with ‘The Sandman’ (is it really finished? Time will tell.), I can say it is one of the finest graphic collections I’ve ever had the pleasure of experiencing. I do hope there’s more in the future.
imaginaryturtle's review against another edition
4.0
While I liked seeing the same story in two different art styles, it's still the same story... twice. I also wasn't a huge fan of the Sandman Midnight Theatre story. Endless Nights was great!
thatguitarist7's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
iirreeaadd's review against another edition
5.0
While the last major story (The Kindly Ones) started out weak and took a bit to get going, the ending was beautiful and tied everything together and made me cry. A must read of a series.
easolinas's review against another edition
5.0
Well, Neil Gaiman's brilliant, epic "Sandman" series is over. But that doesn't mean that there aren't more stories to tell about Morpheus and the Endless. And while the other Absolute omnibi collected the regular series, "Absolute Sandman Vol. 5" collects some of the side material that was doesn't quite fit into the chronology -- stories about the Endless, a fox, and the OTHER Sandman.
First there is "Endless Nights," a compilation of stories about the Endless -- Death's wanderings in Venice, and a young American who remembers her; an ancient Briton woman who makes a deal with Desire for an all-too-brief love; how Dream lost a lover to a star; people wracked by Despair; a quest to save the disturbed Delirium; a trip into Destiny's garden, and an archeological dig that is disrupted by a long-absent member of the family.
And then there's "Sandman: Midnight Theatre," in which Golden Age superhero Wesley Dodds (aka the Sandman) is sent on a mission to London to uncover fascists, while his on-off lover Dian helps an old friend who is being blackmailed. But in the course of his investigations, Dodds infiltrates a country mansion where occultists are gathering... and finds a mysterious figure imprisoned in a secret chamber.
And finally, we have "Sandman: The Dream Hunters" in two different forms. It was originally published as a novella with illustrations by the legendary Yoshitaka Amano, and was later adapted into a lushly dreamlike graphic novel.
It tells the story of a young monk and a kitsune who fall in love -- only to be threatened by the Baku (dream eaters) who have been sent to kill the monk by a paranoid onmyoji. The fox is determined to save her love from the sorcerer, and when she lapses into a coma, he ventures into the Palace of Dreams to save her life. But asking for help from the King of Dreams has a price.
"Absolute Sandman Vol. 5" is probably the choppiest of the Sandman omnibi thus far, since the three major works -- the two "Dream Hunters," "Midnight Theatre" and "Endless Nights" -- are pretty much unconnected to each other. All they have in common are the Lord of Dreams and his eternal family, whether in a major role or a cameo.
And Gaiman does a brilliant job with all the stories, whether it's a bleak between-wars spy story, a lush and bittersweet Japanese fairy tale, or snapshots of the Endless. He adds a strange, dark edge to the everyday world, with haunting little glimpses of a boundless unfathomable world outside our own. And the artwork is always sublime, whether it's colorful realism, dreamlike beauty, or grey blocklike figures.
My only problem is that "Theatre" has waaaaayyyyy too little Morpheus. He and Wesley meet for approximately two pages, and Wesley doesn't really get to say anything. But it IS awesome to see the Golden Age Sandman encountering Gaiman's more otherworldly one.
The contents of "Absolute Sandman Volume 5" are not for casual dabblers, but fans who want the scattered side-stories in one gorgeous volume.
First there is "Endless Nights," a compilation of stories about the Endless -- Death's wanderings in Venice, and a young American who remembers her; an ancient Briton woman who makes a deal with Desire for an all-too-brief love; how Dream lost a lover to a star; people wracked by Despair; a quest to save the disturbed Delirium; a trip into Destiny's garden, and an archeological dig that is disrupted by a long-absent member of the family.
And then there's "Sandman: Midnight Theatre," in which Golden Age superhero Wesley Dodds (aka the Sandman) is sent on a mission to London to uncover fascists, while his on-off lover Dian helps an old friend who is being blackmailed. But in the course of his investigations, Dodds infiltrates a country mansion where occultists are gathering... and finds a mysterious figure imprisoned in a secret chamber.
And finally, we have "Sandman: The Dream Hunters" in two different forms. It was originally published as a novella with illustrations by the legendary Yoshitaka Amano, and was later adapted into a lushly dreamlike graphic novel.
It tells the story of a young monk and a kitsune who fall in love -- only to be threatened by the Baku (dream eaters) who have been sent to kill the monk by a paranoid onmyoji. The fox is determined to save her love from the sorcerer, and when she lapses into a coma, he ventures into the Palace of Dreams to save her life. But asking for help from the King of Dreams has a price.
"Absolute Sandman Vol. 5" is probably the choppiest of the Sandman omnibi thus far, since the three major works -- the two "Dream Hunters," "Midnight Theatre" and "Endless Nights" -- are pretty much unconnected to each other. All they have in common are the Lord of Dreams and his eternal family, whether in a major role or a cameo.
And Gaiman does a brilliant job with all the stories, whether it's a bleak between-wars spy story, a lush and bittersweet Japanese fairy tale, or snapshots of the Endless. He adds a strange, dark edge to the everyday world, with haunting little glimpses of a boundless unfathomable world outside our own. And the artwork is always sublime, whether it's colorful realism, dreamlike beauty, or grey blocklike figures.
My only problem is that "Theatre" has waaaaayyyyy too little Morpheus. He and Wesley meet for approximately two pages, and Wesley doesn't really get to say anything. But it IS awesome to see the Golden Age Sandman encountering Gaiman's more otherworldly one.
The contents of "Absolute Sandman Volume 5" are not for casual dabblers, but fans who want the scattered side-stories in one gorgeous volume.
phoebejeziel's review against another edition
5.0
FINALLY FINISHED WITH THIS PUPPY.
Every time I leave this world, I'm always left pondering the meaning of life and love and happiness. Neil Gaiman never fails to make me think about life and he always leaves my mind blown.
This was a phenomenal, beautiful collection of short stories about the Endless, and three other short stories that involved Dream, two of them being the same only with two different artists. It feels strange finally finishing the Sandman series...
I already miss this story.
Every time I leave this world, I'm always left pondering the meaning of life and love and happiness. Neil Gaiman never fails to make me think about life and he always leaves my mind blown.
This was a phenomenal, beautiful collection of short stories about the Endless, and three other short stories that involved Dream, two of them being the same only with two different artists. It feels strange finally finishing the Sandman series...
I already miss this story.
grahamiam's review against another edition
3.0
Ended up skimming a lot of it. I would skip this volume, given that it's not part of the storyline really.
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