Title: Sandman Volume 1: Preludes and Nocturnes

Author: Neil Gaiman, Sam Keith, Mike Dringenberg

Publisher: Vertigo/DC Comics 2010/1988

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 240

Rating:   5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel; Support Your Local LIbrary; My Years -- 1988

How I Got It: Library loan

In PRELUDES & NOCTURNES, an occultist attempting to capture Death to bargain for eternal life traps her younger brother Dream instead. After his 70 year imprisonment and eventual escape, Dream, also known as Morpheus, goes on a quest for his lost objects of power. On his arduous journey Morpheus encounters Lucifer, John Constantine, and an all-powerful madman.  This book also includes the story "The Sound of Her Wings," which introduces us to the pragmatic and perky goth girl Death.  Includes issues 1-8 of the original series with completely new coloring, approved by the author.

I had been meaning to pick up this series forever.  But the Omaha library only later some of the later volumes, so no go.  Thankfully, Sunnyvale is awesome and actually has comics and graphic novels.  I snatched the first three volumes to read.

I love the incorporation of the various other comic characters.  I love the allusions to other mythological figures.  I love the drawings of Dream.  The background art is sometimes so chaotic and/or dark that it's hard to see what's actually being depicted.  However, I really enjoyed the storyline of Dream retrieving his freedom and power.  It was a great little journey.  I am very interested to see where this story leads.  And the introduction of Death was just amazing.

Sandman

• #1 Preludes and Nocturnes
• #2 The Doll's House
• #3 Dream Country
• #4 Season of Mists
• #5 A Game of You
• #6 Fables and Reflections
• #7 The Brief Lives
• #8 World's End
• #9 The Kindly Ones
• #10 The Wake
• #11 The Dream Hunters (with Amano Yoshitaka)
• #12 Endless Nights