The first video I stumbled across for both of you was that first dual video you did together. Just curious: how did you did you guys end up collaborating? Were you like friends in college or just followed each other's channels?
Gaimen is much more concerned with theme than plot. He is a master at it, but you have to accept it if you are going to enjoy it. Personally, I read every issue of Sandman as they came out and it's one of my go to recommendations.
All schools in Norway closed 15 minutes ago. Probably gonna stay closed for a month. But on the bright side it gives me alot of time to start reading the Wheel of Time :-)
If you approach The Sandman expecting a linear plot that continues throughout the series you will be disappointed. Better to approach it as a collection of short stories that (mostly) feature the same characters and recurring themes. Among those themes is the importance of stories to the human condition. So, stories about stories. I love it, hope you will too.
@@gegalloneword1481 Well, but THERE IS an overarching plotline in Sandman. It's just that it's told through a constellation of different viewpoints and throwing in some self contained short story for good measure.
@@TucoBenedicto I didn't say there wasn't an overarching plotline throughout Sandman, I said there rarely is, and the reason to keep reading is for the characters.
Glad to see you and Merphy reading The Sandman. Keep in mind, this is a story about stories and perspectives. It’s very different from modern writing trends but it’s definitely worth the read. The Sandman, and Death specifically, helped me through a lot of tough moments, so it will always hold a special place in my heart. I hope you guys enjoy it!
Re: What Merphy said about tone, the first few comic issues (not collected volumes) have a more horror vibe which it loses going forward. Not that there aren't still dark or weird bits. Re: What Daniel said about plot... Yeah Sandman doesn't really have the type of focused plot you'd prefer but it's still well worth reading all of and I consider it Gaiman's best work by far.
The Sandman is one of my favorite stories, but I agree that reading only the first volume the series may look "overhyped", but when you read about the creative process about Neil Gaiman dealing with DC and all, is easy to understand how the series evolved from the first few pages going foward. However, your concern about the plot is something that is integral to the series, the plot is not something that is always the focus, characters and themes kinda of comes first.
Yes and yes!!! Sandman is one of my favourite comics ever and I can't wait for you to finish it all and then get to the Wake and finally have the groundwork that Neil laid all throughout the 10 volumes, finally click for you with finality. There's a reason why this comic is so beloved and why Neil Gaiman is considered such a brilliant writer and I can't wait for you to fall in love with the world and the characters! Also, if Merphy thinks she loves Death now, wait until she finishes the 10 volumes and reads Death: The Cost of High Living and Death: The Time of Your Life. Death of the Endless is easily one of my favourite characters ever and OMG I'm so excited!!!
For this comic book series it's all about the long haul. There are digressions from the main path, but all paths lead back to the end game(mostly). Fabulous read. I hope you guys stick to it till the end. I also hope you guys enjoy all the characters that populate this universe.
Yesssss Dan and Merph back at it! I haven’t read this-not much of a comic reader, as much as I appreciate them-but I love Neil Gaiman’s works, and this review may have convinced me to give it a go! 🙌🏻
Gaiman said that he didn’t find himself as a writer of sandman until the end of volume 1. After that point the plot becomes more cohesive and all of the things you enjoyed such as themes and character development just get turned up a few degrees. It’s an amazing story and it has a complete ending that wraps everything up beautifully. I hope you continue to read it and enjoy it as much as I did =]
Sandman has a bumpy start not by Neil’s fault but due to demands placed on him by DC. He didn’t have total creative freedom at the beginning, so it starts shaky. But as it goes on, it tightens up and becomes pure Gaiman.
Remember reading The Sandman when it first came out and being totally blown away and falling in love with the characters and world and was devastated when the artist passed away. RIP Malcolm Jones III 1959 - 1996
I love Sandman. To me it only gets better from here on. I love it when it really starts exploring The dreaming which is Dreams realm and all the characters that call it home like a certain set of brothers who are my favorites.
Daniel you will love Sandman. Your feelings Will be proven wrong. This will be the deepest, weirdest, coolest, most amazing story that you will ever have read. You will become a Neil Gaiman disciple. It sounds like you already know the Gaiman is weird and wonderful, but you are about to find out the vastness of his weird wonderfulness. (And his knowledge of the arcane)
One thing you need to know is that Sandman is not always a straight forward story. Its far more experimental than that. It does have an over arching storyline, but it often branches out into metaphors that can last entire issues, and those are written solely to establish other characters or to just explore a specific theme... And those are in many ways some of the best stories collected in comics. The story of Hob Gadling in particular is both moving and wonderful in so so many ways. It's just a great allround comic series. I'm excited to see your opinion on the rest.
It's been pointed out by a few people but I'll reiterate: Sandman has a different sort of plotting to it than a novel. The general pattern is two volumes with their own self contained stories followed by a third that is a collection of short stories. As the series progresses the "full length" volumes become more tightly linked and the short stories provide context to pivotal events in the "main story"...yeah it's weird
Yes! It shifts your world view! Preludes and Nocturnes! Neil Gaiman! Sandman! Daniel, Merphy, thrilled you are 📚 reading this collection! Fascinating to see this from a newly introduced perspective! Jump into the Dreaming, and forget everything you know! Also read American Gods!
Also plot is as a dream. The themes and atmosphere are forefront rather than a must-plot. There is more story than plot. When back in the world of film or fantasy novels, the takeaway from (yes! Theme is forefront!) Sandman is the subsurface of storytelling. It's in that place in the near subconsciousness. For me, it's not a parsable breakdown I can make. Yes! Submerge is the right perspective! Practically a dreamworld! Read further into the craziness!
Also read THAT story and tell us what you think? This must be a series now,: the dual review, and Sandman worthy of a top ten moments! Also don't forget to read Fragile Things! In fact, Dual Intro to reading Gaiman would be wonderful! Could be!
Cool review from both of you! I’m going to check it out even for the art, though I also love Gaiman’s American Gods and The Ocean at the End of the Lane.
I’m so glad you two liked vol 1, it’s my favorite series of all time and don’t think that it gets really good until the Calliope and Cats issue. Super excited to see the reviews for the rest of the series!
I was looking forward to this since Merphy mentioned it on her vlog. This has been on my long list for a long time but I love themes in the forefront. Also her outro us the best! 💕
Sandman starts as horror but fairly quickly it turns into something very different. I think the story gets a lot better as it goes which almost makes it hard from me to reread because I know I have to start at the top, but the stuff I like the most is mostly in the second half.
I read Sandman for the first time when I was 21 (I'm 36 now) and it did exactly what you said. I liked comics already, I was studying art at the moment even, but never took comics too seriously before reading Sandam. It blew me away from beggining to end. Made me think so different about the medium, that to this day is my favorite comic of all time.
I've been a fantasy nerd for 45 years. Cut my teeth on Tolkien, Moorcock's Elric and Donaldson's Thomas Covenant series among others you now consider "classics". Yes I'm old! :) I read Eye Of The World when it came out in 1990. Jordan is one of the best authors I've read. I have never been a fan of graphic novels, but I read American Gods and fell in love with Gaiman and gave Sandman a shot. I can say this definitely changed my mind on this medium! I have the three big Omnibus Editions. The artwork is amazing, changing throughout the series so you get different visual perspectives through the run and it adds so much to the stories. It even made Shakespeare palatable for me...something for you to look forward to.
Ironically, I just finished reading Preludes & Nocturnes myself last week and I was enthralled by it. The macabre tone, the blend of mythology and religion and fantasy, and the enigmatic yet compelling Morpheus all made for one of the most fascinating reading experiences I've had recently. I've always liked Gaiman, but I think his writing shines the brightest here. His themes and tone are best conveyed in this medium because we have all these wonderful visuals accompanying his perfect prose. The whole thing feels like a dream and, much like dreams, I find that the lack of structural plot doesn't bother me because I know the story is much bigger than what I can grasp at first sight. I honestly couldn't love it more.
Merphy, it gets weirder. And the tone shifts, for sure. There's a chapter about a serial killer convention, other times we're in whimsical dreams about cats and then there's a chapter re-telling a midsummer night's dream (which is masterfully done, btw). A wild ride, I hope you both continue to enjoy it!
Began reading it late one night one summer that cousins lent the first book Preludes and Nocturnes (how I got into American Gods, still reading Neverwhere, and short story collection Fragile Things) and read it until dawn until early breakfast! Also Mr Jones III is no longer with us, as I understand. Also, how do you feel about reviewing short story collections as a whole? Question for both Booktube Reviewers! Funny that plot search came up. Would you say it's snobbish to assert that story always comes before plot?and hopefully enhances screenwriting? Also thoughts on E-book comprehension? Is a tangible visual paperback where you can see how much you have to read and you've read better for comprehension of a story? It seems a slow burn novel on an E-book would leave a reader wondering what's what. And only a mega writer like King, or Gaiman could grip your attention and desire to read. Channeling Delirium.
I want to say this: while Sandman is a good book, it has been a huge victim of academic canonisation. Often people say Sandman and Watchmen are great books and the end all and be all of the medium, and that is kind of sad considering the medium has pushed a few hundred books that are as good or better, or in the same level, but they keep getting ignored by people who are convinced that comic book is a lesser medium and they have the last say because Gaiman wrote Sandman. Kinda like how people pretend they know the heights of fantasy because they have read Harry Potter and Tolkien.
Loved Sandman. This is one of those Gaiman books where the plot goes on in the background and at the end of the series I went “Holy Shit” and immediately reread.
You won't even know what the plot of this book is until about 60 issues in. The Sandman is a story about stories, and the character of Dream is the main focus, so if that isn't your thing, all I can say is good luck. Hope you enjoy the series.
Sandman is one of my favorite pieces of media! The first two volumes are good, the other 8 are just out of this world incredible. I may be a little biased because I first picked it up when I was 13 and it was kind of a foundational text for me. I hope you enjoy it.
I haven't read this yet but the comment about plot is one of my big peeves. After reading collection book 1 or vol 1 of a series, i hope for something that feels fairly complete in terms of story (even if there is a bigger story at play). Stories that draw things out are so off putting. I'm glad I watched this review! 🙂
Hey, I could fan boy out and be like "this and that". But I want to thank you for this video. It's been a while and I forget what it's like to dig into "The Sandman" for the first time. So I greatly appreciate this video. Thank you for covering this and thank you for your review.
I got obsessed with Neil Gaiman a few years ago and Sandman is definitely one of the highlights from that time in my life. There’s a lot going on here theme wise although I found that my favorite parts were often the one shots that may or may not tie back into the main plot. This story is very mixed up time wise with the exception of the ending and for a seemingly ‘unknowable’ force Dream is fun to hang around with.
I've just finished the series after 4 years of sporadic moments of indulging into this dream of a story. So this is as perfect a timing as there ever was one
Brilliant review, you and Merphy need to collaborate more often ahahahahaha Your thing about plot hit the mark for me, though. Gaiman's one of my favourite authors and I love Sandman, and when it's good, it's so very good - but there were also a few stories in the Sandman that didn't do it for me. And during those arcs, it was very hard to keep reading because there wasn't any overarching plot to entice you to keep going.
The Sandman is the greatest comic series I've ever read, and one of my favorite stories ever regardless of the medium. It has some fascinating themes and there's a gold mine of stuff in there to analyze. For example, it's function as a meta-narrative, a story about stories. It's inclusion of a vast number of myths from many different cultures. It's meditations on the universal themes of human nature, like death and life, predestination and agency, dreams and reality, desire and apathy, despair and joy, destruction and creativity, delirium and clarity. Each of the seven Endless are essentially a living Theme of some kind. Read accordingly. And the art! Oh just you two wait, if you liked the art in volume one, prepare to lose your minds over how incredible the art is in the later issues. And don't forget the Dream Hunters! Read that gorgeous piece of art in it's original form with the artwork by Yoshitaka Amano before you read the alternate version with art by P. Craig Russell. Seriously. I loved these books so much I've had dreams about them. Which I guess means I've had dreams about Dream.
You should check out “A Crown For Cold Silver” if you haven’t yet. It’s a great read that has elements of “getting the band back together” like Kings of the Wyld, cosmic horror, political intrigue, mental health issues, and more.
With all of the odd asides and narrative detours, this may not be a series that hits your plot desires on the head. However, The quality rarely dips, the characters get better and deeper, and you get to watch Gaiman grow and mature as a writer throughout. It is an incredible accomplishment, and great for rereads, as you said (I need to get on that). With all of that going on, this will probably be an exception to your usual plot-driven tastes.
welcome to the sandman universe. I have devoured insane quantities of story through multiple media. Books, Comic books, video game lore. Board game lore, movies, tv. etc....... If you are capable of seeing all the weaves (WoT pun) i think you might come to see Sandman as one of most intricate symphonies ever created. I love WoT. Its why i watch you as im currently re-reading it. I don't consider Robert Jordan to be on the same plane as Neil Gaiman. What Gaiman creates is a level above story telling. No slight meant to Robert Jordan whatsoever. Either way i wish you Happy reading.
Man you need to try Moers I dunno Rumo, the city of dreaming books, the 13 1/2 lives of captain blue bear... Is something so original it will blow your mind, expecially if you like demential settings
I loved those book when I read them years ago. Maybe it's worth saying that those books are originally written in German and maybe that's why they are not so widely known. They are definitely worth checking out.
I have really got to re-read Sandman. It's probably been nearly 20 years since I read the whole initial run. I was about 22ish when I first read it and it was incredibly formative for me. As far as I remember, the first collection was my least favourite, but it was something completely new at the time so needed time to get into its own. There is much foreshadowing everywhere, and that's why you need to re-read it as soon as you've finished to see everything you're going to miss the first time through. Well, not everything, The Sandman Companion helps with that ;-)
Tokyo Ghost is an amazing comic that I think both of you should definitely give a try. It has amazing characters, a lot of commentary about how technology effects our lives, and it’s only 11 volumes. Considered one of the best comics of all time and get good!
I love this series. You should totally check out Alan Moore’s swamp thing (in its original coloring). It’s very good and was released in the vertigo line of comics just like sandman.
@@SpaceLice The Sandman recolouring doesn't annoy me nearly as much (and is "just" the first 18 issues) even though I'm not a fan of the process anyway. But why does Swamp Thing now seem to have grey as its most prominent colour? yech
Remember that Gaiman wrote Sandman for eleven years, one issue per month, and then they were all collected into distinct books. Preludes & Nocturnes isn't just the first book. It's the collected issues from the first year or so of publication. There's a lot of growth WITHIN P&N, the last chapter is WAY better than chapter 1, but the growth from this point forward is mind-boggling. Gaiman really came into his own as a writer by this point, and really needed P&N to get him there, but the sublime, beautiful, infinitly varied stories to come are like nothing else ever written, and ultimately somehow the whole thing ends up feeling like one cohesive epic even though half of it is more tangent than plot. It's brilliant.
I absolutely love Neil Gaiman, the Sandman comics are one of my favorite I even have a Chibi Sandman tattoo. You also need to read Neil Gaiman’s Marvel graphic novel called 1603
Hey Daniel! My little sister recently started the WOT series , she happened to get the first book as a comic, have you seen it before? whats your take on it?
Thank you Merph for coming on!
The first video I stumbled across for both of you was that first dual video you did together. Just curious: how did you did you guys end up collaborating? Were you like friends in college or just followed each other's channels?
Thank you for inviting me to join you!
@@derekfostersvideos3115 The second option!
Gaimen is much more concerned with theme than plot. He is a master at it, but you have to accept it if you are going to enjoy it. Personally, I read every issue of Sandman as they came out and it's one of my go to recommendations.
You both should listen to Sandman Slim and duel review it!!
"The Lord of Dreams learns that one must change or die, and makes his decision." -Neil Gaiman
This quote is from a challenge to author Neil Gaiman to describe "The Sandman" in one sentence.
All schools in Norway closed 15 minutes ago. Probably gonna stay closed for a month. But on the bright side it gives me alot of time to start reading the Wheel of Time :-)
Cause of Coronavirus
@@paranoidpagan5243 yeah
That might soon happen here in Finland as well
Same here in India.
My exam starts in a few days -_-
If you approach The Sandman expecting a linear plot that continues throughout the series you will be disappointed. Better to approach it as a collection of short stories that (mostly) feature the same characters and recurring themes. Among those themes is the importance of stories to the human condition. So, stories about stories. I love it, hope you will too.
came to say this. Comics are serial, rarely is there a overarching plot lines... you keep reading the comics because of the characters involved.
@@gegalloneword1481 Well, but THERE IS an overarching plotline in Sandman. It's just that it's told through a constellation of different viewpoints and throwing in some self contained short story for good measure.
@@TucoBenedicto I didn't say there wasn't an overarching plotline throughout Sandman, I said there rarely is, and the reason to keep reading is for the characters.
So what genre is the Sandman series?
Anthony Nunez it’s a bit of everything, but mostly fantasy drama with strong surreal vibes.
If everything gets canceled, we can all look at the positive of having way more time to read
I mean.... worth? No, but a silver lining.
Well… two years ahead now so how much reading did you get done haha?
Wow the dream team strikes again.
*Ba dum tss*
Good call using Merphy's outro. I LOL'd.
It was perfect!
Yea- Solid choice
Glad to see you and Merphy reading The Sandman. Keep in mind, this is a story about stories and perspectives. It’s very different from modern writing trends but it’s definitely worth the read.
The Sandman, and Death specifically, helped me through a lot of tough moments, so it will always hold a special place in my heart. I hope you guys enjoy it!
Re: What Merphy said about tone, the first few comic issues (not collected volumes) have a more horror vibe which it loses going forward. Not that there aren't still dark or weird bits.
Re: What Daniel said about plot... Yeah Sandman doesn't really have the type of focused plot you'd prefer but it's still well worth reading all of and I consider it Gaiman's best work by far.
“What power would hell have if those imprisoned were not able to dream of heaven”
Such a badass and powerful quote from the first volume
The Sandman is one of my favorite stories, but I agree that reading only the first volume the series may look "overhyped", but when you read about the creative process about Neil Gaiman dealing with DC and all, is easy to understand how the series evolved from the first few pages going foward. However, your concern about the plot is something that is integral to the series, the plot is not something that is always the focus, characters and themes kinda of comes first.
Well said, and i like ypur channel🙃
"loved the first volume." dude thats nothing. just u wait
Yes and yes!!! Sandman is one of my favourite comics ever and I can't wait for you to finish it all and then get to the Wake and finally have the groundwork that Neil laid all throughout the 10 volumes, finally click for you with finality. There's a reason why this comic is so beloved and why Neil Gaiman is considered such a brilliant writer and I can't wait for you to fall in love with the world and the characters! Also, if Merphy thinks she loves Death now, wait until she finishes the 10 volumes and reads Death: The Cost of High Living and Death: The Time of Your Life. Death of the Endless is easily one of my favourite characters ever and OMG I'm so excited!!!
I love the Death miniseries! Sandman as a whole is amazing.
Noria Reads feat mini series is great, the hardback still has a home on my book shelf...
For this comic book series it's all about the long haul. There are digressions from the main path, but all paths lead back to the end game(mostly). Fabulous read. I hope you guys stick to it till the end. I also hope you guys enjoy all the characters that populate this universe.
Yesssss Dan and Merph back at it! I haven’t read this-not much of a comic reader, as much as I appreciate them-but I love Neil Gaiman’s works, and this review may have convinced me to give it a go! 🙌🏻
Gaiman said that he didn’t find himself as a writer of sandman until the end of volume 1. After that point the plot becomes more cohesive and all of the things you enjoyed such as themes and character development just get turned up a few degrees. It’s an amazing story and it has a complete ending that wraps everything up beautifully. I hope you continue to read it and enjoy it as much as I did =]
So much content to read/watch/play, so little time!
Sandman has a bumpy start not by Neil’s fault but due to demands placed on him by DC. He didn’t have total creative freedom at the beginning, so it starts shaky. But as it goes on, it tightens up and becomes pure Gaiman.
Remember reading The Sandman when it first came out and being totally blown away and falling in love with the characters and world and was devastated when the artist passed away. RIP Malcolm Jones III 1959 - 1996
These two people teaming up to talk about Sandman is like if Ironman and Captain America teamed up to cook Thai Food for me. What a wonderful treat!
Fantastic, you've started Sandman! Please read the others, the world building is stupendous and the writing improves exponentially. Nice one Daniel.
Ah, Sandman. Just when I'm about to start it later this week
Glad to see some of my favourite reviewers liked it
I love Sandman. To me it only gets better from here on. I love it when it really starts exploring The dreaming which is Dreams realm and all the characters that call it home like a certain set of brothers who are my favorites.
Daniel you will love Sandman. Your feelings Will be proven wrong. This will be the deepest, weirdest, coolest, most amazing story that you will ever have read. You will become a Neil Gaiman disciple. It sounds like you already know the Gaiman is weird and wonderful, but you are about to find out the vastness of his weird wonderfulness. (And his knowledge of the arcane)
Ah, my two favourite booktubers doing a reveiw together. What better way to make a day so much better.
Ooh I recently bought the first 3 volumes so the timing couldn't be more perfect!
One thing you need to know is that Sandman is not always a straight forward story. Its far more experimental than that. It does have an over arching storyline, but it often branches out into metaphors that can last entire issues, and those are written solely to establish other characters or to just explore a specific theme... And those are in many ways some of the best stories collected in comics. The story of Hob Gadling in particular is both moving and wonderful in so so many ways. It's just a great allround comic series. I'm excited to see your opinion on the rest.
It's been pointed out by a few people but I'll reiterate: Sandman has a different sort of plotting to it than a novel. The general pattern is two volumes with their own self contained stories followed by a third that is a collection of short stories. As the series progresses the "full length" volumes become more tightly linked and the short stories provide context to pivotal events in the "main story"...yeah it's weird
Exactly. A lot of the dead ends are not.
Yes! It shifts your world view! Preludes and Nocturnes! Neil Gaiman! Sandman! Daniel, Merphy, thrilled you are 📚 reading this collection! Fascinating to see this from a newly introduced perspective! Jump into the Dreaming, and forget everything you know! Also read American Gods!
Also plot is as a dream. The themes and atmosphere are forefront rather than a must-plot. There is more story than plot. When back in the world of film or fantasy novels, the takeaway from (yes! Theme is forefront!) Sandman is the subsurface of storytelling. It's in that place in the near subconsciousness. For me, it's not a parsable breakdown I can make. Yes! Submerge is the right perspective! Practically a dreamworld! Read further into the craziness!
Also read THAT story and tell us what you think? This must be a series now,: the dual review, and Sandman worthy of a top ten moments! Also don't forget to read Fragile Things! In fact, Dual Intro to reading Gaiman would be wonderful! Could be!
Cool review from both of you! I’m going to check it out even for the art, though I also love Gaiman’s American Gods and The Ocean at the End of the Lane.
Merphy doing Daniel's outro was *content* I did not know I needed. 😆
I’m so glad you two liked vol 1, it’s my favorite series of all time and don’t think that it gets really good until the Calliope and Cats issue. Super excited to see the reviews for the rest of the series!
Also, the Ramadan issue (#50) is *chefs kiss.
"Is Dream more of a good guy, more of a bad guy, or just a mess?"
Yes.
I was looking forward to this since Merphy mentioned it on her vlog. This has been on my long list for a long time but I love themes in the forefront.
Also her outro us the best! 💕
Sandman starts as horror but fairly quickly it turns into something very different. I think the story gets a lot better as it goes which almost makes it hard from me to reread because I know I have to start at the top, but the stuff I like the most is mostly in the second half.
I wish and Daniel & Merphy has appeared onscreen together.
I read Sandman for the first time when I was 21 (I'm 36 now) and it did exactly what you said. I liked comics already, I was studying art at the moment even, but never took comics too seriously before reading Sandam. It blew me away from beggining to end. Made me think so different about the medium, that to this day is my favorite comic of all time.
It's funny how much we match up with our reading lists. Sandman is basically on my very next to-read list. Pretty stoked.
I've been a fantasy nerd for 45 years. Cut my teeth on Tolkien, Moorcock's Elric and Donaldson's Thomas Covenant series among others you now consider "classics". Yes I'm old! :) I read Eye Of The World when it came out in 1990. Jordan is one of the best authors I've read. I have never been a fan of graphic novels, but I read American Gods and fell in love with Gaiman and gave Sandman a shot. I can say this definitely changed my mind on this medium! I have the three big Omnibus Editions. The artwork is amazing, changing throughout the series so you get different visual perspectives through the run and it adds so much to the stories. It even made Shakespeare palatable for me...something for you to look forward to.
Ironically, I just finished reading Preludes & Nocturnes myself last week and I was enthralled by it. The macabre tone, the blend of mythology and religion and fantasy, and the enigmatic yet compelling Morpheus all made for one of the most fascinating reading experiences I've had recently. I've always liked Gaiman, but I think his writing shines the brightest here. His themes and tone are best conveyed in this medium because we have all these wonderful visuals accompanying his perfect prose. The whole thing feels like a dream and, much like dreams, I find that the lack of structural plot doesn't bother me because I know the story is much bigger than what I can grasp at first sight. I honestly couldn't love it more.
That outro was everything and gave me life on a day where I really needed it 😂
Great review! Loved the editing, too!
Merphy, it gets weirder. And the tone shifts, for sure. There's a chapter about a serial killer convention, other times we're in whimsical dreams about cats and then there's a chapter re-telling a midsummer night's dream (which is masterfully done, btw). A wild ride, I hope you both continue to enjoy it!
Thank you for using her outro, that was hilarious.
The only 2 youtubers I watch consistently together?? Woop woop
Began reading it late one night one summer that cousins lent the first book Preludes and Nocturnes (how I got into American Gods, still reading Neverwhere, and short story collection Fragile Things) and read it until dawn until early breakfast! Also Mr Jones III is no longer with us, as I understand.
Also, how do you feel about reviewing short story collections as a whole? Question for both Booktube Reviewers!
Funny that plot search came up. Would you say it's snobbish to assert that story always comes before plot?and hopefully enhances screenwriting? Also thoughts on E-book comprehension? Is a tangible visual paperback where you can see how much you have to read and you've read better for comprehension of a story? It seems a slow burn novel on an E-book would leave a reader wondering what's what. And only a mega writer like King, or Gaiman could grip your attention and desire to read. Channeling Delirium.
I want to say this: while Sandman is a good book, it has been a huge victim of academic canonisation. Often people say Sandman and Watchmen are great books and the end all and be all of the medium, and that is kind of sad considering the medium has pushed a few hundred books that are as good or better, or in the same level, but they keep getting ignored by people who are convinced that comic book is a lesser medium and they have the last say because Gaiman wrote Sandman. Kinda like how people pretend they know the heights of fantasy because they have read Harry Potter and Tolkien.
I'm new to comics. Do you have more recs besides Sandman and Watchmen?
@@mariacarolina508 very late, but Saga is my favourite comic so far. Its a fantasy, sci/fi romance drama in space and its so goddamn beautiful
IMO Watchmen, V for Vendetta, Maus & The Sandman are the pinnacle of what comic books can do
One of my favorite series with two of my favorite reviewers! Love this video, excited for more!
I love this series so much. I have the full run bagged and boared as singles. The only comic book series I have ever given that commitment.
Loved Sandman. This is one of those Gaiman books where the plot goes on in the background and at the end of the series I went “Holy Shit” and immediately reread.
Great to see the bookworm dynamic duo back at it in tandem!
It gets much darker. And more beautiful. Equal parts of horror and wonder to come in the following volumes!
Loved this video. Are you planning on giving the rest of the volumes a full review? I would love to hear your thoughts on Season of Mists.
So cool that you are doing a collab. It would probably be hilarious if you did one together on the same screen so we could see the banter between you.
You won't even know what the plot of this book is until about 60 issues in. The Sandman is a story about stories, and the character of Dream is the main focus, so if that isn't your thing, all I can say is good luck. Hope you enjoy the series.
Sandman is one of my favorite pieces of media! The first two volumes are good, the other 8 are just out of this world incredible. I may be a little biased because I first picked it up when I was 13 and it was kind of a foundational text for me. I hope you enjoy it.
I haven't read this yet but the comment about plot is one of my big peeves. After reading collection book 1 or vol 1 of a series, i hope for something that feels fairly complete in terms of story (even if there is a bigger story at play). Stories that draw things out are so off putting.
I'm glad I watched this review! 🙂
The Sandman is my favorite fantasy series
Whenever someone says Marvel has better stories, I only say SANDMAN
Hey, I could fan boy out and be like "this and that". But I want to thank you for this video. It's been a while and I forget what it's like to dig into "The Sandman" for the first time. So I greatly appreciate this video. Thank you for covering this and thank you for your review.
Merphiel Greene outro 10/10.
I got obsessed with Neil Gaiman a few years ago and Sandman is definitely one of the highlights from that time in my life. There’s a lot going on here theme wise although I found that my favorite parts were often the one shots that may or may not tie back into the main plot. This story is very mixed up time wise with the exception of the ending and for a seemingly ‘unknowable’ force Dream is fun to hang around with.
Also the whole series is very quotable. A lot of fans I’ve seen online just endlessly post quotes
I've just finished the series after 4 years of sporadic moments of indulging into this dream of a story. So this is as perfect a timing as there ever was one
*slow claps for that outro*
And I'm very excited for you guys to hit Vol. 3
my two favorite youtubers doing a review of a book by one of my favorite author, we stan
Brilliant review, you and Merphy need to collaborate more often ahahahahaha
Your thing about plot hit the mark for me, though. Gaiman's one of my favourite authors and I love Sandman, and when it's good, it's so very good - but there were also a few stories in the Sandman that didn't do it for me. And during those arcs, it was very hard to keep reading because there wasn't any overarching plot to entice you to keep going.
You two are always great together!
The sandman was so awesome!
The Sandman is the greatest comic series I've ever read, and one of my favorite stories ever regardless of the medium. It has some fascinating themes and there's a gold mine of stuff in there to analyze. For example, it's function as a meta-narrative, a story about stories. It's inclusion of a vast number of myths from many different cultures. It's meditations on the universal themes of human nature, like death and life, predestination and agency, dreams and reality, desire and apathy, despair and joy, destruction and creativity, delirium and clarity. Each of the seven Endless are essentially a living Theme of some kind. Read accordingly. And the art! Oh just you two wait, if you liked the art in volume one, prepare to lose your minds over how incredible the art is in the later issues. And don't forget the Dream Hunters! Read that gorgeous piece of art in it's original form with the artwork by Yoshitaka Amano before you read the alternate version with art by P. Craig Russell. Seriously. I loved these books so much I've had dreams about them. Which I guess means I've had dreams about Dream.
I'm fucking here for this love your colabs! And love sandman!
Who would win in a fight Sandman or Nightman from The Nightman Cometh?
merphy's outro, need i say more 😂
Wow! I'm currently on Vol. 6
Can't believe you guys did a dual review. Continue reading ....
Daniel Green just entered the Sandman
You should check out “A Crown For Cold Silver” if you haven’t yet. It’s a great read that has elements of “getting the band back together” like Kings of the Wyld, cosmic horror, political intrigue, mental health issues, and more.
With all of the odd asides and narrative detours, this may not be a series that hits your plot desires on the head. However, The quality rarely dips, the characters get better and deeper, and you get to watch Gaiman grow and mature as a writer throughout. It is an incredible accomplishment, and great for rereads, as you said (I need to get on that). With all of that going on, this will probably be an exception to your usual plot-driven tastes.
welcome to the sandman universe. I have devoured insane quantities of story through multiple media. Books, Comic books, video game lore. Board game lore, movies, tv. etc....... If you are capable of seeing all the weaves (WoT pun) i think you might come to see Sandman as one of most intricate symphonies ever created. I love WoT. Its why i watch you as im currently re-reading it. I don't consider Robert Jordan to be on the same plane as Neil Gaiman. What Gaiman creates is a level above story telling. No slight meant to Robert Jordan whatsoever. Either way i wish you Happy reading.
Man you need to try Moers
I dunno
Rumo, the city of dreaming books, the 13 1/2 lives of captain blue bear...
Is something so original it will blow your mind, expecially if you like demential settings
I loved those book when I read them years ago. Maybe it's worth saying that those books are originally written in German and maybe that's why they are not so widely known.
They are definitely worth checking out.
Yeah that guy is a genius, only his last novel wasn't that great.
I have really got to re-read Sandman. It's probably been nearly 20 years since I read the whole initial run. I was about 22ish when I first read it and it was incredibly formative for me. As far as I remember, the first collection was my least favourite, but it was something completely new at the time so needed time to get into its own. There is much foreshadowing everywhere, and that's why you need to re-read it as soon as you've finished to see everything you're going to miss the first time through. Well, not everything, The Sandman Companion helps with that ;-)
Now you have to review the complete Neilverse!
We need a Review like this for each vol.
Best outro ever ^^
I haven’t read sandman since it’s initial release, but loved it back then. Might need to get the new trades for the anniversary, thanks!
Thank for this reaction to the graphic novels; I often hear that even Gaimen thinks the 1st is among the weakest, but I still enjoy it.
Tokyo Ghost is an amazing comic that I think both of you should definitely give a try.
It has amazing characters, a lot of commentary about how technology effects our lives, and it’s only 11 volumes. Considered one of the best comics of all time and get good!
I love this series. You should totally check out Alan Moore’s swamp thing (in its original coloring). It’s very good and was released in the vertigo line of comics just like sandman.
Sandman wouldn’t exist without Swamp Thing. Sadly it’ll be hard to find the original colouring soon.
@@EricMontreal22 indeed very sad.
@@SpaceLice The Sandman recolouring doesn't annoy me nearly as much (and is "just" the first 18 issues) even though I'm not a fan of the process anyway. But why does Swamp Thing now seem to have grey as its most prominent colour? yech
@@EricMontreal22 I completely agree.
Remember that Gaiman wrote Sandman for eleven years, one issue per month, and then they were all collected into distinct books. Preludes & Nocturnes isn't just the first book. It's the collected issues from the first year or so of publication. There's a lot of growth WITHIN P&N, the last chapter is WAY better than chapter 1, but the growth from this point forward is mind-boggling. Gaiman really came into his own as a writer by this point, and really needed P&N to get him there, but the sublime, beautiful, infinitly varied stories to come are like nothing else ever written, and ultimately somehow the whole thing ends up feeling like one cohesive epic even though half of it is more tangent than plot. It's brilliant.
Just finished the first omnibus and I loved it, already ordered the second omnibus, eventually will get the third as well
You really should continue this!
When you finish The Sandman, I would recommend Lucifer. It is a spin off series but I binge read it i less than a week.
I absolutely love Neil Gaiman, the Sandman comics are one of my favorite I even have a Chibi Sandman tattoo. You also need to read Neil Gaiman’s Marvel graphic novel called 1603
Great video!!! Happy reading to u!! 📖😊
Merphy's outro was perfect!
Daniel, The. Shadow. Rising. thank you
Hey Daniel!
My little sister recently started the WOT series , she happened to get the first book as a comic, have you seen it before? whats your take on it?
Came for the comic review, stayed for the outro. 🤣
Daniel and Murphy
You gotta do a review of the audible production!! It’s so good!
I own the Absolute editions of Sandman and can say they are probably my most prized possession.
You mentioned watchmen.Look who is given thanks in the watchmen credits... Yup, it's gaiman...
I think it would be great if Daniel joined Merphy for her Wheel of Time reviews, particularly for the last four books.