Death: the High Cost of Living
by Neil Gaiman (Goodreads author!), Chris Bachalo, Mark BuckinghamSign in to Goodreads to see your friends' reviews of this book.
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Read in April, 2006
This graphic novel seems to me to be all too typical of Gaiman’s work. It’s slick, but there’s not really terribly much to it. There are good ideas but he doesn’t do much with them. It’s not that it’s bad, it isn’t. It’s just not as good as you’d hoped it would be after reading the cover blurb. The idea is great: for one day every century Death becomes a mortal, walking among us, so that she can understand what it is that she takes away from us. The character of Death her...more
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Read in March, 2008
I really enjoyed this. I enjoyed it four-stars-worth. But it only gets three because, had I read it on another day, I would have found it unsatisfactory. This is because there's not much by way of dramatic tension or plotting. Indeed, the plot seems like a bit of an afterthought. Some of the tropes ("immortal/supernatural beings enjoy things people take for granted, especially eating") are a bit worn.
However, I read it today. I took a (very) long lunch, bought the comic, and sat on...more
However, I read it today. I took a (very) long lunch, bought the comic, and sat on...more
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Read in December, 2007
Ehh, it's okay. It's really the first thing of Gaiman's I've read that I didn't like all that much. The story seems incomplete and mostly unrealized, like it could have used a few more issues to be told, and kind of...well...pointless. Not that pointless plots are always bad, but this story desperately needed some kind of either emotional content or some cohesion to it, and it just wasn't there.
I like Death as Gaiman writes her, but I'm not as crazy about her as it seems most of his fans ar...more
I like Death as Gaiman writes her, but I'm not as crazy about her as it seems most of his fans ar...more
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Read in April, 2008
The High Cost of Living is a story that just screams to be a movie. It wouldn't be the typical comic book movie though. There are no big explosions, there are no gratitious sex scenes, and the violence is minimal. The High Cost of Living is a story that relies on story telling, not cheap tricks. This isn't uncommon for Gaiman, he's a storyteller, and a damn good one.
Very few writers know how to create super dark characters that also are very light hearted. It isn't easy to mix the uber ...more
Very few writers know how to create super dark characters that also are very light hearted. It isn't easy to mix the uber ...more
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Read in November, 2007
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
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Read in April, 1997
This is arguably some of Gaimans best work. It is about a character called Death who is, surprise, the human incarnate of death; at least 'she' gets to be human for one day every 100 years i believe just to let her experience what it is she 'takes' from everyone all the time. This personification of 'death' is excellent and i have to admit i had a little crush on her way back when. I mean come on...she's this cute little pale, waify goth chick. The story is great and really makes you think a...more
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Read in September, 2007
Graphic Novel. Once every century, the spirit of Death takes human form and eats hot dogs. I really liked this -- all the best of Gaiman and his Sandman series, and none of the boring or ugly. The art is colorful, ranges from clean to gritty, and doesn't make you go blind. The writing is smooth and unpretentious. Death is her normally delightful, no-nonsense self. And it's been a long time since I read the rest of the series, but I'm pretty sure this was filled with characters from Game of You, one o...more
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7 comments
Death's always been the most comforting and interesting characters in the Sandman series for me. Could be one of the most life-affirming stories I've read. It's a little shallow, I admit; a lot of Gaiman's work seems to stop just short of monumental (besides the Sandman series when taken in its entirety,) but for some reason this story hit me a lot harder than other stories or songs that try to tell me how beautiful everything is. I think it was the scene with the hotdog that cemented it for me....more
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Read in March, 2003
Death was always my favorite character from the Sandman books, and Gaiman gave her two of her own adventures.
The first (High Cost of Living) is definitely the best, but they're both worth it.
Gaiman's idea of what Death would be like is perhaps my favorite personification ever created. Death as a teen goth girl who loves life and has a great deal of wisdom (see the story The Sound of Her Wings in Sandman Vol 1, Death's first story) that she isn't preachy about sharing.
I only wish Ga...more
The first (High Cost of Living) is definitely the best, but they're both worth it.
Gaiman's idea of what Death would be like is perhaps my favorite personification ever created. Death as a teen goth girl who loves life and has a great deal of wisdom (see the story The Sound of Her Wings in Sandman Vol 1, Death's first story) that she isn't preachy about sharing.
I only wish Ga...more
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Read in March, 2008
recommends it for:
Neil Gaiman fans/graphic novel fans
This is the first graphic novel I have read from Neil Gaiman (which is ironic, considering graphic novels are how he became well known), and it was a great quick read. It makes me excited to start reading the Sandman series.
Ironically, I did not know this was a graphic novel when I ordered it. I had finished reading "Stardust" and I saw "Death: The High Cost of Living" in the also by Neil Gaiman section, and not having read it, I ordered it without any knowledge about...more
Ironically, I did not know this was a graphic novel when I ordered it. I had finished reading "Stardust" and I saw "Death: The High Cost of Living" in the also by Neil Gaiman section, and not having read it, I ordered it without any knowledge about...more
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Read in October, 2007
If you like Sandman, you'll like this. It's not as mind-bogglingly awesome as some of the Sandman trades, but it's a good read. Word on the street is this one's on its way to becoming a major motion picture. Seems to me they would have to try pretty hard to flub it. The story is fairly straightforward and engaging, the characters are interesting, you don't have to be a comic fan to understand what's up, but there's enough little sideways references to Sandman to make the nerds happy.
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Read in December, 1998
As close to poetry as any comic book, er, um, I mean graphic novel, is going to get. The interaction between the art and the story is striking and effective. This was my first exposure to Neil Gaiman. I had no idea who Death was, in the context of the Sandman series, as I had never read the Sandman series. I just picked this book up on the recommendation of many people. The book stands on its own beautifully. 10 years later, I still have it, and I still re-read it. Excellent work.
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Read in November, 2007
Death and Sandman was my introduction to the world of graphic novels and - well, it's pretty much the only graphic novels I've read... But they're amazing!
Love Death - love the fact that she gets to live once every hundred years and then uses it to the fullest - to eat hot dogs and appels other food! And how she just love life! In theory these stories should be dark and gloomy, but they're not - they're actually very life-affirming and humoristic!
Love Death - love the fact that she gets to live once every hundred years and then uses it to the fullest - to eat hot dogs and appels other food! And how she just love life! In theory these stories should be dark and gloomy, but they're not - they're actually very life-affirming and humoristic!
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1 comments
Alright, this is a comic book and I didn't really want to include any graphic novels, however... Death: the High Cost of Living is the greatest graphic novel of all time. Death, incarnated in the form of a super hot Gothic chick, has one day to experience life (this was written well before Meet Joe Black - but similar type of thing.) She makes friends with a struggling young man and together they learn some things about living. It's awesome.
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Read in September, 2008
Interestingly (well to me anyway) Death was my introduction to Neil Gaiman back in the early 90s. It was nice to revisit the stories after all these years, but the stories (at least in this volume) are lacking in complexity and character development compared to the other material I've read from Mr. Gaiman. They're perfectly fine, and well drawn and colored, but knowing what Mr. Gaiman is capable of, they're not my favorite among his work.
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Read in January, 2007
recommended to Buffy by:
DJ
I really liked this one. I've been reading the Sandman collections for a while now (still not done) and I really like this little side-step into Death. She's always been one of my favorite characters in the series and I really like the way she's portrayed in this one. While it seems short and a little distant/less involved than the other stories, it's a nice breather and a fun read. What gets me is the little PSA at the end. Bwahaha.
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Read in January, 1997
recommends it for:
anyone
Death is my beloved of the Endless.
In reality, hers are the only Comics/Graphic Novels I have read all the way through. I love her.
In the High Cost of Living, Didi/Death ventures off with a young suicidal boy on a fantastic road to self discovery. We learn about Didi, and Death, and Sexton (the suicidal boy), and we learn that Mad Hattie is out for Death's heart.
Great Art, great story.
In reality, hers are the only Comics/Graphic Novels I have read all the way through. I love her.
In the High Cost of Living, Didi/Death ventures off with a young suicidal boy on a fantastic road to self discovery. We learn about Didi, and Death, and Sexton (the suicidal boy), and we learn that Mad Hattie is out for Death's heart.
Great Art, great story.
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Read in January, 1998
just read it again.
hasn't aged as well as i would like. was awesome and fun and thought provoking the first time around, and now it's just a touch of nostalgia. guess i've integrated a lot of the things i first encountered here over time, already.
still. an excellent book. read it if you haven't!
i adore how much respect and love for life (every life) death expresses in this story.
hasn't aged as well as i would like. was awesome and fun and thought provoking the first time around, and now it's just a touch of nostalgia. guess i've integrated a lot of the things i first encountered here over time, already.
still. an excellent book. read it if you haven't!
i adore how much respect and love for life (every life) death expresses in this story.
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Read in March, 2008
By the time you have any interest in the characters it's almost over. I could have gone for 5 more chapters (issues). Gaiman's idea of the character of Death is great and the surrounding characters had potential to be just as interesting but you never get there. Pretty lackluster from such a great talent.
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Read in February, 2008
My favorite character in the first Sandman series was Death, and while I was browsing the stacks at the local library I came across this volume. It wasn't as original and shocking as it could have been, but enjoyable just the same. I have been going off on a bit of a graphic-novel binge, but they are quick.
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