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The Dreaming (2018)
The Dreaming Vol. 1: Pathways and Emanations
One of four books expanding Neil Gaiman's acclaimed Sandman Universe. There is a place where gods are born and stories are spun. Today its walls lie slashed and bleeding. Twenty-three years after he was anointed as its master, the lord of dreams has inexplicably abandoned his domain.
Lord Daniel's absence triggers a series of crimes and calamities that consume the lives of those already tangled in his fate. Until he is found, his realm's residents must protect its broken borders alone. But the most senior storytellers are tormented by invasive secrets, the warden Lucien is doubting his own mind, and beyond the gates, something horrific awaits with tooth and talon. Only Dora, the monstrous, finds opportunity in madness, stealing dreams for the highest bidder. But she has no idea how deep the danger lies. Meanwhile, in Daniel's gallery, something new is growing...
Written by fan-favorite author Si Spurrier (Motherlands, Suicide Squad) with breathtaking art by standout artist Bilquis Evely (Batman, Wonder Woman). The first book in The Sandman Universe kicks off with fireworks as The Dreaming literally tears itself apart!
The Sandman Universe is a new series of books curated by Neil Gaiman for DC Vertigo. Conjuring epic storytelling and immersing readers into the evolving world of the Dreaming, The Sandman Universe begins anew with four new ongoing series, existing in a shared universe, building upon Gaiman's New York Times best-selling series that lyrically weaved together stories of dreams and magic.
Collects The Dreaming #1-6 and Sandman Universe Special #1
Lord Daniel's absence triggers a series of crimes and calamities that consume the lives of those already tangled in his fate. Until he is found, his realm's residents must protect its broken borders alone. But the most senior storytellers are tormented by invasive secrets, the warden Lucien is doubting his own mind, and beyond the gates, something horrific awaits with tooth and talon. Only Dora, the monstrous, finds opportunity in madness, stealing dreams for the highest bidder. But she has no idea how deep the danger lies. Meanwhile, in Daniel's gallery, something new is growing...
Written by fan-favorite author Si Spurrier (Motherlands, Suicide Squad) with breathtaking art by standout artist Bilquis Evely (Batman, Wonder Woman). The first book in The Sandman Universe kicks off with fireworks as The Dreaming literally tears itself apart!
The Sandman Universe is a new series of books curated by Neil Gaiman for DC Vertigo. Conjuring epic storytelling and immersing readers into the evolving world of the Dreaming, The Sandman Universe begins anew with four new ongoing series, existing in a shared universe, building upon Gaiman's New York Times best-selling series that lyrically weaved together stories of dreams and magic.
Collects The Dreaming #1-6 and Sandman Universe Special #1
200 pages, Paperback
First published June 11, 2019
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3025 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 234 reviews
July 10, 2019
When it comes to books, I can be a very simple human being. Did I saw this Sandman on NetGalley and almost went through my screen because I was so eager to request it? Sure I did.
(I had pretty much the same reaction when I learned that Netflix would create a Sandman series... Now? I'm scared if it will be a good adaptation or not. And I keep wondering if I want them to follow closely the original or to go the same way the creators of Lucifer went.)
Back to the Dreaming. Turn the first page was so exciting! I could not believe that I was back! The Dreaming! And the first pages, wow, back. I was ecstatic!
However, as I progressed, the excitement started to die down. I kept wondering "Didn't we all read this before? Lord of the Dreaming is missing." AGAIN?
And that feeling never left me. What worked once, or twice or even three times... did not work this time.
Plus, I just cannot stand Dora.
However, despite all that, The Dreaming and Sandman is something... it's so high up there that it's so hard to achieve that level of brilliance.
Was this good? Yes. Did it measure up to the original series? No.
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
(I had pretty much the same reaction when I learned that Netflix would create a Sandman series... Now? I'm scared if it will be a good adaptation or not. And I keep wondering if I want them to follow closely the original or to go the same way the creators of Lucifer went.)
Back to the Dreaming. Turn the first page was so exciting! I could not believe that I was back! The Dreaming! And the first pages, wow, back. I was ecstatic!
However, as I progressed, the excitement started to die down. I kept wondering "Didn't we all read this before? Lord of the Dreaming is missing." AGAIN?
And that feeling never left me. What worked once, or twice or even three times... did not work this time.
Plus, I just cannot stand Dora.
However, despite all that, The Dreaming and Sandman is something... it's so high up there that it's so hard to achieve that level of brilliance.
Was this good? Yes. Did it measure up to the original series? No.
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 9, 2019
That moody emo git Dream has buggered off on a jolly out of The Dreaming! And wouldn’t you Adam’n’Eve it, an ever-widening crack has suddenly appeared across the realm, the portal no longer keeps out danger and scores of strange blank people (“soggies”) are flooding the land. Coincidence – or just a clumsy Trump/wall metaphor? Anyhoo, Merv Pumpinhead’s taken it upon himself to find a new leader from a questionable source (though the name should’ve raised a red flag!): Judge Gallows. And who is the Dreaming’s latest denizen – the mysterious dream outlaw Dora?
So DC are having another punt at a new slew of Neil Gaiman’s Sandman spinoffs, starting with Simon Spurrier and Bilquis Evely’s The Dreaming, Volume 1: Pathways and Emanations, aaaannnddd – easy pun time – the book’ll put you to sleep! It really isn’t very interesting unfortunately.
Lucien the Librarian, Matthew the Raven, Merv Pumpkinhead, Cain and Abel - the supporting cast of The Dreaming were the supporting cast for a reason and they haven’t suddenly become more interesting now they’re shoved into the spotlight. Judge Gallows (a really obscure DC character from a ‘60s horror anthology title) is a one-dimensional villain and his origin was so boring.
Dora on the other hand is at least somewhat compelling. I don’t know if she’s being put forward as a possible replacement for Dream but she’d be a good pick. She has unique dream powers, she’s very empathetic to dreamers and she can handle herself in a fight, hulking out when she needs to. Evely’s character design for Dora is imaginative. In fact her art throughout is the most laudable aspect of the book – the pages are full of extremely creative, fun and zany imagery. Jae Lee’s covers were outstanding too (I guess Dave McKean’s done with Sandman cover art?).
The story though is just so laborious and unengaging. The Dreaming starts to fall apart, though there don’t seem to be any real consequences to dreamers everywhere, and, really, so what anyway? Not the first time it’s happened and they’ve recovered just fine. It takes an age for Gallows to appear and when he does it turns into a predictable good vs evil fight, all the while overwritten in Spurrier’s unexciting prose. For a series basically trafficking in abstract concepts, he doesn’t have many interesting ideas to offer the reader.
It might be pretty but The Dreaming, Volume 1: Pathways and Emanations is an ominously tedious beginning for this latest wave of Sandman spinoffs. Good comics from Vertigo these days? Dream on.
So DC are having another punt at a new slew of Neil Gaiman’s Sandman spinoffs, starting with Simon Spurrier and Bilquis Evely’s The Dreaming, Volume 1: Pathways and Emanations, aaaannnddd – easy pun time – the book’ll put you to sleep! It really isn’t very interesting unfortunately.
Lucien the Librarian, Matthew the Raven, Merv Pumpkinhead, Cain and Abel - the supporting cast of The Dreaming were the supporting cast for a reason and they haven’t suddenly become more interesting now they’re shoved into the spotlight. Judge Gallows (a really obscure DC character from a ‘60s horror anthology title) is a one-dimensional villain and his origin was so boring.
Dora on the other hand is at least somewhat compelling. I don’t know if she’s being put forward as a possible replacement for Dream but she’d be a good pick. She has unique dream powers, she’s very empathetic to dreamers and she can handle herself in a fight, hulking out when she needs to. Evely’s character design for Dora is imaginative. In fact her art throughout is the most laudable aspect of the book – the pages are full of extremely creative, fun and zany imagery. Jae Lee’s covers were outstanding too (I guess Dave McKean’s done with Sandman cover art?).
The story though is just so laborious and unengaging. The Dreaming starts to fall apart, though there don’t seem to be any real consequences to dreamers everywhere, and, really, so what anyway? Not the first time it’s happened and they’ve recovered just fine. It takes an age for Gallows to appear and when he does it turns into a predictable good vs evil fight, all the while overwritten in Spurrier’s unexciting prose. For a series basically trafficking in abstract concepts, he doesn’t have many interesting ideas to offer the reader.
It might be pretty but The Dreaming, Volume 1: Pathways and Emanations is an ominously tedious beginning for this latest wave of Sandman spinoffs. Good comics from Vertigo these days? Dream on.
July 7, 2019
Daniel has abandoned the Dreaming and left the supporting cast of Sandman to their own devices. Things quickly spiral out of control as no one knows where Daniel went or what to do in his absence. This actually isn't bad, which is always a worry when someone else plays in Neil Gaiman's sandbox. The story is too decompressed and spins it's wheels for multiple issues but overall I liked it. Bilquis Evely's art is gorgeous, like it was meant for a book like Sandman. She's great at drawing this quirky cast of characters and their environs.
Received a review copy from DC and NetGalley. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
Received a review copy from DC and NetGalley. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
September 19, 2022
I was so excited when I saw this because the Sandman series was LIFE CHANGING for me. (Go read it.) And then I started reading and it seemed so familiar but that made sense because Dream is missing and the Dreaming is falling apart (again) but it felt more familiar than that, like I was fucking psychic or somethings...but then I looked on my shelf and turns out I'd already read this and I just have the worst memory ever. That said? I really enjoyed it.
November 23, 2024
At the heart of the Dreaming sits a castle.
And at the heart of the castle, a Library.
And in the library ...
... a librarian.
It’s been too long since I first read the original run of the Sandman comics, as imagined by Neil Gaiman. He is only involved in a supervisor role for this new series, so I wasn’t expecting it to have quite the same impact, but Simon Spurrier as the writer and, in particular, Bilquis Evely as the graphic artist were a pleasant surprise – more than holding their own against the high standards established by Gaiman and McKean.
Their take on the familiar characters that inhabit the realm of the Lord of Sleep, and the complex plot built around a new absence of the master of the castle from his domain, kept me involved with this 600+ page collection until the final resolution.
My review covers these albums:
01 – Pathways and Emanations
02 – Empty Shells
03 – One Magical Moment
I probably should have written a detailed plot synopsis for each of these three main collections, even better maybe for each individual issue here, because things are really complicated in the Dreaming.
Lord Daniel is inexplicably absent, and none of the ‘people’ [mythical entities?] living in or near his castle can reach him. Lucien the librarian is supposed to be the caretaker in the absence of the master, but he is overcome by events and even sabotaged a little by the grumpy Mervyn Pumpinghead.
The realm is under attack by unknown forces, the borders of the Dreaming are weakened, allowing demons from Hell to enter, and faceless golems are coming up through the cracks in the ground. Mervyn opens the Black Chest: the box where the Lord of Dreaming imprisons the most dangerous nightmares, and out of it comes Judge Gallows who is more than happy to assume absolute power and to reshape the realm into his own nightmarish landscape.
When the original inhabitants unite in counter-revolution, the solution may be even worse than the rule of the Judge, as a mentally unstable Artificial Intelligence takes over.
I’ve left the best two characters in this new run for last. The Raven isn’t exactly new, but he plays one of the most important roles here, tasked by Lucien with finding the missing Lord Daniel. His running commentary on the proceedings is as darkly cynical and as fun as Lucien breaking the fourth wall with the reader or Mervyn’s recalcitrant grumbling.
Dora the Explorer with her winged ears, foul language and subversive disposition takes center stage as the wild card who constantly upsets the status quo, the outsider who can move in unexpected directions and the hidden monster who can unleash her own fearsome powers when needed, or when angry.
Dora’s most interesting talent is her ability to open portals in and out of the Dreaming and of its parallel realms at will. She can teleport anywhere, including into Reality, and eventually she will team up with the Raven to track the long and winding path taken by Lord Daniel, hoping to bring him back to his castle and to restore order.
Lucien, Cain and Abel, Mervyn Pumpinghead have their own story arcs in this new run, but they were a little overshadowed by the more dramatic and unpredictable path taken by Dora.
In the third volume, story arcs of people and chimeras from Reality will fill in the blanks of the mystery of Lord Daniel’s exile, which it turns out is more forced upon him than deliberate.
Spurrier’s writing remains solid, even beautifully poetic when necessary, throughout this new series, but in the artwork department I was slightly disappointed whenever Bilquis Evely passed on the pen and brush to guest artists. I got so used and so pleased by her own style that I resented being deprived of it on occasion. She eventually returns to the series, and she even has a new project in 2024 that looks very good: Helen of Wyndhorn.
The Dreaming convinced me that it is worth my time to check out more of the spin-off series from my favorite Sandman universe.
July 16, 2020
I'm a longtime fan of the Sandman comics by Neil Gaiman. Is it continuing a series to start a connected but newer comic? Who knows. This is the first six comics, starting with the Dreaming without Dream, and a librarian who thinks he has lost a book....
I liked the first and second quite a bit, and some of the full page art is really astounding. The story after that felt a bit like it was going in circles. I missed Dream and his siblings!
I liked the first and second quite a bit, and some of the full page art is really astounding. The story after that felt a bit like it was going in circles. I missed Dream and his siblings!
May 15, 2019
This comic was a treat. I loved the story, I found it creepy and very engaging. I read it in an hour and I couldn't stop. The artwork is amazing, much like DC's dark style. There is little more to say, I really loved it and will definitely be reading the volumes to come.
June 8, 2019
After last year's underwhelming Sandman Special I wasn't expecting much from this series, but I usually like Si Spurrier's writing and I love Bilquis Evely's artwork, so I decided to check out the first volume of The Dreaming anyway. And I was pleasantly surprised!
The series is a follow-up of sorts to Sandman as it follows the realm of the Dreaming and its various quirky inhabitants. Daniel, the new Dream, is missing, and the realm is in a state of flux without its master. There's also Dora, a new resident of the realm, a woman without memories or identity who possesses strange powers and has a lot of rage. Many other inhabitants aren't too happy with her, especially Merv Pumpkinhead, so in absence of Daniel he summons another deity who he thinks can take care of the realm and get a tight grip on Dora's explosive behaviour. Things don't work out particularly well.
So yeah, I thought this was really good! The book fits very organically in the Sandman universe, and I was happy to meet characters like Lucien, Cain and Abel, Merv Pumpkinhead and the Raven once again. Simon Spurrier definitely has his own voice and style, but he also somehow subtly channels that Neil Gaiman feel — reading The Dreaming to me felt almost exactly like reading Sandman did. Hypnotic, a little bit dizzying, but also completely engrossing and fascinating, and every time I finished an issue I felt exhausted, yet couldn't help but immediately start reading the next one.
I was already a huge fan of Bilquis Evely after Greg Rucka's splendid Wonder Woman Rebirth run, and her artwork here looks just as spectacular. I absolutely adore the way she draws characters, but her wonky psychedelic environments of the realm is what really shines here. Visually this book was just as enjoyable to me as it was writing-wise.
Non-Sandman fans probably won't find a lot to like here, but those who love Neil Gaiman's seminal comic will probably have a great time with The Dreaming, too. Simon Spurrier crafts a really fascinating story, and Bilquis Evely makes it look fantastic. I can't wait to see what's next for this series, and I especially want to know what exactly happened to Daniel and where and why he disappeared. Let's hope some of those questions will be answered in volume 2!
The series is a follow-up of sorts to Sandman as it follows the realm of the Dreaming and its various quirky inhabitants. Daniel, the new Dream, is missing, and the realm is in a state of flux without its master. There's also Dora, a new resident of the realm, a woman without memories or identity who possesses strange powers and has a lot of rage. Many other inhabitants aren't too happy with her, especially Merv Pumpkinhead, so in absence of Daniel he summons another deity who he thinks can take care of the realm and get a tight grip on Dora's explosive behaviour. Things don't work out particularly well.
So yeah, I thought this was really good! The book fits very organically in the Sandman universe, and I was happy to meet characters like Lucien, Cain and Abel, Merv Pumpkinhead and the Raven once again. Simon Spurrier definitely has his own voice and style, but he also somehow subtly channels that Neil Gaiman feel — reading The Dreaming to me felt almost exactly like reading Sandman did. Hypnotic, a little bit dizzying, but also completely engrossing and fascinating, and every time I finished an issue I felt exhausted, yet couldn't help but immediately start reading the next one.
I was already a huge fan of Bilquis Evely after Greg Rucka's splendid Wonder Woman Rebirth run, and her artwork here looks just as spectacular. I absolutely adore the way she draws characters, but her wonky psychedelic environments of the realm is what really shines here. Visually this book was just as enjoyable to me as it was writing-wise.
Non-Sandman fans probably won't find a lot to like here, but those who love Neil Gaiman's seminal comic will probably have a great time with The Dreaming, too. Simon Spurrier crafts a really fascinating story, and Bilquis Evely makes it look fantastic. I can't wait to see what's next for this series, and I especially want to know what exactly happened to Daniel and where and why he disappeared. Let's hope some of those questions will be answered in volume 2!
June 9, 2019
Stop me if you've heard this one - Dream is missing, and The Dreaming is suffering. Sound familiar? It should. But this Dream isn't the one you're thinking of; Daniel is MIA, and that's left Lucien, Merv Pumpkinhead, and the other denizens of The Dreaming at a loss. As they struggle to keep their plane of existence in line...things...start to happen. And it'll only take one bad decision to resurrect a deadly villain whose intentions for their home are anything but pure.
There are few writers I would trust with Neil Gaiman's Sandman characters. There are even fewer writers HE would trust, I expect. But Simon Spurrier was born to write The Dreaming, and it shows on every page here. His focus shifts from character to character, giving The Dreaming a really lived in feel, and his patented sarcasm and crazy inner monologues make every issue a new treat, and each for different reasons.
The state of The Dreaming in the wake of Daniel's absence makes things even more unpredictable than ever, but Spurrier leans on past continuity and the unwritten rules of The Endless to keep things moving in unexpected directions, with a conclusion that you think is zigging, but zags at the last minute to leave you scratching your head and begging to know what's going on in Spurrier's warped head.
On the art front, Bilquis Evely's gorgeous art is strangely suitable for the ever-shifting locales of The Dreaming. I've always associated her with more rigid, down to earth type stuff after her Wonder Woman run, but she tackles The Dreaming in a manner that few artists would be able to manage. It is, quite literally, dreamy.
The Dreaming is easily the strongest of the Sandman Universe books, and for good reason - the creative team are perfect, and they're not afraid to take risks even with these beloved characters. I cannot wait to see what they get up to next.
There are few writers I would trust with Neil Gaiman's Sandman characters. There are even fewer writers HE would trust, I expect. But Simon Spurrier was born to write The Dreaming, and it shows on every page here. His focus shifts from character to character, giving The Dreaming a really lived in feel, and his patented sarcasm and crazy inner monologues make every issue a new treat, and each for different reasons.
The state of The Dreaming in the wake of Daniel's absence makes things even more unpredictable than ever, but Spurrier leans on past continuity and the unwritten rules of The Endless to keep things moving in unexpected directions, with a conclusion that you think is zigging, but zags at the last minute to leave you scratching your head and begging to know what's going on in Spurrier's warped head.
On the art front, Bilquis Evely's gorgeous art is strangely suitable for the ever-shifting locales of The Dreaming. I've always associated her with more rigid, down to earth type stuff after her Wonder Woman run, but she tackles The Dreaming in a manner that few artists would be able to manage. It is, quite literally, dreamy.
The Dreaming is easily the strongest of the Sandman Universe books, and for good reason - the creative team are perfect, and they're not afraid to take risks even with these beloved characters. I cannot wait to see what they get up to next.
June 13, 2019
I received an ARC copy of this book from NetGalley
actual rating: 3.5
I am still kind of unsure whether I want to round this up or down, but I did enjoy it overall so I think 4 stars is a fair rating. I have always had a very hit or miss relationship with the Sandman universe so I wasn't sure what to expect from this, but I was actually pleasantly surprised. There are some blanks that I feel should have been filled in better [like WHY is Daniel leaving? Other than 'he's boring' lol], and other mysteries that are being intentionally drawn out [WHAT is Dora?? I need to knooow!]. I liked how every issue kind of focused on a different narrator so we got a lot of different points of view on the unfolding situation [I would have loved to see more of Eve, but maybe she'll get a spotlight in a future issue].
I absolutely love Dora so I can't wait to see more of her. Yeah she's a total mess and not always a 'good' or likable person, but she is incredibly real and I love messy characters [especially when they're women, we so rarely get to be anything but 'perfect']. I do agree that the whole 'border' issue is a bit transparent and ham-fisted, but I'd rather read something obvious that comes down on the right side of the issue than something that is more subtle but ultimately much more insidious. A very interesting start and I'll definitely be checking out the next volume.
actual rating: 3.5
I am still kind of unsure whether I want to round this up or down, but I did enjoy it overall so I think 4 stars is a fair rating. I have always had a very hit or miss relationship with the Sandman universe so I wasn't sure what to expect from this, but I was actually pleasantly surprised. There are some blanks that I feel should have been filled in better [like WHY is Daniel leaving? Other than 'he's boring' lol], and other mysteries that are being intentionally drawn out [WHAT is Dora?? I need to knooow!]. I liked how every issue kind of focused on a different narrator so we got a lot of different points of view on the unfolding situation [I would have loved to see more of Eve, but maybe she'll get a spotlight in a future issue].
I absolutely love Dora so I can't wait to see more of her. Yeah she's a total mess and not always a 'good' or likable person, but she is incredibly real and I love messy characters [especially when they're women, we so rarely get to be anything but 'perfect']. I do agree that the whole 'border' issue is a bit transparent and ham-fisted, but I'd rather read something obvious that comes down on the right side of the issue than something that is more subtle but ultimately much more insidious. A very interesting start and I'll definitely be checking out the next volume.
October 19, 2020
Dream seems to have left and chosen to not return leading to his minions to find various solutions as the Dreaming Realm begins to unravel. Some bad things come out to play, too.
MY GRADE: B.
MY GRADE: B.
February 13, 2019
I was really hoping I'd like this more than I did. It got off to a much better start than the previous The Dreaming series from the 90s, but it's not nearly on the same level of quality that earlier book had achieved by the time Caitlin R. Kiernan was stationed at the helm. This book introduces a few intriguing mysteries (Why did Daniel go? Who or what is Dora, exactly?) and I enjoyed getting a glimpse of one of the Endless realms we've not previously experienced. Unfortunately, what this first story arc doesn't provide is much of anything by way of answers.
I enjoyed Spurrier's new characters and thought they fit in quite well with the other denizens of the Dreaming. Dora has potential, but is still too much of an amnesiac blank slate to be all that compelling yet. Her visual design is fantastic though, especially when she goes full-out beast mode. Judge Gallows was awesome as a new nightmare who really feels he belongs among such as the Corinthian and Brute and Glob. He was easily my favorite part of the book. Spurrier did a great job of capturing the spirit of the other familiar Dreaming characters like Lucien, Matthew, and Merv Pumpkinhead.
And now for the downside: this story really feels like it's spinning its wheels for most of the first arc, and when the mysterious narrator (whose narration I often found pompous and somewhat tedious) is finally revealed, the whole affair feels a bit lackluster. It could lead to interesting places, I suppose, but it hasn't really piqued my interest much. It probably doesn't help that it took so long for the reveal to finally arrive.
The art by Bilquis Evely is astoundingly beautiful to look at, and it's because of this I found Abigail Larson's guest contributions for a few brief pages in chapter 5 to be distracting and off-putting due to the jarring change in style. It's not even so much that her art was in any way bad--but Bilquis Evely was THAT good. I would have gladly suffered a publishing delay to see Bilquis have illustrated those few pages herself. (And there's nothing about the story content in those pages that suggests the change in art was an intentional creative decision).
I liked this volume okay, but so far it's mostly made me pine over the old Caitlin R. Kiernan material and at this point I feel more motivated to reread that series than continue forward with this one (this is typically not the desired effect of a reboot). I think I'll continue this for a while (especially with Evely doing the art), but for the flagship title of the new Sandman Universe stable of books, I expect more from this, and I am hoping that it soon gets to where I want it to be.
I enjoyed Spurrier's new characters and thought they fit in quite well with the other denizens of the Dreaming. Dora has potential, but is still too much of an amnesiac blank slate to be all that compelling yet. Her visual design is fantastic though, especially when she goes full-out beast mode. Judge Gallows was awesome as a new nightmare who really feels he belongs among such as the Corinthian and Brute and Glob. He was easily my favorite part of the book. Spurrier did a great job of capturing the spirit of the other familiar Dreaming characters like Lucien, Matthew, and Merv Pumpkinhead.
And now for the downside: this story really feels like it's spinning its wheels for most of the first arc, and when the mysterious narrator (whose narration I often found pompous and somewhat tedious) is finally revealed, the whole affair feels a bit lackluster. It could lead to interesting places, I suppose, but it hasn't really piqued my interest much. It probably doesn't help that it took so long for the reveal to finally arrive.
The art by Bilquis Evely is astoundingly beautiful to look at, and it's because of this I found Abigail Larson's guest contributions for a few brief pages in chapter 5 to be distracting and off-putting due to the jarring change in style. It's not even so much that her art was in any way bad--but Bilquis Evely was THAT good. I would have gladly suffered a publishing delay to see Bilquis have illustrated those few pages herself. (And there's nothing about the story content in those pages that suggests the change in art was an intentional creative decision).
I liked this volume okay, but so far it's mostly made me pine over the old Caitlin R. Kiernan material and at this point I feel more motivated to reread that series than continue forward with this one (this is typically not the desired effect of a reboot). I think I'll continue this for a while (especially with Evely doing the art), but for the flagship title of the new Sandman Universe stable of books, I expect more from this, and I am hoping that it soon gets to where I want it to be.
November 9, 2022
Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman is, by far, my favorite comic book series of all time. I have recently taken to re-reading them from the beginning and, unlike many other things I treasured from childhood in the ‘80s (the TV show “The Dukes of Hazzard”, the movie “The Lost Boys”, just to name two), they have managed to remain cool as hell.
It was with some trepidation that I picked up Simon Spurrier’s graphic novel series The Dreaming, which is set in the Sandman universe. I wasn’t sure about it, mainly because Neil Gaiman had very little to do with it. (He’s credited as having written the story that Spurrier and other writers have fleshed out in comic book form.) Even though I have read other stuff by Spurrier and recognize that he is a good writer, the fact remains: he is not Gaiman.
Volume One, “Pathways and Emanations”, starts much the same way that the original Sandman series started back in 1988: Dream (a.k.a. Morpheus a.k.a. the Lord of Dreams, one of the all-powerful Endless) has gone missing from the Dreaming, the world that exists between wakefulness and sleep.
Lucien, left in charge of the Dreaming, tasks Matthew, the raven, with trying to find the Lord of Dreams, with no success. The Dreaming, meanwhile, is falling apart. Again. And the inhabitants—-dreams and nightmares alike—-are beginning to form factions against one another. Add to the mix an ominous figure that has escaped from a prison that Morpheus put him in eons ago, Judge Gallows, and a strange geometric apparition that seems to be alive and growing.
I’m not sure how, but Spurrier (and a team of other writers) manages to succeed in creating an excellent and exciting new chapter in the Sandman mythos. Perhaps Spurrier’s saucy humor (his extremely subtle rips on Trump and his followers will not go unnoticed), the numerous references to previous Sandman storylines, and the wonderful artwork by Bilquis Evely (and a team of other artists) are the reason for the success.
It was with some trepidation that I picked up Simon Spurrier’s graphic novel series The Dreaming, which is set in the Sandman universe. I wasn’t sure about it, mainly because Neil Gaiman had very little to do with it. (He’s credited as having written the story that Spurrier and other writers have fleshed out in comic book form.) Even though I have read other stuff by Spurrier and recognize that he is a good writer, the fact remains: he is not Gaiman.
Volume One, “Pathways and Emanations”, starts much the same way that the original Sandman series started back in 1988: Dream (a.k.a. Morpheus a.k.a. the Lord of Dreams, one of the all-powerful Endless) has gone missing from the Dreaming, the world that exists between wakefulness and sleep.
Lucien, left in charge of the Dreaming, tasks Matthew, the raven, with trying to find the Lord of Dreams, with no success. The Dreaming, meanwhile, is falling apart. Again. And the inhabitants—-dreams and nightmares alike—-are beginning to form factions against one another. Add to the mix an ominous figure that has escaped from a prison that Morpheus put him in eons ago, Judge Gallows, and a strange geometric apparition that seems to be alive and growing.
I’m not sure how, but Spurrier (and a team of other writers) manages to succeed in creating an excellent and exciting new chapter in the Sandman mythos. Perhaps Spurrier’s saucy humor (his extremely subtle rips on Trump and his followers will not go unnoticed), the numerous references to previous Sandman storylines, and the wonderful artwork by Bilquis Evely (and a team of other artists) are the reason for the success.
January 14, 2021
"There is a place where Gods are born.
There is a place where a few ragged sounds can suggest a symphony.
A place where pandemonium presents patterns.
Where idle fancies turn to fornications and memories feign meaning.
A place where—for as long as a sleeper can sleep—stories are spun."
The Dreaming. I thought I'd seen the last of it, but it turns out that the Sandman Universe has recently been expanded into a four-part line to celebrate The Sandman's 30th anniversary with Neil's blessing, who wanted to give other authors the opportunity to play in his world and continue Daniel's story (which, if you recall, he'd said he didn't have the intention of telling himself at the end of the original run).
The Sandman Universe starts with a titular one-shot which kicks off four new story arcs, all overseen by Gaiman but written by new creative teams. Lord Daniel has abandoned the Dreaming, which is crumbling in his absence, while something new is slowly growing in the Endless' Gallery. Poor Lucien is losing his mind, Matthew the Raven tries to find the Lord of Dreams in vain, while the realm's other residents are desperately trying to keep it from decaying around them and fend off invaders coming through the widening cracks, and when that doesn't work, Merv Pumpkinhead takes the misguided initiative and finds someone new to put in charge of the place.
I have a rule I very seldomly break, and it's that I never start reading a series while it's still ongoing, but I couldn't resist checking this out—and it taught me that reading comics off a screen is the literal worst, and that there's good reason why I should stick to my self-imposed rule and wait until a story arc is completed, because overall, this was decidedly unsatisfying.
I was always quite fond of Matthew the Raven, but there's a reason that the Dreaming's residents were secondary characters in the original run, and putting them into the spotlight doesn't do them or the story any favors. I googled the villain when he showed up since I was a bit lost and wondering whether I was supposed to know who he was, and it turns out that he's a really obscure DC character who has appeared in a grand total of eighteen random issues since his first appearance in 1969. All this means that we have a cast of pretty one-dimensional characters driving the narrative, which never really takes off in these first six issues—the Dream Lord is missing, but it's not the first time, and even though the Dreaming is falling apart, it doesn't seem to have any adverse effect on dreamers, so... what's the problem? I liked Dora's spunk, but the fact that after one whole volume we still don't know who or what she is was a bit annoying, and I felt like her character had... not few parallels to Delirium. This first collection builds up quite a few mysteries, but doesn't resolve any of them.
I don't know, I guess I felt that the story was a bit messy and all over the place, and I didn't really connect with it. Don't get me wrong—some parts are very good and there's instances when Simon Spurrier really nails Neil's voice and narrative tone, but as a whole, you can tell that this didn't spring from Neil's mind. The best thing about it was Bilquis Evely's truly outstanding art. I did miss Dave McKean's covers, but I guess that if the story keeps going on in this lackluster way, it's best to have something separating it from the originals. I know Jae Lee from his work on Stephen King's Dark Tower comics at Marvel, and I don't find his very distinctive style suited to the Sandman world at all.
A for effort, but I have no desire to continue this series.
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Note: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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My other ડꪖꪀᦔꪑꪖꪀ reviews:
01: Preludes & Nocturnes · ★★★½
02: The Doll's House · ★★★★
03: Dream Country · ★★★
04: Season of Mists · ★★★★½
05: A Game of You · ★★★½
06: Fables and Reflections · ★★★½
07: Brief Lives · ★★★★½
08: Worlds' End · ★★★
09: The Kindly Ones · ★★★★★
10: The Wake · ★★★
Overture · ★★★
Endless Nights · ★★★★
The Dream Hunters · ★★★★
Death: The Deluxe Edition · ★★★★
Audible Original #1 · ★★★★★
The Sandman Universe · Lucifer: The Infernal Comedy · ★
June 30, 2019
Once upon a time, Neil Gaiman completed his run of the Sandman and was followed by The Dreaming, originally a mediocre anthology comic that gained some depth when Caitlín R. Kiernan took over for the latter two-thirds of the run, telling a coherent story that made great use of the secondary characters of the Dreaming.
Not only is this comic not that, but it's a reboot that ignores the original Dreaming comic. (Which is a crying shame, but Gaiman had already proven unwilling to adopt the changes that it introduced to continuity.)
So what do we get in this new comic? A whole series of mysteries (why has Daniel abandoned the Dreaming? what new God is approaching the realm?) and at least one secret (who or what is Dora? And why does no one else comment on that "D"?), all embedded in the Dream realm.
Spurrier is generally a strong writer, and he's soon able to write the Dreaming characters believably. He also makes good use of the storytelling aspect of the realm by having different characters narrate different issues, which is fun. The introduction of Judge Gallows is also great. Spurrier is less successful with the plot. It spins its wheels through at least some of the issues, and by the end of this whole volume he's at best started to resolve one of his mysteries, leaving the rest for the future. Compare to the original Sandman, and it's obvious how decompressed Spurrier's story is. I'm also unconvinced by the cliffhanger revelation of the final page, but we'll see how it plays out.
Really, 3.5 stars, and probably improving over the course of the volume.
Not only is this comic not that, but it's a reboot that ignores the original Dreaming comic. (Which is a crying shame, but Gaiman had already proven unwilling to adopt the changes that it introduced to continuity.)
So what do we get in this new comic? A whole series of mysteries (why has Daniel abandoned the Dreaming? what new God is approaching the realm?) and at least one secret (who or what is Dora? And why does no one else comment on that "D"?), all embedded in the Dream realm.
Spurrier is generally a strong writer, and he's soon able to write the Dreaming characters believably. He also makes good use of the storytelling aspect of the realm by having different characters narrate different issues, which is fun. The introduction of Judge Gallows is also great. Spurrier is less successful with the plot. It spins its wheels through at least some of the issues, and by the end of this whole volume he's at best started to resolve one of his mysteries, leaving the rest for the future. Compare to the original Sandman, and it's obvious how decompressed Spurrier's story is. I'm also unconvinced by the cliffhanger revelation of the final page, but we'll see how it plays out.
Really, 3.5 stars, and probably improving over the course of the volume.
September 16, 2019
Em primeiro lugar, uma coisa a se ter em mente quando você for buscar por essa série ou esse encadernado, você precisa saber que ela não é uma continuação de Sandman. Ela é uma continuação da série O Sonhar, um título que nós, brasileiros, não tivemos a oportunidade de acesso a muitas edições, devidos às idas e vindas da Vertigo em editoras e mais editoras brasileiras nos anos 90 e 2000. Dito isso não se pode exigir que a série esteja à altura de Sandman, mas de O Sonhar. E isso, ela o faz com maravilhosa desenvoltura, com personagens extremamente cativantes, com um texto rico de metáforas ao estilo Gaiman e o desenho caprichadíssimo da virtuose brasileira Bilquis Evely. Mais que isso, parece que Simons Spurrier nas seis edições de O Sonhar que "herdou" de Neil Gaiman, parece desenvolver mais aquele lugar, seus contextos e seus habitantes do que o próprio pai da série original, que deixava esse reino tangenciar apenas as histórias de Sandman. Fora isso, essa história é uma forte metáfora dos nossos tempos, principalmente da realidade brasileira, pois encontramos um juiz nefasto que a tudo quer mandar, julgar e culpabilizar no lugar de quem deveria estar deixando O Sonhar e a realidade nos eixos. Quem deve ser essa pessoa que vai instaurar a ordem? Nem a própria revista responde. Corta para cenas dos próximos capítulos.
September 18, 2023
Daniel AKA Morpheus, and Sandmans successor to the Kingdom of Slumber has gone MIA and left the librarian in charge. Dreams defenses are degrading and the epic ensemble cast will need to take hold of the situation all the while their is a new force awaiting a birth in the Dreaming.
This takes place after the original genre altering series with Gaiman outlining the main concept, but with Simon Spurrier doing most of the heavy lifting. Bilquis Evely manages to capture the essence of a great looking Sandman book (Hat tips all around for sure).
Like the original it is High brow and wordy as all Hell don't be expecting to demolish this in one sitting. With a book like this sometimes I need that reminder. Even at a slower pace it's still quite a romp with some quirky characters. I'm glad we are getting another era in this fantastic world.
This takes place after the original genre altering series with Gaiman outlining the main concept, but with Simon Spurrier doing most of the heavy lifting. Bilquis Evely manages to capture the essence of a great looking Sandman book (Hat tips all around for sure).
Like the original it is High brow and wordy as all Hell don't be expecting to demolish this in one sitting. With a book like this sometimes I need that reminder. Even at a slower pace it's still quite a romp with some quirky characters. I'm glad we are getting another era in this fantastic world.
April 3, 2021
I absolutely love Neil Gaiman, and I absolutely love the Sandman. I have all the Absolute Editions, as well as the trade paperbacks. I have the Annotated Editions, the excellent radio drama version, The Sandman Companion, and I am waiting for the Netflix show. Without a doubt, I am a mega fan, so when the entire Sandman Universe was announced I approached the news with equal parts excitement and suspicion. In my opinion, the entire Sandman story is nigh perfect. The risky addition of Overture paid off handsomely and continued perfection. History has proven that adding to the Sandman Universe pays off for the reader, so I was excited.
However, the Sandman Universe is from the mind of Neil Gaiman, not his hand. I am not opposed to a creator letting someone else play with their toys, but I was afraid that this would somehow ruin what came before. And the answer to that quandary is simple. Do not read the new stuff if you are worried about it. Personally, I decided to wait until some of the lines in the Sandman Universe were collected in trade paperback form, so I could read them all together, and let the entire vision, the entire story sit with me, instead of waiting monthly, and possibly have life get in the way of the experience.
That leads us to the first volume of The Dreaming, Pathways and Emanations. Of note is the first issue, which serves as a sample platter for the entire Sandman Universe line. This serves as a bit of a prolog for each ongoing title, Lucifer, Books of Magic, House of Whispers, and the Dreaming. The art changes between prolog, and each is engaging. As for the Volume proper, the art is mesmerizing throughout. There was one issue that looked as if it had a guest artist to some capacity that was very noticeable. Other than that issue, and the purposefully different art styles in the prolog, the art is consistent throughout, and is utterly beautiful.
So, my attachment to the Sandman is clear, as were my trepidations. The art is fantastic, but how is the story? I loved it. My attachment to the Sandman is based primarily on my enjoyment of Dream. Dream’s absence is a great way to start the tale, as well as establish an identity for the comic that doesn’t infringe on what has come before. The Dreaming in panic and the custodian unsure of what to do is compelling. The brief cameos by Dream in various states are just enough to keep me going.
I feel as if the mystery of the series, has Dream abdicated his post, is such a great continuation of two different Sandman stories. In the Wake Lucian questions if Dream understands his own capacity to change. In Overture, Dream encounters Dream, and it can be implied that Dream knows that change is inevitable. Both viewpoints can be true, and both can lead to the Dreaming, as the absence of Dream implies a great change that may not have been capable before.
Dream appears in less than five pages, and yet his characterization hangs over everything. The returning characters that do appear, the dutiful Lucian, Matthew, Merv, Cain, and Able all ring true to their appearances in the original Sandman series. Dora, a new character, has an engaging mystery surrounding her, and I hope that the future volumes delve deeper into her mindset. The antagonist of the Volume, Judge Gallows, is such a great perversion of justice that you can tell he believes that he is right. The best aspect of his character is the black and white rigid viewpoint he holds, which is totally at odds with the ever-changing reality of the Dreaming. Judge Gallows is a fixed viewpoint in a rapidly evolving world.
Without spoiling anything, the ending is both satisfying as well open to continuation. While originally worried, I rapidly grew to love this tale. It has taken me from uncertainty to excitement for the entire Sandman Universe line of books. I harbor no illusion that every single one will reach the heights of the Sandman proper, but why should they? None of them are billed as Sandman 2. I may hold the Dreaming to a higher bar than the others, but as long as they don’t actively degrade what came before I am going to enjoy what this Universe has to offer. 5/5
However, the Sandman Universe is from the mind of Neil Gaiman, not his hand. I am not opposed to a creator letting someone else play with their toys, but I was afraid that this would somehow ruin what came before. And the answer to that quandary is simple. Do not read the new stuff if you are worried about it. Personally, I decided to wait until some of the lines in the Sandman Universe were collected in trade paperback form, so I could read them all together, and let the entire vision, the entire story sit with me, instead of waiting monthly, and possibly have life get in the way of the experience.
That leads us to the first volume of The Dreaming, Pathways and Emanations. Of note is the first issue, which serves as a sample platter for the entire Sandman Universe line. This serves as a bit of a prolog for each ongoing title, Lucifer, Books of Magic, House of Whispers, and the Dreaming. The art changes between prolog, and each is engaging. As for the Volume proper, the art is mesmerizing throughout. There was one issue that looked as if it had a guest artist to some capacity that was very noticeable. Other than that issue, and the purposefully different art styles in the prolog, the art is consistent throughout, and is utterly beautiful.
So, my attachment to the Sandman is clear, as were my trepidations. The art is fantastic, but how is the story? I loved it. My attachment to the Sandman is based primarily on my enjoyment of Dream. Dream’s absence is a great way to start the tale, as well as establish an identity for the comic that doesn’t infringe on what has come before. The Dreaming in panic and the custodian unsure of what to do is compelling. The brief cameos by Dream in various states are just enough to keep me going.
I feel as if the mystery of the series, has Dream abdicated his post, is such a great continuation of two different Sandman stories. In the Wake Lucian questions if Dream understands his own capacity to change. In Overture, Dream encounters Dream, and it can be implied that Dream knows that change is inevitable. Both viewpoints can be true, and both can lead to the Dreaming, as the absence of Dream implies a great change that may not have been capable before.
Dream appears in less than five pages, and yet his characterization hangs over everything. The returning characters that do appear, the dutiful Lucian, Matthew, Merv, Cain, and Able all ring true to their appearances in the original Sandman series. Dora, a new character, has an engaging mystery surrounding her, and I hope that the future volumes delve deeper into her mindset. The antagonist of the Volume, Judge Gallows, is such a great perversion of justice that you can tell he believes that he is right. The best aspect of his character is the black and white rigid viewpoint he holds, which is totally at odds with the ever-changing reality of the Dreaming. Judge Gallows is a fixed viewpoint in a rapidly evolving world.
Without spoiling anything, the ending is both satisfying as well open to continuation. While originally worried, I rapidly grew to love this tale. It has taken me from uncertainty to excitement for the entire Sandman Universe line of books. I harbor no illusion that every single one will reach the heights of the Sandman proper, but why should they? None of them are billed as Sandman 2. I may hold the Dreaming to a higher bar than the others, but as long as they don’t actively degrade what came before I am going to enjoy what this Universe has to offer. 5/5
February 18, 2020
I found this a bit of a slog to get through.. it all just moved too slow for me.
I also think there is a fundamental problem with these Sandman Universe spin-offs - there's a huge Dream/Daniel-shaped hole at the centre of them. The secondary characters only really work in relation to Morphius, they're not that interesting on their own, I find. Hence also the reliance on Dora, who at least has some depth.
All that said, this series has far and away the best art of all the spin-offs.
2.5 stars
(Read as six single issues)
I also think there is a fundamental problem with these Sandman Universe spin-offs - there's a huge Dream/Daniel-shaped hole at the centre of them. The secondary characters only really work in relation to Morphius, they're not that interesting on their own, I find. Hence also the reliance on Dora, who at least has some depth.
All that said, this series has far and away the best art of all the spin-offs.
2.5 stars
(Read as six single issues)
September 7, 2022
It's great to come back to the og characters and the art was really aesthetically pleasing
However, Dora just annoys the hell out of me, I was so happy when she got defeated or beaten or whatever it was, which I think I wasn't supposed to, but alas
The overall plot is good but it seems a bit out of character to me Daniel leaving the Dreaming, specially with what happened the last time and this time for such a boring reason in a creative point of view (love- blehh)
However, Dora just annoys the hell out of me, I was so happy when she got defeated or beaten or whatever it was, which I think I wasn't supposed to, but alas
The overall plot is good but it seems a bit out of character to me Daniel leaving the Dreaming, specially with what happened the last time and this time for such a boring reason in a creative point of view (love- blehh)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 5, 2025
3.5(?)
pomimo tego, że widzieliśmy już tę historię w oryginalnym sandmanie, to nie widzieliśmy z takiej perspektywy i z tak dużą ilością akcji. wydaje mi się, że następne tomy mogą bardziej rozjaśnić moje wrażenia względem tego komiksu, aczkolwiek mam nadzieję, że twórcy wybiorą lepszy sposób na przekazywanie wartości politycznych, które są jak najbardziej mile widziane, ale jest to tutaj trochę zbyt wielkie uderzanie łopatą czytelnika po głowie
pomimo tego, że widzieliśmy już tę historię w oryginalnym sandmanie, to nie widzieliśmy z takiej perspektywy i z tak dużą ilością akcji. wydaje mi się, że następne tomy mogą bardziej rozjaśnić moje wrażenia względem tego komiksu, aczkolwiek mam nadzieję, że twórcy wybiorą lepszy sposób na przekazywanie wartości politycznych, które są jak najbardziej mile widziane, ale jest to tutaj trochę zbyt wielkie uderzanie łopatą czytelnika po głowie
May 16, 2019
I never read the original series, so maybe I would have a different opinion if I had. Anyway, this was below my expectations. I really like the art and the originality of the world. My problem was with the storyline, that try to be epic, but was a bit confuse in my opinion, and with a touch of humor that didn't please me! Not totally bad, but not as good as I thought this would be!
June 21, 2019
It's no Sandman, or even Lucifer, but then there wasn't really much chance it would be. But it doesn't disgrace Gaiman's creations, and it does provide a Dreaming that feels vaguely familiar even as it falls apart.
Si Spurrier utilizes a number of the classic characters: some well, some not-so-much (but he even cautions in the text that characters are performing roles, which somewhat excuses people, like Merv, who are painfully out-of-character). The story is a bit heavy-handed in its metaphors about walling off outsiders and what happens when a leader is chosen out of fear. But some of the story beats are strong, and I find Dora intriguing. Lucien and Matthew felt most familiar, and Lucien's issues are easy to sympathize with. Overall, the story goes some unexpected places and has a couple very good moments, which help to balance out some of the parts that are bizarre or overwrought. The art on the balance was good, although the action scenes (and Dora's angry moments) sacrificed coherence for frenzy.
All told, I'm not disappointed, but I'm not blown away either. It doesn't feel like a necessary part of the Sandman Universe at this point in time, but I can see that some of the seeds its planting have promising fruit. I think my advice on this would be to read it, but not yet. I'll wait until the story's a little more finished before I make a more comprehensive judgment. Because, as the story shows, judgment can easily go awry.
Si Spurrier utilizes a number of the classic characters: some well, some not-so-much (but he even cautions in the text that characters are performing roles, which somewhat excuses people, like Merv, who are painfully out-of-character). The story is a bit heavy-handed in its metaphors about walling off outsiders and what happens when a leader is chosen out of fear. But some of the story beats are strong, and I find Dora intriguing. Lucien and Matthew felt most familiar, and Lucien's issues are easy to sympathize with. Overall, the story goes some unexpected places and has a couple very good moments, which help to balance out some of the parts that are bizarre or overwrought. The art on the balance was good, although the action scenes (and Dora's angry moments) sacrificed coherence for frenzy.
All told, I'm not disappointed, but I'm not blown away either. It doesn't feel like a necessary part of the Sandman Universe at this point in time, but I can see that some of the seeds its planting have promising fruit. I think my advice on this would be to read it, but not yet. I'll wait until the story's a little more finished before I make a more comprehensive judgment. Because, as the story shows, judgment can easily go awry.
July 28, 2021
Review da série inteira:
Como as outras séries dessa leva Universo de Sandman, O Sonhar começa devagar e misteriosa. Nesse sentido, me lembrou Lúcifer, onde a curiosidade pelo que viria depois e a arte me fizeram continuar lendo, mais do que a história sendo contada nas primeiras edições. Mas, no segundo volume, alguns elementos ficam claros e a história toma fôlego. A partir daí, se tornou um dos melhores quadrinhos da Vertigo-sem-Vertigo que já li: a passagem pelo mundo das fadas e pela estalagem no fim do mundo são incríveis e as histórias paralelas com artistas convidados dão humanidade pra série como um todo. Demorei meses pra ler os três volumes porque ficava preso em cada quadro desenhado pela Bilquis e colorido pelo Mateus. Lindo, lindo, lindo. O que Spurrier fala sobre histórias e como elas nos moldam segue a mesma linha do pensamento de Gaiman, mas enriquece e refresca o mundo de Sandman. E amei que, no fim,
Como as outras séries dessa leva Universo de Sandman, O Sonhar começa devagar e misteriosa. Nesse sentido, me lembrou Lúcifer, onde a curiosidade pelo que viria depois e a arte me fizeram continuar lendo, mais do que a história sendo contada nas primeiras edições. Mas, no segundo volume, alguns elementos ficam claros e a história toma fôlego. A partir daí, se tornou um dos melhores quadrinhos da Vertigo-sem-Vertigo que já li: a passagem pelo mundo das fadas e pela estalagem no fim do mundo são incríveis e as histórias paralelas com artistas convidados dão humanidade pra série como um todo. Demorei meses pra ler os três volumes porque ficava preso em cada quadro desenhado pela Bilquis e colorido pelo Mateus. Lindo, lindo, lindo. O que Spurrier fala sobre histórias e como elas nos moldam segue a mesma linha do pensamento de Gaiman, mas enriquece e refresca o mundo de Sandman. E amei que, no fim,
June 11, 2019
Neil Gaiman has always commented about the possibility of more Sandman, and so to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the title, DC published a line of comic books under its Vertigo imprint. With each comic being overseen by Gaiman, but written by new creative teams, The Sandman Universe begins in a very similar manner as when DC began their Rebirth initiative, by launching with a one-shot issue about this obscure universe, setting up the narrative of the four comics.
Please click here for my full review.
Please click here for my full review.
July 3, 2019
*3.5*
Whilst it was great to be back in the world of The Sandman, I felt a bit of a disconnect towards this (at least in terms of this first story arc). The characters were interesting, but the new character, Dora, left something to be desired and same thing with the villain, Judge Gallows (whom I did not know about prior to this). The artwork by Bilquis Evely was just stunning, but there was a point where the artwork changed a bit and it paled in comparison.
Overall, this feels like the start of something, but I do hope we get to see some updates on the other members of the Endless, because this series feels like the perfect opportunity for that, and given the other Sandman Universe titles, there could potentially be some big crossovers on the horizon.
Whilst it was great to be back in the world of The Sandman, I felt a bit of a disconnect towards this (at least in terms of this first story arc). The characters were interesting, but the new character, Dora, left something to be desired and same thing with the villain, Judge Gallows (whom I did not know about prior to this). The artwork by Bilquis Evely was just stunning, but there was a point where the artwork changed a bit and it paled in comparison.
Overall, this feels like the start of something, but I do hope we get to see some updates on the other members of the Endless, because this series feels like the perfect opportunity for that, and given the other Sandman Universe titles, there could potentially be some big crossovers on the horizon.
January 29, 2020
There's some promising bits here and there, like the mystery of where and why Daniel has gone, and the art is great, but mostly this series just spins its wheels for far too long. That, and I just didn't like Dora. I think there's some interesting questions about her, but her personality grated on me. It looks like the next story arc will be entirely about Daniel, but I'm not sure if I'm interested in continuing yet.
May 30, 2021
Y como colofón a este nuevo acercamiento al mundo de The Sandman, por motivos editoriales (estaban agotados en Alcalá Cómics así que he esperado hasta que me los han traído), llega el momento de acercarse a la colección principal, o a la que va a ser al menos la más cercana a una colección principal de este Universo Sandman, pues es la que se va desarrollar en el Sueño y con los personajes habituales de la vieja colección de Neil Gaiman.
Al igual que Lucifer, Los Libros de la Magia y La Casa de los Susurros, The Dreaming arranca de la particular situación en la que queda el Sueño después del abandono de Lord Daniel y la aparición de una fisura en el entramado del propio Sueño (la misma brecha que llevó a Erzulie a quedar aquí atrapada en La Casa de los Susurros). En The Dreaming vamos a ver más de cerca los acontecimientos que continúan a la desaparición de Daniel y la aparición de una extraña figura con una geometría extraña. Y parece que a quien más parece afectar la desaparición de Daniel es a Lucien, el bibliotecario del Sueño, que poco a poco parece ir perdiendo la cabeza superado por la presión de ser el "gobernante" sustituto del Sueño en ausencia de Lord Daniel, cuya ausencia está encubriendo. Y mientras Lucien pierde la mente, Mervyn comienza a dudar de la situación, lo que le lleva a pedir la ayuda de una de las viejas pesadillas encerradas por Sueño en tiempos pasados, el Juez Gallows, que poco a poco comienza a poner el Sueño bajo su dominio, más allá de lo que el propio Mervyn esperaba.
Y mientras tanto, los ojos de todos los habitantes del Sueño comienzan a dirigirse hacia un nuevo personaje, Dora, creado por Simon Spurrier. Dora tiene varias habilidades, entre ellas la de convertirse en una especie de gran monstruo furioso, pero la que más interesa a Lucien es la de poder cambiar de esferas e introducirse en los Sueños... y parece que va a ser algo imprescindible para sobrevivir, pues parece que la brecha es solo la antesala de algo que, como en poema de Yeats, se arrastra a Belén para nacer.
De todos los proyectos surgidos de Universo Sandman, creo que The Dreaming, y por lo tanto Simon Spurrier, es la serie que más responsabilidades tiene, como heredera directa de The Sandman. Por aquí andan Lucien, el cuervo Matthew, Mervyn, Eva, Caín y Abel... Etc. O sea, que salvo El Corintio, que anda por las páginas de La Casa de los Susurros, Spurrier cuenta con todos o casi todos los miembros del antiguo reparto de The Sandman, y si bien este primer volumen se deja leer, tampoco creo que sea nada del otro jueves, contando con lo que debería haber sido... Aunque quizá aquí el injusto soy yo y puede que nada de lo que hagan me parezca a la altura de los personajes, así que en ese sentido, tampoco me hagáis mucho caso.
Eso sí, las portadas de Jae Lee lo molan todo.
Al igual que Lucifer, Los Libros de la Magia y La Casa de los Susurros, The Dreaming arranca de la particular situación en la que queda el Sueño después del abandono de Lord Daniel y la aparición de una fisura en el entramado del propio Sueño (la misma brecha que llevó a Erzulie a quedar aquí atrapada en La Casa de los Susurros). En The Dreaming vamos a ver más de cerca los acontecimientos que continúan a la desaparición de Daniel y la aparición de una extraña figura con una geometría extraña. Y parece que a quien más parece afectar la desaparición de Daniel es a Lucien, el bibliotecario del Sueño, que poco a poco parece ir perdiendo la cabeza superado por la presión de ser el "gobernante" sustituto del Sueño en ausencia de Lord Daniel, cuya ausencia está encubriendo. Y mientras Lucien pierde la mente, Mervyn comienza a dudar de la situación, lo que le lleva a pedir la ayuda de una de las viejas pesadillas encerradas por Sueño en tiempos pasados, el Juez Gallows, que poco a poco comienza a poner el Sueño bajo su dominio, más allá de lo que el propio Mervyn esperaba.
Y mientras tanto, los ojos de todos los habitantes del Sueño comienzan a dirigirse hacia un nuevo personaje, Dora, creado por Simon Spurrier. Dora tiene varias habilidades, entre ellas la de convertirse en una especie de gran monstruo furioso, pero la que más interesa a Lucien es la de poder cambiar de esferas e introducirse en los Sueños... y parece que va a ser algo imprescindible para sobrevivir, pues parece que la brecha es solo la antesala de algo que, como en poema de Yeats, se arrastra a Belén para nacer.
De todos los proyectos surgidos de Universo Sandman, creo que The Dreaming, y por lo tanto Simon Spurrier, es la serie que más responsabilidades tiene, como heredera directa de The Sandman. Por aquí andan Lucien, el cuervo Matthew, Mervyn, Eva, Caín y Abel... Etc. O sea, que salvo El Corintio, que anda por las páginas de La Casa de los Susurros, Spurrier cuenta con todos o casi todos los miembros del antiguo reparto de The Sandman, y si bien este primer volumen se deja leer, tampoco creo que sea nada del otro jueves, contando con lo que debería haber sido... Aunque quizá aquí el injusto soy yo y puede que nada de lo que hagan me parezca a la altura de los personajes, así que en ese sentido, tampoco me hagáis mucho caso.
Eso sí, las portadas de Jae Lee lo molan todo.
August 7, 2023
2.5 stars, rounded up to 3 because of the sheer magnificence of the artwork.
What worked for me: As stated above, Bilquis Evely's artwork, especially the many glorious two-page spreads. The Judge and the idea of a nightmare created from fears of trial, judgment, and execution at the hands of an unjust system. The reinterpretation of Cain's symbolism and . The exploration of questions left unanswered in Gaiman's original series -- namely, why Destruction's realm didn't decay or negatively affect the human world the way the Dreaming did when Dream was held prisoner. There are a lot of really great ideas here, and I'd like to see them explored a bit more.
What didn't work for me: The incredibly clumsy allegory for real-world xenophobia and populism. I also didn't care for the absence of the Endless, although I understand why, in a series focused just on the Dreaming and its inhabitants, those characters weren't the priority.
What I couldn't care less about: Dora, her true identity, and her tragic backstory. Her personality, unexplained powers, and rebel-without-a-cause actions are like something out of a fanfiction, and her anti-establishment stance feels like another attempt to paste a real-world issue onto an environment that exists outside of our reality.
If I see the next two volumes of this at the library, I might check them out. But finishing this series isn't a priority for me.
What worked for me: As stated above, Bilquis Evely's artwork, especially the many glorious two-page spreads. The Judge and the idea of a nightmare created from fears of trial, judgment, and execution at the hands of an unjust system. The reinterpretation of Cain's symbolism and . The exploration of questions left unanswered in Gaiman's original series -- namely, why Destruction's realm didn't decay or negatively affect the human world the way the Dreaming did when Dream was held prisoner. There are a lot of really great ideas here, and I'd like to see them explored a bit more.
What didn't work for me: The incredibly clumsy allegory for real-world xenophobia and populism. I also didn't care for the absence of the Endless, although I understand why, in a series focused just on the Dreaming and its inhabitants, those characters weren't the priority.
What I couldn't care less about: Dora, her true identity, and her tragic backstory. Her personality, unexplained powers, and rebel-without-a-cause actions are like something out of a fanfiction, and her anti-establishment stance feels like another attempt to paste a real-world issue onto an environment that exists outside of our reality.
If I see the next two volumes of this at the library, I might check them out. But finishing this series isn't a priority for me.
October 13, 2019
Cuando anunciaron estos spin offs de Sandman, aún estando curados por Neil Gaiman, no esperaba mucho. Este universo de cómics es uno de los que más me gusta así que sabía que por puro morbo iba a terminar comprando estos tomos. Fue muy bueno que además, The dreaming resultara ser una historia muy interesante.
Una vez más, Sueño abandona la Ensoñación y ese mundo comienza a caerse a pedazos. Esa es quizá la parte que menos me gustó del tomo. Nunca explican porque Daniel abandona la ensoñación, además de que se vuelve un poco repetitivo el hecho de que el Sandman original comenzara exactamente de la misma manera. Ahora el enfoque de la historia se centra en los personajes de soporte de Snadman, específicamente en Lucien, Merv, Caín, Abel, Eva y la nueva, Dora. He leído que muchos se quejan de estos personajes y que era más interesante cuando la historia se centraba en los eternos. Yo disfruté mucho de estos personajes, Spurrier los escribe filosóficamente, la gran mayoría de las interacciones entre ellos cargan fuertes símbolos, dobles sentidos y enseñanzas filosóficas profundas.
Este tomo me resonó bastante con lo que estoy viviendo ahora y quizá por eso lo disfruté mucho. El personaje de Dora, quizá el mayor misterio y lo que carga la trama hacia adelante, es un buen personaje del que me gustaría saber más en los siguientes tomos.
Efectivamente el villano no es tan bueno pero tampoco es el eje central de la historia, solo es un vehículo para unir a los personajes. El villano real de la historia es quizá la incertidumbre y la cobardía; cuando nuestros protagonistas experimentan estas emociones, es que la historia se complica y se vuelve más interesante.
Sin duda leería el segundo tomo de este spin off y estaré checando el resto, espero los publiquen pronto en México.
Una vez más, Sueño abandona la Ensoñación y ese mundo comienza a caerse a pedazos. Esa es quizá la parte que menos me gustó del tomo. Nunca explican porque Daniel abandona la ensoñación, además de que se vuelve un poco repetitivo el hecho de que el Sandman original comenzara exactamente de la misma manera. Ahora el enfoque de la historia se centra en los personajes de soporte de Snadman, específicamente en Lucien, Merv, Caín, Abel, Eva y la nueva, Dora. He leído que muchos se quejan de estos personajes y que era más interesante cuando la historia se centraba en los eternos. Yo disfruté mucho de estos personajes, Spurrier los escribe filosóficamente, la gran mayoría de las interacciones entre ellos cargan fuertes símbolos, dobles sentidos y enseñanzas filosóficas profundas.
Este tomo me resonó bastante con lo que estoy viviendo ahora y quizá por eso lo disfruté mucho. El personaje de Dora, quizá el mayor misterio y lo que carga la trama hacia adelante, es un buen personaje del que me gustaría saber más en los siguientes tomos.
Efectivamente el villano no es tan bueno pero tampoco es el eje central de la historia, solo es un vehículo para unir a los personajes. El villano real de la historia es quizá la incertidumbre y la cobardía; cuando nuestros protagonistas experimentan estas emociones, es que la historia se complica y se vuelve más interesante.
Sin duda leería el segundo tomo de este spin off y estaré checando el resto, espero los publiquen pronto en México.
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