View Full Version : Having Trouble Getting Into Sandman...
Hey,
Well, I borrowed the first Sandman Trade from a friend because I can't hear enough good things about it - I mean really, it's basically considered the absolute best Vertigo series ever. That said...
The artwork is just horrid, in my very humble opinion, so it's very hard for me to get into to... that said, the writing good or not, has been really slow and boring. This being the case, I am really having a hard time getting into it...
Tell me why I should push through it, does it get better? I've been told the artwork is done by a different artist within each book and it's a lot better and I just need to accept that this is how #1 goes, but god damn... it's SO ugly and boring so far...
stealthwise
02-21-2008, 10:11 PM
There'snoaccountingfortaste...There'snoaccountingf ortaste...
*deep breath*
Anyways, to answer your question, yes, the series does get much, much better, although there's no guarantee that you're going to like it.
Sanagi
02-21-2008, 10:45 PM
The first volume isn't as good as the rest overall, but if you didn't like the writing in "24 Hours" or "The Sound of Her Wings" you might as well pass on it.
dancj
02-22-2008, 05:55 AM
Sandman ups and downs in quality of both writing and art.
But because it was groundbreaking in its day, people cut it a bit of slack over the weaker parts. Also as others have said you haven't hit the good stuff yet.
MartianBlonde
02-22-2008, 06:11 AM
Sam Keith...horrid?
I am confused.
Euchre0
02-22-2008, 10:21 AM
Sam Keith...horrid?
Yep. And then some.
Punch
02-22-2008, 10:36 AM
Yeah Sam Kieth's art for Sandman was horrid. I say this as a huge Sam Kieth fan, he was just not right for the book and he knew it so he quit.
jesse_custer
02-22-2008, 02:42 PM
I found Keith's art overwhelming, but not bad. I had never seen anything quite like it before, and I still haven't afterward.
Shellhead
02-22-2008, 03:10 PM
The first volume isn't as good as the rest overall, but if you didn't like the writing in "24 Hours" or "The Sound of Her Wings" you might as well pass on it.
I agree, especially regarding "The Sound of Her Wings."
Slam_Bradley
02-22-2008, 03:21 PM
Gaiman turned a corner with "The Sound of Her Wings" in issue # 8. Up to that point he wasn't sure what he was writing, but it was leaning toward a goth super-hero book. Following that he moved out of hero mode and started writing stories about stories. It gets much, much better.
jesse_custer
02-22-2008, 03:24 PM
Maybe the series as a whole gets better with latter volumes, but "A Hope in Hell" is about as incredible as things can get with comics.
DoubleDip
02-22-2008, 04:13 PM
Yeah, I also bought the first volume, and Hated the art...i dont know it really turned me off from reading too far into it, but if you guys say that the art work is changed in the other volumes, that gets be a little more interested in it again...
noh-varr
02-22-2008, 04:33 PM
If you are wanting to give it another shot, I suggest trying Season of Mists for a pretty good feel on how the series feels, at least when it comes to the Morpheus centric stories.
Sanagi
02-22-2008, 04:40 PM
I'd never thought about it before, but it is kind of interesting how Sam Kieth's art didn't fit with Sandman, given that Kieth's later work The Maxx has a similar basis in dreams and hallucinatory images. I suppose the crucial difference is that The Maxx is highly surreal while Sandman isn't(with a few strictly defined exceptions such as Delirium's realm).
Starchild789
02-26-2008, 07:38 PM
Forget Sandman, LUCIFER is where its at. Wha wha
Mr Omnis
02-26-2008, 07:52 PM
If you are wanting to give it another shot, I suggest trying Season of Mists for a pretty good feel on how the series feels, at least when it comes to the Morpheus centric stories.
I only have the first five in my possession (which is a shame), but Seasons of Mist is my favorite of those five. I agree that it's good example of the series, plus it's just some really good stories.
Well,
I gave the book back to my friend and actually bought the first book - this was my way of motivating myself, I can't just waste the cash without reading it.
So, I've read 1/4 of the way through which is far past where I got previously and so far it's fine, and I'm being accepting of the art. The writing itself is good, but nothing has really amazed me yet, yet.
I'll push through it and let you guys know.
Thanks!
dancj
02-27-2008, 05:42 AM
I think the first stuff that wowed me was probably Dream of a Thousand Cats in the Dream County trade
Well,
I've allowed myself to adjust to the art, and I just finished "A Hope in Hell" - this story changed my entire outlook on this book. It was great.
I love how calm and collected Dream is, even amonst millions of demons. The game for his helm. was really cool and of course, his exit from hell was just awesome - what a bad ass.
"I am hope."
filthysize
02-28-2008, 04:52 PM
Re: Sam Keith's art... the inking and coloring of that first arc was terrible. Keith's art is already chaotic in the first place, but with terrible coloring it's almost impossible to make sense what's going on.
carabas
02-29-2008, 12:56 AM
It does indeed look a whole lot better in the recoloured Absolute edition.
Punch
02-29-2008, 01:10 AM
It was never a problem knowing what was going on.The figures were just not drawn very well. Just look at the difference between the panels that Drigenberg did and the rest of the issue where Dream goes to Hell. Look at how cool Beelzebub and Lucifer look in one panel and how goofy they look in the next.
I never considered the art in Sandman to be it's strong point. That said, if you only like the typical superhero book, this is a great departure in the art dept. for you anyways. Besides, the book was awesome and well known for it's writing and plotlines.
matthewaos
02-29-2008, 12:13 PM
I think that anyone should have in mind that an ongoing title has its ups and downs, it's never always perfect, even the most perfect. That said, I think Sandman is one of the best books ever. If you like what it's about, go for it.
Ryan Day
02-29-2008, 04:45 PM
I never considered the art in Sandman to be it's strong point.
I'd agree that the book is justifiably known for Gaiman's writing, but there's some fantastic art in there, particularly in the latter half. Dringeberg's work early in is great, there's some Matt Wagner, Bryan Talbot, Charles Vess, Jill Thompson, Craig Russell, Jill Thompson, just about everyone on the World's End arc, Marc Hempel, Michael Zulli, and Jon J. Muth.
A lot of it's unconventional, particularly if you've mostly read superhero comics, but it's great stuff.
dupersuper
02-29-2008, 04:58 PM
I never had the problems others seem to have with the first issues, but then I read a friends "Seasons of Mist" trade before starting the series myself, so I already knew how cool it would get. Knowing Sandman already, I got a kick out of seeing him hang out with the JLI. :p
I'd agree that the book is justifiably known for Gaiman's writing, but there's some fantastic art in there, particularly in the latter half. Dringeberg's work early in is great, there's some Matt Wagner, Bryan Talbot, Charles Vess, Jill Thompson, Craig Russell, Jill Thompson, just about everyone on the World's End arc, Marc Hempel, Michael Zulli, and Jon J. Muth.
A lot of it's unconventional, particularly if you've mostly read superhero comics, but it's great stuff.
oh, I agree. :) I should've said that, for me, the art, no matter how good, was always secondary to the writing. ;)
Finished Doll's House - I thought the story of him and the guy who never dies was really interesting for some reason, just a cool, random story I suppose.
This was a really cool book - so, I've ordered TPB 3 and 4 :P
JC
Well, I can now see why everyone raves about Season of Mists... this was such a freaking awesome story it's not even funny. I mean... Lucifer Quits, Dream gets the Key and has to decide who will inherit the key to the realm of hell based on multiple offers, threats and bribes. Classic!
That said, I'm officially a fan of Sandman now and am happy because of it.
matthewaos
03-10-2008, 05:21 PM
Finished Doll's House - I thought the story of him and the guy who never dies was really interesting for some reason, just a cool, random story I suppose.
This was a really cool book - so, I've ordered TPB 3 and 4 :P
JC
This particular story is one of my favorites actually.
saumilsingh
03-17-2008, 01:42 AM
Read Ramadan (issue #50 I think) if you have trouble getting into Sandman.
Beautiful story, beautiful art.
You can read it right away as it has no relation to any of the other arcs whatsoever.
saumilsingh
03-17-2008, 01:47 AM
Read Ramadan (issue #50 I think) if you have trouble getting into Sandman.
Beautiful story, beautiful art.
You can read it right away as it has no relation to any of the other arcs whatsoever.
saumilsingh
03-17-2008, 01:50 AM
Read Ramadan (issue #50 I think) if you have trouble getting into Sandman.
Beautiful story, beautiful art.
You can read it right away as it has no relation to any of the other arcs whatsoever.
saumilsingh
03-17-2008, 04:56 AM
Sorry about the multiple posts :o
Read Ramadan (issue #50 I think) if you have trouble getting into Sandman.
Beautiful story, beautiful art.
You can read it right away as it has no relation to any of the other arcs whatsoever.
Thanks for the tip, but I've purchased Sandman 1 - 10 now, and am reading #5 - I'm a fan, for sure, now. :P
BeastieRunner
03-19-2008, 01:50 AM
My favorite is the Kindly Ones. I was really sad about the ending. :(
The American Emperor and Shakespeare stuff are my favorite self-contained stories.
Glad to see another fan.:)
dancj
03-19-2008, 07:01 AM
My favorite is the Kindly Ones. I was really sad about the ending. :(
The American Emperor and Shakespeare stuff are my favorite self-contained
The Kindly Ones is definitely my favourite extended story - in both writing and art, and Three Septembers and a January (the American Emporer one) is by far my favourite single issue of the series.
I couldn't stand the Shakespeare ones though.
Mladen
03-20-2008, 06:34 AM
it may never grow on you, especially if you only typically read superheroes and not a lot of novels. you won't find any punch-ups or anything, its not that sort of comic.
some people love it, others hate it.
The first volume isn't the best for sure, but if you're reading them for free, you have nothing to lose, right?
PCPaperbacks
03-21-2008, 09:21 AM
Recently I have really gotten into Vertigo Comics. I picked up Scalped as a whim and that set off a lightbulb in my brain! During Vertigo's Sandman days I was just a X-men & Batman freak...
Now I look back and say I missed out... but not really since back issues are always there and it helps my collector's itch! But I just picked up a near complete run 1-72 on ebay. I really like it!
I just finished issue 4... I look at Keith's art here as not his best, but still not horrible... the color seperation is rough... the funny thing is that I was reading letter by the DC E-I-C in issue 4 and she discusses the new computer coloring!
But I must say, I really like the Sandman comic!
Damiean Dark
03-21-2008, 05:36 PM
I love the last panel of the wake seen through the eyes of the reader where daniel finally meets the rest of the endless at the dinner table and its like the end of a dream where you wake up. The sandman stories are some of the best of the past 18 years imo the at is initially of putting i agree especially for me personally who was raised on Xmen and batman comics but put it aside and your in for a real treat.
Matthew K.
03-25-2008, 11:22 PM
Have you tried not having a hard time getting into it?
Beria
03-26-2008, 01:27 PM
I'm not surprised peple have a hard time getting into Sandman. The two first books aren't really all that good. Although I was a huge fan while it was published, I now think the entire series is pretty overrated. The longer stories tend to get boring, with anticlimactic endings.
But the short stories are good, some even outstanding, such as the aforementioned Ramadan and Three Septembers and a January. I also liked August, the Orpheus issue (both with great Bryan Talbot art) and the sea monster story from World's end.
Well, that's my opinion, anyway.
Finished up A GAME OF YOU the other night..
At first, I was a bit stand-offish because I was just coming off of the high that Volume 4 gave me in Season of Mist. I wanted more of the Dream Lord, and Hell and all this hardcore shit to be going on.
Then, I accepted that this was a different story altogether and got into it. As it went on, the Cuckoo was a really cool concept. By the end of the story, I was really into the characters - they were all very believable to me somehow and the end was almost, well, sad I suppose.
Looking forward to the next volume.
henryfish
03-26-2008, 04:28 PM
Finished up A GAME OF YOU the other night..
At first, I was a bit stand-offish because I was just coming off of the high that Volume 4 gave me in Season of Mist. I wanted more of the Dream Lord, and Hell and all this hardcore shit to be going on.
Then, I accepted that this was a different story altogether and got into it. As it went on, the Cuckoo was a really cool concept. By the end of the story, I was really into the characters - they were all very believable to me somehow and the end was almost, well, sad I suppose.
Looking forward to the next volume.
A Game of You is indeed an odd one. I really didn't "get it" until the third time I read it. And I'm glad you've been able to get into Sandman. It really is great.
Brief Lives is so excellent.
stealthwise
03-26-2008, 06:41 PM
After reading and re-reading the series at least a dozen times, A GAME OF YOU is by far my favourite arc of the series, both for its ambitiousness and ability to deal with such mature concepts of sexuality and identity within the fantastic framework of the series.
Sanagi
03-27-2008, 12:02 AM
I like A Game of You but it's always bugged me that Hazel, Foxglove, and Thessaly go to so much trouble just to show up and get upstaged by Morpheus.
I like A Game of You but it's always bugged me that Hazel, Foxglove, and Thessaly go to so much trouble just to show up and get upstaged by Morpheus.
Pretty good point I guess. Seemed like Thessaly shoulda been smarter than she was to just be immediately tricked and mindfucked.
But who the hell was Thessaly anyways? She was just some random woman with witch like powers? Or more? There was reference to her age and her being very, very old...
Hazel and Foxglove were useless against the cuckoo, that I'm sure of, so I wasn't surprised by that.
abyss
03-28-2008, 01:15 PM
But who the hell was Thessaly anyways? She was just some random woman with witch like powers? Or more? There was reference to her age and her being very, very old...
She was indeed a witch. The last of her kind in fact. Not sure what type of witches they where called but I think they came from Greece my memory is a bit hazy on the details. But definitely was some kind of powerful witch.
estee
03-28-2008, 01:38 PM
I remember when this title came out, it was on the same day that The Question was published. So I bought both titles.
I dropped Sandman after that single issue and followed Question for two more years.
So of course Sandman became this raving success, while Question can be found in the quarter bin. ;)
But I did try to re-read the first issue (and the couple singles I bought over the years) and pretty much had the same feeling I had the first time. Just wasn't my thing.
Now the Invisibles...there was a ground breaker! :D
Punch
03-28-2008, 03:05 PM
Pretty good point I guess. Seemed like Thessaly shoulda been smarter than she was to just be immediately tricked and mindfucked.
But who the hell was Thessaly anyways? She was just some random woman with witch like powers? Or more? There was reference to her age and her being very, very old...
Hazel and Foxglove were useless against the cuckoo, that I'm sure of, so I wasn't surprised by that.
Thessaly was a random witch in A Game Of You, but in the big picture she was an integral part of the story. She is responsible for the fate of Morpheus in many ways, the seeds of which are in A Game Of You.
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