DEATH Deluxe Edition

Neil Gaiman, Death: The High Cost of Living (Vertigo, 1994)

I had a really odd "I'm old" moment when reading this, and seeing Tori Amos' bio listing Under the Pink as a not-yet-completed album to be released early in the next year. Whoa.

Death became, early on, such a popular character in the Sandman books that she got the first spinoff comic. Two collections of it exist; this is the first. It's a minor, but charming, piece of work from camp Gaiman-and-co. One day every century, Death goes among the living, the better to understand the lives of those she takes. This century, she becomes Didi, a sixteen-year-old girl whose entire family were recently killed in an accident. She starts off by stumbling upon a suicidal youth and charming him into accompanying her for the rest of the day. However, other, older creatures have been waiting a century for the earthly incarnation of Death, and they're not going to stop until they gain an audience with her.

If you like the Sandman books, and are a fan of Death, then you're pretty much guaranteed to like this. (There's a Dave McKean-drawn PSA at the end of the book that's a tad overbearing, but you can probably skip that; still, McKean is an awe-inspiring artist, and you'll love the drawings.) Easily on a par with the quality of some of the minor Sandman volumes. *** ½

Neil Gaiman manages to spin together an excellent web using his "death" character from his Sandman series. The hook: Death isn't a morbid spectre, but a perky and likeable goth chick. Every century, she gets the chance to spend one day on Earth, the better to explore humanity from the other side of the black veil. The story of how she spends her day is interesting and uplifting, casual and sort of realistic. The other main character, Sexton, is someone you can really sympathize with. This is really a quirky and interesting book, and aside from the wonderful story you can revel in Chris Bachalo's beautiful artwork, which blends beautifully with Neils words. Basically, this book is tons of fun and you can read again and again. Gaiman or comic fans should definately pick this up.

One day every century, Death walks the earth like a normal person, to better know and understand those she takes away. On this day, she meets a confused teenager and a centuries-old homeless woman. Death is portrayed as an oddly sweet goth-girl rocker, somewhat troubled by her duties and her desire to help these sad, sad humans. A story of immortality and yet humanity at the same time. One of the best by author Neil Gaiman.

Ever since her first appearance in Sandman #8, I (along with so many other readers) have loved the character of Death, and in this story, we come to love her more. We get a glimpse at the one day in a century that she must be human, and we see, through the eyes of one who must take lives away, how wonderous and strange human existence is. It's tough to feel sorry for yourself as you listen to her talk about the little things, like the chemical aftertaste being one of the unexpected bonuses of hot dogs. She is your best friend, your older sister, and someone who will always forgive you your idiocies because she, who was never human and never will be, understands what it is to be alive, and to be a human being. Overly philosophical? Maybe. But she's worth it.

Death spends one day as a mortal each century, to understand what it means to be the barrier between life and everything else... Gaiman is masterful here as usual. "Didi" spends a day with Sexton, a youth who's considering suicide, and her enthusiasm for the world makes him realize that maybe life is worth living. But Gaiman's tale is not sappy, or overly moral - it's simply a reminder that the most important thing to do in your life is to stop and remember you're alive. As Sexton says, "It would be nice if Death was like Didi... someone funny, and friendly, and maybe a little crazy." In Gaiman's poignant work (perfectly rendered by Chris Bachalo), Death becomes something worth living for.

This is arguably one of the best comic book stories ever written. A must read for any fans of Neil Gaiman and his Sandman comic book series.

Originally appearing in three separate issues with the same title, "High Cost of Living" follows Death as she spends a day as a mortal. Along with her is Sexton Furnival, a boy who is filled with depression and hopelessness. He is a perfect compliment to the perky and smiley Death. Together they venture on a search through a big city for a lost heart.

However, this is more than just a day-in-the-life story. It presents everyday life, and everyday activities, as something fun, exciting and worth living for. In essence, it shows just how precious life is -- all of life, the good parts and the bad parts.

Absolutely superb. Gaiman is a brilliant writer and two characters, spun out of Sandman are my favorites. One is Lucifer, whose series was simply great, the other is Sandman's sister, Death. In this series of tales, one will be moved by how really human she is, while retaining her ethereal personality. Just a brilliant collection. It also has one of the greatest quotes from Gaiman's mind, "You got what everyone gets. You got a lifetime."

I bumbled upon this volume in our local library and just loved it. Death appears in the form of a girl once per year and we watch as she assists her assignments during this fleeting period. Several stories are linked through plot line and the artwork is to die for. Comic book, graphic novel, whichever, just pure heaven.

Neil Gaiman truly is the consummate storyteller able to weave first-class storylines and memorable characters seemingly at the drop of a hat. In this 3-chapter collection, Gaiman expands on his epochal Sandman universe by focusing on the Dreamlord's fetching younger sister - Death. Those who already follow the Sandman series are already familiar with this sassed-up, Goth personification of Death and will surely be remiss not to indulge in this graphic treat. Those completely new to the Sandman saga will still be able to dive straight into the story without missing a beat, enjoying the full brunt of Gaiman's genius.
The strangest thing about this volume is a 6 page, Public Service Announcement of sorts found at the very end. In this PSA, Death gives a full blown lecture on safe-sex, AIDS, and even gives a demonstration of proper condom insertion utilizing a banana! A bit weird, no doubt and in the end very much dates this book as somewhat of a relic from the mid-90's.

Neil Gaiman, an amazing author that knows how to bring a story to life and does so in this book. It is a great read for those who have never read any of his works, especially those who were too young at the time of it's creation to bother with a comic that didn't have flashy heroes in it. I have read it many a time, but mostly when I am feeling down. This book will make you realize how short life really is, and it will help you to appreciate each and every day on this earth. Anyhow, I hope you people out there will give this one a read, you won't be disappointed.
Sincerely, A.J.

The woman you are about to meet isn't called Death just because the tuff-sounding name compliments her heavy eye make up and black jeans. She really is Death, the reaper, the one who takes you away when you have had it. It turns out the cloak and the scyth thing were just bad press; there's nothing grim about her after all. Neil Gaiman fashions Death after the story in the Caballa where the Angel of Death is so beautiful that upon finaly seeing it (him or her)you fall in love so hard, so fast that your soul is pulled out through your eyes. He didn't want a death that agonized over her role, or who took grim delight in her job, or who didn't care. He wanted a Death that you'd like to meet, in the end. Someone who would care. I think he succeeded. Though there is a family resembalce between her and her younger brother Sandman she is in many ways his opposite, sensible, delightful, and nice. This novel version of the three part mini series that helped launch DC-Vertigo follows Death through the streets of New York in 1993. It's turns out one day in every century Death takes on mortal flesh, better to comprehend what the lives she takes must feel like, to taste the bitter tang of mortality: And this is the price she must pay for being the divider of the living from all that has gone before, all that must come after. She embodies the 16 year old Didi, whos family recently died in a car accident. We enter clueless, as Sexton does. As his understanding grows about her true self so does ours. The plot twists and drops out from under your many times,leading you on a merry goosechase of emotions. You may even find yourself turning back a few pages to re-read and try to find out what you may have missed, but in the end all is explained, leaving you with that curious, empty, "what-if?" feeling in the pit of your stomach. That almost always leads us to pick it up and enjoy it again. I have thoroughly enjoyed this insite to the workings of the world. I am certain you will as well.

(Sounds contradictory doesn't it?) A spin-of from DC/Vertigo Comics wildly sucessful "Sandman" books about the kind of dreams, this is one of two paperback collections featuring Death of the Endless, the Sandman's sister; a the deceptively youthful looking personification of Death in the form of a young woman. Death gets a day off every century or so, and in this story we follow her as she spends one of these breaks wandering New York City in the company of an prematurely morose young man. A beautiful story about making the most of your life. Recommended.

This book is perfect. Gaiman again takes comics to a new level. He uses characters people can relate with life-like problems. The idea of the angel of death being personified by Gaiman was brilliant.He did what no one else would have expected by making Death look like a relaxed woman who seemed she was quite happy with her life better then the cliched gloomy skeliton with gown. The book itself was like a masterpeice and Gaiman was like a painter. I highly recomend this book and I am sorry if my spelling is rough
G~

For all that I adore Neil Gaiman, I've never gotten into 'Sandman'. It's mostly that graphic novels have never done anything for me. I don't mind them, per se, but they've never been interesting or captivating for me. I can't get into the differences between different pencillers and letterers and artists. Aside from the big obvious things, I just don't see a difference. I started to read this only because I've enjoyed all of his novels and short stories.

It's fair to say that I enjoyed the story. It's a day-in-the-life story of Death's centennial 24-hour mortal holiday. Along the way, she meets three people who are looking for Death, but only two of them know that they are dealing with Death.

I never really got into it the story here. It was pretty light and fluffy. It's not a story that will stick with me. It won't stop me from giving 'Sandman' another go in the future, but it definitely hasn't convinced me to move it up in my to-read queue either. As far as Neil's work goes, I would recommend Stardust long before I recommended reading this.

I'm sorry to say I was disappointed with this comic. The incredibly short narrative provides an interesting encounter with the character death, but there is little development or dynamism. Beyond my fascination with Gaiman, I can think of no reason to read this book. Further, the comic closes with an odd exploitation of death, as a public safety spokesman against STDs. Personally, I found an uninspiring work.

This story follows Death after she rescues a teenage boy with a strange name. A very old homeless lady tells Death to find the heart she hid, but can't remember where it was placed. Death and the boy go to various places, and Death gets to experience the life of a human for a day. One of my favorite graphic novels. You don't have to be familiar with the Sandman books either, unless you want to know about some of the characters that also show up in this book. It's a fun book to read and Death is quirky as always and true-to-character.

Heh. Making the embodiment of death a slightly crazy and sweet Goth chick; the only thing that equals here is Pratchett's Death. (Who wants to see a crossover? ^_^) And here she gets her own outing, and what an outing it is! All I'll say is that it is fun and leave with this: "It would be nice if Death was like Didi... someone funny, and friendly, and maybe a little crazy."
Or brooding, protective and slightly confused by humanity like Pratchett's version but hey; either works for me.

The first time I read this series, I was sitting in an orchestra, on stage, during a concert, with a piccolo to my lips, trying to read the music and the comic at the same time, not bend the binding, allow my partner a good view of the comic, and not become to conspicuous. We walked on stage reading this and we walked off stage reading this. It was too good to put down for any reason.

You can ask you self; what is a comic book? Death: The high cost of the living, is by far NOT a book for children. It is a modern tail about the boy Sexton and his encounter whit the girl Didi, who claims that she in fact is Death.
This is a beutiful tail, that I think everyone should have read. And Niel Gaiman is truly one of the best authors out there.

from the sublime to the brilliant, Neil Gaiman has created a memorable figure in Death. His stories take you on a journey that is at once entertaining and illuminating. This was my first encounter, and I'm eager for more.

True to his work on the Sandman, Gaimen made another great contribution to comic-book literature when he wrote Death's first mini-series. This is the most intresting personification of death in any book/comic/movie I've ever seen. I still dig it out of my file cabnit every couple months and read it front to back.

Death, that is. In fact, she's quite a nice young lady. Helps an old lady find something that matters to her, that kind of thing. Everyone likes her - for Death, it's always "on the house."

Unfortunately, this doesn't present Death at her best. As part of the Sandman world, she was a much more complex and active figure. I guess the other stories set my hopes unrealistically high. That's not surprising, since Gaiman set the bar so high that not even he can match his own standard all the time.

Taken by itself, this is a pleasant but undistinguished comic. As part of the Sandman mythos, however, it contributes only a little.

//wiredweird

this was the first book i read by Neil a masterpiece. Death is beautiful, a young woman who has every thing for free. she makes you ant to live, that's is her advise. Live, as much as you can, for when she comes, nothing will stop her. Death, the older sister. gaiman is a genius, he is indeed.

I bought this on the merit of the reviews here at the store.com recommending it and I wasn't disappointed. You won't find glamorous superheroics or brightly coloured spandex costumes here. Instead you'll read the story of Death spend a day among mortals and changing a few lives in the process. All of the characters here are so human and believable it would be impossible to not be caught up in their individual stories. Death herself is immensely likeable being perky and smart, never coming across as an all knowing god (or goddess) who deigns to spend a day with normal people. Pick this book up and you will no doubt read it over and over again, enjoying it more each time.

It's been said so many times in so many different introductions and reviews, but it remains true: Neil Gaiman is the king of dreams. With deft and subtle touches his work lifts you out of ordinary life and into a world where Great Things Happen, imagination-sparking things. In Death: The High Cost Of Living there are no supreheros in spandex, no ultrapowerful weapons, just hi-fidelity characters that catch tantilizing glimpses of magic just beneath the surface; it is one fun and fulfilling comic, best read by those who haven't yet encountered the classic Sandman series (knowing more about the character of Death spoils some of the tasty ambiguity, in my opinion), and a perfect introduction to Neil Gaiman and Comix-as-literature in general.

Death is really a sweetheart. Gaiman did great portraying her in the way he did. Now, I wasn't a huge fan of this book, though I like the characters. It's not a bad story, but just didn't leap out at me the way that Gaiman's work usually does.

"She is the kind of girl all girls want to be..." Death is comfortable in her job, but she is aslo empathetic to those she must meet. It's like you get to to queen of the world for a day, just one day, then you are gone and no one will remember you, but just for that day you know how the other half lives...That's what it's all about. If I had the money I would by everyone in the world a copy of this book and make them read it.

I love a lot of Gaiman's stuff, but this is really bad. No action at all, almost no "magic", a completely unlikable supporting character, and supposedly touching ending. It's really short, and besides a witty line or two there's just nothing there. It's not like I have to have muscle popping heroes in leotards, to enjoy a graphic novel but this is just really good stuff to fall asleep to. Try anything by Alan Moore or Warren Ellis instead.

This book brings together the ethereal art of Dave McKean, the amazing words of Neil Gaiman and a touch of life with words and pictures of Tori Amos. Death is such an attractive character which makes the whole thing rather ironic. All in all it is a definite wonder and everyone should get their own copy...:)

Literally, I just finished reading this. I was never so aware of how a person, a character, anyone could be so cheerful and yet so level headed. And to top that she's dead cool. She should be an inspiration for everyone.

I had liked the miniseries that comprise this book, which has wonderful art, mainly by the talented Chris Bachelo, but you wouldn't know it by the disgraceful cover credits on this new collection, that only names the apparently egocentric writer Gaiman. Gaiman and Vertigo largely initiated the increasingly odious trend in mainstream comics of headlining the writers and undercrediting artists. This corruption of the collaborative visual medium of comics, a medium whose appeal depends on the collaborative interaction of art and text, removes artists' co-authorship rights and reduces them to expendable afterthoughts.