The Sandman Omnibus Vol. 1

I pre-ordered volume one of the Sandman Omnibus back in May, and have been waiting not-so-patiently for it ever since. It is everything I was hoping for and more. The quality is superb. I'm so excited to re-read the Sandman collection, all gathered together in 2 volumes. For die-hard fans, this is a must have. I couldn't be happier! I have to say though, if you're picking this up as a newbie, it might be best to start with the individual issues for comfort and ease of transport. This thing is HUGE, its like reading out of a textbook.

The edition itself is impressive in size. The hardcovers are quality stock that will stand up to several readings and are beautifully designed. The covers are a nice brown with pages that are black at the outer edges. My main complaint with the volume is the lack of a dust jacket on such an expensive volume. For the price, the lack of a dust jacket seems a little odd. It's perhaps more troubling since there isn't any "art" per se on the front cover. The jacket would at least have presented a nice opportunity to include some art from the series or even the image pictured as the main cover. Instead, we get the brown hardcover with writing.

A beautiful volume nonetheless, with contents that unquestionably rate 5 stars.

this is best comic omnibus ever!!! the stories are great.. the look of the book is amazing. i have it on coffee table. the arcs are very compling. the most amazing thing is that the sandman never throws a punch threw out the book.. the art is great.. i was doen by huy who did the MAXX on mtv

The story itself is fantastic, but you all knew that already. My one complaint is how huge this thing is. The picture does not do it justice. It seems to be put together pretty well and I haven't had any issues with it falling apart, which is unfathomable given how big it is. Even so, it's really heavy and carrying it around or having it on your lap is a pain. I wish they released twice as many books at half the size, but it's a little late for that, I guess. I still recommend getting it because it's awesome and it'll look great on a shelf, which is what it will be doing most of the time anyway.

The reason I'm giving the Omnibus 4 stars rather than 5 has nothing to do with the make of the tome--the binding, the pages, etc. It's all well done. As I hold the massive collection of comics, I feel like I'm holding a Gutenberg Bible. The illustrations are stunning. Certain pictures had such beauty and attention to detail that I was often tempted to just stare for minutes before turning the page.

My issue, rather, is with the stories themselves. I know this is heresy, because Sandman is considered by many the greatest comic of all time. But I wasn't sucked in. The first volume has about 40 separate issues in it. Some are part of a larger narrative, while others--still taking place within the universe--are standalone stories. I was disappointed in the lack of a grand, overarching plot. There is a world and returning characters, but there isn't any great mission or conflict driving the plot. Everything's scattered. And the problem is that some of the stories simply weren't interesting. They were always beautiful, they seemed epic at certain points, and the writing was always clear and concise, but I was left wanting by the end. In particular, the first four issues or so aren't great. Toward the end, one series had to do with a Barbie character and her foray into her dreams. After reading six issues detailing her story, I scratched my head, wondering what exactly I had learned. I didn't feel wiser, and I certainly hadn't had much fun reading it.

Sandman tries hard to be edgy. That's probably the single most annoying thing about it. At points, it feels like every other character is some combination of: murderer, rapist, sadistic torturer, child molester, insane, etc. The darkness of so ubiquitous that there's not even a glimmer of light. The mass slaughters don't advance the plot, nor do they really make any important philosophical points. It feels like they are thrown in there just because. There is no one to root for. Everything is a storm and chaos, and everyone is despicable in his or her way. The handful of semi-likable characters don't get explored in much depth or have anything good happen to them. You're supposed to find Death (personified) to be a lovable character. Except there was little to actually like about her. Just because she wasn't a complete jerk and psychopath, she's suddenly everyone's favorite character. That is standard by which you will start judging characters. Which brings me to Morpheus.

There is something distinctly unlikable about the series's protagonist, Morpheus. Among other things, he sends a woman to hell for eternity because she didn't agree to love him. Then, suddenly, just because one character suggests that might have been a bad thing to do, he decides to risk everything to go to hell and save her, as if there could be nothing more important. I don't mind main characters being evil, so long as they are likable or intriguing, but here the intrigue runs out quickly. Worse, Morpheus is never likable. He's immoral, schizoid, and stupid. And yet it feels like we are supposed to see him as simply amoral and have some kind of half-crush on him, as if Gaiman didn't realize just how much of an *expletive* he had created. When a book wants you to like someone that is not likable, that's an annoying sensation. It's not a good sign when halfway through you start wishing the main character would die and be replaced. .

Despite these gripes, I'm still giving Sandman four stars. I think it was good (go read any of the five star reviews to find out why). It just wasn't "sublime," as I have heard people refer to it. It didn't suck me in, and I didn't feel like I was a better person for having read it. I had to burn a lot of fuel, rub my eyes, yawn, and tiredly turn from page to page to get through this. But every now and then, I'd come to some beautiful illustration or interesting plot turn, and I'd be happy I put in the effort.

This review will be more so on the edition as a posed to the content inside the book. Chances are if your interested in purchasing this book you already have a little idea about what "Sandman" is.

As a fan of the oversized omnibus I have to say unfortunately my experience in the past has been more bad than good. Take for instance my most recent purchase of the "Marvel Zomnibus". While roughly the same amount of pages as this Sandman edition the book itself feels very flimsy and makes me worry that it could possibly break apart. I love Omnibus editions as a way to get all my favorite comics in one gigantic form but they just seem too glued together and with a book that size I notice the dust jacket takes a considerable amount of wear that makes the book look well...ugly.
To my surprise and delight that is not the case with this beautiful book. This edition seems tight and secure despite being over 1000+ pages. Also the lack of a dust jacket is a plus in this case as it reveals a beautiful old time magical cover that gives the book a sense of charm. Something out of a old library or of that sort. For 98 dollars on the store as a posed to 150 in OTHER book stores, this volume is well worth the hundred dollars and is arguably the most BEAUTIFUL and sturdy edition of Sandman to date.

I highly recommend this edition for both fans and collectors! Enjoy!

How in the world could I ever post anything less than 5 stars for this book? I mean, c'mon. It's Neil Gaiman's Sandman. It's the first series lovingly curated into this MASSIVE compendium. It is huge, it is heavy, it is perfect for anyone who takes curling up with a good book while it rains outside seriously.

For years a friend of mine has been trying to get me to read the Sandman series. I've heard that it was one of the best game changers ever and just never took the time to purchase it. Well, I finally did and fell in love with it. Not only is cover amazing and well worth collecting, but the stories are amazing. Each issue begins and ends in a few issues, it's not a long running story like Fables or V for Vendetta, it's many short stories with one connecting theme. It's dark, gritty, it makes you think about life and death and reality. Truly amazing in every way shape and form!

I came late to the Sandman comics by Neil Gaiman, having "discovered" them back in 2007 but only having read them this past October. Now, I'm hitting myself upside the head and wondering why I ever hesitated to tackle any of the various collections of his famous, (World Fantasy and Bram Stoker)award-winning scripts for this excellent series. Aside from Gaiman's stellar writing -- which never falls below a certain level of professional competence, and often hits heights of stellar creativity -- the best part about the way the series is set up is that there are several story arcs. One arc may go four or five issues, another can be a bit longer; one story arc may involve something along the lines of Thomas Harris/"Dexter"-type serial killer and the next will make use of Shakespeare's "Midsummer's Night Dream". And throughout all of the stories, Gaiman intersperses bits and pieces of various mythologies (Greek, Christian, Wiccan, you name it) with oft-times comical appearances by characters from the DC Comics universe (everyone from the Cain and Abel and The Three Witch Sisters -- who also double as Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos -- to John Constantine, Etrigan and various members of the Justice League. All of the artists used in this first volume are terrific, but my favorite has to be Sean McManus, who illustrates a story arc -- another high point in the series, and great way to end the first volume --entitled "A Game of You". (The omnibus actually ends with an bonus bit of material which that was published in another comic, a short three or four issue story arc about Morpheus; as with all of Gaiman's material, it's a solid piece of writing, not as brilliant as "A Game of You". The stories from the "Sandman" comic leave off, in this volume, with the "A Game of You" story arc).

All-in-all, a seriously brilliant five-star collection, and a terrific introduction to one of the best writers to ply his trade in genre OR mainstream fiction (not to mention comics, TV and in the movies).

I can't wait to lay my hands on the Sandman Omnibus Vol. 2!

The story and concept is beautiful an relevant in it's expression of world not yet explored. written with love and a unique in its beauty. The story is worth a share and a good conversation on how comics can even transform their own medium.

I'm here to buy another copy as a gift for a friend, and I'm surprised by the review comments regarding the size and weight of the volume, the binding, and the cover.

C'mon, folks... does nobody else see the reference?

Look at the book carried by Destiny, chained to his wrist, and tell me there's no similarity here!

Best comic ever. I purchased both of these massive tombs of greatness. Now I can not read any other comics without scowling at how lackluster they are in comparison. This story is a timeless and unique classic told in a way that keeps you turning pages addictively.

I thought I bought this used, but I must have bought it new, because it came in what looked like the original shrink wrap! It's much bigger than I expected--a little bigger than the length of my forearm--and it's very heavy. To buy just the regular collection of all the graphic novels would have been cheaper, but it's a beautiful edition and it'll look nice on my bookshelf. Can't wait to get the next one.

Neil Gaiman' s Graphic Novel " the SANDMAN " is considered to be his Masterpiece. It's one of the best graphic novels I have read. The Sandman omnibus volume one like the story is a masterpiece. The book is elegant and beautiful. I agree with the other reviews that it looks awesome on the shelve.

Fantastic story, beautifully illustrated and a great edition to own. It's quite large, so that toughest part is that you can't take it with you on the bus, etc. But I thought that was worth it to own such a quality copy.

It was a Christmas gift for my boyfriend and he loved it. It arrived in perfect condition and well ahead of schedule, so much so I was pleasantly surprised to see it so soon in the mail. I recommend it to all fans of Neil Gaiman.

i stopped buying Vertigo books a while ago because they used very bad quality paper and colors were muddy.
this book is a huge step up, great sturdy hardcover with glossy high quality paper and great reproduction of art.
i hope this is a new trend.

So the book is very nice and quality and all. But for the price, I expect nothing less: it should be packaged in a gold-leaf plated ivory harness. So it barely met expectations. The story/comic itself was maybe OK, and very much below expectations set by the other reviews. Maybe it's good for a comic book (I've only read a few other series, I'd say it's average) but to someone who regularly reads regular word-books, the stories feel really shallow, and everything is cliche and dumb. I'm guessing the people raving about it are all <11 years old, which is totally fine, but they should have to disclose that so as not to be misleading.