Vol. 5: A Game of You, The Sandman

This is simply a great book. Neil Gaiman is a genius, and I have no doubt that he is one of the names of our era that will go down in literary history. One of the reasons for this is that despite writing in a genre that has traditionally been considered masculine, Gaiman has a profound understanding of the female psyche, and that understanding is best shown off in this chapter of the Sandman series. Although I hesitate to recommend this collection as an introduction to Gaiman's work, I do think it may be a good starting point for women readers, especially those who have been conditioned to think of graphic novels as "a guy thing." Gaiman's grasp of his female characters is astounding.

This has to be my favorite of the entire Sandman series, probably because of the wonderful characters. It's got everything! Talking cartoons, witches, transexuals, lesbians, bums, the cuckoo, Barbie, and of course the MAN: Sandman. Nothing is what it seems and the ending is one of the saddest in the series.
I've loaned my copy out to all my friends and now they're hooked. Highly Recommended!!
I also recommend the following:
Sandman: Dolls House/ Death: The Time of your life by Neil Gaiman
Bones of the Moon/ A Child against the Sky by Jonathan Carroll

It has been four months since I read this graphic novel; I have been turning it over in my mind ever since then, trying to figure out what it was really about on a metatextual level. I haven't decided yet; in truth, I haven't yet even decided whether I loved it or hated it, though whichever it is, I know that I do so strongly. But of this I can be sure: the characterization is absolutely magnificent (even in spite of the fact that it reduces Morpheus to little more than a cameo role in his own title). These characters all feel very real (even the imaginary ones), and they force you to care about them (and, in at least one case, to mourn their loss as if someone you know has died). And for that it deserves five stars.

This interesting entry in the Sandman canon has great moments, fascinating artwork and the trademark Gaiman inventiveness all his fans have come to enjoy. However, the all-over story is as magical as some of the others in the series (particularly Season of the Mists, Brief Lives and World's End).
I couldn't give it a five, because not everything can get a 5! Even a dynamic as this volume is. It's a must for anyone thinking of buying the entire hardcover set, because unlike most comics the Sandman is one large complete story that needs to be read in order (as it is there is a volume of onoe-shot stories that don't fall in any particular order within the continuity, per se).
All in all, A Game of You will dazzle and delight in its own unique way.

A messed up girl named Barbie has created a dream world with some serious problems. After blocking this out of a mind for her time, and not dreaming, eventually her dream world gets to her.

This drags in her friends and neighbours, who happen to include an immortal witch, and an agent of her dream foe.

Through a drawing down the moon ritual, the women involved enter the dream world to try and rectify things and find Barbie.

Needless to say, Morpheus is not at all amused, when he finally has to act.

This part really has little to do with the Endless.

No other volume of the magnificent Sandman series so perfectly captures the darkly magical essence as this one. Many people dislike it, and many will say that you should read other tales first, but for me personally, I think that if you like "A Game of You" then you will like all others, and if you dislike it, you probably will dislike many others as well. It is not as important to the story overall as some arcs, and the Sandman himself harldy interacts with the human characters until well into the story. Also absent are most of the Sandman's family, with Death being regelated to a cameo. However, this is what makes the issue so special. It uses the Sandman mileu to create a unique fantasy world of its own, one which uses archtypes to allow readers to identify with it and yet be startled around every turn. If the "death" of the world is not heartrending, then perhaps you lack the imagination that fuels such a world. Read this and enjoy.

This one was okay. Basically wizard of OZ meets people's nightmares. In this one, Gaiman explored one long story btwn a face painting Barbie , transsexual-in-progress, several lesbians, and old woman that is loosing her mind and becomes a forecaser of what's to come, and animals that can talk. The setting is New York. Well of COURSE you'll find all this stuff in New York City, where else? Anyway... the art is very curvy, pretty ,barbie like, almost pornographic sexy. I still prefer the look of Sandman Vol 1 and 2 the most. I liked this volume (5) but somehow just not as crazy about it as the other ones.

In A GAME OF YOU the focus shifts from the Sandman to woman named Barbara, who gets drawn back into a world which she, as a child, had frequented. The cast of characters are wonderful. There are the inhabitants of Barbara's dream world who are suitably comical, noble and mischievous. There are also the residents in Barbara's block of flats: The feisty Wanda, a woman who was born in a man's body; Thessaly, a superior-acting witch; sensitive Hazel and tough Foxglove (who are a couple); creepy George and the listless Barbara. Gaiman does excellent work with these characters, as he explores them in depth and they each develop as the plot progresses.

The story grew on me as I read it. At first I didn't like it so much, there was a subtle menace and darkness and maybe I'm just a sissy but too much of that kind of thing wears me down. But the story was so interesting - quietly so - you know, in unobvious way. The mystery builds wonderfully and the intricate plot develops so gently and subtly up to its conclusion, which is beautiful and perfect. The end of the story leaves one with such a good feeling because it is somewhat of an epiphany, but not one of those brief, sudden, realisations - more a realisation that is complex and deep, one that has been building momentum for a long time and finally comes together in the end.

I found that even though Dream didn't appear much in this volume (and I love dream he was my favorite character) that this was one of my favorite volumes in the entire Sandman Chronicles. This volume was not only about personal acceptance and the relationships we have with others but also about how each of us one day have to grow up whether the child in us wants us to or not and sometimes it's very hard to let go of our childhood dreams. Barbie and Ken have broken up an Barbie is now living in an apartment next door to her female (not quite) best friend Wanda and their two lesbian friends Hazel and Foxglove anyway Barbie has been having weird dreams lately about this magical world (which if you read Vol. 2 The Doll's House she dreamed about then as well) which is apparently being ruled by a creature called The Cuckoo (yes like the bird, intentionally) who is not at all what it seems when one day she gets sucked into this world by one of her freaky neighbors and it turns out he was working for The Cuckoo all along. However I'm not going to spoil this Volume for you by giving away to much you should read it for yourself it was fantastic and reminded me very much of Alice in Wonderland. By the way this was my FIRST review so any positive feedback will be GREATLY appreciated, oh and thank you Neil Gaiman for another amazing installment to The Sandman Chronicles all of which were amazing the only problem I had with them was that there was not enough of them!

The Sandman might be the best, most original literature of the 1990's. Since it also would certainly be better than anything movies or TV have to offer, I also would have to consider it the best popular art of the decade. That said, A Game of You is the best of the Sandman books. For those that have not had the pleasure of slaking their thirst on this series, this book also happens to be the best entry point (except for, perhaps, the beginning) because it ties in with the rest of the complex storyline only peripherally. The characters come alive, the plot is anything but predictable, and even multiple readings leave me weaping openly.
For those who associate the comic medium with Archie chasing Betty and Veronica, you might as well also associate movies with "Biodome" and novels with Jackie Collins.

I did like this book. I really have enjoyed all the Sandman books so far. But as much as it galls me to admit it, I'm not sure I understand quite what the big deal is. I keep hearing about and reading about how fabulous they are. And yeah, they're interesting. It's an interesting world that Gaiman has created and I think the character of the Sandman is intriguing/fascinating. And the Sandman is good-looking in some of the panels. But I don't understand what about these novels/comics draws people in so much. I don't understand why the Midsummer Night's Dream one won that prestigious award which ticked the other authors off so they had to change the rules to specifically exclude a graphic novel from being entered ever again. I don't understand why this series is supposed to grab women readers in a way that other comic/graphic novel offerings haven't. It's a bit like David Bowie music, to me. I like it a lot. But partly, that's because I Want to like it. I think it (the music, or the graphic novel) is really weird and I don't understand why everybody else, with no inner urging, likes it so much. And then I read the preface to this book and the guy talks about all these layers and all this depth that I guess I'm really just not getting at all. Which also bugs me because I like to think that I'm smart. But, granted, I've only read it one time and that kind of stuff does usually become more apparent with multiple readings.

It saddens me that people who are not intelligent enough to understand something feel the need to trash it. This is the best Sandman story up until the time it was published. It is arguably the most emotional and seems to be the first to develop one theme with each word and picture--in this case, identity. Read all of the Sandman stories that came before and then read this one.

This is a good story, but that is pretty much where it ends.
Gaiman is capable of much more, as is shown by _Fables &
Reflections_ and other works. Less profound than, say _The
Sound of Her Wings_ (found in _Preludes and Nocturnes_ and
_The Doll's House_).

Sandman is an excellent comic series. You'd be silly not to read every volume possible. Unfortunately, this volume just turned me off. I get what folks are saying about gender, but honestly, the plot just feels like a mess. Who's going where and why and how. What the hell is that cuckoo thing? Maybe it's me. Maybe I'm the moron.

This issue was not terribly exciting. There were some fun characters, but overall, I felt like I spend the whole time asking, "Where is this going?" and "When do we get to see the Sandman?" It's not bad, but it's one of the least exciting I've read in the series so far.

In an age where almost all comics are aimed towards mass media entertainment, such as X MEN and the rest, it's refreshing to read comics with more depth and content to them. A Game Of You is one of my favorite books in the Sandman series. It showcases amazing characters, great storytelling, and a main character who is almost not in the book at all, which I enjoyed because the King of Dreams has always personally annoyed me with his pride and arrogance. However, on a lighter note, this book is amazing, but I would not recommend it as the first book for one to read in the Sandman series.

Honestly, at this point, anything that Neil Gaiman writes would impress me. Even so, I don't feel this is his greatest work. The writing and story are there, but they just aren't as compelling as earlier volumes. Every fan of the Sandman will inevitably read this volume, and I hope others find it less disappointing.