Title: The Sandman: Overture
By: Neil Gaiman
Published: 2015
Call Number: GN Gaiman
During this graphic novel prequel to the Sandman saga, Neil Gaiman and J.H. Williams III transform this fantasy world into a reality using insane layouts and an intense color profile. The Sandman: Overture is as much a work of art as it is a novel. The characters hold both depth and mystery within the backstory being developed. The surreal narrative of a feuding family keeps you hooked and forces you to turn the page, as otherwise the mesmerizing details of the spreads are nearing hypnotic.
The family includes: Destiny, Death, Destruction, Despair, Delirium, and of course, Dream. These characters represent the archetypal personified versions of the idea which their name represents. Conveying these ideas through a family working together (or dueling to the death) is a clearer way to illustrate to the reader how these concepts connect. This is a great jumping off point for anyone intrigued by graphic novels, but turned off my simplistic comics and storylines. The characters and storylines are as involved as each individual spread and will make you want to dive into the rest of Gaiman's Sandman series.
Erin S.
Popular Materials Assistant