Sam Kieth (1963–2026)

Holy crap, this isn't your grandfather's Maxx! First of all the actual Maxx doesn't make an appearance in his superhero guise. There is a new Maxx who looks kinda different. The story is less surreal and more comprehensible.

This comes with a "Suggested for Mature Readers" on the back in small letters, but really it should say "TRIGGER WARNING - FOR PREVIOUSLY MOLESTED READERS". I was never molested, but I can see this getting REALLY FREAKING HEAVY and not fun for someone who was. Or it might show more help them, who knows, but at least a warning that the topic is dealt with EXTENSIVELY along with references to rape. Don't get me wrong, I didn't get the feeling that Mr. Kieth was glorifying any of this or writing it to sell more comics, it was just soooooo dark and realistic that it made me uncomfortable while keeping me captivated.

Finally this ends with a cliffhanger and I don't own volume 5, so that's not fun either. show less

It’s been about a decade since I formally revisited Gaiman’s most influential graphic novel publication, and after a month of reading (mostly) non-fiction I felt like nothing would end November better than a touch of Dream. As Lizzo would say: it’s about damn time. Late 1980s graphics aside, it’s not really surprising that the series was quickly classified as “something else” in the world of superhero and detective-focused comics. We begin with Dream trapped in a show more ritual-gone-wrong by Magus Richard Burgess, spending the first issue of the comic bringing to life the world in which Dream inhabits and what he will go back to after his (inevitable) release. The story is an incredible slow-burn narrative, even within this first single issue, but it builds a solid foundation for the adventure quest that will unravel. The hero story is on the surface a pretty typical narrative, wherein Dream must regain the raiments of power to resume control of his kingdom, but Gaiman brings a decidedly unique touch to the expected. Delving deep into the complexities of the human condition and our relationship with dream, Gaiman’s story brings out dark themes that lay uncertain groundwork for a story that won’t finish weaving for another dozen volumes (if it ever truly ends at all). As Dream completes his quest we almost expect the story to end neatly there, but the final issue is one of the series’ most impactful and reopens the narrative to a more thoughtful story that is pure Gaiman. Dream is far from alone as one of the Endless, and while he has almost infinite power there is much that he still has to learn about truly living - even if it takes a dressing down from big sister Death to make him beging to realise it. This first narrative volume may not be the magnum opus of the Sandman chronology (being brought slightly down by an author who is just beginning to find his voice and the borderline tacky typical late-1980s comics aesthetic), but it plants the seeds of what will become one of the comic world’s most influential series. show less

For a old graphic novel, this was actually a pretty entertaining read. It's a retelling of the Greek myths but with more naughty humor along with modern-day references. The artwork and colors are pretty good for their time, and the stories within are entertaining (three of them altogether) along with some exploration of philosophy and mythology for a decent price make for a solid buy. I especially liked the Hades and Persephone tale - it was funny to see the idea that they eloped together show more and made it look like a kidnapping. ;) show less

Valgekraede pildiraamat*
Minu selle aasta suurimaks elamuseks on päris kindlasti Neil Gaimani “Sandman”. Kui aus olla, siis polegi tegelikult tegu mitte “päris” raamatu, vaid koomiksiga, aga mingil kummalisel moel raputas see mind põhjalikult. Ja ma ei ole kunagi koomiksite sõber olnud – reeglina on need minu jaoks tüütud. “Sandman” on erand suure algustähega.
On isegi raske öelda, mis mind selle teose/koomiksisarja puhul enim köidab – Gaimani geniaalne show more loojutustamise ja maailma loomise oskus, või kummastavalt köitev ja mällusööbiv pildimaterjal. Iroonilisel kombel on see koomiks – mille peategelaseks on Morpheus ehk Unede(Ulmade?) Jumal –, üks väheseid kirjandusteoseid, mis ikka ja jälle end ka minu unedesse sisse murrab.
Gaiman segab oma lugudes talle ainuomast fantaasiat, õudust, iidset ja tänapäevast mütoloogiat ning sünget huumorit moel, mida on võimatu unustada. Ja tundub, et ma pole ainuke, kes sarja lootuselt armunud on: Wikipedia väitel on Sandman ainus koomiks, mis on kunagi võitnud maineka World Fantasy Award´i ning üks kolmest, mis on jõudnud New York Times´i bestsellerite nimekirja (teised kaks on “Watchmen” ja “The Dark Knight Returns”).

* Norman Maileri kommentaar koomiksi kohta oli: “comic book for intellectuals”. show less