The Absolute Sandman Volume Four

To understand this review, first you have to understand how I read the Sandman comics. Whenever my wife goes away for a few days, I read a volume of the Absolute Sandman. I don't quite know how I started this or why, but this is how things are. And, just over a year ago, my daughter was born. The past several days have been the first my daughter's been away from me since she was born.

This is the environment in which I've started--and finished--Absolute Sandman, Vol 4.

The arcs in Vol 4 are The Kindly Ones and The Wake. Or, to put it another way, The Death of Dream and, well, The Wake. What a positively depressing way to spend my depressing weekend away from my family. But, quite possibly the most beautiful story ever written. This is Gaiman at his best: the opposition of two unstoppable powers, very little combat in favor of deep conflict, sacrifice, grace, and transformation. I wasn't a fan of the art style for The Kindly Ones (seemed too cartoony), but it didn't distract and I particularly liked The Wake's art. ( )

As fitting of the finale of the series, the Miscellany section in this volume has the layout sketches and script for the Temptest like the first volume had A Midsummer Night's Dream sketches and script. The section also has the requisite examples of Sandman merchandise, which really just makes me want to go shopping and start scouring the thrift stores for vintage merch. The volume is short on extra artwork though, which is disappointing as this is my favourite part of the other volumes' miscellany sections. ( )

The fourth Absolute Sandman volume completes the main story arc of the series, combining disparate elements and characters to produce a finale that I did not expect at all at the beginning. Initially I struggled with not being able to discern how anything related to anything else but the second half ravels everything up neatly. ( )

"The Kindly Ones" was an excellent story, a great plodding tragedy only slightly hampered by Marc Hempel's art -- never been a fan.

"The Wake"'s art, on the other hand, was so drastically different that it was a bit jarring. The stories tie together a lot of the loose threads of Gaiman's complex universe. Overall 'Volume 4' was, by necessity, more cohesive so it was an improvement over the scattered brilliance of the last one. I could see how it could have been a satisfying conclusion to the series.

But there's more!

Sandman

Next: 'Volume 5'

Previous: 'Volume 3' ( )

Just as great as the first three volumes. ( )