8th edition

2912

Continuing with this great series, in this issue, Dream and Delirium (my favorite endless character) go on a mission to find their brother, Destruction. Strange things happen along the way and a price is to be paid in order for them to find their brother. Wonderful sad story and the graphics were ok but the story outshines the graphics in this one. ( )

This volume was wonderful. Much better than the last - much more of the Endless too. These books are always best when they have plenty of the Endless in them. Delirium annoyed me a little, but her interactions with Dream were priceless. The message of this volume was also something that really got you thinking. Very enjoyable! ( )

This one? Not so much. A grudging two that perhaps should be a three because the ending was enjoyable.

The main issues (pardon the pun) that I had with this one fall to two areas:

1 - The art
The Sandman run, as far as I'm concerned, really hasn't had that many issues where the art was stunning. Most of the time it's serviceable at best. But this collection, finally done by a single artist and inker, was not good. It was amateurish, with the characters often a half-step above stick figures.

Morpheus, the titular Sandman himself, instead of looking imposing, or mysterious, or, hell, at least a little gothy, was instead a boring figure, just like the others. I felt no weight from the art, no gravitas.

In a graphic novel, the words drive the story, but the art should supply the wonder. The only thing I wondered here was, why were these two chosen for the art?

2 - Delerium
The only thing I can really say about Delirium is, I find her tedious. So any story that highlights her, I am likely to find tedious as well. That was the case here.

Garman's writing is still miles above most in the industry, and the second-last chapter was a particular highlight, but overall, I found I had to force myself to get through this one. ( )