First New Gaiman Sandman In 7 Years 175
meltoast writes "On September 17th, DC is releasing the first new installment in the Sandman series in over 7 years. Endless Nights is written entirely by award winning Neil Gaiman and drawn by seven different artists. Pre-order from ... well... where ever you want."
Fan boy alert! (Score:3, Interesting)
I would also love to see a cross over story arc of Spider-Man and Batman with John Romita Jr. and Jim Lee alternating between titles (Jim Lee doing Spider-Man, and Romita Jr. doing Batman). You wouldn't have to search for writers, because every stellar comic writer of recent times would be fighting tooth and nail to pen this.
Talk about a fanboy's disgustingly drenched wet dream!!
OK, so I am a big nerd, so sue me.
Re:Fan boy alert! (Score:1)
That said, I think Miller's pretty much out of ideas on Batman. The Dark Knight Strikes Again was total crap - and shipped obnoxiously late too.
Also... can we say offtopic? =P
Re:Fan boy alert! (Score:2)
Most of the things he was railing against in DKR are no longer around, which makes the propaganda angle of the book really stand out a lot more.
The Watchmen was also very much a product of the times, but it seems to hold up a lot better for some reason. YMMV.
Re:Fan boy alert! (Score:1)
Re:It's comics (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Fan boy alert! (Score:1)
Alice in Wonderland came with Illustrations, didn't it?
So what IS literature? (Score:3, Informative)
Are you claiming it's a different form of storytelling, or are you claiming it's in some way inferior?
Words + images:
- Stage plays
- Film/television
- "Comic books"/Ilustrated novels
Seems to me that all have the potential to be great, that all have occasionally realized it.
But of the three, only the last (plus perhaps the scripts of the other t
Re:Fan boy alert! (Score:4, Interesting)
Art Spiegelman's Maus won a Pulitzer, and is regularly assigned in universities.
Dark Knight is less studied, but Alan Moore's Watchmen gets a fair amount of critical attention. And Sandman gets quite a good deal of critical attention, and would probably be assigned almost as much as Maus if it weren't for the fact that the whole series costs roughly $200, which is a bit excessive for textbooks.
$200 excessive for textbooks? (Score:1)
Re:$200 excessive for textbooks? (Score:1)
Re:$200 excessive for textbooks? (Score:2)
Re:$200 excessive for textbooks? (Score:3, Funny)
Try buying your books online. (Score:2)
BFast?? (Score:2, Offtopic)
Re:BFast?? (Score:2)
Re: BFast?? (Score:1)
A quick Google search suggests that BFAST is a brand owned by ValueClick [valueclick.com], an advertising company.
OMG.... (Score:2)
2)Write story with bfast affiliate link
3)Submit Story to slashdot
4)??????????????????
5)Earn commissions from everyone who buys by clicking on the slashdot link.
6)Profit!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BTW, Explaining what BFAST IS (Score:3, Informative)
Offtopic?!? (Score:2)
Here's a link [bfast.com] to buy it.
I'd love to have a Slashdot effect on My bank account, but I don't post the stories.
I liked his earlier stuff (Score:5, Funny)
He really should have stopped at Justice, which along with Puppets were the zenith of his career.
Re:I liked his earlier stuff (Score:2, Funny)
What are you talking about - neither of these are Gaiman works I'm at all familiar with, and I'm a pretty dedicated Gaiman fanboi. Nor do I know of any substantial anti-Napster stance he's ever taken - he's generally in favor of protecting his copyrights, but not absurdly so at all - he's repeatedly been in favor of people buying his books used or borrowing them from friends, and is quite friendly to the fanfiction community.
Re:I liked his earlier stuff (Score:1)
Humorless explanation (Score:1)
Thank you.
Re:I liked his earlier stuff (Score:2)
Am I the only person on Earth who thinks that the whole Sandman series is woefully, outrageously overrated? I mean, it's just as silly as any superhero comic book that's ever hit the stands, but painfully, agonizingly pretentious.
Good comics:
Re:I liked his earlier stuff (Score:2, Funny)
Umm... this is slashdot. We are running a rehash of a 30 year old operating system if we're lucky. The creators don't even approve.
We know what we like and we like what we know.
Thanks,
chris
PS I've bookmarked this so next time I have money for comics I can check your recommendations out.
PPS No, I'm not making fun of linux. Or BSD.
PPPS Between my brother and I, we can't keep a full set of the Sandman because they seem to be loaned out:)
Re:I liked his earlier stuff (Score:2)
sand and fury (Score:2)
Yes. Well, actually no, there are plenty of other people like you. But I'm not one of them. Besides, even if I were, I'd still like Sandman (see below).
No, we haven't gotten out of our "Goth phase" because Death is such a hottie!
Re:I liked his earlier stuff (Score:2)
Come to think of it, I think most of Alan Moore's recent stuff, outside From Hell and maybe the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, is pretty overrated.
P.S. And I suppose the fact that a writer's characters "often incarnate as goth types" is some kind of literary d
Re:I liked his earlier stuff (Score:2)
Pardon my Ignorance.... (Score:1, Troll)
Thanks...
The last one I read was Watchmen.
On another note, I'm looking forward to the Punisher movie next year, 'cause Frank Castle/Punisher KICKS *SS!
Re:Pardon my Ignorance.... (Score:1)
Re:Pardon my Ignorance.... (Score:1)
This is the "golden age" Sandman, a member of the JLA. They are not related, except by a passing ret-con in Gaimans Sandman issue #1. I believe his series was recently revived as Sandman Mystery Theater.
The Sandman referred to here ( as I'm sure other people will point out ) is one of several anthropomorphic personifications, in this case Dream. Gaimans comic tells a long and quite cool story regarding Dream and his siblings, Desire, Death, Destruction, De
Ugh, typo. (Score:1)
That first "Desire" should read "Destiny".
Re:Ugh, typo. (Score:1)
Dave Sims, of Cerebus fame parodied The Endless as The Clueless. Their ranks included Sulk ( Despair ), Sleaze ( Desire ) and Swoon ( Dream ). There were probably some more. I don't know. I don't read Cerebus.
--YLFI
Dee stands for lots of things.
Good comics. (Score:2)
Also recommended from the deep-end of the pool: American Splendor (check out the new movie that just came out.)
Re:Pardon my Ignorance.... (Score:4, Informative)
To quote from the introduction to one volume, "there are seven beings that aren't gods, who existed before humanity dreamed of gods and will exist after the last god is dead. They are called The Endless. They are embodiments of (in order of age) Destiny, Death, Dream, Destruction, Desire, Despair, and Delirium."
The Endless are personifications fo the ideas they are named after. Sandman begins in 1989, when Dream escapes from a prison he has been in since 1916, when a magician captured him.
The series can be bought in 10 graphic novels very easily on Amazon.
Re:Pardon my Ignorance.... (Score:2)
The four preview pages (linked below) start this story before the fall of a certain Endless. With luck, it'll help provide the missing gaps to the mythos as I've *always* wanted to use the Endless as the core of a pen and paper RPG.
I'd go into depth with my interpretation of what and how Destruction and Delirium became what they are now (part of my initial game) but that's just too geeky
Re:Pardon my Ignorance.... (Score:1)
Read Gaiman, then Bendis (Score:5, Informative)
I stopped reading comics when Sandman ended -- nothing could come close to matching it for me. Then I started up again when I picked up a copy of From Hell, maybe the best $35 you could spend on a single GN. Also good is Road to Perdition, but who really does it for me is Brian Michael Bendis. He's a writer on par with Gaiman, except he's more into precedural crime-type stuff. His GNs Jinx and Goldfish are kick-ass, and also Fire and Torso. He also does Powers, which is great fun to read, Alias, and does or has done Daredevil. Check out his stuff at www.jinxworld.com [jinxworld.com].
Oh and for a grippingly entertaining and laugh-out-loud funny story about trying to get a screenplay made into a movie, check out Fortune and Glory, also by Bendis.
Re:Pardon my Ignorance.... (Score:4, Informative)
It's an interesting foray into the supernatural, taking lots of cues from mythologies around the world, and creates its own mythological panorama and pantheon of demigods and strange creatures.
The stories mostly focus on Dream, one of the seven Endless whose domains are the life, death, sleep, trials and emotions of mankind. Dream is the one who feels his responsibilities most deeply, and much of the series revolves around his interaction with mankind, and with his somewhat dysfunctional siblings.
It has spawned off a few series from parts of the mythos it has constructed. There's the Books of Magic [amazon.com], the Books of Faerie [amazon.com], and one of my favorites, Lucifer [amazon.com].
Most of the modern reprints (I'm gathering they're reprints) have some interesting introductions at the beginning by all sorts of famous (in the comic/SF/fantasy arena) folks.
You likely don't have to order them online - even most "regular" bookstores are starting to set up small graphic novels areas, and I haven't seen one of these yet without a Sandman or ten, and used bookstores often have a few.
They're a much different style from the superhero comics, however. It's a lot of myth, mystery and drama, but not much in the way of action. Definitely find out if it's to your tastes before ordering any.
Other comics, like The Invisibles [amazon.com] are very interesting, with lots of action, but absolute noodle-benders, and will have you wondering what on earth (or planet of your choice, for that matter) they were smoking.
Re:Pardon my Ignorance.... (Score:2, Interesting)
Gaiman's Sandman is all about storytelling. Gaiman used the comic to explore what exactly storytelling is and what it means to humans. This is why there's so many references to so many different mythologies (Judeo/Christian, Greek/Roman, Egyptian, Norse, etc.): because myths were the dominant way to transmit stories before the printed word was cheap.
It also explains his
Spoilers? (Score:5, Informative)
1602 (Score:1)
Actually, a note on pre-orders. (Score:5, Informative)
They need the money more than Borders or Amazon do anyway.
Re:Actually, a note on pre-orders. (Score:2)
Pre-Order (Score:2)
Show your hate for SCO [anti-tshirts.com]
wrong title, what else is new? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:wrong title, what else is new? (Score:2)
Re:wrong title, what else is new? (Score:2)
1602 from Marvel as well. (Score:3, Informative)
Re:1602 from Marvel as well. (Score:1)
Re:1602 from Marvel as well. (Score:1)
Re:1602 from Marvel as well. (Score:1)
$2.99 preview (Score:4, Informative)
Re:$2.99 preview (Score:2)
What! No Frank Miller? (Score:1)
The Dark Knight returns! Ronin! Electra and Bullseye!
This is excellent news!!! (Score:5, Interesting)
This is like Led Zeppelin reforming for a concert! No wait, its better than a rock bank reunion, as it's got guest artists that are superstars to! People have mentioned other great comics, Dark Knight, and Watchmen, but Sandman is a collection of modern fables and urban myths, woven into reality... plus a writer only gets better with age, like a fine wine developing over the years, the prose is laced with new passages of wisdom, new nuances of meaning... like a dream of a rock band reforming, with Led Zep jamming with Louie Armstrong... September 17th? excellent!
Re:This is excellent news!!! (Score:1)
What is sandman (Score:4, Informative)
Re:What is sandman (Score:1)
Cheers
Stor
Re:What is sandman (Score:2)
Re:What is sandman (Score:2)
Eventhough I have linked from Amazon you probably want to support your local comic shop and get it there.
While you're there, pick up a tome or two of Bone, Hellboy, Powers, Batman: Dark Knigh
Re:What is sandman (Score:2)
Is source available? (Score:1, Funny)
the site's already slashdotted (Score:1)
Lord have mercy (Score:1)
I suspect this is the first time DC's gotten a nice, hard Slashdotting. I wonder if they'll have a comment on that sometime in the future... (Letters page perhaps?)
Did anybody manage to get a hold of the actual text?
--
Yeah, I still RTFA. I'm new here. Sorry.
Re:Lord have mercy (Score:2, Funny)
Neil remains largely untouched by his fame (Score:5, Interesting)
There are lots of cool people among my fellow SF scribblers, but Neil has remained one of the coolest, and not to mention perhaps the most level-headed. And then there's his considerable talent...
Shoot! (Score:1)
Hell!
Can you say a beowulf cluster of
Re:Shoot! (Score:1)
Neil Gaiman is a writer. (Score:1)
A real writer.. not a journalist or a pulp fiction pimp.. but a real storyteller. I like most (but not all) of his works, but the Sandman series is the only american comic book series I seriously invested in. Its his masterpiece. Even my comic-phobe girlfriend couldn't put them down.
His novels are excellent as well, but the visual nature of his storytelling lends itself really well to the comic medium.
This is the best news I've heard all day! But a catch 22.. looks like slashdot
Re: (Score:2)
Spyware (Score:2)
It *is* up to the Slashdot editors to edit articles. Posting an article with a spyware link in it is slouching on the job!
New Sandman or Morpheus? (Score:4, Interesting)
At this point, it seems like the whole Morpheus story was so well settled that even prequals do the ending somewhat of a disservice. Even The Tempest, the last Wake story, seemed like a bit of a shame; the story should have ended with Master Li's thoughts at the end of Exiles (echoing the Roman ghost riders: Only the Phoenix arises and does not descend. And everything changes. And nothing is truly lost.)
Anyhow, I don't mean to sound as stupidly fanboy as I do, and I don't mean that I don't welcome the chance to dive into some more Sandman, but I suppose I do sort of long for authors to know when they've reached the end of their time with their characters, when they've reached the best end they're going to find...
Re:New Sandman or Morpheus? (Score:2)
Re:New Sandman or Morpheus? (Score:4, Interesting)
I never want it to end if it is something I enjoy. Take for instance, Green Lantern (Kyle Rayner), if by chance they kill off my favorite character I might just have to make those responsible suffer.
It is a comic book for god's sake and if the author has ran out of creativity... take him out to pasture and shoot him.
I think a great example would happen to be with the Simpson's. It has been around for a while and they manage to keep making me laugh.
There are probably only two infinite sources in the world to date, creativity and taxes, I expect both to be around for a while longer.
Re:New Sandman or Morpheus? (Score:2)
It is impossible to sustain a really good story indefinitely, and most have a "natural". Sure it's upsetting when it's over: recently I was really upset when "The Life of Pi" (too lazy to link - check amazon) ended, but it would have been a worse novel if it had carried on any longer.
Different authors (like Gene Wolfe) (Score:2)
When it's time, say, to contact fellow authors and friends and say, "Here's the story universe, care to have a go?"
I've never read any of the Sandman series (I'd like to, someday), so I'm not suggesting that it's time for Gaiman to consider such a step. But I don't have to, since he's made the invitation already.
I've actuall
Will not pay $4 Cdn for a comic/graphic novel (Score:1)
Re:Will not pay $4 Cdn for a comic/graphic novel (Score:2, Interesting)
support your local comics shop (Score:1)
Find and support your local shop with the Comic Shop Locator Service [diamondcomics.com]
hijinx comics [hijinxcomics.com]
www.the-master-list.com (Score:2)
is a good resource for finding your local comic shop.
Marvel 1602 (Score:2)
Sets the marvel universe in the year 1602.
If you enjoy Gaiman's work its worth checking out.
Here are a couple of pages [comixtreme.com]
Sandman Annual #1 was one of my favs. (Score:5, Interesting)
The story was about a sultan of Baghdad around 1000 AD, when Baghdad was the absolute pinnacle of civilization, knew the most mathemtatics, and was the most advanced culture in the world. But he saw in the deserts the ruins of Sumeria and Egypt and knew that all great civilizations fail. So he summons Sandman by threatening to break open a glass ball imprisoning 9,999 demons, djinn, and efreeti that Abraham captured -- unless Sandman preserves Baghdad unchanged forever. Sandman agrees, but with the provision that it'll only live on forever in the Dreamworld. The Sultan agrees, and wakes up in the dirty, broken, real-world city that Baghdad has become.
On the last page, you find out it was all just a story an old man was telling a little boy to keep his spirits up while the Americans are bombing Baghdad during the war, and you see what a wreck the story is, &c. &c. &c. Super-cool story. (BTW, I supported the war and still do, but I still appreciate a good story).
That and the Animal Man comic where Wile. E. Coyote becomes Jesus Christ and takes on the suffering of the whole cartoon world so that the cartoon animals will stop blowing each other up are two of the many that stand out from that period.
Around 1990 is when I stopped following comics though.
Re:Sandman Annual #1 was one of my favs. (Score:2)
Sorry about going all Comic Book Guy, but wasn't that Sandman #50, "Ramadan"? I thought the Sandman Special #1 issue was "Orpheus".
"Ramadan" was actually the first Sandman (maybe second) comic I ever picked up, since at the time I was really into collecting holofoil comics and their ilk. Didn't understand a word of it (hey, at the time I was really into superheroes -- don't even ask abou
Other recent Endless work (Score:1)
Manara (Score:2)
Buy stocks in Kleenex!
Gaiman songs (Score:2)
The Folk Underground [folkunderground.com], a Minneapolis self described "goth-folk" band has released a couple of songs written by Neil on their new CD Buried Things.
Lorraine has collaborated with Gaiman in the past with her previous band, the Flash Girls. Here's a link to Gaiman lyrics [folkunderground.com]
They are currently opening for Puke and Snot at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival (or they opened for Puke and Sn
It's interesting to see... (Score:2)
Re:What? you're crazy (Score:1)
Re:What? you're crazy (Score:2)
Re:What? you're crazy (Score:1)
Re:What? you're crazy (Score:3, Funny)
Re:I guess he got tired of being "Mr Amos" (Score:2, Informative)
Ummm... yeah, considering that his last two novels hit the NYT Bestseller list, he's actually got very little to gain from going back to comics, where he'll certainly make less money than his novels make.
To say nothing of the fact that there's no evidence he ever slept with Tori Amos - he's been married for years - he has kids in college.
Re:I guess he got tired of being "Mr Amos" (Score:1)
Re:I guess he got tired of being "Mr Amos" (Score:2)
OTOH, it is kind of cool to see celebrity gossip about geek icons like Neil Gaiman instead of the usual Hollywood crowd.
Re:I guess he got tired of being "Mr Amos" (Score:2)
I believe that you might thinking of her relationship with Nine Inch Nails' frontman, Trent Reznor. Her summation of that pairing:
Don't we all, sometimes. Add my copy of "Dream Country" (and some Bailey's to the cocoa), and you have the ideal recipe for a Very Happy GeekWench.Re:hype (Score:1)
Not to knock JLA/Avengers. I'm excited about it. But its sales will not surpass Endless Nights.
Re:hype (Score:1)
Re:Is Linux a Machination of Satan? (Score:2)