The first volume of The Sandman saga introduces us to Morpheus, the Lord of Dreams, as he escapes imprisonment and begins reclaiming his power. At first, it leans a bit into the horror side of comics… dark, grotesque, almost Lovecraftian in tone. But even then, you can sense Gaiman sharpening his blade, preparing you for the myth-making that’s to come.🤗 The storytelling is ambitious, the artwork moody and erratic (in a good way), and there’s a cameo by John Constantine that still makes me smirk. And oh … 24 Hours, the diner episode? That one shook me to the bone. 😨 The beauty of this volume is that, while it’s rougher and more raw than later entries, it begs to be followed by the next. Reading it in 2007 kicked off a reading journey that shaped me as a reader and as a dreamer! If you haven’t met Dream yet, start here — but beware. This is not a bedtime story. It’s a spell. And once it’s cast, you’ll chase the next volume like a soul searching for meaning in the realm of Endless. Rating: ★★★★ (The full five stars come later, when the Dreaming truly unfolds…)😉

After getting an incredibly handsome, leather bound omnibus of this classic I was disappointed after finishing the first volume. I'm afraid this may go the same way down for me as with "The Watchmen". I may have been born too late to appreciate the novelty of it and thus missing some emotional value for the piece or the story is indeed rather slowburning and underwhelming. I miss the surreal superatural weirdness that I usually find in Gaimans books. It's exciting and always a surprise (and a bit creepy). Sandman picks up the Gods-theme, but unfortunately I already read too many stories about Gods penned by Gaiman. I don't like the art, at all. It really makes it hard for me to read, since the story can't compensate for it. I loved the short encounter with Constantine and other DC character cameos. Since the omnibus is so gorgeous and deserves to be read at least once, I'll continue reading, hoping it will get better with time.

So I started watching the Netflix Series, then I picked up this Graphic Novel and also decided to listen to the Audible Adaption - all three at the same time. And every medium is top notch and a safe 10/10. Because Gaiman created a Masterpiece of imaginary Artworks on all levels. I remember trying to read this book once in the late 90s and then again couple of years ago, but it never clicked with me and I put it away again. But now (thanks to those adaptions) I could get into it and understand every Setting and Plot. The Sandman is now one of my alltime favs. So happy that it finally clicked with me.