The Absolute Sandman Vol. 3

The Absolute Sandman Vol. 3
By Neil Gaiman (writer), Jill Thompson, Bryan Talbot, Michael Zulli, P. Craig Russell, Kent Williams, Alec Stevens, John Watkiss, Michael Allred, Shea Anton Pensa, Gary Amaro with Vince Locke, Dick Giordano, Mark Buckingham, Tony Harris, Steve Leialoha and Dave McKean (artists)
Published by DC Comics/Vertigo
Originally released June 2008

Availability: Amazon.com
Cover price: $99.00
Format: Hard cover, color, over-sized
ISBN 1401210848

Synopsis from publisher:
The third volume collecting Neil Gaiman’s seminal, award-winning series starring the Dream King in deluxe format. ABSOLUTE SANDMAN VOL. 3 presents several key SANDMAN tales in a slipcased hardcover edition, including “Brief Lives,” in which the Sandman’s sister Delirium prevails upon her older brother to help her find their missing sibling, Destruction. But their journey through the Waking World has dramatic repercussions for their family and also for the relationship between the Sandman and his wayward son, Orpheus. Also included is the spectacular short story “Ramadan,” a tale of a young king of ancient Baghdad and the deal he strikes with The Sandman to grant his city immortality, with spectacular illustrations by P. Craig Russell (Fairy Tales of Oscar Wilde, The Jungle Book).

Never-before-collected bonus features include pin-up pages from galleries in THE SANDMAN #50 and SANDMAN SPECIAL #1, the Desire story from VERTIGO: WINTER’S EDGE #3, THE ENDLESS GALLERY #1, script and thumbnails from THE SANDMAN #50, and a section on the Endless retail products (poster, statues, t-shirts, Little Endless and more)! Plus, an introduction by artist Jill Thompson.

Notes:
This over-sized hard cover publication is the third in this series, reprinting the next seventeen issues of the second Sandman comic book series. It is essentially a recolored or “remastered” version of the contents of The Sandman Vol. 7: Brief Lives, The Sandman Vol. 8: Worlds’ End, and a portion of The Sandman Vol. 6: Fables and Reflections (leaving out Sandman issues #29-31 and #38-39), but without those publication’s introductions.
All material reprinted in this publication was written by Neil Gaiman. Art was created by Jill Thompson and Vince Locke for issues #40 to #49. Dick Giordano provided additional inking for issue #47. Issue #50 was illustrated by P. Craig Russell. Bryan Talbot and Mark Buckingham provided framing sequences for issues #51 to #56. Alec Stevens contributed a sequence for issue #51. John Watkiss for issue #52. Michael Zulli and Dick Giordano for issue #53. Michael Allred for issue #54. Shea Anton Pensa and Vince Locke for issue #55. Gary Amaro with Dick Giordano, Tony Harris and Steve Leialoha for issue #56. Sandman Special #1 was illustrated by Bryan Talbot, P. Craig Russell and Mark Buckingham. The story from Vertigo Preview #1 was illustrated by Kent Williams. Michael Zulli illustrated the story from Vertigo: Winter’s Edge #3. The slipcase cover was created by Dave McKean.
The following artists contributed to the “Facets of Dreams” gallery from Sandman #50: Dave McKean, John Totleben, Jill Karla Schwarz, Scott McCloud, Todd McFarlane, Michael Zulli, Michael Kaluta, Craig Hamilton and Tony Harris.
The following artists contributed to the gallery from Sandman Special #1: Tom Canty, Dave McKean, Barry Windsor-Smith, P. Craig Russell, Duncan Fegredo, Simon Bisley, Kent Williams and Sergio Aragones.
The following artists contributed to the gallery from The Endless Gallery #1: Christian Alamy, Michael Allred, Thom Ang, Rick Berry, Richard Case, Greg Capullo, Howard Chaykin, Mark Chiarello, Al Davison, Shary Flenniken, Michael T. Gilbert, Rebecca Guay, Peter Kuper, Paul Lee, Ted McKeever, Linda Medley, Terry Moore, George Pratt, Jill Karla Schwarz, Alison Seiffer, Bill Sienkiewicz, Greg Spalenka, Tom Taggart, Jill Thompson, Bonnie To, John Totleben, Sherilyn Van Valkenburgh, Kent Williams and Gavin Wilson.

Reprints:

1. Sandman #40 (1992)
2. Sandman #41 (1992)
3. Sandman #42 (1992)
4. Sandman #43 (1992)
5. Sandman #44 (1992)
6. Sandman #45 (1993)
7. Sandman #46 (1993)
8. Sandman #47 (1993)
9. Sandman #48 (1993)
10. Sandman #49 (1993)
11. Sandman #50 (1993)
12. Sandman #51 (1993)
13. Sandman #52 (1993)
14. Sandman #53 (1993)
15. Sandman #54 (1993)
16. Sandman #55 (1993)
17. Sandman #56 (1993)
18. Sandman Special #1 (1991)
19. Vertigo Preview #1 (1992) (7-page Sandman story only)
20. Vertigo: Winter’s Edge #3 (2000) (10-page Desire story only)
21. The Endless Gallery (1995)

Bonus material:

1. Introduction by Jill Thompson
2. Galleries from Sandman #50, Sandman Special #1 and The Endless Gallery #1
3. Original script and thumbnails by Gaiman from Sandman #50
4. Endless retail products (poster, statues, t-shirts, Little Endless and others)
   

The Sandman Vol. 6: Fables and Reflections

The Sandman Vol. 6: Fables and Reflections
By Neil Gaiman (writer), Bryan Talbot, P. Craig Russell, Stan Woch, Shawn McManus, Duncan Eagleson, John Watkiss, Jill Thompson, Kent Williams with Mark Buckingham, Dick Giordano, Vince Locke and Dave McKean (artists)
Published by DC Comics/Vertigo
Originally released January 1994

Availability: Amazon.com
Cover price: $19.99
Format: Soft cover, color, standard-size
ISBN 1563891050

Availability: Amazon.com
Cover price: $39.95
Format: Hard cover, color, standard-size
ISBN 1563891069

Synopsis from publisher:
The critically acclaimed THE SANDMAN: FABLES AND REFLECTIONS continues the fantastical epic of Morpheus, the King of Dreams, as he observes and interacts with an odd assortment of historical and fictional characters throughout time. Featuring tales of kings, explorers, spies, and werewolves, this book of myth and imagination delves into the dark dreams of Augustus Caesar, Marco Polo, Cain and Abel, Norton I, and Orpheus to illustrate the effects that these subconscious musings have had on the course of history and mankind.

Notes:
The sixth collection of the second Sandman comic book series. All material reprinted in this publication was written by Neil Gaiman. Sandman Special #1 was illustrated by Bryan Talbot, P. Craig Russell and Mark Buckingham. Issue #29 was drawn by Stan Woch and Dick Giordano. Issue #30 was drawn by Talbot and Woch. Issue #31 was illustrated by Shawn McManus. Issue #38 was drawn by Duncan Eagleson and Vince Locke. Issue #39 was illustrated by John Watkiss. Issue #40 was drawn by Jill Thompson and Vince Locke. Issue #50 was illustrated by P. Craig Russell. The story from Vertigo Preview #1 was illustrated by Kent Williams. The cover was created by Dave McKean and originally appeared as the cover of issue #39.

Reprints:

1. Sandman Special #1 (1991)
2. Sandman #29 (1991)
3. Sandman #30 (1991)
4. Sandman #31 (1991)
5. Sandman #38 (1992)
6. Sandman #39 (1992)
7. Sandman #40 (1992)
8. Sandman #50 (1993)
9. Vertigo Preview #1 (1992) (7-page Sandman story only)

Bonus material:

1. Introduction by Gene Wolfe