Product Description
From the pages of Newbery Medal winner Neil Gaiman's THE SANDMAN comes the young, pale, perky, fan-favorite character Death in a new Absolute Edition collecting her solo adventures! Featuring the miniseries DEATH: THE HIGH COST OF LIVING #1-3 in which Death befriends a teenager and helps a 250-year old homeless woman find her missing heart.

THE ABSOLUTE DEATH collects the miniseries DEATH: THE HIGH COST OF LIVING and DEATH: THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE together with "The Sound of Her Wings" and "Façade" from THE SANDMAN #8 and #20, the P. Craig Russell-illustrated "Death and Venice" from THE SANDMAN: ENDLESS NIGHTS, and the never-before reprinted stories "A Winter's Tale" and "The Wheel." This deluxe volume also features an introduction by The Dresden Dolls' Amanda Palmer as well as extensive galleries of Death portraits and retail products, sketches by artist Chris Bachalo, and the complete original script by Gaiman for THE SANDMAN #8. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Don't Wish For Death...
I'm a pretty hardcore Sandman reader. All the trades, and Absolutes. I kept thinking to myself, "I wish there were more stories with Death," and I got my wish...

This volume starts out amazing, as it reprints two Death stories from the Sandman series. And then it falls flat with Cost of Living & Time of Your Life. Both stories lack the allure of and mystical appeal of the Sandman franchise. The artwork is decent enough, but you're paying a lot of money to stare at pretty pictures.

"Death Talks About Life" wasn't so bad, but, again, not worth the entire price of purchase.

Another delightful and collectable Absolute volume
While about 50% of Absolute Death stories are repeated in the main Sandman Absolute volumes, nevertheless the additional material and the overall quality thoughout is fantastic. Mat black cloth cover with cover box makes a wonderful and unusual addition to the bookcase.

I hope for a simular Lucifer volume

Good As Comics Get
If you're even considering buying this you probably already know how good Neil Gaiman's Death stories are, so I'll just focus on the book itself.You get both Death ministries (The High Cost of Living and The Time of Your Life), issues #8 (The Sound of Her Wings) and #19 (Facade), as well as two other short stories that I hadn't seen before.The extras are also very nice: we get the full Death gallery and a ton of promotional drawing and material, as well as the original script for The Sound of Her Wings, which is extremely cool (I always wished this was the script they had included in Absolute Sandman #1, so it's great to have it here).And of course the oversize artwork is gorgeous.If you already own the Absolute Sandman, this one is really a no-brainer; and if you're just looking to pick up the Death stories, well, this is the nicest looking collection of them you'll find by far :-)

awesome
Everything Gaiman writes is amazing (except for Beowulf), and this was a great example of some of his finest work.Most of the volume consists of two three-issue stories, Death: The High Cost of Living, and Death: The Time of Your Life.In the first one, Sexton, a suicidal teen spends an evening of adventures with Death, who is spending some time living as a human named Didi, and he decides in the end that he wants to live.In the second, Foxglove and Hazel, who were introduced in The Sandman, have to travel to the borders of Death's realm to negotiate with her.There are several stand-alone stories, as well. Throughout them all, Death is such a sweet and endearing character one can't help but admire the genius Gaiman exhibits in getting away from the Grim Reaper in his portrayal of this force that everyone fears so greatly.It takes a truly gifted writer to make stories that center around the personification of Death uplifting.As Sexton says at the end of The High Cost of Living, "It would be really neat if Death was somebody, and not just nothing, or pain, or blackness.And it would be really good if Death could be somebody like Didi.Somebody funny, and friendly, and nice.And maybe just a tiny bit crazy."I can't summarize the effect these comics had on me any better.

Great!
This is just what it says it is. The stories of Death. Great work. The quality of the book is wonderful, and it really makes you feel like a kid when you sit there reading a big comicbook! The book is full of wonderfully drawn and written stories and I will read it again and again! It's just really great! ... Read more

Product Description
New York Times best-selling author Neil Gaiman's transcendent series SANDMAN is often hailed as the definitive Vertigo title and one of the finest achievements in graphic storytelling. Gaiman created an unforgettable tale of the forces that exist beyond life and death by weaving ancient mythology, folklore and fairy tales with his own distinct narrative vision.

During Morpheus's incarceration, three dreams escaped the Dreaming and are now loose in the waking world. At the same time, a young woman named Rose Walker is searching for her little brother. As their stories converge, a vortex is discovered that could destroy all dreamers, and the world itself. Features an introduction by Clive Barker.
This volume includes issues 9-16 of the original series and features completely new coloring, approved by the author. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Novices need not fear to tread; this is good stuff
I haven't experienced the total Sandman world so am commenting from the 'some but not all perspective' which many potential readers may have. First is the short story structure itself: the beauty of the changing voices & visions pays the price of admission alone, even if you've only the barest knowledge of the Sandman oeuvre. This collection is like the gates to faery: within and between these short & beautifully tantalizing bits of prose you may glimpse Something just beyond. Sometimes you see it; sometimes (for the non-initiate?) it passes you by but for me it was an altogether enjoyable experience. That Gaiman chose & introduces each piece is a small sweetness before each story-course.

The Preface, by Frank McConnell, is a lovely and literate tale itself though I doubt the author would consider it so; nevertheless it is a true telling of who we are, and an excellently well written introduction to the Sandman world. It is exactly enough to know what to expect from these gifted authors whose words fill in and leave out what's needed.

I bought this because I've been enchanted by the works of Barbara Hambly for decades and wanted to read her story "Each Damp Thing"; she spins an exquisitely crafted tale of Dreaming herein.If you're a reader of Hambly's, or any author in the book, you won't be disappointed by their story in this collection & 'your' author's tale will take you by the hand through the others.

The Sandman
Neil Gaiman is an amazing writer and it is because of his stories about "The Sandman" that I became a comic book fan. If you can suspend belief and open your mind to the realm of imagination, you can step into the world that Mr. Gaiman created revolving around the King of Dreams. The entire series of the Sandman will leave you riveted and wanting more. Take the time to explore the realm of dreams and you will not be disappointed!

Neil Gaiman's Best
I love the Sandman graphic novel series,so when any of them come out in paperback they're a must-read.These can't be missed,they'll pull you in and not let you go...

Neil Gaiman's Sandman, a comics' masterpiece
The Neil Gaiman's begining work, Sandman, coalize creation and the imaginary. I met the writter in São Paulo, 2000, and I see that he has a sensibility needed for a great author. Don't miss it.

Super Reader
A collection of stories related to the Sandman saga, placed in and around these stories, but unrelated. The odd story here has an extremely tenuous connection to the aforementioned, and generally speaking, those with less do not work as well. Sandman fans should still enjoy this, however.

Sandman Book of Dreams : 01 Masquerade and High Water - Colin Greenland
Sandman Book of Dreams : 02 Chain Home, Low - John M. Ford
Sandman Book of Dreams : 03 Stronger than Desire - Lisa Goldstein
Sandman Book of Dreams : 04 Each Damp Thing - Barbara Hambly
Sandman Book of Dreams : 05 The Birth Day - B. W. Clough
Sandman Book of Dreams : 06 Splatter - Will Shetterly
Sandman Book of Dreams : 07 Seven Nights in Slumberland - George Alec Effinger
Sandman Book of Dreams : 08 Escape Artist - Caitlín R. Kiernan
Sandman Book of Dreams : 09 An Extra Smidgen of Eternity - Robert Rodi
Sandman Book of Dreams : 10 The Writer's Child - Tad Williams
Sandman Book of Dreams : 11 The Gate of Gold - Mark Kreighbaum
Sandman Book of Dreams : 12 A Bone Dry Place - Karen Haber
Sandman Book of Dreams : 13 The Witch's Heart - Delia Sherman
Sandman Book of Dreams : 14 The Mender of Broken Dreams - Nancy A. Collins
Sandman Book of Dreams : 15 Ain't You 'Most Done? - Gene Wolfe
Sandman Book of Dreams : 16 Valóság and Élet - Steven Brust
Sandman Book of Dreams : 17 Stopp't-Clock Yard - Susanna Clarke


Solar hippie Desire.

3 out of 5


Right at the start of the Sandman story, with all the Sleepers there is the whole World War air war thing going on.

3.5 out of 5


Endless bet welcher, after a pretty young lord bets Desire she can't make anyone she wants shag, and wins.

3.5 out of 5


Cain unearths a mirror that Dream had hidden away for a bloody good reason. Bad things man, bad things.

4 out of 5


Herding happiness.

3 out of 5


A horror writer probably would have preferred to be guest of honour somewhere other than the Cereal Convention.

4 out of 5


Little Nemo prefers to not be awake.

2.5 out of 5


Bloke not a fan of dream denizens.

2.5 out of 5


Death interrupts the last story being told to a bloke in hospital.

4 out of 5


Little girl, no.

2.5 out of 5


Doll bravery.

4 out of 5


Prophecy pills.

3.5 out of 5


Witch makes a werewolf girl and becomes a bit torn.

3.5 out of 5


Autistic mental power.

4 out of 5


A folksinger gets one last go around after a heart attack, and before Death.

3 out of 5


Three boys get involved in a tricky folk tale, with dreaming.

3.5 out of 5


Morpheus sick of Paramore.

3 out of 5
... Read more

Product Description

"I'll swap you my dad," I said.

Customer Reviews (51)

Careful Boring Dads, Kids Just Might Take You Into Their Hands
A charming story from Neil Gaiman and illustrator Dave McKean about a young boy who decides to swap his boring father who only reads the newspaper to a friend with two far more interesting goldfish.The story is not to be missed!

What a drag!
I wanted to buy this book for my cousin who is adopted.Many thanks to the reviewers who pointed out the author's blunder (it's Christmas - I'll be charitable) so I could avoid sending a Christmas gift that brings unpleasant conversation instead of joy.Kids say mean things, but there's no need to put "your sister's adopted" as a slur in a children's book gratuitously.What's disappointing is this otherwise sounds like a great book.

This is NOT a children's book.
I own and cherish this book, and often share it with guests. It's beautiful... artfully illustrated and wonderfully absurd. I am an artist and teacher who happens to collect children's books, so you can imagine my pure BLISS in discovering this.

That said, I have no idea how this is allowed to be marketed as a children's book. The issues that other reviewers have brought up (the stereotypically oblivious dad, tormenting the little sister without consequence, negative view at adoption) are things that shouldn't be ignored if they come up with children, lest they think these things are ok.

I'm adopted and I wasn't offended. I'd read this to my 7 year old niece, knowing we could laugh our heads about it or talk seriously about it. But I would never read this to my classroom of preschoolers. If your kid is old enough to understand this kid of humor, and humane enough to not start hatching a plan to sell of his or her unwanted relatives, share this book with them. But regardless, read it and enjoy it yourself, because it's awesome-with-a-capital-A.

PS
I took one star off for poor marketing, but this is my favorite "children's" book.

Not for Adoptive families
We were given this book as a gift.It looks pretty great, and we were chugging along reading it when we came to the line about his sister saying he was adopted--used as a slur.Reading this out loud to my adopted son, I just about choked.You can't imagine how painful it is to be put in a situation where you've got to explain something like this to a little boy.I put the book in the recycling that night because I don't want it out there where it can hurt someone else.It's really a shame that something so stupid wasn't just swapped out for something everyone can laugh at.

Great for all ages
This was a wonderful book. Not only did my three year old daughter love it but I did as well. Just the thought of trading your dad for something else and him getting traded down the line was brilliant. The art is not for everyone. A few people i showed the book to thought it was too "out there". I loved the art. Neil Gaiman and Dave Mckean make a wonderful duo in this book. This is one of those books that I will never have a problem reading to my children over and over again. ... Read more

Product Description
THE SANDMAN: THE DREAM HUNTERS is a comics adaptation of Gaiman's original prose novella by the same name illustrated by Yoshitako Amano. This graphic novel was illustrated by the legendary P. Craig Russell. A humble young monk and a magical, shape-changing fox find themselves romantically drawn together. As their love blooms, the fox learns of a devilish plot by a group of demons and a Japanese emperor to steal the monk's life. With the aid of Morpheus, the fox must use all of her cunning and creative thinking to foil this evil scheme and save the man that she loves.Amazon.com Review
Sandman fans should feel lucky that master fantasy writer Neil Gaimandiscovered the mythical world of Japanese fables while researching histranslation of Hayao Miyazaki's film Princess Mononoke. At the same time, while preparing for theSandman 10th anniversary, he met Yoshitaka Amano, his artist for the 11th Sandman book. Amano is the famed designer of the Final Fantasy game series.The product of Gaiman's immersion in Japanese art, culture, and history,Sandman: Dream Hunters is a classic Japanese tale (adapted from "TheFox, the Monk, and the Mikado of All Night's Dreaming") that he has subtlymorphed into his Sandman universe.

Like most fables, the story begins with a wager between two jealousanimals, a fox and a badger: which of them can drive ayoung monk from his solitary temple? The winner will make the temple into anew fox or badger home. But as the fox adopts theform of a woman to woo the monk from his hermitage, she falls in love withhim. Meanwhile, in far away Kyoto, the wealthy Master of Yin-Yang, theonmyoji, is plagued by his fears and seeks tranquility in hiscommand of sorcery. He learns of the monk and his inner peace; hedispatches demons to plague the monk in his dreams and eventually kill himto bring his peace to the onmyoji. The fox overhears the demons ontheir way to the monk and begins her struggle to save the man whom at first she so envied.

Dream Hunters is a beautiful package. From the ink-brush paintedendpapers to the luminous page layouts--including Amano's gate-foldpainting of Morpheus in a sea of reds, oranges, and violets--this book hasbeen crafted for a sensuous reading experience. Gaiman has developed as aprose stylist in the last several years with novels and stories such as Neverwhere and Stardust, and hisnarrative rings with a sense of timelessness and magic that gentlysustains this adult fairy tale. The only disappointment here is that thebook is so brief. One could imagine this creative team being evenbetter suited to a longer story of more epic proportions. On the final pageof Dream Hunters, in fact, Amano suggest that he will collaboratefurther with Mr. Gaiman in the future. Readers of Dream Hunters willhope that Amano's dream comes true. --Patrick O'Kelley ... Read more

Customer Reviews (59)

A must have book
If you are even remotely familiar with the Gaiman books and have ever seen Yoshitaka Amano's work in Final Fantasy or Vamire Hunter D, it is a no-brainer to pick this book up. I found it in a pile of "select" books at a bookstore and it is one of my fav books I've ever read. Other reviews have given the basic story line (and spoilers) but the art is enough to purchase this book.

Of dreams and death
Neil Gaiman's Sandman series ranks among the best graphic novels ever written -- and its spinoff materials aren't bad either.

Among those spinoff materials is "The Dream Hunters," a gorgeously illustrated novella about the love between a beautiful kitsune and a Buddhist monk, and the part that Gaiman's legendary Dream plays in their story. It's a bittersweet little story of love, revenge, sorrow and the supernatural creatures of Japan, and Yoshitaka Amano's hauntingly otherworldly illustrations add an extra note of beauty.

A young monk takes care of a tiny temple by himself, until the day a fox and a badger pass by. They make a wager about who can drive him out of his temple, and who will get it as a new home once he's gone. Using their transformation powers, both the fox and badger try to trick the young monk into fleeing his temple... but they fail miserably. And after the monk drives away the badger, the fox asks to remain in the temple with the monk -- and the two of them fall in love.

But then the fox overhears the Baku -- dream eaters -- talking of their onmyoji master's scheme to destroy the monk through his dreams. Living in perpetual fear, the onmyoji was told (by a freaky multibreasted woman) to kill the young monk without pain or fear -- and this will give him the monk's peace of mind. The fox doesn't intend to let the monk be killed, and when she lapses into a coma, he ventures into the Palace of Dreams to save her life. But asking for help from the King of Dreams has a price...

Neil Gaiman usually veers either towards novels, or graphic novels -- but "The Dream Hunters" has a little of both in its pages. Gaiman's actual story is a beautiful, simply little expanse of prose, with its haunting forays into a world of dreams that lingers beyond life and death -- and Amano's illustrations just add to that feeling.

The story is actually a rather simple one: monk meets fox and they fall in love, only to become ensnared in a selfish man's plot, and the young monk is forced to go on a journey. It's like a Japanese-flavored version of the Orpheus legend, except that the monk doesn't go into the land of the dead -- his quest takes him into the world of Dream (yes, the dude from the "Sandman" series). And the story takes a darker turn in the last quarter when the omnyoji becomes ensnared in an elaborate scheme to give him what he deserves.

In fact, the story is all the more tragic because Gaiman's quiet, simple prose makes you like the monk and fox immensely -- she's a basic trickster who learns to passionately love someone else, and he's a saintly young man whose caring for animals leads to a romantic love.

And the artwork is simply exquisite -- Amano dabbles in monochromatic images (Dream himself, as wonderfully spiky and goth as ever), washes of pastels (the fox walking across a deep purple field to the riverbank), and stretches of vivid, rich color as well. Nearly every page of prose is matched by a haunting, sometimes surreal image -- and he really goes wild in the dream world, with a moon made of crumbling sand, solid mists, and a path made of light that leads to Dream himself.

"The Dream Hunters" is a beautiful, exquisitely painful little illustrated novel, showing off Gaiman's amazing writing and Amano's creepily lovely illustrations. Definitely a must-see.

A beautiful book
I've been a fan of the Sandman series but this is completely different. An absolutely beautiful book. The art work--way above the word illustration--is extraordinary, as is the printing. I never expected it from a book at this price. I have to say I was surprised when I opened the wrapping. I wound up ordering another one for myself and giving the one I ordered originally as a gift. If you're looking for the usual Sandman angst and gore you won't find it here. It's not really a graphic novel--it's a lavishly illustrated folk tale. Five stars easily.

One of the best Sandman stories
Gaiman weaves together Japanese iconography and his own Sandman mythos in this tragic tale of a fox and the monk who, of course, have a doomed romance.

The mostly prose book is served well by Gaiman's flowery writing, which seems to be turned way up here.Fortunately, his decorative descriptions are appropriate not only for the story, but as companion pieces to Amano's fantastic artwork.Every word is visually evocative and elegant companion pieces to the beautiful and delicate artwork that punctuates the story.

The story itself has a lot in common with Gaiman's other takes on fairy tales within the Sandman universe.Most people familiar with folklore will guess where the story is going pretty quickly, but all I'll say is that a romance between a fox and a monk is rarely something that they can work out and it usually ends badly for someone.Interestingly, the story is entirely original, using traditional imagery and story-lines to weave something that is plausible as an "old Japanese folk story."

The tragedy of the two lovers who each insist on being self-sacrificing is powerful and moving.Morpheus himself, presented fairly close to his comic book form throughout, does little in the story other than prod along one party or the other.In the end the book gives the reader a lot to think about, and maybe a few tears to shed, and it raises the point of how much beauty there can be in tragedy.Many of the most noble and human acts are predicated upon tragic circumstances.If we lived in a world of perfect happiness, there would be no opportunities for self-sacrifice, and this story suggest that in that case perhaps we would all be diminished.

Another great from Gaiman!
Though not really part of the "Sandman" series or a comic, it is still awesome. The artwork is intense and beautiful, with lots of rich color and contrast. Gaiman's prose almost acts as a contrast because it's easy to read and concise, but still rich. Overall, the story itself is great and wonderfully told and illustrated and touching. It's definitely a must-read for those who love Old Japanese culture and all things Gaiman. ... Read more

Product Description
An incredible collection of rare and previously unseen material, which shows the true versatility of the comics creator who is credited with turning comic strip into critically-acclaimed literature. Gathered from Gaiman's long career, and with unprecedented access having been given to the DC comics archive, it includes his early work on Death, John Constantine: Hellblazer and Swamp Thingas well as an exclusive, never-before-published, Sandman story, and features a new introduction by Gaiman himself. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Not just for completists (but almost)
Midnight Days is one of those inevitable collections that comes out when an author becomes big news.

It pulls together a half-dozen early Gaiman stints on other DC titles that otherwise would have been swept into the bargain bin of history.

Fortunately, Gaiman's early work is often his best (discuss?), and a couple of the stories in here were legitimately worthy of republication. Swamp Thing, always a disturbingly good series, provides a few of the entries - including the lackluster "Brothers" and the intriguing "Shaggy God Stories" (yet another predecessor to the themes raised in American Gods).

The best is the short Hellblazer story, in which Gaiman manages to utilise his nostalgic tone in something a bit darker, while still maintaining his patented bittersweet voice (also, it is extremely well-illustrated, which always helps).

The worst is the never-ending Sandman tale, "Midnight Days", which fills long, long pages without ever even hinting at anything of interest to the reader.

Overall, a half-decent collection - Gaiman has his fanatic, completist fans - and, fortunately for everyone else, he's good enough to deserve them.

Some enjoyable pieces
This collection presents a number of Gaiman's pieces that have not been anthologized before. As you might expect, this means"Midnight Days" contains a variety of different kinds of writing.

The first piece, "Jack in the Green," extends the Swamp Thing story back to the days of the Black Plague - as a non-fan of ST, this has only small appeal for me. The next piece, from "Swamp Thing Annnual," features a second strange being, seemingly animated by forces similar to the ones behind ST, but more of a hippie-stereotype mannikin as well as a vegetal elemental - again, something that would probably appeal more to ST regulars than to me. "Shaggy God Stories," a baffling and incomplete exchange between godlings of the plant world.

I found more to cling to towards the end of this book, including a John Constantine sotry titled "Hold Me," a collage of loneliness's different faces. Improbable coincidences help at least some of the solitary ones provide solace for each other - my favorite among stories in this book. Finally, "Sandman's Midnight Theatre," nearly half the book, adds a new chapter to the Sandman saga, albeit a tangential one. Painterly artwork and a generally subdued palette set a mood that matches the story well.

These aren't the strongest stories Gaiman has ever done. Still, there's a good bit to enjoy here, especially for Swamp Thing completists and hardcore fans of the Sandman.

-- wiredweird

NEIL GAIMAN'S MAKE-MONEY DAYS.
First, I am prejudiced against graphic novels though I thoroughly enjoy the books written by Gaiman, which don't need anyone's grim, dark artwork to substitute for Gaiman's excellent use of word-pictures.I'm afraid that this book dredge's up what Gaimna should have left tucked in a sealed box.The stories I was able to read were incomprehensible and/or with no ending. This book was an attempt to re-cook some years old hash.

There's a reason why they're 'b-sides & Rarities'
There's a reason why choice cuts are sometimes relegated to the b-sides & rarities disc and simply put it's because they're not quite up to snuff with the rest of the top-shelf material that most fans are accustomed to.In Neil Gaiman's, 'Midnight Days,' fans are given a chance to take a look at some of Gaiman's somewhat esoteric and forgotten material.Half of the volume is dedicated to short bits that he did for the 'Swamp Thing,' series and for those who are not familiar with Alan Moore's 1980's brilliant steerage of the series these stories will be somewhat difficult to follow and of not much interest.Things do pickup midway through with the reprint of, 'Hold Me,' a one-shot story about John-Constantine, brilliantly illustrated by the always artful Dave McKean.The volume comes to a close with an issue of, 'Sandman Midnight Theater,' with standout paintwork by Teddy Kristiansen that makes up for the weak plotting of the tale.

Ultimately, this book can only be recommended to fans of Gaiman who are interested in seeing some of his earlier and more experimental work.Newcomers would be better off starting off with the 'Sandman' series and branching off thereafter.

Some great rarities from the master of storytelling
he perfect companion to Smoke & Mirrors, Neil Gaiman's Midnight Days collects some short stories written in comics form for DC's Vertigo line, ones that were not part of the masterpiece Sandman series that Vertigo ran between 1988 and 1996. The stories in this collection are unique, because they show Neil writing at a very early stage, and for DC characters that aren't his own - which is rare for him. For Gaiman fans, needless to say, the book is essential, even if some of the stories are weaker, and I also recommend it for fans of John Constantine, because it includes one of the finest Hellblazer stories ever written.

In the first part, we see Neil struggling with the classic character that originated the Vertigo line - Alan Moore's revamped Swamp Thing - in three short stories from early stages of his career. Jack In The Green is apparently the second comics story Neil had ever written, and it remained a pictureless script until it was drawn especially for this collection. It's unique because it sees a reunion of the original Swamp Thing artistic team, who worked with Moore on the now classic first issues - Stephen Bissette, John Totleben and Tatjana Wood. Neil's writing is clearly in very early stages of its development, and the story is good, if nothing else, as a curiosity for loyal Gaiman fans. The other two stories, which were released as Swamp Thing Annual #5 in 1989, don't actually feature the Swamp Thing himself: Brothers is a story that could have just as easily been made into a Sandman issue, though it has quite a lot in common with the Prez story (I'm not quite sure what the story's name was or which Sandman volume it was on). It's a pretty good story, but not quite worthy of Neil's genius. The third, very short story, titled Shaggy God Stories, is easily the best in the bunch, and it deals with the Swamp Thing's great nemesis, Jason Woodrue AKA the Floronic Man. It's a beautiful story that shows Neil at his best.

The entire thing is well worth buying for the Hellblazer story - Hold Me - alone. It was originally published as Hellblazer #27 in 1995, several months before Garth Ennis took over the series and turned it upside down, and is now a rare and precious collectors' item for fans of Gaiman and/or Hellblazer. This beautiful, touching, chilling ghost story was drawn by none other than the great Dave McKean, who also worked with Neil on classics like Black Orchid, Mr. Punch, Coraline, The Day I Swapped My Dad For Two Goldfish and Violent Cases. Dave's artwork is expressive and surreal and his portrayal of both the Ghost and John Constantine are incredible. This is, without doubt, one of the best Hellblazer stories ever written - in direct competition with the classics of the early Ennis period, Dangerous Habits and Fear & Loathing - and arguably one of Neil's finest writings.

The last story in this volume is the longest by far - too long by half. It's a rather predictable collaboration between Neil and Matt Wagner, which allows for the inevitable crossover between Neil's Sandman - Morpheus of the Endless - and Matt's Sandman, Man of Mystery Wesley Dodds (reincarnation of the DC hero from the 40s). More than that though it's a story about Dodds - please remember that Morpheus is well locked in a glass prison during the time of Dodds's stories (as you'd remember if you've read the first Sandman volume, Preludes & Nocturnes. The story does involve Morpheus, though to a lesser extent, and the events occurring in Preludes & Nocturnes). The story does have its flashes of genius though it's exceedingly and unjustifiably long, but it's salvaged by brilliant artwork by Teddy Kristiansen.

By the way, a story which is missing from this collection is the brilliant short A Black & White World, the Batman story which was published on Batman: Black & White. If you're a Gaiman completist, I recommend trying that one too. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (20)

Not a lot new here, but for once it is all in one place.
Although a semi-scholarly treatment, (like others in this series) there is not a lot new here that we "non-believers" did not already know of, or have not seen elsewhere. That said this volume does have the added benefit of having the unorthodox views and research about the other side of organized religious dogma reported on all in one (not so) tidy package. That alone makes it infinitely more useful and easier to bring forth counterviews as a reference compendium that can be used to challenge biblical contradictions, misinterpretations, and religious ideological nonsense, of which there seems to be a lot circulating around the world these days.

In this sense, it offers a smorgasbord of trenchant revelations and exposes that point to the widely known as well to the not so well-known myths, fallacies, misconceptions, misquotations, down right untruths, and plain religious ignorance -- much of which has become an ossified and accepted part of religious dogma over the last two millennia.

Since it is a collection of individually researched articles and essays that are disconnected from each other, it should not be misunderstood for being more than what it is: an edited volume, which is to say, a rather disconnected, if not at times not completely incoherent set of disparate treatments of a subject that, as other reviewers have noted, has been much better reported on in several other books on the topic. I agree with them that, Hitchens' and Dawkins' books, for example, are clear standouts and present well-researched critiques that are both clear and just short of devastating of the normal weak religious apologia. But also Richard Harris' two entries are not to be discounted either. For my needs, I was satisfied, but not overwhelmed.

Three stars

The Biblical Comic Book Inside is Powerful
Many different stories, from serious intellectual arguments to journalistic reports to comic strips. It covers a wide range of religions, for those who would attack it as "anti-Christian". It is a great starting point for those who chose reason and intellect over faith and emotionality. Some of the issues: rampant cases of pedofilia within organized churches; intensely powerful depictions of "forbidden" church history; chronicles of how religion has become a multi-billion dollar business with powerful political allies; widespread corruption in most of the leading religions of the world. Highly recommended.

Strike me down lord and i will rise again
This book is a one-way ticket to hell. Just kidding. It is however a mind-blowing read that will force you to ask a lot of questions. To me that is great reading. I love it when I have to step back and suddenly see something totally different.

High expectations...ah poo
There are some lofty names in this book, and I had very high hopes for the content of the material. Unfortunately, save for a few of the chapters, most of these articles are not terribly crafty, smart or compelling. If you are already convinced of these arguments...well, you don't need this book. If you are unfamiliar with some of the stronger arguments against 'religion' (which needs to be defined...it is defined so broadly that it is almost vacuous), then read Nietzsche, Feuerbach & Epicurus. If you are a freshman or sophomore in college, this may work for you...but by the time you take an upper division course in either religious studies or philosophy, you will realize that this material is, really quite weak.

Everything You Know About God is Wrong
Written somewhat like an "exploratory documentary" this book contains many of the points various authors, critics, and experts have concluded concerning those questions many have been curious about but didn't want to ask. The superstitions of religions have wreaked havoc for millenia on humanity and here many of them are exposed for anyone to peruse and evaluate accordingly. Many of the ideologies contained are non-the-less reduced and condensed to permit an overview of the aspects in regards to space limitations. After all; There's only so much you can get into one book. Many of these subjects have volumes dedicated to investigations but this book does a good job of "touching" on quite a few of them. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (36)

The world of magic
Long before J.K. Rowling ever wrote about Harry Potter, there was another owl-toting, bespectacled young wizard with a destiny.

And somehow it doesn't surprise me that Neil Gaiman was responsible for that wizard's creation in "The Books of Magic." This brilliant four-part graphic novel is full of shadowy art, strange happenings and wild magic -- and while it was intended to be a story highlighting the more magical DC characters, it ended up taking a life of its own.

Timothy Hunter is playing alone in the street when he's approached by four men who ask him a simple question: "Do you believe in magic?" Obviously he says no, but after a brief demonstration of it, he reluctantly agrees to be taught in the ways of magic.

First, the Phantom Stranger takes him back on a first-class history tour -- the birth of the universe, the fall of Atlantis, the teenage life of the great wizard Merlin, the rise of magic in many different lands and its eventual wane. Then Tim takes a trip to to America with John Constantine to get acquainted with some of the more mystical creatures there... and ends up up to his neck in trouble

After that, Dr. Occult takes Tim into the world of Faerie, where he comes across a great sleeping king, gets caught by Baba Yaga, and shown Gemworld, Skartaris, Pytharia, a tiny glimpse of Hell, and a brief trip into the Dreamworld. He also counters Queen Titania, who seems to have a connection to him. And finally, Mr. E takes Tim into the future and shows him great wars, the return of magic, and the possible death of the world -- as well as his own future fate...

"The Books of Magic" isn't a comic book as you know it -- it's a journey across worlds and time, where an ordinary preteen boy discovers that he has the potential to be the greatest magician in the world. And though it was apparently meant to highlight various magical characters, Gaiman's story is more Joseph Campbell than comic book hero.

And Gaiman weaves a truly spellbinding, deceptively simple story -- he takes us into rivers of blood, goblin markets, a dying Earth, skull-faced kids, and even the childhood of a teenage Merlin. His dialogue is exquisite and rich ("Arthur sleeps in Avalon, and he sleeps here, as they all do. And perhaps he sleeps in your world too. Sometimes I suspect he sleeps inside a waking mind, waiting for the day to rise and free his ancient kingdom... Perhaps he sleeps inside thee, boy?").

I'm a little more split on the artwork -- somehow I just can't warm up to Paul Johnson's artwork, which makes Tim look very odd; and Scott Hampton's is of good quality but confusing to read. But John Bolton's artwork is absolutely exquisite (especially when he depicts the grandeur of a newborn universe, the towering angels and the ancient magics), and Charles Vess's tour of Faerie is some of the best work he has EVER done.

"The Books of Magic" is far more than it was intended to be -- a brilliant hero's journey through the worlds of magic. A deserving classic.

A marvelous survey of DC's magical universe
In this delightful graphic novel, a young boy named Timothy Hutton is approached by a group of strange men who inform him that he has the capacity to become a powerful magician, but only if he is willing to pay the price.In order that he might make a more educated choice, The Phantom Stranger, John Constantine, Mister E, and Doctor Occult take Tim on a guided tour of some of the less traveled paths in their magical universe.Meanwhile, other dangerous forces are at work, desperate to manipulate Tim's potential to their own advantage.

This book is as much for adults as for young people and really presupposes a fair level of familiarity with DC's magical universe.New readers are likely to be put off by so many characters coming and going with little or no introduction and not much explanation.But for the devoted long-time fans, almost every page features the reappearance of another favorite whose position in the world of magic is now clearly delineated.There a few slow spots, but overall I thought the storytelling was very good, and the art was excellent.Not to be missed.

Gaiman's bittersweet best
I can't believe I'd never read the original miniseries before. (Although I've certainly enjoyed the ongoing series).

Despite the age, The Books of Magic doesn't feel dated at all and maintains the uniquely bittersweet, fairy tale tone that is characteristic of Gaiman at his best.

This looks like it was a lot of fun for the artists as well, who were each very well-chosen.

I certainly wouldn't mind an annotated copy - especially for the final chapter. Despite being familiar with most of the DC and Sandman mythos, there were still bits that went completely over my head, and names that merely rung bells, when I suspect that they needed to have more meaning.

Despite that, there's a lot in here than even a newcomer to comics could appreciate - this would be a terrific gateway comic to lure your friends into the world of colourful geekery.

More serious than comic
Neil Gaiman has been quoted as saying that adults deserve good fairy tales, good fantasy, and good comic books as much as children.Fortunately, he has come to the rescue by trying to fill this need.Although it was for a more traditional fantasy novel that Gaiman won the 2002 Hugo and Nebula awards (American Gods), one of his best known works remains "The Sandman," (1987-1996), regarded by Norman Mailer as "a comic strip for intellectuals." Like the aforementioned work, "The Books of Magic" (1989) is a graphical novel.It features Timothy Hunter, a 12-year-old destined to be the greatest magician of his time, and who is introduced to the world of magic by the "trenchcoat brigade" of four men.In the four-part mini-series, the trenchcoat brigade of the Phantom Stranger, Dr. Occult, John Constantine, and Mister E take turns to journey with Timothy to explore the realities and possibilities offered by mythology and magic, by travelling to the past, present, and possible future of the DC Universe.The mini-series spawned an ongoing series by John Ney Reiber under the same title, detailing the further adventures of Timothy.

Gaiman's "The Books of Magic" is less important as a story than as an introduction to the world of magic.Not strongly plot-driven, it's not the most accessible for newcomers to the genre. In one respect it is a coming-of-age story, as Timothy undertakes a quest and comes to understand his destiny.But for the reader it is more about the discovery of the world of fantasy and magic that Timothy will choose to embrace.As a result, the narrative and minimal action takes a background seat to the philosophical and magical world, its characters and concepts, many of which will be new to those unfamiliar with the DC Universe.Those unacquainted with DC's occultic characters should be forewarned that they will miss many of the subtle allusions and references Gaiman has included.

The concept of a graphic novel is very interesting, and this is a particularly fine introduction to the genre, at least with respect to the artwork.The way the text was incorporated along with the images was very cleverly done - the concept works well for a fantasy story, and clearly demonstrates the potential of the graphic novel as a legitimate genre.

But don't let the comic book form make you think that this is a light-hearted children's story - it's anything but. Beneath the window dressing of a graphic novel is a very serious and at times dark fantasy world.The blend of influences that have shaped Gaiman's work is very fascinating. With a Jewish background and a Church of England education, Gaiman was well grounded in a Christian worldview, and frequently draws on theological motifs in his work, as is evident from explicit references to Biblical texts and a more general background conflict between good and bad angels.

But there are also clear influences of eastern philosophy, in particular the yin-yang concept as expressed by Taoists and others.The constant reference to the balance and conflict between male-female, good-evil, light-darkness, order-chaos balance is typical of Eastern philosophy, and seems to be a stronger influence on Gaiman's fantasy world than the Biblical imagery. These Taoistic influences I found somewhat troubling, not just because of their presence (they are equally evident in other fantasy works like Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series), but because they are expressed in a serious manner that suggests some form of validation of this worldview."The Books of Magic" comes across as a much more serious form of fantasy, and in this respect reminded me a great deal of Ursula Le Guin's famous "Earthsea Trilogy".Just as with Le Guin, the magical fantasy of Gaiman's world has rather dark and occultic elements that could be considered somewhat disturbing to some.This is no innocent fantasy world like that of Harry Potter (which post-dates Gaiman's work, and thus cannot be the source of his ideas), but is more mature and adult, and it's precisely this which makes me somewhat alarmed by it.I can't conclude too much from one book, but despite the fact that there are clear instances of Biblical imagery, on the whole "The Books of Magic" seems to reject the world of science and rationalism in favour of an eastern philosophical worldview closely related to paganism and witchcraft.Is this typical of the graphic fantasy novel in general, is it typical of Gaiman, or is it neither of the above?I'm intrigued to know.

Of course, there are many more influences at work here - there are several references to the legends of Atlantis, and of King Arthur, so there's a multitude of things going on in Timothy Hunter's world.Even if the worldview here is somewhat concerning, it cannot be disputed that this is a thought-provoking and ground-breaking work.The story isn't as gripping as the artwork, and it's not really for children, but what we have here is certainly a taste of the possibilities that the graphical novel can offer, even if it's not the ideal place to begin one's exploration of the genre. GODLY GADFLY (2007)

One of my old favourites . . .
I used to collect these years ago, along with The Doom Patrol, The Crow (older series), and Sandman.If you're into such surreal and darker fare, you will definitely enjoy The Books of Magic.It's dark and surreal, and the artwork is great too -- what's there not to love about that?I don't collect comics anymore, but I'd still read these if I had one around. ... Read more

Product Description

"The joy for me is knowing that somebody can have this strange audio experience. They're getting something as good as you get from radio." - Neil Gaimen

Produced by the Sci-Fi Channel and Seeing Ear Theatre - these two plays are adapted for voice by Neil Gaiman from two of his short stories (both stories can be found in Smoke & Mirrors).

SNOW GLASS APPLES: Once upon a time there lived a young princess with skin as white as snow, with hair as black as coal, with lips redder than blood. Most people think they know what happens to this young unfortunate girl. Most people are wrong. Tony-award winning actress Bebe Neuwirth (Chicago, Sweet Charity, and TV's Cheers) stars as a wise Queen who wants nothing more than to reign over her kingdom peacefully but is forced to match wits with an inhuman child who has an unnatural taste for blood.

Full Cast List:
Bebe Neuwirth as the Queen ; Martin Carey as the Huntsman; Mark Evans as the Prince; Merwin Goldsmith as the Lord of the Fair; J.R. Horne as the Archbishop & Friar; Alissa Hunnicutt as the Maidservant; Randy Maggiore as a Soldier; Kate Simses as the Princess; Nick Wyman as the King

MURDER MYSTERIES: In this mystery noir set in heaven's City of Angels before the fall, the first crime has been committed. It is an awful one. While the angelic hosts labor to create the world and its workings, one of their number is mysteriously slain by one of their own. Raguel, Angel of Vengeance, is mandated by Lucifer to discover both motive and murderer in this holy dominion that had so recently known no sin.

Full Cast List:
Brian Dennehy as Raguel ; Anne Bobby as Tink's Friend ; Christopher Burns as Saraquael ; Thom Christopher as Lucifer ; Ed Dennehy as Zephkiel ; Michael Emerson as Narrator ; Traci Godfrey as Tinkerbell Richmond ; Evan Pappas as Phanuel

Customer Reviews (8)

Amazing!Mr. Gaiman - please do more of these audio plays!
I have listened to these over and over and get more out of them each time.Neil Gaiman is a brilliant writer and the actors in these audio plays are incredible.This is art of the highest order.

Two tellings of disturbing (and enjoyable) tales...
Two very disturbing stories from Neil Gaiman, this was a duet of short plays adapted for "Seeing Ear Theatre" and read by Bebe Neuwirth ("Snow Glass Apples") and Brian Dennehy ("Murder Mystery.")

"Snow Glass Apples" was a re-telling of Snow White with a ghastly vampiric twist, and from the voice of the Queen, who is anything but the Disnified villainess we've come to know and loathe. Snow White is herself a disturbing figure, and all in all, this was a very enjoyable re-telling of a classic, if a tad gruesome in its telling and conclusion.

"Murder Mystery" I found quite wonderful - it is a tale that includes the investigation of the first murder ever - an angel has been killed, and another angel is called to investigate. The B-plot story, however, just plain didn't make sense.

If I had to break them into two parts, "Snow Glass Apples" would get a '5' and "Murder Mystery" would get a '3.' Hence the '4.'

'Nathan

Seeing Ear Theatre
Two Plays For Voices is part of the Seeing Ear Theatre Productions from the Sci-Fi Channel.More television stations should follow their lead.These two stories told in the form of radio plays are terrific!I am a big fan of Neil Gaiman and this format brings two incredible stories to life.

Murder Mysteries is expertly presented and the twist at the end is a surprise to say the least.

Snow Glass Apples is a shivery fairy tale which cuts to the core of good vs. evil and that some things aren't always what they seem.

Gaiman got game
I'm a fan...Neil's worst works still qualify as excellent in my mind, and these are some of his best.I read these stories when they were published 10 years ago in a small distribution book called Angels and Visitations.Then I saw them reprinted again in another book some years later.

The two plays in this package provided my wife and I the best entertainment we were going to get while being stuck in 8 hours of traffic.Finally I got my wife to pay attention to Neil's stuff (she refused to read Sandman)and she dug it.

If you like books on tape, this is better.If you like reading Neil's work, you'll like it even better this way.

Neil, if you're reading this...can we have some more of these?

Gaiman got game
I'm a fan...Neil's worst works still qualify as excellent in my mind, and these are some of his best.I read these stories when they were published 10 years ago in a small distribution book called Angels and Visitations.Then I saw them reprinted again in another book some years later.

The two plays in this package provided my wife and I the best entertainment we were going to get while being stuck in 8 hours of traffic.Finally I got my wife to pay attention to Neil's stuff (she refused to read Sandman)and she dug it.

If you like books on tape, this is better.If you like reading Neil's work, you'll like it even better this way.

Neil, if you're reading this...can we have some more of these? ... Read more

Product Description
From one of the most highly recognised and award winning comic writers on the scene today, Neil Gaiman (Sandman, Death, Violent Cases), and his sometime collaborator, innovative artist Dave McKean (Arkham Asylum, Cages, Violent Cases) comes a haunting and stylish exploration of birth, death and renewal. Both human and flower the heroine, Black Orchid, undertakes a hazardous journey to uncover her true origins, providing a moving ecological parable for our times. This work by Gaiman and Mckean is an early showcase for the talent we know today. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (29)

Not Gaiman's best, but lush McKean art saves it.
Neil Gaiman, Black Orchid (Vertigo, 1991)

As much a fan of Neil Gaiman as I am, some of his stuff just leaves me cold. Neverwhere is like that (while it's been quite a few years, I seem to recall saying in my review it wasn't anything I hadn't seen before done better), and some of the stories in Fragile Things seemed a bit anemic, though overall it's a strong collection. And then there is Black Orchid, which like the more recent Eternals is a Gaiman attempt at rebooting, or reimagining, an old comic character. Mikal Gilmore, in his introduction, heralds it as the beginning of a new era in comics. While I can kind of see where he's coming from, it reminds me of the old adage that first is not always best.

Black Orchid, a minor character from the DC universe, gets her own three-book series (collected in this volume). After the violent opening scenes, she takes stock of her existence and goes on a quest to discover her roots, along the way incurring the interest of a number of familiar characters (most notably Lex Luthor and Swamp Thing).

On the "strong" side is Dave McKean's art, which is always excellent whether he's collaborating with Gaiman or working on his own material (Cages made my ten-best-reads-of-the-year list back in the day). On the "weak" side is, well, everything else. Gaiman's story feels aimless more than anything else, with side trips that seem to exist for the sole purpose of roping other characters back into this story. For the Gaiman completist, at best; he was already doing far better work with Sandman at this time, and as far as reboots go, Eternals is a much better book than this. Still, it's worth it for McKean's always-stellar artwork. ***

Review of Gaiman's Black Orchid
This is a fine crafted psychological exploration of the Black Orchid's life story. I was expecting a more powerful stress on themes of environmentalism, but what Gaiman offers is very satisfactory. McKean's drawings for this story are some of his best, from what I've seen.

Delves deep into issues of what happens when you choose, or don't choose, violence
One of the few Gaiman/McKean works that I haven't read; I was eager to read this graphic novel.It was a pretty good read.It is an unusual comic book and deals with some more serious issues than the basic good vs. evil.

This comic takes place in Gotham City and in the first few scenes we get to watch as the super-hero Black Orchid is captured and killed.The rest of the story follows her flower sisters as they deal with the fall-out from Black Orchid's action and try to find a place for themselves in the world.

It is an interesting story in that the main character for the most part is a passive flower-lady that is trying to gain back her memories and figure out how to protect her flower sisters.

There are cameo appearances by Batman, Poison Ivy, Lex Luther, and others.We get to visit Arkham Asylum and spend time with the dirty underground of Gotham.

The majority of the comic deals with the idea of violence and what happens when you make a choice either to be peaceful or take violent action.It also shows that sometimes making the right choice doesn't always mean things will turn out the right way.

An interesting graphic novel and somewhat thought provoking.I can see why they said this graphic novel helped break the way for more non-traditional graphic novels.The artwork by McKean is the usual mixture of beautiful, creepy, and slightly disturbing...it goes very well with the story.

There are only a couple things that weren't ideal.One was that the character's aren't as engaging as I am used to for Gaiman and (since this was released in the 80's) the other is that the graphics are pretty dated...there are a lot of 80's hairstyles walking through this graphic novel and at times that made me laugh.

Good for a first
This is decent for comic that tries to tie into one of the mainstream 'universes,' though it could have been substantially better if it didn't try to reuse characters like Lex Luthor.
Considering this was about Neil Gaiman's first, it's still pretty good.

The art in particular is worthy of note.

Lovely book
I read this after reading the first few Sandman novels. It was rather different, but was still a lovely book with a interesting plot and a nice conclusion. ... Read more

Product Description
Best-selling author Neil Gaiman (The Sandman) joins a murderer's row of talented artists in lending his unique touch to the Batman mythos for this Deluxe Edition hardcover! Spotlighting the story "Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?" from Batman #685 and Detective Comics #852, Gaiman joins artist Andy Kubert and inker Scott Williams for a story that shines a new light on the Batman mythos. Batman: Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader? also collects Gaiman stories from Secret Origins #36, Secret Origins Special #1, and Batman Black And White #2. This collection is not to be missed!Amazon.com Review
Book Description

Best-selling author Neil Gaiman (The Sandman) joins a murderer's row of talented artists in lending his unique touch to the Batman mythos for this Deluxe Edition hardcover! Spotlighting the story "Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?" from Batman #685 and Detective Comics #852, Gaiman joins artist Andy Kubert and inker Scott Williams for a story that shines a new light on the Batman mythos. Batman: Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader? also collects Gaiman stories from Secret Origins #36, Secret Origins Special #1, and Batman Black And White #2. This collection is not to be missed!

A Look Inside Batman: Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?
(Click on Images to Enlarge)

... Read more

Customer Reviews (34)

An Excellent Collection for Batman Fans
Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?is a swan song to Batman. Written by Neil Gaiman, the two-part comic is set in the back of a bar on Crime Alley. Rogues and friends alike have come together to remember the fallen Batman. Each of them offer a tale of how Batman died and why Gotham will be different without him.

Through it all, in a corporeal form, the Caped Crusader watches. He hears what's being said, but something does not jive with him. Nor, does it seem, is he alone...

The main arc within the deluxe hardcover of this book is a beautiful piece. The artist, Andy Kubert, creates panel after panel of fantastic illustrations. The tale combined with the artwork make the arc stunning.

The story pays homage to Batman over the years. Gaiman, a lifelong Dark Knight fan, is more than capable of writing a gripping tale that highlights Batman as well as laments his passing. Despite having a rather predictable conclusion, Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader? is a wonderful short story for all fans of the World's Greatest Detective.

After the main arc, Gaiman includes three other short tales. The first, a Batman Black & White, is intentionally crude in the drawings. All colors are either black or white. People are almost hideous looking. And the Bat is never fully seen, only in smoke and shadows. This story was over quickly, but I liked it. The second, "Pavane," is drawn in an old comic book style and tells a story of Poison Ivy. It was the weakest of the lot. The third, "Original Sins/ When is a Door," is a semi-frame story about a group of reporters trying to get interviews with famous villains. The Riddler agrees and gives them what they ask for, along the way telling his origin (if you can believe him). This story was fun to read, the illustrations were still old school, and the conclusion was excellent.

Overall, the entire deluxe hardcover edition of Batman: Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader? was a quick read, filled with fun for any Batman fan, old and young alike. The main arc is definitely the strongest part of the collection, but the latter tales shouldn't be ignored either.

Surprising, thought-provoking, ingenious, wonderful
Neil Gaiman and Batman. My favorite author and the most human and interesting of all superheroes. It sounds like a winning combination, and it is.

In the titular story, Batman is no more, and as his friends, acquaintances, and enemies gather to say goodbye, they share their very different stories about how the Caped Crusader met his end. Most of the stories are thought-provoking, some are contradictory, and some are downright shocking...and there's no way of knowing which--if any--are true.

The rest of this book is comprised of past Batman stories penned by Gaiman, a longtime writer of comics and graphic novels.

This book has some really fascinating ideas about Batman. It has kind of changed the way I see the character. Not that I know anything new for sure, but...there's that possibility.

Pretty but too damn short
The real run of "Whatever Happened..." is only two issues.I think nobody on these reviews said it.That's a pretty touching story.More than a good-bye for Batman is a good-bye for "Detective Comics" or the "Batman" titles that are no longer on the market.All in all, the two issues are pretty good, but I have the sense that you'll get the most of it if you have follow Batman since the 40's.If not you'll still have some fun but on another lower level.

The rest of the book have 3 different stories:The first is a black and white one were Batman is "backstage" before entering a scene for a comic issue.This one is a DAMN good, original and fun story, but again is a very short story.

The third and fourth story are a waste.The first is about a whatever guy checking is Poison Ivy should stay in jail or go to Arkham.The other story is about a group of reporters who seek the villains to have their part of the story regarding crime.Both stories have a low class art and, except for a speech given by The Riddler (that was pretty touching), the stories are a waste of time and money.

I'll be selling my copy because I thought this was going to be a bridge from RIP to Battle for the Cowl.IS NOT!.

This book is not relevant for the Batman run, so I'll recomend it only if you are a nostalgic one, and even though, I still think is too damn expensive for such a short book.

Gaiman and Kubert succeed in this tribute without tying themselves helplessly to the history
Along with Superman: Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?, Neil Gaiman's Batman: Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader? gets the Deluxe Edition treatment from DC, with a similar black hardcover--this time imprinted with the Batman logo--and a similar design of dustcover, making it all but irresistible to buy this 2009 effort along with Alan Moore's classic from the 1986.

Gaiman's work follows the same idea, conceptually, as Man of Tomorrow. Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader? is designed as a sort of "what if" scenario, giving readers Batman in his final days. But from there, Gaiman departs, making the idea his own for the Dark Knight.

Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader? plays like an out-of-body experience for Batman. During the opening panels, Batman is confused about his whereabouts, but is reassured he's in Gotham. Then he's looking down on what appears to be, but cannot possibly be, his own funeral.

Unlike Moore's "imaginary story," which somehow feels a bit more "realistic" in the comparison to Gaiman's take, Caped Crusader is somewhat based in the continuity of Batman. It takes place shortly after Batman's psychological breakdown in Grant Morrison's Batman R.I.P. run, and following the hero's fate in Final Crisis. Gaiman uses this psychological breakdown and questions of his death to set the stage for Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?

The wake takes place at the small Gotham City bar called the Dew Drop. As the story opens, classic villains like Catwoman, Two-Face, and The Joker park their vehicles in the alley. They enter the back room of the bar to find several other villains already enjoying the free refreshments, and the other side of the room filled with Batman's less questionable company.

At the front of the room is a casket, and in it is the Batman. But despite the series being tied to recent events, he's not necessarily the Batman from the current continuity, but one who spans roughly 70 years of Batman history. It's in this that Gaiman's work is a success. Both the villains and fellow heroes stand at the wake over the course of the two-part story to tell tales of Batman and his ultimate demise, but each story, each conclusion to the tale of Batman, is different save for a few common elements.

Andy Kubert's art plays into these conflicting tales in a big way. The pages are big, colorful, and glossy, and Kubert's own touch is present throughout. But he somehow also manages to evoke the styles of Batman artists throughout the character's history, tracing all the way back to creator Bob Kane. It helps enhance each contradictory recounting of Batman's final moments, and also serves as great fan service in what is designed as a farewell to the Caped Crusader. And Gaiman and Kubert succeed in this tribute without tying themselves helplessly to the history. In it, they find an original tale.

But it's hard not to think the purpose of Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader? is slightly lost in the mix. It is teetering somewhere between high concept and keeping it simple for the readers. And while its conclusion ultimately works, it's hard not to think it is a bit ham-fisted, for Gaiman at least. The book also seemingly suffers from its ties to recent events. What made Moore's Superman work particularly special is that in being an "imaginary story" it found separation and the ability to work outside of current continuity. The Caped Crusader doesn't have that luxury, but Gaiman still finds a way to make it, at the very least, a hell of a lot of fun.


The Deluxe Hardcover also includes pages from Kubert's sketchbook, alternate covers and four other Batman stories written by Gaiman during different eras. The gem of the bunch is "A Black and White World," treating Batman like a stage play, in which the actors playing the Batman and The Joker talk backstage while waiting to go on in the comic to do their parts.
-- William Jones

"Do you know the only reward you get for being Batman?"
I decided to read this book because I love almost everything Gaiman writes.I was skeptical of his ability to do super heroes until I read Marvel 1602, which gave me faith that he could handle Batman and make it Gaiman-esque, and I wasn't disappointed.In most of this volume, Batman is observing his own funeral as friends and enemies (mostly the later) share memories of his life and his death.It takes a number of unexpected and interesting turns and twists and was a very enjoyable read.The artwork is awesome, really adding to the experience.Also in this volume is a short piece of comedy in which Batman and the Joker are talking off-camera, a story about a man talking to Poison Ivy in prison, and a story about some documentary television producers interviewing The Riddler.All of the stories were enjoyable and all very different from anything else I've read about Batman.If you like Batman, Neil Gaiman, or both, this volume is worth reading. ... Read more

Product Description
You may have heard somewhere that Neil Gaiman's Sandman series consistedof cool, hip, edgy, smart comic books. And you may have thought, "What the helldoes that mean?" Enter A Game of You to confound the issue even more, while at the same time standing as a fine example of such a description. This is not an easy book. The characters are dense and unique, while their observations are, as always with Gaiman, refreshingly familiar. Then there's the plot, which grinds along like a coffee mill, in the process breaking down the two worlds of this series, that of the dream and that of the dreamer. Gaiman pushes these worlds to their very extremes--one is a fantasy world with talking animals, a missing princess, and a mysterious villain called the Cuckoo; the other is an urban microcosm inhabited by a drag queen, a punk lesbian couple, and a New York doll named Barbie. In almost every way this book sits at 180 degrees from the earlier four volumes of the Sandman series--although the less it seems to belong to the series, the more it shows its heart. --Jim PascoeAmazon.com Review
You may have heard somewhere that Neil Gaiman's Sandman series consisted of cool, hip, edgy, smart comic books. And you may have thought, "What the hell doesthat mean?" Enter A Game of You to confound the issue even more,while at the same time standing as a fine example of such a description.This is not an easy book. The characters are dense and unique, while theirobservations are, as always with Gaiman, refreshingly familiar. Thenthere's the plot, which grinds along like a coffee mill, in the processbreaking down the two worlds of this series, that of the dream and that ofthe dreamer. Gaiman pushes these worlds to their very extremes--one is afantasy world with talking animals, a missing princess, and a mysteriousvillain called the Cuckoo; the other is an urban microcosm inhabited by adrag queen, a punk lesbian couple, and a New York doll named Barbie. Inalmost every way this book sits at 180 degrees from the earlier fourvolumes of the Sandman series--although the less it seems to belong to theseries, the more it shows its heart. --Jim Pascoe ... Read more

Customer Reviews (48)

Wonderful volume
In university, I went to a seminar on the (intentional) similarities between Neil Gaiman's Sandman series and Dante's The Divine Comedy. I hadn't at the time read Sandman--although I was planning to, hence my going to the seminar--(or Inferno, don't tell my classics profs) so, due to my unfamiliarity with the books and my inability to find my notes, a lot of what the lecturer said didn't really stick with me. One of the things I do remember is that he told us that each of the volumes is either masculine or feminine, and I thought he'd said that they alternated (by my count of the five I've read as of yet, I think there are more masculine than feminine so far, and they're not alternating regularly), but I didn't remember which were which.

I'm pretty sure that A Game of You is a feminine volume. The main character is the girl-woman Barbie, rather than Dream, and she gets support from the other women in her apartment building. The only real males that are kind to her are from her dreamworld. It's a continuation of sorts of the amazing The Sandman Vol. 2: The Doll's House, another volume I'm pretty sure is feminine. Also there is a lot of pink, and in her dreamworld she's a princess. So, feminine. I don't know if that's why I loved it so much more than the presumably masculine previous volume (which, admittedly, was almost as wonderful), but it's possible.

All of this couldn't happen any other place than New York City
This one was okay. Basically wizard of OZ meets people's nightmares. In this one, Gaiman explored one long story btwn a face painting Barbie , transsexual-in-progress, several lesbians, and old woman that is loosing her mind and becomes a forecaser of what's to come, and animals that can talk. The setting is New York. Well of COURSE you'll find all this stuff in New York City, where else? Anyway... the art is very curvy, pretty ,barbie like, almost pornographic sexy. I still prefer the look of Sandman Vol 1 and 2 the most. I liked this volume (5) but somehow just not as crazy about it as the other ones.

Review of Gaiman's 'Sandman 'V'
Honestly, at this point, anything that Neil Gaiman writes would impress me. Even so, I don't feel this is his greatest work. The writing and story are there, but they just aren't as compelling as earlier volumes. Every fan of the Sandman will inevitably read this volume, and I hope others find it less disappointing.

It would make a great companion to THE MAXX
I can't help but think of The Maxx Volume 1 (Wildstorm/DC Comics)) as I read A Game of You - after all, both entail the stories of young women pulled into their fantasy world and the play between the two, complete with heroes, princess fantasies, and a desire to be something else, something more. Of course, whereas The Maxx's fantasy world was a more direct window into Julie's psyche, Gaiman's dream world is infinitely more flexible and less predictable, leading to a far stranger and more threatening fantasy - to say nothing of the way that reality itself is far less stable than we might expect (and our first glimpse of that is an absolutely stellar reveal). And while The Maxx focused on feminism and its corresponding view of the world, A Game of You becomes concerned more fundamentally with identity - gender identity, yes, but also the nature of who we really are and who we allow ourselves to be. Of all the Sandman volumes I've read so far, A Game of You is probably the most complex and the one most open to interpretation, and like the best literature, the questions it inspires are as fascinating, if not more so, than definite answers. Gaiman spins a two-teired tale, but eschews the standard interplay between a princess's quest to save her land and her real-life world in favor of something far more complex - a universe more interested in chromosomes than names, dead faces that tell jokes, and more. Despite Morpheus's relatively small part in the story, don't neglect this one; it's one of the richest and most satisfying chapters yet.

So good!Maybe the best of the series!
This volume of The Sandman could very easily exist as a standalone graphic novel, but it's ties to the Sandman universe only serve to enhance it.It is a great little story, and once you pick it up you will lose yourself in it. ... Read more

Product Description

Lucy hears sneaking, creeping,
crumpling noises
coming from inside
the walls.

Eventually she talks her family into moving back into the once-wolfish walls, where they peek out at the wolves who are watching their television and spilling popcorn on slices of toast and jam, dashing up the stairs, and wearing their clothes. When the family can't stand it anymore, they burst forth from the walls, scaring the wolves, who shout, "And when the people come out of the walls, it's all over!" The wolves flee and everything goes back to normal...until the tidy ending when Lucy hears "a noise that sounded exactly like an elephant trying not to sneeze." Adult fans of this talented pair will revel in the quirky story and its darkly gorgeous, deliciously shadowy trappings, but the young or faint of heart, beware! (Ages 9 and older) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Customer Reviews (76)

Wolves Indeed
How do we step outside ourselves, to see ourselves as others do? And even more difficult to imagine is how non-human others see us (The philosophical digressions call to me like the Sirens, but I will resist)! However this is done, it's probably more easily accomplished with children than with adults. Neil Gaiman's "The Wolves in the Walls", illustrated by Dave McKean, succeeds in just this way. Gaiman unpacks the proverb, "That spider is more afraid of you than you are of it," in wacky detail, and replaces spiders with wolves. The children - or at least one child, Lucy - hears noises others don't, the adults are deliciously irrational in a fairy tale way, and the wolves behave more like greedy humans. After the first few pages I stopped trying to understand, and just hung on for the ride.

Gaiman draws out the proverb in a meandering way that makes it more than a proverb, and turns it into a real story. As the parents talk their adult talk - with twists - and the kids voice their childish thoughts and fears, and the wolves delight us with their wolfish schemes, the story leaves its parable-like roots, and we lose ourselves in the dark action: We are outside our own house, hiding out in the yard, afraid to get close to the now haunted and occupied house.

The pictures in "The Wolves" are dreamy collages, all of them dark like dreams, where you can't quite make out what's out at the edges. In the dreamtime, Lucy and her family are run out of their house by the wolves in the walls, and while the wolves make themselves at home, Lucy, brother, mother and father hide out in the yard. They discuss what to do. But rather than any plan, desperation draws the family back toward the house, to find out just what is going on. Sneaking in, they find themselves... in the walls.

Like thieves, mom, dad, Lucy and brother proceed as quietly as possible, and like thieves, with some fear. Of course they don't want to be discovered, but neither do they intend to live in the walls. So they listen and peek, to see just exactly who - or what - are their adversaries. What they see is disaster: The wolves have trashed the house, eaten the food, raced up and down the stairs, watched the TV with their animal eyes, played father's tuba with their wolfish lips, played the video games with their greedy paws.

My house. My food. My stairs, TV, tuba, video games. To see ourselves from outside, to see the paraphernalia of our lives in the hands of a stranger, is really quite traumatic. The leap of perspective is almost impossible. In fact, Gaiman surely knows that he's provoking the reader to just such a leap. Again, it may not be such a leap for children, but for adults, it can be harrowing just to contemplate it; most never make the leap. A brief review of modern philosophy (Jean-Paul Sartre and the existentialists especially) will make this little digression seem less fantastic and entirely reasonable.

But it takes being evicted from our "house" by violence; we don't go willingly. The evictors are animals by definition: they threw us out of our own house! They can't possibly know what that house means to us! They can't possibly appreciate it - and its contents - like we do! Animals! So we connive to get back into our own skin, to retake possession of what is ours. Everyone, and everything, to their rightful and original places. Wolves in the walls, indeed!

Fun story and Wicked art
Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean have been working on stories together for a long time.I am a big fan of Sandman --- that they worked together on--- look it up,... it's awesome!

This is a cute story that any kid from age 5to 10 would love read, but I suggest you read it to them.Read with your kids and they will read on their own when they are bigger!

The Wolves in the Walls by Neil Gaiman and Dean McKean
Neil spoke about how he got this inspiration for this children's picture book, about how his daughter Maddy came up with an idea about wolves residing within walls and how they eventually came to life within this beautifully illustrated book, the one of the few in Neil Gaiman's bibliography. This book turns out to be one of his most enjoyable, for all ages.

The way I see it, calling this a children's book seems more for formality's sake because, although it's clearly aimed towards children and its language may seem childish and simple to most, it has tons of satirical charm that can be enjoyed by adults. Lucy seems sharper than the rest of the family, her father and mother and most certainly her brother. She hears sounds in between the walls that no one else hears and how she recognize them as obvious howls of wolves no one knows. The story feels oddly allegorical and deeper than what appears on the page. Maybe it serves as a reminder that there are always forces underneath the fabric of this world that constantly threatens our existence, as we know it.

Probably I'm reading too much into it, but in any case this book has plenty of charm for kids to devour. The wolves take over the house and they start having a party of their lives, as in accordance to their deviant natures. They go up and down banisters when they shouldn't be. They go at the video game system and beat all the high scores. Dean McKean's art shows the comedy in every colorful panel, giving the same comic quality matching the simple words. This book shows how words and pictures can engage the imagination, show outrageous things and get away with it. It showcases Neil Gaiman's wicked imagination as well; just look at the picture with the wolf with a different sock worn on his front legs. The book has tons of such images that would drive the reader crazy.

The art moves from black inked art to full color photographic references peppered or surrounded with painting, Dean's trademark style shows through every single page of this picture book. This is the sort of combination that can make such a book run and the result turned out to be the duo's most imaginatively funny picture book to be enjoyed by children and adults alike. There could be more material here as one might argue, but what more can one expect from a picture book?

strange but funny
_The Wolves in the Walls_ is one of those books that early on, you think, "Goodness gracious! Is this going to give my five-year-old nightmares?" Just when you think it's going to get really scary, it turns hilariously wacky. A fun read, helped along by trippy illustrations.Not quite as well written as some of Gaiman's other books, though, I thought.

Horror for the Pre-School Set
The Wolves In the Walls tells the story of young Lucy.She keeps hearing scritches, scratches and other noises in the walls.She in convinced that there are wolves behind them but her family keeps fluffing off her fears, but not without throwing out an ominous warning, "If the wolves come out of the walls, then it's all over."You must read on to find out what happens to Lucy, her pig puppet, and their family when Lucy's fears come true.

This may be our favorite new picture book.My son picked it randomly off the shelf at the library and while I usually put his random selections back, seeing Neil Gaiman's name on the cover made me rethink that plan.I was not at all disappointed.We've already read it a number of times since bringing it home and it is definitely on our "need to own" list.It is a modern day horror story for the preschool and kindergarten set that you won't regret you brought home.

In addition to the great storytelling, Dave McKean's artwork is also phenomenal.The whole book is in dark, sepia tones and manages to seamlessly combine two-dimensional and three-dimensional aspects.Many of the characters look just as you would expect to seem them in such films as Coraline, The Corpse Bride, or the Nightmare Before Christmas.I'm a sucker for the incredible artwork found in modern day children's books and this one definitely takes the cake. ... Read more

Product Description

Coraline discovered the door a little after they moved into the house.

Customer Reviews (34)

A pitiful shadow of a great book
AVOID AT ALL COSTS!! The original Coraline book with illustrations from Dave McKean is amazing and wonderful. This graphic novel sucks all joy and inspiration from the original. McKean was able to say everything in a handful of illustrations and not only does P. Craig Russell not add a single thing to the story he actually takes away the imagination and visual playfulness.Buy the original book by Neil Gaiman with illustrations by Dave McKean.

I thought I was getting a book
I didnt realize this was a graphic novel when i ordered it, so I was incredibly disappointed that I didnt get the book that I have been so excited to read. If you like graphic novels, then go for it. If you are looking for the book, be careful, this isnt it!

creepy, but good. just don't read it in the dark.
let me first state that i have not read the book version of this, so i have no means for comparison.i picked this up at the library as my first graphic novel ever, so i also have no sense of expertise on graphic novels or their quality/merit.so, that out of the way, i really enjoyed Coraline, although i think i would have enjoyed it even more if it hadn't been dark outside when i read it.it was just a tad on the creepy side, which was definitely not what i was expecting from my first graphic novel.yeah, i'm a wuss.

the story naturally centers on a little girl named Coraline, whose family has just moved into a large estate that is shared by a couple of elderly ladies and their dogs, and an old man and his mice.they are all quirky and fun and keep Coraline occupied when she isn't off exploring the land surrounding the property, as a latchkey kid of sorts.we jump right into the creepiness when Coraline finds a locked door that occasionally opens to another portion of the house, which brings her into an alternate version of her life, with zombie-like versions of everyone else.

my favorite part of this, being that it was my first graphic novel, was the art.i found myself lingering on the images, studying them, even when there was no text.there was an unbelievable amount of detail to the drawings, at times, that was really impressive.it could just be my lack of familiarity with graphic novels, but there was so much to take in that it was sometimes overwhelming.

the storyline itself was very simple and clearly written, which was pretty impressive considering how few words are really in the book.the characters could have been better developed, but i did appreciate how clever Coraline was when it became apparent that she might be stuck in her alternate life forever.as a pseudo coming-of-age book, and a definite nightmare inducing children's book, this was a good choice and i'm glad i picked it up.

as my first graphic novel, i was very happy.it was simple and beautifully executed and has definitely opened me up to the potential of having the graphic novel make a more regular appearance on my bookshelf. and for that, i'm very thankful!

Coraline is great!
My little girl fell in love with the movie and when I saw this I had to pick it up for her.She loves this graphic novel and I would recommend for any Coraline fan ;)

disturbing drawings
Coraline as a graphic novel is even scarier that the written version! I'm doing a project with my 14 year old students in Spain, reading the graphic novel in English and the book both in Catalan and Spanish, and the general opinion is that the drawings are very disturbing... but they really love them!if you have time, have a look at what they think about the characters in our blog:
[...] ... Read more

Product Description
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). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (32)

if your here you like sandman, buy this
this is by far the best way to read sandman, a required edition to any serious library

Love Sandman
These books are fantastic. Well worth the money I spent for it. The graphics are beautiful and the story is fantastic as ever. I have trouble putting it down.

absolute must
sandman is a great series, and should be read by all.the absolute edition does it justice with bigger print and high quality finish.even if you have original edition i would recommend supplementing your collection with this.

The Sandman...and then some
If you've got the Sandman books already, it is worth your money to replace them with the Absolute edition volumes. With the pages being so much larger, it is much easier to pick up the tiny details that you may have missed in the smaller prints. The colors are so much more vibrant on the big glossy pages that it's almost like seeing it for the first time again. Plus which, the book's hefty weight feels good in the hand for the reader who loves the feel of a book. The supplemental materials included also make it worth trading in the old books for. If you don't have the books already, this is the way to get them.

great story, quality of books is wanting
I give the story 5 out of 5 stars, however, the quality of the books themselves is wanting:All four volumes came to me inside their sleeves and shrink wrapped, yet there was slight scuffs to the covers!Also, volume four had one page folded over and miscut.For books that cost $99 each, there should have been more attention to detail/quality control.One last thing, although the story is one of if not the best comics stories out there, the art was sometimes not to my liking at all. ... Read more

Product Description
Nominated for two 2010 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards: a three-volume slipcased full-color set: over one thousand cartoons, spanning fifty years of a legendary career.Gahan Wilson is among the most popular, widely-read, and beloved cartoonists in the history of the medium, whose career spans the second half of the 20th century, and all of the 21st. His work has been seen by millions—no, hundreds of millions—in the pages of Playboy, The New Yorker, Punch, The National Lampoon, and many other magazines; there is no telling, really, how many readers he has corrupted or comforted. He is revered for his playfully sinister take on childhood, adulthood, men, women, and monsters. His brand of humor makes you laugh until you cry. And it’s about time that a collection of his cartoons was published that did justice to his vast body of work.

When Gahan Wilson walked into Hugh Hefner’s office in 1957, he sat down as Hefner was on the phone, gently rejecting a submission to his new gentlemen’s magazine: “I think it’s very well-written and I liked it very much,” Hefner reportedly said, “but it’s anti-sin. And I’m afraid we’re pro-sin.” Wilson knew, at that moment, that he had found a kindred spirit and a potential home for his cartoons. And indeed he had; Wilson appeared in every issue of Playboy from the December 1957 issue to today. It has been one of the most fruitful, successful, and long-lived relationships between a contributor and a magazine, ever.

Gahan Wilson: 50 Years of Playboy Cartoons features not only every cartoon Wilson drew for Playboy, but all his prose fiction that has appeared in that magazine as well, from his first story in the June 1962 issue, “Horror Trio,” to such classics as “Dracula Country” (September 1978). It also includes the text-and-art features he drew for Playboy, such as his look at Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum, his take on our country’s “pathology of violence,” and his appreciation of “transplant surgery.”

Wilson’s notoriously black sense of comedy is on display throughout the book, leaving no sacred cow unturned (an image curiously absent in the book), ridiculing everything from state sponsored executions to the sober precincts of the nouveau rich, from teenage dating to police line-ups, with scalding and hilarious satirical jabs. Although Wilson is known as an artist who relishes the creepy side of modern life, this three-volume set truly demonstrates the depth and breadth of his range—from illustrating private angst we never knew we had (when you eat a steak, just whom are you eating?) to the ironic and deadpan take on horrifying public issues (ecological disaster, nuclear destruction anyone?).

Gahan Wilson has been peeling back the troubling layers of modern life with his incongruously playful and unnerving cartoons, assailing our deepest fears and our most inane follies. This three-volume set is a testament to one of the funniest—and wickedly disturbing—cartoonists alive.

Nominated for two 2010 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards (Best Archival Collection/Project: Strips; Best Publication Design). Full color ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

perfect Gahan Wilson showcase
One of the things that I have always looked forward to with each issue of Playboy is the Gahan Wilson cartoon.And for years I have waited for a nice collection of his work.This slipcased 3-volume set is exactly what I've wanted.There was obviously no expense spared to put this together.The books are nicely hardbound, the pages are full-color, and the art work is all Gahan Wilson.Each cartoon is labeled to show in which issue of Playboy (over the past 50 years) it was published.

If you are a Gahan Wilson fan this set is a treasure.The price has dropped since I purchased it, but it was worth every penny.

Beware
The Books are fantastic, but this Numbered Ltd. Edition has only a simple signed print, no difference from the regular edition. It does not include an exclusive letterpress print with glow-in-the-dark ink signed by Gahan Wilson or the attached box set containing facsimiles of Gahan's hand-drawn holiday cards to Hugh Hefner. You can get these extras at Fantagraphics Books for $143.50.

A fitting overview of a master of the macabre cartoon
Gahan Wilson is a national treasure who has been providing joy to the fans of his macabre imagination for decades, with cartoons in Playboy Magazine and the New Yorker. Now, Fantagraphics has published a three volume boxed set of his Playboy cartoons, including introductions by Hugh Hefner and Neil Gaiman, a biography and appreciation by Gary Groth, several short stories (including the classic "The Sea Was Wet as Wet Can Be"), and an interview with Wilson.

Wilson satirizes politics and pop culture with his magical grotesqueries.
There's a wealth of fun inside this overview of his Playboy work.

superb and sublime
What wonderful books. These will be the kind of coffee table display item types/examples of the future.
Cultural artifacts are usually pretty interesting; Remember Chas. Adams ?Only these far surpass his.
Ultimately, one is very seldom disappointed by Wilson.
What more could we ask for? It has good meaning on a plenitude of levels.

King of the macabre
Many people have different opinions as to why they bought Playboy. Aside from the obvious, for the older among us out there, my main reason for buying Playboy though, were Kurtzman and Elder's Little Annie Fanny and Gahan Wilson's cartoons. Never since Charles Addams have I seen someone relish on the macabre so much as Gahan Wilson has. For many years, I've searched for a book that would reprint all of Mr. Wilson's cartoons from Playboy and I never thought I'd see such a book. But then, I thought I was the only person in the world who was looking for such a book. Cut forward many years later and I see that Fantagraphics announced such a book. Needless to say I pre-ordered it a year in advance just so I wouldn't miss it. It seems I wasn't the only one after all wishing for this book. Thank you, Fantagraphics.

Along with Humbug, also from Fantagraphics, this was certainly one of the greatest surprises of the past year. A three volume collection, and in color, featuring all the art Gahan Wilson did for Playboy from the 50's up to the present. Phew! Added bonuses are some stories Gahan Wilson wrote for Playboy and the most in depth interview with him I've ever read.

So I guess that if you wish really hard, sometimes, you'll be granted your wishes.

Now, if we could only have Nuts reprinted, it would make all of us Gahan Wilson fans so very happy. ... Read more

Product Description
Gene Wolfe and Neil Gaiman invite you to tour the Shambles, that historic old Chicago neighborhood which miraculously survived the Great Fire of 1871. (''Ya can't burn Hell.'' as one local politician laughingly remarked.) Uniquely Chicago, the Shambles offers an array of delights for the intrepid sightseer: Cereal House with its Terribly Strange Bed (be sure to fill out the ''next of kin'' form if you stay the night: a quaint touch adding to the fun of an overnight visit); the House of Clocks boasts a collection of 20,000 time pieces -- make sure you arrive on the hour, for an unforgettable moment; the historic H.H. Holmes' House with the bars on his children's windows still intact; Saunders Park, a soothing respite from the city streets (if one is careful), with its gardens, statuary, ornamental lake and the infamous Petting Zoo (a favorite with children, but it's best not to bring your own); plus many more intriguing sights . . .

In the finest tradition of Charles Addams and Edward Gorey, our trustworthy guides Gene Wolfe and Neil Gaiman reveal the secrets of the Shambles, finding the best places to eat, (and where not to accept food under any circumstances), where to begin your walking tour, and when to run.

The Shambles has been called a place of dark magic and deadly menace. Many will insist there is no such place. Most pray it does not exist. Certainly, a spot not to be missed by any avid sightseer.

Come along . . . walk lively, now. The inhabitants of the Shambles are dying to meet you.

This lovely edition of A Walking Tour of the Shambles sports a cover by Gahan Wilson, America's reigning King of Whimsical Terrors, plus interior illustrations of Shambles' locales by Randy Broecker and Earl Geier, two daring Chicagoans.

Third Printing: 2009 ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Excellent guide for a hard-to-find locale!
I followed this guide and I had an unforgettable experience... Now, where am I exactly?

And yes, I do like Edward Gorey. And Ambrose Bierce.
For anyone having a quirky, dark sense of humour, as most diehard fans of Gaiman and Wolfe do, this is well worth tracking down. I had a smile on my face the entire way through, and laughed out loud to myself in several places. Despite its brief length, I can honestly say it gave me more entertainment for the dollar than any blockbuster novel I've read in the last several years.

If you like Edward Gorey's work, get it. If not, don't.
This book reads like a whimsical guidebook (and is less than a centimeter thick), has playfully macabre art, and all the substance of a marshmallow.If you can't get enough of amusing depictions of dessicating and dying children, shrines to Cthonic gods, and lurking horrors, this might be for you.If you're looking for something mildly engrossing with actual content, keep looking.

Good, but...
I found A Walking Tour to be amusing and clever, but there isn't much material for the price, which is my only real complaint. Recommended for diehard fans of Wolfe and/or Gaiman.

pretty good for what it is
...(The list of Wolfe's other books inside the cover doesn't include anything currently in print by the famous sf author). This is a mock sightseers guide to a fictional part of Chicago. While it is well written and entertaining, it is also very short and filled with illustrations, so there is not a whole lot to read. I would recomend it for light reading, however I would not recomend that anyone pay [$$$] for this small amount of literature. ... Read more

Product Description
Featuring the popular characters from the award-winning Sandman series by Neil Caiman, THE SANDMAN: ENDLESS NIGHTS reveals the legend of the Endless, a family of magical and mythical beings who exist and interact in the real world. Born at the beginning of time, Destiny, Death, Dream, Desire, Despair, Delirium, and Destruction are seven brothers and sisters who each lord over their respective realms. In this highly imaginative book that boasts a diverse styles of breathtaking art, these seven peculiar and powerful siblings each reveal more about their true being as they star in their own tales of curiosity and wonder. THE SANDMAN: ENDLESS NIGHTS was the first comic graphic novel to be listed on the "NY Times Best-seller list. SUGGESTED FOR MATURE READERS. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (49)

Great art, but I expected something different.
The first 4 stars I give to this book because of the Art. Every chapter was different and beautiful in its own way. Even the really confusing collage style art for Delerium, which i had to reread about 3 times to completely understand (and i still think they might have had a few errors), I still enjoyed VERY much.I loved the curvy, sexy style of Desire. I loved the clean, cold style for Death. It was fantastic!
The reason I couldn't give this book all 5 stars is because I expected a closing for the stories. After all, dream is dead, and now you're writing about their families. The 10th book (the one right before this one) described book 11 as the END ALL of the Sandman novels. I expected a definitive end. Or at least some sort of explanation about how those different endless entities came to be. Instead I was shown a "day in life" sort of thing. Which, of course leaves you wanting to know more. Which, in turn makes you want to read more other books, duh. Still... even if he DID describe how all 7 came to be, i would have read the other books as well, I just would have been more satisfied.
Still recommend this, as an excellent art and writing sample.

wonderful illustrations
I purchased this book for my daughter who is a painter/illustrator, lover of all things graphic.It was a huge hit.

Uneven storytelling, but too impressive to miss
Gaiman returns to his most famous creations - The Endless - in this stunning graphic novel.The structure is anything but predictable - each chapter deals with a different member of the immortal family, is illustrated by a different artist, and is written in a different style.One chapter feels like a folk tale, while another is a straightforward science fiction yarn, and yet another is written in a style approaching realism.Pretty advanced technique for a graphic novel, but Gaiman's storytelling skills don't always seem quite up to the challenge.The chapters aren't interrelated; they don't tell a running story, but together they give us a more complete picture of the seven siblings than ever emerged in the previous Sandman books.My favorite chapter is "Fifteen Portraits of Despair" which is emotionally powerful, even poetic, and clearly stretches the boundaries well beyond the conventions of the medium, but the rest of the book certainly wasn't up to that level.On the other hand the art... is frequently amazing.Not universally - in some chapters the art seems like pretty standard fare for comics - but the aforementioned "Despair" is just viscerally crushing, Milo Manara's art for "What I've Tasted of Desire" is deliciously seductive, and Frank Quitely does some truly majestic images of Destiny in "Endless Nights".As literature, Gaiman's work here stacks up as pretty small potatoes, but that doesn't mean fans of the genre won't be just blown away by it.

The Sandman: Endless Nights
Some of the writing was overly flowery, some of the chapters were utterly incomprehensible...and yet, there's just something there that draws the reader in.I found it irritating that the art was different for each chapter, and would have really liked to have seen unity both in illustration and plot.I still don't know what the overarching storyline of this was supposed to be because there simply wasn't one.Particularly disappointing was the 2nd chapter, falling into the graphic novel trap of excessive nudity with absolutely no purpose.I didn't need to see that, it served no purpose.I really did want to learn more about the Endless, though, and I found some of the dropped plot threads to be really intriguing, and I just want to know more.I hope some of the issues are cleared up in the next few volumes, because I feel like there's a really good story somewhere beneath all the clutter.

Rating: 3.5/5

a good volume, in spite of a few forgettable moments
I love Neil Gaiman and the Sandman materials, so I decided to check out this volume.In it, there is one tale for each of the Endless.Most of them were very good.The story about Death, which starts the volume off, was very dark and cool.Dream's story gave some interesting back story about his relationship with Desire.The story about Delerium was awesome, in spite of it being rather confusing.On the other hand, the stories about Destruction and Destiny didn't really stand out.This was slightly disappointing, as those characters have plenty of potential.All things considered, it was a good volume, and I think fans of The Sandman will enjoy much of the material. ... Read more

Product Description
Sorcery is all around us. From a child’s struggles to control magical powers for the first time, to the epic clashes of forces of good and evil on a titanic scale, here are more than twenty of the finest in contemporary and classic wizardry tales. Ranging from Michael Moorcock’s "Master of Chaos," the story of a knight traveling to a castle on the edge of the world to face the ultimate sorcerer, to Peter Crowther’s "The Eternal Altercation," in which a man is forced into the eternal battle between hope and despair on a sorcerer-controlled train, The Mammoth Book of Sorcerers’ Tales also includes stories from Ursula Le Guin, Steve Rasnic Tem, James Bibby, Robert Weinberg, A. C. Benson, Michael Kurland, and Louise Cooper. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A treat for fans of the fantasy genre
Knowledgeably compiled and edited by Mike Ashley, The Mammoth Book Of Sorcerers' Tales is a 512-page compendium of some of the best stories of wizardry from some of the finest writers in the fantasy genre. "Master of Chaos" by Michael Moorcock, "The Walker Behind" by Marion Zimmer Bradley, "The Bones of the Earth" by Ursula K. LeGuin and many more fill this exciting and volume brimming with magic, action, fantastic settings and mystical heroic deeds. The Mammoth Book Of Sorcerers' Tales is a treat for fans of the fantasy genre interested in experiencing nothing but the best of the best.

The Mammoth Book of Sorcerers' Tales
I am disappointed in this book.I have read 10 of the stories so far.Each story starts off great and builds into something exciting.Then each one seems to end abruptly.So my problem is with the endings.Each one is worst then the one before.

I would not recommend this book to someone who is starting to read fantasy.It will disappoint them

Something for Everyone
What an excellent short story collection!Though I have been a science fiction / fantasy fan for much of my life, I have only recently begun to read anthologies such as this one; however, I have read quite a lot in the past few years.Of the 15 or so that I've enjoyed, I do not hesitate to recommend this book as one of the best.Each of its 23 short stories is an amazing work of art that will have readers eager to flip to the next page.With a spectrum of tales ranging from magical events triggered by a seemingly harmless computer game to stories of fairy-tale-like love in jeopardy to wonderfully lighthearted comic fantasies, every reader with the slightest interest in the genre is sure to find something appealing.In fact, with the inclusion of comedy, computers, and modern-day themes, even those who don't normally read fantasy may be hard-pressed to put this novel down!

500 pages is simply not enough, and I can only hope to see more anthologies of this quality in the future. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

The dream king does it again!
I have a serious fondness for the written word, and where Neil Gaiman is concerned, it is not a fondness, it is a love.His works from Sandman to Eternals is awesome, but this particular book has held a fascination in it's difficulty to obtain in first print and the stories and poems it contains.Babycakes is one that come to mind as being truly disturbing, but that makes you think.He makes me wonder where we're headed.I would buy this book in any printing you can find, and by all means, if you run across a first print for a fair price, find me, I'm interested.:)

Neil Gaiman stretches beyond "Sandman", & quite beautifully
Unbeknownst to much of the population who read for pleasure with anyregularity, Neil Gaiman is one of our greatest living writers. "Sandman" is an epic saga that blends mythology, history,religion and pop culture into a masterwork medley."Angels andVisitations" is an equally masterful collection of stories that showwhat Mr. Gaiman can do when he lets his extraordinary imaginationloose.

"Murder Mysteries", a nimble tale about an inchoateHeaven and the constructive angels who populate it, is by far the best ofthe lot.Here Gaiman does what a great mystery writer should--let thedetails about the characters and their surroundings emerge and becomeincreasingly richer as the story draws to a close.The hilarious "TheCase of Four And Twenty Blackbirds" is a different kind of mystery;one which turns the tale of Humpty Dumpty on its ear. "Troll-Bridge" is another modernization of a children's tale--inthis case, "The Three Billy Goats Gruff"--which is written for avery different effect.It is a bittersweet story about the loss ofinnocence and how, as adults, we embrace the monsters that once frightenedus."Mouse" is, as another reviewer notes, an allegory thatmakes gentle, yet effective use of irony."Chivalry" is anentertainingly comic tale about finding the Holy Grail.Finally, there's"Luther's Villanelle", a poem which conjures up gothic imagesthat keep the reader's imagination going long after he or she has finishedreading it.

These works have remained fresh in my mind, although Ifinished reading this book more than three years ago.The mere fact thatso many have remained in my memory speaks much more about Gaiman's abilityto write than my ability to remember.A good writer can keep youinterested in what you're reading.A great one is one whose storytellingstays with you for a long time.

For that you gotta read the book....
Judge this book by its cover. The cover art by Dave McKean is both whimsical and mysterious, presaging Neil Gaiman's charming works on the printed pages within. Just in case you don't know anything about Neil,here's a bit of info. Neil is best known for his award-winning comic seriesSandman. Yes, he writes comic books, and he is damned good atit.

However, Neil is also damned good at the more traditional types ofwriting. He co-wrote the amazingly funny Good Omens with Terry Pratchett,and he also wrote the equally funny biography Don't Panic: Douglas Adams& The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy . His writing has appeared inanthologies. "Troll-Bridge" appeared in the adult fairy-talecompilation Snow White, Blood Red. "Murder Mysteries" (set in theSandman universe, I do believe) was in the magazine and horror compilationMidnight Graffiti.

Angels and Visitations shows what else he can do. Amiscellany of fiction, humour, non-fiction, poetry, and artwork, Angels andVisitations journeys from science fiction and fantasy shorts to detectivestories and meticulously-researched literary works. There is a story abouta worldwide shortage of animals--it reads like a cross between C. S.Lewis's "On Vivisection" and Jonathan Swift's "A ModestProposal." There is a postcard story about the fiendish enforcedslavery of a certain well-loved mythical figure. There's a prologue tosomeone else's book, and an odd and timely story on venereal disease.There's a poem about a computerized hell that reads like a cross betweenWilliam Gibson's Neuromancer and Kit Marlowe's Doctor Faustus. There's adisquieting allegory called "Mouse." There's a whole lot more,and it's all poignant, bitter-sweet, or rollickingly funny. It's all good.But are you going to get something out of Angels and Visitations? To quote"Prologue," "For that you gotta read the book."

Perfect.
What can i say, this is one of my favorite books.i usually don't like books of short stories and such, but this one is dead on.

Unforgettable stories
Some years ago I bought an anthology called Midnight Graffiti, now out of print (deservedly, unlike the book we are discussing). Although the authors were well-known, the general level of the stories was a) just average; b)bad; c) very bad; d) unspeakable, and so forth. The only story that stoodout was "Murder Mysteries," by Neil Gaiman. This melancholy andpowerful story stuck to my mind, and I could never forget it. So, I boughtthis book because it had this story in it (and so to get rid of MidnightGraffiti without qualms). This book is a treasure trove. Gaiman is ararity, as fantasy authors go. He is satisfying in general, but he issimply superb when writing about absolutely ordinary people and theirrelationship with magic (mostly, their refusal to let magic into theirlives), as in Chivalry, Vampire Sestina, Troll Bridge, the abovementionedMurder Mysteries and one about a veneral disease whose title has escapedme. (Just the title, I remember the story perfectly well.)

For those whodid not get this great book, you can still enjoy Mr. Gaiman's unique talentin Smoke and Mirrors; it does not have the illustrations and essays, but itbrings a lot of new stories. And unlike this one, it is in print. ... Read more