By: Neil Gaiman Publisher: Vertigo Average Rating: Binding: Hardcover Label: Vertigo Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 616 Publication Date: June 17, 2008 Release Date: June 17, 2008
Book 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).
Worth the $$Money$$ I have the Sandman trade paperbacks 1-6. I decided I was willing to take a gamble with the Absolute edition. It was a great choice. The Absolute edition surpassed my expectations. It is significantly larger than the trade paperbacks, which makes it instantly more fun to read, and the text being larger means it is easier on your eyes. The colors look a lot more vibrant. The paper is thick and feels good to touch. The price is the only undesirable portion of this book, but even with that being what it is, I think it is worth it.
And, just to make an attempt to justify the price, consider this: A hardcover graphic novel that is the size of a Sandman trade paperback usually costs around $20. Absolute Sandman Volume 3 includes about 2.5 trade paperbacks (Brief Lives, Worlds End, and part of Fables & Reflections). 20 times 2.5 equals $50. And then you factor in the extras, the larger size, the higher quality coloring and paper, the impressive cover, and the slipcase...which more than justifies the other $14. So, is this really expensive? Yes. Is it unreasonably expensive? No. Is it worthy purchasing? ABSOLUTELY!
Absolute Sandman Vol. 3 I consumed this volume in mere days, I had recently acquired the first two volumes and had to wait a month for this edition to come out...it was worth the wait. I am looking forward to the last installment to make my collection complete. The writing is superb, and the artwork is a perfect combination of design and detail.
big beautiful and boxed The real reason I bought it is that even though I read The Sandman first run, I have the issues scattered throughout uncounted files and boxes. Couldn't pull them out to read them without a major overhaul. This book is big and gorgeous and once shelved, will be there when I need it. Well made compendiums are for keeping and using. This one is worth its weight. All I can hope is that when I'm old and frail, I'll still be able to lift it.
Stories aren't as good as Vol 1 and 2... I've never been that into comic books, but the first two volumes of the Absolute Sandman blew my mind. The storytelling is simply incredible. So, I was excited for Volume 3 to release. Now having read about 3/4's of the new volume, I find that the stories are not as entertaining as those in Vol 1 and 2. It still hits some high points and is certainly worth reading, but those high points come more infrequently than in the previous volumes. If you're a newcomer like me to the series, I'd still recommend buying it, but if your expectations were as high as mine, you may come away disappointed.
If you enjoyed the first two then you will love this edition If for whatever reason you get bored with the brief lives story arc, which would make no sense then there are some really good single tale stories in the Inn at the end of the World stories which is loosely tied to the Zero Hour event in the DC universe.
The Sandman: Worlds' End is loosely connected as its events are a side effect of the events in Zero Hour.In The Sandman: The Kindly Ones, which will be mentioned in Absolute Sandman 4 Destiny implies that the events of Zero Hour were caused by multiple realities colliding as a result of Dream's conflict with the Furies and its outcome.
The only negative is I have to wait 5 months to figure out how Sandman dies since i am only reading the Absolute Editions. I did buy the Wake book and the Fables and Reflections book which started me off in this addiction almost wish I haven't read these books because these editions are not cheap and it did spoil it for me since I will know what will happen next. If you have not read the Ramadhan story then you should buy it alone for that story.
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