These days, a lot of sci-fi fans know the name Neil Gaiman from his children’s books ‘Coraline’ and ‘The Graveyard Book’ or possibly his amazing novels like ‘American Gods’ and ‘Anansi Boys’ but, to comic fans, Gaiman will always be “that guy who wrote Sandman”.
‘Sandman’ came out when I was in high school and quickly took its spot as one of my favorite comic series of all time (and put DC’s newly founded Vertigo Comics on everyone’s lips). The mix of theater, literature, mythology, religion, and a little bit of alternative punk rock edge makes ‘Sandman’ one of the enduring stories of modern writing… comic book or otherwise.
‘Sandman’ ended its run in 1996 with issue #75. Since then, Gaiman has returned to the world of ‘Sandman’ only briefly. In 1999, he wrote the novel ‘Sandman: The Dreamhunter’ and in 2003, he wrote a series of one shot comics, each featuring a different member of The Endless (the Sandman’s brothers and sisters), called ‘Endless Nights’. Since then… nothing.
Now, with the 25th anniversary of the book fast approaching, it looks as if Gaiman has one more ‘Sandman’ story to tell, as the author just announced that he will be returning to the universe that he created for a comic mini-series to be released in 2013. Of the new series, Gaiman had this to say:
When I finished writing The Sandman, there was one tale still untold. The story of what had happened to Morpheus to allow him to be so easily captured in The Sandman #1, and why he was returned from far away, exhausted beyond imagining, and dressed for war. It was a story that we discussed telling for Sandman’s 20th anniversary… but the time got away from us. And now, with Sandman’s 25th anniversary year coming up, I’m delighted, and nervous, that that story is finally going to be told.
Gaiman will be pairing up with ‘Batwoman’ artist J.H. Williams III for the as of yet untitled series and no word was given on the series’ length.
Either way, for fans of ‘Sandman’, 2013 is sure to be a magical time. And, if you’re not a fan of ‘Sandman’, now is the perfect time to catch up with the complete set of ‘Sandman’ graphic novels being released this November.
