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Title | Pathways and Emanations
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Author | Simon Spurrier
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Illustrator | Bilquis Evely, Mat Lopes
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Publisher | DC Comics - 2019
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First Printing | DC Comics - 2019
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Title | Empty Shells
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Author | Simon Spurrier
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Illustrator | Bilquis Evely, Abigail Larson, Mat Lopes, Quinton Winter
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Publisher | DC Comics - 2020
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First Printing | DC Comics - 2020
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Title | One Magic Movement
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Illustrator | Simon Spurrier
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Cover Art | Bilquis Evely, Marguerite Sauvage, Dani, Matias Bergara, Mat Lopes
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Publisher | DC Comics - 2020
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First Printing | DC Comics - 2020
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Category | Graphic Novel
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Warnings | Sex, violence
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Main Characters | Daniel, Dora, Matthew, Lucien, Cain, Abel, and nearly everyone else that showed up in the original series
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Main Elements | Gods, demons
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Website | ---
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 Pathways and Emanations
One of four books expanding Neil Gaiman's acclaimed Sandman Universe. There is a place where gods are born and stories are spun. Today its walls lie slashed and bleeding. Twenty-three years after he was anointed as its master, the lord of dreams has inexplicably abandoned his domain.
Lord Daniel's absence triggers a series of crimes and calamities that consume the lives of those already tangled in his fate. Until he is found, his realm's residents must protect its broken borders alone. But the most senior storytellers are tormented by invasive secrets, the warden Lucien is doubting his own mind, and beyond the gates, something horrific awaits with tooth and talon. Only Dora, the monstrous, finds opportunity in madness, stealing dreams for the highest bidder. But she has no idea how deep the danger lies. Meanwhile, in Daniel's gallery, something new is growing...
Written by fan-favorite author Si Spurrier (Motherlands, Suicide Squad) with breathtaking art by standout artist Bilquis Evely (Batman, Wonder Woman). The first book in The Sandman Universe kicks off with fireworks as The Dreaming literally tears itself apart!
The Sandman Universe is a new series of books curated by Neil Gaiman for DC Vertigo. Conjuring epic storytelling and immersing readers into the evolving world of the Dreaming, The Sandman Universe begins anew with four new ongoing series, existing in a shared universe, building upon Gaiman's New York Times best-selling series that lyrically weaved together stories of dreams and magic.
Collects The Dreaming #1-6 and Sandman Universe Special #1
Empty Shells
Simon Spurrier and Bilquis Evely continue the stories of the characters from the award-winning The Sandman series by Neil Gaiman as Lord Daniel is introduced to the cold taste of heartbreak. And as expected, it’s not pretty.
Even the Lord of Dreams is powerless against the storm of lost love. As with his predecessor Morpheus, Lord Daniel will find love in the last place anyone could have hoped for…the realm of the mortals. And as with all romantic entanglements between mortals and the Endless, things are destined to be doomed. Meanwhile, a newly awakened mind in the Dreaming brings with it radical changes that may undo reality itself!
Collects The Dreaming #7-12
One Magical Movement
Simon Spurrier continues the stories of the characters from the award-winning The Sandman series by Neil Gaiman.
As the second year of the Sandman Universe begins, the sentient algorithm known as Wan is now the acknowledged lord of Dream's realm, and unquestioned ruler of all his subjects. A new chapter in the history of the Dreaming begins here--find out why the AV Club says, "If you're a fan of Neil Gaiman's The Sandman, you need to be reading The Dreaming!"
Collects The Dreaming #13-20.
I absolutely adore The Sandman and since I finished the original run of the series, I was eager for more. I found The Dreaming which picks up with Daniel, but he too has gone AWOL from the Dreaming just as his predecessor did...which I found kind of an odd premise. After all, he just came into being, he shouldn't get bored for at least another couple millenia. The second collection explains what actually happens, but it almost felt like the authors, after doing the first collection thought, wait a minute...he shouldn't get bored and wander off so soon, let's make up a reason for why he can't come back. Kind of like how Lestat is pure evil in Interview with the Vampire, but when Rice wanted him to be the protagonist in The Vampire Lestat she had to go back and explain away all the behaviours, that he really wasn't all that bad a guy, he was just trying to do his best. Kinda same thing here.
The Dora character also got on my nerves, she was more annoying than sympathetic. But there were moments, like that sex scene with Bal the demon which was hilarious, and Dora eventually grew on me. And I must admit I found the new "Endless", Wan, to be kind of fascinating...and it made sense, in this day and age, why can't an AI emerge as a new god, a schizophrenic who was trying to be kind but occasionally went batshit crazy?
Though there was humour and darkness, mystery, insanity, and complete randomness, it just didn't have the same feel. Gaiman was involved I understand but he didn't write it. And while I still enjoyed getting to spend more time in the Dreaming (though Dream himself was mostly absent) it wasn't quite the same. I did like the emphasis on the importance and meaning of stories as well as beginnings and endings. It just...it felt more like a fanfic? And the last book got almost melodramatic.
Ironically I started reading The Sandman because I had watched the Lucifer TV series and discovered it was based on a character in The Sandman, and while I've now read all the Sandman series, as well as the Dreaming, Lucifer didn't manage to fit into my gods/angels/demon themed year of 2021. Well, something still to look forward to.
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