Pick of the week: The Sandman Overture by Andrea Fort - Nerd Queen. Cover price $4.99 Neil Gaiman is a master of contemporary literature. He weaves mythos, legend and complex modern themes to create rich and mysterious worlds. He has garnered a massive following amongst comic readers and genre fans as his work walks the line between horror, fantasy, and he creates in both prose and comic forms. In 1989 Gaiman authored Sandman a comic series that chronicled the adventures of Dream, or Morpheus, the Lord of the dreams. It ran until 1996 to great commercial success and critical acclaim. Now, Gaiman has returned to his stories of the Endless with The Sandman Overture, which recounts the events that lead to the opening of Sandman and is poised to answer the question of how Dream was captured. Sandman opened with Dream escaping capture. He is shown to be a powerful and fearsome entity. The Sandman Overture is set up to reveal how such a dominant creature could have been held captive. It dives deep into the mythologies of those things that humans do not understand. Dream, Death and Destiny are just three of the Endless, siblings that govern the lives of humans. There is something remarkable in the way that Gaiman explains the nuances of some of the most complex puzzles posed by the human brain, and readers will love the rewards of decrypting the laws of the supernatural society he creates. In additions, Gaiman’s cast of characters references a plethora of historic figures and events, mythologies and origin stories, adding a symbolic complexity to the story. It is a rich tapestry of meaning with subtle mystery woven throughout. Beyond Gaiman’s masterful narration, the artwork of J.H. Williams III tells its own tale. Williams’ use of colour in varied schemes, saturations and even in absence creates fitting environments for the characters. The mystique of the world is enhanced by the greatly varying design. Some pages feature stark monochromatic images in a series of orderly square panels that texturally almost resemble wood cuttings. Then there is a vivid fold out splash page that marries inks and watercolours to enrich the cast of characters that inhabits it. With innovative panels and intricate design, each page is beautifully unique creating a visual treat that is a perfect pairing to Gaiman’s lavish story. For Neil Gaiman’s fans, The Sandman Overture is must read, but it is a rewardingly complex and beautiful book for anyone looking to delve into a deeper world. It successfully keeps the tone of the original Sandman, and is poised to set up its predecessor perfectly. The fan-favourite characters, intriguing story and stunning art guarantee that Overture will become a sweeping success, and cement Gaiman as a comic-auteur.
Posted on: Sat, 02 Nov 2013 21:23:05 +0000
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