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Nov 10, 2009 Web Exclusive By Jeremy Nisen

The Sandman: The Dream Hunters is an original graphic novel that adapts Neil Gaiman’s text piece of the same name. P. Craig Russell referenced that original story, and the original art by Yoshitaka Amano, to create a more traditional comic narrative. It’s an unqualified success.

The Sandman was one of the most important comic series of the 1990s, and it concerned the king of dreams, his celestial family, and his realm. Written by Neil Gaiman and penciled by a handful of talented artists throughout its run, is comic book canon. It’s the series that allowed DC’s Vertigo line to spring into life and thrive; it could be argued that it launched Gaiman’s fiction-writing career as well.

Despite this history, The Dream Hunters is eminently approachable by anyone. The story takes place in ancient Japan. It concerns a chaste monk and a mischievous fox who come together in an odd kind of love, and the local lord that seeks to undo them. Longtime fans will recognize some old Sandman favorites lurking (Cain and Abel, the three witches), but these are Easter eggs, not story points. The beautiful art and poetic dialog combine to create a modern fable that’s impressive in its whimsy, emotion, and depth. (www.dccomics.com/vertigo)

Author rating: 9/10