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Anne's Reviews > Death
Death (Death of the Endless, #1-2)
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Ok, I didn't actually make it all the way through the Sandman series. It just wasn't my cuppa, but I loved Death and thought the character was brilliant.
So, for people like myself who don't enjoy the gloomy weirdness of some of the source material, this is the perfect way to enjoy a portion of what all the cool kids rave about.
In this, Death isn't evil, scary, or something to be feared. And why should she be? It's the next part of Life and we all do it eventually. Now, I'm not religious, but I think there's something after this.
Not because I have any proof, I just prefer to think that. In fact, my secret hope is that we all get superpowers like the X-Men or something and then spend eternity going on adventures and righting wrongs in the afterlife. <--hey, it's not any crazier than any other version out there, so let me dream.
Speaking of Dream, (nice segue there, huh?) he pops up in the first issue and mopes around for a few minutes, which should make all the Sandman fans squee a little bit.
I guess the main thing I love about this one is the overall tone of the stories. As in, death is natural and there's no reason to be terrified of our inevitable ends, but at the same time, there's no reason to rush towards it.
There's a good moral of the story in this without a lot of what I've come to think of as Gaiman's hallucinogenic ramblings.
Recommended.
So, for people like myself who don't enjoy the gloomy weirdness of some of the source material, this is the perfect way to enjoy a portion of what all the cool kids rave about.
In this, Death isn't evil, scary, or something to be feared. And why should she be? It's the next part of Life and we all do it eventually. Now, I'm not religious, but I think there's something after this.
Not because I have any proof, I just prefer to think that. In fact, my secret hope is that we all get superpowers like the X-Men or something and then spend eternity going on adventures and righting wrongs in the afterlife. <--hey, it's not any crazier than any other version out there, so let me dream.
Speaking of Dream, (nice segue there, huh?) he pops up in the first issue and mopes around for a few minutes, which should make all the Sandman fans squee a little bit.
I guess the main thing I love about this one is the overall tone of the stories. As in, death is natural and there's no reason to be terrified of our inevitable ends, but at the same time, there's no reason to rush towards it.
There's a good moral of the story in this without a lot of what I've come to think of as Gaiman's hallucinogenic ramblings.
Recommended.
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Reading Progress
April 30, 2014
– Shelved
June 10, 2018
–
Started Reading
June 22, 2018
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-23 of 23 (23 new)
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Thank you, Renuka! I hope you end up liking this one. :)
So this is a worthy and interesting reading? I haven't read anything of sandman yet, but Death tempted me (not in the suicidal way)
Ha! Well, I'm glad you mean the character. But yeah. I thought this was good and have only read about 3 or so volumes of Sandman. I think the characters in this one are recurring in the main series, but I read it without much (any) knowledge of them.
I love Gaiman's take on Death, she's so bubbly and bright (and Goth!). Sandman is hit and miss. Some of it is very obtuse and esoteric, while other stories are straight up. I still think it's worth reading. You may like his Book of Magic miniseries. I think the main character, Timothy Hunter, is who Harry Potter is based on.
Death is my favorite character in the Sandman series. I love her compassion and her groundedness.
Yes. She reminds me of me.
Haha “Hallucinogenic ramblings” that is exactly the way that I feel about Gaiman at this point.
And I feel terrible saying that b/c there was a point in my life that I truly thought everything he wrote was brilliant.
Anne wrote: "Yes. She reminds me of me."*le sigh*
I have had the first volume of Sandman on my shelf for the longest time. Maybe, someday, maybe.
Nice review, buddy!!
Jeff wrote: "I have had the first volume of Sandman on my shelf for the longest time. Maybe, someday, maybe."The first volume is a little weak. It gets better in The Doll's House.
Fortunately, I have stuff I'm slightly more excited to read.
I thought it got worse as it went along. I remember thinking the 1st volume was ok but I think I had to throw the towel in a few volumes later.
Great review. I want to read this but I haven't read Sandman. Do you think that will be a problem?
Maria João wrote: "Great review. I want to read this but I haven't read Sandman. Do you think that will be a problem?"I think this pretty much stands on its own merit.
Chad is absolutely right. This one can be read on its own. I think there are a few nods to Sandman characters and stories, but I didn't read far enough into that series to get those either.
I think his hallucinogenic ramblings are brilliant. Plus, he wrote a book with Terry Pratchett (who should have lived much longer and had a better and later death). I love the graphic novels in the Sandman series, they are beautiful. The art is amazing. If you were a fan of the old Sandman superhero comics, there are references to them as well. This graphic novel can be read on its own. Death does show up in the other graphic novels though. She is beautiful and brilliant. If I knew that I would find her with me when I died I don’t think it would be as scary to be honest.
I do like this one quite a bit, but the rest of his Sandman just doesn't do it for me - at least up to volume 3. Although, I have a friend who swears that volumes 4 & 5 pick up and get better, so I may go back at some point and pick it up. He did say the last one went back down in quality, but if you're already 5 volumes in...? Eh, may as well read the last one.I wasn't in love with the art but I know that so many people are huge fans.
Which book are you referring to? Good Omens? If so, it's one of my favorites. :)
Anne wrote: "I do like this one quite a bit, but the rest of his Sandman just doesn't do it for me - at least up to volume 3. Although, I have a friend who swears that volumes 4 & 5 pick up and get better, so I may go back at some point and pick it up. He did say the last one went back down in quality, but if you're already 5 volumes in...? Eh, may as well read the last one."If you aren't in to Sandman by volume 3, you probably won't like the rest. I think these 2 Death miniseries are more accessible and have better art than Sandman. I personally love Sandman, but it's not for everyone. Life is short. Read what you enjoy.
Can this be read without reading Sandman?
Nice Review!