Sandman time!
This entry, as well as the next, will center around Neil Gaiman's probably most famous work, the Sandman series published by Vertigo.
First, there's a great review by Rebecca Scott over at greenmanreview - it covers all the books, volume I to X. That's one of the reasons why I included this link. The other is that it's not just a recap of the story, but also contains thoughts on the character development, meaning, and impact of the series.
"In previous stories, Dream has shown a very limited range of emotions. Now, we see that range expanded. He is shocked, touched, wistful, worried, and dumbstruck. It's a measure of how much he has changed, and is changing, that we see so much when he's under stress. He dons again his obdurate mask, as soon as he can, but we can see a little tenderness gleaming through the cracks in his armor."
"The Sandman intentionally alternated between masculine stories and feminine stories, and between stories comfortable for comics readers and ones that made them uncomfortable. A Game of You is generally considered to be the most uncomfortable story in the Sandman library, and certainly it explores the concepts of femininity and femaleness in a way no other Sandman story does. But the reason it's so uncomfortable for so many fans is probably that it explores the concept of identity."
"Gaiman's series has provided us with a modern mythology. There are many college students wandering around today who are a little fuzzy on Zeus and Athena, but they can name all seven of the Endless, and quote Gaiman as if he were Euripides (mind you, they'll be able to name Loki's first wife, but only because she's in Sandman, and they'll be surprised to hear that he had another). The Sandman is slowly sinking into the consciousness - and unconscious - of a generation, and providing them with a framework for examining themselves and their worlds. And I think that's a good thing."
Oh, and I may be stating the obvious here, but: This review contains spoilers. Spoilers, Spoilers, Spoilers!
~
Next: "Faerie Continuity - On Neil Gaiman's adaptation of William Shakespeare's play A Midsummer Night's Dream into comic form and the influence on his comic book series The Sandman"
It's a scholarly text (from the Free University of Berlin), so it's nothing one could read during lunch break... but it's interesting none the less.
~
And, last for today, a very interesting essay by Atara Stein: "Immortals and Vampires and Ghosts, Oh My!: Byronic Heroes in Popular Culture"
She's largely using characters from television series and movies - like Q, Angel, or Eric Draven (The Crow)--, but also included Morpheus, and imho it's a very entertaining read.
Have fun :)
First, there's a great review by Rebecca Scott over at greenmanreview - it covers all the books, volume I to X. That's one of the reasons why I included this link. The other is that it's not just a recap of the story, but also contains thoughts on the character development, meaning, and impact of the series.
"In previous stories, Dream has shown a very limited range of emotions. Now, we see that range expanded. He is shocked, touched, wistful, worried, and dumbstruck. It's a measure of how much he has changed, and is changing, that we see so much when he's under stress. He dons again his obdurate mask, as soon as he can, but we can see a little tenderness gleaming through the cracks in his armor."
"The Sandman intentionally alternated between masculine stories and feminine stories, and between stories comfortable for comics readers and ones that made them uncomfortable. A Game of You is generally considered to be the most uncomfortable story in the Sandman library, and certainly it explores the concepts of femininity and femaleness in a way no other Sandman story does. But the reason it's so uncomfortable for so many fans is probably that it explores the concept of identity."
"Gaiman's series has provided us with a modern mythology. There are many college students wandering around today who are a little fuzzy on Zeus and Athena, but they can name all seven of the Endless, and quote Gaiman as if he were Euripides (mind you, they'll be able to name Loki's first wife, but only because she's in Sandman, and they'll be surprised to hear that he had another). The Sandman is slowly sinking into the consciousness - and unconscious - of a generation, and providing them with a framework for examining themselves and their worlds. And I think that's a good thing."
Oh, and I may be stating the obvious here, but: This review contains spoilers. Spoilers, Spoilers, Spoilers!
~
Next: "Faerie Continuity - On Neil Gaiman's adaptation of William Shakespeare's play A Midsummer Night's Dream into comic form and the influence on his comic book series The Sandman"
It's a scholarly text (from the Free University of Berlin), so it's nothing one could read during lunch break... but it's interesting none the less.
~
And, last for today, a very interesting essay by Atara Stein: "Immortals and Vampires and Ghosts, Oh My!: Byronic Heroes in Popular Culture"
She's largely using characters from television series and movies - like Q, Angel, or Eric Draven (The Crow)--, but also included Morpheus, and imho it's a very entertaining read.
Have fun :)