I'm just going to lay it out here: every comic fan should read The Sandman. It's a seminal comic series written by Neil Gaiman that ran from 1989 to 1996. Last year Netflix made it into a show, and to celebrate the occasion, the powers that be released the entire run of the comics in four gorgeous volumes. All of these volumes are currently on sale at Amazon. So you can pick up all 75 issues of The Sandman run, plus a handful of additional one-offs and special issues, for less than $80.
The Sandman Collections
Also at Barnes & Noble
- Book One - $26.99
- Book Two - $27.99
- Book Three - $34.99
- Book Four - $34.99
All Sandman issues are accounted for in these collections, but the order they're presented in is a little different than in the previous collections. Book One gathers the first 20 issues of the series, which includes the story arcs “Preludes and Nocturnes,” “The Doll’s House,” and “Dream Country.” The first season of the Netflix show goes through roughly the first two arcs, so this is the one to get if you’re interested in seeing the differences between the first season and the comics that inspired them.
Next, Book Two comes with issues #21-37, which includes the arcs “Season on Mysts,” and “A Game of You,” plus some of the one-off tales originally found in “Fables and Reflections.” This collection also includes The Sandman Special #1 and Vertigo: Winter’s Edge #1-3.
Book Three contains issues #38-56, which includes the arcs “Brief Lives” and “World’s End,” plus the rest of the stand-alone short stories previously collected in “Fables and Reflections.” Book Three also includes Vertigo Preview #1.
Finally, Book Four finishes up the series with issues #57-75, collecting the arcs “The Kindly Ones” and “The Wake.” It also includes Vertigo Jam #1 and Dust Covers: The Collected Sandman Covers.
If you grab all four collections, you’ll have the entire run of one of the most iconic and important comic book series in the history of the medium, all for under $80. Not bad.
For a more detailed look at the Sandman show and comics, check out our overview of The Sandman reading order. Don't sleep on our Sandman season one review, either. And for lots more info on the show, check out our Neil Gaiman interview.
Chris Reed is a commerce editor and deals expert for IGN. He also runs IGN's board game and LEGO coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @_chrislreed or on Mastodon @chrislreed.
