The Absolute Sandman, Vol. 3

For those of you already familiar with the works of Neil Gaiman, and his work on Sandman in particular no explanation is needed, save the fact that this version does it again, prettier, larger and with more of the stuff you fell in love with to begin with. For those of you who are still untouched by the Sandman experience; good tidings have been delivered to you. You shall find all that you require in this book, alongside vol 1 & 2. The experience will be lessened should i say anything else than this; a treasure chamber filled to the brink with amazing stories have been brought within your grasp. Seize them with both hands!

I have the Sandman trade paperbacks 1-6. I decided I was willing to take a gamble with the Absolute edition. It was a great choice. The Absolute edition surpassed my expectations. It is significantly larger than the trade paperbacks, which makes it instantly more fun to read, and the text being larger means it is easier on your eyes. The colors look a lot more vibrant. The paper is thick and feels good to touch. The price is the only undesirable portion of this book, but even with that being what it is, I think it is worth it.

And, just to make an attempt to justify the price, consider this:
A hardcover graphic novel that is the size of a Sandman trade paperback usually costs around $20. Absolute Sandman Volume 3 includes about 2.5 trade paperbacks (Brief Lives, Worlds End, and part of Fables & Reflections). 20 times 2.5 equals $50. And then you factor in the extras, the larger size, the higher quality coloring and paper, the impressive cover, and the slipcase...which more than justifies the other $14. So, is this really expensive? Yes. Is it unreasonably expensive? No. Is it worthy purchasing? ABSOLUTELY!

I consumed this volume in mere days, I had recently acquired the first two volumes and had to wait a month for this edition to come out...it was worth the wait. I am looking forward to the last installment to make my collection complete. The writing is superb, and the artwork is a perfect combination of design and detail.

The real reason I bought it is that even though I read The Sandman first run, I have the issues scattered throughout uncounted files and boxes. Couldn't pull them out to read them without a major overhaul. This book is big and gorgeous and once shelved, will be there when I need it. Well made compendiums are for keeping and using. This one is worth its weight. All I can hope is that when I'm old and frail, I'll still be able to lift it.

I've never been that into comic books, but the first two volumes of the Absolute Sandman blew my mind. The storytelling is simply incredible. So, I was excited for Volume 3 to release. Now having read about 3/4's of the new volume, I find that the stories are not as entertaining as those in Vol 1 and 2. It still hits some high points and is certainly worth reading, but those high points come more infrequently than in the previous volumes. If you're a newcomer like me to the series, I'd still recommend buying it, but if your expectations were as high as mine, you may come away disappointed.