One of the most popular and critically acclaimed comic book titles of all time, New York Times best\-selling author Neil Gaiman's masterpiece The Sandman set new standards for mature, lyrical fantasy and graphic narrative. Now, Vertigo and DC Comics are proud to present the first of four definitive Absolute Editions collecting this groundbreaking series in its entirety. The Absolute Sandman, Volume One reprints issues 1\-20 of The Sandman , and features all\-new coloring on issues 1\-18, commissioned especially for this edition. This volume also includes a full reproduction of Gaiman's original proposal for the series and the complete script and pencils by Gaiman and Charles Vess for the World Fantasy Award\-winning story "A Midsummer Night's Dream" from The Sandman 19. Finally, a gallery of character design sketches show the evolution of Dream of the Endless.

One of the most popular and critically acclaimed comic book titles of all time, New York Times best\-selling author Neil Gaiman's masterpiece The Sandman set new standards for mature, lyrical fantasy and graphic narrative. Now, Vertigo and DC Comics are proud to present the second of four definitive Absolute Editions collecting this groundbreaking series in its entirety. The Absolute Sandman, Volume Two reprints issues 21\-39 of The Sandman and features remastered coloring prepared especially for this edition on all nineteen issues, as well as brand\-new inks on The Sandman 34 by the issue's original penciller, Colleen Doran. This volume also includes two never\-before\-reprinted stories by Gaiman (a Desire story painted by John Bolton, and a prose Sandman story previously only available to buyers of the very first Sandman statue, released in 1991\), a complete reproduction of the never\-before\-reprinted one\-shot The Sandman: A Gallery of Dreams, and the original script and pencils by Gaiman and Kelley Jones for Chapter Two of "Season of Mists" from The Sandman 23\.

One of the most popular and critically acclaimed comic book titles of all time, New York Times best\-selling author Neil Gaiman's masterpiece The Sandman set new standards for mature, lyrical fantasy and graphic narrative. Now, Vertigo and DC Comics are proud to present the third of four definitive Absolute Editions collecting this groundbreaking series in its entirety. The Absolute Sandman, Volume Three reprints issues 40\-56 of The Sandman and The Sandman Special 1 and features remastered coloring prepared especially for this edition on issues 40\-49 and the Special. This volume also includes an introduction by Jill Thompson (artist for The Sandman, Vol 7: Brief Lives ), a never\-before\-reprinted story by Gaiman and artist Michael Zulli, a complete reproduction of the one\-shot The Endless Gallery as well as two additional 8\-pages galleries, and the original script and thumbnail pencils by Gaiman and artist P. Craig Russell for the acclaimed story "Ramadan" from The Sandman 50\.

One of the most popular and critically acclaimed book titles of all time, New York Times best\-selling author Neil Gaiman's masterpiece The Sandman set new standards for mature, lyrical fantasy and graphic narrative. Now, Vertigo and DC Comics are proud to present the last of four definitive Absolute Editions collecting this groundbreaking series in its entirety. The Absolute Sandman, Volume Four reprints issues 57\-75 of The Sandman and features an introduction by Karen Berger, editor of the original series and founder of the Vertigo imprint. This volume also includes a survey of exquisite memorabilia from the Dreaming, the original script and thumbnails by Gaiman and artist Marc Hempel for the first part of "The Kindly Ones" from The Sandman 57, and the complete script by Gaiman for the title's final issue, together with thumbnails, pencils, and paintings by artist Charles Vess.

One of the most popular and critically acclaimed comic book titles of all time, New York Times best\-selling author Neil Gaiman's masterpiece THE SANDMAN set new standards for mature, lyrical fantasy and graphic narrative. Now, Vertigo and DC Comics are proud to present a fifth definitive Absolute Edition collecting all of Gaiman's The Sandman work published after the conclusion of his groundbreaking series. The Absolute Sandman, Book Five reprints the graphic novels Sandman Midnight Theatre, The Sandman: Endless Nights, and both the prose (illustrated by Japanese art\-legend Yoshitaka Amano) and comics (adapted by P. Craig Russell) versions of THE SANDMAN: THE DREAM HUNTERS. This volume also includes the Dave McKean illustrated "The Last Sandman Story" from Dust Covers: The Collected Sandman Covers, the original script by Gaiman for the Dream chapter of ENDLESS NIGHTS, sketches and designs from artists Miguelanxo Prado and P. Craig Russell, and a gallery of never\-before\-collected print and poster art from the world of the Dreaming.

OVERTURE noun 1\. A piece of orchestral music played at the beginning of an opera or oratorio, often containing the main themes of the work or quotations from the work that is to come. 2\. Approaches made with the aim of opening negotiations or establishing a relationship. 3\. The first part of an event. The very beginning of something. From Amazon: The gateway story to the ground\-breaking and New York Times best\-selling Sandman series by multi award\-winning author Neil Gaiman is collected here in an Absolute over\-sized edition. Collects The Sandman: Overture \#1\-6\. From Vertigo Comics: Neil Gaiman’s legendary series is back in DC’s Absolute Edition format! From the birth of a galaxy to the moment that Morpheus is captured, THE SANDMAN: OVERTURE features cameo appearances by fan\-favorite characters such as the Corinthian, Merv Pumpkinhead and, of course, the Dream King’s siblings: Death, Desire, Despair, Delirium, Destruction and Destiny. This volume collects THE SANDMAN: OVERTURE \#1\-6 in its entirety together with a special presentation of the whole story’s original, uncolored art by J.H. Williams III, plus bonus material and a new cover by Williams!