HEROES DISCUSSION GROUP :: Monday, July 21st!
This month’s topic: Sandman Volume 4: Season of Mists by Neil Gaiman and various .
The voting was close (and heated) but Sandman wins over Shazam by a nose. We are guaranteeing another exciting discussion this time around!
Potential topics will include:
• Is Sandman/Neil Gaiman over-rated?
• The concept of Hell and the devil as presented
• How well does the book hold up after two decades on the shelf
• Does the use of multiple artists enhance or detract from the storyline
• Who are the Endless– the two page spread in the first collected issue alone could fill two hours.
Example: What did Death look like in the Sixties?– what would she look like now? Why did Delight become Delirium?
The last three discussions were absolute love fests for the books we chose. we have a feeling this discussion will be a bit different. Whether you are a defender or detractor, please set aside some time to read (or re-read) Season of Mists and then plan on joining us in the back of of the Heroes store from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. It is your DESTINY to attend!
And just up over at the Rescued By Nerds blog, an interview by our own Rich Barrett, with ME, and an occasional chime-in from Dustin! All about the Heroes Discussion Group! Check it out!
So does this mean I’ll have to read volumes one through three, too?
YES!!! I’m really excited that Sandman won this round and that we will finally be able to discuss it. I’m also going to try and bring some friends of mine who haven’t been to the group before to this one – one of whom absolutely detests Neil Gaiman! Oh and Vee in regard to your question, my opinion as a fan of the Sandman series is to say
‘No reading volumes 1 to 3 is not necessary, however, the prolog in volume 2 does give some back story to the whole Morpheus/Nada relationship which is one of the major points in volume 4, so if you want you can read that – but I don’t think of it as mandatory.’
Justin– the more the merrier!
Vee i would say that Volume 4 is THE best starting point since we meet the (almost) all of the ENDLESS.
One of things I’d like to discuss about Gaiman (love him or loathe him) is his ability or inability (ok, I’ll stop) to keep the reader summarized from issue to issue.
Remember this book came out monthly just before the GN reprint explosion happened. Or did Sandman cause the explosion?
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
All I’ve read of Sandman so far is the first Absolute volume which unfortunately this is not part of. Anyone know if Season of Mist is the next chronological volume after what is collected in Absolute Vol 1?
Do I buy just this trade with it’s crappy coloring or should I shell out the cash for volume 2, I wonder?
Rich, if you didn’t get excited enough after buying the first Absolute to buy the second one, you should just borrow Season of Mists from somebody, or find a used copy. There’s a 50/50 chance we have one somewhere–I’ll check today. I would say that this is the best of all the Sandman books, but if I remember right they get less good right after this one.
And the coloring is the LEAST of the problems…
Well, the first Absolute volume was a gift. And yeah, I really liked it but not enough to shell out $100 for the next volume.
I’m going to be out of town until just before the next meeting so I’ll see if I can find a copy of it in my travels. If not I may come anyway and just pretend to know what I’m talking about.
Ugh of all the times to be class! I actually would want to discuss this book on why I don’t like this series but in a completely constructive and thought out manner. I hope this ends up being a great discussion.