The first and only comic book to receive the World Fantasy Award, The Sandman continues to break new ground in the comic book medium and beyond. Author Alisa Kwitney explores its beginnings and chronicles the comic's emergence as a unique and undeniable force in the literary world. Richly illustrated, this history shows how Gaiman and The Sandman's gifted artists, such as Dave McKean and Yoshitaka Amano, create a haunting (and haunted) main character who wields immense power. With illustrations never before published, behind-the-scenes stories, handwritten notes, and interviews with Gaiman himself, this volume is a true testament to the dream king and his creator.

I adore the Sandman series, and even find repeated enjoyment in "The Sandman Companion", but I was disappointed by this book. Why?

1st, there was not enough new art to keep me from getting bored. Yes, the pages look damn good reproduced here, but still pretty much look the same here as in the graphic novels.
2nd, there is too little text to go with the visuals, and what there is seems lacking ("The Sandman Companion", though visually less appealing than "King of Dreams", has about a 100x more info in it). For example, in the chapter covering the 2nd Sandman graphic novel - Doll's House, it alludes to original artist Mike Dringenberg not being able to keep up with the monthly pace. He apparently is replaced. Sounds interesting. So what happened? Was he fired? Did he step down honorably? Is this type of thing normal in a comic series? You won't find the answer here. Getting under the skin of the story - a forte of Mr. Gaiman, is frustratingly lacking here. It comes across as a superficial glossing over of the greatest comic book series ever.

What's left is great art you've mostly seen before, some interesting tidbits and insights, and a summary of stories you already know by heart. I'd recommend this for Sandman completists who especially love the artwork. For everyone else, try the "Sandman Companion" (its cheaper and better) or just pull out your reading copies one more time for another run through.


Beautiful and Informative   May 4, 2004
 7 out of 8 found this review helpful

Sandman: the King of Dreams is a wonderful coffetable-eque art book. However, it also contains many insights into the world of the Sandman and the creative process. Alisa Kwitney was a one time editor of the comic series and brings wonderful anecdotes about the writers, artists and characters that I have not heard anywhere else. This bok is clearly written with love for the world of The Sandman.
The art is also gorgeuos. images from the comics are replicated here in a wonderful format. also there are many images taken from other comics and trading cards and several that have been hiding in the editorial vault.
though this book is not as detailed as Hy Bender's wonderful ode to the series, and the two do cover the same ground on occasion, this is an excellent addition to anyones'sSandman library.


Nice return visit to an interesting world . . .   August 19, 2007
 2 out of 2 found this review helpful

From the fall of 1987 to the beginning of 1996, Neil Gaiman worked mostly on the "Sandman" series of comics, . . . which became trade book collections, and merchandise, and fannish websites, and spin-off books by other writers. Morpheus gave it all up in the end, but the readers haven't. One of the best spin-offs is this overview, or commentary, or summation, of the series, from the first issue to the last, by one of the assistant editors with whom Gaiman worked. She's gone on to other things, too, but she obviously can't leave the Endless behind any more than the paying readers can. It's nice to be able to revisit, all in one place, the wide range of artists who worked on the series and to read Gaiman's brief comments on the origins of certain story arcs and the interconnections between others, not all of which were intentional. And, as Kwitney says, if you've picked up this book without having read about the Sandman, . . . well, now's your chance.