It’s criminally overdue, but I’ve recently been reading Neil Gaiman’s Sandman for the first time. While I’m certainly what one would consider a comic book enthusiast, I’ve not read much within the medium that hasn’t involved capes and tights. Sandman does offer some peripheral references to its DC heritage, but the ongoing saga of Dream is a far cry from the typical superhero tale.
Although I found myself quickly swept up by the surreal story and the gothic visuals, it was the sheer craft Gaiman employed within the genre of mythic fantasy that got me hooked.
For those unfamiliar with the genre, mythic fantasy involves taking characters, settings and ideas from existing folklore or mythology and spinning them in a new light within modern fiction. Sandman draws on everything from Satan to Shakespeare, incorporating them organically into the far grander, ever expanding narrative.
I have three new shorts coming down the pipe, one of which is titled “An Awfully Big Adventure.” This particular piece has been greatly influenced by my exposure to Gaiman’s work in Sandman, as well as being inspired by a recently passed actor who featured in one of my favourite childhood films. If all goes to plan you should be reading it by the year’s end.
