The Doll's House
1991
- dreams
- fiction
- comics & graphic novels, fantasy
- literature
- nyt:paperback-graphic-books=2009-07-26
The story
New York Times best-selling author Neil Gaiman's transcendent series SANDMAN is often hailed as the definitive Vertigo title and one of the finest achievements in graphic storytelling. Gaiman created an unforgettable tale of the forces that exist beyond life and death by weaving ancient mythology, folklore and fairy tales with his own distinct narrative vision. During Morpheus's incarceration, three dreams escaped the Dreaming and are now loose in the waking world. At the same time, a young woman named Rose Walker is searching for her little brother. As their stories converge, a vortex is discovered that could destroy all dreamers, and the world itself. Features an introduction by Clive Barker. This volume includes issues 9-16 of the original series and features completely new coloring, approved by the author.
What it’s like
Dense, shadowed comic pages where ink blacks swallow whole panels and the linework looks soft and smudged, like charcoal left out in the rain. Gothic interiors, lamp-lit corridors, stormy streets and a crowded surreal underworld give it a damp, candlelit feel, and the fresh colouring sharpens the palette without losing the murk. The vibe is eerie and wistful, a late-night unease softened by curiosity and strange tenderness, best read alone after dark or on a slow rainy afternoon. Pacing is episodic and unhurried, with long quiet panels of conversation punctuated by sudden jolts of horror. The emotional register stays melancholy and oddly warm as a young woman, caught in a fog of strange events, grows steadier and her wandering companions drift toward something larger. Intensity is moderate: some grisly violence in short, sharp bursts, a few sexual scenes and suggestive nudity, and creeping menace more than constant gore. It suits readers who love myth-steeped, atmospheric fantasy and don't mind a dark edge.
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