COMIC BOOK REVIEW: The Sandman: Overture #6

THE END IS THE BEGINNING OF THE END

Neil Gaiman never fails to amaze us. After the tense penultimate cliffhanger chapter, the fantasy writer presents some of the most lyrical, eloquent and bittersweet dialogues yet in his final chapter of his beloved The Sandman series in the critically acclaimed series, The Sandman: Overture #6.

With the universe on the verge of destruction, Dream/Morpheus/The Sandman must do something to save it even at the cost of his own existence. In the hands of Gaiman, this issue shows us how delicate, responsible, dedicated, and paradoxically, human the Dream Lord can be in the face of supposed inevitable obliteration. And dabbling on the ironic twist, the writer encircles the complexities and contradictions that encompass the nature of the mythological pop culture icon. Furthermore, the multi-awarded man of letters smoothly transitions the general premise of the entire series to the very reason why Morpheus ended up in such humiliating state and formally started the entire The Sandman saga in Preludes and Nocturnes. Therefore, the master fantasy storyteller fulfills his followers’ desire/dream: the justification of the prequel. The dance of life ends then/now.

                J.H. Williams III and Dave Stewart’s combined illustrative collaboration is the definite reason why The Sandman: Overture is both commercially and critically successful. The artists are all throughout consistent in their respective brand of artistry from the start up to the last page of this prequel series. Williams bears the tremendous and herculean task of both matching and surpassing the artistic qualities previous The Sandman illustrators did. And, he succeeds beyond our expectations, even winning a couple of Eisner’s along the way. His cover art and his interior illustrations are simply some of the best craftsmanship that most probably Gaiman himself never ever expected to witness and behold. Williams truly captures what makes The Sandman: Overture memorable, influential, and awe-inspiring all at the same time. Indeed, his dreamlike and psychedelic artworks, and his brand of fusing different artistic techniques/approaches, alongside his ever increasing mastery of the sequential artistic paneling, are virtually beyond aesthetic interpretations. The artist simply knows how to artistically interprets the minds of some of the comic industry’s greatest literary scribes ever (read: Alan Moore and Grant Morrison), to which in Gaiman’s case here, this is no exception either. In all seriousness, Williams’ art accomplishes Gaiman’s grand visual vision, more than what the latter even intended so. Proof to that is his exquisite artistic take on Desire, who almost (or really?) looks similar to the current Selina Kyle/ Catwoman. See that for yourself and be the judge. Moreover, Stewart’s colors virtually match both Williams and Gaiman’s overall intent and purposes. Stewart beautifully fuses traditional and digital modes of coloring that is truly essential and critical in making this series both memorable and significantly astonishing. He and Williams make Dreams (or to some extent, the DC/Vertigo Multiverse) more aesthetically pleasing and a true beholder. And, I must acknowledge the fantastic lettering art of the celebrated comic letterer ever, Todd Klein (proof: he is often nominated and won the Eisner’s “Best Letterer” more often than not, losing so rarely. He holds the record of winning the most Eisner’s awards of all time). It is little wonder why Vertigo hired his services again in this prequel and never ever fails to amaze both readers and critics alike. Even so, he is the living testament why he makes lettering in comics a high art. He is the best of what he does best!

If there is one major drawback here, it is that this demands a repetitive reading or so to fully grasp the overall artistic and literary quality the entire The Sandman: Overture creative team labors on. Like all previous chapters, this one reaps a gratifying comic reading experience upon rereading and relishing this perfect send-off.

The Sandman: Overture #6 is one of the best finales for this year! Neil Gaiman, J. H. Williams III, Dave Stewart and the rest of the artistic team deliver their respective best literary and illustrative deliveries yet, if not ever. It illuminates the triumphs and tragedies of the characters involved, the Dream Lord included; and it gives the fantastic yet rational justifications that lead to the first volume of The Sandman saga. Neil Gaiman grants the DREAMS of the readers, fulfills the DESIRES of fans around, and already attains the DESTINY he already possessed. Only DELIRIUM, DESTRUCTION and DEATH can stop the DREAM, if they can so….