Explainer | The Sandman, Netflix comic-book fantasy series, is out on August 5 – everything you need to know about the Neil Gaiman DC Comics adaptation
- Several attempts have been made to adapt British author Neil Gaiman’s acclaimed fantasy set in the DC Universe, but this is the first one to succeed
- Featuring Tom Sturridge in the title role, Jenna Coleman, Gwendoline Christie and a diverse supporting cast, The Sandman series has the makings of a global hit
This week Netflix releases The Sandman, a 10-episode adaptation of the acclaimed comic book by Neil Gaiman.
First published by DC Comics in 1988, The Sandman ran for 75 issues and is widely considered one of the finest works of its kind. A dark, fantastical tale that has inspired numerous sequels and spin-offs, this marks the first successful attempt to bring Gaiman’s vision to the screen.
The Sandman chronicles the story of Dream, one of seven supernatural siblings known as the Endless. The personification of dreams and ruler of the Dreaming, he goes by many names, including Morpheus, Dream King, and of course, The Sandman. A being as old as time itself, Dream is not quite a god, yet wields infinite power within the realm of the unconscious.
Gaiman’s story begins in the early 20th century, when Dream is captured by an occultist hoping to summon his sibling Death, and is imprisoned for almost a century.
In the present day Dream finally escapes, only to discover that the tools of his trade have been stolen, and his kingdom, the Dreaming, has collapsed. He sets out to exact revenge on his captors, retrieve his magical belongings and rebuild his domain.