The Sandman: Overture

Gaiman (The Ocean at the End of the Lane) and Williams (Batwoman) revisit the dark world of the Endless in this splendid prequel. Morpheus, the manifestation and master of dreams, has found himself embroiled in a galaxy-spanning crisis: a sentient star has lost its mind, and its madness threatens to unravel the universe. With the help of an earnest young alien girl and an alternate, feline form of himself, he sets out on a journey to set things right. Williams’s dizzyingly surreal work is perfectly paired with Gaiman’s famed wild flights of fancy. Infinitely adaptable, Williams’s dazzling art recalls everyone from Alphonse Mucha to Jack Kirby. Gaiman is in fine form as well—it is a true pleasure to watch him plumb the depths of weirdness that made Sandman a classic. This is a shining addition to a beloved series. (Nov.)