...The price of getting what you want, is getting what once you wanted- Dream

I was at Kinokuniya the other day, and I saw a Neil Gaiman's Sandman calender. Will someone be a dear and get it for me? Thanks.

Warning: Geek Azy on the loose!

Neil Gaiman's Sandman

Everyone knows how my dad is the ultimate geek-he collects comics. I find it endearing in a way. He's the type of person that never loses his passion for something. He's been collecting since the aga of 9.

I never picked up on comic reading. Of course, I went through the whole Archies phase and I do flip through once in a while when my dad leaves his newly bought stack on the coffee table. My sister however did pick it up since all she does is read. (hehe, you english lit major you). And she recommended I pick up Sandman. It's not really a comic or a book- but a graphic novel.

I flipped through and just by looking at the hazy abstract artistry, I got a headache. It wasn't my cup of tea. The story seemed so complicated and the drawings seemed so, depressing. It was also very, very deep. I'm not saying I'm shallow or anything, but I've always preferred more 'light' reading material. But this was all because I had no idea what the story was about.

There are seven beings that are not Gods,that existed before humanity dreamed of Gods,that will exist after the last God is dead.

There are seven beings that exist because,deep in our hearts, we know that they exist.

There are seven beings that are called the Endless.They are, in order of age, Destiny, Death, Dream,Destruction, Desire and Despair, and Delirium,who was once Delight.

In a nutshell, it depicts a "family" called the Endless. From their names, you can tell, their main role in life is to function and be in charge of these "realms". What's so interesting is how they personify their roles in life. Death is a perky goth, while Desire is an androgyny, and is the twin of Despair.

I sense this is the point where everyone goes, "Eh?".

I don't really know how else to describe it. It's a complex storyline of fantasy and reality all rolled in to one. It's eerie and loopy, but very much in touch with reality that on so many levels anyone can relate to it. The characters themselves seem so out of the loop but you can't help feeling how sensible they are to the point of sympathy. (Esp. for Death- a character you're actually willing to die for). It takes some getting used to- but comes of very familiar in the end. It's literature in a new light.

Though, the art is not for the faint-hearted.


-End of Geek Azy-

Is it just me, or are people purposely forgetting to give out duit raya?