Main Page Editorial Column Anime 101 Features [1] [2] Reviews [1] [2] [3] [4] ___________ Home Email
|  | Review of Sandman: The Dream Hunters by Charles Tan By Neil Gaiman with Art by Yoshitaka Amano Hard Cover ISBN: 1-56389-573-0 Soft Cover ISBN: 1-56389-629-X Published by DC Comics To anime fans, the fantastic artworks of Yoshitaka Amano need no introduction. From the classic Gatchaman (G-Force) to the likes of Vampire Hunter D, and who can ever forget the uber famous Final Fantasy series? Neil Gaiman, on the other hand, is pretty popular himself. He is widely known in the comic industry for his works with the Sandman series and has won several awards for his novels. But perhaps his work as the script writer for the English dub of Mononoke Hime would do him as a better credit when referring to the anime community. When you pair up these two successes, it isn't surprising for their enterprise to be a work for art. And let me tell you what a work of art it is! From the first few pages, the book itself is more of a tapestry rather than a comic. Did I say comic? Sorry, my mistake. A comic this isn't, and you should take that as a good thing. The book is enamored with full page drawings and the text is located on the next page or so. The art in itself is in its full color glory and has an oriental feel to it. The text is set in a way that you can really feel the dialogue, and although it seems fairytale-like, there's an actual depth to it that's quite complex. The Dream Hunters is also full of reference to Japanese folklore so it might be a good idea for readers to brush up on them. This is by no means necessary to appreciate the book but if you want to have a better grasp of it, it really helps. Essentially, the entire story is a retelling of an old Japanese myth in which Gaiman has added his own charms and incorporated the characteristics of his Sandman series. Bear in mind though, for those who are looking for more adventures of Morpheus, that this is not the Sandman in which old time fans are familiar with but instead a Japanese version, The King of All Night's Dreaming. There's also a simply gorgeous spread of him in the middle of the book that is oh-so beautiful! Amano also shows his talented skill in this book. If you're expecting anime-style drawings, you're in for a surprise. The art here is more akin to paintings rather than simple drawings, and they're more in line with the character art featured in the Final Fantasy VI game. They are simply irresistible and Amano's fans should find this well worth the price. All in all, The Dream Hunters is a great product. It's full of wonderful art and almost any kind of reader can get into it. However, it has a steep price which not everyone is willing to shell out for a "comic" or a "book". Also, there are lots of reference to Japan's folklore which may leave those ignorant of it wondering wildly. On the other hand, this is a masterpiece by two great men and a must for the dedicated fans of either Neil Gaiman or Yoshitaka Amano (or both!) [ prev article ] [ top ] [ back to contents ] |
|  | ____________________________________________________ All works are copyrighted and trademarks of their respective owners. Our deepest apologies if we fail to mention them. If there are any copyright violations incurred, do not hesitate to inform us. The use of any material here without proper permission from the magazine and their respective authors is strictly prohibited. Distribution of P.Otaku Bytes is free. We are a non-profit organization.