Neil Gaiman reunites with The Sandman

With his latest novel The Ocean at the End of the Lane receiving critical acclaim, Neil Gaiman will be expanding upon the mythos for his influential comic book series which has sold seven million copies and has been published in nine different languages.  The Sandman: Overture will team the British author with Eisner-winning artist J.H. Williams III (Batwoman, Promethea) and will explore the world of Morpheus before his captivity.

“This is the one story that we never got to tell,” Gaiman told The New York Times today. “In Sandman #1 Morpheus is captured somehow. Later on in the series, you learn he was returning from somewhere far, far away - but we never got to the story of what he was doing and what had happened. This is our chance to tell that story, and J.H. Williams III is drawing it. It’s the most beautiful thing in the world.”  DC Entertainment President Diane Nelson stated, "Neil Gaiman returning to the lush, evocative world he created with Sandman is a literary event.  We're honoured to have Neil back for a story only he and J.H. can tell. It's a testament to the lasting power of Vertigo, Sandman and Neil's amazing creativity. "

The Sandman: Overture #1 arrives on October 30, 2013 and will be published bi-monthly with covers illustrated by J.H. Williams III and original series cover artist Dave McKean.  Special edition versions will be released starting in November which will include original scripts, concept art and sketches, and Q&A’s with Gaiman, Williams and McKean.  The creative trio will be attending a 25^thAnniversary panel hosted by Vertigo at Comic-Con International: San Diego 2013 which will reveal more details and artwork about the new series.