Another poster speaking up to say that Sandman is a stunning work of art. I happen to have enjoyed the art all along. Some artists were better than others, and all were a producing work for the title that was bit different from what one normally thinks of as comic book art.
Personally, my favorite Sandman issue is #31 - the one dealing with Emporer Norton I. I think it’s highly accessible to anyone who’s not read the rest of the series, and very moving. But, of course, if you do know the Endless, it’s even better. When I eBay my collection later this month, it’s the only one I’m going to reserve from the auctions.
I don’t think the book ever got to what I’d consider sweetness and light. It was always disturbing on some level. But very good, thought-provoking, and evocative, too.
But, yeah, the first two story arcs were pretty bloody. Issue #6, in particular, shocked me when it first came out.
I read them when I was in school (read: much poorer) by just sitting down in Barnes and Nobles. At this point I’d say almost every Barnes & Nobles in the country has a complete set. A single collection can be read in one or two sittings.
Gaiman’s other stuff is good, but if he dies tomorrow, Sandman will be what he’s remembered for.
Also if you liked his comics, liked his novels, I give you his his radio drama! It’s really good (and was later turned into a comic, so you all might have already read it).
Yeah, I’d been reading since #3, but after reading “24 Hours” I kept thinking “They can do that in a comic book?!?” Although it wasn’t just the bloodiness of it, but the fact that it wasn’t kids’ stuff – just seeing all the relationships unfold, the characters’ self-delusions being stripped away. That’s the issue that made me a Sandman fan for life. (Although there are plenty of other issues that would have done it later anyways.)