Sandman fans rejoice! With Netflix’s upcoming live-action adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s seminal fantasy comic The Sandman on the way, publisher DC is preparing a huge reprint of the entire series. Coming early next year, the release dates of the reprinted editions could hint at the potential premiere date of the show.
Of course, there are already endless editions of the comics out there, from deluxe leather-bound hardbacks to paperback editions with various covers. However, a reprint is a pretty standard practice in anticipation of a TV show. Once the series premieres, this is probably the edition you’ll see lining the walls in bookshops, with a big Netflix sticker stamped on the front. Even the covers themselves will feature imagery from the Netflix series!
These new editions, collecting all 10 volumes, are split into four books. It kicks off with The Sandman: Book One on April 5, 2022, covering issues #1-20. A fortnight later on April 19, The Sandman: Book Two hits shelves, taking us all the way to issue #37. Then, on May 3, The Sandman Book Three drops, which contains issues #38-56. And finally, on May 17, the final book in this complete collected edition drops.
The first book will cost $29.99, with each subsequent book priced at $34.99.
With all the core volumes accounted for, this edition sounds like it will be perfect for newcomers to the series. However, I’m concerned that it doesn’t include some of the other stories Gaiman wrote, particularly The Sandman: Overture, a prequel story and the final book in the Sandman saga Gaiman published in 2015. Nor does The Dream Hunters appear to be involved. Maybe they’ll come further down the line. There are a lot of additional comics surrounding the original run, after all.
What is The Sandman about?
The Sandman follows Dream of the Endless (Tom Sturridge in the Netflix series), the anthropomorphic personification of dreams. He goes through many trials. Sometimes this means confronting those who attempt to imprison him, sometimes it means facing his past mistakes, and other times it means dealing with nightmare creatures with mouths for eyes who escape from his realm. He’s a busy guy.
Watch the first look teaser for the Netflix show below; it shows occultist Roderick Burgess (Game of Thrones veteran Charles Dance) attempt to capture and imprison Death, Dream’s sister, but he mistakenly captures Dream instead:
When will The Sandman premiere on Netflix?
Netflix’s The Sandman currently doesn’t have a release date. What we do know is that the streamer has officially confirmed the series will be coming next year in its 2022 lineup announcement.
There's so much to Geeked about in 2022 pic.twitter.com/26SSgg0rjV
— Netflix Geeked (@NetflixGeeked) November 30, 2021
It might be a bit disappointing not to see a premiere date next to the title, but looking at the release dates of the new editions — which obviously is all about marketing the TV show — perhaps it makes sense that the show will premiere around the same time. And given that it has already finished principal photography, an April/May premiere seems pretty likely.
To stay up to date on everything fantasy, science fiction, and WiC, follow our all-encompassing Facebook page and sign up for our exclusive newsletter.
Get HBO, Starz, Showtime and MORE for FREE with a no-risk, 7-day free trial of Amazon Channels