Wouldn't "The Sandman" have been even more amazing if Dave Mckean had illustrated the entire thing?
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Hobbes (
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August 22nd, 2010
I love the Sandman series. I think it is one of the crowning achievements of the comic book form, but most of the art strikes me as pretty uninspired. There are exceptions, but for the most part I think it’s too eighties superhero.The covers, however, are some of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. I think Dave Mckean’s surreal collages and stylized line-work captures the feel of the series perfectly, and I wouldn’t hesistate to buy the entire series had he been contracted to do the whole thing.
Assigning value to art is of course totally subjective, but compare this to this and tell me you wouldn’t want the whole series to have that kind of visual standard.
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8 Answers
If you’re assigning the second ‘this’ to ‘that kind of visual statement’, then we agree. I don’t care for the second ‘this’ artwork. I’m not a huge comic book fan, so maybe my opinion doesn’t count.
Haha, the 80s superhero description fits it to a tee. Sometimes, I found the artwork got in the way of my reading the story but for the most part it didn’t bother me too much. The covers are works of art, but I’m not sure whether it would have enhanced the text or distracted me from it. Does that make sense? I kind of liked Dream looking like a Robert Smith. I never thought it made him less interesting a protagonist for looking so human and not a surreal amorphous figure.
Off-topic: your username is Hobbes and your avatar is Hobbes and I love you for it. I’m seriously considering writing my thesis on Calvin and Hobbes down the line in graduate school. Bill Watterson may look strange among both my list of favourite writers and artists to some, but I don’t give a damn – his work is perfect.
Just about everything in the world could be improved if Dave Mckean illustrated it. (I’m kind of a fan.)
I absolutely would’ve loved the series more if it were illustrated by Dave Mckean. He’s amazing.
@muppetish – Mckean also does fantastic line work which would be less distracting to the eye than the painting and collage stuff.
Dreams appearance does change throughout the series, though, since he is kind of a surreal amorphous figure.
Calvin and Hobbes is one of the greatest bodies of work ever created, in my opinion. If you end up writing your thesis on it, will you send me a copy?
Those three drawings have effectively swayed me (one would have done the trick, but gosh they just became lovelier and lovelier.) Have any recommendations for a fledgling still new to his magnificent creations?
I’d be more than happy to send you a copy (it’s still a good year or two down the way.) If nothing else, it gives me reason to carry the anthology with me wherever I go for research purposes.
Oooh, I recognize that second drawing in @Hobbes’ last answer. It’s from The Graveyard Book, yes? I’m a fan, and didn’t even know it!
I love Dave McKean’s collages for Sandman. I took a few of the ones that are pages, not covers, out of the books and put them on my wall.
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