Extraordinary! Sketched by Moebius, McKean, Vess, Bolton, and Gaiman

The Absolute Sandman, Volume Two [2]

Gaiman, Neil; Moebius; Dave McKean; Charles Vess; John Bolton

Publication: New York: DC Comics, 2006. First Edition.

Notes: A first edition of the second volume of the large format Sandman reissue, with five original drawings, including one by the legendary Moebius (a.k.a. Jean Gerard). Neil Gaiman wrote two Sandman stories with Moebius in mind, but both times, Moebius's poor health disrupted their planned collaboration. It's possible that the character depicted in Moebius's drawing is the Sandman's sister, Death; Moebius made a small painting of her for a Sandman-inspired gallery show. That painting sold at auction in 2024 for $96,000. If this book is not unique, it is certainly one of a very small number of copies of Sandman with the Moebius illustrations that Gaiman always wanted.

This volume collects Sandman #21 to 39, an arrangement that does not neatly connect to the graphic novel editions, which reorganized the order of the middle section.

616 pages. 12-1/4 by 8-1/2 inches, in an illustrated slipcase.

Written by Neil Gaiman. Art by Shawn McManus, Kelley Jones, Mike Dringenberg, Bryan Talbot, John Watkiss, Matt Wagner, Stan Woch, Colleen Doran, Duncan Eagleson, John Bolton, Malcolm Jones III, George Pratt, Dick Giordano, P. Craig Russell, and Vince Locke. Cover by Dave McKean.

Edition + Condition: First edition (stated first printing) of this collection. A fine copy in a faux leather binding and a very good slipcase with a few shallow dents and clear tape at two corners. This copy is inscribed with an astounding five original drawings:

1) A full-page white-on-black sketch by Moebius, with a hologrammed signing ticket laid in;
2) A full-page white-on-black sketch by Dave McKean;
3) A pen-and-ink sketch by Charles Vess on the title page;
4) A gold Sharpie sketch by John Bolton; and
5) A full-page gold Sharpie drawing by Neil Gaiman.

Item No: #365017

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