The Sandman, Vol. 6: Fables & Reflections
Ratings98
Average rating4.3
This volume really dragged. The stories were completely random and lacked any depth. It jumped around to various pieces of history with little reason. I got the impression that Gaiman's editor said “We need another comic NOW!” to which Gaiman replied “damn. idk yet how I want to procede with the story. Let me open this history book to a random page, pick a character's name (or event), summarize the character and/or the event, then briefly add in some of the main characters in the last 2 pages of each issue.”
I didn't enjoy this volume as much as the rest. It went back down to probably even lower than the first volume. Like volume 3, this volume is a series of short stories, about 8 of them, with the Orpheus arc being the longest. I didn't pick up sort of cohesive theme that ties these together so they're probably just standalone short stories.
The Orpheus arc was interesting in that it shows more of Dream's relationships in a different era (ancient Greece), featuring for the first time the seventh sibling (who wasn't properly named with any “D” word).
There was also a Marco Polo short story that ties back to the very first volume.
Other than that, there's nothing much that stands out to me. Each story is interesting by itself but I guess I was looking for more along the veins of previous volumes. One special mention though, is that I found the artwork to be slightly poorer this time around.
This volume was more of a compilation of short stories. I particularly enjoyed the Ramadan story at the end and Three Septembers and a January. Definitely a must read if you're into Sandman! Now onto Volume 7 (I need to catch up before the prequel comes out in October)!
I'm finding that I enjoy Sandman's short stories much more than his longer stories. They all pack so much originality and fun into them, and Gaiman really has a way of telling a tale as if it's a timeless classic from eons ago, and not a comic from the late 80s and early 90s. That's especially the case in this collection, wherein all the stories take place back in time, and with known characters of history and mythology interwoven.
I also just loved that so many different artists were involved in this collection. Almost every story had a different illustrator. It really added to how distinct and unique each story felt from the other.
I was feeling a little let down by the last collection, but this one has really redeemed the series for me.
not my FAV volume of Sandman but still some absolute bangers. I think my fav this time around is the Emperor Norton story (though “Ramadan” is still dazzling especially the art!)