Sandman Graphic Novels books in order

Q: "What order should I read The Sandman?"

"Read The Sandman in publication order starting with Preludes and Nocturnes, then The Doll's House, Dream Country, Season of Mists, and so on through The Wake. Overture is a prequel but best read after the main series."

Q: "How many volumes are in The Sandman series?"

"The main Sandman series consists of 10 trade paperback volumes collecting issues #1-75. Additional volumes include The Dream Hunters, Endless Nights, and the prequel Overture."

Q: "What is The Sandman about?"

"The Sandman follows Morpheus, also known as Dream, one of seven cosmic beings called the Endless. After being imprisoned for decades by an occultist, Dream escapes and must rebuild his realm while confronting consequences of past actions."

Q: "Is The Absolute Sandman different from the regular editions?"

"The Absolute editions are oversized hardcover collections with recolored artwork. They contain the same stories as the standard trade paperbacks but in a larger format with bonus material."

Reading order

#	Title	Published	Author	Buy on Amazon
1	Preludes and Nocturnes	1989	Neil Gaiman	Buy
2	The Absolute Sandman, Volume 1	1990	Neil Gaiman	Buy
3	The Doll’s House	1990	Neil Gaiman	Buy
4	Dream Country	1991	Neil Gaiman	Buy
5	Season of Mists	1992	Neil Gaiman	Buy
6	A Game of You	1993	Neil Gaiman	Buy
7	Fables and Reflections	1993	Neil Gaiman	Buy
8	The Brief Lives	1993	Neil Gaiman	Buy
9	Worlds’ End	1995	Neil Gaiman	Buy
10	The Kindly Ones	1996	Neil Gaiman	Buy
11	The Wake	1996	Neil Gaiman	Buy
12	Dustcovers: The Collected Sandman Covers, 1989-1996	1997	Neil Gaiman	Buy
13	The Dream Hunters	1999	Neil Gaiman	Buy
14	Endless Nights	2003	Neil Gaiman	Buy
15	Annotated Sandman Vol. 1	2011	Neil Gaiman	Buy
16	Overture	2015	Neil Gaiman	Buy
17	The Sandman, Book One	2022	Neil Gaiman	Buy

The Sandman by Neil Gaiman is one of the most celebrated comic series ever published. Running from 1989 to 1996 under DC’s Vertigo imprint, the series follows Morpheus, the Lord of Dreams, as he rebuilds his kingdom after decades of imprisonment.

The series weaves together mythology, history, and literature, featuring appearances by historical figures and characters from various pantheons. Gaiman introduced the Endless, a family of seven beings embodying fundamental aspects of existence: Destiny, Death, Dream, Destruction, Desire, Despair, and Delirium.

The Sandman won numerous awards including the World Fantasy Award for Best Short Fiction, making it one of the first comics to win a major literary prize. It was adapted as a Netflix television series in 2022.

Frequently Asked Questions

What order should I read The Sandman?

Read The Sandman in publication order starting with Preludes and Nocturnes, then The Doll’s House, Dream Country, Season of Mists, and so on through The Wake. Overture is a prequel but best read after the main series.

How many volumes are in The Sandman series?

The main Sandman series consists of 10 trade paperback volumes collecting issues #1-75. Additional volumes include The Dream Hunters, Endless Nights, and the prequel Overture.

What is The Sandman about?

The Sandman follows Morpheus, also known as Dream, one of seven cosmic beings called the Endless. After being imprisoned for decades by an occultist, Dream escapes and must rebuild his realm while confronting consequences of past actions.

Is The Absolute Sandman different from the regular editions?

The Absolute editions are oversized hardcover collections with recolored artwork. They contain the same stories as the standard trade paperbacks but in a larger format with bonus material.

Reading order#

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading order