The Sandman, Vol. 3: Dream Country by Neil Gaiman

The third volume of the Sandman collection is a series of four short comic book stories. In each of these otherwise unrelated stories, Morpheus serves only as a minor character. Here we meet the mother of Morpheus's son, find out what cats dream about, and discover the true origin behind Shakespeare's A Midsummer's Night Dream. The latter won a World Fantasy Award for best short story, the first time a comic book was given that honor. collecting The Sandman #17–20

Now it's getting good. This volume was much shorter than I expected. I liked how it was less focused on the sandman. His brooding got old quickly. Instead it features Calliope (the muse that inspired Homer), the inspiration and creation of A Midsummer Night's Dream and then ends with a reference to Ra (the egyptian sun god). The issue with Calliope was a bit dark for my taste. Overall, the volume was well done.

Also liked the Sandman's new look. Looks less like Neil Gaiman now. Easier to focus on the story instead of the author.

I feel like an apostate, but I just didn't like this much. (Even #1 didn't wow me that much, and this didn't come up to that level.) It's just a collection of short stories with Dream shoehorned in. The art ranges from mediocre to dreadful (Calliope looks like she has 150% of the normal allotment of vertebrae, and I'm pretty sure it's not a deliberate attempt to make her look inhuman).

So. Yeah, not my favorite.

Sorry, I know many of you love this collection, but I just can't connect with it... I couldn't read the first volume so it was suggested that I skip to this one. But I'm just not FEELing it. Intellectually I understand that it is GOOD, I recognize it's value in the world but... it just isn't for me.

And maybe I'm just coming off of reading a couple comics I really really connected with, heart and mind, and this just didn't live up to that....

WHY: With Sydney in lockdown again, my local library service offered an amazing free delivery service for online reservations. I was able to secure Dream Country, and continue the universal, gothic and mind-bending journey of Neil Gaiman's Sandman.
STORY: Unlike previous issues, Volume 3 presents four unlinked stories which intermittently feature Dream and his sister Death. Calliope was brutal, featuring a Muse from Greek mythology and a struggling writer who rapes her. A Dream of a Thousand Cats was really interesting, with a pet's dark perspective on humanity prompting a journey through dreaming which leads to revelations and a message. The most-acclaimed story, A Midsummer Night's Dream, was a faithful covering of “Shakespear's” play with actual Faeries from another plane being Morpheus's guests, but I found myself less emotionally engaged here. Finally, Facade takes DC's Element Girl and humanises her through depression as she adopts faces to fit into society after losing her job to an off-page corporate entity.
ART & WRITING: I've been impressed with the art and writing in Sandman from Volume 1, and whilst Dream Country lacks a singular overall cohesive narrative, the shifting gutter structure and shadowed details within the layout of different panels made this a great read visually. Even when I was less invested in the plot, the density of details comprising each issue and sheer inventiveness of Gaiman's writing and perspectives constantly kept me captivated.
WHO: Although I recommend Volume 1 for anyone into dark horror and dream mythology, Volume 3 can be read as an entry-point or even standalone to the series due to its overall design. I will definitely be continuing this tale in the much thicker Volume 4!