Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes

Sandman: Preludes & Nocturnes (in English, The Sandman: Preludes & Nocturnes) is the first graphic novel in the collection of The Sandman comics, created by Neil Gaiman and published by DC Comics.

It is drawn by Sam Kieth, Mike Dringenberg, and Malcolm Jones III; the person in charge of the original color was Robbie Busch, although it would later be recolored by Daniel Vozzo; the original lettering is by Todd Klein and as in all issues of the original series of The Sandman, the covers are the work of Dave McKean.

The original English edition includes issues 1 through 8 of the regular set. Some Spanish editions brought number 8 to the beginning of the next volume, Sandman: The Dollhouse, while other editions, such as ECC Ediciones, kept it in Latin America. In these issues several guest characters from DC Comics appear, such as John Constantine, Scott Free, J'onn J'onzz, Jonathan Crane, Etrigan, or John Dee and Lucifer is also introduced.

Chronologically, it is located just after Sandman: Overture, a graphic novel published in 2015 and which works as a prequel to it. However, according to Neil Gaiman's own recommendations, for new readers it is advisable to start with Preludes and nocturnes, and reach Sandman: Overture at the end of everything, after Sandman: Eternal Nights, after which the entire saga can be reread again, with fresh ideas for the story and characters.

Editorial story

So far there have been four publishers that have published these Sandman comics:

• Editions Zinco: In their Generic DC Universe collection, they published these seven Sandman comics in the N.os 17, 25-27.
• Editorial standard: In his collection Vertigo these comics of Sandman were published in the No. 93, whose first edition dates from September 1999. This volume had 3 editions of which the last was in cartone. The translation is exactly the same as that of Zinco Editions.
• Planet Deagostini: These comics were published in 4 volumes editing in each volume two comics. This way in the fourth volume was published in No. 8. In this edition the translation is different from previous editions.
• Editorial Televisa: Under the Vertigo line the deluxe version is being published, following the original number, being the first volume of Book 1 Title Preludes and Nights.
• ECC Editions.

Content

The content of this graphic novel varies depending on the publisher.

Old Spanish editions included the following:^{[citation required]}

• Introduction of Karen Berger;
• Neil Gaiman's epilogue, June 1991, where he tells about the beginning of the series;
• "Sueños", text by Lorenzo F. Diaz on Sandman.

The edition of ECC Ediciones, for its part, includes:

• Introduction of Paul Levitz, 2006;
• Neil Gaiman's epilogue, June 1991, where he tells about the beginning of the series;
• sketches of the creation of the character of Morpheus, Leigh Baulch, Neil Gaiman, Dave McKean and Sam Kieth;
• Gaiman, Kieth, Dringenberg, Jones III, McKean and Vozzo.

Titles

In number 5, Jack Kirby is also included in the credits, as the creator of Mr. Miracle.