This week, Netflix’s adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman makes its debut. It’s been a lengthy, lengthy highway for the variation of the legendary comedian, and Gaiman’s involvement helped hold the variation true to his intent whereas making some key adjustments.

With the collection out, what higher time to rejoice the work of Gaiman, whose writing has been featured throughout mainly each attainable writing medium you might consider? Listed below are a few of our favourite novels, quick tales, graphic novels, TV episodes, and different assorted works from the writer (and for one thing extra Sandman-specific, listed below are our favourite storylines from the comedian).

Picture: Neil Gaiman, Mike Dringenberg/DC Comics

Whereas the query of whether or not or not The Sandman is Neil Gaiman’s greatest work is a matter of debate, I emphatically preserve that it’s the most Neil Gaiman work. It’s because, as my colleague Susana Polo so eloquently explains, The Sandman was the product not solely of a once-in-a-lifetime second in comics publishing historical past, however of a younger and bold author who poured each one in every of his inventive passions into the work for concern that he may not have such a chance once more.

The end result was not solely one of many largest cult hits in superhero comics (if not the largest), however a primer for the kinds of tales Gaiman would go on to write down all through the remainder of his profession. The quarreling deities and fashionable anthropomorphic features of American Gods? That’s in The Sandman. The city fantasy parts and far-flung folklore of Neverwhere and Stardust? That’s in The Sandman. The whimsical horror-humor of Coraline? You guessed it — The Sandman. If nothing else, The Sandman is an ideal entry level for any potential reader to acquaint themselves with Neil Gaiman’s explicit type of writing. The Sandman feels just like the ur-text for each story Gaiman would possibly conceivably aspire to write down sooner or later. —Toussaint Egan

Picture: Workman Publishing

Good Omens is a type of popular culture issues I had heard about however by no means actually absolutely identified what the heck it was about — until I lastly learn the e-book and completely fell in love with it and understood all of the hype. Written by each Neil Gaiman and the late Terry Pratchett, Good Omens someway turns the apocalypse right into a witty and charming musing on the thrill of humanity.

At its core, it’s about Aziraphale and Crowley, an angel and a demon, who’ve spent the previous couple of hundreds of years biking out and in of one another’s lives, and as such have grown somewhat keen on one another and residing on Earth. They staff as much as cease the apocalypse from occurring, despite the fact that their celestial and infernal bosses really need the top of the world to only kick off already.

The tv adaptation, which stars Michael Sheen and David Tennant, is simply as pleasant — and fleshes out Aziraphale and Crowley’s relationship much more. It’s getting a second season. Gaiman has a number of enter in it and it’ll incorporate bits of the sequel he and Pratchett by no means acquired to write down, so right here’s hoping it holds up. —Petrana Radulovic

Picture: HarperCollins

Gaiman is, if nothing else, a flexible author. Along with comics and novels, he’s penned works as numerous as one of the crucial beloved episodes of Physician Who and the English screenplay for Studio Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke. However for my cash, there’s nothing that Gaiman does higher than quick tales.

First printed in 1998, Smoke and Mirrors collects items relationship way back to 1984. The reader will discover erotica, a Christmas card, dreamy sci-fi, fairy story retellings, deconstructions of the good fantasy authors, and even a little bit of poetry inside. However above all, they’ll uncover Gaiman’s expertise for the quick, fantastical horror yarn that winds you up with unease and ends with — properly, in the event you don’t hear the Cryptkeeper cackle as if from an excellent distance, possibly you’re not paying consideration. —Susana Polo

Picture: Charles Vess/DC Comics

My favourite trivia reality about Stardust is that Neil Gaiman and Diana Wynne Jones as soon as in contrast notes on John Donne’s “Music” — and in response to that poem, Gaiman wrote Stardust and Jones wrote Howl’s Transferring Fort.

Each the unique novel and the film model of Stardust play with fairy story conventions (in the same means that Howl’s Transferring Fort does). It follows Tristran Thorn (Tristan within the film), who guarantees to fetch a fallen star for probably the most lovely lady in his village — solely to search out out that the fallen star is definitely a headstrong younger girl. There’s faeries, witches, pirates on floating ships — it’s a enjoyable romp and a compelling romance. And someway, the movie model manages to seize the magic, albeit with a couple of adjustments to make it extra cinematic and provides it a happier ending.

Nevertheless, the unique e-book ending is without doubt one of the most poignant, bittersweet endings I’ve ever learn and it holds a particular place in my coronary heart for simply how devastated it makes me really feel. —PR

Picture: HarperCollins

Coraline is a kids’s horror masterpiece. I nonetheless bear in mind discovering the e-book at my native library, without delay spellbound and terrified by illustrated cowl, which confirmed off a personality with buttons for eyes. I had not too long ago made the soar from the early readers part into center grade chapter books, and I used to be absolutely judging books by their covers. Little did I understand how strongly this iconography would hang-out me for weeks to return. It additionally made me a younger Neil Gaiman fan.

I couldn’t bear in mind the final time I learn a e-book that shortly. The vanity is genuinely horrifying, even in the event you’re grownup, and extremely relatable as a baby. Very like different portal-to-another-world kids’s suspense (see additionally: Spirited Away), Coraline stars a younger lady who needs her life might be slightly totally different after shifting to a brand new house. She crawls by means of a small door and into one other universe, the place she meets Different Mom, who makes her favourite meals and lets her have the adventures she actually needs. The catch? She will be able to’t ever depart. Additionally, her eyes will likely be changed with buttons, like all residents of this universe.

The film adaptation can be glorious. In a good looking coincidence, I had simply grow to be obsessive about cease movement, significantly that period of campy Tim Burton horror — particularly something directed by Henry Selick. Coraline was tailored by the animation studio Laika (years later they made Kubo and the Two Strings, an absolute marvel of animation). The Selick-directed Coraline film is whimsical, great, and most significantly, completely terrifying. I watched it after I was in sixth grade, and it gave me nightmares for weeks. It was, and nonetheless is, every thing I ever wished. —Nicole Clark

His 2012 “Make Good Artwork” graduation speech

In 2012, I used to be a junior in faculty, approaching the top of my training and the beginning of a profession in a risky trade. This graduation speech, which I stumbled upon after a good friend shared it on Fb, had a large optimistic affect on me at a time I wanted that increase.

The entire thing is worth it, however one half particularly is price calling out.

Folks hold working, in a contract world, and increasingly of as we speak’s world is freelance, as a result of their work is nice, and since they’re straightforward to get together with, and since they ship the work on time. And also you don’t even want all three. Two out of three is okay. Folks will tolerate how disagreeable you’re in case your work is nice and also you ship it on time. They’ll forgive the lateness of the work if it’s good, and in the event that they such as you. And also you don’t should be nearly as good because the others in the event you’re on time and it’s all the time a pleasure to listen to from you.

It’s a helpful life lesson, particularly as work creeps increasingly into each a part of our lives. I’m grateful I heard it at a time I actually wanted it. —Pete Volk

His Tumblr Presence

Earlier than I elaborate — sure, folks nonetheless use Tumblr and it’s way more fashionable than most individuals suppose. Neil Gaiman has been an lively Tumblr consumer since 2011, and he nonetheless actively makes use of the microblogging platform to at the present time. That is notable, as a result of celebrities have notoriously been bullied off of Tumblr. But someway, Neil Gaiman has outlived all of them, watching from the shadows of his personal dashboard.

He retains his ask field open and solutions questions from followers. He offers life and writing recommendation. He talks concerning the varied diversifications of his works, giving data he is ready to give and answering with a signature “wait and see” when he can’t. He performs together with dumb jokes and reblogs additions. He helps followers observe down obscure traces he’s written. And as is the fact of the web, he offers along with his share of haters and trolls, however he’s all the time remarkably sleek towards them.

He additionally reblogs posts, including on new data, offering humorous commentary, or giving useful ideas (this normally causes some shock from individuals who organically come across a remark from Neil Gaiman within the wild, and it’s all the time actually amusing to see).

He’s only a good presence on the web, which is exceedingly uncommon to see lately. —PR

Neil Gaiman? What are you doing in my falafel?

I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out the episode of PBS Youngsters collection Arthur the place Neil Gaiman involves advise Sue Ellen about writing her personal graphic novel. Within the episode, she meets Gaiman (his Arthur-sona, at the very least, which is a cat) at a e-book studying and he presents her a replica of the Coraline graphic novel. When she makes an attempt to write down her personal e-book and will get discouraged by her pals’ suggestions and her personal self-doubts, an imaginary model of Gaiman seems to present her some good recommendation! It’s a beautiful episode concerning the inventive course of — but in addition gives the hilarity of a tiny catlike Neil Gaiman sitting in falafel. —PR