The Sandman - Official SDCC Trailer Reaction 

A synopsis for those who wonder what the story is: the main protagonist is Dream, he is the immortal embodiment of the concept of dreaming and ruler of the dream world. He gets captured by human cultists for a hundred years and without him, the kingdom of dreams goes off the rails. When he finally breaks out, he needs to recover his power, rein in rogue nightmares and clean up the mess. And then things get weird.

This looks VERY faithful to the comics, and at 36 years old, I couldn’t be more hype about this adaptation of a book series I’ve loved since my early 20’s.

So this is mostly for Hector but a lot of people couldn't make it past "24 Hours" (Sandman issue 6), which is the diner issue. But right after that is "Sound of Her Wings" (Sandman issue 8) and that really brought people back. Once you get past the diner there isn't anything that dark again, though the show has it's elements of dark.

One of my friends is HUGE into Sandman and she's flipping her shit over this trailer and everything that came out at SDCC. I take that as a good sign.

Can't wait to her Morpheus' response to Lucifer's question "What power dreams in Hell?", that response was so dope in the comics. The "24 Hours" diner issue looks to be a defining episode of the series.

I just read the first volume about a week ago, and that diner comic was so rough. I watched a video of Neil Gaiman breaking down this trailer, and in it he mentioned that that was probably the darkest thing he's ever written, so I'm slightly reassured that at least it won't get worse 😅 I'm so excited to see this show, but I am not looking forward to seeing the "24 Hours" episode in live action haha

Lifelong comic reader, but only read Sandman for the first time a couple years ago and by it's end, became one of my all time fav titles. I'm very open to the modernization, cautiously optimistic. To me, the tone of the comic feels more like an A24 movie than the mainstream approach the trailers have shown. But in Neil Gaiman I trust!

I may be wrong, but I think Sandman is the only graphic novel to win a Hugo award for literature. And rightfully so. In my opinion, it sits comfortably on the "Mt. Rushmore" of all-time great comics, with Watchmen (and whatever other 2 comics you want to argue belongs there).

Been waiting thirty frikken years for a Sandman show. THIRTY YEARS.

I am so excited for this. Like, I can barely contain my glee at how good it looks.

Back in 2018 I was trying to see how many books I could read in a year (it was 50 btw, I work at a library lol). I went through all of Neil Gaiman's works and decided to pick up these graphic novels, because my library just happens to have all of them. Some parts are really fucked up. Some parts are really heart wrenching. Some parts are really weird. But it's all incredible storytelling. I definitely recommed reading through them, even if you find some parts "not for you" just because I know you'll find some parts that "are" for you. Long Live Hob Gadling

The Beyond Rubies arc (most of Preludes & Nocturnes) was written while Gaiman was being told to make a horror DC title, which is why it had Cain & Able, John Constantine, and Doctor Destiny. My favorite story was Brief Lives (the 7th collection) where Dream and Delerium go seeking Destruction. By that point very few mainline DC characters show up in the story.

Been a Sandman fan since I started reading comics years and years ago. I legit wept watching this trailer. Cannot express how excited I am for the show.

I would love for someone to explain to me why so many superhero-reading people just can't get into Sandman. I've never been able to understand why.

I REALLY appreciate a channel where they can have the maturity to be able to praise something, recognize something great, even when it’s not their personal preference. I rarely seen that level of maturity on other channels.

Hector is right about that Diner scene. That scene in The audiobook is insanely tactile and visceral.

I can’t believe we live in a world where we’re getting a show made by Neil of this comic. This is going to be beautiful and disturbed and I cannot wait to see it. It looks amazing.

You’re the best Adam ❤ thank you for all of your hard work putting these videos together. The show looks creepy and weird, it’ll be a wild ride for sure.

I think this show looks INCREDIBLE and really hope y’all react to it. The 18th issue of Sandman (the one all about the cats) is a Mount Rushmore individual comic for me, one of my favorite single issues I’ve ever read.

Gwendolyn Christie as Lucifer is just 🤌🏻💋.

Seeing John Dee in the diner with the ruby…… I don’t think people are ready to see this 😂

I've seen the dc showcase death animation and thought it was absolutely amazing. Definitely one of the best animated shorts I can think of.

My #1 most anticipated show.

Have you guys reacted to the SANDMAN series or is that exclusive content elsewhere. Couldn’t find it on you’re channel. Would love to see your reactions. ⏳🎩🫀🐠🪝🗡📖

Only og's we're here for the first upload

Bruh, Gaiman is one f my favorite authors, & his 'Sandman' series is a goddamn masterpiece. One of the absolute best book series I've ever read, of any literary type. I put his comics up there with Moore, Miller & Bendis. Good Omens, Neverwhere, The Graveyard Book, American Gods, his books on mythology, his 1602 series for Marvel, even his children's books are fire. Gotta check him out, you will not be disappointed.

Guys- if you do a RU-vid search, Neil Gaiman has a Vanity Fair video "New-Rockstars-style" rundown of the trailer and every character. I was not sure I'd be interested before but I'm totally in now. Worth watching.

I first discovered Sandman as a young teenager (oddly right around the time the series was about to end) and fell so in love with it! I hadn't read too many comics outside of the superhero genre at that point so it was one of the first things to really open my mind to what else the medium could do in terms of style, tone, pacing, etc., blending fantasy, horror, mythology, history, drama, comedy, tragedy, mystery...presenting the mythic as mundane and the mundane as mythic...and ultimately under all that telling a very intimate character piece about a guy who has to change, and to what extent he can or can't. I keep coming back to it year after year and discovering more layers and complexity and I'm so beyond thrilled that it's being so gorgeously and lovingly adapted! For those who want to give it a try but are worried about hitting the same roadblock early on in the book (in particular the story Hector references), there are a number of other good places to start and the anthological nature allows for a level of jumping around in the narrative. The issue where we first meet Death, The Sound of Her Wings, closes out the first volume and is a real turning point for the series where even Neil has said the book clicked into place for him. The third volume Dream Country is a wonderfully varied sampling of shorter one issue stories that give you the wide scope and breadth of the tones and styles the book explores. There's a graphic novel titled Endless Nights that is really breathtaking with one chapter devoted to Dream and each of his siblings, the Endless, with a different iconic artist drawing each one which will also give you a good sampling. If you're into Japanese folklore and art, there's an illustrated prose story Neil did with Yoshitaka Amano called Dream Hunters that has very little to do with the main story of Sandman, but might be a good "toe in the water" to see if you want to venture further into the world of the Dreaming (there's also a comic adaptation P. Craig Russell did later on, who is one of the all time greats). And if you want to come into the story through Dream's sister, Death has a pair of mini series titled The High Cost of Living and The Time of Your Life that are somewhat smaller stories that tie tangentially back into the main book. In short, there's no wrong way to read Sandman. ;)

The diner thing was absolutely MY SHIT 🖤 thank you for reacting to this! And for the great point that for those who had trouble taking in the reading material, maybe this medium might be helpful too. :)

The first book I read of Neil Gaiman was "Norse Mythology". I bought it at an airport when waiting for my flight, loved it, finished half on the flight there, finished it on the flight back. Was so intrigued because of the theme. Only afterwards when being back home and reading more about the author I was amazed about all the other stories he wrote.

As someone who only knew it was a comic book, this show looks incredible.

I still get anxious thinking about that diner scene in the comics. But a note to those who haven't read: It's not all like that. It dips in, but also there's a lot of joy and wonder and hope and good stuff too.

@adamhlavac you would really enjoy the Audible versions of the Sandman novels. They are fantastic. It's literally a movie without direct visuals.

I own some collectors editions of the comics but i have not read them yet. However i have listened to the audiobook and its absolutely incredible. James McAvoy voices Dream and his voice is breathtaking. The actor playing Dream in the show also has a very very similar voice he is doing. They are damn near the same voice and i absolutely love it. I cant wait for this show.

I haven’t read many comics growing up so the details of the superhero stories are all brand-new to me and I usually need Easter egg videos to link the movie plots to the source material for me. I’ve been a Gaiman fan for forever and Sandman is one of the few comic runs that I own and treasure. I never expected it to be adapted and I’m looking forward to a story that I know well, no interpretations needed. In Gaiman I trust!

Watched the whole episodes over the weekend. Love the shows

I truly recommend HellBlazer issue #27 “Hold Me” as Sandman adjacent. Written by Gaiman, drawn (gorgeously) by Dave McKean (swoon) . John Constantine surfaces regularly in the Sandman series arc. It’s a brilliant stand-alone issue. I can also recommend “Death: The High Cost of Living” miniseries (3 issues). It’s in the Sandman Universe and has the… sweetness and optimism (plus a salting of the effed up stuff) that made so many of us really strong fans. Nice reaction vid- thanks!

I've never been about to get into the comics, but the lore that I've heard from them really interests me, so I'm excited for this series to come out.

I am so, so, sooooo looking forward to this.

I will agree with Hector on the dinner, but I did push through and The Sandman is one of my favorite comics and so looking forward to this!

I was assigned Fables and Reflections by an English professor (best ever by the way!) and read the rest of the Sandman series from there. I cannot wait for this show to come out! The comparison to Watchmen is apt; this really is a series where you have to commit to the tone and vision of the source material. If they do, it will make for some really compelling TV. *Possible light spoilers I hope we see some episodes that incorporate some of the mythological and historical references found throughout the comics, perhaps as stand-alone period pieces. Those are some of my favorite elements of the series. Really looking forward to this one! Hope you guys give it a chance!

I have the big OMNIBUS 1 Book. Haven't finished it but, its a comic that I think about. The audible series was fun, from what I heard. Boyd Holbrook looks like he's eating it up as The Corinthian. Good for him. Can't wait to check the show out.

Idk why people find it tough to get into. It's got epic artwork, a cool plot, great characters and lots of really amazing stories. These guys are dope though, just wish other reactions were this positive.

I’m cautiously optimistic from this trailer. Gonna be a ride either way.

I'm a year of absolutely brilliant SciFi and comic book tv adaptations THIS is what I have been waiting for.

I’ve heard of the comic books, but I’ve never read one, or listened to the audiobook. This looks very promising. The visuals are gorgeous. I hope they stick the landing.

Very excited about this! Plus, Mark Hamill in the voice cast!!

Just can't wait for everyone's reaction to the convention.

I’d be interested in knowing if Hector ever got to the other side of the diner scene? Sounds like he didn’t. Without spoiling….I was WTF is happening at that moment too…but I’m glad I stuck it out.

I think a lot of us have the same experience with the SANDMAN comics LOL

I don't understand how any of ya havent reacted yet to this wonderful episodes series yet

August is very competitive…the streaming wars are in high seas: The Sandman, She Hulk, House of the Dragon - and they’re all very exciting

Greatest comic book series ever. Period. This series has effected and influenced me in countless ways over the decades. If you couldn’t get past “24 hours”, I don’t know what to tell you.

Will y'all react to the first few and see how you feel?

The guy with the glasses reminds me of Nanami from JJK lol. Excited for this one!!

Even if you guys aren't totally into it, Sandman is my FAVORITE comic property ever. It's dark, it's twisted, it's timey-wimey and... bloody-woody? God it's sick and gross and I hate it but I love it at the same time... I can't describe it, at all adequately. But it's really important to DC comics overall theological hierarchy.

My first reaction as a newbie: Wow!

you guys gotta watch this, it was amazing

This is probably the series I'm looking forward to the most next month. I've never read the comic, but I have watched, a few adaptations of Neil Gaiman's work, and I am a fan of: Good Omens, American Gods, Lucifer (which I love that series alot); just to name a few. I feel like this show will end up like FX's Legion series (which I really like); by that I mean a great series, that might not appeal to everyone.

OMG Tom Sturrridge sounds just like James McAvoy!

What did you guys think about The Sandman?

For a series contained within about 75 issues, I think of it like a TARDIS, much bigger on the inside. It looks like they’re really doing it justice, which is a great relief. It could have been so easily screwed up in so many ways, and a lot of the pitches over the years to turn it into a movie clearly demonstrate that. I’m glad Gaiman held off on it.

I read this when it first came out (because I’m an old), & I am so very excited!! Love so many of the choices for the cast, especially Jenna Coleman, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, John Cameron Mitchell, Sanjeev Bhaskar, & David Thewlis!! (Thewlis is an actor that I can adore, yet see him cast as John Dee *nods head*) Ooh, can’t forget Dance & Christie - I like that there is a different take on Lucifer here, because the comics always had freedom to adapt. Yeah, the diner episode is definitely less of an enjoyable part of the story than it is an “oh, fuk - I get what you’re doing, but this journey is going to show me a little too much about some of my fellow humans, isn’t it” realization I have all the trust in Gaiman, & hope this will mess with my brain. I expect nothing more than surrealism from the author of my Dream.

I am really looking forward to watching the show. I haven't read much Vertigo comics but the visal in the trailer is dope.

Such a fkn brilliant comic-book series! And it is much, much more than just imagery! ;)

Engagement for the engagement god!

Second time is the charm?

The Diner issue is kind of like the Red Wedding, nothing else in the series really gets to that level of horrific afterwards.

Are you gonna react to the series? It's absolutely amazing, it blew my mind tbh

I hope they explain what's going on. I never read it but it looks dope

I thought the trailer was great. I'm super excited for this show. I loved the comics and was an even bigger fan of the Death (Dream's sister) comics. So, I can't wait until we see her in the show.

Never heard of this comic so I'll check it out

Yeah, man, I'm one of those, "Yo, the John Dee/Dr Destiny/24 Hour Dinner? Yeah, that's my shiznit!" Ha ha ha! All of 'The Sandman,' really.

As a kid who grew up with older cousins and siblings who read and collected superhero comics, Sandman to me was something new and exciting. I had first seen Sandman on the Books of Magic 1--4 where he welcomed Tim Hunter into The Dreaming whether awake or asleep ooooh~. Weirdly enough, the next I read was The Wake lol. Then next was Dream Hunters (illustrated by Yoshitaka Amano which is just haaaaaaaaaa beautiful.) I think Sandman was the first non-superhero comic I read that wasn't comedy ish. I HOPE this comes out nice. I am still a lil salty about Lucifer. xD

DAAAAMN...i'm in...

my biggest worry for The Sandman is that Netflix is going to cancel it after one season, like they are wont to do...

Dc is the best graphic novel out thereeeeee

Neil is probably my favorite author

I read Sandman starting from the beginning and still have the original run. The diner scene is intense, so it does get some focus, but it’s not “my jam” any more than the violence in Clockwork Orange was. It’s there as part of the very beginning of an epic mythic story and it looks like they are going to be doing it justice. My favorite story line is Brief Lives (which will probably not get show until Season 3). Overall, though, the comics just kept getting better and better as Gaiman’s writing improved, he found his voice, and the story and world kept building on itself. #sandfan

I have read (and listened as audio books) quite a few of Neil`s work, but not the Sandman. Looking forward very much to the adaptaition. I really liked most of the things I read. Adaptaition of other works, I read, did not quite work for me (e.g. American Gods or Good Omen -from Pratchett & Gaiman), this time I will check out the adaptation first and read the comics after7wards, let`s see how this works.

You guys should check out the video of Neil breaking down the trailer. He's so funny!

I think what would determine if you would like this are those 2 clips they recently released. If you like those you'll like this show.

Jenna Coleman....I'm there

What reminds me of the sandman comics. ...? My dreams. My dreams remind me of the comics.

For me, the trailer made sense that he's after one of his dreams that got loose. As far as everybody commenting on the diner scene yes, it is a very hard but for anybody that's a fan of horror or watching TV adaptations such as Hannibal you'll understand why it's important. I disagree with Hector because I don't think it was "fucked up for the sake of being fucked up" because there are a lot of materials out there that try to do things for shock value and I don't think this was one of them. ***Spoiler*** Dream speaks to John to show him why dreams are important to maintain in that for humans or else we self-destruct. It shows what happens when the wrong person gets God like powers.

Either you do this, or dont even bother. Netflix: Nah, it'll be fine.

You can see from my profile picture that I'm a fan, but I'm more in love with Death stories which are stories about compassion and hope. The diner scene is the least appealing for me, I love the mythology, the idea of the Endless family, the nods to pop culture...

As far as I'm concerned, there are only TWO English language, works of literature written in the 20th Century that ever achieved a level that could make them comparable to the works of Shakespeare or Dickens or Milton. One is THE LORD OF THE RINGS by J. R. R. Tolkien. The other is THE SANDMAN by Neil Gaiman. It maybe too scary, too dark, too high-brow, too esoteric, too depressing, to appeal to everyone, but to those who can crack its code will find a body of literary work that is absolutely unmatched by any other writer in the English speaking world. You can imagine how hard it will be to adapt this to television and also how long people have waited to experience this. You owe it to yourself to read the comics when you get a chance. It's heartbreaking and terrifying and deeply, deeply, humanistic.

This is one of the shows I’m most looking forward to and Tom Sturridge… I’ve been waiting forever for him to get a role like this. So super excited to see this!

I have read it and listened to the audiobook which was brilliant. I think there is very little like this book. I hope you find the magic that's in this story and that they can bring that charm to the screen.

♥️♥️♥️

I’m so excited for this show. Yea the dinner scene In the comic was messed up. Almost made me stop. Glad I didn’t though, some of the later issues had some of the most heart wrenching examples of human kindness. One in particular makes me cry every time I read it.

Well. Hmm. It's my favourite comic book, and this looks really great. So I am still fearful, but also allowing for some hope that this could actually work.

That looks like Fantastic Beasts

Hopefully it’s as dark as the graphic novel

yalp should react to this

gives me some American gods vibs

I thin I tried this back in the late 80's when I was stationed in Long Beach but I couldn't get into it. It seemed pretty complexed. I was just discovering things like Grendel and Akira and a lot of other things that weren't Marvel or DC. I'll definitely check this show out.

Oh wow I wasnt even going to watch the trailer because I just had no interest, but now that I saw this I can see the world is oozing with atmosphere and that really draws me in.

Lol anyone know why they’re not reading invincible anymore