There are many different types of comic book formats and the Sandman series is no exception. What is the difference between the Sandman Omnibus vs Absolute? It can get difficult to tell them apart.
In this article, we will extensively explain what the Omnibus and Absolute formats are. We’ll break down the difference between The Sandman Omnibus and Absolute, and give you a guide on how to choose the one suitable for you. So if you’ve been unclear on the Sandman Omnibus vs. Absolute argument, this article will help shed light.
What Are Omnibus Editions?
It’s important to be clear on what omnibus and absolute editions are, especially for new comic book fans. Or people who tend to mix them up.
An omnibus edition of a book is generally one that includes more than one work in one book. It is a collection of books that have been published before. This edition is usually from the same author. In rare cases, it can be from different authors.
The price of omnibus editions is usually equal to buying individual ones. In some cases, it might cost less than buying separate editions. So an omnibus comic book is a collection of several issues within one book. There’s no limit to the number of issues that can be collected.
They have different appearances from other editions of comic books. They have an oversized hardcover, better paper stock, and sturdier binding. Most omnibus editions are open flat, which makes them more comfortable to read.
What Are Absolute Editions?
An absolute edition of a book tells the complete story in one issue. Absolute comic books are only put out by DC Comics. A major reason people love them is because they have more content than other editions. These include creator commentary, more sketches, scripts, and behind-the-scenes content.
It usually tells short stories that wouldn’t fit into the regular comic book series. The story build-up of absolute comic books is more concise. They have bigger pages than other types of comic book editions. Absolute editions have their slipcases and an increased page size.
The difference between these editions is that an absolute comic book is a collection of a single storyline or volume that tells everything you need to know. Omnibus is a collection of comic books that gives the important events of a story in one book. Also, omnibus editions include more than one volume or storyline of a comic book series.
Besides, absolute editions focus on a specific story or arc. Omnibus editions include a detailed and comprehensive angle of an entire series or character. Also, omnibus editions are used to collect older comic books that are harder to find or no longer in print. While absolute editions are used to collect highly rated or popular storylines.
The Sandman Omnibus vs Absolute: Is There a Difference?
The Sandman is a comic book written by multi-award-winning author Neil Gaiman and it’s published by DC Comics. The original series ran from January 1989 to March 1996 for 75 issues.
Some of the artists on the series include Todd Klein with the lettering, Marc Hempel, Sam Keith, Dave Mckean for the covers, etc.
DC Comics initially published the series from 1989 to 1993. Then it was placed under DC’s Vertigo imprint from issue #47 between the years 1993 to 2020. After Vertigo’s retirement, reprints have been published under DC’s Black Label Imprint till the present day.
There are three major ways these editions are different. This includes content, price, and overall appearance. The content of the Sandman Omnibus strictly centers on the storyline and includes little extra content. While the absolute edition has an array of extra content. There’s also less volume than that of the Absolute edition.
Omnibus costs less than the Absolute edition. Since there are fewer volumes, you will spend less money while reading the comic. Regarding appearance, Absolutes are much larger and have a better quality binding.
The Omnibus is very thick and heavy, so you have to be gentle with the binding. The Sandman Absolute has slipcased hardcovers wrapped in faux leather covers, while the Omnibus edition has leather spines.
The Sandman Omnibus Content
The Sandman Omnibus is a huge two-volume hardcover edition of the comic book. This edition was released to commemorate the 25th anniversary of The Sandman in 2013. Volume One collects issues #1 to 37 and The Sandman Special No. 1. Volume Two collects issues #38 to 75 and includes stories from Vertigo Jam No. 1 and Vertigo: Winter’s Edge.
A special Silver version of The Sandman Omnibus was released autographed by Neil Gaiman. However, this was limited to 500 copies. This edition includes the two volumes in a slipcase. It has a numbered page with Neil Gaiman’s signature and a silver-like finish.
A third omnibus volume was released in 2019. This edition includes the award-winning miniseries The Sandman: Overture, the acclaimed miniseries Death: The High Cost of Living, Death: The Time of Your Life, and the comic and prose versions of The Sandman: The Dream Hunters.
It also includes the graphic novels Sandman: Midnight Theatre and The Sandman: Endless Nights. Lastly, it includes the artistic showcases of The Sandman: A Gallery of Dreams, A Death Gallery, and the Endless Gallery.
The Sandman Absolute Editions Content
In November 2006, The Absolute Sandman Volume 1 was published. This edition series is a big 8″ by 12″ comic book with higher quality than the library edition. It has a hard leather-like cover and a slipcase. However, it’s more costly.
DC Comics The Absolute Sandman Volume 1 collects The Sandman #1-20 (Preludes and Nocturnes, Dream Country, and The Doll’s House). It also includes extra content such as character designs for developing Dream, Neil Gaiman’s original sales pitch, his prose summary of the first seven issues from The Sandman #8, script and pencils for The Sandman #19 (A Midsummer Night’s Dream).
The Absolute Sandman, Volume 2 was published in October 2007. It collects The Sandman #21-39. It also includes extras, such as Desire’s story “The Flowers of Romance” gotten from Vertigo: Winter’s Edge #1, funny biographies of the contributors, a section of DC’s official “Sandman Month”, etc.
The Absolute Sandman, Volume 3, was published in June 2008. It collects The Sandman #40-56, Sandman Special #1, and “Fear of Falling” from Vertigo Preview #1.
Extra content includes script and thumbnails from The Sandman #50 (“Ramadan”), a gallery of statues inspired by The Sandman #50, art galleries from Sandman Special #1 and The Sandman #50, a section dedicated to Jill Thompson’s “Little Endless” series, etc.
The Absolute Sandman, Volume 4, was published in November 2008. It collects The Sandman #57-75. It includes three pages from The Sandman #72 originally published in The Dreaming #8. It also collects Vertigo Jam # 1 (“The Castle”).
Extras contain a timeline of The Sandman’s production from Gaiman’s initial pitch to the publication of the last issue, merchandise inspired by The Sandman #75, (“The Tempest”), and developmental art and script for The Sandman #57 (“The Kindly Ones: Part One”).
The Absolute Death was published in November 2009. It collects The Sandman #8 and #20, Death: The Time of Your Life #1 – 3, Death: The High Cost of Living #1 – 3, and Vertigo’s Winter’s Edge #2 (“A Winter’s Tale”).
The extras contain a section solely on the collectibles inspired by Death, Death Talks About Life AIDS pamphlet, Chris Bachalo’s sketches, script, and pencils for The Sandman #8 (“The Sound of Her Wings”).
The Absolute Sandman Volume 5 was published in November 2011. It collects Dust Covers: The Collected Sandman Covers (“The Last Sandman Story”), The Sandman: Endless Nights, Sandman Midnight Theatre, and The Sandman: The Dream Hunters (which includes the four-issue comics adaptation by P. Craig Russel and the prose version, written by Gaiman and illustrated by Yoshitaka Amano).
The Absolute Sandman: Overture, was published in July 2018. It collects The Sandman: Overture #1-6. Extras such as the script for The Sandman Overture #1 (“Chapter 1: A Flower Burns”), the exciting process of Dave McKean’s cover art, art by J.H Williams, Todd Klein’s lettering process, and interviews with the creative team.
Sandman Omnibus vs Absolute: Which One Should You Choose?
Choosing between The Sandman Omnibus and Absolute is strictly up to you and what you prefer. These editions tell the same story but in a different way. Choose the Omnibus edition if you:
- You can’t afford the absolute edition
- If you don’t mind missing out on the never-before-seen extra material
- If you want a lesser volume of the comic
The Absolute edition is suitable for:
- People who can afford it
- People who love the extra content and want to have access to limited materials
- People who don’t mind owning a bulk volume of the comic
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a DC Omnibus?
DC Omnibus is a line of high-quality, large format and hardcover editions of comic books. DC has been publishing Omnibus editions since 2007. It’s an edition that has the reprinted format of individual volumes.
How many DC Absolutes are there?
Currently, there are up to 57 DC Absolutes.
How often do Absolute editions get reprinted?
It’s hard to say how often Absolute editions get reprinted since it varies. Some get reprints within a couple of years, while others don’t get reprinted. It also depends on how quickly they sell out.
Conclusion
The Sandman Omnibus vs. Absolute dilemma is an easy one to overcome if you place your preference above every other thing. You should also consider your budget when trying to decide. In conclusion, both editions are great and have their perks and downsides.
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