McCloud, Sandman, and even a little V for Vendetta

When I began reading Neil Gaiman's, Sandman, the form and style of the pages and panels themselves are what really stood out to me. After I finished, I asked myself, what was the effect or significance of the lack of traditional paneling? In McCloud's Understanding Comics, he asks, "Can emotions be made visible?" (Pg. 118). In the case of Sandman, the answer to McCloud’s question is a definite yes. McCloud also writes, “ The idea that a picture can evoke an emotional or sensual response in the viewer is vital to the art of comics” (pg 119). The art gives a feeling of being in a dream/free falling throughout most of the story. At some points I even found myself reading a page out of order which was confusing. Then I would have to go back and read it again. Much like when one dreams, the events can be somewhat confusing and out of order.

What is the significance of the colors used in Sandman? I was discussing this volume with a fellow classmate and remember saying that this book made me think of a thunderstorm. The use of purples, black, greens, and blues are the main reason for me saying it. As a story about the dream realm,I think the artists wanted the reader to feel like it was nighttime, a time when one usually dreams. However, because the dream realm had been disturbed, the colors seem a bit scarier and more powerful.

What is the significance of an idea, thought, or dream in Sandman? While Dream himself was captured, the world of dreams began to deteriorate. The villain in the story, Dr. Destiny, asks Rosemary what she thinks dreams are made of. She replies that they are just dreams. He comes back with this statement which I think encapsulates the story’s main idea: “People think dreams aren’t real because they aren’t made of matter, of particles Dreams are real. but they are made of viewpoints, of images, of memories and puns, and lost hopes…(pg 148). Humans are always thinking, always worrying, and always wishing for something. I think its also important to mention the scene with Dream and the demon in hell that reiterates this point. Dream is challenged by the demon, and they are going back and forth thinking of one powerful thing after another, when it comes to the demon saying, “ I am anti-life, the beast of judgement, I am the dark at the end of everything. The end of the universes, gods, worlds…of everything…” to which Dream replies with, “I am hope”(Pg125). Saying this, Dream defeats the Demon and gets his helmet back.

From the above question, one can go further and ask what is the significance of an idea, thought or dream in V for Vendetta as well. When Evey thinks she is being held captive and tortured, she survives because of the letter from Valerie. Valerie writes that her integrity, “that one inch” and “in that one inch we are free” (Pg 156). Even in a time of despair V for Vendetta seems to be saying that an idea of something, something abstract can help you through. Much like the idea of hope overcame the demon’s challenge of the end of the world in Sandman. Without dreams, hopes, desires, and thought, one cannot survive and I think that is what a lot of these two stories (Sandman and V for Vendetta) are about.