Is it necessary to read the comic ‘The Sandman’ to understand the Netflix series?

Since it was announced that Netflix would be adapting one of the most acclaimed comics ever released by DC Comics, many fans have voiced their reservations, while others have wondered where all the excitement came from. And for those who don’t know where to start, or where to continue, here’s a little guide to understanding ‘The Sandman’.

The Netflix fantasy series, ‘The man of sand’ is based on the Neil Gaiman comic namesake, published by DC Comics in the year 1989, and then passed into the hands of Vertigo, the darker editorial line of Detective Comics. The graphic novel was so acclaimed that for many years they wanted to make an adaptation of it, until the red giant took over the rights.

But, although ‘The Sandman’ is the most popular fantasy series on Netflix in many countries where the program is available, there are many doubts that you need to read Neil Gaiman’s comic first, to understand what happens in the story. with Tom Sturridge.

The short answer is no need to read ‘The man of sand’ to understand the Netflix series, however, there are some nuances to clarify the situation. For example, the differences are minimal, and with some changes in the characters of the adaptation, but the story, in general, remains almost intact.

What stories does the ‘The Sandman’ series fit in?

Own Neil Gaiman believes that reading is unnecessary ‘The man of sand’ to understand the Netflix series: “We didn’t want a TV show where you felt you had to read a lot of comics released in 1988 and 1989 to figure out what was going on,” says the writer-producer.

However, it must be understood that there are some differences, albeit minimal, between one work and another, and the elimination of some arches, which will become more evident in the second season, which is why some believe that it is the experience best to understand ‘The Sandman’ has to start directly with the comics.

Netflix’s “The Sandman” is now available and the first season only adapts the stories from the first two books of Neil Gaiman’s work, “Preludes and Nocturnes” and “A Doll’s House”. At the moment the second season has not been confirmed, but the official announcement is expected to be given in the coming weeks.