Death: At Death's Door (Death #1)
Next to the title character, the most popular cast member of the acclaimed Sandman comic book series is Sandman's sister, Death--no hooded grim reaper, but a perky, black-clad Goth chick. In retelling the series' "Season of Mists" story line, writer-artist Thompson depicts Death in manga (mainstream Japanese comics) style, as a button-cute punkette. Similarly, her godlike siblings are given huge eyes and exaggerated expressions, and whole compositions take on the cartoony, freewheeling look ofshoujo, the manga aimed at girls. Lucifer has abandoned Hell, tossed out the inhabitants, and given Sandman the key. While the Lord of Dreams (Sandman) deals with his newly acquired real estate, Hell's evictees crash at Death's place, where her sisters, Despair and Delerium, throw them a party. Thompson is one of few American artists to successfully mimic manga, and she imparts a lighthearted tone to an originally somber tale. Her approach will probably attract American manga fans, who don't much follow American comics, and Sandman fans, who will devour any stories featuring its characters, regardless of style.Gordon FlaggCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved