The Sandman: Overture, The Deluxe Edition

Title: The Sandman: Overture, The Deluxe Edition

Creator: Gaiman, Neil, J.H. Williams III and Dave Stewart

Date: 2015

Source: VCU Libraries, James Branch Cabell Library, Special Collections and Archives

Publisher: DC Comics

Description: Pages 39 and 40 of this book stand as a great example for the sheer variety of ways text balloons can be manipulated as characterization devices. Gaiman’s Eternals are identifiable through their balloons alone. Each “speaks” in a different font, which is then backed by a related color within the balloons. For example, the main character of the story, the Sandman (also called Dream or Morphous), has white text on a black background. His power is over dreams, so his color scheme is tied to night imagery. This differentiation allows readers to easily relate text to characters despite the chaotic layouts that appear within the book.

Text: The Sandman: Overture, The Deluxe Edition

Original Format: Trade Paperback Book