Extended Review
Rauch, Stephen: Neil Gaiman's The Sandman and Joseph Campbell: In Search of the Modern Myth
Many of those who have discovered the universe of Neil Gaiman's groundbreaking Sandman series of graphic novels have been captivated by the literate and mythic qualities of these works which elevate the comic book medium from the realm of popular entertainment to literature. One person so enchanted by the series is Stephen Rauch, author of Neil Gaiman's The Sandman and Joseph Campbell: In Search of the Modern Myth. Over the course of this intricate study, Rauch examines Gaiman's rich fictional construction through the lens of Joseph Campbell's writings, exploring those characteristics which qualify The Sandman as a modern myth. Along the way, Rauch also shares insights into the way in which Gaiman's work explores larger philosophical questions, including the relationship between myth and dreams, the role of the hero myth, and the problem of evil, all while maintaining a balance between an obvious love of Gaiman's work and a plainspoken yet scholarly approach to the material.
For those unfamiliar with Neil Gaiman's Sandman series, Rauch offers this basic explanation of its premise: "At its most simple, The Sandman is the story of Morpheus, the King of Dreams, also called 'Dream.' [...] He is one of the Endless, a set of seven beings who have ruled the universe since the beginning of time. They are not gods, although the mistake can easily be made" (17-18). With this, Rauch begins to differentiate Gaiman's Sandman from the more accessible adolescent superhero power fantasies that glut the comic book market. He further elaborates on the nature of the Endless: "In a sense, they are the reason we have gods, for they are the constituents of consciousness, for in Gaiman's world the gods come from dreams" (18). Although Rauch offers much in the way of explanation of Gaiman's characters, he assumes that his reader is already acquainted with them, and there is plenty of room within Neil Gaiman's The Sandman and Joseph Campbell for the neophyte to become hopelessly lost. For the reader who approaches Rauch's study with a familiarity with Gaiman's creation (and, possibly even a copy of Hy Bender's The Sandman Companion) there is a great deal of rewarding information to be found. I would suggest that at the very least Sandman Volume VI: Fables and Reflections should be read.
Although Rauch's examination is scholarly, it is never dry, and his assertions are compelling and thought provoking. Rauch's arguments are well-supported with quotations from authors such as Joseph Campbell and Carl Jung; however, he occasionally references works that feel as if they are chosen to help Rauch proselytize his own philosophical theories. One such work is David Miller's The New Polytheism: Rebirth of the Gods and Goddesses, which is quoted frequently enough that the reader feels compelled to track down this out of print book for further study.
Perhaps the greatest fault with Rauch's book is that it lacks an index, and this feature will be sorely missed should a reader need to quickly access a particular reference. In addition, intimate familiarity with Gaiman's The Sandman is an absolute must for a reader to get full value out of this excellent study. Casual readers, no matter how familiar with Campbell, Jung, and David Miller they might be, will be completely perplexed by what they find here without first experiencing at least some aspect of Gaiman's captivating world. [3/2004]
