The Long Run takes place outside of our normal continuity of episodes, and features table discussion of an entire work or long selection of a series. In this episode of The Long Run we talk about The Sandman, created by Neil Gaiman, Sam Kieth, and Mike Dringenberg.

First published in 1989 and running through 1996, The Sandman was part of the British invasion of comics in the 80s, and was foundational to the creation of Vertigo as an imprint of DC along with titles such as John Constantine: Hellblazer and Alan Moore's run on Swamp Thing. It was also a hugely important work in the evolution of mainstream American comics, and its influence is still felt strongly today in works like Loki: Agent of Asgard.

It begins with Dream of The Endless—also known as Morpheus, the King of Dreams—being imprisoned in a bottle for most of the 20th Century, followed by his eventual escape and return to power. In the 75 issues which follow Gaiman explores the lives of Morpheus and his siblings; the nature of dreams, stories, and myths; and the way in which those stories impact the lives of human beings.

It's an extraordinarily contemplative work which will be rewarding to the close reader, and often appears on "best of..." lists of all types.

On the next episode of The Long Run we will be reading Akira, the manga written and illustrated by Katsuhiro Otomo.

Our hosts on this episode are Andrew Chard, Joe Preti, Tobiah Panshin, Kayleigh Fleeman, Kit DeForge, and Cade Reynolds.