Dressed as DEATH from THE SANDMAN series by Neil Gaiman

THE PHANTOM STRANGER from MADAME XANADU currently written by Matt Wagner

All the way from the Cayman Islands, PAUL BUNYAN and BABE THE BLUE OX from JACK OF FABLES by Matt Sturges and Bill Willingham

GUS from SWEET TOOTH by Jeff Lemire, who by the way, has written a piece about his comics career and upcoming run on Superboy over at brother blog The Source.

And to top it off, check out this pumpkin carving!

Neil Gaiman's seminal series THE SANDMAN will be available in 3 new paperback volumes featuring the improved production values and coloring from the Absolute Editions with new cover art and trade dress.

Just look at the difference!

Before

After

Before

After

Before

After

Pick up each of the 3 volumes below on October 13, 2010!

“One of the few comics that segued from the comics crowd, entering the intellectual and art worlds, winning over a large non-comics-reading audience…” —THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

“Over the course of 75 issues, master fantasist Neil Gaiman worked with a series of talented artists to invent a seductive universe… cosmically expansive and remarkably intimate.” —ENTERTAINMENT WEELY

“One of the few mainstream publisher comics that transcended its medium’s typical audience…” —MTV.com

“A rotating cast of characters that are some of the most unique and memorable to grace any comics pages…There isn’t anything like Sandman in any medium.” —/FILM

“Sandman is a pillar of Gaiman’s oeuvre and indeed, comics…” —COMICS BEAT

“Neil Gaiman's Sandman is one of the most critically-acclaimed and fan-beloved comic books ever created. And understandably so -- for its richly-layered, suspenseful tales helped revamp mainstream comics, broadening the medium's appeal among adults as it laid the groundwork for much of the horror and dark fantasy titles that followed.” —FEARNET

THE SANDMAN Vol. 1: PRELUDES and NOCTURNES written by Neil Gaiman with art by Sam Kieth, Mike Dringernberg and Malcolm Jones III, and a cover by Dave McKean collects issues #1-8.

THE SANDMAN Vol. 2: The Doll’s House written by Neil Gaiman, with art by Sam Kieth, Mike Dringernberg, Malcolm Jones III, Chris Bachalo and others with a cover by Dave McKean collects issues #9-16.

THE SANDMAN Vol 3: Dream Country written by Neil Gaiman with art by Kelley Jones, Malcolm Jones III, Colleen Doran, and Charles Vess with cover by Dave McKean collects issues #17-20 including "A Midsummer Night's Dream."

TIME MAGAZINE has posted 200, count ‘em, 200 nominees for their list of the Top 100 Most Influential People of 2010. Included on that list? DC Entertainment President Diane Nelson and Neil Gaiman, author of the Hugo Award nominated WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE CAPED CRUSADER? and, of course, SANDMAN.

Want to cast a vote for this year’s tastemakers? You can start by clicking here.

C’mon, DC Nation. Let’s get out the vote!

I thought it would be fun to get to know some of the editorial group behind your favorite comics and graphic novels a bit better, so I started asking questions.

First up, Mark Doyle.

PM: What was the first Vertigo book you read?

MD: Sandman. I blame that book for my current occupation.

PM: What was the first Vertigo book you edited?

MD: My first solo gig was Northlanders #17. Will Dennis was kind enough to hand me the amazing team of Brian Wood and Vasilis Lolos doing a one-off story where they break down the art of Viking single combat. It had amazing characters, awesome insight and history and it was a one-off—my favorite kind of comic. If you never read it, scour the back bins for that issue or check it out in the collection “Northlanders Book Three: Blood in the Snow.”

PM: Thanks Mark. And dont forget, NORTHLANDERS #24 comes out this Wednesday.