Sandman Overture Goes to Irregular Publication Schedule, I Cry Real Tears

Only a day after the delayed second issue of the six part miniseries hit shelves, it appears that the series will stick to a schedule of one issue every few months, instead of the bi-monthly one it promised when it was announced.

While Vertigo’s solicit for Sandman Overture #3 still quotes its release month as April, in an interview with CNN, writer Neil Gaiman says that it’ll arrive in July, and that the pattern set by the comics schedule so far, October, March, July, will likely continue.

July will be issue 3 and then probably some more months then issue 4, issue 5 and issue 6.

When issue #2 was delayed from a December release to a February one (it wound up hitting shelves this week) Gaiman offered his apologies to fans on Tumblr:

[Artist J.H. Williams III and I are] both really sorry about the delay. It’s unprofessional, and is mostly due to the giant signing tour I was on from June, and me not getting script written on the tour, with knock-on effects. We’re hoping it’ll be the only delay though.

As a reader, I’m disappointed that the comic is further delayed, but as somebody who creates stuff I understand that sometimes doing your best takes longer than you anticipate, and I’m willing to accept the new schedule as a realistic response to how long it’s going to take to make the comic. Gaiman did offer a tiny hint of issue #3: “The stuff in issue 3 is the nearest “Sandman” has ever come to a spaghetti Western. It’s not like anything I’ve ever done in any other way.” With the ending of issue 2#, that’s not difficult to imagine, what with Dream walking off with Dream of Cats to seek the source of the universe’s destruction and stop it or be overcome by it.

The writer also offered a few words on the most anticipated film and television projects based on his work that currently in preproduction, saying of American Gods, “People are being talked to, exciting things are going on,” and of The Sandman itself:

I think I’m allowed to tell you that Joseph Gordon-Levitt signed on as a producer for the “Sandman” film, and I had a fantastic day spent with Joe talking “Sandman,” and his knowledge and commitment to it impressed the hell out of me.

That’s an excellent thing to hear, so as a fan of both Gordon-Levitt and Sandman, I suppose it’s time to be happy with waiting.

(via The Hollywood Reporter.)