The Sandman: Act II
4.8/5
Critic Rating
Please note: This content is not for kids. It is for mature audiences only. Just like the original graphic novels, this audio adaptation contains explicit language and graphic violence, as well as strong sexual content and themes. Discretion is advised. Enter the Dreaming again as the blockbuster audio adaptation of “the greatest epic in the history of comic books” continues in The Sandman: Act II. James McAvoy returns to voice Morpheus, the Lord of Dreams, in this sequel to the number-one New York Times audio best seller. Journey into a world of myths, imagination, and terror based on the best-selling DC comic books and graphic novels written by Neil Gaiman (returning as the Narrator), and lose yourself in another groundbreaking, immersive drama adapted and directed by the award-winning audio master Dirk Maggs. In the absolutely packed Act II, the dark fantasy resumes and the Sandman expands into the French Revolution, ancient Rome, 19th-century San Francisco, eighth-century Baghdad, and beyond. New and familiar characters abound, voiced by a bright mix of performers, including Kat Dennings, Regé-Jean Page, Emma Corrin, Michael Sheen, Kristen Schaal, Brian Cox, John Lithgow, Jeffrey Wright, and so many more, including fan-favorite narrators Simon Vance and Ray Porter. Just close your eyes and listen again as the greatest epic continues. Act II of the audio series The Sandman adapts collected volumes four (Season of Mists) and five (A Game of You) of the comics in their entirety, and most of volume six (Fables & Reflections).
Critic Reviews
Score: 5
Miranda Sawyer • The Guardian • Sep 25, 2021
"Gaiman himself provides the narration, and the thoughtful, enveloping sound design is thrilling. No matter who you are, the amount of narration makes this drama more of an audio book, though as ever our mind-pictures surpass even the original drawings. Be warned: everything takes a lot longer than reading any comic ever did. Set aside 13 hours for this one. …"
Score: 4.5
Michael Bergonzi • Audio Drama Reviews • Sep 28, 2020
"Gaiman’s warm storyteller voice narrating the caption boxes of the comic book might feel out of place in the beginning but its what keeps the story from getting too dark. The delivery and cadence of the two-word lines are so visceral that you feel sweaty and gross for listening to what comes after. James McAvoy is an interesting choice to play the Dream Lord, not because he’s bad or not a good fit. This is unlike any role he’s done and if it wasn’t for the accompanying PDF with cast and crew information, I would’ve never known he was the voice. "
