To understand this review, first you have to understand how I read the Sandman comics. Whenever my wife goes away for a few days, I read a volume of the Absolute Sandman. I don't quite know how I started this or why, but this is how things are. And, just over a year ago, my daughter was born. The past several days have been the first my daughter's been away from me since she was born.

This is the environment in which I've started--and finished--Absolute Sandman, Vol 4.

The arcs in Vol 4 are The Kindly Ones and The Wake. Or, to put it another way, The Death of Dream and, well, The Wake. What a positively depressing way to spend my depressing weekend away from my family. But, quite possibly the most beautiful story ever written. This is Gaiman at his best: the opposition of two unstoppable powers, very little combat in favor of deep conflict, sacrifice, grace, and transformation. I wasn't a fan of the art style for The Kindly Ones (seemed too cartoony), but it didn't distract and I particularly liked The Wake's art. ( )

As fitting of the finale of the series, the Miscellany section in this volume has the layout sketches and script for the Temptest like the first volume had A Midsummer Night's Dream sketches and script. The section also has the requisite examples of Sandman merchandise, which really just makes me want to go shopping and start scouring the thrift stores for vintage merch. The volume is short on extra artwork though, which is disappointing as this is my favourite part of the other volumes' miscellany sections. ( )

The fourth Absolute Sandman volume completes the main story arc of the series, combining disparate elements and characters to produce a finale that I did not expect at all at the beginning. Initially I struggled with not being able to discern how anything related to anything else but the second half ravels everything up neatly. ( )

Just as great as the first three volumes. ( )

This volume contains the longest story arc of the series, The Kindly Ones and the next arc, The Wake but starts with an extra story where a dreamer (you, perhaps?) gets a tour of The Castle (from Vertigo Jam #1). Guided by Lucien with interjections from a few of the more recognizable inhabitants of The Dreaming. Then follows the 13 episode story in which the Furies have a score to settle with Dream. Lots of the old story arcs are revisited here with many great characters returning to create an ending and leave enough hope for a new beginning. This hope is further enhanced with the 4 episodes of the wake which has everyone coming to terms with previous events and their continuance, or not, in the scheme of things. Exiles sees Dream encounter an old Chinese philosopher who's been sent away from his emperor for the misdeeds of his son. The volume closes with a revisit to William Shakespeare as he completes the second play promised to Dream and so produces The Tempest.

Another excellent bunch of extra material follows which includes a Sandman timeline which goes through the major events from story pitch to the end of the stories published in this volume. Scripts (with thumbnails, pencils and promotional art) are provided for issue 57 (Kindly Ones Part 1) and issue 75 (The Tempest). There's also a couple of features on the collectibles that were made available over the course of this series' production (some of which I wouldn't mind owning). And finally the obligatory biographies of the people that made it happen.

This won't go down as my favourite book, the artist's style for The Kindly Ones I don't think did the story justice but was excellent for The Wake. Oh! I really wish they'd put spoiler warnings in the introductions. Don't read this one if you don't know what's going to happen in the stories contained in this volume. ( )