Definitely 'The Sandman: Preludes & Nocturnes'. It's the foundation of the series. 'The Sandman: Season of Mists' is also a must - read as it delves deep into the complex relationships between different characters. And 'The Sandman: A Game of You' for its unique exploration of themes like identity and dreams.
The 'Sandman Slim' novels are really interesting. In the initial 'Sandman Slim' novel, we are introduced to Stark, a man who has been through hell and back, literally. He returns to Los Angeles from Hell with a vengeance. 'Kill the Dead' takes the story further as Stark has to deal with a new threat of zombies. 'Aloha from Hell' then shows Stark traveling to different realms, facing more challenges and uncovering more secrets about the world he's in.
The Sandman isn't real in the sense of being a living, breathing entity. In the Sandman real story, it's a fictional concept. It's a story made up to explain sleep and dreams, especially for children. Just like many other mythical creatures, it exists in the realm of imagination and stories, not in the real, tangible world. We can enjoy the stories about the Sandman, but we can't expect to meet him in real life.
Sure. 'The Sandman: Preludes & Nocturnes' is a great start. It sets the tone for the whole series with its dark and dreamy atmosphere. Another one is 'The Sandman: Season of Mists', which has really complex and fascinating storylines involving various mythological figures. And 'The Sandman: A Game of You' is also popular, exploring different aspects of dreams and the subconscious in a very unique way.
Well, it all started with a strange accident involving some sort of magical dust or substance that transformed him. But the details can get pretty complex.
You can expect a lot of creativity. The stories are not your typical comic fare. They often take unexpected twists and turns. There are many unique concepts like the Endless, a group of powerful beings that include Dream, Destiny, etc.