When the last issue of The Sandman ran in 1996, Neil Gaiman fans mourned the loss of one of the most iconic characters from the Vertigo Comics universe.

However, those fans got a treat when the first issue of a new Sandman comic began in 2013, The Sandman: Overture. That comic, also written by Neil Gaiman, with artwork by J.H. Williams III, tells the story of Dream before his early "Preludes and Nocturnes" storyline in the original Sandman comic.

Now, though, as with all things that come to an end, the final issue of The Sandman: Overture is almost upon us. And this might be the last time we ever see the character on the pages of a comic book.

"It's been a long, strange, beautiful trip, but sadly, all journeys must come to a close...even Endless ones," writes Vertigo on its website." The Sandman: Overture will be arriving in stores at the end of the month, wrapping up the latest and possibly last Sandman comic book saga."

In honor of the final issue of The Sandman: Overture, Vertigo released a sneak peek inside the final comic: a gorgeous interior spread of the book's artwork:

Hopefully, though, this isn't the last we've seen of The Sandman, as a character. Although it's taken decades to get a film project off the ground, there is officially a script ready for an upcoming film starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt in the title role, produced by David S. Goyer.

Sandman character Lucifer is also getting a new medium to tell his story: a pilot for a TV series has already been shot starring Tom Ellis as Lucifer Morningstar. The pilot proved successful and got picked up by Fox for a full first season.

The Sandman Overture #6 arrives in comic book stores and online on September 30.

Photo: Vertigo

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