There is also Lucien. He is Morpheus' librarian in the Dreaming, and his name gives an air of mystery and knowledge. Lucien plays an important role in maintaining the library that holds all the dreams and stories.
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.
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.
Probably 'The Sandman: Preludes & Nocturnes'. It's often recommended to new readers as it gives a good introduction to the overall concept of the Sandman universe.
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.
Probably 'Sandman Slim' itself as it's the first and it got people interested in the series. Also, 'Kill the Dead' is quite popular as it adds new and exciting elements like zombies to the mix. And 'Aloha from Hell' has a lot of fans because it expands the universe further.