Neil Gaiman

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Neil Gaiman is an English comic writer and author books for both adult and children. He's known for imaginative work that crosses horror, fantasy and sci-fic genres.

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Some of his best known works are:

  • The Sandman comics which tell the tale of Morpheus, the anthropomorphic personification of Dream. It ran for 75 issues and won nine Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, including the award for best writer four times, and three Harvey Awards. Sandman #19 took the 1991 World Fantasy Award for best short story, making it the first comic ever to be awarded a literary award.
  • American Gods is a novel combining ancient mythology in modern America. His novel Anansi Boys is set in the same 'verse.
  • Good Omens was co-written by Neil with Terry Pratchett. It follows the exploits of the angel Aziraphale and the demon Crowley who are concerned the impending Apocalypse may disrupt their comfortable existence on Earth.


The influence of Gaiman's work has always been evident in Supernatural, and at Comic Con 2007, Kripke acknowledged this: “I was hoping I would meet [Neil Gaiman] because he’s a huge influence on Supernatural, between American Gods and Sandman.” Source


In late 2010 Kripke was mentioned in association with a project to create a TV series based on The Sandman - "my all-time favorite comic".

  • See The Sandman for more information on the graphic novel series.
Though the project did not get to proceed, Kripke did get to speak with the Neil Gaiman:
"I’m such a fan of Neil, and he’s every bit as smart as promised and every bit as cool and down-to-earth, and I just loved my conversations with him... I've ripped off Neil front, right and centre. I mean Supernatural is basically "Sandman meets American Gods"

In an unrelated project, Tom Hank's production company has signed to develop a six season adaptation of American Gods for HBO.

References from Gaiman's work in Supernatural

While themes and motifs from Gaiman's work are woven throughout Supernatural, there are some explicit references.

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  • John Constantine, of the Hellblazer series which Gaiman wrote for and who also appeared in Sandman was Kripke’s source for Castiel’s look. See our entry on Castiel's Trench Coat for more details.


The freeway in Abandon All Hope



  • American Gods and Anansi Boys by Gaiman also feature the character of Anansi, under the name Mr Nancy, who is a Trickster God not dissimilar to that which Gabriel disguised himself as.


  • Crowley’s name is probably a shout out to the character of the same name in Good Omens. Interestingly Crowley is introduced in 5.10 Abandon All Hope which opens with an overhead shot of a freeway which evoking the description in Good Omens of the M25 which Crowley builds in the shape of a sigil and on which the traffic unknowingly helps generate “low-grade evil to pollute the metaphysical atmosphere.”


In Fandom

Fanfic featuring Supernatural crossovers with Gaiman works:

Links

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