The cover art of Neil Gaiman's groundbreaking comic series The Sandman is unique, moody and surreal, a fitting match for the stories it symbolizes. Many fans consider it an integral part of the work, but apparently, artist Dave McKean was at risk of being dismissed early on, and only his quick thinking and hard work saved him.
Gaiman related the story on the DC FanDome panel, "The Sandman Universe: Enter the Dreaming."
McKean had created the covers for the first arc of The Sandman right from its beginning in 1989. However, he was then told that he wouldn't be continuing with the series.
Gaiman, who was already a frequent collaborator with McKean, asked him what he would do about it. He says that McKean replied, "I'm gonna spend the next two days painting the next Sandman covers."
He completed the eight pieces of art just as he had said and turned them in two days later. The executives at Vertigo had no choice but to accept and use his work, and McKean remained as the cover artist on the series for the next eight years.
The Sandman has recently found new life as an audio drama series, and a Netflix adaptation of the series is currently being developed by Gaiman and David S. Goyer.