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St. Paul, Minn.

January 11, 2007 4:39 PM

The Dynamic Duo of Dark Visions

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"Stanley" by Dave McKean — "Stanley" by Dave McKean
Image courtesy Dave McKean

Writer Neil Gaiman and artist Dave McKean are one of the hottest teams in the comic book world.

Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean — Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean have worked together for 20 years. They say they only recently discovered they were incompatible when they made a film together. Luckily they live on eithert side of the Atlantic and so that doesn't matter so much.
MPR Photo/Euan Kerr

McKean combines painting, drawing, photography, and collage to create disturbing off-kilter images which compliment Gaiman's brand of fantasy fiction.

In a collaboration that's lasted 20 years so far, they have worked on the award-winning Sandman comic book series, several graphic novels, and four children's books. They have also made a film, "Mirrormask," which Gaiman wrote and McKean designed and directed.

Both men are English, but Gaiman lives in the US and McKean in Britain. Minnesota Public Radio's Euan Kerr asked each of them what he found most intriguing about the other when they first met 20 years ago.

Gallery

4 of 4

Dave McKean — Painter, collagist, director and musician Dave McKean has worked with Neil Gaiman on and off for 20 years
MPR Photo/Euan Kerr

1 of 4

Neil Gaiman — Neil Gaiman's new collection of short stories called "Fragile Things" just entered the NYT bestsellers list at number 14
MPR Photo/Euan Kerr

2 of 4

Image from "Mirrormask" — Dave McKean designed and directed "Mirrormask" from a script written by Neil Gaiman
Image courtesy of Dave McKean

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Dear reader,

Political debates with family or friends can get heated. But what if there was a way to handle them better?

You can learn how to have civil political conversations with our new e-book!

Download our free e-book, Talking Sense: Have Hard Political Conversations, Better, and learn how to talk without the tension.