Somehow this completely slipped under my radar. It's been happening a lot lately.

Excited as we've all been about 1602 (and justifiably so), DC has a little something coming out shortly afterward that should have fanboys hopping.

Neil Gaiman is returning, briefly, to The Endless.

Here's what DC has to say about it, and how you can get your hands on it.

June's issue of Diamond Previews (Volume XIII #6) features the advance solicitation of the most eagerly anticipated project of the year: THE SANDMAN: ENDLESS NIGHTS (JUN030253).

This 160-page, oversized (7 1/4" x 10 7/8") hardcover original graphic novel from VERTIGO features the return to comics storytelling of Hugo Award-winning, New York Times best-selling author Neil Gaiman. With an international dream-team of artists, Gaiman explores each member of The Endless in a series of seven powerful tales.

Please note that the correct page count for THE SANDMAN: ENDLESS NIGHTS is 160 pages, as noted in its advance solicitation on pages 56-57 of Previews and in its listing on page 106.

"I've been working on ENDLESS NIGHTS for over two years," says Gaiman. "It's the equivalent of writing almost seven monthly comics, for the top artists in comics. Now that the stories have come in, it's better than I dreamed."

This unparalleled roster of artists illustrates the seven stories:

* P. Craig Russell (THE SANDMAN #50, The Ring of the Nibelung) illustrates a story of Death and a day that goes on forever.

* Milo Manara (Click, Butterscotch) > -> the Italian artist famous for his captivating portrayals of the female form > -> paints a story of love and Desire in ancient times.

* Bill Sienkiewicz (Elektra: Assassin, THE SHADOW) brings us to Delirium's realm on a strange rescue mission.

* Spanish architect and illustrator Miguelanxo Prado (Streak of Chalk, Peter and the Wolf) takes us back to the dawn of time, when stars spoke...

* Barron Storey (The Marat/Sade Journals), one of America's premiere illustrators, creates 15 heartrending portraits of Despair.

* Glenn Fabry (award-winning PREACHER cover artist) draws a story of future archaeologists learning a little too much about Destruction.

* Frank Quitely (New X-Men, THE AUTHORITY, JLA: EARTH 2) contributes a final commentary on Destiny.

In addition to these stories, THE SANDMAN: ENDLESS NIGHTS includes a biography section and a summary of each volume in the Sandman Library. Dave McKean, THE SANDMAN cover-artist and one of today's finest illustrators, exquisitely crafts the wraparound cover and book design. THE SANDMAN: ENDLESS NIGHTS is sure to delight Gaiman's large and loyal following.

Ah, heck. They had me at "please."

Derek McCaw