[UPDATED] Second Issue Of ‘The Sandman: Overture’ Delayed Until February 2014

UPDATE (11/12/13]: Sandman: Overture writer Neil Gaiman has accepted the majority of blame for the delay. He wrote on his blog:

We’re both really sorry about the delay. It’s unprofessional, and is mostly due to the giant signing tour I was on from June, and me not getting script written on the tour, with knock-on effects. We’re hoping it’ll be the only delay though.

ORIGINAL STORY CONTINUES:

From all indications, the first issue of Sandman: Overture, the much-anticipated return of writer Neil Gaiman to the character he co-created back in 1989, has been hugely successful. Drawn to great acclaim by JH Williams III, the issue came in at No. 8 on the October sales charts, giving Vertigo a rare top-ten book.

Which makes it all the more disappointing that the six-issue series won't be making its announced bimonthly schedule. ComicsAlliance has confirmed that issue #2, which was scheduled to come out in December, has been pushed back to February of next year.

Vertigo parent DC Comics had no official comment regarding the delay, but the news certainly has to come as a blow not only to the Sandman series, which will almost certainly lose momentum with readers who returned to comics just for this 25th anniversary project, but for the entire Vertigo line. The publisher's plans for Sandman: Overture were and are to showcase other books from the imprint, such as Dead Boy Detectives and Coffin Hill, via house ads -- the only advertisements to be found in Overture #1, with the exception of  the inside covers.

Without any confirmation from DC, we're only left to speculate as to the possible reasons for the delay. Despite the uncommon sophistication of his work, Williams has proven himself more than capable of drawing a monthly book on titles such as Batwoman, though it must be said that the art in Overture is very complex and often abstract. Internet rumor seems to lay the blame at the feet of Gaiman, who certainly has his hands full with other projects. Until there's an official word from the publisher, it's hard to be sure, though.

Vertigo will release a special edition of Sandman: Overture #1 on November 27, with translucent lettering and other artistic process features to give readers a more in-depth look at Williams' work.