Daily Oklahoman

Dark Horse Comics will publish “Harlequin Valentine,” a fully painted story teaming Gaiman with illustrator John Bolton (“Black Dragon”).

“Harlequin Valentine” is a retelling of the classic commedia dell’arte tale of Harlequin and Columbine.

The bittersweet romance was adapted from a short story of Gaiman’s originally printed in the 1999 World Horror Convention program book.

Harlequin pins his heart to the door of a lady named Missy, and “Harlequin Valentine” explores what she does with the Harlequin’s heart.

Following the story will be an illustrated prose essay by Gaiman about the commedia dell’arte. The commedia dell’arte is a style of drama originating in 16th century Italy. It is characterized by improvisation from a written plot. The Harlequin is a standard character of the commedia dell’arte.

Adapting myths, legends and literature is a strength of Gaiman’s.

In “American Gods,” Gaiman weaves a tale of the old forgotten gods raging against the emerging new ones. Ex-con Shadow makes a bargain with the mysterious Mr. Wednesday following the death of Shadow’s wife. Shadow agrees to work for Wednesday. Wednesday, however, is more than he seems (as is nearly everyone in the book), and Shadow soon finds himself a key player in a coming Ragnarok.

Though Gaiman has had critical success in the book market with “Good Omens” (with Terry Pratchett), “Neverwhere” and “Stardust,” the sales surge of “American Gods” may put Gaiman on a short list of top-selling fantasy novelists.

Gaiman holds status in the comics world as a writer who has brought prestige and acclaim to his medium.

“Sandman,” created by Gaiman and original artists Sam Kieth (“The Maxx”) and Mike Dringenberg, became the flagship of DC’s Vertigo line and a comic that kept adult readers returning to the comic shop month after month.

The 10 volumes of “Sandman” graphic novels, collecting the 75-issue series, remain among DC’s best-selling graphic novels years after their original release.

Gaiman’s “Mid-Summer Night’s Dream” story in “Sandman” No. 19, illustrated by Charles Vess and Malcolm Jones III, won the World Fantasy Award for best short story – a first for a comic book.

In 1999, Gaiman teamed with the highly regarded Japanese artist Yoshitaka Amano (“G-Force,” “Vampire Hunter D”) to write an illustrated prose epilogue to the “Sandman” saga.

The resulting book, “Sandman: The Dream Hunters,” tells a fable of a badger and a fox that eventually ties in to Morpheus, the Sandman of Gaiman’s comics.

“Dream Hunters” won a Bram Stoker Award for illustrated narrative and was nominated for a Hugo.

And Gaiman isn’t necessarily done with the Endless. The chief characters of “Sandman,” seven constant forces personified in the story, are the Endless – Dream (Morpheus, or Sandman), Despair, Destiny, Delirium, Desire, Death and Destruction.

DC Comics have announced but not scheduled an Endless hardcover to be written by Gaiman.