Neil Gaiman: Misfit Man of the Hour

When it comes to awesome Misfits, Neil Gaiman tops the list. How many of us can say we have dabbled in books, comics, film, and theater? What makes Gaiman particularly special, though, is not his laundry list of accomplishments, but rather the style in which he operates. Gaiman truly immerses himself in his work- both mentally and physically. When writing Stardust, for example, Gaiman decided he wanted to create a good old-fashioned fantasy book and set out to create the whole thing by hand. When Stardust's illustrator Charles VessGaiman's handwritten chapters, the author resorted to recording his readings and sending them on to be listened to. That kind of commitment to form is impressive indeed.

It is easy to tell from his work that Neil Gaiman is a Misfit. His characters don't mesh in with mainstream society. Many people are familiar with Coraline, for example, due to the movie adaptation's recent release, and anyone could tell you she is not your everyday little girl.

Though his characters, one can get a glimpse of the fascinating world of Misfits. Gaiman's characters reveal that Misfits are not obtuse, unresponsive recluses, but rather open minded adventurers who go off the beaten track in search of something better- or just something different. Gaiman frequently ties alternate realities into his stories, giving his protagonists access to unseen worlds- ranging from blossoming and ancient communities in the London underground to the tumultuous community of old and new Gods unnoticed by mortals. In effect, Gaiman's visions of other worlds reflect Misfits' ability to see things differently. Like Gaiman, we can think outside the box, and this opens doors to worlds we could never imagine otherwise.

If there is one thing Misfits can learn from Gaiman's career, it is that they are not alone. Gaiman's widespread success reflects the vast number of individuals out there who identify with the stories' unclassifiable characters. As the author's popularity continues so spread, we can only expect to see even more Misfits in the world as conformists reading stories like Interworld and Neverwhere find life off the beaten path far more exciting and desirable.

Gaiman's versatility is astounding. His children's books are charming (if a little creepy sometimes), his comics are vibrant and fascinating, his television and movie forays are exciting and fresh, and his novels never cease to excite the imagination. With the release of his newest book, Blueberry Girl, we can only expect a whole new generation of Gaiman fans- and hopefully Misfits too- to join the fun.