The Books of Magic Omnibus Vol. 2 (the Sandman Universe Classics)

This volume is markedly more consistent than the first, and definitely worth reading to the end. Tim Hunter continues to be the epitome of a stereotypical Gen X protagonist. Despite prophecies, trips to Faerie, a visit to hell, and multiple attempts on his life, he thoroughly ignores his magical powers until his problems are literally attacking him. Half of his issues could be prevented if he simply accepted the fact that he has powers and took some preemptive action-- getting magic lessons or at least practicing on his own, placing defensive spells at his home, making protective charms for his friends and family. But nope, he just sulks his way through life as if no other person before him has had a responsibility thrust upon them that they felt unprepared for, prematurely lost a parent, or been raised by a surviving parent who is struggling with their own grief.What's frustrating about his apathy is that he has a pretty solid support system, if only he could be bothered to use it. John Constantine is literally in his city, Zatanna is a phone call away and his best friend/girlfriend Molly can always be counted on for level headed advice and unquestioning loyalty. Instead, he pushes them away. And while part of it is out of a wrongheaded sense of protecting them, the other part (and bigger part, I think) of it is that relationships come with expectations and he wants the freedom to be lazy and mediocre. Unfortunately for Tim, he finds out the hard way that refusing to make a choice is STILL a choice, and it's usually the most destructive one.The second volume of the omnibus is easier to read than the first, because the divergent threads of Tim's life and faerie are brought together into a satisfying, coherent story. In fact, the Faerie storyline is one of the most compelling simply because Tim's involvement in it is minimal and we get to focus on the indomitable Molly, who is in every way the hero that Tim should have been. The final arc of Tim's story is interesting too, because it involves alternate universes and we see the many paths that Tim could have taken. . . notably, only one of those worlds features a Tim who is both benevolent and lives up to his magical potential. At the end of it all, Tim saves the world but not without irreparable cost to himself and his loved ones. And one gets the sense that because of how much destruction was wreaked before Tim could be bothered to do the right thing, the best thing that could happen is Tim doing what he always wanted to do- ignoring magic and living life as a mediocre civilian. Maybe the next person destined to become the most powerful magician in the universe will do better. It's a tragedy in a way, and certainly a bold and unexpected direction to take in a comic book.