Neil Gaiman has an influence on you with his fantastical worlds. The Sandman’s historical performance on Netflix is a testament to that, and so is the fanbase that his numerous books have attracted. TIME Magazine seems to have understood that because it included the English writer in its prestigious The 100 Most Influential People list for 2023. And someone has a sweet message for Gaiman.

Gaiman’s inclusion in the list is a cause for celebration among his fans and included in this fan group is an actor known for his X-Men role, who had a heartfelt message for the writer.

Neil Gaiman and his storytelling have an avid fan in this X-Men actor

There are many fantasies that reside in minds, but only a few make it onto the real-life canvas. Of those selected few, there are none that come close to Neil Gaiman’s works. His inclusion to TIME The 100 Most Influential People in 2023 list is just a validation of what his fans already knew. And on the occasion, Gaiman’s biggest fan and X-Men actor James McAvoy had a few words to share.

McAvoy was 14 years old when he discovered the magical worlds of the British writer by reading Good Omens and since then the actor has been a fan of Gaiman’s storytelling prowess. Years later, the 42-year-old got the taste of Gaiman’s “sphere of influence” when he starred in BBC’s 2013 adaptation of Neverwhere. So it makes sense that McAvoy is at a place where he can aptly describe the Stardust writer’s storytelling realm as “darkly fantastical and occultish” in his message for Gaiman on TIME. But that was not all the actor said.

He feels Neil Gaiman’s style of storytelling is something we all “need on a DNA level.“ And so James McAvoy is happy that the writer’s works are getting new fans who are let in on a massive secret that reality-grounded worlds are. That these fans are lucky holds no doubt. Why? Because Neil Gaiman “brings dreamscapes to life.”

While McAvoy and his fans are happy about this development, Gaiman himself is unsure about this.

Comic book mogul feels “out of place” in the TIME list

Turkish playwright Mehmet Murat Ildan once said, “Greatness is to stay humble when the whole world calls you great!” It is perhaps this humility in him that made Neil Gaiman “feel out of place” on TIME’s list, or maybe it is the imposter syndrome, as he says so himself. Following the release of the TIME 100 list on April 13, the author took to his Twitter handle to share this achievement with the world, while thanking the magazine and sharing how he felt about being on the list.

Whatever caused his lack of surety, his fans and fellow industry bigwigs are sure about one thing: He belongs on the list.

What are your thoughts on Gaiman making it to TIME 100 and McAvoy’s message for the writer? Share your thoughts in the comments.