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The Sandman Presents #11
Merv Pumpkinhead: Agent of D.R.E.A.M.
FROM THE PAGES OF THE SANDMAN....The janitor of the Dreaming, Merv Pumpkinhead, plays a super spy/secret agent in this first spin-off. With the aid of a literal dream car and a lovely girl from the Waking World, Merv must stop a greedy, mad scientist in trying to conquer the worlds of the Awake and the Dreaming.
48 pages, Paperback
First published October 18, 2000
302 people want to read
About the author
Bill Willingham
998 books2,830 followersIn the late 1970s to early 1980s he drew fantasy ink pictures for the Dungeons & Dragons Basic and Expert game rulebooks. He first gained attention for his 1980s comic book series Elementals published by Comico, which he both wrote and drew. However, for reasons unknown, the series had trouble maintaining an original schedule, and Willingham's position in the industry remained spotty for many years. He contributed stories to Green Lantern and started his own independent, black-and-white comics series Coventry which lasted only 3 issues. He also produced the pornographic series Ironwood for Eros Comix.
In the late 1990s Willingham reestablished himself as a prolific writer. He produced the 13-issue Pantheon for Lone Star Press and wrote a pair of short novels about the modern adventures of the hero Beowulf, published by the writer's collective, Clockwork Storybook, of which Willingham was a founding member. In the early 2000s he began writing extensively for DC Comics, including the limited series Proposition Player, a pair of limited series about the Greek witch Thessaly from The Sandman, and most notably the popular series Fables
In the late 1990s Willingham reestablished himself as a prolific writer. He produced the 13-issue Pantheon for Lone Star Press and wrote a pair of short novels about the modern adventures of the hero Beowulf, published by the writer's collective, Clockwork Storybook, of which Willingham was a founding member. In the early 2000s he began writing extensively for DC Comics, including the limited series Proposition Player, a pair of limited series about the Greek witch Thessaly from The Sandman, and most notably the popular series Fables
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
August 28, 2011
If you think the janitor bellyacher/construction-demolition man of the Dreaming is just a simple aide, you better think again. Mervyn “Merv” Pumpkinhead proves in his first solo spin-off that he is more than just a lowly concierge when he embarks on a James Bond-esque journey to try and stop a malevolent mad scientist from dominating both the Dreaming and the Waking World…or is it just all in his head?
Merv Pumpkinhead: Agent of D.R.E.A.M is choked with darkish humor. Merv is about the only fictional nit-picker that I adored, especially when he’s complaining about how superfluous his work is when the Lord of the Dreaming can just shape and make everything in his realm back in its true form with less than a flick of a finger. It is nice to see someone as dynamic a character as Merv to have his own mini-series; he may be based on L.Frank Baum’s Jack Pumpkinhead, but Gaiman’s literary dexterity inflated him into a more believable and funnier creation. The writer of this Sandman Presents installment is Bill Willingham, and I’m glad to say that he nailed Merv’s character to perfection. Mike Carey already gained my trust when he portrayed Lucifer Morningstar as an intriguing antihero to die for, but after reading Darko Macan’s take on the Corinthian, I became a tad cynical on other writers playing adoptive parents to Gaiman’s original kids. Willingham eradicated that skepticism in me, and I’m ready to try to read more of the Sandman Presents stories.
So for the story: the renegade female dream known as Quivering Annie—an anthropomorph of an erotic dream, one of the oldest—breaks into the Dream Palace and steals some of the Sandman’s Dream Sand, then flees into the Waking World. It is Mervyn who volunteers to bring both Annie and the sand back. Loving to play the role of a secret agent, Merv, accompanied by the sentient dream car (specifically a cherry-colored Lamborghini) called Lam, tracks Annie down and learns that she has allied herself with the evil Potiphar Flush in a scheme involving using the Dream Sand to take over the world.
This is an excellent read. There are some violent scenes, but I guess that’s what you get from a comic spun off from the pages of a phenomenal, un-sugarcoated adult graphic novel series. After reading this, I will definitely pick up something else written by Willingham.
Four stars.
Merv Pumpkinhead: Agent of D.R.E.A.M is choked with darkish humor. Merv is about the only fictional nit-picker that I adored, especially when he’s complaining about how superfluous his work is when the Lord of the Dreaming can just shape and make everything in his realm back in its true form with less than a flick of a finger. It is nice to see someone as dynamic a character as Merv to have his own mini-series; he may be based on L.Frank Baum’s Jack Pumpkinhead, but Gaiman’s literary dexterity inflated him into a more believable and funnier creation. The writer of this Sandman Presents installment is Bill Willingham, and I’m glad to say that he nailed Merv’s character to perfection. Mike Carey already gained my trust when he portrayed Lucifer Morningstar as an intriguing antihero to die for, but after reading Darko Macan’s take on the Corinthian, I became a tad cynical on other writers playing adoptive parents to Gaiman’s original kids. Willingham eradicated that skepticism in me, and I’m ready to try to read more of the Sandman Presents stories.
So for the story: the renegade female dream known as Quivering Annie—an anthropomorph of an erotic dream, one of the oldest—breaks into the Dream Palace and steals some of the Sandman’s Dream Sand, then flees into the Waking World. It is Mervyn who volunteers to bring both Annie and the sand back. Loving to play the role of a secret agent, Merv, accompanied by the sentient dream car (specifically a cherry-colored Lamborghini) called Lam, tracks Annie down and learns that she has allied herself with the evil Potiphar Flush in a scheme involving using the Dream Sand to take over the world.
This is an excellent read. There are some violent scenes, but I guess that’s what you get from a comic spun off from the pages of a phenomenal, un-sugarcoated adult graphic novel series. After reading this, I will definitely pick up something else written by Willingham.
Four stars.
October 17, 2019
Slight, energetic, silly spy spoof featuring Merv: the real talent is the creative talent, which moves from this Sandman pastiche to a long, long run on Fables, from Vertigo (DC Comics).
I really love the chapter titles here...
Recommended.
I really love the chapter titles here...
Recommended.
April 25, 2009
"The name's Pumpkinhead...Merv Pumpkinhead." Is Merv just a simple janitor or a super spy? According to "The Sandman" series, Merv seems to be in charge of the construction and demolition of the Dreaming, though he often complains that his job is superfluous since Dream can change any of it at will.
"When the Boss is away, Dreams will play." A renegade dream (Quivering Annie--one of the foremost of the erotic Dreams) breaks into Daniel's palace and steals some of the dream sand from his pouch.
Pumpkin-headed servant Merv, ever-willing to play the secret agent, volunteers to track the dream down and bring the sand back. Merv goes on a James Bond-esque adventure in which he attempts to foil the schemes of a would-be world conquerer, and along the way meets beautiful women and evil villains.
We'll get a chance to meet a Dream car (yes, literally--specifically a cherry-red Lamborghini who responds to the name Lam), Holly Daze, Mr. Flush who is known to the magical world as Gourdfinger (I kid you not!), complete with his personal bodyguard Mr. Kwa Z. Moto among others.
I love Willingham's brand of humor (check out the "Fables" series for proof) and partnered with Buckingham -- a totally winning combination.
Book Details:
Title The Sandman Presents: Merv Pumpkinhead - Agent of D.R.E.A.M.
Author Bill Willingham; Neil Gaiman(Consultant)
Reviewed By Purplycookie
"When the Boss is away, Dreams will play." A renegade dream (Quivering Annie--one of the foremost of the erotic Dreams) breaks into Daniel's palace and steals some of the dream sand from his pouch.
Pumpkin-headed servant Merv, ever-willing to play the secret agent, volunteers to track the dream down and bring the sand back. Merv goes on a James Bond-esque adventure in which he attempts to foil the schemes of a would-be world conquerer, and along the way meets beautiful women and evil villains.
We'll get a chance to meet a Dream car (yes, literally--specifically a cherry-red Lamborghini who responds to the name Lam), Holly Daze, Mr. Flush who is known to the magical world as Gourdfinger (I kid you not!), complete with his personal bodyguard Mr. Kwa Z. Moto among others.
I love Willingham's brand of humor (check out the "Fables" series for proof) and partnered with Buckingham -- a totally winning combination.
Book Details:
Title The Sandman Presents: Merv Pumpkinhead - Agent of D.R.E.A.M.
Author Bill Willingham; Neil Gaiman(Consultant)
Reviewed By Purplycookie
February 1, 2009
This Sandman Presents comic is quite short and sweet. It's pretty amusing, based around Merv Pumpkinhead after his recreation by Daniel, and is full of references to James Bond, who Merv fancies himself to be rather like. There is some considerable doubt about that, considering the trouble he gets into!
This one is basically just light and funny, nothing incredibly new or deep, and it's nice that way.
This one is basically just light and funny, nothing incredibly new or deep, and it's nice that way.
January 20, 2011
This is the book I give my friends to read when they ask me what comic they should read. It's James bond with a pumpkin head, and it rules over everything else.
February 12, 2011
If you like the character Merv Pumpkinhead from the Sandman series at all, this is worth reading.
March 3, 2015
fun and cute. nothing at all to do with sandman, but definitely fun.
October 18, 2020
"Dreams are frisky. It's in our nature. We're built of mercurial stuff -- fluid and slippery. We're also designed to be willful and inventive. Qualities essential to our jobs. Small surprise then that we can be disorderly at times. And when the boss is away, dreams WILL play."
This starts with a frisky dream doing something wrong and when they make a big mess they call him in.
His name is Pumpkinhead. Merv Pumpkin head. He's the janitor. In the Dreaming. It's a glorious cover story. This is the comic I never knew I always wanted. Merv as a super secret agent masquerading as a Janitor but he calls the shots in The Dreaming. Who knows if it's illusion or fancy or what, but I love it. It's written like Merv is a hard bitten noir detective playing a suave, tough spy. Men dream about cars, so there are many beautiful cars in The Dreaming. That makes sense. Also, no mechanic can get along without janitorial service (too true). There are plentiful James Bond movie references throughout, which are all fabulous, especially the title of the epilogue which had me laughing out loud in real life.
Out of all the Sandman Presents comics, this might be the most enjoyable one I've read.
This starts with a frisky dream doing something wrong and when they make a big mess they call him in.
His name is Pumpkinhead. Merv Pumpkin head. He's the janitor. In the Dreaming. It's a glorious cover story. This is the comic I never knew I always wanted. Merv as a super secret agent masquerading as a Janitor but he calls the shots in The Dreaming. Who knows if it's illusion or fancy or what, but I love it. It's written like Merv is a hard bitten noir detective playing a suave, tough spy. Men dream about cars, so there are many beautiful cars in The Dreaming. That makes sense. Also, no mechanic can get along without janitorial service (too true). There are plentiful James Bond movie references throughout, which are all fabulous, especially the title of the epilogue which had me laughing out loud in real life.
Out of all the Sandman Presents comics, this might be the most enjoyable one I've read.
March 1, 2026
A surprisingly fun read, full of Bond references in an international/dimensional thriller featuring the world's most unlikely superspy. I didn’t notice that Bill Willingham wrote it when I picked it up, but in retrospect it definitely has his feel and attention to detail.
July 30, 2018
nice spin off in the sandman universe, if you like merv the janitor ,you will like this
short ,funny and enjoyable read.
short ,funny and enjoyable read.
December 12, 2018
Leer la historia de uno de los personajes más irreverentes de The Sandman es una bocanada de aire fresco, sobre todo por su estilo pintoresco y su inesperado final.
August 29, 2019
A hilarious spin-off. A lot of Bond references and play on words. Good read!
October 2, 2012
Its Merv, Merv Pumpkinhead a funny out take on what's in a dream. He is on the hunt to find a runaway dreamland girl.
"I'll have a magicians nephew, with hand shaved not machine made ice." off course that's how he orders a drink.
Funny and bizarre very entertaining.
"I'll have a magicians nephew, with hand shaved not machine made ice." off course that's how he orders a drink.
Funny and bizarre very entertaining.
Read
July 6, 2012insubstantial and very old-style, but fun. Merv has his charms, he dreams big, and it sheds a little bit of light on the nature of Neil Gaiman's Sandman world of The Dreaming. also interesting for its spotlight on Willingham and Buckingham as a team, just before their Fables series began.
October 6, 2013
Merv is always a trip, this time he's the man to save the day as he tackles villains and bad dreams. Took one star back for the kitten grinder. Not cool!
June 30, 2019
This James Bond / Pumpkinhead satire is often funny but also runs a bit long [6+/10].
June 11, 2015
I have read it easily a dozen times. It a funny action packed book for a Sandman spinoff. I loved it some much I bought the soft action figure.
November 5, 2016
Lots of fun. Worth reading again after I revisit the rest of the Sandman series.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews