- Merv Pumpkinhead
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Merv Pumpkinhead 
Publication information Publisher DC Comics First appearance (unnamed cameo) The Sandman (vol. 2) #5 (May 1989) Created by Neil Gaiman In-story information Full name Mervyn Pumpkinhead Place of origin The Dreaming Supporting character of Dream Mervyn "Merv" Pumpkinhead is a fictional character in Neil Gaiman's popular comic book series, The Sandman.
Fictional character biography
Merv (as he is better known throughout the series) is Dream's jaded, street-wise, cigarette-smoking janitor. While his appearance can vary based on who is viewing him (for example, William Shakespeare saw a turnip-headed version of Merv in Sandman #75 (March 1996)), Merv is generally portrayed as having a pumpkin for a head. His appearance is based on Jack Pumpkinhead, a character in L. Frank Baum's Oz books.
Mervyn's first appearance in The Sandman #5 (May 1989) had him driving a bus, helping to transport Morpheus on his quest. Pumpkinhead later claims this was his job during Morpheus' absence. 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.[1] He takes up arms to fight the Furies in The Kindly Ones and is killed, but he was returned to life by the new Dream in The Wake.
Mervyn also appeared in his own spin-off to The Sandman series called Merv Pumpkinhead: Agent of DREAM, published in 2000. In this publication, Merv goes on a James Bond-esque adventure in which he attempts to foil the schemes of a would-be world conqueror, and along the way meets beautiful women and evil villains.
Merv co-stars a later issue of 'The Dreaming', where a dreamer finds joy working with Merv's repair crew. [2] In the very next issue, Lucian, the librarian of the Dreaming, feels the need to travel to Earth proper. He entrusts Merv with watching the library. When another character expresses doubt that Merv can supervise every book ever written or thought of, Lucian states that Merv has his cellphone number. [3]
References
- ^ Irvine, Alex (2008), "The Dreaming", in Dougall, Alastair, The Vertigo Encyclopedia, New York: Dorling Kindersley, pp. 64–65, ISBN 0-7566-4122-5, OCLC 213309015
- ^ The Dreaming #15 (1997)
- ^ The Dreaming #16 (1997)
The Sandman by Neil Gaiman The Sandman
Library1: Preludes and Nocturnes • 2: The Doll's House • 3: Dream Country • 4: Season of Mists • 5: A Game of You • 6: Fables and Reflections • 7: Brief Lives • 8: Worlds' End • 9: The Kindly Ones • 10: The Wake • 11: Endless NightsSpinoffs The Sandman: The Dream Hunters • Death: The High Cost of Living • Death: The Time of Your Life • Destiny: A Chronicle of Deaths Foretold • The Little Endless Storybook • Death: At Death's Door • Dust Covers–The Collected Sandman Covers 1989-1997 • The Quotable Sandman • The Sandman Companion • The Dreaming • Sandman Midnight Theatre • Lucifer • House of MysteryCharacters The Endless: Destiny • Death • Dream (Daniel Hall) • Destruction • Despair • Desire • Delirium
Faire Folk: Auberon • Titania • Nuala
Dreams: Cain and Abel • The Fashion Thing • Goldie • Matthew Cable • Merv Pumpkinhead • Corinthian
Humans: Fury • Hector Hall • Jed Walker • Rose Walker • Foxglove • Hob Gadling • John Constantine • Dr. John Dee • Sandman (Wesley Dodds) • Element Girl • Prez • Martian Manhunter • Mister Miracle • Dr. Jonathan Crane • Wildcat
Demons: Lucifer • Mazikeen • Etrigan the DemonCategories:- DC Comics characters
- The Sandman
- Comics characters introduced in 1989
- Characters created by Neil Gaiman
- DC Comics stubs
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