Dreaming, Merv Pumpkinhead

Dreaming 17-19

The Corinthian deals with some unfinished business left over by his predecessor.  The original Corinthian left behind one survivor during his killing spree, Gabe, but not before taking his eyes.  The trauma leads Gabe to continue his assailant’s eye-plucking, murderous ways, which creates a breach between the dream world and the waking world.  The Corinthian and Matthew team up again after their adventures in The Kindly Ones to seal the hole.

It reads very much like a run-of-the-mill Vertigo book from the 90s - dark, kind of strange, somewhat meandering, mildly entertaining, and leaves you wondering if you’ve just wasted your time.  This teeters right on the edge of getting cut, but I’m keeping it around just in case. I miiiigght want to read it again in the future.

Regret buying? No

Would buy again? No

Would read again? Yes

Rating: Didn’t suck

Dreaming 55, Merv Pumpkinhead

Bill Willingham was clearly getting ready for Fables with these issues.  (It would debut less than two years later.) He even teams up with Mark Buckingham for one of them.  Willingham nails the voices of Merv and Danny Nod, Danny in particular. His running one-sided dialog with Goldie (somehow back from guarding the Garden of Eden 52 issues ago) is charming in its self-importance and confidence, as the library assistant refers to his gargoyle partner by every sidekick name in the book:  Sergeant Harper, Gunga Din, Tonto, Little John, Igor, Friday, Squire Wamba, Renfield, Passepartout, Planchet, Jeeves, Tinkerbell, Samwise, Nkima, Watson, Sancho Panza, Chingachgook, and Kato. I don’t think I could name half of the heroes these people are attached to.

This was only one of the many things that amused me with these issues.  And there’s far better to come with Fables. Can’t wait to get to it.

Regret buying? No

Would buy again? No

Would read again? Yes

Rating: Nice