Of all the denizens of the Dreaming, none is more visually interesting — and few more irritable — than Merv Pumpkinhead. As his name suggests, Mervyn has a giant gourd for a head. His neck is a vine, and his body is a scarecrow. His face is carved like a jack-o’-lantern. He has precisely two snaggle teeth, which is the Platonic ideal for a pumpkin’s face, as we all know. 

You’d imagine him to have a goofy Nightmare Before Christmas, Danny Elfman-y voice, but then it emerges. A gruff, vaguely Chicago grumble, part mob henchman, part Cadillac repairman. 

You’ll have to hear it for yourself in the video below. 

Who is Merv Pumpkinhead?
Merv Pumpkinhead is the janitor in the Dreaming, the realm that Morpheus rules. As the realm’s janitor, he’s clad in overalls and wears gloves, and he’s often seen carrying a broom.

Who voices Merv Pumpkinhead?
Merv Pumpkinhead is voiced by none other than actor Mark Hamill. Hamill is of course best known as Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars saga, but he’s also done many voice-overs in his decades-long career. His comic book–related projects include voicing the Joker in Batman: The Animated Series and the Hobgoblin in Spider-Man.

Hamill’s casting was revealed during Geeked Week by creator and executive producer Neil Gaiman, who called Hamill “a pleasure to work with.”

“His Merv is hilarious. That’s the other thing that needs saying,” Gaiman added. “Merv was always, in the comic, the — on the one hand — a kind of comic relief, but — on the other hand — the voice of sanity, the voice of just going, ‘This is actually kind of nuts.’ He gets to be that person, especially when arguing with Patton Oswalt [who plays Morpheus’ raven, Matthew].”

Dream Meets Matthew the Raven | The Sandman S1E3This is why you need a raven.

What’s his role in The Sandman? (spoilers ahead)
Merv joins other residents of the Dreaming in gossiping about a rumored dream vortex — a phenomenon that threatens the existence of the realm and all of its inhabitants. He brings up his concerns with Lucienne, the Dreaming’s librarian, and eventually Lord Morpheus himself.

When the Dreaming begins to crumble due to the dream vortex, Merv offers to patch things up but fears a much more dire fate awaits.

The Sandman is now streaming on Netflix.