Bill Willingham came to Vertigo after a plethora of small press work in 1999 to launch his poker miniseries "Proposition Player" (1999–2000), and contribute to the "Sandman" universe with a one-shot spy-spoof, "Sandman Presents: Merv Pumpkinhead, Agent of D.R.E.A.M." (2000), and a single issue contribution to "The Dreaming" on-going series. A second "Sandman" one-shot, "The Sandman Presents: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Dreams..." (2001), also led to a 4-issue miniseries, "Sandman Presents: The Thessaliad" (2002). Willingham's best-known work soon followed, with the July 2001 debut of "Fables" (with artist Lan Medina). In 2004, he returned to the world of the Sandman with "Sandman Presents: Thessaly: Witch for Hire", and 2006 saw the debut of the Vertigo-esque magical — but mainstream DCU title — "Shadowpact" and "Fables" companion series "Jack of Fables". In July 2008, with "Fables" nearing a major turning point in its run, Willingham relaunched "House of Mystery" as a Vertigo title with Lilah Sturges (then known as Matthew Sturges).