Merrick: The Sensational Elephantman #1-11, Reviewed. So Much Rip-roaring Fun It Is, As Its Title Promises, Sensational

How about a superhero story starring a notorious victorian era figure with the worst case of maternal impression imaginable? Well, Merrick The Sensational Elephantman by Tom Ward and Luke Parker delivers so much rip-roaring fun it is, as its title promises, sensational.

Indie comics offer some of the most beautiful spectrum of characters and themes available in comics. We’ve been very lucky at CBNUK to sample and consume great works from the likes of Quindrie Press and Avery Hill, with their powerful and emotional works, or Broken Face comics and Wolf Cave for their bonkers entertainment. The dizzying talent of the creators affiliated with these publishers and all the great individuals that have done it independently or solo(ish) like Lex Lambs Trad, Jamie Me's Start Again and Abyssal Albion by Thomas J Campbell. We really have been spoilt for entertainment in a time when healthy distraction has felt like a very valuable commodity. One incredibly deserved top spot amongst these creators and creations and with the most hardcore version of the D.I.Y punk ethic, must be the well established Merrick: The Sensational Elephantman. Returning to Kickstarter to fund the second collected volume, this is a great opportunity to get involved with this bonkersly (I don’t care that it’s not a word) entertaining story. It’s a series full of sensational storytelling and art which the wise and wonderful wizard of this site and I are particularly fond of.

If you know Merrick this is just a reminder there's a Kickstarter out there you should be aware of, if not here's a review I hope entices.

So, let’s start with the art. To address the elephant in the room (sorry), Luke Parker presents Merrick: The Sensational Elephantman in a style rather reminiscent of the great Mignola, where the love and comparison for Mike must be as obvious as a large fisted swat to the head. This is no poor man's interpretation, however. Instead, Luke's style seems more like a testament to influence and adoration while still holding individualistic qualities. It’s a style particularly well suited to this story which also borrows the occasional cue from Mignola works. Similarities aside this is really enjoyable art. There’s a punk quality to the style, a rawness maybe even roughness as it’s one that shuns heavy detail for blocky shadows. The earliest issues do have a crudeness to the quality but the art grows across its eleven issues to a confident delivery. The heavily shadowed style works really well for these characters and the story's atmosphere throughout. This Victorian England is shrouded in darkness and reeks of sinister happenings. Luke's style offers an interesting quality with character design, with the hero Merricks angular features given more unnatural qualities with minimal detail and bold shadowing.

The strength of the art throughout this style, for me, sits in the emotions being depicted and the high action sequences. The facial expressions are afforded more detail than most panels to sell these emotions while that heavy shadow play adds a dynamic edge to the action despite its minimal detail. There is something otherworldly about Lukes art, yet familiar, with the style feeling of a time. It has an essence of pulp penny dreadful that adds a look, that in places only Nic J Shaw and Micah Myers lettering anchors to the present. The layout throughout is excellent but the covers really impacted me by screaming horror comic vibes of old. The proclamation of “The most remarkable human being ever to draw the breath of life” sells this fully.

Well, pulp mag aesthetics, but this story is certainly not pulp fiction of the traditional definition. No, Tom Ward, with editing thanks to Clare Lenton, presents a comic chock full of surprises that just as its title assures is sensational. The meat of the story lies in a reimagining of the notable historic figure Joseph Merrick, most remembered as The Elephantman. Tom takes a man historically seen as an oddity and spectacle whose actual life was one marred and defined by tragedy and disfigurement and spins out a superhero. A man whose illness, while still informing his compassion and humanity in the face of insult and ridicule, also serves as his strongest attributes his physical restrictions rewritten as attributes that redefine him as a more superhuman specimen.

There's a bittersweet joy to be found in the knowledge that the sadness of the real Joseph Merrick could be twisted so perfectly into a joyous and entertaining character. Tom borrows liberally from the historical facts of Joseph Merrick's life. Without realising it you will learn a lot about him even in some of the more absurd feeling moments regardless of the literal elephant man powers. This is neatly emphasised by the inclusion, in the first three issues, of mini-biographies giving further context to Merrick and his allies. Plot-wise then Merrick is a truly sensational tale of secret societies, super soldier projects, the occult, magic cards, Spring-Heeled Jack, deals with the devil, little Jimmy making friends, cursed puppets, redemption, revenge and the sinister Mr Worth. Trying desperately to avoid spoilers there's also my favourite plot point, Jumbe whose maternal impression births the superhero I never knew I needed but feel all the better for experiencing. Although maybe it wasn’t Jumbes influence at all.

This comic then is bang up the elephant and will leave you with a gigglemug. Appropriate Victorian slang. I thoroughly enjoyed every page. There should still be time to get in on that Kickstarter where you can nab yourself all manner of great rewards from the brand new second volume to back issues and bundles. Why not treat yourself to both volumes, all available in lovely physical form. If you do miss the Kickstarter fear not as you can get yourself over to www.merrickcomic.co.uk for back issues and volume 1. There's also a couple of one-shots available that will be reviewed soon so stay tuned for that if there's any chance you're not already sold. Finally, the Merrick website features a t-shirt that punk fans will get a particular kick out which I had to mention just for being a bloody excellent piece of merch that put a smile on my face to see. There's something for everyone in these pages of unapologetic fun, if you want to be entertained then you should witness the world of Merrick The Sensational Elephantman.

Review: 5/5