Entrenched: Why John Constantine Needs That Coat

JohnAs Corehammer has slowly grown beyond the original small circle of friends that initially comprised it to resemble a larger community of like minds, we have been fortunate to have made lots of new friends and allies who share our tastes and punk rock approach to gaming and ‘nerd culture’ (worst phrase ever). One such individual is Rich Nerdgore. I ‘met’ Rich through Instagram after chancing upon his wonderful illustration work (@artofnerdgore) and it was clear that we shared an appreciation for the good things in life, Discharge, comic books, Simon Bisley artwork and 80’s White Dwarf back issues. Rich did the incredible Moshpit artwork that graces the front of the most recent Corehammer shirt and we’ll soon be collaborating again on the Corehammer Fighting Fantasy zine I am currently writing. Anyway Rich sent this article over regarding a few things he needed to get off his chest about the current state of indomitable scouse warlock and all round shithouse John Constantine. I told him we needed a header image for the article and ten minutes later he’d knocked out the drawing above. TEN MINUTES. Makes you sick doesn’t it?
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Merrick: The Sensational Elephantman

merrick-coverThought Bubble is the North’s premier Comic Con and for my money the best event of its kind in these fine Isles Of Albion. The convention has been steadily growing in size and reputation since its arrival almost eight years ago and it’s attracting some of the big names in the field of sequential art as well as providing an opportunity for a huge number of independent small press creators to get their work into the faces of the more discerning comic book fan. It is an event I enjoy immensely, with the added bonus that it’s virtually on my door step. I particularly relish prowling the small press tables looking for something new to take my fancy and that is where I happened upon Merrick. Fickle as it sounds my attention was drawn to the Merrick:The Elephant Man stall by virtue of the very rad Suicidal Tendencies shirt that the chap behind the table was wearing. I then noted that the Merrick shirt was a Black Flag rip, clearly this book was the work of a punker. With my interest piqued I had a quick chat with the books author Tom Ward (he was the fellow in the Suicidals shirt) decided he was a good bloke and I promptly laid my money down and grabbed issues 1 & 2 and a nice new shirt.
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