Crowdfunding Spotlight: Merrick: The Sensational Elephantman & Doctor Crowe #1

By John Freeman on February 22, 2018

We’re betting many of you are already fans of Tom Ward and Luke Parker‘s brilliant Merrick: The Sensational Elephantman, which has deservedly enjoyed huge success and acclaim, a project made possible through crowdfunding via Kickstarter. Well, now, Tom and team have upped the ante when it comes to this form of comics publishing, with the launch of Merrick: The Sensational Elephantman & Doctor Crowe, a crossover comic with Corey Fryia, creator of another Kickstarter comics icon, Doctor Crowe.

Co-written by Tom and Corey, with art by Luke, the prject sees Doctor Crowe arrives in London to solve the murder of a police constable, crossing paths with The Elephantman, who is on a mission of his own to find the missing children of Whitechapel. Together, they will fight for their lives to survive the night…

This new one-shot cross-over is a rip-roaring 1880s pulp adventure, brings together two iconic indie comic characters: Doctor Crowe and Merrick: The Sensational Elephantman and judging from the teaser art already posted, it looks like being another winner from some great indie creators, offering a “Kickstarter comics crossover” in the style of classic US team ups that is a pretty new crowdfunding concept, if not a first.

For those of you unfamiliar with Corey’s creation, Doctor Victor Crowe is an infamous adventuring scientist; an expert on the occult and an all-around pulp hero who uses advanced technologies to battle gruesome, supernatural terrors across the globe. The comic launched in 2016 with a collection of serial anthology-style adventures, pitting Dr. Crowe and his allies against unique, otherworldly threats that must be eliminated at all costs.

Co-created by artist Matt Horak (The Punisher / The Covenant) each issue of Doctor Crowe is written by Corey and contains a slew of incredible artists including Garry Brown (Catwoman, The Massive), Tony Gregori (Karma Police, Imaginary Drugs) and Karim Whalen (Six).

Merrick: The Sensational Elephantman is a Victorian adventure/horror/cape gas lamp comic set in 1880s London. Based on a fictional version of the life of Joseph Merrick, it steps between historical facts and turn of the century folklore juxtaposed with the American superhero comic conventions of super powers, masks, secret identities and fantastic adventures.

• You can back Merrick: The Sensational Elephantman & Doctor Crowe here on Kickstarter

• You don’t need to be familiar with the worlds of Dr. Crowe or Merrick to enjoy this crossover adventure. But if you want to check out either of the series first you can download both issue #1’s for free

• Read Doctor Crowe #01 for free (PDF)

• Read Merrick: The Sensational Elephantman #01 for free (PDF/CBR)

The Team

• Follow Tom Ward on Twitter @highbrowtrash | Follow Corey Fryia on Twitter @coreyfryia | Luke Parker is online at www.artofparker.com and on Facebook @lukeparkerillustration or follow him on Twitter @artofparker | Follow letterer Micah Myers on Twitter @micahmyers or on the web at https://micahletterscomics.com| Follow editor Clare Lenton on Twitter @ClareLenton

Doctor Crow © Corey Fryia & Matt Horak
Merrick: The Sensational Elephantman © Tom Ward & Luker Parker

About the Author
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John Freeman

John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.

He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.