The Brutal Essence of House Goliath: A Mark Gibbons Oldhammer Masterpiece
The Brutal Presence of a Goliath Ganger
This Oldhammer piece by Mark Gibbons immediately commands attention with its raw intensity and over-the-top energy. The subject is a massive Goliath ganger, oozing aggression and power from every inch of his exaggerated physique. His skin is a deep, almost inflamed red, stretched over bulging muscles that look more like they were forged than grown. Chains, studs, and bolts adorn his gear, reinforcing the industrial savagery of his faction. The background is a fiery inferno of red and black, reinforcing the chaotic violence of the Underhive. You can almost feel the heat of the gunfire and the roar of a battle cry echoing through the steel corridors.
Weaponry and Wargear
The Ganger is armed to the teeth, and the weaponry is just as brutal as the man wielding it. In one hand, he brandishes a heavy stubber-style weapon, firing with explosive force as empty shells fly through the air. In the other hand, he grips a massive revolver or bolt pistol, almost cartoonishly large, but perfectly suited to the exaggerated style of Oldhammer. The gloves are metal-banded and spiked, matching the brutal aesthetic seen throughout his armor. Grenades, pouches, and tubing hang from his waist, practical and menacing in equal measure. Every piece of his kit looks as though it was cobbled together from scrapyard parts and blessed with sheer rage.
Armor and Style
His armor is asymmetrical and designed for both intimidation and function. The right leg is especially striking, covered in spiked plates, bolts, and a crude Goliath icon marked with an X—perhaps a kill tally or sign of seniority. One shoulder carries a massive spiked pad, while the other is wrapped in chains and leather. His chest is mostly bare, save for straps and metal bracings, suggesting either fearlessness or sheer disregard for protection. The mohawk, dyed a deep crimson and shaved into a brutal crest, speaks to the Goliath’s punk-industrial aesthetic. There’s a wild pride in this look—raw, anarchic, and impossible to ignore.
The Lore of House Goliath
Goliath gangers hail from the brutal industrial House Goliath, one of the six major Houses of Necromunda. Their settlements sit near the sump, the lowest and most toxic parts of the Underhive, where life is harsh and short. These gangers are genetically modified brutes, bred for labor, violence, and survival in the worst conditions imaginable. Strength is everything to them—both in physical power and social hierarchy. The strong lead, the weak serve or die. Their culture is built around shows of might, brutal combat rituals, and a disdain for anything perceived as weakness or subtlety.
Life in the Underhive
In the endless rust-choked sprawl of the Underhive, Goliaths earn their place through gladiatorial fights, raids, and brute intimidation. Many Goliaths are former pit slaves or vat-grown enforcers who turned to gang life when they broke free or were discarded. They despise the more refined or tech-savvy gangs like Van Saar, seeing them as weaklings hiding behind machines. Goliath territories are filled with smoke-belching furnaces, muscle-forged workshops, and the constant roar of industry. Every battle they fight is a chance to prove their dominance and carve out more turf for the gang. Honor, to them, is measured in scars and the blood of their enemies.
Oldhammer’s Signature Touch
Mark Gibbons’ illustration style brings this character to life with a bold, exaggerated flair that’s pure Oldhammer. The brushwork is gritty, the poses are dynamic, and the colors scream with intensity. There’s a wild energy to the composition, where everything feels slightly unhinged, larger-than-life, and deeply rooted in that ‘90s Games Workshop spirit. It’s a time capsule from a wilder, grungier era of Warhammer, where style trumped realism and imagination exploded off every page. This Goliath ganger doesn’t just look dangerous—he is the chaos of the Underhive made flesh. And through Gibbons’ brush, we get a front-row seat to that raw, relentless violence.
