PAGE TO TABLE - PART THREE
The Black Library Opens
Welcome dear readers to the latest chapter in Page To Table, where we take a meandering look at how Games Workshop have brought their literary characters to miniature form. Last time we went over the days before 1997, and now the doors open as The Black Library becomes GW’s own inhouse publishing arm. This heralded a fair old whack of all new characters spread across the pages of Inferno!, Warhammer Monthly, and what will become many (many) novels, and - inevitably - readers began asking if there would be miniatures of any of these….
Into the new millennium GW refined these releases, shifting to making mini-dioramas that (mostly) featured a pair of minis either in a duel or fighting side by side. Still limited editions, this wave (released between 2000 and 2005) varied in availability from 500 to 1000 and were again only available via GW Mail Order. These also dug deeper for the characters featured, encompassing not only those featured in the pages of Warhammer Monthly, but also the stars of several novels. The list is a veritable whose-who of characters who have become not just fan favourites but established pillars of the broader lore:
It took until 1999 for the first official Black Library miniatures to be released, and they took the form of a trio of special editions limited to just 500 of each. Across the year Kal Jericho, Captain Leonatus and Malus Darkblade were made available to buy, all sculpted by Mike McVey. Intended as display pieces, only Kal had a standard slotta base tab, but came with a metal “pill” style base with sculpted detail appropriate to The Underhive, whilst Leonatus & Malus both came with a scenic base, all of which helpfully had the characters name sculpted on the front (they also all came with a numbered certificate of authenticity, signed by the relevant writer & artist who created the character and the sculptor). Interestingly, Kal & Malus would next be seen in miniature form as general release figures with rules for use on the tabletop in Necromunda and Warhammer Fantasy Battle respectively. Leonatus meanwhile would find this to be his sole representation in miniature form, but not the last we would see of Bloodquest….
Klovis The Redeemer and Deacon Malakev (sculpted by Gary Morley)
Ephrael Stern and Inquisitor Silas Hand (sculpted by Juan Diaz, Mark Harrison & Alex Hedstrom)
Uli & Marquand (sculpted by Mark Bedford)
Gaunt’s Ghosts - Colonel-Commissar Ibram Gaunt and Colonel Colm Corbec (sculpted by Mark Bedford)
The Exiles (Bloodquest) - Cloten and Lysander (sculpted by Mark Bedford)
Hellbrandt Grim (sculpted by Aly Morrison)
Lone Wolves (sculpted by Martin Footit & Adam Clarke)
Ragnar Blackmane (sculpted by Aly Morrison)
Uriel Ventris - vs Warsmith Honsu (sculpted by Aly Morrison)
Inquisitor Eisenhorn (sculpted by Aly Morrison)
Ciaphas Cain (sculpted by Aly Morrison)
I must confess to being annoyed at myself for not picking up or keeping these, as the only one I picked up at the time was the Ephrael Stern & Inquisitor Hand diorama, and I foolishly ended up selling Stern and the base to someone else. Still got Silas Hand though! And I did manage much later to acquire Gaunt from the Gaunt’s Ghosts set on his own, although I have the Corbec on my “want” list for my ongoing Tanith project…..
Somewhat interestingly, the minis that Mark Bedford sculpted for use on the Uli & Marquand diorama are the only minis from this line that would see a wider release as the roguish scamps would later be released - minus the scenic base - as Hired Swords for use in Mordheim. Around the same time Kal Jericho would get an all-new sculpt for use as a Hired Gun in Necromunda (joined in due course by his partner Scabs), Malus Darkblade would be featured in the 6th edition Warhammer Armies: Dark Elves receiving both a mounted version on Spite, as well as an on-foot version that was only available at specific shows. Returning to Necromunda, Klovis the Redeemer and his dutiful(?) accolyte Deacon Malakev would appear as Hired Guns for Redemptionist & Cawdor gangs, whilst their nemesis at the time, Ratskin Shamen The Caller, would also see a release both on foot and mounted on his giant zombie sump-rat. Fans of Gaunt’s Ghosts would get to see The Tanith First and Only receive a dedicated release as well, comprising a core set featuring Gaunt, Corbec, Brin Milo, Doc Dorden, “Mad” Larkin” and plasmagunner, with four generic troopers sold separately, with Chapter Approved rules for them in White Dwarf. The Colonel-Commissar would eventually be sold in a blister on his own when he was included in the Imperial Guard Codex with his own profile.Rounding out this period in 2006, Aly Morrison and Alex Hedstrom would team up for a special Gotrek & Felix release, depicting the climatic moments of the novel Dragonslayer as our doughty pair prepared to make a last stand alongside their companions Snorri, Max & Ulrika. This release was notable for a few reasons - they were sculpted at a larger scale than standard Citadel Miniatures at 40mm, abd were sold both individually in foil packets (something GW did with a few specials at this time, especially things like the Games Day exclusive mini) and as a complete set with a large resin display base that matched the plugs in each models feet.
Now, as we round things up for this dive, some may be wondering about a 54mm hole in our discussion - fear not! As next time we shall be taking a slight detour to discuss arguably the most important game GW released in the 2000’s, Inquisitor…..
(Many thanks to the Stuff Of Legends, Minis.net, for their stirling work creating archives that I could source most of these images and some of the general info from)
-Dawfydd