This issue marks the 40th anniversary of the White Dwarf magazine - the monthly (and sometimes weekly) hobby magazine from Games Workshop.
It also marks the first issue of this incarnation of White Dwarf that we're not recommending you buy!
I know that's kind of a big statement for the opening of a review, so let me give you a bit of context.
As we may have told you, White Dwarf in the Beardy Hammer dungeon first appeared in 1989 with issue 120.
Since that time subscriptions have come and gone and then many years without any bought at all. I give you that piece of history so you know that we are actually quite invested in White Dwarf - and still this issue is a bore!
If Games Workshop really wanted to celebrate the 40th anniversary, then maybe an Apocrypha White Dwarf where they could have actually paid homage to the publication with a real insight from the creators and maybe some samples of the amazing articles that have influenced us for so many years, not a collection of tiny pictures and self congratulation. I know we would have bought an Apocrypha White Dwarf as it's a bit of nostalgia - like all the Apocrypha - but White Dwarf magazine is a hobby magazine for the hobbyist and gamer not the forum for whatever this was. Sure there is a Battle Report,. some cool minis, an interview with John Blanche, some new rules and a neat Illuminations - but there is absolutely nothing new in the way of miniature releases, a rehash of the Kharadrons, and a look at an old diorama at Warhammer World.
Overall pretty disappointing for something we've been waiting a month for!
This whole issue reminds me of the White Dwarf of old when it went bad and FFS - print something of substance in the letters section not this navel gazing!
++ Now, that being said - there's images and more to be said after the jump ++
It also marks the first issue of this incarnation of White Dwarf that we're not recommending you buy!
I know that's kind of a big statement for the opening of a review, so let me give you a bit of context.
As we may have told you, White Dwarf in the Beardy Hammer dungeon first appeared in 1989 with issue 120.
Since that time subscriptions have come and gone and then many years without any bought at all. I give you that piece of history so you know that we are actually quite invested in White Dwarf - and still this issue is a bore!
If Games Workshop really wanted to celebrate the 40th anniversary, then maybe an Apocrypha White Dwarf where they could have actually paid homage to the publication with a real insight from the creators and maybe some samples of the amazing articles that have influenced us for so many years, not a collection of tiny pictures and self congratulation. I know we would have bought an Apocrypha White Dwarf as it's a bit of nostalgia - like all the Apocrypha - but White Dwarf magazine is a hobby magazine for the hobbyist and gamer not the forum for whatever this was. Sure there is a Battle Report,. some cool minis, an interview with John Blanche, some new rules and a neat Illuminations - but there is absolutely nothing new in the way of miniature releases, a rehash of the Kharadrons, and a look at an old diorama at Warhammer World.
Overall pretty disappointing for something we've been waiting a month for!
This whole issue reminds me of the White Dwarf of old when it went bad and FFS - print something of substance in the letters section not this navel gazing!
++ Now, that being said - there's images and more to be said after the jump ++
Okay - well with that done - what do you get inside?
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Planet Warhammer looks at the two White Dwarf models released this month - the 40th Anniversary Space Marine Grombrindal and the very cool Blood Bowl-themed Grombrindal and the Black Gobbo which will be available at Warhammer Fest and hopefully elsewhere. There's also new Mechanicum-themed terrain. This stuff is very cool, and the Galvanic Servohauler is a great set. Also this month the combined reboxing of older sets to make the Promethium Forge and the Ferratonic Incinerator. More bases are on the way, these ones based around the new terrain. Hopefully better than the older ones, that's for sure!
Forge World adds the awesome-looking Iron Warriors Tyrant Siege Terminators, plus three new Hobbit releases - Thranduil on his stag mount, the Iron Hills Chariot and Trolls of Gundabad.
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In video game news, Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor - Martyr is a new action game with some amazing looking graphics where you play as an Inquisition operative. The Horus Heresy: Battle of Tallarn is a turn-based strategy game which didn't really grab us on playing it, and Blood Bowl 2 gets two new teams - the Chaos Dwarves and the Khemri (Tomb Kings). Aaaah Tomb Kings!! Now that would be popular if they were released as minis. The release of new Blood Bowl minis has been very slow. The much anticipated Elven teams is much much later than promised. Space Hulk, Deathwatch, Space Hulk: Ascension and Warhammer Quest all get a look in too, with all four coming out on PS4 and Xbox One.
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Black Library have a tonne of books - Jain Zar: The Storm of Silence by Gav Thorpe about Howling Banshees, The Eye of Medusa, the re-release of Gav Thorpe's Azrael, Sons of the Forge and finally Horus Heresy: Echoes of Revelation the audio drama.
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Latest Releases finally adds prices to the Kharadron releases we didn't get last month. The characters are all pretty great looking, but the troops are higher on the cost scale - $70 AUD for 5 Dwarves? Pretty steep. Hell the floating ones are 3 for $70 AUD.
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Now here's a nice surprise! A new squad-based Age of $igmar game called Skirmish.
-
Planet Warhammer looks at the two White Dwarf models released this month - the 40th Anniversary Space Marine Grombrindal and the very cool Blood Bowl-themed Grombrindal and the Black Gobbo which will be available at Warhammer Fest and hopefully elsewhere. There's also new Mechanicum-themed terrain. This stuff is very cool, and the Galvanic Servohauler is a great set. Also this month the combined reboxing of older sets to make the Promethium Forge and the Ferratonic Incinerator. More bases are on the way, these ones based around the new terrain. Hopefully better than the older ones, that's for sure!
Forge World adds the awesome-looking Iron Warriors Tyrant Siege Terminators, plus three new Hobbit releases - Thranduil on his stag mount, the Iron Hills Chariot and Trolls of Gundabad.
-
In video game news, Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor - Martyr is a new action game with some amazing looking graphics where you play as an Inquisition operative. The Horus Heresy: Battle of Tallarn is a turn-based strategy game which didn't really grab us on playing it, and Blood Bowl 2 gets two new teams - the Chaos Dwarves and the Khemri (Tomb Kings). Aaaah Tomb Kings!! Now that would be popular if they were released as minis. The release of new Blood Bowl minis has been very slow. The much anticipated Elven teams is much much later than promised. Space Hulk, Deathwatch, Space Hulk: Ascension and Warhammer Quest all get a look in too, with all four coming out on PS4 and Xbox One.
-
Black Library have a tonne of books - Jain Zar: The Storm of Silence by Gav Thorpe about Howling Banshees, The Eye of Medusa, the re-release of Gav Thorpe's Azrael, Sons of the Forge and finally Horus Heresy: Echoes of Revelation the audio drama.
-
Latest Releases finally adds prices to the Kharadron releases we didn't get last month. The characters are all pretty great looking, but the troops are higher on the cost scale - $70 AUD for 5 Dwarves? Pretty steep. Hell the floating ones are 3 for $70 AUD.
-
Now here's a nice surprise! A new squad-based Age of $igmar game called Skirmish.
 | |
So here's where we delve into the White Dwarf. It's kind of cool to have the history, but as I said earlier, this would be much better served in it's own volume with larger pictures and maybe better insights. Part of this retrospective is an interview with John Blanche (who looks very different without his big black beard) which goes into his history. The man is a master, even if his art style isn't your cup of tea - his vision for the universe is complete and multi-layered. Fittingly Blanchtisu is also a part of this section, followed by a look though some of John Blanche's favourite images in the Illumnination section. Here is also one of our favourites -the late great Wayne England who personally I think had an as indepth and detailed grasp on the universe as Blanche does.
Golden Demon looks at Enemies of the Imperium with some really beautiful single miniatures and a totally over the top weathered Death Guard Deredeo by Richard Gray which somehow works beautifully.
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We then get back to the White Dwarf retrospective with 4 pages on 'Eavy Metal - again a larger dedicated Apocrypha would have given us a lot more to see.
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The retrospective continues with a few pages on Battle Reports which leads into an rather luscious and epic Age of $igmar battle report.
-
There are a few great army builder apps out there, and here we see Games Workshops' foray into that market with their Azyr app. It looks pretty great and word on the street is there is a 40K version on the way.
-
Paint Splatter is the 40th Anniversary Space Marine Grombrindal. Big shout out to Natalie Slinn, the painter, who did the bolt pistol packaging like a Nerf gun!
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Imperial Might looks at the huge Imperial Guard display at Warhammer World.
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A Tale of Four Warlords looks back at that series through the 40 years of White Dwarf, then leads onto the current incarnation.
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Parade Ground looks at some of the Kill Teams for Shadow War: Armageddon, including Chris Peach's Pyrian Dragoons, some very cool looking conversions using Scions and Genestealer Cult bitz and Duncan Rhodes' similar conversion, but this time with Skitarii and Warhammer Fantasy bitz.!
-
We then get back to the White Dwarf retrospective with 4 pages on 'Eavy Metal - again a larger dedicated Apocrypha would have given us a lot more to see.
-
The retrospective continues with a few pages on Battle Reports which leads into an rather luscious and epic Age of $igmar battle report.
-
There are a few great army builder apps out there, and here we see Games Workshops' foray into that market with their Azyr app. It looks pretty great and word on the street is there is a 40K version on the way.
-
Paint Splatter is the 40th Anniversary Space Marine Grombrindal. Big shout out to Natalie Slinn, the painter, who did the bolt pistol packaging like a Nerf gun!
-
Imperial Might looks at the huge Imperial Guard display at Warhammer World.
-
A Tale of Four Warlords looks back at that series through the 40 years of White Dwarf, then leads onto the current incarnation.
-
Parade Ground looks at some of the Kill Teams for Shadow War: Armageddon, including Chris Peach's Pyrian Dragoons, some very cool looking conversions using Scions and Genestealer Cult bitz and Duncan Rhodes' similar conversion, but this time with Skitarii and Warhammer Fantasy bitz.!
The Gaming section brings you rules for Kharadrons in Shadows over Hammerhal, and a mini game for Lord of the Rings.
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Spike Magazine! looks at questionable tactics, some rules for using the Grombrindal and the Black Gobbo miniatures and also a Blood Bowl playbook. Finally some great content for the Blood Bowl players who must be feeling a little alone out there right now.
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Readers Models has some nice models, including Thilo Engels' Emperor's Children Contemptor, followed by a look at Lee Clement's 40k minis.
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In The Bunker looks back at 40 years of White Dwarf with a short word from Gav Thorpe, the mighty Phil Kelly and Adam Troke. We also get to see some nice looking Kharadrons, including Michael Wieske's Thunderers in a really great looking scheme! A whole new look and super super cool.
-
Spike Magazine! looks at questionable tactics, some rules for using the Grombrindal and the Black Gobbo miniatures and also a Blood Bowl playbook. Finally some great content for the Blood Bowl players who must be feeling a little alone out there right now.
-
Readers Models has some nice models, including Thilo Engels' Emperor's Children Contemptor, followed by a look at Lee Clement's 40k minis.
-
In The Bunker looks back at 40 years of White Dwarf with a short word from Gav Thorpe, the mighty Phil Kelly and Adam Troke. We also get to see some nice looking Kharadrons, including Michael Wieske's Thunderers in a really great looking scheme! A whole new look and super super cool.
++ Verdict ++
As we said earlier, we don't think this was the way to celebrate 40 years.
It didn't do justice to the White Dwarf and the hobby articles and new releases people want every month. It also definitely didn't do justice to the magazine that deserves a better and dedicated reflective tome - something like Apocrypha White Dwarf the would have the time, space and layout to really bring some of the old material to life as well having some of the old voices heard for longer.
This is a one read issue. It will disappear into a pile and never get looked at again - and for the price that is pretty poor. An Apocrypha White Dwarf like all the other Apocrypha books would likely be a book to reference for years to come. Games Workshop stuffed this one - twice over!
It didn't do justice to the White Dwarf and the hobby articles and new releases people want every month. It also definitely didn't do justice to the magazine that deserves a better and dedicated reflective tome - something like Apocrypha White Dwarf the would have the time, space and layout to really bring some of the old material to life as well having some of the old voices heard for longer.
This is a one read issue. It will disappear into a pile and never get looked at again - and for the price that is pretty poor. An Apocrypha White Dwarf like all the other Apocrypha books would likely be a book to reference for years to come. Games Workshop stuffed this one - twice over!
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