SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY MINIATURES MAGAZINES:
Forge

The first issue of Anvil is out, and here is what the new magazine looks like --

• It's a glossy, full-color, gorgeous publication. For instance, here's a glimpse at their article on Dragons --
  
• It doesn't say so, but it looks to be devoted to science fiction and fantasy. (The editor tells me there will be something on historical miniatures in the next issue, but that the focus "...really is mostly fantasy and sci-fi.")
• Anvil goes after the celebrities! This issue contains a (Very Brief) interview with Kev Adams, a sculptor with Heartbreaker, as well as painting notes by Stefan Thulin (Mutant Chronicles), Mickey Leach (award-winning Master Painter), Justin Lisby (Lisby Studios), and Tim Prow (Heartbreaker sculptor).
• The articles are written by a wide variety of authors, most of whom are well-known and award-winning.
• The editor tells me that "Anvil Publications is 50% owned by Heartbreaker and 50% owned by Grendel." This helps explain why a Grendel catalog comes as a pull-out with the magazine, and why this issue spotlights Grendel (most of the articles mention Grendel products). We understand that the next issue will include a photo catalog of Heartbreaker figures.

• Banners -- Fantasy flags in both color and black-and-white, ready to be cut out and added to a fantasy army.

• Showcase -- A photo gallery featuring a different type of miniature each issue. In the premiere issue, the focus was on dragons.
• Diorama 'Oramas -- On building dioramas. In this issue, Grendel's Subterranean Cavern is used as the basis for a diorama base. There are many photos, though (unfortunately) none of them show the work in progress.
  
• Nuts & Bolts -- Basic techniques. In this issue, a vignette (diorama) is built around Grendel's Black Ork War Beast figures.
• Anvil Chats With... -- Interviews with prominent sculptors, artists, and other notables. This issue profiles Kev Adams of Heartbreaker.
• Variations -- A fascinating column which reveals the results when four eminent artists are asked to paint identical figures.

  (The editor and I have a difference of opinion with regard to the illustrations for this article. I'd like to see the photos enlarged next time, so that we can better see the detail. He feels, however, that publishers should "...never, ever enlarge photos of miniatures beyond the actual size of the figure. Unless you're dealing with a truly excellent painter who can blend like a master -- which very few painters are -- enlarging the photo will make the paint blending and brush strokes too obvious and can ruin the photos.")

• Sketch Gallery -- Pencil art from new products in progress. This issue profiles Leviathan, a new fantasy battle system from Grendel. (They neglected to mention the name of the publisher in the article, but you can find it by reading the editorial.)
• Pipeline -- Photo gallery of new products.