Warlock (magazine)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cover of Warlock issue 3, 1984.

Warlock was a magazine published by Penguin Books and the British game manufacturer Games Workshop between 1983 and 1986. Originally dedicated to the Fighting Fantasy gamebook series, the magazine rapidly developed a wider focus on the fantasy gaming genre.

Established and edited-in-chief by Fighting Fantasy creators Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone, Warlock maintained an informal and lively character through thirteen issues before finally coming to an end with a 'Special Horror Issue' in December of 1986. 'Warlock' was a manifest character of the magazine, referenced through most of the features as a diabolical overlord of the publication; most likely an alter-ego of Jackson himself. Originally sub-edited by Tony Lacey and Philippa Dickinson, Warlock later gained much of its character when 'real editor' Marc Gascoigne joined the publication following its transfer to Games Workshop from Penguin Books.

Warlock was also published in Japan under the same title by Shakai Sisou Sha. Established in December 1986, the Japanese version had a much longer lifespan and continued until March 1992. It began as a direct translation of the original magazine, but soon developed with its own original material.

1 Regular Features
2 See also
3 Notes

[edit] Regular Features

[edit] Mini Gamebook

Each issue of Warlock included a mini version of the gamebooks that had spawned the magazine. Most notably, the third instalment of the publication included the short Fighting Fantasy adventure story The House of Hell by Steve Jackson. This short was later expanded into a full novel House of Hell and proved to be one of Fighting Fantasy's most popular books.

[edit] Derek the Troll

Derek the Troll, a regular comic strip illustrated by Lew Stringer, became one of the most enduring characters of the magazine. The much put-upon Derek soon broke out of his strip to add 'his' opinion to the book reviews section and other articles. In issue #13 the strip was broken into an ultra-mini 16-frame version of the gamebook format, (Derek the Troll's 'Orrable Troll-Playing Game), inviting readers to navigate Derek past the malevolent force which was Trev the Vampire.

[edit] Paint 'Yer Dragon

Paint 'Yer Dragon, by Rick Priestley, consisted of regular tutorial articles on miniature-painting and model-making. Issue #9 introduced readers to effective figure preparation and painting, while issue #10 examined more advanced customisation of figures using techniques such as 'pinning'. Issue #12 considered the minutiae of figure bases.^[1]

[edit] Out of the Pit

Out of the Pit was a bestiary of Fighting Fantasy monsters contributed by various authors throughout the issues. The articles were later expanded in 1989 into their own book of the same name, by Warlock editor Marc Gascoigne.