News of John Blanche’s death has hit the hobby world: the British illustrator who helped shape Warhammer 40k’s grimdark look has died at 77 after 40 years at Games Workshop.
Read MoreRob Baer - Spikey Bits Author
Rob Baer
Job Title: Managing Editor
Founded Spikey Bits in 2009
Socials: Rob Baer on Facebook and @catdaddymbg on X
About Rob Baer: Founder, Publisher, & Managing Editor of Spikey Bits, the leading tabletop gaming news website focused on the hobby side of wargaming and miniatures.
Rob also co-founded and is a panelist on the weekly Long War Podcast, which has over 500 episodes and focuses on tabletop miniatures gaming, specializing in Warhammer 40k, and spent six years writing for Bell of Lost Souls.
Every year, he and his co-hosts help host the Long War 40k Doubles Tournament at Adepticon and the Long War 40k Doubles at the Las Vegas Open, both of which attract thousands of players from around the world.
Rob has also won many Warhammer 40k Tournaments over the years, including multiple first-place finishes in Warhammer 40k Grand Tournaments and even winning 1st place at the 2011 Adepticon 40k Team Tournament. He was even featured for his painting in issue #304 of Games Workshop’s White Dwarf Magazine.
With over 30 years of experience in retail and distribution, Rob knows all the products and exactly which ones are the best. As a member of GAMA (Game Manufacturers Association), he advocates for gaming stores and manufacturers in these difficult times. He also advises major hedge funds on stocks like Games Workshop and Asmodee.
He is always looking for the next big thing to feature for the miniatures hobby, helping everyone provide the value consumers want.
While he’s played every edition of Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Fantasy (since 5th Edition) and has been hobbying on miniatures since the 1980s, Titans of all sizes will always be his favorite! It’s even rumored that his hobby vault rivals the Solemnance Galleries, containing rulebooks filled with lore from editions long past, ancient packs of black-bordered Magic Cards, and models made of both pewter and resin.
See which Warhammer box sets are included in our latest free giveaway, along with entry details, prize list, and ways to improve your chances of winning.
Read MoreThe new Ork Boyz datasheet just dropped in GW’s free Armageddon datacard PDF, and it hides a Weirdboy Da Jump teleport combo nobody expected.
Read MoreHeroclix sales are ahead of almost every other miniature game besides Warhammer 40k, in our recent retailer poll, raising eyebrows for Games Workshop and other manufacturers.
Read MoreThe Warhammer Coins promotion has produced dozens of designs over the years; here’s a checklist for all the collectible coins of the month so far!
Read MoreThe General’s Handbook 2026 sends AoS from Ghyran to Aqshy with new fury and rage rules, 12 battleplans, and even a special Warlord Edition.
Read MoreScore $135 in miniatures for just $70 with Spikey Bits’ custom-curated Mystery Miniatures Box for a limited time in May!
Read MoreAll the new Cities of Sigmar pre-order releases featuring the Cogfort, battletome, and Lumineth Underworlds warband are available in stores now!
Read MoreGW just dropped three Necrons new detachments for 11th edition, and the old Silver Tide is finally about to advance, shoot, and act in the same turn.
Read MoreThe 11th Edition 40k Combat Patrol Companion is real, GW just confirmed a 184-page book, plus a Terrain Area Set and more launch products.
Read MoreScore a massive $225 in miniatures for only $100 with the final Mystery Miniatures Boxes of the month and get a free gift in your very first box (including Warhammer).
Read MoreWarhammer Hive print-on-demand is live after Games Workshop canceled the store-only special edition, proving hobbyist pressure flipped an allocated release in 48 hours.
Read MoreThe new 11th edition Leagues of Votann detachments are here, and all three Ancestor Cores are built to race up the table and punch hard the moment they land.
Read MoreThe Iron Wolf Minis Destrier kit gives your Knight a feral upgrade with a wolf head, pads, feet, and Frost Blaster for less than buying each part solo.
Read MoreGW just revealed four new 11th Edition Aeldari detachments, and every one of them is built to make the craftworlds even faster across the table.
Read MoreAge of Sigmar rumors point to an End Times reboot, with the Last World merging the Mortal Realms for AoS 5th edition and recalling Warhammer Fantasy lore.
Read MoreThe Squad Marks Memorial Day sale takes an extra 15% off store-wide through Monday, May 25th, a cheap weekend to stock up on magnets, disks, and bases.
Read MoreGames Workshop’s new Hedonites of Slaanesh battletome brings the Lord of Hysteria, a Spearhead, and fresh Slaanesh boxed sets to Age of Sigmar.
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