This morning I was doing the rounds of the forums, on the Imperial Guard Message Board I came across a new thread from Brother Vinni's Studio. 'Female Jungle Fighters'. Awesome thinks I.
Opening the thread I was disappointed though... (NSFW)
First of all the sculpts are fantastic in my opinion, I've got nothing critical to say about them technically, the quality is quite easily comparable against many major producers. You can also see quite clearly just where the sculptor was aiming, Female Brigade, Jungle Fighters, Lasguns, advertising on dedicated Imperial Guard forum... oh yeah Female Catachans! But... shirtless? It's just needless, and does'nt fit in at all with Imperial Guard, in my mind, at all.
I appreciate there is a demographic who will love them, and as collectors pieces, yeah fair enough thats another matter. But as Imperial Guard proxies to me its just, well why? I'm certainly not a prude, but I just don't get it. Add vests and at least longer shorts and they'd be fantastic, but as is, I could'nt ever imagine using them. I think I'd be somewhat ashamed!
Games Workshop have done the odd model release over the years, a couple in Shaeffer's Last Chancers, Warrior Woman and Rocket Girl, there was also one of the metal Tanith First and Only, the female Commissar, and the Catachan Grenade Launcher.
Am I missing any?
However, until a few months ago that was more or less it (though I seem to remember the Starship Troopers game may have had some?).
Aside from Brother Vinni's offering there are two more which technically appear very promising and sit in different places on the spectrum in terms of what I'm going to say is acceptability. Controversial?
The first to appear were from the Raging Heroes - Toughest Girls of the Galaxy, a kickstarter campaign, though they are still yet to ship as I understand it. The campaign was a massive hit raking in nearly $700k from supporters. I did'nt buy in myself as I was'nt fond of the post-apoc artwork concepts.
However, looking at the models now, I actually quite like at least some of them. They of course would'nt fit into my own current armies sure, but while they are certainly sexualised they feel much more acceptable, these sit squarely in the middle of the scale to me.
They have a very post-apoc vibe going, somewhat Tank Girl or Mad Max in my mind. In fact, perhaps this distinctive look, rather then trying to fit in with an established Guard range is a strength that helps as well. Of course they are not simply Imperial Guard in this case, but would obviously make a nice army none the less.
The other new offering is from Victoria Miniatures. Without a doubt these are my favourites, why? Well the picture should give it away really.
They actually look like real soldiers! These are not sexualised at all, sitting firmly on the other end of the scale from where we started. You have female troops in combat fatiques, body armour (without the massive breast plates of the likes of the Sisters of Battle), and mostly helmets. These fit right in with the aesthetic of the Imperial Guard and are fantastic looking sculpts as you'd expect. I can't imagine anyone even blinking to these being put down on the table other then to acknowledge the fact that they are female and awesome sculpts. They fit in as part of a growing miniature range in their own right in terms of style, though that is of course inspired heavily by the original metal Cadians, crossed with the current plastic incarnation. I'd very happily add these to my own collection, they dont quite fit though, so I'll be waiting for a Dress Uniformed range from Vic!
So where do you sit in all of this? Am I over reacting to Brother Vinni's release or do you agree that they're just too much? Do you think the Toughest Girls in the Galaxy are fine, or perhaps are even they a bit much? Or do you prefer Victoria's offering - or think that they are just too plain with not enough curves?
