Hi all,
I'm very interested in Giants lately, I think it's in part due to the fact I got Hellboy Volume 9: The Wild Hunt for my birthday (really great book by the way) in which Hellboy hunts a gang of six giants and I really liked the style of giant Fegredo and Mignola have come up with.
Here's a few screens:
Aside from a few specific points (The Roman-esque Plate Armour and the predominant use of swords and polearms to be exact) there's something about their design that really fits with my idea of how a giant should look. I've been scouring the web for some time now looking for a suitable giant mini and the new Hellboy book has put me on another surge of investigation but I seem to keep coming up short (if you'll excuse the pun).
I guess I see giants as tribal, hunter-gatherers almost, but with some fairly primitive stuff. I'm not a fan of the extensively 'salvaged/cobbled equipment and booty from humans' theme that so many of them have. I prefer them to have crude leather and fur clothing or armour, clubs and maces for weaponry etc. Very Dark Ages in appearance perhaps with some basic metalwork going on.
I've looked at quite a variety of both current and oop miniatures designed as giants, larger-scale humanoid miniatures from 54mm (bit too small really but plenty of choice) to 200mm (Gauls, Celts, Barbarians, Gladiators, Neanderthals), action figures, toys, figurines and statues (Incredible Hulk, Conan, Kratos), some with a mind to convert and resculpt certain features. However, despite all this I still haven't come up with anything I'm really happy with.
I rather like the Reaper Frost Giant Warrior sculpted by Tre Manor but I'm not sure how big it is (ie: if its big enough as many of the Reaper minis are made with an eye to DnD scale and DnD giants aren't much bigger than your typical Ogre) and I haven't found any UK Reaper stockists who actually have this guy. I think if he was the right size and I could actually get hold of the mini a weapon change would make him spot-on.
Another one I think would be suitable is the old Chainmail WOTC Hill Giant (albeit with a bit of converting) but he is long out of production and ebay searches turn up nothing. Again though with this one I'm not sure of the size as he is still a DnD mini.
This DnD Fomorian interested me, but again not sure of the size:
I also thought the Reaper Fire Giant could, at a push, be used as a Giant Chieftan or noble, or some other very wealthy giant as he has some metal armour but not complete Full-Plate as seems to be so common in the portrayal of Fire Giants. Weapon swap would be needed methinks. Once again, no idea of size or UK availability for this one.
Does anyone know the size of any of these minis or where I can get them in the UK? Any size comparison pics perhaps?
I found the Majestic Bear Giant but he looks a bit
too feral and skinny. I love their Treemen though.
http://www.majesticbear.net/images/products/2/GP15a.JPGThe new Otherworld giant is a great sculpt but in terms of looks he's just not what I'm after - too much 'human' clothing - he's also a bit out of my price range. The Frost giant with some conversion work is a possiblity but he's not the biggest fellow out there.
http://www.otherworld.me.uk/images/otherworldgiantpaint1.jpgI was also looking at the Ultraforge Giant but he too is a bit pricey.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/ultraforge/ultragiant1.jpgI suppose there is always the option of using the Citadel plastic Warhammer Giant kit with some resculpting and conversion work.
If anyone has any suggestions on suitable giant miniatures, toys, statues and so on please do post here and let me know. Also any size and scale comparison pics would be great, both of giants next to 25-28mm minis and of different giants relative to each other.
Perhaps consider this a general resource thread for all things Giant-related?
Cheers,
Paul.