The Santas of Games Workshop – PRIME
Ho ho hoooo boy there have been a lot of Games Workshop Santa miniatures in the past few years.
The holiday season is well and truly upon us now, and several winter festivals are either wrapping up or just getting into full swing. For those of us who celebrate Christmas, that means wrapping presents, singing carols, and preparing for a large gentleman in red to make his way to our house and hopefully leave us treats in presents in an old sock. Now Santa Claus may not exist as we know him in the Mortal Realms or the 41st millennium.
But that hasn’t stopped a few determined individuals from taking ol’ Kris Kringle’s act and distributing presents to all the good (ish) little boys, girls, and horrible eldritch monstrosities of their respective universe. While both properties are strictly nondenominational, the inspiration leaks in all the same, and over time a few determined warriors have tapped into their festive spirit to spread a little cheer (and perhaps a bit of violence). Here are a few of the Santa-adjacent models that have premiered over the years, and a little bit about their story.
Jakkob Bugmansson XI
Courtesy of Games Workshop
The first entry on our festive list is the jovial Kharadron Brewmaster Jakob Bugmansson XI, maker of the finest ales in all the Realms and de facto Santa Claus of Age of Sigmar. For anyone who has been living under a rock and doesn’t recognize the name, Jakob is the descendent of the legendary Josef Bugman, most legendary and impressive of all the Master Brewers of the Old World. His ales were served to Emperors and Kings, and his reputation was well earned as the finest maker of ales in all the world (in fact, the bar within Warhammer World bears his name as well).
Jakob carries on his ancestors’ storied tradition with ales of his own, combining Kharadron ingenuity with his family’s secret recipe and techniques. In addition to sharing his fine ales with the denizens of the Realms, Jakob has taken it upon himself to deliver fine gifts to all the good little boys and girls, even if those “little” ones are mighty Stormcast warriors. He was featured in the 2020 Warhammer Holiday video, and it seems some festive Skaven were in on the action as well. Seeing as how we haven’t heard any more from the stoic Brewmaster-General, it’s possible the Skaven have successfully taken him out, or simply kidnapped and replaced him. Either way, beware of any suspiciously glowing green lumps of coal in your stocking this year.
Da Red Gobbo
Courtesy of Games Workshop
In the 41st millennium, the various denizens of the thousands of worlds in the galaxy cannot rely on a flying Squa… I mean Kharadron to deliver their gifts. Instead, they put what faith they have in the dubious hands of Da Red Gobbo. We’ve talked about his origins before here, but as a quick refresher, Da Red Gobbo was a gretchin warrior on the Ork planet of Gorkamorka. Tired of the poor treatment he and his fellows received at the hands of their Orkish overseers, he led a Gobbo revolt with surprising success, and the ramifications of this act are still being felt to this day.
Some say that he is immortal, and that the fighting has kept him alive far past his natural lifespan, but wiser heads believe that a new Gobbo replaces him every time he falls, and there have likely been several Red Gobbos over the years. According to the holiday posts of 2021, he also moonlights as a gift-giver with the help of his trusty Squig companion. Just remember, if your present is ticking or smoking, it’s special; make sure all your friends and family have gathered close before you open it.
Logan Grimnar
Courtesy of Games Workshop
Alright, I know that Logan has nothing to do with Christmas, but I mean…look at him. Older bearded gentleman riding a flying sleigh into battle? Sounds pretty Santa-like to me, even if it is the battle Santa from Rise of the Guardians. Logan Grimnar is the Great Wolf, the highest rank a Wolf Lord can earn, and equivalent of Chapter Master for the Space Wolves of Fenris. The massive axe he wields was stolen from a Chaos Champion and reforged by the Rune Priests into a potent weapon of death. Even the chariot he rides, Stormrider, is a potent artifact from the time of Leman Russ, and his Thunderwolf companions are just as deadly as Grimnir himself. While the only gifts he delivers are pain and death, I imagine those he fights for view his coming in much the same way as a gift so…I’m counting it.
Bonus: Christmas Marines
Ok, so these two ancient Rogue Trader fellows aren’t Santa exactly, but they certainly are getting into the spirit of the season. One pint at a time.
And to all…A GOOD NIGHT!
