John Blanche, seminal Warhammer artist, dies

John Blanche, the longtime Games Workshop art director, died on June 3, 2026 at age 78; he was born October 26, 1948. As art director and illustrator, Blanche created the grimdark, punk-goth visuals that defined Warhammer 40,000, producing iconic imagery of Space Marines, Orks, Tyranids, and Eldar. His mixed-media, distressed style shaped the franchise's identity from its early years and influenced generations of hobbyists and fantasy artists worldwide.