Overall this issue is fascinating, not only for the outburst of creativity that would give Warhammer fantasy one of its most enduring unique creations, but also in how complete in concept the Skaven first appear, with all the elements that would continue to define them up until present day. Warpstone, Skavenblight, The Horned Rat and the Council of 13 are all presented here wholecloth, and very little has changed since.
The Skaven resonated quite strongly with the fanbase and by February 1987 had also been added to the Blood Bowl spin-off universe with a team also sculpted by Jes Goodwin
In 1988 the supplement Warhammer Armies provided more Skaven troops with the Moulder creations Wolfrats and Rat Ogres. Infantry were specifically dileanated as Skavenslaves, Clanrats, Black Skaven, and Stormvermin for the Warlord Clans, Night Runners and Gutter Runners of Clan Eshin, Pestilen's Plague Monks, and Moulder Beastmasters. Even more interesting were the titles assigned to character models:
besides the familiar Chieftains and Warlords, players could also create Verminlords, Sewertyrants, and Lords of Decay, where as magic users were divided into Clan Skryre Seers, Warpweavers, Warpsquealers, White Skaven Sorcerers and Grey Seers.
Around this same time Games Workshop also produced the seminal Warhammer Fantasy Regiments, featuring the first plastic clanrats. By 1989 Skaven were popular enough to receive top billing as antagonists in the first edition of the Advanced Heroquest RPG/boardgame hybrid, and along with the models for player characters and henchmen, the game included 20 plastic Skaven, this time displaying a distinctive hunched appearance.
Next up, Skaven in the 90s...