Blocks magazine is a monthly LEGO magazine targeted at adult fans of LEGO (known by the acronym AFOLs). It has been published every month since November 2014, printed in the UK with worldwide distribution. The publisher is Silverback Publishing Ltd.
While it might sound like it only caters for one type of reader, the LEGO fanbase is diverse; there are those who collect and build official LEGO models, those who use assorted bricks to build their own creations, those who photograph LEGO minifigures, those who buy LEGO sets to keep sealed for investment purposes… and Blocks magazine has to speak to all of them. Blocks magazine contains regular sections covering these different aspects of the hobby as well as one-off features that focus on unique topics.
When I took over the magazine as Editor my biggest mission was to ensure we have genuinely exclusive content every month. The challenge of working on a print magazine is that readers need to know we’re offering something they can’t get online; by taking advantage of the monthly schedule to offer genuine depth, we have been able to build our subscriber numbers and exceed our readers’ expectations.
The next step for Blocks magazine is a thorough redesign that won’t just be a visual refresh for the magazine but also see the introduction of revamped sections. The goal for this redesign will be to ensure the magazine doesn’t become stale for long-time readers and have clearer access points for new readers. This will be achieved in part by enhancing the focus on the AFOL community’s creativity.
I have worked on the magazine since Issue 8, when I joined as Features Writer. I am now the Editor of the magazine and have had the pleasure of delivering some very special editions.
- Issue 90 coincided with the LEGO Group’s 90th anniversary and featured special historical content for the occasion, including interviews with legacy LEGO designers and a look inside the company’s historical archives.
- Issue 100 included a retrospective looking back at the past 100 issues of the magazine, comedic builds placing Blocks magazine throughout human history and interviews with beloved LEGO designers Jamie Berard and Niels Milan Pedersen.
- Blocks: 100 Incredible LEGO Builds was our first one-off special. To mark our 100th monthly issue, we celebrated the creativity of LEGO fans around the world by publishing our favourite 100 builds we had featured in the magazine over the years. LEGO Head of Design Matthew Ashton kindly guest edited the magazine and the LEGO design team provided commentary on the builds.
Graham E. Hancock 