The Machinist:
A Machine Herald Viktor Zine

Digital PDF version of the zine and Physical A5 book.

Contributor count subject to change^*:

• ~36-75 Contributors
• 1 Cover Artist
• 30-50 Page/Spot Artists
• 6-10 Writers
• 5-10 Merch Artists

The main zine, The Machinist, will be divided into 3 sections in a combination of solo work, interactions with various champs, and exploring the settings:

1. Zaun/Piltover Canon

   Here we explore Viktor in his most familiar setting and in his element in his home of Zaun and his nemesis in Piltover. This section is dedicated to the pre-rework canon, from diligently working on Emberflit with his protege Naph and creation Blitzcrank, to fighting boy wonder Ekko and local hero Zeri on the streets of Zaun, to dealing with his sponsor Renata and chembaron Urgot, to skulking around topside to deal with his past and infuriating present with Jayce and evade the keen sights of sheriff Caitlyn, and everything in between!

2. Travelling Runeterra

   In this section, we see Viktor venture out of his comfort zone and into the wide world of Runeterra. Here, we can see him dealing with the frigid temperatures of the Freljord, the blazing sun of Shurima, the gladiatorial arenas of Noxus, and the beautiful springs of Ionia, and everywhere in between. He can rely on the hospitality of Braum and his poros, bargain with Shuriman merchants and study the stone weaving of Taliyah, play dangerous games with Swain and learn the ways of blood magic, find himself in a raucous Bilgewater tavern with Captain Fortune or Graves, and more!

3. The Skinematic Multiverse

   For our final section, we explore the pre-rework iterations of Viktor throughout the multiverse. Please note for this section, we welcome fandesigns of Viktor in the canon AU skinlines he does not already have a skin in, but it is required that the skin design and lore are based off his Machine Herald canon, and keeps the heart of that version. Though Arcane is a canon AU of the original Runeterran lore, it is the current canon and will NOT be permitted for this section. From making a bum deal with the Infernal Rail Mordekaiser in High Noon, to building his creations and capturing the resistance in Battlecast, to discovering the gate in PsyOps, to foiling the guardians as a Nemesis in Star Guardian, to bringing the universe to its knees on the dance floor with the help of his cats in Space Groove, and much, much more!

^* Please note all of these numbers are speculation depending on response to our Interest Check and Application process; numbers presented currently are minimum to maximum. Information Document will be updated once numbers are hard.

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The NSFW Zine Extension will be determined by our interest check and contributor applications. If there is sufficient interest in a NSFW Add-On, it will be in pin-up style and digital exclusive.

Specifications to be determined if we move forward with the NSFW Add-On. Information Document will be updated once this is determined.

Cyborg appreciators: Stay tuned.

A zine is a fanmade magazine and not official nor affiliated with Riot Games in any context. It is a collection of fanworks - typically artworks, written works, and merchandise - centering on a specific topic, series, ship, character, etc. Ours is focusing on the Machine Herald iteration of Viktor, and his lore in League of Legends prior to Arcane’s rework.

We will be offering both a physical and digital version of our zine. All physical copies will come with a digital copy as well. Digital versions will solely be the digital version provided.

The charity the Machinist will be supporting is yet to be determined. It will be voted on by our contributors. Please refer back to the information when it is updated for which charity we have chosen, and our reasoning.

Our goal currently is to determine whether or not we will be going with a trusted manufacturer to produce and ship our zines and bundles out from their location to keep costs for our buyers low during these unstable times between tariffs and customs. The manufacturer is ACGGoods, and the shipping cost from them would be basic world-wide shipping.

If we decide to go in another direction, we will be shipping from the United States.

No, at this point in time, Arcane canon will not be permitted in this project. We too love Arcane and the iteration of Viktor depicted there, but this project is to focus on the pre-rework Runeterran canon for the Machine Herald Viktor, which is very different and often not included in fan projects. The lore and design of Arcane Viktor will not be considered for works created for this project.

We will permit unmasked Viktor designs to use his face depicted in the Arcane series, as there is no canon design for unmasked Viktor. We understand that many headcanon him to look like his Arcane counterpart under the mask, and it will be permitted, however we also encourage contributors to use their personal headcanons and designs for unmasked Viktor as well! The fun thing about no canon design is that we have so many wonderful interpretations of what he looks like under the mask, and would love to celebrate the diversity in interpretations here as well!

We permit Jayce to be included in works, however, we ask that Viktor be the FOCUS of every piece created for this project. We love VikJayce, but ask that any VikJayce or other shipping content be merely implied and/or subtle at most in all contributions, as this zine is meant to focus on Viktor as a character and not any specific romantic pairing, and would like to encourage exploration of other relationships and interactions he may have with various characters in addition to Jayce.

If you are confused as to what this means, we will be deciding on a case by case basis, so feel free to make your pitches with this rule in mind!

Absolutely! We welcome all respectful interpretations within the canon for Viktor the Machine Herald.