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The Black Library is a division of
Games Workshop Games Workshop Group (often abbreviated as GW) is a British manufacturer of miniature wargames, based in Nottingham, England. Its best-known products are ''Warhammer Age of Sigmar'' and ''Warhammer 40,000''. Founded in 1975 by John Peake (gam ...
(formerly a part of
BL Publishing BL Publishing was a division of Games Workshop, and was split into three sections: * The Black Library publishes novels, art books, background books and graphic novels set in the Warhammer Fantasy (setting), Warhammer Fantasy world and the Warham ...
) which is devoted to publishing
novels A novel is a relatively long work of narrative fiction, typically written in prose and published as a book. The present English word for a long work of prose fiction derives from the for "new", "news", or "short story of something new", itself ...
and
audiobook An audiobook (or a talking book) is a recording of a book or other work being read out loud. A reading of the complete text is described as "unabridged", while readings of shorter versions are abridgements. Spoken audio has been available in sc ...
s (and has previously produced art books, background books, and
graphic novel A graphic novel is a long-form, fictional work of sequential art. The term ''graphic novel'' is often applied broadly, including fiction, non-fiction, and anthologized work, though this practice is highly contested by comic scholars and industry ...
s) set in the ''
Warhammer Fantasy Battle ''Warhammer'' (formerly ''Warhammer Fantasy Battle'' or just ''Warhammer Fantasy'') is a tabletop miniature wargame with a medieval fantasy theme. The game was created by Bryan Ansell, Richard Halliwell, and Rick Priestley; it was published ...
,
Warhammer Age of Sigmar ''Warhammer Age of Sigmar'' is a miniature wargame produced by Games Workshop that simulates battles between armies by using miniature figurines. Games are typically played on a relatively flat surface such as a dining table, bespoke gaming t ...
'' and ''
Warhammer 40,000 ''Warhammer 40,000'' is a miniature wargame produced by Games Workshop. It is the most popular miniature wargame in the world, and is particularly popular in the United Kingdom. The first edition of the rulebook was published in September 1987, ...
''
fictional universe A fictional universe, or fictional world, is a self-consistent setting with events, and often other elements, that differ from the real world. It may also be called an imagined, constructed, or fictional realm (or world). Fictional universes may ...
s. Some of Black Library's best known titles include the
Gaunt's Ghosts ''Gaunt's Ghosts'' is a series of military science fiction novels by Dan Abnett, set in the ''Warhammer 40,000'' universe. It was inspired by the ''Sharpe (novel series), Sharpe'' series of books written by Bernard Cornwell. As of 2019 in lit ...
and
Eisenhorn ''Eisenhorn'' is a trilogy of science fantasy / crime novels by the British writer Dan Abnett, set in the fictional universe of the ''Warhammer 40,000'' tabletop game. ''Eisenhorn'' is the first in a series of trilogies and separate novels by ...
series of novels by
Dan Abnett Dan Abnett (born 12 October 1965) is an English comic book writer and novelist. He has been a frequent collaborator with fellow writer Andy Lanning, and is known for his work on books for both Marvel Comics, and their UK imprint, Marvel UK, sinc ...
and the Gotrek and Felix series by William King and Nathan Long. The authors of these novels, graphic novels, and comics created original storylines and characters that are based on playable armies in the main ''Warhammer 40,000'' game and its many
spin-offs Spin-off may refer to: *Spin-off (media), a media work derived from an existing work *Corporate spin-off, a type of corporate action that forms a new company or entity * Government spin-off, civilian goods which are the result of military or gove ...
(such as ''
Inquisitor An inquisitor was an official (usually with judicial or investigative functions) in an inquisition – an organization or program intended to eliminate heresy and other things contrary to the doctrine or teachings of the Catholic faith. Literal ...
'' or '' Epic''). These works are then promoted with contributions of stories, plot synopses, and rules in the ''White Dwarf'' magazine and at the official Games Workshop website. The result is a fusion of tabletop gaming with science fiction and fantasy writing.


History

The publishing company takes its name from the fictional Black Library that appears in the setting of ''Warhammer 40,000''.10th anniversary interview
, with
Marc Gascoigne Marc Gascoigne (born 5 July 1962 at Temple Ewell with River, near Dover, Kent) is a British author and editor. He is the editor, author or co-author of more than fifty books and gaming related titles, notably various ''Fighting Fantasy'' books, ...
The fictional Black Library is where the Eldar race keeps their collected knowledge of
Chaos Chaos or CHAOS may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Fictional elements * Chaos (''Kinnikuman'') * Chaos (''Sailor Moon'') * Chaos (''Sesame Park'') * Chaos (''Warhammer'') * Chaos, in ''Fabula Nova Crystallis Final Fantasy'' * Cha ...
and the
Necrons ''Warhammer 40,000'' is a miniature wargame produced by Games Workshop. It is the most popular miniature wargame in the world, and is particularly popular in the United Kingdom. The first edition of the rulebook was published in September 1987, ...
. The Black Library was founded in April 1997 to publish ''
Inferno! ''Inferno!'' (originally ''Carnage'') was a bi-monthly magazine published from 1997 to 2004 by Games Workshop's publishing division, Black Library, which was initially just the name of the team brought together to work on ''Inferno!''.
'' magazine, a bi-monthly digest-sized anthology of short stories, comic strips and features from the Warhammer worlds. Black Library began as team at Games Workshop brought together to ''INFERNO!'' magazine. ''Inferno!s success spawned ''
Warhammer Monthly ''Warhammer Monthly'' was a comics anthology published by Games Workshop's publishing arm, Black Library, from March 1998 to December 2004, running to 86 issues in total. The final two issues were published bi-monthly under the name ''Warhammer Com ...
''
comic book A comic book, also called comicbook, comic magazine or (in the United Kingdom and Ireland) simply comic, is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panels that represent individual scenes. Panels are of ...
s, and then from September 1999 a lengthy series of
fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving Magic (supernatural), magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy ...
and
science fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel unive ...
novels. Their first art book, ''Inquis Exterminatus'' was published in May, 1999. Black Library's catalogue now runs to well over two hundred titles, with a ''Warhammer'' and a ''Warhammer 40,000'' novel appearing every month. In October 2003 BL Publishing started a sister imprint, Black Flame, which applied the same pulp styling to novels featuring
New Line Cinema New Line Cinema is an American film production studio owned by Warner Bros. Discovery and is a film label of Warner Bros. It was founded in 1967 by Robert Shaye as an independent film distribution company; later becoming a film studio after acq ...
characters such as
Freddy Krueger Freddy Krueger () is a fictional character and the primary antagonist in the ''A Nightmare on Elm Street'' film series. He was created by Wes Craven and made his debut in Craven's ''A Nightmare on Elm Street'' (1984) as the malevolent spirit ...
and
Jason Voorhees Jason Voorhees () is a character (arts), character from the Friday the 13th (franchise), ''Friday the 13th'' series. He first appeared in ''Friday the 13th (1980 film), Friday the 13th'' (1980) as the young son of camp-cook-turned-killer Pamel ...
, and '' 2000 AD'' comics'
Judge Dredd Judge Joseph Dredd is a fictional character created by writer John Wagner and artist Carlos Ezquerra. He first appeared in the second issue of ''2000 AD (comics), 2000 AD'' (1977), which is a British weekly anthology Comic book, comic. He is the ...
and others. In 2006, Black Flame produced the novel for the New Line Cinema's feature film ''
Snakes on a Plane ''Snakes on a Plane'' is a 2006 American action film directed by David R. Ellis and starring Samuel L. Jackson. It was released by New Line Cinema on August 18, 2006, in North America. The film was written by David Dalessandro, John Heffernan ...
''. In the summer of 2005 BL Publishing announced another fiction imprint,
Solaris Books Solaris Books is an imprint which focuses on publishing science fiction, fantasy and dark fantasy novels and anthologies. The range includes titles by both established and new authors. The range is owned by Rebellion Developments and distribute ...
, that will publish original science fiction and fantasy.
Solaris Books Solaris Books is an imprint which focuses on publishing science fiction, fantasy and dark fantasy novels and anthologies. The range includes titles by both established and new authors. The range is owned by Rebellion Developments and distribute ...
has subsequently been sold to Rebellion who also own Abaddon Books.


Background

Short stories and other pieces of fiction were created for the ''White Dwarf'' magazine, for ''Warhammer 40,000'' rulebooks and gaming guides, for other publications, such as the ''Citadel Journal'', and for each of their official websites. Later, these evolved into larger novels and other works. A series of ''Warhammer 40,000'' comics were first created for the Games Workshop magazine, ''
Warhammer Monthly ''Warhammer Monthly'' was a comics anthology published by Games Workshop's publishing arm, Black Library, from March 1998 to December 2004, running to 86 issues in total. The final two issues were published bi-monthly under the name ''Warhammer Com ...
'' as short background filler. In 1999, the first miniature and game tie-in was released as a joint project of ''Warhammer Monthly'' and its publisher, the ''Black Library''. This model was the bounty hunter Kal Jerico of the "Specialist Game" '' Necromunda''. Including rules and a certificate of authenticity, the ''Black Library'' created many more limited edition miniatures and expanded the small comics into larger collections while adding many new ones. These novels and graphic novels are accompanied by cross-promotional articles that connect the characters from the novels to the ''Warhammer 40,000'' miniatures game. While ''Warhammer Monthly'' was discontinued in 2004 (although still listed at the ''Black Library'' website), there was a short lived continuation under the title ''Warhammer Comics''. However, with the discontinuation of these magazine projects, the ''Black Library'' still continues to produce graphic novels and collections that expand upon the fiction behind the tabletop game.


Gaming with the ''Black Library''

The works produced by the ''Black Library'' detail the interactions of the ''Warhammer 40,000'' armies:
Chaos Space Marines In Games Workshop's '' Warhammer Fantasy'' and ''Warhammer 40,000'' fictional universes, Chaos refers to parasitic entities which live in a different plane of reality known as '' the Warp'' or ''Immaterium'' in ''Warhammer 40,000'' and as the Re ...
, Daemonhunters,
Dark Eldar In the fictional setting of ''Warhammer 40,000'', the Aeldari (or the Eldar) are a race of aliens and playable army in the tabletop miniatures wargame. They are patterned after the High Elves of fantasy fiction; long-lived, arrogant, and posses ...
, Eldar,
Imperial Guard An imperial guard or palace guard is a special group of troops (or a member thereof) of an empire, typically closely associated directly with the Emperor or Empress. Usually these troops embody a more elite status than other imperial forces, in ...
,
Necron Necron may refer to: * ''Necron'' (comics), a 1981-1985 adult comic series * Necron (''Warhammer 40,000''), a fictional undead alien race * Necron (''Final Fantasy''), a villain from ''Final Fantasy IX'' * Nekron, a DC Comics supervillain * Nekr ...
s, Orks,
Space Marines The space marine, an archetype of military science fiction, is a kind of soldier who operates in outer space or on alien worlds. Historical marines fulfill multiple roles: ship defence, boarding actions, landing parties, and general-purpose hi ...
,
Tau Tau (uppercase Τ, lowercase τ, or \boldsymbol\tau; el, ταυ ) is the 19th letter of the Greek alphabet, representing the voiceless dental or alveolar plosive . In the system of Greek numerals, it has a value of 300. The name in English ...
,
Tyranid In the fictional universe of ''Warhammer 40,000'', the Tyranids are a race and a playable army in the tabletop miniatures wargame. The Tyranids are described as a nomadic society of aliens which originated from beyond the Milky Way Galaxy and ...
s, and the Witch Hunters. They are collaborated efforts between the authors of the ''Warhammer 40,000'' game rules and the writers of the background. These works expand on the storylines, characters, armies, and organisations discussed in the ''Codexes''. Combined with contributions to ''White Dwarf'' magazine of articles, stories, and rules, and miniature lines produced by both Games Workshop and
Forge World Games Workshop Group (often abbreviated as GW) is a British manufacturer of miniature wargames, based in Nottingham, England. Its best-known products are ''Warhammer Age of Sigmar'' and ''Warhammer 40,000''. Founded in 1975 by John Peake, Ia ...
, they expand upon the fictional world of the original ''Warhammer 40,000'' game and its other companion games. The column "Chapter Approved" of ''White Dwarf'' is a forum for collaborations between authors, model makers, and the rulemakers, allowing for the characters to have their own place amongst ''Warhammer 40,000'' battles. Alongside of the ''Warhammer 40,000'' game was a short-lived game called ''Warhammer Warriors''. The system was created by
Rick Priestley Rick Priestley (born 29 March 1959) is a British game designerSlingshot, No279, Nov 2011, p1 and author mainly known as the creator of ''Warhammer'' miniature wargame. Career Rick Priestley, with Bryan Ansell and Richard Halliwell, designed t ...
and based on the playing style of '' LostWorlds''. Many of the characters released for the miniature game were given rules and a "gaming book" to be used in playing against others. This series ended before many of the novels were published and production of cross-promotional books was discontinued.


Fiction of the ''Black Library''

Most of the stories take place thousands of years after the fall of the
Emperor of Mankind ''Warhammer 40,000'' is a miniature wargame produced by Games Workshop. It is the most popular miniature wargame in the world, and is particularly popular in the United Kingdom. The first edition of the rulebook was published in September 1987, ...
at the hands of his favoured son
Horus Horus or Heru, Hor, Har in Ancient Egyptian, is one of the most significant ancient Egyptian deities who served many functions, most notably as god of kingship and the sky. He was worshipped from at least the late prehistoric Egypt until the P ...
, once loyal but corrupted by
Chaos Chaos or CHAOS may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Fictional elements * Chaos (''Kinnikuman'') * Chaos (''Sailor Moon'') * Chaos (''Sesame Park'') * Chaos (''Warhammer'') * Chaos, in ''Fabula Nova Crystallis Final Fantasy'' * Cha ...
. Many millennia have passed since then but the Imperium is still at war with the
Chaos Space Marines In Games Workshop's '' Warhammer Fantasy'' and ''Warhammer 40,000'' fictional universes, Chaos refers to parasitic entities which live in a different plane of reality known as '' the Warp'' or ''Immaterium'' in ''Warhammer 40,000'' and as the Re ...
, along with many new enemies. The majority of these stories are written in the perspective of humans, primarily those of the Imperial Guard, the mechanic/scientist-mystics of the
Adeptus Mechanicus ''Warhammer 40,000'' is a miniature wargame produced by Games Workshop. It is the most popular miniature wargame in the world, and is particularly popular in the United Kingdom. The first edition of the rulebook was published in September 1987, ...
, the female warriors of the
Sisters of Battle ''Warhammer 40,000'' is a miniature wargame produced by Games Workshop. It is the most popular miniature wargame in the world, and is particularly popular in the United Kingdom. The first edition of the rulebook was published in September 1987, ...
, the holy Inquisition, and the superhuman Space Marines, although some have been written from the perspective of corrupt Chaos-worshipping humans, as well as the alien Eldar and Tau races. They span the complete ''Warhammer 40,000'' universe.


Novels and short fiction line


The Inquisition Trilogies

Dan Abnett Dan Abnett (born 12 October 1965) is an English comic book writer and novelist. He has been a frequent collaborator with fellow writer Andy Lanning, and is known for his work on books for both Marvel Comics, and their UK imprint, Marvel UK, sinc ...
began a series of trilogies involving the Inquisition, beginning in 2001 with the ''Eisenhorn'' trilogy: ''Xenos'', ''Malleus'', and ''Hereticus''. In the omnibus edition, released in 2004, there are two short stories placed between these novels to connect them together. A second trilogy began in 2004, around the time the ''Eisenhorn'' omnibus came out, known as the ''Ravenor'' trilogy: ''Ravenor'', ''Ravenor Returned'' and ''Ravenor Rogue''. The ''Ravenor'' omnibus was released in 2009, also with two connecting short stories. Abnett revealed in the foreword to the ''Ravenor'' omnibus that he was planning a "trilogy of trilogies", and the third set, its title confirmed in an interview with Abnett as the ''Bequin'' trilogy - will begin in October 2012 with ''Pariah: Ravenor Versus Eisenhorn''.


Plot

The Inquisition (The Holy Orders of the Emperor's Inquisition) is an organisation in the fictional Warhammer 40,000 universe. They act as the secret police of the Imperium, hunting down any and all threats to the stability of the God-Emperor's realm. In the first trilogy, the titular character is Inquisitor Gregor Eisenhorn, a member of the Ordo Xenos (a division of the Inquisition devoted to hunting aliens, though they also uphold the Inquisition's creed of prosecuting "enemies of the state"), as he begins his descent into radicalism and association with daemonhosts and dark sorcery. The second trilogy is focused around Eisenhorn's former student, Inquisitor Gideon Ravenor, also of the Ordo Xenos, as he battles a powerful nemesis and seeks to defeat a conspiracy involving high Imperial officials. The third trilogy will be centred around Alizebeth Bequin, an "untouchable" (anti-psychic, or psychic blank) who had been a long-time, trusted member of Eisenhorn's inner circle.


Warhammer 40,000 gaming

Eisenhorn was made as an official model for the ''
Inquisitor An inquisitor was an official (usually with judicial or investigative functions) in an inquisition – an organization or program intended to eliminate heresy and other things contrary to the doctrine or teachings of the Catholic faith. Literal ...
'' spin-off game. Unlike Inquisitors for the main ''Warhammer 40,000'' game, the ''Inquisitor'' version of Eisenhorn is equipped with many beyond the normal standard items: he is equipped with a Power Sword, a special "rune" staff, a "duelling" pistol, grenades and flak armour. He also has the ability to use
telepathy Telepathy () is the purported vicarious transmission of information from one person's mind to another's without using any known human sensory channels or physical interaction. The term was first coined in 1882 by the classical scholar Frederic W ...
. While the main Warhammer 40,000 games does include two inquisitorial armies (Daemon Hunters and Witch Hunters) official rules for the Alien Hunters of the Ordo Xenos to which Eisenhorn belongs have not been published. Rules for him and Daemonhosts are included in the official Inquisitor rulebook, and generic rules for him and Daemonhosts are included in the Daemonhunters army codex.


Gaunt's Ghosts

''Gaunt's Ghosts'' are currently collected into three "sequences": ''The Founding'', ''The Saint'', and ''The Lost''. The Founding includes the novels ''First and Only'', ''Ghostmaker'', and ''Necropolis''. ''The Saint'' includes the novels ''Honour Guard'', ''The Guns of Tanith'', ''Straight Silver'', and ''Sabbat Martyr''. ''The Lost'' includes the novels ''Traitor General'', ''His Last Command'', ''The Armour of Contempt'', and ''Only in Death'',. The planned fourth sequence "The Victory" includes "Blood Pact" and "Salvation's Reach".


Plot

The ''Gaunt's Ghosts'' series follows Colonel-Commissar Ibram Gaunt and the army of Tanith from the creation of the Tanith Regiment of the
Imperial Guard An imperial guard or palace guard is a special group of troops (or a member thereof) of an empire, typically closely associated directly with the Emperor or Empress. Usually these troops embody a more elite status than other imperial forces, in ...
and its abandonment of their planet before the destruction of it at the hands of invading Chaos legions. The stories follow the many adventures of the Tanith "First and Only" regiment as they seek to prove themselves. Things are complicated by dissension against their commander, Gaunt, for not letting them die alongside their brethren at the destruction of their planet.


Warhammer 40,000 gaming

After the success of ''Gaunt's Ghosts'', lines of ''Gaunt's Ghosts'' based miniatures were produced by Games Workshop. Unlike the previous models, these were not limited edition sets. The production covered both the main characters of Abnett's works (like the title character Colonel-Commissar Ibram Gaunt and also created a generic
Imperial Guard An imperial guard or palace guard is a special group of troops (or a member thereof) of an empire, typically closely associated directly with the Emperor or Empress. Usually these troops embody a more elite status than other imperial forces, in ...
variant called the Tanith First and Only. Rules were originally published for these miniatures in "Chapter Approved" column of White Dwarf UK 269/US 268 and later collected in the ''Chapter Approved'' edition for 2003. With the creation of the 4th edition ''Imperial Guard'' codex, the previous rules for the Tanith First and Only were removed and they were instead a "variant" army created using "doctrine" (variations to traditional army rules). While Colonel-Commissar was given specific rules in the ''Imperial Guard'' codex, the other special characters, according to the official Games Workshop website, still use the rules presented in ''Chapter Approved'' and provide additional modelling types and rules to create more characters based on the ''Gaunt's Ghost'' series.


Space Wolves

''Space Wolf'', by William King, with additions from ''Sons of Fenris'', describes the
Space Wolves In the fictional universe of ''Warhammer 40,000'', the Space Marines, also known as the Adeptus Astartes, are superhuman warrior-monks who fight for the Imperium of Man. They wear mechanised suits of armour and have modified genomes that grant the ...
and Ragnar Blackmane in the ''Warhammer 40,000'' universe. ''The Space Wolf Omnibus'' is a collection composed of ''Space Wolf'', ''Ragnar's Claw'', and ''Grey Hunter''. ''Space Wolf: The Second Omnibus'' by William King and Lee Lightner contains the novels, ''Wolfblade'', and ''Sons of Fenris'' (by Lightner rather than King) and ''Wolf's Honour''.


Plot

The ''Space Wolves'' series follows the history of Ragnar Blackmane, a young warrior who has to prove himself in combat who later becomes a fierce leader of the Space Wolves. Not only does he battle against the enemies of the
Imperium In ancient Rome, ''imperium'' was a form of authority held by a citizen to control a military or governmental entity. It is distinct from ''auctoritas'' and ''potestas'', different and generally inferior types of power in the Roman Republic an ...
, he also battles against their fellow Space Marines, the Dark Angels, which stems from a long time feud about which is the superior army.


Warhammer 40,000 gaming

Ragnar Blackmane is a special character for the
Space Wolves In the fictional universe of ''Warhammer 40,000'', the Space Marines, also known as the Adeptus Astartes, are superhuman warrior-monks who fight for the Imperium of Man. They wear mechanised suits of armour and have modified genomes that grant the ...
Space Marines The space marine, an archetype of military science fiction, is a kind of soldier who operates in outer space or on alien worlds. Historical marines fulfill multiple roles: ship defence, boarding actions, landing parties, and general-purpose hi ...
army. He is unique in the fact that he has a limited edition promotional model produced by the ''Black Library'' and a standard piece produced by Games Workshop. The model produced for the ''Black Library'' pits Ragnar Blackmane against the Thousand Sons Chaos Space Marine Madox. Ragnar Blackmane, in the ''Space Wolves'' companion codex to the ''Space Marines'' army book, is a "Wolf Lord" ranked Space Marine. He was equipped with a "master-crafted" bolt pistol, a "master-crafted" frost blade (a special weapon used by the Space Wolves), grenades, and special clothing/equipment unique to the culture of the Space Wolves (a wolf tooth necklace, a wolf tail, and a wolf pelt). He can be joined with two wolves that accompany him into battle. Alongside of Ragnar Blackmane and the Space Wolves are members of the
Imperial Guard An imperial guard or palace guard is a special group of troops (or a member thereof) of an empire, typically closely associated directly with the Emperor or Empress. Usually these troops embody a more elite status than other imperial forces, in ...
army, the legions of the
Adeptus Mechanicus ''Warhammer 40,000'' is a miniature wargame produced by Games Workshop. It is the most popular miniature wargame in the world, and is particularly popular in the United Kingdom. The first edition of the rulebook was published in September 1987, ...
, Inquisition, and the Space Marines.


Comics and graphic novels line


Bloodquest

''Bloodquest: Eye of Terror Trilogy'', by Gordon Rennie and Colin MacNeil, is a collection of three works titled ''Bloodquest'', ''Bloodquest: Into the Eye of Terror'', and ''Bloodquest: The Daemon's Mark''. The trilogy involves the founding
Space Marines The space marine, an archetype of military science fiction, is a kind of soldier who operates in outer space or on alien worlds. Historical marines fulfill multiple roles: ship defence, boarding actions, landing parties, and general-purpose hi ...
chapter, the Blood Angels, as they struggle first against the Orks and then against the armies of
Chaos Chaos or CHAOS may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Fictional elements * Chaos (''Kinnikuman'') * Chaos (''Sailor Moon'') * Chaos (''Sesame Park'') * Chaos (''Warhammer'') * Chaos, in ''Fabula Nova Crystallis Final Fantasy'' * Cha ...
.


Plot

Captain of the Blood Angels,
Leonatos ''Warhammer 40,000'' comics are Spin-off (media), spin-offs and tie-ins based in the ''Warhammer 40,000'' fictional universe. Over the years these have been published by different sources. Originally appearing in ''Inferno!'' and ''Warhammer Mont ...
was given a weapon called "Encarmine," the "Sword of Belarius," as a prize for his prowess as a warrior and for the accomplishments of his men on the battlefield. However, Garshul the Destroyer, an
Ork Ork or ORK may refer to: * Ork (folklore), a mountain demon of Tyrol folklore * ''Ork'' (video game), a 1991 game for the Amiga and Atari ST systems * Ork (''Warhammer 40,000''), a fictional species in the ''Warhammer 40,000'' universe * ''Ork!'' ...
, manages to capture the weapon, causing Leonatos to be dishonoured and then exiled. He wanders with his fellow soldiers as they try to regain their honour by hunting down the sword. This takes them to the world of Eidolon, but they crash land on the wrong side. They are forced to battle the forces of Chaos that control the planet. They must battle against the armies of each Chaos god that control a separate continent in their path so they can finally regain their treasured weapon and their honour so they could be welcomed back once again amongst their brethren.


Warhammer 40,000 gaming

The GamesDay Golden Daemon Award model of 2001 was a converted "Captain Leonatos" of ''Bloodquest'', painted by Bobby Wong. Previously, Captain Leonatos was produced as a miniature in 1999 as "Blood Angel Captain Leonatos, Commander of the Exile". This was in a limited quantity of only 1,000 models sculpted by Mike McVey. Cloten and Lysander, Captain Leonatos's troops, were also produced the same year and titled "The Exiles." They came together and were produced in a limited quantity of 500 miniatures sculpted by Mark Bedford. In the ''Warhammer 40,000'' game, Captain Leonatos is a Captain of the Space Marine's army, the Blood Angels. While he, and his men, no longer have "canon" rules, they can be used as their generic equivalents. Their original rules accompanied the production models. He did not deviate in equipment from that available for a standard Captain, as with his men. Captain Leonatos and his men also paralleled the "
Eye of Terror ''Warhammer 40,000'' is a miniature wargame produced by Games Workshop. It is the most popular miniature wargame in the world, and is particularly popular in the United Kingdom. The first edition of the rulebook was published in September 1987, ...
" Campaign, exploring the "Eye" before the gaming tournament began. In the Warhammer 40,000 "visual combat game", ''Warhammer Warriors'', the gaming book ''Warhammer Warriors #2'' was created for Captain Leonatos. He equipped with many Blood Angels based weapons, such as a chainsword, bolt pistol and a flamer, but also has new weapons designed for ''Warhammer Warriors'', like Photon Flares and a Bolt Pistol Hotshot. He deals extra damage and has a strong defense based on his
Space Marine The space marine, an archetype of military science fiction, is a kind of soldier who operates in outer space or on alien worlds. Historical marines fulfill multiple roles: ship defence, boarding actions, landing parties, and general-purpose hi ...
power armour.


Daemonifuge

''Daemonifuge'', originally published in ''Warhammer Monthly'', is a series of Trade Paperbacks about the life of Ephrael Stern, a member of the Adepta Sororitas, and is collected as ''Daemonifuge: Heretic Saint''. The two books of the series are ''Daemonifuge'', by Kev Walker and Jim Campbell, and ''Daemonifuge: The Lord of Damnation'', by Kev Walker, Gordon Rennie, and Karl Richardson. In addition to the original series, a smaller series was released called ''Daemonifuge: The Screaming Cage''. This series was produced in three parts, and reproduces the original series with additional pages added/edited into the original plot.


Plot

Ephrael Stern was a Seraphim ranked Sister for the Order of Our Martyred Lady. Mysteriously, she was the sole survivor out of 12,000 that was sent to the planet Parnis in order to battle a daemonic infestation. Inquisitor Silas Hand originally was sent to identify if she was tainted by Chaos and if that was the reason for her survival. While being locked up and awaiting the Inquisitor's arrival, Stern was attacked by possessed individuals. She removed the demons from the individuals, and these actions combined with Silas Hand's investigation's inability to psychically look through her mind and detect traces of daemonic taint upon her lead to no conclusion. Hand was forced to return with her to the planet Parnis in order to figure out her role in the destruction of her Sisters. During the return, their vessel's navigator was possessed by Chaos destroyed their ship the "Hammer of Thor." Escaping, both Hand and Stern were able to land upon the surface, but they were the sole survivors. Shortly after landing upon the planet, they were soon confronted the Daemon Q'tlahsi'issho'akshami. Only Stern managed to live through the battle, and she is now hunted by the
Ordo Malleus ''Warhammer 40,000'' is a miniature wargame produced by Games Workshop. It is the most popular miniature wargame in the world, and is particularly popular in the United Kingdom. The first edition of the rulebook was published in September 1987, ...
to be brought in for questioning. Only Stern knows what happened to Silas Hand, what happened to the Daemon, and what the forces of Chaos were doing on the planet.


Warhammer 40,000 gaming

A limited edition of only 1,000 miniatures was released for ''Daemonifuge''. These miniatures were sculpted by Juan Diaz, Mark Harrison & Alex Hedstrom in 2004 and are no longer in production. Portraying Ephrael Stern and Silas Hand on a diorama base and entering into combat against the Daemons of Chaos. In the ''Warhammer 40,000'' game, Ephrael Stern is a
Seraphim A seraph (, "burning one"; plural seraphim ) is a type of celestial or heavenly being originating in Ancient Judaism. The term plays a role in subsequent Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Tradition places seraphim in the highest rank in Chris ...
of the Witch Hunters and Silas Hand is an Inquisitor for the Daemonhunters army. While they no longer have "canon" rules, they can be used as their generic equivalents. Their original rules accompanied the production models. Ephrael Stern was armed with a standard bolter, a blessed sword (wounded daemons easily, negated invulnerable saves, and destroyed enemy leadership), a jump pack, general bonuses against daemons and is not allowed to receive "faith" based bonuses standard for the
Sisters of Battle ''Warhammer 40,000'' is a miniature wargame produced by Games Workshop. It is the most popular miniature wargame in the world, and is particularly popular in the United Kingdom. The first edition of the rulebook was published in September 1987, ...
. She could not join a unit with her fellow Sisters or an army containing any Inquisitor besides Silas Hand (with Silas, she counted as a "henchman". Silas Hand was armed with a bolter (using "Psycannon bolts", psychically charged weapons used against daemons) and a force field for defense. He could only include Ephrael Stern in his retinue. In the Warhammer 40,000 "visual combat game", ''Warhammer Warriors'', the gaming book ''Warhammer Warriors #3'' was created for Ephrael Stern. She equipped with many Sisters of Battle-based weapons, such as a powersword, bolter and a flamer, but also has new weapons designed for ''Warhammer Warriors'', like Photon Flares and a Bolt Pistol Hotshot. Ephrael Stern and Silas Hand are also used as part of an introductory article explaining the background of the Witch Hunters army list, called "Villainy & Infamy." The article is "report" produced by an "unknown" source which describes the history of Silas Hand's investigation from an in-universe perspective.


Lone Wolves

''Lone Wolves'' is a graphic novel by Dan Abnett and Karl Richardson which describes the interactions of
Imperial Guard An imperial guard or palace guard is a special group of troops (or a member thereof) of an empire, typically closely associated directly with the Emperor or Empress. Usually these troops embody a more elite status than other imperial forces, in ...
variant and the
Space Marines The space marine, an archetype of military science fiction, is a kind of soldier who operates in outer space or on alien worlds. Historical marines fulfill multiple roles: ship defence, boarding actions, landing parties, and general-purpose hi ...
' chapter, the
Space Wolves In the fictional universe of ''Warhammer 40,000'', the Space Marines, also known as the Adeptus Astartes, are superhuman warrior-monks who fight for the Imperium of Man. They wear mechanised suits of armour and have modified genomes that grant the ...
, when fighting the
Tyranids In the fictional universe of ''Warhammer 40,000'', the Tyranids are a race and a playable army in the tabletop miniatures wargame. The Tyranids are described as a nomadic society of aliens which originated from beyond the Milky Way Galaxy and ...
. The story is broken into seven parts, "The Miracle," "Eaters of the Slain" Part 1 and 2, "Payback" Part 1 and 2, and "Bloodgeld" Part 1 and 2. Prefaced to the story are short essays produced by editor, Christian Dunn, about the nature of heroes and following the story is the ending original created by Dan Abnett. In 2004, a flash movie and Official Website was created by the Black Library as a limited edition miniature was produced for sale.


Plot

The Imperial Guard's division titled the "10th Slavok Regiment" are abandoned on the ice-planet Shadrac, which is currently controlled by a
Tyranid In the fictional universe of ''Warhammer 40,000'', the Tyranids are a race and a playable army in the tabletop miniatures wargame. The Tyranids are described as a nomadic society of aliens which originated from beyond the Milky Way Galaxy and ...
invasion. Sergeant Poul Marlin narrates the travels of the remaining squads of soldiers as they struggle against hunger, the elements, and the aliens who want to devour them. Joined by the
Space Wolves In the fictional universe of ''Warhammer 40,000'', the Space Marines, also known as the Adeptus Astartes, are superhuman warrior-monks who fight for the Imperium of Man. They wear mechanised suits of armour and have modified genomes that grant the ...
led by Skold Greypelt, the Slavok 10th are able to stand against constant attacks and perform deeds of heroism.


Warhammer 40,000 gaming

Sergeant Poul Marlin, Skold Greypelt, an unidentified Space Wolf and a wounded Slovak soldier were produced as a miniature "diorama" for ''Warhammer 40,000'' in 2003 as "Lone Wolves." This was in a limited quantity of only 500 models sculpted by Martin Footitt and Adam Clarke. In the ''Warhammer 40,000'' game, Poul Marlin a sergeant of the Slovok regiment, an Ice World variant of the
Imperial Guard An imperial guard or palace guard is a special group of troops (or a member thereof) of an empire, typically closely associated directly with the Emperor or Empress. Usually these troops embody a more elite status than other imperial forces, in ...
army (similar in design and appearance to the established Valhallan Ice Warriors), and Skold Greypelt is a Captain of the Space Marine's army, the
Space Wolves In the fictional universe of ''Warhammer 40,000'', the Space Marines, also known as the Adeptus Astartes, are superhuman warrior-monks who fight for the Imperium of Man. They wear mechanised suits of armour and have modified genomes that grant the ...
. While they, and their men, lack specific additional rules, they follow standard rules for equipment and statistics with the addition of the "Xeno hunter: Tyranids"/"Preferred Enemy: Tyranids" trait (Skold and his "Lone Wolves" are a
Space Wolves In the fictional universe of ''Warhammer 40,000'', the Space Marines, also known as the Adeptus Astartes, are superhuman warrior-monks who fight for the Imperium of Man. They wear mechanised suits of armour and have modified genomes that grant the ...
version of the Ultramarines's special "Tyranid War Veterans" unit).


Periodicals

From 1997 to 2005, Black Library published ''
Inferno! ''Inferno!'' (originally ''Carnage'') was a bi-monthly magazine published from 1997 to 2004 by Games Workshop's publishing division, Black Library, which was initially just the name of the team brought together to work on ''Inferno!''.
'', a magazine of short stories, artwork, and other features set in the various
fictional universe A fictional universe, or fictional world, is a self-consistent setting with events, and often other elements, that differ from the real world. It may also be called an imagined, constructed, or fictional realm (or world). Fictional universes may ...
s of Games Workshop's
fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving Magic (supernatural), magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy ...
and
science fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel unive ...
game A game is a structured form of play (activity), play, usually undertaken for enjoyment, entertainment or fun, and sometimes used as an educational tool. Many games are also considered to be work (such as professional players of spectator s ...
s. These initially included ''
Warhammer Fantasy Battle ''Warhammer'' (formerly ''Warhammer Fantasy Battle'' or just ''Warhammer Fantasy'') is a tabletop miniature wargame with a medieval fantasy theme. The game was created by Bryan Ansell, Richard Halliwell, and Rick Priestley; it was published ...
'', ''
Warhammer 40,000 ''Warhammer 40,000'' is a miniature wargame produced by Games Workshop. It is the most popular miniature wargame in the world, and is particularly popular in the United Kingdom. The first edition of the rulebook was published in September 1987, ...
'', and '' Necromunda'', and later added the ''
Mordheim ''Mordheim'' is a tabletop game published by Games Workshop in 1999. It is a variant of the company's Warhammer Fantasy game set on a warband or "skirmish" scale. Mordheim was designed by Alessio Cavatore, Tuomas Pirinen, and Rick Priestley. Besi ...
'' and ''
Gorkamorka ''Gorkamorka'' is a tabletop skirmish wargame produced by Games Workshop. It is set on the desert world of Angelis in the Warhammer 40,000 setting, and prominently features Orks. The player takes control of a group of warriors with the object ...
'' settings. From 1998 to 2004, Black Library published the ''
Warhammer Monthly ''Warhammer Monthly'' was a comics anthology published by Games Workshop's publishing arm, Black Library, from March 1998 to December 2004, running to 86 issues in total. The final two issues were published bi-monthly under the name ''Warhammer Com ...
''
comic book A comic book, also called comicbook, comic magazine or (in the United Kingdom and Ireland) simply comic, is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panels that represent individual scenes. Panels are of ...
based on the ''Warhammer Fantasy Battle'' and ''Warhammer 40,000'' fictional universes. The comics were republished as a series of trade paperback comics. Black Library discontinued the two periodicals because their sales were meagre compared to the novels. In August 2010 Black Library announced that it was releasing a new monthly
ezine An online magazine is a magazine published on the Internet, through bulletin board systems and other forms of public computer networks. One of the first magazines to convert from a print magazine format to being online only was the computer magaz ...
called
Hammer and Bolter ''Hammer and Bolter'' is an animated series based on the games ''Warhammer 40,000'' and Warhammer: Age of Sigmar. 15 episodes were broadcast from August 2021 exclusively on Games Workshop's streaming website Warhammer+ Plot Hammer and Bolter is ...
. Like Inferno! it contains short stories set in the fictional worlds of Warhammer Fantasy Battle and Warhammer 40,000. The magazine also features interviews with Black Library authors, previews of forthcoming novels, and serialised novels. In the first year of Hammer and Bolter the serialised novel was ''
Phalanx The phalanx ( grc, φάλαγξ; plural phalanxes or phalanges, , ) was a rectangular mass military formation, usually composed entirely of heavy infantry armed with spears, pikes, sarissas, or similar pole weapons. The term is particularly use ...
'' by Ben Counter. In the second year (2011–12) the serialised novel was '' Gilead's Curse'' by Nik Vincent and
Dan Abnett Dan Abnett (born 12 October 1965) is an English comic book writer and novelist. He has been a frequent collaborator with fellow writer Andy Lanning, and is known for his work on books for both Marvel Comics, and their UK imprint, Marvel UK, sinc ...
.


References


External links


Official Black Library website
{{Authority control Book publishing companies of the United Kingdom Companies based in Nottingham Games Workshop Publishing companies established in 1997 1997 establishments in the United Kingdom