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Warhammer AoS – For Khorne’s Glory!

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Its finally done and not a moment too soon. I don’t know how many more Khorne-based titles I can come up with at this point. I won’t waste any time because I have this miniature to discuss, some Fallout news, and some more comic reviews for you. There’s lots of pictures to enjoy along the way too. Here is a look at the finished product.

There isn’t too much to say about finishing up the project so I thought I’d talk briefly about my original idea and inspiration. I’ve had the idea to paint something Khorne and use a lot of skulls for years now. I’m sure part of it was inspired by the box of skulls by Games Workshop (pictured below). Like a total noob, I bought this very quickly after it came out because I was into painting Warhammer at that particular moment and I have used probably 5-6 skulls in the box before this project.

I’ve always liked the Skullgrinder miniature (pictured above) and was originally going to paint it for this project. Once I decided that I wanted to use some advanced lighting techniques, I realized that his flaming anvil would make that more complicated than needed and so I went with the Wrathmonger mini instead. As some of us have discussed in the comments, I’ve seen a pile of skulls, I’ve seen skulls swimming in blood, but not many, if anybody, has done flaming skulls so that’s why I went for it. I have no idea how this miniature will be received in painting competitions but I do think it is my most conceptually advanced miniature yet and I’m proud of that. It also shows that I can paint different styles. Dark and gritty or clean and regal. I’ll happily paint either.

Its worth noting that I am planning on getting a new camera within the next couple of weeks for my birthday so I will probably take more pictures of this miniature and we’ll compare new and old photos down the road to hopefully see some improvement in picture quality. That is also why I tried a photo with a dark background and with a plain white piece of paper this time around. Unfortunately, my camera cannot seem to handle the dark background which is a shame as the colors are more vivid with it. Its just that the other parts are blown out as well.

While I’m spoiling a future Instagram post, I have painted one Khorne mini before a long time ago and so I thought it would be fun to compare the two briefly here. As you can see, I’ve gotten a lot better since I painted this guy in 2018! And yes, I still used free Massive Voodoo backgrounds even back then! My camera skills and highlighting skills have definitely improved over the last five years, if nothing else.

There was some exciting Fallout news this week as well. Modiphius teased a bevvy of new Fallout minis, this time coming from Nuka World. For those who haven’t played it, Nuka World is a theme park that has been taken over by raiders. I really like this part of Fallout 4 so I was excited to see what they’d come up with. I’m not going to show everything, just a few highlights or things that I’d like to paint in the nearish future.

First up, the raider gangs in this release are coming in plastic and so the weapons are more customizable. It should be more like Warhammer plastic kits where you can pick what equipment you want and make conversions as desired. The sculpts look great and definitely stand out from the previously released raiders.

Of course, the boss of the operation looks awesome as well. He might be the coolest looking mini that Modiphius has released yet.

There are cool creatures coming as well, not least of which are the Nukalurks. The studio painters did a nice job with these as well.

Apparently some of these releases will be compatible with a new game called Fallout Factions. We don’t know a ton about Factions yet but it sounds like it will be a simpler and possibly less narrative focused game. I’m guessing it will be more akin to Warcry or Kill Teams but for Fallout though that is a total guess on my part. I will probably stick to the regular game since I prefer narrative gaming but I’m curious to learn more about Factions at the same time.

Lastly, I do want to step into Comics Corner for some more rapidfire reviews. While nothing that I read recently knocked my socks off, hopefully, they are still of interest to some regular readers.

Conan the Barbarian #1 and #2 – I’ve now read the first two issues of Conan and wanted to briefly share my thoughts. So I haven’t read any of the original short stories though I intend to do so in the near future. Having said that, I think this series is in the hands of a capable writer and someone who really enjoys the source material. Everything about this feels not only like Conan but it has a bit of a retro vibe that I suspect many Conan fans will like. For example, check out the titles the creative team gave themselves.

And check out the retrotastic art in the pages.

Its dark and moody and I give this series 10 out of 10 Cimmerians for having a great Conan feel. Without spoiling much, the gist of the story is that some reanimated Picts destroy an outpost where Conan is. He meets up with a Pict who tried to warn the outpost and the two team up to figure out what’s going on. The trail leads back to Cimmeria so you can guess how Conan feels about that. All in all, I like this series so far and I’d recommend it to any Conan fans. Its a fun and engaging read.

Ice Cream Man: Rainbow Sprinkles – This series has a lot of buzz and there are already around 40 issues published which doesn’t happen in comics unless there is a dedicated fanbase buying the issues. It is an anthology of one issue stories that have elements of horror, surrealism, and magical realism not unlike the Twilight Zone. Do I enjoy any of those things in literature? Not often and usually in small doses but I want to be a more open minded comic reader to make sure I don’t miss out on something I’d love like I nearly did with Y the Last Man. I only found one issue of the four interesting and it was about junkies who have to make a difficult decision after one accidentally hits an older couple with their car. Incidentally, this was the only story of the four that was even a little grounded in realism. The others were just too out there for me to enjoy. I didn’t care for the art which is grotesque and makes it hard to relate to the characters. I can see why people would like this series but ultimately, it just isn’t for me. If you like what I described, its worth checking out as it is well done. Its mostly just taste thing for me.

2 out of 5 stars. I will not be reading more.

Jupiter’s Legacy – Vol 1 – So the next two books I got because the writer, Mark Millar (who wrote Old Man Logan), just came out with a book that uses ALL of his previous characters in a story that I’d like to read. Its basically an event book like Marvel and DC do all of the time but with a manageable number of characters and series to read beforehand. Jupiter’s Legacy also got a Netflix show in 2021 for what that’s worth.

Essentially, this is about a superhero family (not unlike the Fantastic Four) in the 1950’s or 1960’s and from what I can tell, it will eventually move forward in time and talk about their descendants and what happens to them. To my knowledge, this isn’t done much in comics and so I think its a clever and intriguing idea. Each issue focuses on one of the characters on the team and delves into their personal life and either the challenges they face or the bad decisions they make. For example, one issue is about a gay character who J. Edgar Hoover tries to blackmail once he finds out that he’s gay. There’s another character who is tired of his wife and kids and falls in love with a girl in her 20’s who wants to be a superhero. The concepts aren’t reinventing the wheel but they are interesting to explore. Its a bit like Mad Men and superheroes collide. I really liked the retro-infused art that brings the setting to life as well. As a first volume, this was good but not great. I am however very keen on the concept and look forward to reading more, especially since there are five volumes released thus far

3.5 out of 5 stars. I will be reading more.

Huck: Book 1 – All American – And finally, we have Huck. Huck is an analogue for Superman (from what I gather) in that he’s very powerful and only uses his powers to help people. Mark Millar is known for being cynical in his stories but this is a total feel good story. Huck is simple-minded and starts off being protected by people in his town who know about his abilities. Eventually, word gets out and cynical people get involved. They insult his simple mindedness and earnestness which makes you like him even more. The villain is not particularly interesting or fleshed out but the story ends on a humorous and satisfying note. If you want to read something that is “feel good” when many modern comics go for a dark and gritty tone, this is a solid bet. Currently, this is the only volume too so its not something you will get wrapped up in and have to buy tons of volumes to get the whole story. The art is also beautiful and I can’t imagine Huck being drawn by another artist because he is very endearing here. Almost like a big child in his appearance.

3.5 out of 5 stars. If another volume comes out, I will be happy to read it.

And that is more than enough from me this week. My plan is to focus on gaming stuff for a while until the display painting bug strikes again. I have a massive backlog calling my name so I better make some progress!

43 thoughts on “Warhammer AoS – For Khorne’s Glory!”

  1. It really came together nicely! I think just like you the effect pops more on the dark background so fingers crossed the new camera lets you do that!

    Those fallout minis look great, those crab things are fantastic!

    I’m a fan of the look of those Conan comics, might need to get my hands on those!

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    1. Thank you, Nic! My camera is so old, a newer one will surely make a difference or at least that’s what I’m telling myself 🙂 I look forward to buying and painting those Fallout minis. It also gives me some motivation to work on the hefty amount that I already own.

      Of all the comics I read this past week, Conan was the most fun. I didn’t rate it since I’ve only read two issues and not the whole story arc but I’d definitely give it a high recommendation for fun.

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  2. Oooh, very nice seeing the mini all complete! 🙂 A really dynamic figure!
    I like those Fallout minis – you have got to get all of them!
    Love the Conan artwork style! Good to see you getting through more comics. I have now read (and enjoyed) the first Hellboy trade paperback (Seed Of Destruction) and have the second one – I picked up both copies second-hand on eBay really cheap and they are in very good condition.

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    1. Thank you, John and I agree. This mini is much more dynamic than the one I had originally picked so that was a happy accident. I will certainly try to get all of the Fallout minis I can as well.

      I think you would enjoy reading Conan, though I would wait until it comes out in trade paperback as waiting patiently for the rest of the story is not so easy! If you liked Seed of Destruction, then you’ll enjoy the next 10 volumes or so. The first volume is the weakest in the series and Mike Mignola just gets better and better as it goes along.

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  3. Fantastic work on the model Jeff, and must be great to now call it done, will be interesting to see how it does at the comps, and if the judges see your vision ( sometimes you really have to lead them by the hand ! LOL) You’re earlier model is good, but you can clearly see your progression and increased skillset.
    Haven’t read a Conan comic since my teens, but the artwork looks good and in keeping with the originals.
    Look forward to seeing what you do with the Fallout mini’s.

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    1. Thanks, Dave and yeah, it was nice to finally finish. By the end of these projects, you’ve lost all perspective on how much time you put into it and you never really know when you’ll be done when you start one either. That Blood Warrior got me a 6.8 on CMON so not terrible but not amazing either haha!

      I think Conan is well suited for the comic book form and if you ever get in the mood for some Conan, you can’t go wrong with the current series or the one Marvel put out 2-3 years ago which is also excellent.

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  4. Great work on the miniature, I think you are right and a black background would really work well. I like the fallout miniatures. To be honest I still haven’t played Far Harbour or Nuka World. I have them both but was attempting to finish every side quest. I did try the Robot DLC but it glitched and I couldn’t get past meeting the robot at the crossroads. So out of interest what is the difference between a Mirelurk and a Nukalurk? As for the comics, I have few Alien ones and also some Starship Troopers. But I am boring and tend to stick to what I know.

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    1. Cheers, mate! I’m excited to try a black background with a better camera and see how it looks. Hopefully even better.

      I would recommend Far Harbor and Nuka World. Both are pretty fun and a change of pace from Fallout 4’s main game. I’m not sure I did much of the other DLC in my first playthrough. I’ve got a second playthrough near the end of the main game so maybe I’ll try the smaller DLC out. The Nukalurk is basically just a variation of the Mirelurks that only appear in Nuka World. They’re tougher than regular Mirelurks if I remember right too.

      You can’t go wrong with comics of a franchise you like. For several years, reading Star Wars comics was my main interest within comics so I know what you mean!

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  5. great work on the Khorne champion, I especially like the helmet! You’re reviews of those comics remind me that I still haven’t finished the large graphic novel collection I picked up from Humble Bundle in 2021, I’d bette rget on with my own reading!

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  6. Nice to see it completed, now to make sure it isn’t displayed/judged on a lower shelf!

    I could definitely see those Fallout figures adding to your plastic pile, the boss is a really nice figure.

    The Conan title page does give off the style I’m use to.

    I’m finding it hard to distinguish the artwork between comics, they all seem to become too familiar and lacking individual style. I had mentioned that I was a big Frank Cho fan, but I’m finding it harder to like his artwork as he doesn’t seem to have grown, it is all the same over and over.

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    1. I think I might have to bribe someone at GW to make that happen 🙂

      I have a feeling you would like Conan though there is only way to find out…

      I know what you mean about artwork. There is definitely some “default” superhero styles. I don’t know how many artists radically evolve or change their style as they go on. Not to bring it back up, but Y The Last Man is one of the few series where I’d say the artist growth is very easy to see and appreciate.

      Here are a few artists that I think have a distinct style and draw at a high level:
      Alex Maleev
      Greg Smallwood
      Michael Avon Oeming
      Mike Mignola

      I’m sure I could think of others if I put my mind to it but I’d definitely say check out something by any of those to see fairly unique and high quality art.

      Also, I just found that Nocterra’s final issue came out this past week so that means there will be a total of three volumes for it. I thought it might run longer than that but at least now we know how long the story is.

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      2. No need to apologize! I’ve only lived here for about five years and I haven’t really embraced the Bears like I have the Bulls. I saw the last minute and chuckled at the result. Technically, I was and should be a Bengals fan since I lived in Cincinnati for 30 years of my life. They’re not going to have much better of a season.

        If you hit the comic book store and they don’t have issues, 1 and 2 let me know. I’d be happy to send them to you. I don’t plan on keeping them myself and unless I keep making special trips downtown, I probably won’t be getting the rest of the issues. Its just kind of worked out that I’ve been able to get issues 1 and 2.

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  7. So, I think the flaming skulls sorta work on the pic where you have stronger lights. I still think it would have benefitted more with some sculpted green stuff flames coming off them. But hey, you took a real hard concept and spent a long time giving it your best. And not like I’m going to do anything that falls within 1% of that level! Still, hopefully you take my suggestions as a friendly art critic and don’t get discouraged!

    Wow, that Conan #2 artist has some strong John Buscema vibes. That’s really cool and piques my interest! I didn’t read the other reviews as there are several there that are on my to-read list. Plus I have to quit spending so much time on the phone today or my wife is going to toss it in the river!! 😂

    Great to catch up on what you’ve been doing, buddy! I don’t think you mentioned anymore about the post-endoscopy? Hopefully your health is doing well?

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    1. I would agree that some sculpted flames would have been a nice touch. I didn’t try anything like that because I don’t have very strong sculpting skills. You might be as good at it as me for all I know! I wouldn’t have minded putting an extra rock in there too. I think it would have made the base a bit more “balanced” but oh well.

      I bet you’re right on John Buscema vibes. I’ve heard good things about John B. on Conan so that might be an old school comic that I’d go back and read 🙂 And no worries! I try to avoid anything other than very light spoilers in anything I review because I want everyone to enjoy things with “fresh eyes”.

      I’m doing better health-wise and I will give a brief synopsis in my next update for sure. I’ve been meaning to but the last couple updates have been long so that’s why I’ve not done so already.

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      1. I’m guessing the modern Conan stories are better written than the old comics, but I have dug too far into them. I have admired Buscema’s artwork for a long time. He was one of those rare talents. There’s a YouTube of him, I think teaching drawing, he starts sketching out a drawing and then he basically attacks it with an ink brush. Knowing there is no erasing at that point, I cringed as I watched him. Of course he knew exactly what he was doing, and it turned it into a nice piece of art. Those brush skills though, just crazy.

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      2. I was thinking that Conan as a franchise is quite old and the comics could be older and still tap into that same style and appeal but I could certainly be wrong on that. I think the new license holder, Titan, is releasing a lot of the old Conan comics so I’ll keep my eyes peeled for them.

        That is very impressive! I haven’t drawn since I started painted but I used to use traditional pencils and inks and I was pretty meticulous with those because one bad mistake and you’ve ruined your drawing. I can’t imagine doing what Buscema did there! I’ll have to see if I can find video of him. I’m curious to see more now!

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      3. Marvel has also re-released the old Conan comics in the Epic Collection line. I think those should be available in Comixology, but possibly also in print. Barry Windsor-Smith is the first artist and it’s interesting watching his style evolve during his run. Then came John Buscema, and others.They had some great artists.

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      4. Not to repeat myself but this is really helpful info too. I saw that Titan is rereleasing at least some old Conan stuff. Not sure if that would include Buscema and Barry Windsor-Smith’s work. I should do a little more digging and see what I can find out!

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  9. Looking great! But no surprise there. It is interesting to see just how big a difference the mini looks in different photos.

    I agree about the greenstuffed flame. My greenstuff sculpting is hit and miss but when it works it really can take a figure to the next level.. such as my GW Goblins turned to Dwarves/Gnomes.

    Despite spending over 1000 hours playing Fallout 4, I never finished Far Harbor or even started Nuka World. The “raider only” take on Nuka World put me off but the concept of a giant post-apoc amusement park is definitely an “ace on the line” (sorry, been listening to a lot of Deathlands audio books lately). Nukalurks seem to me as cool as Mirelurks… and I love Mirelurks!

    As a kid I read the original Conan books, so I am a big fan. That comic looks to capture the feel of the original books. I really like Arnie as a big Cimmerian warrior called Conan but not actually THE Conan. If you catch my drift. Same with James Earl Jones. Admittedly he played an excellent villain, his Thulsa Doom is brilliant, but he was no Thoth-Amon. Do not even get me started on Jason Momoa as Conan…

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    1. Thanks for the kind words and the feedback on the flame too. I will definitely give that some thought before I do another project like this.

      Far Harbor is probably the better DLC for me but I thought Nuka World was visually appealing to be sure. 1,000 hours!? That is very impressive. I’m sure I’ve put less than half that into that game. Maybe even around 100 hours in total.

      Glad to hear that you enjoy Conan too, mate. I’ve only seen a few clips from the Arnie movies and while he has the look, I don’t think he has the necessary speaking ability (with all due respect to him). I think Chris Hemsworth could do a great Conan as unlikely as that is. I don’t mind Conan being blonde instead of a brunette though. I can see some people not going for that.

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      1. I played a lot of settlement building on survival mode with mods. A very different feeling game. I explored the entire map, including much of the water, looking for hidden things and side missions. It always struck me that the water region of the map was wasted. Such a shame they cut the underwater content.

        Interesting suggestion on Chris Hemworth as Conan. I would not have seen it until I thought of the movie Extraction. He can play brooding. But he can also give Conan monologues. He is already muscular. A haircut and dye can do a lot.

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      2. That’s interesting. I’ve only played the game as designed by Bethesda. I’ve never dipped into mods and all of that. I also played it on PS4 instead of PC which I’m sure is more modable.

        I’m glad to hear you like my idea for Mr. Hemsworth. I’d happily become a talent agent for Hollywood if they want to hear more of my ideas 🙂 The pay has to be higher than what I make now too!

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      3. Yeah, I was always into PC gaming… I never got into console gaming.

        I tried to make my break in Hollywood after doing a gig as head of security for the wrap party for the Stallone movie Assassins back in the 90’s. I failed.

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      4. Now that sounds like a story in and of itself! Failing in pursuit of a colorful life is a worthy endeavor. Excitement tends to find me and not the other way around, if you know what I mean.

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      5. It is quite a story that started with just having the audacity to ask and not necessarily being quick to correct the assumptions of others…

        Julianne Moore was an amazingly nice sweetheart. Sylvester Stallone was… not particularly pleasant. Quite disappointing really. I did not get to chat with Antonio Banderas but I did have a quick word with Melanie Griffith… who did not remember me being an extra in her film Shining Through. Of course no one does as the part of the parade scene with my face ended up on the cutting room floor.

        The last decade my life has had a lot fewer really wild adventures but every day is something of a small adventure as a Yank in Germany.

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      6. Now that is a story. I can’t say I’ve ever interacted with anybody that famous before so consider yourself mostly lucky! I can’t say I’m surprised about Stallone either…

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  10. Sorry about the dual posting, just going for the internet points you know 😂

    While I would like the Conan comics, I’m afraid of the dark hole of getting into comics again.

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    1. No worries haha! You may want to do some research into cheap ways to read and enjoy comics. I would think the library isn’t a bad option. Marvel Unlimited can be as low as $50-60 a year or $10 a month and you can read basically anything Marvel except for things released in the last six months. DC has a similar type of digital subscription service. Comixology has a subscription service that has fewer overall comics to choose from but is quite cheap. I want to say its around $5 a month. I buy digital trade paperbacks for $3-$6 each on sale through Comixology’s website (which is basically Amazon’s website these days).

      Those are a few options that might be worth considering. If you buy Conan in single issues, you’re looking at $20 for all five issues or $24 for six issues and that certainly adds up! Between the cost and lack of storage, I’m not getting into collecting comics physically again. I just don’t have room or the money to spend on it so I totally understand!

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  11. It’s great to see the Khorne nutter finally done! He looks amazing, very dynamic and the flaming skull base is really good. You can get 3D-printed flaming skulls on Etsy if you want to try that base again in the future.

    Your original Khorne model is ace! I mean, he’s wearing red and brass, he looks like a total nutcase and he’s holding two nasty looking weapons; what more could you want? LOL! I’ve also got that printed background somewhere, it’s great to see it again!

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    1. Thanks, Matt! 3D printed flaming skulls do sound pretty cool. Unfortunately, GW won’t allow it in GD so I was stuck using their skulls for the base. Shocking, I know! 🙂

      You’re very kind to that old mini. I didn’t know half of what I know now which is probably why it takes way more time to get anything painted 🙂 I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one who makes use of those free backgrounds! They were are a nice thing for Massive Voodoo to give away.

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  12. Oh yes! The wait for this final shot of your work on the Wrathmonger was well worth it. I love it all, but I especially love the bruised skin tones you’ve used on him, both around the neck (maybe his hat is a bit too tight) and his feet. I guess that rock must be quite warm what with all of those firey skulls 😉 Fabulous stuff as always.

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    1. Thank you so much, mate! It really is nice to hear all those details are appreciated in the final mini. It takes forever to get there but knowing that people like them makes it worth it! 🙂

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