In Egyptian myth, from which much of the imagery associated with the Thousand Sons is sourced, the serpent Apep devours all – life, light and magic – much as the Tyranids themselves do. The warflocks are gathering for battle, the flux-cairns are daubed with dark sigils, all kinds of models from the Silver Tower boxset are enjoying separate releases and there are plenty of rumours (and not a little wishful thinking) that even more is on its way. As the Great Crusade progressed, Magnus and his Thousand Sons proved themselves to be masters of the Warp; at least, they thought so. Not only is this character well known and loved, but also one who’s appearance must reflect clearly the fact that he is a loyalist – whilst remaining clearly the same character as his 40k incarnation. Magnus paid no heed to this edict, instead choosing to continue his investigations into the Warp in secret.

Since then, the Daemon Primarch Magnus the Red has been seen leading his legion during the Terran Crusade, and attempting to summon a horde of daemons during the days of the Dark Imperium.Note also that whilst both Curze and Angron had their knuckles rapped at various points the only other legion to be shamed and reprimanded in quite such a grand fashion were the Word Bearers, again for too much loyalty rather than not enough). As yet this remains purely a hypothesis but one has to wonder in either case, why name him Fell-Handed at all?

Or maybe they’ll decide to do something completely out of the blue and base the next boxset around the Fall of Mars with loyalist Mechanicum guerrillas battling their scrapcode warped brethren for control of the red planet. It also provided Lorgar, Primarch of the Word Bearers, with an excuse to infiltrate many of his brother’s legions under the guise of helping them come to terms with a life without magic. The Council of Nikaea was supposed to thrash this out once and for all, but instead it all turned into a bit of a show trial where Magnus was accused of being a very naughty boy and banned from doing any more magic at all. In the meantime if you have any thought on this release get them in the comments box below (even Space Wolves players are allowed – providing they’re house trained…).Cataphractii terminators and Contemptor dreadnaughts were already popular thanks to Forge World, there were two characters which could easily fit into any Legion or Chapter from either 40k or the Heresy, and a whole bunch of that ever popular money-spinning workhorse, the space marines. If you combine Magnus’ ability to reliably pop transports, thanks to his Psychic phase dominance, with his ability to summon Chariots of Tzeench with their AP3 shots you get a great Battle Company counter. For example the various the cables and other assorted ironmongery emerging through his arm seems slightly unnecessary.