We’re not the only ones excited about the Horus Heresy – Khorne’s favourite daemonic general* is straining at his bonds to get a few swipes at the Blood Angels.
Ka’bandha is one of the biggest names of the Heresy, so while his angelic arch-rival gets ready for his own Primarch novel,** we sent this absolutely huge Character Series model to some top-class painters for a new-edition-celebration makeover.
Liam Howell (@liampaintsstuff)
Fresh from bringing the towering Primarch of the Salamanders to life, Liam channels all of Khorne’s terrifying darkness into this vicious Greater Daemon. Battle-worn bronze and blood splatters paint a picture of a monster in the midst of combat, with shorn corpses piling about his feet.
As befits a legend among Khorne’s legions, Ka’bandha is spitting with rage at every given moment – as captured in phenomenal detail by the drool between his teeth. Someone might want to offer him a tissue.**
Rich Walker (Siege Studios)
Even the largest daemons don’t enjoy being shot in the face – it’s uncomfortable, at best – and Ka’bandha sometimes takes the remarkably sensible step of donning an ornate battle helm to protect his show-stopping visage.
Rich Walker picks out this hellish headgear in gleaming bronze detail alongside the sharp, clean lines of his armour, capturing the daemon in a rare moment between blood-soaked rampages.
With his Siege Studios comrades painting the Blood Angels and Sanguinius for May’s Horus Heresy weekend event, is a Signus Prime-style storm brewing in the painting world?
Matt Wingrove (Battle Bunnies)
The heat of Ka’bandha’s rage seems to be severely testing the melting point of brass*** in Matt’s take on the Space Marine-slaying superstar, with a fiery glow illuminating his dark, beaten armour.
Ben Mac (Cult of Paint)
Ben’s take on Ka’bandha sports bloodstains across his weapons, knuckles, knees, and practically any part of his body that he could use to beat someone to a pulp. Sometimes foes don’t deserve Khorne’s blessed chainaxe, you see – they’re relegated to a good hooved kicking, instead. It must hurt their pride almost as much as their body.
Drake Seta (Battle Bunnies)
After a hard day’s work butchering Blood Angels, even the guy who nearly killed Sanguinius twice will look worn. Drake’s Ka’bandha is caked in the dirt and grime of war, but looks no less ready to continue his eternal vendetta against the IX Legion.
Chris Long (Bell of Lost Souls)
Last but by no means least, Chris contrasts the daemon’s shining bronze armour with the splatter of fresh gore, capturing Ka’bandha at the beginning of another legendary killing spree. Recognising that even towering daemon warlords like to feel the wind in their hair at times, Chris also made the mask removable.
Ka’bandha isn’t ready to join the new edition of Warhammer: The Horus Heresy just yet, but we’ll bring you details of his release as soon as we can – including a free-to-download PDF of rules for using him in your games. In the meantime, prepare to defend against him alongside his Blood Angels nemeses, or Discover Your Legion to fight the war on your own terms.
* Some of the time – the Chaos Gods are fickle sorts.
** And prepares to take centre-stage in the penultimate chapter of the Siege of Terra.
*** 930 degrees Celsius, if you were interested.