Warhammer: Warhammer Age Of Sigmar: Stormbringer Issue #1 Review

-

The Age of Sigmar has arrived as Rob delves into the magazines offerings…

Issue 1 cover


Starting a couple of weeks back, weekly magazine powerhouse Hatchette Partworks started a new Warhammer magazine collection. This time focusing on the Mortal Realms within the Age Of Sigmar, each week (or monthly for subscribers) sees the magazine focus on the Age of Sigmar Third Edition with readers being able to build two armies - the Stormcast Eternal and the Orruk Kruleboyz. 

As primarily a fan of the Warhammer 40K universe I’m prepared to shelve my bolters, and bid Mccragge farewell for the more simple age of swords, shields, and plain old magic. So come with me as we jump straight into the first issue!

Killaboss and Knight Arcanum minis


Kicking this new series off is the typical heavily discounted issue. Coming with a plethora of extras such as a fairly decent play mat, six D6 dice, a full army list, and a lot of subscription leaflets. The main draw however comes down to the included Knight-Arcanum and Killaboss (with Stab-Grot) miniatures. Both minis are the simple quick-build models which means that they don’t require glue to build. While this is a great idea, the mold isn’t particularly great, and as you’ll see in my review for issue 3 - I’ve had to use glue in a few places. 

The magazine itself is your typical style of magazine. Serving as  an introduction to the setting there’s a wealth of information on the Age of Sigmar and introductions on the main factions at war across the Mortal Realms. For those who want to have that TTRPG experience included are character sheets for our Knight-Arcanum and Killaboss which give examples of names and backgrounds that they could have. For those in the know, these sheets do differ from the traditional character rules found in the Sigmar version of a Codex - yet another 40K trait I refuse to shake. Away from this and there’s a very brief introduction to paining your minis. With emphasis on a paining guild coming soon, there’s not really any point in this page. But for those who want to jump the gun and paint their figures then it at least shows some very basic tips with using base colours and applying shade. 

Full magazine contents


The rest of this issue deals with the actual table-top game itself. Playing out as both a tutorial, and the openings of a soon to be mass-conflict the scenario is actually quite good. There already seems to be an overarching narrative coming into play, that’s only going to grow in scale as you build your forces of Order and Chaos each week. But for now, we focus on the Killaboss and the Knight-Arcanum as we’re introduced to very basic movement and how dice rolls effect hits and wounds. It’s also worth noting that the included wound markers are actually missing from this opening issue, with Hatchette promising that they will be included with issue 7. 

Overall, as opening issues go, this one’s quite good. As someone who’s never had interest in both the fantasy Warhammer of old, or even Age of Sigmar, the magazine has piqued my interest away from the Astartes and Deamons of the 41 millennium. Coming in at a ridiculously low price, it’s worth it alone for the two included miniatures. But for those who take the plunge -like myself- then so far it seems a very worthy investment! 


Rob Lake - For more comic book and video game chat why not follow Geek Culture Reviews on Twitter, Hive, Facebook, & TikTok @GeekCultureRev





This Month’s Popular Posts

Video Game Review - Glyph

-
Image
Rob Lake reviews Glyph on Nintendo Switch... Originality is the name of the game when it comes to Glyph , and this charming 3-D puzzler has heaps of it. From the inhabitants of the world to it's the perfect blend of puzzles and platforming, Glyph is a game that every Switch owner needs to experience and explore. Developed by Bolverk Games, Glyph tells the story of a world besieged by a vast desert and a rogue A.I. You play the role of Glyph, a charming robot who's purpose is to restore an ancient temple which lies in the heart of the desert which also serves as the game's central hub. While the task sounds simple, our scarab beetle robot will have to navigate this vast landscape using precision and speed to collect the items necessary to restore the city. With the very landscape as Glyph's enemy, one false move can most certainly cause the tiny robot major harm.  On first glances, the story to Glyph is a pretty standard post-apocalypse affair. An advanced...
Read more

Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (1999) Review — Why Jill Valentine’s Fight for Survival Still Matters In 2025

-
Image
It feels a little surreal to be talking about Resident Evil 3: Nemesis in 2025. Yet thanks to the titles imminent release as part of the PlayStation Plus Classics offering, here we are.  Originally released in 1999 for the PlayStation, this third entry in Capcom’s survival horror juggernaut is now making its way onto the PlayStation Plus Classics Collection, giving players old and new a chance to dive into one of the most memorable chapters in the Resident Evil  franchise.  For some, Resident Evil 3 was “the other” sequel, not quite as celebrated as Resident Evil 2, which had wowed gamers a year earlier with its ambitious dual campaigns and cinematic flair. But for those who stuck with Jill Valentine as she fought her way through a city in chaos, Resident Evil 3 delivered something equally special: a faster-paced, more relentless take on survival horror, with one of gaming’s most iconic villains stalking your every step. In 2025, with modern Resident Evil titles pushing i...
Read more

Odysseus: In Defiance of the Gods - Book 2 Review

-
Image
Odysseus continues to defy the gods as a familiar face makes her presence known… PSY Comics return with another thrilling chapter in their epic saga of gods and mortals. This second issue in the adventures of Odysseus not only delivers more spectacular battles and terrifying monsters, but also serves as a bridge to the publisher’s other series, Circe. With Circe stepping into Odysseus’s path, the stakes rise dramatically. How will the goddess of change influence his crew? More importantly, how will she infiltrate the thoughts and resolve of Odysseus himself? Like PSY Comics’ other projects, Odysseus: In Defiance of the Gods - Book Two was brought to life through Kickstarter. At the time of writing, the campaign has been fully funded with support from 136 backers—easily surpassing its £1,000 target and raising an impressive £3,489. Credit to Neil “Bhuna” Roach and the team for their success. The story picks up directly where the first issue left off. Having escaped the Lotus Eaters and ...
Read more