Review: Warhammer 40.000: Imperium Issue 5

Issue 5 of Warhammer 40,000: Imperium, the new Partwork Collection from Hachette Partworks, comes with an exclusive Primaris Space Marine Captain model. Reason enough for us to take a close look at this issue (and take some high-res sprue pictures), so here we go.

Warhammer 40.000: Imperium is a partwork title by Hachette Partworks. Over the course of the 80 magazine run, you will amass sizeable armies of Primaris Space Marines, Sisters of Battle, Skitarii, and Necrons, along with terrain and all the paints and brushes you need to paint them.

The collection has started on August 25th, 2021 in the UK, with the US edition following on January 26th, 2022. Issue 1 was available for two weeks, while the subsequent issues are to be released weekly after that. Imperium can be found in well-stocked newsagents or you can subscribe online for extra gifts and optional premium upgrades. The first four issues will also be available in Warhammer and Games Workshop stores.

To find out more about Warhammer 40.000: Imperium and the included models, and the potential savings over purchasing the models separately, check out our in-depth review and guide.

Please note: Hachette Partworks have provided us with a subscription to Warhammer 40.000: Imperium. Thoughts and opinions are our own.

Issue 5

Number 5 of Warhammer 40.000: Imperium is out on September 29th, 2021 at local newsagents, subscribers will get their issues a little bit later with their monthly delivery. It retails at £8.99. This will surely be one of the most popular issues, as it contains an exclusive Primaris Space Marine Captain that won’t be available anywhere else. The limited edition models from Warhammer 40.000: Conquest and Age of Sigmar: Mortal Realms have never been reissued as of now, and probably won’t be. So grab issue 5 if you want the limited Primaris Captain before it’s too late.

As usually, the magazine has 24 pages with an open binding so you can remove the pages and arrange them so that you can remove the pages and file them by section in a folder (subscribers get them with their subscription). In this issue we have a profile page for the Primaris Captain, a page about Space Marines wargear and melee weapons, a page for warzone Megaria, a short story that pits the Crimson Slaughter against a chapter of Primaris Marines, an assembly guide for the Captain and how to basecoat him with the paints that were previously included in the collection, and a small scenario with the Captain and Skorpekh Destroyers. There is also an extra fold-out insert about Necron hierarchy with a huge army shot.

The Primaris Captain is rocking a plasma pistol and a power sword and is a pretty nice sculpt in my opinion. Doesn’t the head just look like miniature designer Mark Harrison, or is it just me? Sadly the sprue doesn’t come with alternate parts or wargear, though the head, backpack, and right shoulder pads are separate and compatible with most Primaris and Space Marine kits, so you can easily customize the miniature with some spare parts from your bitz box. The sculpt doesn’t have any Ultramarines insignia sculpted on and can therefore be used for any chapter.

Of course, you can always argue about whether you need more limited Space Marines, and we’ve had quite a few Primaris Captains and Lieutenants lately, but they also just seem to be popular. I’m very sure we’ll see a painted version of Garfy soon 😉

Next issues

Issue 6 comes with the three Easy to Build Primaris Aggressors and a pot of Abaddon Black, number 7 will be the first issue with only paints, there’ll be Retributor Armour, Corax White, and Mechanicus Standard Grey included, while issue 8 has the clam pack Necron Overlord (not the one from Indomitus or the starter set). No subscription gift for the second delivery.

Warhammer 40.000: Imperium is available from well-stocked newsagents in the UK, followed by an US edition in early 2022. You can start your subscription on the official website, and if you’re looking for back issues, have a look at the Hachette Partworks online store, Forbidden Planet, or ebay.