Review: Warhammer 40.000: Imperium Issues 2, 3, and 4

Warhammer 40,000: Imperium Issue 2 is released today in the UK. In this review, we will not only look at the 2nd issue but also issues number 3 and 4. Brace yourself for for the first wave of Necrons and Space Marines reinforcements.

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 2

The second issue of Warhammer 40.000: Imperium is out on September 8th, 2021. It’s priced at a moderate £5.99 and comes with three Easy to Build Necron Warriors with Gauss Flayers (as found in the Warhammer 40.000 Necron paint set), a pot of Runelord Brass Base paint, and a synthetic starter brush.

In the 24 pages magazine, you will be introduced to Necron Warriors, the Szarekhan Dynasty and Ultramarines chapter, learn how to assemble the Necron Warriors, apply a basecoat of Runelord Brass, and play a little scenario that pits the Necron Warriors against the Primaris Lieutenant from issue 1.

All in all, not a bad issue. You’ll get one of the more expensive metallic paints, a serviceable brush for basic duties, and three Necron Warriors, for just £5.99. It’s a great introduction to miniature painting for new hobbyists, though veterans might find it difficult to slot three Warriors into their games of Warhammer 40.000. There’ll be more of the regular, non Easy to Build Warriors in later issues, but for now, they’re great for experimenting with your colour scheme. I’ll paint mine to bulk out my Kill Team roster with a few Gauss Flayers, as I want to assemble my other Warriors with Gauss Reapers, which seems to be the more popular option for games of Warhammer 40.000.

Issue 3

Issue 3 is released on September 15th and has three Assault Intercessors (like the Necron Warriors, these are the models from their paint set) and a pot of Macragge Blue. The Assault Intercessors have Ultramarines insignia modelled on the shoulder pads. he price is £8.99, which will be the regular price per magazine from this point on.

The lore section has a feature about the current setting of 40k, with a page about the Dark Imperium and the state of the Necron Tomb Worlds. There is a story about a conflict between Ultramarines and Necrons on Drakhtyr, an assembly guide for the Intercessors, a basic painting tutorial for basecoating Ultramarines’ armour with Macragge Blue, and a scenario where the Assault Intercessors duke it out with the Necron Warriors from issue 2.

For those that start their journey into the Warhammer hobby, this will be a fundamental issue, for veterans, I feel this will be one of the less popular issues as most people will already have the Macragge Blue and three Intercessors don’t make a full unit. However, I have to note that the poses of the Intercessors are different from the Indomitus ones and the multipart kit, so you might want to sprinkle these sculpts into your collection for a bit more variety.

Issue 4

Issue 4 has three Skorphekh Destroyers, a Plasmacyte, a pot of Leadbelcher, and a paper gaming mat, and is out on September 22nd. This issue will probably fly off the shelves, as the models alone retail at £34.50, and while the Destroyers were included in Indomitus (and can also be found in the Elite and Command Edition starter sets), they are one of the more popular close combat choices for a Necron army.

The paper mat has a decent size at 22.5 inches by 34.5 inches (slightly larger than the 22 x 30 inches Kill Team and Warhammer 40.000 gaming boards) and is printed from both sides with the designs of the Warhammer 40.000 starter set boards (red martian settlement and dark grey battlefield). It’s made from thicker paper as the ones from the Recruit and Elite starter sets.

The magazine has sections about the creation of Space Marines, the Warp, assembling your Skorpekh Destroyers, using Leadbelcher paint on your Skorphek Destroyers and Royal Warden, and a scenario with the Destroyers versus the Assault Intercessors and Primaris Lieutenant.

Garfy painted his Skorphek Destroyers in a unique paint scheme that combines dull steel, bone faceplates, and rich blue blades. Find out more about the way he painted his Necrons in his Occiputk dynasty tutorial.

Subscription gift

If you have subscribed, you will receive a free Citadel model kit with your first delivery, consisting of a clipper, a plastic glue, and a mold line remover. While the clipper is a bit on the cheap side, it’ll sure do its job. The glue is great, the for safety reasons rounded shape of the Mould Line Remover makes it difficult to use, I recommend you use a real Hobby Knife or scalpel instead.

Next delivery

Issue 5 will have the exclusive Primaris Captain that will only be available in Imperium, so mark this issue in your calendar, it will be a popular one. 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.