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NicolasRGiacondino — FEROX
Published: 2009-05-05 21:21:21 +0000 UTC; Views: 55478; Favourites: 1045; Downloads: 0
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Well...After a brief absence from these cyber spaces, I'm back to my usual posting self, with yet another Libris Primaris image. Warhammer 40,000 fans rejoice!
This time around, the Primarch in the spotlight is none other than the valiant and feral Leman Russ of the Space Wolves! Quite a dauting character; "Why?" you may ask. Aren't all the Primarchs daunting?
Technically, yes. But there are some which are far less represented than others, and that leaves me with much less pressure from the community to try and get an established look right, whilst still incorporating the vigour and 'freshness' of my own style.
Leman Russ is one of the most recognised Primarchs of The Emperor and his Legion is one of the most played in the hobby world, so there were a LOT of expectations put in this illustration. I hope I've done the old wolf justice!
I'm very passionate about Celtic/Irish/Scottish/Norse mythology, which I think is what the Space Wolves Legion and Russ incarnated and represented: the old traditions in halls of stone; the sturdy bearded heroes of frozen lands coming to get you with axes and might, nearly unstoppable.
I tried, thus, to get all that accross in the design, using elements from the aforementioned cultures and some of my own ideas.
There was a good question I was asked in the B&C forums, which was: Is Russ going to be blonde or redheaded? I honestly always pictured him redheaded, but I could see him working as a blonde. In the end, the client decided for me and here he is in al his blood-red strength!
I hope you enjoy and see you all in the comments section!
Nic.-
© Games Workshop Ltd. 2009
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Comments: 237
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Wow, it looks great. As casual as it may sound Leman and Sanguinius are my favorite Primarchs. Ive always liked norse mythology and Leman Russ is great bc imo hes the most "human" Primarch- he hasnt that overwhelming god or devil aura on him. Ive always thought of him as an old school warrior, enjoying feasts and brawling with his sons. That wild red mane (great choice with red, srsly) and lupine teeth depict his beligerant nature while that chilling position of his arms, down but still tense, give me a feelin of a really veteran fighter, a man who really enjoys war, not bc some psichotic obssession but bc he finds it actually amusing. Its as if he was sayin "come at me bro". He really gives a berserker vibe and thats what I think Leman is about. Really nice job.
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yes the best looking Russ I've ever seen. VLKA FENRYKA!
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Thank you, mate!
Nic.-
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Wow. That is levels of awesome I can't quite name. I love the fact that you went with redhead, as it feels closer to the original depictions of Thor (who originally was also a redhead).
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I couldn't have done it any other way; red is all I saw his hair being.
Nic.-
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An interesting sidenote - they have it that all space wolves eventually go grey prematurely, with amber-coloured eyes, they way that wolves are often grey with amber irises. But I always picture Russ as red-headed...
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It amused me to no end when it was revealed in one of the Horus Heresy novels that Leman Russ was actually CLEAN-SHAVEN! (doubtless enough for the Wolves of Fenris to chase the author down and condemn him for a Heretic).
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Praise Russ!
There are both legends of him as a blonde and some as a red, so either way is safe I think. But one thing the myths all agree on is he was ferocious and unrelenting, and you've got that perfectly.
This has earned a place in my honored "Sons of Russ" collection.
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Magnificent, simply stunning! May the Emperors light, forever shine on your hand Faithful.
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Outstanding work.... That's how I pictured him in "Prospero Burns"
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the alfather in his wisdome only made one legion stronger than the others, sssssh, can you hear it? the wolves are coming!
pure awsome
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Out of all the renditions I've seen of him, the face on this one is the best. Mustache ftw!
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Great work. Noble bearing yet feral and Sc-Fi in appearance.
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The mighty leman russ!
beautiful rendition, i like the way you do the gauntlets. amazing
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This is awesome... you should do a follow up with his fenrisian wolf escort freki and geri
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youre quiet right., russ' features werent fully detailed in any HH novels, i gott re-read thousand sons again.
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Always loved Leman Russ and you captured his ferocious disposition and savage straightforwardness perfectly.
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You've really done the old wolf justice. There will be saga's told and songs sang of this work in the great halls of the fang.
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Por Russ!!! me encanta XD, debo admitir que tu manejo de las lues es impresionante, un uy buen trabajo, y me gustan muchos tus primarcas, sobre todo las ilustraciones relacionadas con los Lobos Lunares ^^, tienes pensdo hacer alguna ilustracion con lobos espaciales?
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Rectifico, acabo de ver una ilustracion de Lobos tuya, me encanta XDDDD capta muy bien el espiritu lupino ^^.
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This one was really great! 
Being a son of the vikings myself (swede) and also a redhead, ^^ i must say that i love how you made him come across.
FOR THE WOLFTIME!!
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awesome... so awesome he should have a tank named after him... oh wait he does.
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Yes. Oh, f*ck yes.
Say what you will, this is and always will be the mightiest of the primarchs, and you've done him justice, my friend. If I came across THIS guy on the battlefield I'd probably piss my pants, directly prior to fellating my gun barrel so as not to be subjected to his wrath.
A bit short on the comment here, but that's because I've got nothing else to say. It's just too awesome, in every sense of the word.
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Oh my god.
As far as I'm concerned, this exceeds even your other Primarches (The few I've properly checked out so far) in its glory. Yes, I'm bias towards Russ (Vikings in space? Come on, what's not to love?), but still..
Part of what does it for me is the pose. I simply love it. He's not running all over the place, but there's still some "movement" in it, if you know what I mean. The face/head is fantastic, as is the feral expression. I've also pictured Russ as a redhead, so I'm glad you went in that direction
The brazen details are very nice, well complemented by the norse runes. Try as I might, I can't find a single thing to criticize here.
I'll call this nothing short of a masterpiece. Well done sir, and Kudos.
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I'm glad you liked this one so much, mate. It's certainly one of my best, indeed!
Leman Russ is a fan favourite throughout the Warhammer 40,000 communities all over the world, and so I had quite a great deal of pressure to get him right. The only other character i was ever so daunted by was The Emperor himself, so you go figure...
Thank you very much!
Nic.-
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Yeah, it might be the very best in my opinion, althought I've only 'skimmed' some of the others thus far.
I think you can rest assured that you've done justice to the old wolf. Guess all that pressure paid off, eh?
Just wondering, what Primarch are you planning to do next? While you've done most of my favorites already (Russ, Fulgrim, Horus), I'm very much looking forward to the Night Haunter, and how you'll portray him. Been the Primarch of my outmost facination from day one, so to speak.
You're welcome.
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The Lion never did get on with the wolf. but the lion was the superior
ahem, i mean... In his NAME!
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Hahahaha... want to hear a secret...? *hushes* I like the Lion more too!
*ahem* For the Wolftime!
Nic.-
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yeah! for the wolftime! for the EMPEROR!
*your secret is safe with me.*
btw don't read 'defenders of Ultramar' - is very bad. read one of the other 4 boom studios graphic novels for warhammer 40k, they're much better (especially 'exterminatus'.)
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Thank you very much, mate!
Nic.-
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I'll take that as a compliment, my friend!
Nic.-
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Fjodr Fenris! Ojor va RUSS!
All hail the Wolves of Space!
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Hail the Mighty Wolves!
Nic.-
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