Abaddon, Chaos Champion, Warmaster of The Black Legion and ex-Captain of the 1st Company of the Lunar Wolves:
- Revelations 9:1-11 mentions an angel named Abaddon.
Ahriman, Chief Librarian of the Thousand Sons of Magnus The Red:
- Named after Persian deity which was very similar to Hermes/Mercury. In Zoroastrian religion, Ahriman was also the name of the devil.
Al-Rahem, Imperial Guard Captain:
- Looks like Yassir Arafat, leader of the PLO.
- Al-Rahem comes from "al-Raheem", which means "The Redeemer" or something like that in Arabic. (I don't speak arabic, so please let me know if it means something else)
Anghkor Prok, Legendary Kroot Shaper:
- Angkor Wat, ruinous temple in Cambodia.
- Amalgam of native american chieftains Sitting Bull, Geronimo and Crazy Horse.
- When you say "Anghkor Prok" really fast it sounds like Ankh Morpork, the name of a city in the Discworld books.
- The polite Hork-Bajir in Animorphs?
- Communist guerilla leader Ernesto "Che" Guevara.
- His political opponents would like to view him as Tonto, the loyal native companion of Black Mask. (a masked cowboy in a 1950s TV series)
- Not particularly related to Anghkor Prok, but doves are supposed to say "kroot."
Angmar Strick, Inquisitor of Ordo Xenos:
- The Witch-King of Angmar.
Angron, Primarch of the World Eaters:
- Aragorn from Lord Of The Rings?
- Angra Mainyu, an evil spirit in zoroastrian religion.
- Modelled upon slave rebellion leader Spartacus.
- Early career similar to that of Conan the Barbarian.
Aun'shi, Tau Ethereal:
- Aum Shinrikyo, japanese doomsday cult which killed 12 people in a nerve gas attack on Tokyo's subway (yikes!)
- Fights in the same kendo-ish style as Darth Maul.
Artemis, Deathwatch Space Marine:
- In greco-roman mythology, there was a goddess called Artemis.
- Looks like Flash Gordon.
Asmodai, Interrogator-Chaplain of the Dark Angels:
- Named after Asmodaeus, a demon in Judaeo-Christian religion. In the kabbala, Asmodaeus is a friendly demon, which is why GW didn't reserve the name for some evil guy.
Azrael, Chapter Master of the Dark Angels:
- Named after and modelled upon an Islamic angel named Izra'il.(Word is of the same origin as "Israel")
Barbaretta, Adeptus Arbites Security Enforcer:
- 1968 cult movie "Barbarella" starring Jane Fonda.
Bellerophan, Dark Angels Librarian:
- Bellerophon, the hero in ancient greek mythology who slew the Chimera. (Maybe that Librarian has developed a psychic power especially for the purpose of destroying APCs??)
Bradburn, Imperial Guard Captain mentioned in WD265 short story:
- Ray Bradbury, author of famous sci-fi books such as "The Martian Chronicles" and "Fahrenheit 451."
"Try Again" Bragg, Imperial Guard Trooper:
- American civil war general Bragg.
Cassius, Ultramarines Chaplain:
- Cassius Clay.
- Roman consul Cassius who acted as a military commander during the Punic Wars.
Cortez, Crimson Fists Captain:
- Spanish Conquistador Hernando Cortez.
Cheka, Delaque Gangster and old acquaintance of Kal Jerico:
- A soviet agency was originally named Cheka.
Chenkov, Imperial Guard Captain:
- Ensign Pavel A.Chekov from Star Trek: The Original Series.
Cleander von Castellan, Rogue Trader:
- There was once a movie named "Rogue Trader."
Commodius, Ultramarines Space Marine who once was encased in a Dreadnought:
- Roman emperor Commodus.
Covenant, Inquisitor:
- The Ark Of The Covenant?
- The "Thomas Covenant" books.
- There's a band called Kovenant.
Cypher, Fallen Dark Angel:
- Modelled upon The Stalker, a character in a Clint Eastwood film.
- Has similar problems with a legendary sword as Aragorn in Lord Of The Rings.
- Siegfried in "Niebelungenlied" has a similar problem with his father's sword.
Dante, Blood Angels Chapter Master:
- Italian poet Dante who wrote "The Heavenly Comedy"
Delphan Gruss, Adeptus Mechanicus Magos:
- Gruss, a character from the 1985 post-apocalypse movie America 3000.
- Uses some machinery to speak like Stephen Hawking.
Doombreed, Daemon Prince of Khorne
- It has been suggested that Doombreed's human identity was either Adolf Hitler, Genghis Khan or Napoleon Bonaparte. (although it also could be Steve Urkel)
Dorden:
- Dennis Norden.
Dorian Black, Imperial Guard Sergeant:
- Name refers to the classic novel "The Picture of Dorian Grey."
Eldrad Ulthran, Eldar Farseer:
- Dr.Spock from "Star Trek: The Original Series?"
- Eldrad's first syllable, "el," means "god" in Ancient Semitic. (The arabic word for god, "Allah", derived from this)
The Emperor:
- Roman Emperor Augustus.
- This thing with a nameless Emperor could be a reference to the norwegian band Emperor.
- The Emperor in Frank Herbert's Dune.
- Funky Emperor Cletus Awreetus Awrightus, character from Frank Zappa lyrics.
- The story of the Emperor's ascension upon the Golden Throne reminds me of the lyrics to the Procol Harum song "For Liquorice John."
- Sigmar Heldenhammer, the God-Emperor from Warhammer Fantasy Battle.
- Jesus. (both died to save humanity, both did many miracles and accomplished great feats during their lives, both founded religions on their own and both had an Inquisition kill people in their names)
- Could have similarities with Kahless the Unforgettable, the founder of the Klingon Empire.
- The story of the Emperor's gourd is straight out of the Monty Python movie "Life Of Brian."
- Modelled upon Egyptian deity Osiris:
BOTH had a son named Horus,
BOTH were great statesmen when they lived,
BOTH were betrayed by somebody very near to them,
BOTH were killed and then healed back to a state of undeath by one of their
closest friends and BOTH became elevated to gods upon their introduction to
undeath.
- Huang-Ti, deified Chinese Emperor.
Eran Gudi, Imperial Preacher:
- Anagram of Guderian. Heinz Guderian was a German general during WW2.
Ephrael Stern, Sister of Battle:
- Ephraim Stern, acclaimed archeologist.
Erasmus Tycho, Blood Angels Captain:
- The Phantom Of The Opera.
- Tycho Brahe, danish renaissance scientist.
- Looks like Duke Nukem with a mask covering half his face.
Ezekiel, Grand Master Librarian of the Dark Angels:
- Ezekiel, Old Testament prophet often credited for being the first man to witness an UFO sighting.
Ferrus Manus, Primarch of the Iron Hands:
- Heracles/Hercules??
Gal Markit, Imperial Guard Commander:
- Name is an obvious reference to Gul Dukat, a Cardassian officer in Star Trek.
Garro, Death Guard Captain:
- Greta Garbo.
Ghazghkull Mag Uruk Thraka, Ork Warlord:
- Margaret Thatcher???
Gregor Eisenhorn, Inquisitor:
- Looks like Ike Eisenhower, the 35th president of the USA.
- Revisionist historian and conspiracy theorist David Irving.
- Monty Burns from The Simpsons? (and that must make Slick Devlan... Waylon Smithers?)
- Eisenhorn is german for "Horn of ice."
- Has following similarities with Richard Owen, the british biologist who coined the term "dinosaur": They look a little similar, both have earned enmities in order to accomplish their goals, both believed ultimately in "The Ends Justify The Means" and both were deeply religious.
- One of the more radical Popes was named Gregorius.
- Has following similarities with Victor Frankenstein from Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein:
Both are very learned;
Both have similar names (a first name which ends with "or" and a germanic-sounding last name)
Both do weird, creepy activities involving bodies - with only the loftiest of goals in mind;
Both have loyal, hunchbacked henchmen (Frankenstein has Igor, Eisenhorn has Quovandius).
- On the cover of a book about Frankenstein (a simplified version of Mary Shelley's original novel), the monster looks like Gregor Eisenhorn.
Guzmann Ludd, Necromundan Guilder:
- Looks like danish comedian Amin Jensen.
- Also looks like Sun Myung Moon, founder of the Unification Church. (but without Sun Myung Moon's mongolid facial features of course)
- Could also look like Steve Jackson.
- A latin-american revolutionary was named Guzman.
- The Luddite movement, a movement which attempted to halt the industrial revolution. Apparently, they failed.
Helveticus, Ultramarines Standard Bearer:
- Helvetia, the latin name for Switzerland.
Hieronomus Tezla, Tech-Priest:
- Nikola Tesla, russian scientist
- Charles Darwin?
Horus, Primarch of the Lunar Wolves:
- An Egyptian deity was named Horus.
- Modelled upon Lucifer, the devil in Judaeochristian religion.
Huron Blackheart, Chapter Master of the Astral Claws and Tyrant of Badab:
- Modelled upon the pirate Blackbeard.
- The furry beast Hamadrya who he lives with is a reference to the Procol Harum song The Devil Came From Kansas, which mentions a guy with a monkey riding upon his back. "There's a monkey riding on my back, has been there for some time - he says he knows me very well, but he's no friend of mine"
- The furry little pet creature could also be modelled upon the Tribbles from Star Trek. (The tribbles were also popular as pets amongst Starfleet officers until it was discovered that they multiply faster than you can say "NI!")
Invictus, Captain of the Ultramarines 1st Company:
- Name is latin for "Undefeated." (such as in "Sol Invictus", or "The Sun Undefeated")
Jaghatai Khan, Primarch of the White Scars:
- Modelled upon Genghis Khan.
Jan van Yastobaal, Rogue Trader:
- Belgian artist Jan van Eyck.
Kal Jerico, Necromundan Bounty Hunter:
- Chris Jericho?
- Looks like Kurt Cobain.
- James Bond?
- Claude Duval, a French highwayman who was extremely stylish in manners and taste of clothing. Duval was also as renowned as the gentleman of the highway in the same way as Jerico's renowned as the gentleman of the Underhive.
- Calvin from Calvin and Hobbes?? (Both have blondish hair, both are pretty rogueish, both have feral sidekicks and both have a secret crush on their female arch-nemesis - BTW, Kal is short for Kalvin)
- Looks like a real-life criminal who immigrated to Denmark and only became known more than other criminals because his portrait once was shown on TV.
- One of Kal Jerico's former employers was Mama Kess. One of the members of the '60s pop group The Mamas And The Papas was nicknamed Mama Cass.
- In the Kal Jerico graphic novel, there is mention of "the Wall" which is an obvious reference to Pink Floyd's 1979 double album "The Wall."
Kessel, Inquisitor:
- 1970 movie "Kelly's Heroes."
Khorne, Chaos God:
- Amalgam of war/death gods Anubis, Ares, Mars, Odin, Tezcatlipoca and Yahveh (yes, the peaceful old god in Judaeo-Christian religion started out as a rampant god of war, at least according to Ex. 15:3 and the Book of Joshua)
- Name is an amalgam of Kronos and Charon, characters in greco-roman mythology who both were associated with the underword.
- Other possible sources of name are Chons (egyptian god of the moon), Khors (Slavic sun god), Khrane (The indian Kaman Mishi people's god of earth) or Khauns, the ancient germanic word for "wound", which would be fitting for a war god.
- Has numerous similarities with Anubis, the egyptian god of death:
BOTH are gods of death/war
BOTH are depicted as a man with a dog's head
BOTH have three siblings
BOTH are commonly associated with dogs or wolves
- Exodus 15:3-7, Deuteronomy 32:40-42, most of the Book of Joshua, Isaiah 63:3-6 describes the Judaeo-Christian god like a god of war much in the vein of Khorne. (although this is contradicted by the New Testament where God seems to be much more forgiving)
- But on the other hand, Khorne has numerous similarities with the devil's aspect of destroyer.
- If we see each Chaos God as a personification of some of the deadly sins, Khorne would be personification of wrath and pride.
- Khorne's association with the colour red and the way he is depicted as a brooding king could also be a covert reference to the psychedelia band King Crimson.
Konrad "Night Haunter" Curze, Primarch of the Night Lords:
- Colonel Kurtz from the movie "Apocalypse Now"
- Joseph Conrad, author of "Heart of Darkness."
- Jack the Ripper?
- Saudi Arabian terrorist leader Osama bin-Laden (both are backed up by lots of warriors, both were sons of wealthy leaders, both were once considered to be good-guys but later turned out to be mere terrorists)
- Early career modelled upon that of Batman. (Robin, to the Land Raider!!!)
- Has following similarities with Nathan B.Forrest, founder of the Ku Klux Klan:
BOTH were military geniuses;
BOTH did not hesitate to use ruthless tactics;
BOTH fought on the losing side during a civil war which almost torn a
superpower apart;
BOTH founded organizations which later became known as pale-skinned terrorists (although the KKK of today isn't a terror organization as such, the KKK of today is not different from many other political extremist groups, but in the 1860s and 1870s it was a different story) and
BOTH organizations later became rather fractalized.
(feel free to complain about my limited knowledge of the KKK if you know a lot about the KKK yourself or even are a Clansman. After all, I've never been in the southern parts of USA - the heartland of the KKK - so my limited knowledge about KKK is from books and the KKK website.)
- Nightmarish visions similar to those of Nostradamus.
Krashrak the Stalker, Viskeon bounty hunter:
- In the earliest design sketches, Krashrak looks like The Predator. (well, without the shoulder-mounted gun)
- Looks like the Creature From The Black Lagoon.
- Sneaky alien from old B-movie "It! The Terror from Outer Space."
- Name could be a corruption of Kashyapa, the sanskrit word for "tortoise."
Kruellagh the Vile, Dark Eldar Pirate:
- Cruela de Ville from "101 Dalmatians."
- Pun on "cruel devil?"
Lelith Hesperax, Mistress of Combat:
- Lilith, God's first attempt to create a woman (which apparently failed).
- The Garden of the Hesperids.
- 1969 Procol Harum song "Wreck Of The Hesperus."
Leman Russ, Primarch of the Space Wolves:
- Had a similar fishing experience as Thor, the Vikings' god of weather. (Catches a gigantic sea monster, which then gets away)
- Named after something called a Lemon Russ.
- Had a tank type named after him like Joseph Stalin.
Lion'el Jonson, Primarch of the Dark Angels:
- Acclaimed poet Lionel Johnson, author of "The Dark Angel."
Loa Gorg, Daemonhost:
- In voodoo religion, there is a group of gods known as the Loa. Gorg is a shortening of Gorgon.
Logan Grimnar, Great Wolf of the Space Wolves:
- Old norse god Odin?
- Looks like a guy from ZZ Top.
- Grimnar is a meld of the danish words for "ugly fool."
Lorgar, Primarch of the Word Bearers:
- pun on "lugger."
- The other renegade Primarch modelled upon Lucifer. (the nr.1 Lucifer-like primarch is Horus)
- Could also be modelled upon Anavel Gato, the irrationally fanatical villain from GUNDAM.
Lucius "Slick" Devlan, Gun Fighter:
- Waylon Smithers, Monty Burns' henchman in The Simpsons??
- Snake Pliskin from "Escape From New York??"
- I imagine his voice to sound like that of Jasper from "The Simpsons."
Luthor, Leader of The Fallen:
- Protestant leader Martin Luther.
- Superman's archnemesis Lex Luthor.
Macharius, Lord Commander Solar:
- heavily modelled upon Alexander the Great
Magnus the Red, Primarch of the Thousand Sons:
- Ultra Magnus, Optimus Prime's "chosen one" in Transformers. (They even have several similarities... at least both of them are big, red and named Magnus)
- Nickname "The Cyclops" is from old sci-fi movie "Atomic Submarine," where an extraterrestrial is named "The Cyclops" because it only has one eye.
- Polyphemus, the cyclops slewn by Odysseus.
- "Grand Cyclops" was a rank in the Ku Klux Klan. (The original KKK had odd titles which later were replaces with more monastic-sounding titles)
- Cyclops in 1983 fantasy movie "Krull."
Marneus Calgar, Chapter Master of the Ultramarines:
- Julius Caesar?
Mephiston, Blood Angels Chief Librarian:
- Mephistopheles, one of the devil's many alter egos
Mortarion, Primarch of the Death Guard:
- Looks like The Grim Reaper
M'Shen, Assassin:
- Martin Sheen.
Nemo, Necromundan Crime Lord:
- Cpt.Nemo, character from Jules Verne's novel "20,000 Leagues Under The Sea"
- Behaves and acts like Big Dan Teague in "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou."
Nightbringer, C'Tan:
- Modelled upon the archetypical perception of death as a pale, gaunt human. (although death usually was portrayed as a female - AKA the banshee)
Nurgle, Chaos God:
- Nergal, accadian deity of the underworld
- Old Greater Daemon of Nurgle model reminds me strikingly of these words from the Procol Harum song Bringing Home The Bacon:
"Milk fed baby dumpling, slobbering, goo-faced,mean. Wet nursed sour purse spot face blubbering in the cream. Emperor baby dumpling, loaded, bloated, curse. Mighty baby dumpling, stuffing 'till he bursts."
Palatine, leader of a realm which once was on Mundus Planus:
- Emperor Palpatine.
Parnival Grundvald, Inquisitor:
- Danish actor Morten Grundwald.
Paullian Blantar, Hero of the Iron Hands Chapter:
- Marshall Herff Applewhite, co-founder of Heaven's Gate. (The Heaven's Gate cultists and the Iron Hands even have similar black uniforms which perhaps are inspired by the Borg's black livery which isn't unlikely since Marshall Applewhite was an avid Trekkie)
Perturabo, Primarch of the Iron Warriors:
- Modelled upon the demon Malphas who can construct mighty fortresses and he can break down the fortresses of his enemies
- Perdurabo, one of Aleister Crowley's many identities.
- Named after a Shakespeare character.
- Icy, a character in 1972 Black Sabbath song "Ironman." (There are vague similarities between their background)
Quovandius, mutant:
- Looks like Quasimodo, the hunchback of Notre Dame (Even their names are similar).
- Quo Vadis, latin for "who's coming?" or something like that.
Roboute Guillimann, Primarch of the Ultramarines:
- Robert Guillaume??
- Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the scout movement.
Rogal Dorn, Primarch of the Imperial Fists:
- Michael Dorn, the actor who played Worf in "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and "Deep Space 9."
Sanguinius, Primarch of the Blood Angels:
- Killed as a sacrifice for humankind and was a visionary like Jesus
Sebastian Thor, Imperial Saint and Reformator of the Adeptus Ministorum:
- Protestant leader Martin Luther.
- Thor was the name of the vikings' god of weather.
- Dalai Lama?
- St.Sebastian is/was the patron saint of archers.
Sebastian Yarrick, Commissar:
- Yorrick, yet another Shakespeare character.
- Lost an arm and had it replaced with a weapon like Ash from "Evil Dead."
- St.Sebastian is/was the patron saint of archers.
- In H.G. Wells' novel "War Of The Worlds", a guy with a similar name is mentioned.
Sergeant Stone:
- Sergeant Rock?
- Sergeant Slaughter?
[/b]
