Warhammer 40,000 brings back the Lion, Primarch of the Dark Angels

Warhammer 40,000 has heretics, mutants and aliens that are threatening the world. It also features corrupt politicians, preachers, and corrupt politicians. In this setting, there are only a few compelling bad guys and no good guys. And just when things seem their bleakest, an ancient hero emerges from the shadows — although it remains to be seen whether he will actually make anything better, or just cause more problems. A second loyalist son of the Emperor has returned, and Lion El’Jonson is primed to beat some demon ass.

The Emperor of Mankind created 20 sons from a lab over 10,000 years ago. This secret formula created these Primarchs, who are from an extradimensional realm called the Warp. As such, they’re incredibly powerful beings built to rule legions of transhuman Space Marines. In an effort to hurt the Emperor, the Gods of Chaos scattered their sons across the galaxy. They raised each Primarch in their own way, which led to some disputes at work when they reunited across the stars for the Great Crusade. All the grudges and disputes boiled down until Horus led an heresy where the Emperor was defeated by half of the Primarchs. The Imperium TechnicallyThey won and fled the Primarch traitors.

Although traitor Primarchs returned in force to the setting, most of them have transformed into powerful daemons, the loyalist side is much more peaceful. Roboute Guilliman returned to the setting in 2017 and was brought out of stasis by the Gathering Storm campaign novels at the end 7th edition. Poor Guilliman’s been the sole loyalist dealing with all of his evil brothers; Magnus tricked him, Mortarion tortured him, and Angron smashed and corrupted one part of his fleet.

The return of the Lion is fascinating because it gives Guilliman a possible ally — and a fun character to bounce off of. Lion El’Jonson is Primarch of the Dark Angels, the first legion. Caliban’s deathworld was home to him. Every day featured a series of Monster Hunter boss battles. The Emperor saw the Lion, and he arrived to add another Primarch in the Great Crusade. When the Lion found him, a group of knights from his Order were with him. They would become Dark Angels. The legion retains a Knights of the Round Table-inspired vibe. They wear robes on top of their armor, and work with the Watchers In the Dark, a small group of Jawa-style squires.

Although the Lion is extremely capable, competent and discreet, he can also be distant and secretive. Unlike Guilliman, he hasn’t been in stasis, and as such, he’s visibly aged. He’s very similar to his father, the Emperor — in fact, the Dark Angels had a heresy of their own, when part of the order split off and went renegade. These Dark Angels are known as the Fallen, and they’ll doubtlessly be a major part of the Lion’s story.

For now, all we know is that the Lion is getting his own book in the Arks of Omen campaign series, in which he’ll be fighting Angron. What makes him so happy? Does he like Guilliman or is he a bit aloof? He is unsure how he feels about the Imperium. We’ll have to wait for answers, but for the moment, we can just appreciate the return of a much-hyped character primed to join in on a grudge match 10,000 years in the making.