Book Review 160 // Banner-Jarl by Will McDermott

Banner-Jarl is the next title in a long line of Necromunda short stories I have been reading from the Anthology: Uprising. Initially released by Black Library way back in September 2020. This was a quick sweet read so let us dive in.

Description: Once banner-jarl for the Vega Rams, an elite mercenary company Grendl Grendlsen lost everything when his liege crossed paths with Lord Helmawr, the ruthless ruler of Hive Primus. Forced into the Underhive, Grendl has made a new name for himself as a bounty hunter and hired gun. His latest job brings back bad memories of his previous life and may cost the former banner-jarl the only thing of value he has left, his life.

For those who don't know, Grendl Grendlsen is a Squat. A race hugely popular back in the '80s but later killed off by GW by the Tyranid fleets. But they have a hardcore following still, and over the years, GW has continued to release models and lore on this dying race. Grendl was the most recent addition, and so it made sense to have a story for him.

As a fully formed bounty hunter, Grendl is a popular model for collectors and having completed this story, I am now seriously tempted to pick one up myself. The story is packed full of action and some rather exciting locations and lore. It would seem Grendl is the type of character that no matter how many times he is knocked down, he picks himself up and keeps going. This story does a lot to make Grendl a realistic and well-rounded character, giving us a rare glimpse into the history of the squats. If you enjoy character background lore mixed in with a healthy amount of action, then I feel you would enjoy this one-shot story.

Want to read this tale? Here is a link to Amazon to purchase: Banner-Jarl by Will McDermott

Book Review 154 // Sludge Harbour Payback by Justin D Hill

Continuing the Necromunda short stories run I am currently on. This week sees us reading a Justin D Hill story titled Sludge Harbour Payback.

Sludge Harbour Payback by Justin D Hill

Interestingly this story follows a character from the Necromunda Rule Book - Yar Umbra. I personally have not read that far into the rulebook to read his background, but I have seen his Forgeworld model and can confirm he is one creepy-looking dude with glowing eyes! A lot of his background is a mystery. Which remains so after reading this title. He is a Void-born human who chooses to hide his face behind a sack; it is due to whatever is under the bag that he was abandoned on Necromunda and now performs bounty hunting duties in the hopes of gaining enough credits to escape the planet.

The story itself is pretty solid, it has us travelling around a lot, and we discover how he ended up left on the planet. This is a very atmospheric story and keeps you intrigued by what is under Yar Umbra's hood. This is very much a character-building story, and I can see it being either a hit or miss with fans. If Ya Umbra intrigues you, it will be an interesting read for sure; otherwise, it may well be a miss as he is no Kal Jericho.

Buy the book: Amazon.ca Necromunda Uprising.

I hope you enjoyed it? Feel free to comment below or seek me out on one of the many social platforms I hang out on. Here is a quick LINK (Solo bio link) to my details. Cheers to reading this.

Miniature Monday // Durham Red by Warlord Games and 2000 AD

Welcome back Stront heads! As I am sure you may have guessed we are back with another Strontium Dog paint job. This Durham Red! Here is her back story.

As a result of radioactive fallout (strontium-90) from a nuclear war in 2150, Durham Red was born with a mutation that made her resemble a vampire in appearance and behaviour, although she had no supernatural attributes. Shunned by other mutants, she joined the Search / Destroy agency at a young age, becoming a bounty hunter, or "strontium dog." Whilst working for the agency, she met Johnny Alpha (the lead character in the Strontium Dog series) and they were briefly romantically involved, but he was unable to trust her, and this lead to their relationship ending.

At some unspecified time after Alpha's death, Red became tired of her life and entered suspended animation. She only intended to do this for a couple of years, but she was not awoken until 1,272 years later. She discovered that the human race had spread throughout the galaxy on her revival but was still divided between pure-blood humans and mutants. As a mutant who drank the blood of normal humans, she had become a mythical figure to the mutants, who revered her as a saint ("Saint Scarlet"). Her efforts to end the conflict backfired and only made things much worse, costing the lives of billions. However, she lived for another ten thousand years, and eventually witnessed a renaissance of human civilization. In the last episode of Dan Abnett's stories, it is implied that she became an empress and was responsible for a new golden age of humanity, before faking her death and withdrawing from public life. Stories published since then are set before she entered suspended animation.

As far as my scheme went I kept it simple with her classic comic strip look. Black mohawk, red hair, yellow straps, orange suit, chainmail parts and black boats. Hope you enjoy! I am working on a painting video as you read this. If finished in the time it will be here below.

As always thank you for stopping by and please use the following links to help me out.

Instagram: Adventures with Peps.

Tik Tok: Adventures with Peps.

Youtube: Adventures with Peps.

Ko-fi: Adventures with Peps.

Buy the game. The Good, The Bad and The Mutie

Book Review 139 // Exterminators by Matt Forbeck - No Good Deed by Ray Garton

I'm still on these Alien shorts. This time the story is by Matt Forbeck and is titled, Exterminators. The story is a dual cast of Dietrich and Frost, and it helps to explain why they love a flamethrower.

Set on Sullivan 9, Dietrich and Frost slip away for some private R & R. Escaping the watch of their squad, they find a remote dive bar that is definitely illegal and slip in to have a drink. Inside they find a rough crowd, but are ultimately served a drink and left alone. Soon they start to hear tales of insects that are terrorizing the locals, and after some chat, discover one patron is actually inflicted by a bug. Looking at the victim, they discover a bug attached to the man's chest, that is making him sick. When asked why they haven't requested assistance, they are told due to the illegal nature of the bar/area they can't rely on company help.

As the marines are about to head off to get a doctor, it is noted that the insects are forming once more outside. We then have full-blown bug/body horror happening, which ultimately ends with a blown-up bar and a lot of dead locals. Dietrich and Frost survive (though hospitalized), and the story basically ends with Dietrich declaring next bug nest they find, she'll be bringing a flamethrower.

Overall, a bit of a silly story, but a fun quick read, so no issues there.

With that being such a straightforward tale, I am going to dive into the next story. Double feature Thursday!

No Good Deed by Rob Garton is set very early on in the Alien infestation of Hadley's Hope. We join a Bounty Hunter and synthetic, as they track down two escaped Convicts, who had hoped to hide out in Hadley's Hope.

I wasn't really a fan of this one. There was a couple of reasons. 1 - Though the base was suffering from an attack, the locals seemed very indifferent about using the bounty hunter's ship to escape. They instead lock the new arrivals outside. Very noble, and unrealistic in my opinion. 2 - One of the convicts had been genetically tested on and basically rages out into a red hulk. Never heard of this before in the stories, seems to marvel and out there for me. 3) Having seen what is happening the bounty hunter basically goes meh and flies away. Cold, real cold.

Overall unimpressed. The first bad story in the book for me.

As always, I thank you for reading. I hope you will take a moment to use one of the links, and help support the blog. Thank you.

Instagram: Adventures with Peps.

Tik Tok: Adventures with Peps.

Youtube: Adventures with Peps.

Ko-fi: Adventures with Peps.

Buy the kindle edition. Aliens: Bug Hunt

Miniature Monday // Warlord Games - Strontium Dog: Blubberlips

Hey everyone, time for an update! I've only gone and painted up another model. What on earth is happening? I've managed to get back into painting and painted more so far this year than I have in the last three years. Today I dip my toe back into the works of Warlord Games and 2000 AD and showcase Blubberlips from the Strontium Dog franchise.

Had a lot of fun painting this model, I started off with a black prime, followed by a zenith highlight to help show me shadows etc. Then using contrast paints I built up the colours until I had something tabletop ready.

Looking at the model I realized I had played too safe on the jumpsuit and instead went back in and built it up to a bold striking orange. I'm pretty happy with the final result and feel when I am ready I will go back and highlight the crap out of him. But for about an hour of painting, I am really pleased with the result. Here is a quick 360 video I posted on Tik-Tok of the final model. I hope you have enjoyed it and will possibly click one of the links after the video to support the blog. As always thanks for checking in.

Use any of these links to help support the blog and thank you.

Instagram: Adventures with Peps.

Tik Tok: Adventures with Peps.

Youtube: Adventures with Peps.

Ko-fi: Adventures with Peps.

Comic Review 135 // Star Wars: Boba Fett - Death, Lies and Treachery

I only just realized May the 4th was a few days out. I knew I had to a Star Wars Comic! This means I have to bump a Strontium Dog review back a week. When doing a Stars Wars comic there is only one character I enjoy reading at the moment, Boba Fett. We are basically trading one intergalactic bounty hunter for another. Read on and enjoy!

Written by John Wagner so I know we are in good hands. At 144 pages, it should be a straight-up read. Here is the official read-up:

Throughout the vast reaches of the galaxy—wherever fugitives meet or lawbreakers conspire—one name is always uttered in hushed tones... Some say he is a Mandalore warrior; others, that he merely wears the Mandalore battlesuit because of its unrivaled killing power. The truth is impossible to confirm, for none have seen the face that gazes with merciless eyes from within that battered helmet – none, at least, who have lived to tell the tale.

Collects Boba Fett: Bounty on Bar-Kooda, Boba Fett: When the Fat Lady Swings, and Boba Fett: Murder Most Foul.

Let us start with the obvious. I find it funny that Wagner writes Boba Fett and Judge Dredd, but it also makes perfect sense. Two characters who are expert shooters, both never take their helmets off, both are clones and both have a strong viewpoint of right and wrong,

The story sees Boba Fett hired by the Hutt clan to do some classic bounty hunter jobs ie. Assassination and if possible some search and rescue. In classic Wagner styling, he brings some comedic relief to the Star Wars universe. Whilst the artwork of Cam Kennedy makes for some strange-looking villains. As with a lot of Star Wars stories, the actual tale is pretty straightforward and generic. We all know Boba Fett isn't going to die so at no point do you feel like he is in danger which is a shame. But we do get plenty of action, gunfights, and violence. It's classic sci-fi bounty hunting at its best. Well worth the read for some light enjoyment. Have an amazing May the 4th, Revenge of the Fifth and This is the May.

As always cheers for checking in and feel free to sign up to get notifications and use any of these links to support me.

Kindle Edition: Boba Fett: Death, Lies, and Treachery

Instagram: Adventures with Peps

Tik-Tok: Adventures with Peps

Youtube: Adventures with Peps

Ko-fi: Adventures with Pep

Book Review 88 // Kal Jericho: Sinner's Bounty by Joshua Reynolds

Been enjoying the Horus Heresy these last few weeks so I thought it was time to change up the reading pattern ahead to the grand hives of Necromunda and read a story about everyone's favourite rogue Kal Jericho.

Book Details

Title: Sinner's Bounty

Author: Joshua Reynolds

Publisher: Black Library

Type: E-Book

Page Count: 368

Commercial Fluff: Kal Jerico is back! 

Kal Jerico returns to Hive Primus, chasing his biggest bounty yet: the maniacal preacher Desolation Zoon, racing downhive in a mining hauler bristling with stolen Guilder weaponry… but with a prize like this at stake, every other Venator worth the name will be hunting down the Redemptionist. Can Kal claim Zoon’s head, or will he find a rival’s knife in his back?

Review

First up this is my first ever Kal Jericho adventure since his amazing time in graphic novel format. Which was a long time ago... For those not in the know, Kal Jericho is a suave bounty hunter with a background going back to the original Necromunda game. In this tale, he is joined as always by Scabbs and his wife(!) Yolanda - got to be honest and say I haven't read any other books in the series so I can only assume he got married at some point. This unlikely team is hunting down the infamous Desolation Zoon, a Redemptionist zealot/priest who stupidly stole from the Guilders (the money men of Necromunda). To make things harder for Kal is that the bounty is high enough to attract pretty much every other bounty hunter on the planet! Throw into this mix a mutie invasion and an unusual Ratskin and it is a setting for high adventure throughout the whole book.

The book as a whole was one of the most enjoyable reads so far of 2020. Reynolds does an amazing job of bringing Necromunda to life with its unique backdrops and locations. I enjoyed the fact that just like the comic the story had high points of humour and has definitely made me consider seeking out the books in the series. Lots of pros to this book and I was truly sad when I finished it.

Sector 102 // Character Fact File Johnny Alpha

Welcome Dreddheads to another JDMG update. Today we look at Johnny Alpha, the top Bounty Hunter of the Strontium Dogs.

++ Sector House 102 ++
++ Emergency status: Time portal anomaly ++

 ++ Subject: Johnny Alpha ++
"A Time Portal has opened in the Food Court of Dan Abnett block. Energy signature matches that of known SD agent Johnny Alpha. Use extreme caution and expect Dredd!" 

Known Background
The most famous and respected of the Strontium Dogs is Johnny Alpha, whose mutant eyes allow him to see through walls and read minds. He is responsible for such legendary achievements as destroying the Wolrog homeworld, leading the mutant uprising on Earth, and bringing Adolf Hitler to the future to face trial. His legendary career and his assistance to mutants in trouble - such as donating a large sum of money to the Milton Keynes ghetto - has made him an icon to Earth's mutants. He is a highly skilled and dangerous fighter, highly dogged bounty hunter, never giving up in the pursuit of his quarry.

He is the son of Nelson Bunker Kreelman, a bigoted politician who drafted the anti-mutant laws and gained power on the back of bigotry. Despised, abused and hidden away by his father, Johnny escaped at a young age and joined the Mutant Army, becoming one of its key leaders by age 17 and playing a major part in the mutant uprising of 2167. He never revealed the identity of his father, changing his name from Kreelman to Alpha.

Weapons/Abilities
Like all Search/Destroy agents, Alpha is armed with highly advanced technology including a variable-cartridge blaster, electrified brass knuckles, a short-range teleporter, a "time drogue" that can briefly "rewind" the last few minutes of time, and "time bombs" which can transport somebody minutes or hours forwards or backwards in time (by which time the planet has moved along in its orbit, so that the victim reappears in empty space).

Over the years, Johnny Alpha's white, incandescent eyes have provided him with several mutant abilities. Most frequently, the high-level alpha radiation emitted from his eyes allows Johnny to

see through walls and other solid objects, or to read people's minds. He has also used his piercing stare to inflict severe headaches on his opponents, guide small objects remotely with a kind of limited telekinesis, or to "suggest" illusions or hallucinations (e.g., while fighting the Necromagus, Sabbat, Johnny made Sabbat believe the Grim Reaper was behind him.).

Johnny Alpha
485 Credits
8 Psi
Move: 5" AG: +3 Shoot: +4 Melee: +2 Melee Dice: 3D 

Will: +4 Armour: +5 Hits: 15

Skills
Accurate, Brave, Close Combat Shooter, Crackshot, Crippling Fire, Inspire, Martial Artist, Rapid Fire, Parry.

Special Abilities & Weapons

Mutant Eyes (psi abilities): Danger Sense, Daze, Mind Shield.
Electronux (electroprod)
Time Bombs: Range: 10"/Shooting Dice: 1D/Damage: Stun/AP: 0
Special: Explosive 1, Weak, Time Jump....Model hit is removed from play for 1 turn. Afterwards model is placed back where they were and suffer a stun result. 

Variable Cartridge Blaster:  Range 15"

Cartridge 1 Standard: Dice 3D Dam 1 AP-1
Cartridge 2 Armour Piercing: 1D Dam 1 AP-4
Cartridge 3 High Intensity Tunneller Beam: 1D Dam 2 AP-3 Complex
Cartridge 4 High Explosive: 1D Dam 3 Ap-1 Explosive

There with it. What do you think? Are the rules to complicated or overpowered? Would you use him in your Dredd game? Let me know below and as always thanks.