Black Library: Dark Hunters Umbra Sumus
Check out the book by Paul Kearney here! Illustration © Games Workshop Art director/producer: Karen Miksza
Umbra Sumus, or “We Are Shadow”, motto of the Shadow Hunters.
This chapter are shadowy blue armour wearing descendants of the White Scars, and they are embroiled in fierce urban combat with their nemesis, the Punishers traitor legion.
The brief was conveniently open: to illustrate a fight between a Dark Hunters squad led by a captain against a Punishers detachment. Also, there was to be a Eldar Farseer fighting alongside the Dark Hunters. This gave me all the inspiration/excuse to set up a narrative of an ambush gone awry, playing off the title of course.
This title-play was a cheeky idea that I’m glad Karen went through with; it involves a kind of linear narrative from left to right, or “back cover to front cover”. The idea was to portray this detachment of Punishers as having taken a position in the city and successfully springing an ambush, only to be countered by a shock and awe move by the Dark Hunters, thereby bringing light… to the darkness… both literally and metaph… I know… I know… I’m sorry.
