What are the thematic influences on the Iron Hands?

[Brother Tyler]

For those of you that haven't been keeping up on discussions in the + NEWS, RUMORS, AND BOARD ANNOUNCEMENTS + forum, a debate has sprung up around the thematic influences on the Iron Hands Legion/Chapter in the discussion about the latest models and combat patrols announced for the Imperial Fists, Iron Hands, Raven Guard, Salamanders, and White Scars Chapters. If you just crawled out from under a rock, you can see the announcement, which was part of the recent Big Summer Preview, here. The issue arises from the weapon that the new Iron Hands Iron Captain, Caanok Var, is bearing. To simplify things, the image is below.

 

(click the image to see the large version)

 

Many hobbyists have described the weapon as a tetsubō (or kanabō), the studded/spiked war club used in Feudal Japan, both in history as well as in legend (e.g., by the mythical oni). That is not an inaccurate description, though it should be remembered that studded/spiked war clubs were not confined to the Far East, having been used by various cultures across the world, not to mention primitive post-apocalyptic settings such as Neegan's Lucille. Examples can be found in pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, sub-Saharan Africa, across Europe (including Ancient Greece), etc. More importantly, Caanok Var's club includes stylistic choices that are reminiscent of the various mauls that are used by the Adeptus Arbites.

 

The controversy (okay, it's controversial to some, but not to others) stems from whether or not the club is accurate to the Legion's/Chapter's theme, whether you base that on the cultural influences that you perceive or from precedents from other Iron Hands models. Some people like (or accept) the club and others don't, and that's okay. The "debate" was becoming disruptive in the context of the NRBA discussion, but it's worth pursuing, so this topic has been created so that members can identify the various thematic influences they see on the Iron Hands Legion/Chapter and how those influences might be represented on models.

 

It is important to remember that while there are a few key elements of the Legion's/Chapter's theme, the overall theme of the Iron Hands is a lot more subtle and complex than some of the more overtly themed Chapters such as the Space Wolves and Blood Angels (both of which also have myriad other subtle influences woven into the more obvious elements). Different hobbyists are going to focus on different things, emphasizing those things and de-emphasizing other things. Where one hobbyist might see the Iron Hands being X, others may see them as being Y or Z. There is no right or wrong answer here.

[Karhedron]

While some Chapters have clear stylistic influences, Iron Hands are most obviously characterised by their bionic augmentation. I have not read a lot of Iron Hands lore but they never struck me as having a particular cultural style. The cogged axe fits with their Techmarine/Iron Father lore. I also power fists as being fitting because they looking striking painted in silver and emphasize the "Iron Hand" theme. Apart from that they seem a bit of a blank canvas.

[DemonGSides]

15 minutes ago, Karhedron said:

While some Chapters have clear stylistic influences, Iron Hands are most obviously characterised by their bionic augmentation. I have not read a lot of Iron Hands lore but they never struck me as having a particular cultural style. The cogged axe fits with their Techmarine/Iron Father lore. I also power fists as being fitting because they looking striking painted in silver and emphasize the "Iron Hand" theme. Apart from that they seem a bit of a blank canvas.

 

Agreed; i'm sure an IH mega-fan can point to something that they have IN LORE that might be a 'defining cultural heritage', in the same sense that White Scars are traditionally 'steppe rider' adjacent, at least in their practice of war and their interior chapter rituals.  But they have absolutely no OBVIOUS cultural tie in in that same vein based on their models or previously available artwork.  There's motif's; as mentioned, Bionics and 'The Flesh is Weak' is very strongly their theme, and a great exchange between them and the Adeptus Mechanicus is expected.  Their 'defining cultural heritage' to me IS the connection between them and the Adeptus Mechanicus, not really anything else; if there is something, it's either artfully hidden or not blatantly obvious, such as the White Scars, which are like, blatantly steppe riders and have just sort of ported that idea whole-sale into 40k.

I don't think it's any loss that the IH DON'T have a real world cultural heritage to lean on.  Things are more interesting when they're blended, if I wanted Greek Clans I can just go play a war-game set during that period.  If they wanted to MAKE the IH more Greek, that'd also be cool, but I think the big maul (Tetsubo adjacent, but obviously not a tetsubo, as the area to hold the weapons is much closer to "weird mace" territory) REALLY speaks to "Cold, Brutal, Iron" that Iron Hands DO exemplify.

Edited Wednesday at 05:06 PM by DemonGSides

[Inquisitor_Lensoven]

1 hour ago, DemonGSides said:

 

Agreed; i'm sure an IH mega-fan can point to something that they have IN LORE that might be a 'defining cultural heritage', in the same sense that White Scars are traditionally 'steppe rider' adjacent, at least in their practice of war and their interior chapter rituals.  But they have absolutely no OBVIOUS cultural tie in in that same vein based on their models or previously available artwork.  There's motif's; as mentioned, Bionics and 'The Flesh is Weak' is very strongly their theme, and a great exchange between them and the Adeptus Mechanicus is expected.  Their 'defining cultural heritage' to me IS the connection between them and the Adeptus Mechanicus, not really anything else; if there is something, it's either artfully hidden or not blatantly obvious, such as the White Scars, which are like, blatantly steppe riders and have just sort of ported that idea whole-sale into 40k.

I don't think it's any loss that the IH DON'T have a real world cultural heritage to lean on.  Things are more interesting when they're blended, if I wanted Greek Clans I can just go play a war-game set during that period.  If they wanted to MAKE the IH more Greek, that'd also be cool, but I think the big maul (Tetsubo adjacent, but obviously not a tetsubo, as the area to hold the weapons is much closer to "weird mace" territory) REALLY speaks to "Cold, Brutal, Iron" that Iron Hands DO exemplify.

Yep, to me blunt force weapons just seem to fit them. Club, hammer, fists, all make sense for them to me.