Every time I take on another mini in the comic book style, I feel like I’m leveling up. This time, the challenge was a Mandrake—an eerie, shadowy assassin straight out of Warhammer 40k’s grimdark universe. But instead of fading into the void, I wanted him to pop like he just stepped out of a graphic novel panel. This project, more than anything, has shown me the ups and downs of refining this style—what works, what doesn’t, and where I’m still learning.
First Attempt: The Foundation
My first attempt at this style was a great learning experience, I quickly realized the black lines I used were fading into the model. I used black paint for the outlining, but it didn’t quite have the stark contrast I was aiming for. The colors, though, were fantastic—vibrant and eye-catching, thanks to the white primer I used. I learned that priming in white makes a huge difference, as colors sit brighter and more intense compared to black primer. Still, something felt off about those black lines—they weren’t as bold as I wanted them to be.
Second Attempt: Pushing the Contrast
For the second Mandrake, I made some big changes. The most noticeable one? The flesh. Instead of going with a standard tone, I painted the skin in a way that made it look like it was stitched together from different races. I wanted to emphasize that this creature hunts everything, and I think that extra layer of storytelling made the model stand out.
I also switched my black lining technique. Instead of using black paint, I used ink—and wow, what a difference. The lines popped so much more. The ink naturally deepened into the recesses, creating sharper contrast without dulling the surrounding colors. The overall effect was much closer to the crisp, high-contrast look I was aiming for.
Of course, I still ran into issues. The biggest challenge was dealing with areas where the washes bled into places they shouldn’t have. My fix? Repainting those spots white and then reapplying the washes. It wasn’t perfect, but it worked well enough to save the model. Each mistake is a lesson in disguise, and this one taught me that clean-up is just part of the process.
Current Progress: Refining the Details
Now, with the latest Mandrake, I’m still working on improving. One area I’m focusing on is accent lines—those extra, thin highlights that show the way light reflects off metal or how fabric folds in a specific way. I’m experimenting with shading transitions from dark to light to make the metal feel more dynamic, rather than just a flat surface. It’s a small detail, but I think it’s going to add a whole new layer of depth to the style.
Even with all these adjustments, I know there’s still room to improve. The cool part? I’m loving every second of figuring it out. Watching each model turn out better than the last is one of the best feelings in the hobby. I’m still committed to getting an entire Kill Team done in this style. With each I finish, I feel like I’m getting closer to some cool 40k minis.
What’s Next?
This project has reinforced one big thing for me: learning never stops. Every time I pick up the brush, I’m finding new ways to tweak and refine my approach. Whether it’s getting sharper black lines, fixing color bleeds, or perfecting light reflections, each step feels like a move in the right direction.
So, expect more Mandrakes. Expect more bold comic book minis. Expect more happy mistakes that turn into lessons. And maybe, just maybe, expect a full Kill Team that looks like they just stepped off the pages of a dark, moody graphic novel. Because that’s the dream, and I’m making it happen—one model at a time.
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