The Warhammer 40k universe has often stirred debates beyond just tactical gameplay. One that has gained traction over recent years is the call for gender diversity in its iconic factions: female Space Marines and the potential for male Sisters of Battle or Sisters of Silence.
One ongoing debate among the fanbase (that seems to rage out of the blue and is trending on socials as of this writing) is the call for female Space Marines and the fact that GW has now confirmed female Adeptus Custodes have been around since the first Ten Thousand.
But how does this compare to the already established female force, the Sisters of Battle?
The Burning Questions About Female Space Marines Answered
Over 30 years ago, at the beginning of the Rogue Trader Era, Games Workshop posted an ad in White Dwarf 99 where you could get two of these minis for 5£. We didn’t even have a Games Workshop store here in America, so any stock we bought from stores had to be imported!
As the game has grown in popularity, so has its diverse player base. Incorporating female Space Marines could reflect and respect that diversity. However, there seems to be a large portion of the player base that this angers as well.
Female Space Marine Miniatures Fact, Fiction, or Future?
Maybe the biggest question for GW is whether there is market demand for them. From a commercial viewpoint, there’s clear interest. Many hobbyists have already converted miniatures or sourced third-party figures to represent Female Space Marines. But would the move hurt the company with its existing fanbase?
It just might… but introducing female Space Marines can open the door to new stories, conflicts, and narrative possibilities. Most importantly, for Games Workshop, though, it can open the door to new audiences and revenue streams.
Sisters of Battle vs. Female Space Marines
The Sisters of Battle, or Adepta Sororitas, have a unique lore steeped in faith and martyrdom, which starkly contrasts with the genetically engineered might of the Space Marines. Introducing Female Space Marines isn’t about replacing the Sisters but diversifying the broader 40k universe.
Aesthetics and Design: The Sisters have a gothic, ecclesiastical design distinct from the utilitarian militaristic look of the Space Marines. Female Space Marines could offer a new aesthetic direction, providing hobbyists with more options.
Differentiation isn’t Replacement: Adding female Space Marines doesn’t diminish the role of the Sisters of Battle. Instead, it adds more layers to the Warhammer 40k universe.
Aren’t the Sisters of Battle the Female Counterparts of Space Marines?
Not exactly; while the Sisters are indeed a powerful female force, their lore, motivations, and aesthetic differ from that of the Space Marines.
Why Not Just Expand on the Sisters of Battle Instead of Introducing Female Space Marines?
While expanding the Sisters’ lore is crucial, the call for female Space Marines revolves around diversifying an iconic faction. Both actions can coexist. But again, the only way it may happen is if GW can see the market demand.
Should There Be Male Sisters of Battle or Sisters of Silence?
The Sisters of Battle’s origin, tied deeply to the Ecclesiarchy’s ban on “men at arms,” and the Sisters of Silence being a part of the Adeptus Astra Telepathica, might make introducing male versions more complicated.
This would require some serious lore adaptations from GW (Vandire and the Brides of the Emperor), but they have done it in the past.
While diversifying gender is one concern, the uniqueness of each faction’s role should remain intact. Male Sisters, if introduced, would need a strong narrative reason that doesn’t dilute the essence of these factions.
How Would the Lore Accommodate Male Sisters of Battle, Given Their Origins?
If Games Workshop chooses this route, they’d need to craft a compelling story—perhaps a splinter faction or a drastic change to the Warhammer 40k universe’s events. Again, though, it’s not like GW hasn’t changed the lore in the past to accommodate something they wanted.
Games Workshop Confirms Female Adeptus Custodes in Warhammer 40k
On pages 14-15 of the new 10th Edition book Adeptus Custodes codex, there is a full story about a female Custodes named Calladayce. The full story is here, and this is the first codex book to discuss female Adeptus Custodes explicitly.
Games Workshop has since confirmed that this is official and that female custodes are now canon in Warhammer 40k.
Well, there you have it—not only are there female Custodes, but they have been there since the first Ten Thousand! A few years back, a GW writer also weighed in on the issue and discussed why we hadn’t seen them before from a design standpoint.
There are Female Space Marines Miniatures From GW Already
Well, in 1988, at the beginning of the Rogue Trader Era, Games Workshop posted this ad in White Dwarf 99, offering two of these minis for 5£. Here in the States, we don’t even have a Games Workshop store yet, so any stock we buy from stores has to be imported!
Sculpted by Bob Naismith, Trish, Aly Morrison, and Mark Copplestone, these figures helped spearhead the Rogue Trader revolution, which eventually became the Warhammer 40k game we know today.
As you can see, Jayne and Gabs debuted here as “female warriors.” At this point, GW didn’t even know what a Space Marine was, so it’s hard to say if they are female Space Marines, but this is the closest you can get officially from GW!
Jayne was listed as having a Power Sword, and Gabs as having both a Power Sword and Bolter. From the sculpts, they both appear to be wearing power armor with a backpack as well.
At this point in time, there is no way to know if the sales of these two figures led to the development of the Sisters of Battle miniature line in the early 1990s, but it would be neat to think so.
The Female Space Marine That Fooled the Hobby
Image Credit @Kittenmeetswarhammer
You might have initially thought that Belisarius Cawl figured out a way to turn females into Primaris! In all reality, this is one hobbyist’s conversion piece photoshopped onto a page of a year-old White Dwarf.
The model, however, is very much a real conversion, as our article debunking this hoax shows.
Image Credit @Kittenmeetswarhammer
A picture shows the model’s conversion progress.
Image Credit @Kittenmeetswarhammer
When you really look at the model, it’s a fantastically unique conversion! It can definitely be passed off as a legitimate model. Yes, it’s that good because it fooled the entire internet for a few minutes. While this might not be an official GW miniature, it sure gives a good footprint for female Primaris Space Marines in the future. If GW ever decides to go that way…
Ex-GW Employee Weighs in on Female Space Marines in 40k
The age-old debate of female Space Marines reignites with the latest from an ex-GW employee and key insights into their release cycle.
A few years back, a hobbyist on Twitter reposted some of the old pics of the Female Space Marines from the Adventurers line and explained his take on why they never really “took off” back in the late 19080s.
Another user posted a reply from the former head of intellectual property at Games Workshop, Alan Merrett, who was the GW design manager at the time these models were released.
He had a few interesting things to say on another forum a while back, not only about the “burning” question of “Why aren’t there any female Space Marines?” but also about GW’s release cycle in general.
Making what seems to be a good point, there were technically female Space Marine models that existed way back in the male-dominated 1980s miniatures market.
But what we found interesting about this post was that even back then, GW seemed to have a dedicated release cycle (either monthly or weekly), and they apparently ended up using everything that was sculpted… even the models in the dreaded “Drawer 101”.
He went on to say:
This is a lot to read through, but we underlined the areas of interest in red. Basically, when female miniatures were beginning to be introduced into the model range (in the 1980s, mind you), they didn’t sell as well as the male variants, and stores complained that they weren’t moving products.
Thus, GW adapted to what the community wanted and again focused on male models in the late 1980s.
Recently, the resounding demand from the community to bring back Sisters of Battle, which was a massive success for GW, proves that times have changed from the 1980s customer base 1000%.
While there still aren’t any official female Space Marine models in production by GW, we can still find ladies in power armor if that’s your style- or Female Stormcasts in Age of Sigmar.
And, of course, we all know that Games Workshop generates tons of revenue off of their constant, weekly releases (with or without the dreaded “Drawer 101”)
Can There Be Female Space Marines?
Yes, if Games Workshop wanted it, the Warhammer 40k universe, with its millennia of lore and vast scope, can undoubtedly accommodate the inclusion of Female Space Marines, especially since they confirmed female Custodes since the beginning of the lore!
Whether it’s the inclusion of female Space Marines or considering gender shifts in traditionally female factions, the essence lies in the quality of the narrative and design.
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Where do you stand on the Female Space Marines debate?
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About the Author: Rob Baer
