The chaos star comes from before Warhammer. It comes from the Elric of Malniboné books by Michael Moorcock (unfortunate last name lol). The symbol has been adopted by anarcho-nihilists, which is the context for this usage
The Moorcock star is 8 outwards arrows with radial symmetry (not very chaotic to have symmetry but we’ll get to that)
Games Workshop (whose early writers were largely anarchist and heavily inspired by Moorcock) added a circle to the symbol, with the arrows escaping the bounds (like in the anarchy A). They’re also often, but not always, asymmetrical. Also, sometimes it’s not! Sometimes it’s just Moorcock’s! Chaos, bitch! There’s specific meaning behind a lot of the differences but it’s not relevant.
That’s the Games Workshop Chaos Star. Period. It even has similar arrowhead design to the arrow heads used directly on the figures.
For reference, this is a particularly complicated Warhammer Chaos Star:
Note in particular the lines on the outside of the circle, in between the main 8 arrows.
Anarchists aren’t the only ones that use the star btw:
Which is why I downvoted this shit, as it happens. Real anarchists aren’t ripping off corporate symbols to beef with Marxists in 2025.
Not the smart ones, anyways. There’s plenty of black fascists running around, red fascists are going to have to take a number.
That all said, I haven’t read a lot of Moorcock, compared to way too much Warhammer. If you’re saying they got their variations from Moorcock too I’ll believe you.
Anarcho-nihilists and insurrectionary anarchists are the ones typically using the symbol, and they don’t usually care if its the Moorcock one or the Games Workshop one. Won’t deny, yeah this one’s the Games Workshop version. But I also think its basically arguing semantics whether they’re using the Moorcock one, an anarcho-nihilist one, or a GW one. Whether its the GW one or not is sorta irrelevant (I was just trying to provide some history and context, won’t deny I missed the circle which does make it the GW version), as its clearly being used in an anarchist context. All I was saying was Moorcock is credited with the original, and Games Workshop were directly inspired by Moorcock and also used it. However I do not feel its fair to equate op or anyone that uses the symbol to fascists. Yes some use the chaos star but it is a very specific and niche version of it.
I also don’t think its a good idea to just give up the symbol because a couple irrelevant basement dwelling fascists try to use a niche version of the chaos star. I’m tired of leftists just letting fascists take symbols away without a fight. I don’t see Marxists dropping the hammer and sickle cause NazBols use it.
Lastly, anarchists are certainly beefing with tankies. And they are going to use their symbols to do it. Chaos star included because it is an anarchist symbol whether you agree with its use or not. I have it on my punk jacket, I am a very clear anarchist, and I very much have beef with tankies because I see them as fascists with a red coat of paint.
Digging the anti-corporate vibes of a Games Workshop Chaos Star.
The chaos star comes from before Warhammer. It comes from the Elric of Malniboné books by Michael Moorcock (unfortunate last name lol). The symbol has been adopted by anarcho-nihilists, which is the context for this usage
His star is actually different.
The Moorcock star is 8 outwards arrows with radial symmetry (not very chaotic to have symmetry but we’ll get to that)
Games Workshop (whose early writers were largely anarchist and heavily inspired by Moorcock) added a circle to the symbol, with the arrows escaping the bounds (like in the anarchy A). They’re also often, but not always, asymmetrical. Also, sometimes it’s not! Sometimes it’s just Moorcock’s! Chaos, bitch! There’s specific meaning behind a lot of the differences but it’s not relevant.
That’s the Games Workshop Chaos Star. Period. It even has similar arrowhead design to the arrow heads used directly on the figures.
For reference, this is a particularly complicated Warhammer Chaos Star:
Note in particular the lines on the outside of the circle, in between the main 8 arrows.
Anarchists aren’t the only ones that use the star btw:
Which is why I downvoted this shit, as it happens. Real anarchists aren’t ripping off corporate symbols to beef with Marxists in 2025.
Not the smart ones, anyways. There’s plenty of black fascists running around, red fascists are going to have to take a number.
That all said, I haven’t read a lot of Moorcock, compared to way too much Warhammer. If you’re saying they got their variations from Moorcock too I’ll believe you.
Anarcho-nihilists and insurrectionary anarchists are the ones typically using the symbol, and they don’t usually care if its the Moorcock one or the Games Workshop one. Won’t deny, yeah this one’s the Games Workshop version. But I also think its basically arguing semantics whether they’re using the Moorcock one, an anarcho-nihilist one, or a GW one. Whether its the GW one or not is sorta irrelevant (I was just trying to provide some history and context, won’t deny I missed the circle which does make it the GW version), as its clearly being used in an anarchist context. All I was saying was Moorcock is credited with the original, and Games Workshop were directly inspired by Moorcock and also used it. However I do not feel its fair to equate op or anyone that uses the symbol to fascists. Yes some use the chaos star but it is a very specific and niche version of it.
I also don’t think its a good idea to just give up the symbol because a couple irrelevant basement dwelling fascists try to use a niche version of the chaos star. I’m tired of leftists just letting fascists take symbols away without a fight. I don’t see Marxists dropping the hammer and sickle cause NazBols use it.
Lastly, anarchists are certainly beefing with tankies. And they are going to use their symbols to do it. Chaos star included because it is an anarchist symbol whether you agree with its use or not. I have it on my punk jacket, I am a very clear anarchist, and I very much have beef with tankies because I see them as fascists with a red coat of paint.