Warhammer 40,000: Marneus Calgar #1 - Marvel Comics

WARHAMMER 40,000: MARNEUS CALGAR No. 1, December 2020

Shifting between 22,500 to 25,000 copies in October 2020, at least according to “Diamond Comic Distributors”, it is arguably quite clear from the depth of its narrative that Issue One of “Warhammer 40,000: Marneus Calgar” was penned by someone “venerable enough to have bought Rogue Trader in 1987.” For whilst this opening instalment to a five-part mini-series somewhat skirts around the detail of the titular character’s involvement in the Thirteenth Black Crusade, Kieron Gillen’s fascinating depiction as to just how a Space Marine aspirant becomes a neophyte contains plenty of scripture and verse, as well as a thrilling confrontation between young Tacitan and a deadly Ambull.

Indeed, the never-before-told origin story of the Ultramarines’ legendary Chapter Master is debatably far more enthralling than the elite warrior’s battle on Nova Thulium against the forces of Chaos. True, the horde of red and black clothed heretical fanatics who hurl themselves against humanity’s greatest warriors certainly provides the former computer games journalist with plenty of opportunities to demonstrate the superior firepower on hand in the distant future. Yet it is arguably Calgar’s noble actions as an adolescent which proves the most intriguing element of this twenty-four page periodical’s plot, once the boy’s personal trainer appears to make it abundantly clear that the man-child “will either become a neophyte or you will be dead.”

Likewise, the British author also manages to start weaving an intriguing scenario surrounding “the smallest habitable moon of the agri-world of Nova Thulium” which makes it clear that Marneus won’t just be facing poorly lead cultists on his former home planet. Initially, the Ultramarines’ dynamically-paced victories over the gun-toting rabble would simply seem to have been included in this comic as something to sharply contrast with the more sedentary storyline of the Chapter Master’s past. However, by the end of this book the sudden appearance of hulking Chaos Space Marines strongly suggests that something far more sinister is about to take place.

Quite wonderfully drawing all this action and scheming together into a veritable feast for the eyes is Jacen Burrows’ artwork, which does a magnificent job of portraying Calgar in all his formidable glory. The American illustrator evidently has a great flair for pencilling bolter-infested battles, with his double-splash of the Ultramarines emerging from a swooping Thunderhawk gunship to tear bloody chunks out of a heretical mob being one of this publication’s biggest highlights.

The regular cover art of "WARHAMMER 40,000: MARNEUS CALGAR" #1 by Jacen Burrows