Warhammer 40,000: Sisters Of Battle #5 - Marvel Comics

WARHAMMER 40,000: SISTERS OF BATTLE No. 5, March 2022

Unapologetically throwing away any sense of covertness to Canoness Veridyan’s secret assignment on Siscia for an “all-out war” against the minor Imperial Mining World’s chaos-infested population, Torunn Grønbekk’s final instalment of “Warhammer 40,000: Sisters Of Battle” certainly contains plenty of pulse-pounding moments. Indeed, at one point on the planet’s surface, “behind enemy lines”, the Prince of Pleasure even opens up a literal gateway thronged full of Slaanesh’s most purple fiends, steeds and heralds in an attempt to thwart the formidable firepower of an Adepta Sororitas Immolator; “Was it overkill..?”

Happily however, all this mass destruction doesn’t stop the Norwegian author from reaching a conclusion to the Order of Our Martyred Lady’s mission, even if the revelation is that the entire celestial body has given itself over to the "Lord of Excess" purely because the miners unwittingly uncovered a small corrupted statue in an abandoned temple’s wading bath whilst digging underground. This arguably underwhelming disclosure is debatably made all the more disappointing when the planetary-wide revolt’s instigator, Crea, is simply shot in the head by Sister Superior Cassia whilst the gaunt-looking priestess is taking a refreshing dip in the pool’s chaos-contaminated water.

Equally as bemusing is the fate awaiting the traitor Origen, who having been the sole objective for Veridyan’s semi-doomed operation, is seemingly killed straight out of hand by Inquisitor Ander, just as soon as the heavily manacled prisoner is brought before him. Admittedly, the grim-faced member of the Ordo Hereticus doesn’t execute his former acolyte until the exact location of Slaanesh’s statue has been confirmed. But this information is already made partially available to Ander courtesy of Sister Dialogus’ deciphering of Origen’s encrypted letters.

Much more satisfying than this mini-series’ storyline is Edgar Salazar’s pencilling, which does a proficient job in depicting the utter carnage taking place on Siscia’s surface once the Sisters of Battle roll out their forces in full. In addition, the Mexican artist sketches a truly epic sacrificial demise for an encircled Tedra, who quite literally blows the guts out of the uprising by dousing herself in highly flammable promethium, and then calmly walks towards the nearest group of gun-toting chaos cultists.

The regular cover art of "WARHAMMER 40,000: SISTERS OF BATTLE" #5 by Dave Wilkins

Warhammer 40,000: Sisters Of Battle #4 - Marvel Comics

WARHAMMER 40,000: SISTERS OF BATTLE No. 4, January 2022

Having spent the best part of three instalments showing Canoness Veridyan slowly leading her squad of Adepta Sororitas through the corruption-filled corridors of the planet Siscia, Torunn Grønbekk’s narrative for Issue Four of “Warhammer: Sisters Of Battle” probably provided many of its readers with some sense of satisfaction by finally having the all-female infiltration team encounter their target, Inquisitor Acolyte. Yet whilst this meeting does a good job of illustrating just how much of a cursed heretic Origen has become during his time on the “minor Imperial Mining World”, it arguably does so in such a heavy-handed manner that it raises several questions as to why the ‘Daughters of the Emperor’ didn’t just try to extricate the treacherous Inquisitorial henchman en mass from this mini-series’ start..?

To begin with, having finally learnt of his agent’s betrayal, Inquisitor Ander immediately dismisses any need for the urgent secrecy upon which this entire storyline’s premise has debatably been based, and instead informs Canoness Preceptor Oris that she may now crush the Chaos-led rebellion with maximum effort. This complete U-turn is genuinely infuriating and whilst it supposedly makes the Orders Militant’s commander-in-chief “grateful for this moment when the politics and uncertainty fade into irrelevance”, it also means that Veridyan never needed to attempt so doomed a mission to begin with just a handful of warriors.

Likewise, it appears abundantly clear that Novitiate Ghita’s team had absolutely no hope of ever making it through their assignment undiscovered, when both the planet’s Governor and Origen were neck deep in the mysterious Crea’s perfidies straight from this story’s start. Disconcertingly however, the removal of such clandestineness isn’t seemingly communicated to the Sisters prowling underground, but that doesn’t stop them literally blowing up the chaos force’s headquarters in a highly visible effort to extract the acolyte from his mistress’ demonic side; “Milady. The Sisters of Battle are on the ground. Our forces are ready. We only need your order.”

Perhaps therefore, this twenty-page periodical’s most notable highlight is to be found within the layouts of Edgar Salazar. The freelance artist does an excellent job of drawing the mindless violence surround the Sisterhood during its skirmishes with Origen’s numerous minions, and surely must have raised a smile upon the lips of many a “Warhammer 40,000” fan with his sketch of Veridyan double knee-capping her ungrateful ‘charge’ after he foolishly attempts to escape by unsuccessfully strangling Tedra.

The regular cover art of "WARHAMMER 40,000: SISTERS OF BATTLE" #4 by Dave Wilkins

Warhammer 40,000: Sisters Of Battle #3 - Marvel Comics

WARHAMMER 40,000: SISTERS OF BATTLE No. 3, December 2021

Whilst there’s certainly ample going on inside Torunn Grønbekk’s well-penned narrative for Issue Three of “Warhammer 40,000: Sisters Of Battle”, it will probably be hard for some of this mini-series’ loyal followers not to feel a slight sense of déjà vu as this comic’s lead protagonists simply continue to travel ever “deeper into the tunnels of Siscia.” Indeed, a fair portion of this twenty-page periodical’s plot could somewhat harshly be viewed as consisting of little more than Canoness Veridyan’s squad once again gunning down a number of emaciated chaos sympathisers against the all-too familiar backdrop of some grungy-looking, subterranean city tunnels; “Are you sure this is the correct path, Novitiate?”

Mercifully though, for those readers able to persevere with this arguable repetitiveness, the Norwegian author still manages to include plenty of intriguing moments with which to keep any fan of “the all-female military force” suitably hooked, such as a tantalising flashback sequence concerning Canoness Selene’s confession on the planet Balta some twenty-three years in the past. These insights into the Emperor’s faithful genuinely help bring some extra depth of character to this comic’s central cast, and help demonstrate just why the tightly-knit crew have been able to outfight so extensively-entrenched an enemy as Milady Crea’s daemonic rebellion.

Furthermore, Grønbekk cloaks the harsh-talking Inquisitor Ander with a thoroughly dislikeable, yet wholly enthralling, shroud of secrecy. Clearly keeping his cards incredibly close to his chest, the member of the Ordo Hereticus absolutely reeks of distrust during his curt conversations with Canoness Preceptor on board the Retribution-class battleship, Fiery Heart, and in doing so makes it disconcertingly clear that Veridyan’s supposedly straightforward mission to merely “retrieve a lost Inquisitorial acolyte” from a heretical uprising is far from the actual truth of the matter.

Ably aiding Torunn with this book’s storytelling is Edgar Salazar, whose well-pencilled layouts certainly contain plenty of “no-holds-barred action” whenever the script requires it. However, it is debatably the Mexican illustrator’s touchingly tender moment portraying Cassia’s life-saving blessing from the Emperor himself, which is potentially the artist’s finest contribution to this particular publication. Surrounded by her aghast comrades-in-arms, the unconscious warrior’s seemingly fatal throat wound is astonishingly shown to miraculously close in unison with the gathering’s vocal prayers for the Master of Mankind to show mercy.

The regular cover art of "WARHAMMER 40,000: SISTERS OF BATTLE" #3 by Dave Wilkins

Warhammer 40,000: Sisters Of Battle #2 - Marvel Comics

WARHAMMER 40,000: SISTERS OF BATTLE No. 2, November 2021

Providing its audience with a disconcertingly bleak flashback to a time when Novitiate Ghita was just a small, blonde-haired adolescent running through the dangerous alleyways of Siscia so as to be with her pitifully disfigured friends, Torunn Grønbekk’s storyline for Issue Two of “Warhammer 40,000: Sisters Of Battle” certainly shows the stagnant human civilisation of the far future in the very worst of lights. But whilst such decadence will doubtless make some readers question just why the chaos-infested industrial planet is actually worth saving, it does help emphasise every small act of kindness which the Adepta Sororitas can provide for those colonists who prove worthy.

Indeed, by having her narrative focus upon such a small number of Sisters of Battle amidst such a massive, violent uprising the Norwegian author ensures that every decision, thought, and observation that the Emperor’s loyal warriors make are absolutely crucial to the success of their covert mission. This attention to detail really helps ramp up the tension as the tightly-knitted Kill Team find themselves being drawn deeper down the daemon-filled tunnels, and actually adds some palatable weight to the rulings made by the Canoness Veridyan; “We have two choices. Try to get through the main gates or take down the sentry gun.”

Likewise, there’s a definite sense of threat from even the most poorly-armed opponent, which forces the titular characters to choose their targets and opportunities wisely. This concern, even when facing three seemingly weaponless workers in a subterranean settlement imbues the comic’s atmosphere with a genuine sense of dread and foreboding, especially when the faithless begin making bizarre incarnations against the Emperor and transform together into a huge, grinning monstrosity from beyond the warp.

Edgar Salazar is also at the top of his game with this book’s pencilling, making it abundantly clear with his well-populated panels just how massive the heretical uprising is which the Adepta Sororitas are slowly infiltrating, as well as how uncomfortably tiny the loyalist penetration squad actually are. In addition, the sad demise of Sister Superior Cassia is heartbreakingly drawn and it is easy to see the anguish upon Veridyan’s face as she caringly cradles her dying friend’s fast-failing form.

The regular cover art of "WARHAMMER 40,000: SISTERS OF BATTLE" #2 by Dave Wilkins

Warhammer 40,000: Sisters Of Battle #1 - Marvel Comics

WARHAMMER 40,000: SISTERS OF BATTLE No. 1, October 2021

Announced in May 2021 by its publisher as “the start of the next phase of Warhammer comics at Marvel”, Issue One of “Warhammer 40,000: Sisters Of Battle” probably lived up to most Games Workshop fans’ expectations with its “no-holds-barred action, mystery, and daemons galore.” Indeed, the twenty-page periodical doesn’t even manage to last a mere handful of panels before it’s portraying a Magistrate and his fellow legal experts being flung to death from atop a high-rise building; “Your heresy will not go unpunished. Repent while you still can. Save your soul. You are about to die.”

Surprisingly however, Torunn Grønbekk’s narrative doesn’t concern itself with a large swathe of the Adepta Sororitas though, preferring instead to simply settle upon the self-contained exploits of eight Sisters of Battle, as they seek to free an Inquisitor’s acolyte from the chaotic planet of Siscia. Such a limited number of characters may well disappoint those hotly anticipating reading about the Ecclesiarchy's massed armed forces pitilessly subjugating a large-scale heresy using all the vehicles and wargear at their command. But it does mean that the Norwegian author is better able to imbue a few of the elite group with some pleasing personality.

In addition, it soon becomes evident that every casualty is going to be crucial to the success of Canoness Veridyan’s covert mission – an element which really helps to ramp up the tension once the team encounter their first potentially deadly obstacle in the shape of two men carrying Stub Guns, and are forced to dive for what scant cover the tunnel within which they are racing along can provide. This sense-shattering shoot-out also gives Grønbekk a terrific opportunity to contrast Novitiate Ghita from the rest of her fight-savvy comrades-in-arms and demonstrate just how much the female Progena of the Schola Progeniums relies upon her faith in the Emperor to see her safely through the day.

Similarly as rewarding are this comic’s layouts by Edgar Salazar, whose ability to imbue this “all-new action-packed adventure” with plenty of dynamism helps enormously with its storytelling. The expressions on the various combatants’ faces are particularly convincing in presenting people’s emotions, with the almost blissful look upon Battle Sister Elsbeth as she suicidally ignites a grenade whilst in the spine-breaking clutches of a multi-tentacled chaos spawn, disconcertingly haunting most of this book’s audience for quite some time afterwards.

The regular cover art of "WARHAMMER 40,000: SISTERS OF BATTLE" #1 by Dave Wilkins

Warhammer 40,000: Marneus Calgar #5 - Marvel Comics

WARHAMMER 40,000: MARNEUS CALGAR No. 5, April 2021

Firmly fixated upon the titular character’s final battle against two of the traitorous trainees he once fought when he was universally known as just lowly Tacitan, this twenty-one page periodical’s plot certainly can’t be described as being unexciting or actionless. But whilst Kieron Gillen’s storyline for Issue Five of “Warhammer 40,000: Marneus Calgar” contains plenty of pulse-pounding power fist-based pugilism and several bucket loads of gory blood, its opening scene depicts the Chapter Master of the Ultramarines in such a dire predicament that arguably any plausibility that he could single-handedly survive the Khorne threat on Thulium Minor is immediately lost.

For starters, having endured his Thunderhawk’s horrific crash the Lord of Macragge finds himself stood facing both the double-headed, physically-fused incarnation of his former acquaintances, as well as a good half a dozen able-bodied Chaos Space Marines. These formidable enemies are all within spitting distance of Calgar, yet seem to make no effort at all to close the gap between them, preferring instead to ineffectively fire at the retreating Adeptus Astartes as he withdraws deep inside a nearby mining facility. 

True, as Marneus points out to his accompanying tech priest, the Lord Defender of Greater Ultramar is “a small army” in his own right. But considering that he is literally also just a stone’s throw away from the incredible firepower of a gigantic, super-heavy Daemon Engine of Chaos, it is difficult to believe even he could survive such close proximity to a great cleaver of Khorne, or a Skullhurler, or even a Daemongore cannon, if the “grotesque battle construct” had attacked him from this comic’s start; “Unleashing a torrent of burning filth at all that lies before the Lord of Skulls. It is capable of reducing whole armoured divisions to molten slag.”

Instead, the British writer pens a bizarrely unambitious conclusion which sees Jacen Burrows proficiently pencilling the Primaris Space Marine besting a mere handful of the Blood God’s most loyal acolytes within the ruins of a long-downed World Bearers vessel, before apparently being both outmanoeuvred and subsequently outfought by his heavily mutated main adversary. This climax is debatably made all the worse by having the Ultramarine willingly have one of his hearts pierced by the semi-naked Chaos Champion’s sword in a clichéd effort to get his hands on his opponent after deciding his Power Fists alone didn’t give him the reach needed to do the job.

The regular cover art of "WARHAMMER 40,000: MARNEUS CALGAR" #5 by James Stokoe

Warhammer 40,000: Marneus Calgar #4 - Marvel Comics

WARHAMMER 40,000: MARNEUS CALGAR No. 4, April 2021

Marvellously mixing the titular character’s rise to becoming a Space Marine “hundreds of years earlier” with the ‘present-day’ events on Nova Thulium, Kieron Gillen’s narrative for Issue Four of “Warhammer 40,000: Marneus Calgar” arguably doesn’t give its audience time to breathe until towards its very end when the humble Neophyte faces a final test at the hands of a ruthless Inquisitor. And even then, the tense atmosphere generated by the deeply disconcerting agent’s conversation concerning Tacitan’s previous contact with Crixus’ Khorne Cult, is so palpable that the vast majority of this comic’s readers were probably too busy holding their breath to inhale any air anyway.

Indeed, the Inkpot Award-winner does an excellent job within this twenty-two page periodical’s plot of perpetually hurling any perusing bibliophile straight into the very heart of the action, whether that be Marneus’ retaking of the Calgar Estates from an army of Chaos Heretics or the detailed depiction of the adolescent aspirant desperately defying all the odds to overcome the xenos threat of an Ambull, the slaughter of servitors, and an attack by Orks; “The University of Death. I learned many things from many teachers. I survived when men died. I realised that is what makes a Space Marine.”

Happily however, all this bloodshed and carnage hasn’t simply been assembled just to pad out the publication, but actually strives to show how violent an upbringing the Chapter Master of the Ultramarines had, and how those gore-soaked experiences helped shape him into the killing machine he eventually becomes. This character-building is perhaps best seen when the Lord of Macragge is shown to willingly face down an enormous Helbrute who had literally just torn asunder one of his battle-brothers, without either of his hearts skipping a beat.

Jacen Burrows pencils Calgar as actually seeming to relish the opportunity to confront such a truly terrifying Chaos Dreadnought, so the San Diego-born artist’s subsequent illustrations of the legendary Space Marine’s rise from a gaunt-looking boy into such an icon of the Emperor makes for a truly mesmerising experience, especially as his ascension is documented alongside all the surgical enhancements his initially feeble physical body withstands. In fact, for those Warhammer 40,000 fan-boys fascinated by the numerous organ enhancements and adaptions which take place upon an Adeptus Astartes Neophyte, this comic book is the ideal place to ponder them.

The regular cover art of "WARHAMMER 40,000: MARNEUS CALGAR" #4 by James Stokoe

Warhammer 40,000: Marneus Calgar #3 - Marvel Comics

WARHAMMER 40,000: MARNEUS CALGAR No. 3, February 2021

Dynamically split between the titular character’s current crusade against the Forces of Chaos infesting his former family’s estates on Nova Thulium, and the Lord Defender of Greater Ultramar’s earlier exploits as a wannabe Space Marine aspirant on the Agri-world’s savage moon, Kieron Gillen’s script for Issue Three of “Warhammer 40,000: Marneus Calgar” must surely have pleased many within the mini-series’ audience with the central protagonist’s contrasting fighting abilities. Indeed, in many ways it is hard to imagine that the thin, scruffily-clothed adolescent desperately trying to stay alive amidst a slavering cabal of Khorne worshippers, would ultimately survive to become the formidable Chapter Master who single-handedly storms a hapless Blood God death machine and causes untold carnage wearing just the Gauntlets of Ultramar.

Enjoyably however, this well-defined distinction is definitely what the British author’s narrative needs in order to remain at least slightly ‘believable’. Armed with little more than a knife and a belly full of revenge for his fallen friend, it would arguably have been all too easy to have penned Tacitan waging a war upon the perfidious Crixus like some sort of super-fighting machine. But rather fall into that particular trap, the former video game journalist instead shows the outnumbered loyalist desperately trying to use his brains to overcome his opponents’ brawn, and ultimately actually failing in his mission to destroy the traitors’ foul underground altar.

Likewise Gillen appears rather good at depicting the sheer might of a lone Space Marine sergeant when faced with a cybernetically-enhanced, axe-wielding maniac and his fanatical brethren. Power sword in one hand and bolter in the other, Arta readily overcomes all of the physical hurdles which stood in Tacitan's way, and still has time to rescue the awestruck youth from a self-imploding demonic dais before he’s done dispensing the Emperor’s justice; “I saw the monster that was Crixus advance. Full of dark power and darker madness. Any man would have run. But the marine? He knew no fear.”

Just as important to the telling of this twenty-page periodical’s pulse-pounding plot is Jacen Burrows’ awesome artwork, which genuinely seems to add an awful lot to the mythos behind Calgar’s rise to become the Lord of Macragge. The sheer weight behind Marneus’ power-fists can almost be felt whenever he swings the gigantic close-combat weapons in anger, and such well-pencilled scenes diverge marvellously with those of the light-footed serf, who is forced to rely upon sheer speed and cunning rather than the overwhelming weaponry of the Adeptus Astartes.

Writer: Kieron Gillen, Artist: Jacen Burrows, and Colorist: Java Tartaglia

Warhammer 40,000: Marneus Calgar #2 - Marvel Comics

WARHAMMER 40,000: MARNEUS CALGAR No. 2, January 2021

Focusing far more upon just how an adolescent Marneus Calgar prepared himself for the Astartes tests under the instructor Crixus than the Chapter Master of the Ultramarines’ current battle against the Forces of Chaos on Nova Thulium, Kieron Gillen’s narrative for this twenty-page periodical caused quite a bit of controversy amongst fans of the Warhammer 40,000 tabletop game when it originally hit the spinner racks in November 2020. For whilst the British author arguably does an excellent job of providing this comic’s audience with a thoroughly riveting read, courtesy of some surprisingly dark treachery on the Agri-world’s moon, the writer also takes “one of the franchise’s most beloved characters” in an entirely new direction by having the twelve year-old shockingly die in the arms of his best friend at the very end of the book; “No, Tacitan. It is over. I am over. I… Marneus Calgar will never be a space marine.”

This act of ultimate betrayal by the adolescent’s bitterly twisted trainer is admittedly a little disconcerting at first, with this twenty-page periodical seemingly therefore depicting the beloved Lord of Macragge as being an ignoble imposter rather than the high-born heir to “the richest house on the planet”. However, such a potential mass cover-up is quickly shown to be nothing of the sort as the Lord Defender of Greater Ultramar quite openly talks about how he took on the name of his closest companion to “little Quintus” Heximar following the true Calgar’s demise, and even goes as far as to show the Adept the impressive family statue dedicated to the deceased youth who “died… in service of the Emperor.”

In addition, the shocking casualty certainly makes some sense story-wise considering the would-be marine Marneus and his ferociously-loyal serf Tacitan are superbly pencilled by American artist Jacen Burrows haplessly stumbling upon their treasonous team-mates’ nightmarish temple to the Blood God Khorne with no weapons apart from a small knife and a couple of lanterns. Surrounded by a sizeable number of ‘brain-washed’ trainees, their barking mad mentor and over half a dozen cybernetically-enhanced Chaos acolytes, this comic’s narrative would debatably appear far too contrived if the two unarmed boys managed to escape the turncoats’ deadly underground trap with nothing but a couple of bruises and cuts.

Writer: Kieron Gillen, Artist: Jacen Burrows, and Colorist Java Tartaglia

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

Warhammer 40,000: Will Of Iron #5 - Titan Comics

WARHAMMER 40,000: WILL OF IRON No. 5, April 2017

Returning “with a brand-new story arc” this particular edition of “the mighty ongoing series” must surely have befuddled and bewildered the vast majority of its readers, even those whose hobby-time is utterly immersed within the “Warhammer 40K” tabletop miniature wargame’s “dystopian science fantasy universe.” For whilst this comic’s foreword provides some semblance of an explanation as to what actually happened at the conclusion of the title’s previous story-arc, George Mann’s script for “Revelations” delivers little more than a seemingly random sequence of events which occur with minimal rhyme or reason.

For starters, just how did Baltus miraculously outlast the destruction on Exyrion when “he ignited an ancient weapon” which scoured “the surface with powerful energy” and presumably annihilated the majority of Dark Angels, Iron Warriors and Titans of Tintaroth battling there? Admittedly, the comic does subtly intimate that the armament only ‘cleansed’ the planet’s exterior, so potentially the space marine could have survived the device’s activation underground, even though he was stood right beside it at the time. But that doesn’t then explain how he endured his squad’s vulnerable position being overrun by hulking great chaos space marines like Beoth, nor rationalise how the “sole survivor” is later depicted seemingly uninjured and falling “back on his training” to seek “solace in ritual”..?

Disappointingly, the “superstar” writer’s preoccupation with exploring Inquisitor Sabbathiel’s grotesque daemonhost-fuelled dreams doesn’t lend itself to a comprehendible flow for this twenty-two page periodical either, as Astor’s irrational vision of a “foul cult” forming on Quintus appears far too coincidental a sub-plot when one considers that her ‘antagonist’ Master Serphaus has already independently elected to visit the self-same world. Such lazy penmanship on behalf of the Darlington-born author would arguably be a bit more palatable if it wasn’t for the fact that the Dark Angels commander appears to almost whimsically “lead the mission to Quintus myself” for no discernible reason other than to ensure Interrogator-Chaplain Altheous is deployed elsewhere.

Fortunately, Tazio Bettin’s incredible pencilling for Issue Five of “Warhammer 40K: Will Of Iron” still means that this “Titan Comics” publication is well worth reading, with the freelance illustrator’s sketching of a horrific ‘eye-ball vomiting’ nightmare scene arguably being worth the cover price alone. Indeed, the Italian’s final half-page panel, depicting a party of acrobatic Harlequins racing through some woodland provides precisely the sort of colourful, eye-catching cliff-hanger that any Craftworld Eldar fan would surely go mad for.

The regular cover art of "WARHAMMER 40,000: WILL OF IRON" No. 5 by Connor Magill

Warhammer 40,000: Will Of Iron #4 - Titan Comics

WARHAMMER 40,000: WILL OF IRON No. 4, February 2017

There is arguably a good deal of enjoyment to be found within Issue Four of “Warhammer 40,000: Will Of Iron”, as George Mann’s script brings this mini-series to a cataclysmic conclusion by hurling endless waves of Iron Warriors against the increasingly outnumbered Dark Angels, and Lion El'Jonson’s legion resultantly relying upon “nought but decrepit antiques” from Tintaroth as back-up. Indeed, at one point the battle seems to be flowing so much in the favour of the Chaos Space Marines that their gore-spattered Lord even jokes with Rendix that his loyal lieutenant is so successfully swatting his foes “like so many flies drawn to the bounty of a rotting corpse” that he needs to slow down and “save some for the rest of us” to massacre.

However, any publication which relies solely upon its foreword in order to significantly progress its plot lacks more than a little credibility, and unfortunately for this twenty-four-page finale, the Darlington-born author does just that by first stating in it that the Titans of Tintaroth have already clashed “with a speartip of Iron Warriors on the surface of Exyrion”, and then adding that Baltus’ squad has suffered such heavy casualties that it has “only four Marines left to hold off the Iron Warriors pursuing them into the caverns”. Worse, at no point in this story-arc's previous instalments has it ever been made clear that Korus’ troops knew the precise location of “the ancient, buried weapon”, nor that they were pushing “ever-closer” towards it’s subterranean lair.

These disconcerting ‘event leaps’ genuinely grate and subsequently cause the sudden appearance of heavily-armoured Iron Warriors at Baltus’ precise position to feel particularly manufactured and lazily orchestrated, rather than being simply an unhappy coincidence within the narrative. Unhappily though, it is at this point that the Locus Award-nominee’s previously competent writing appears to completely de-rail, with Baron Kastor suddenly notifying Altheous that “a [mysterious] fellow brother of the Dark Angels” has inconveniently informed his fellow noblemen that the Interrogator-Chaplin is “a renegade spinning a web of deceit”, and thus put an end to any reinforcements, and Baltus unbelievably detonating the mysterious weapon he's tried so hard to protect, even though it means “the Dark Gods [can] gorge themselves on a million unworthy souls.”

Presumably flabbergasted by this absurd outcome Tazio Bettin’s artwork also deplorably deteriorates as the comic continues, with his stunningly dynamic drawings of Sergeant Kalidius bravely fending off Beoth’s bestial attack, ultimately being replaced with some distinctly indifferent doodles of a blasted landscape, and the partially disintegrated remains of a Space Marine clawing his way to the planet’s featureless surface…

The regular cover art of "WARHAMMER 40,000: WILL OF IRON" No. 4 by Nick Percival

Warhammer 40,000: Will Of Iron #3 - Titan Comics

WARHAMMER 40,000: WILL OF IRON No. 3, January 2017

Murderously merging this mini-series’ four potentially problematic sub-plots into one action-packed, blood-soaked gestalt of a publication, George Mann’s narrative for Issue Three of “Warhammer 40,000: Will Of Iron” arguably contains enough explosions, bolter pistols, chainswords and grisly decapitations to sate the appetite of even the most voracious devotee to the “dystopian science fantasy universe.” In fact, the titanic tussle between the Dark Angels and Iron Warriors on the planet Exyrion provides this title’s readers with a glimpse of practically every sort of weapon known to the servants of the Emperor, including battleships, drop pods, thunderhawks, rhinos, and Ravenwing bikers, as well as the vicious machinery of their chaotic counterparts; “Exyrion shall be defended.”

Quite cleverly however, rather than just sweepingly recount the planet-wide destruction that is taking place, the Sidewise Award-nominee’s storyline instead swiftly refocuses upon the underground exploits of Balthus, just as soon as Beoth has been ordered to “reclaim what is ours” by the Chaos Lord Korus. This particular writing ploy is a sound one, as it quickly leads to the audience experiencing all the claustrophobic concerns of the “devoted and loyal” Adeptus Astartes as they try to survive “the death-trap warrens of an inverted hive city filled with monstrous mutants”, as opposed to them simply being ineffectually carried ever onwards by an endless succession of battle scenes and splash-pages. 

The Darlington-born “Doctor Who” novelist even manages to give Altheous some significant ‘screen-time’, courtesy of a decidedly overlong conversational sequence set on the planet Tintaroth, where the Interrogator-Chaplain waxes lyrical to his (dis)courteous hosts as to the terminal fate their world faces should they chose not to side with Lion El'Jonson’s legion against the raging Chaos Host. Unfortunately though, much like the frames featuring Astor Sabbathiel, these departures from the Calaphrax Campaign carnage significantly slow down the twenty-one page periodical’s pace, and additionally raise some disconcerting questions as to some of the cast’s motivations.

For example, why does the “sombre, serious and dedicated” Altheous permit one of the nobles to live, having heard him speak heresy by stating that the Emperor of Mankind “holds no dominion here”? And, having found nothing but “the remains of an ancient squad of Dark Angels”, why does the Ordo Hereticus Inquisitor somewhat faintheartedly flee back to her ship from a derelict orbiting space installation, preposterously stating that “there is much to consider”?

The regular cover art of "WARHAMMER 40,000: WILL OF IRON" No. 3 by Nick Percival

Warhammer 40,000: Will Of Iron #2 - Titan Comics

WARHAMMER 40,000: WILL OF IRON No. 2, December 2016

Considering that Issue Two of “Warhammer 40,000: Will Of Iron” is only twenty pages long, George Mann somehow still manages to cram an incredible amount of diverging sub-plots within its narrative. Sadly however, whilst such an informative read makes Kalidius’ early subterranean sojourn into “an underground city” full of survivors a tense, excitingly atmospheric experience, it also means that by the time the storyline has leapt from the planet Exyrion to “an ancient observation platform”, and then on to the feudal world of Tintaroth, events, as well as the vast cast of characters involved, have become both overcomplicated and overwhelming to say the least. 

As a result, once the adventure finally settles upon the Chaos Space Marine spaceship fast approaching the Calaphax Cluster, it is somewhat hard to actually work out just which planet Korus is partially planning to destroy with his “Engine of Death”. In fact, without re-reading the series’ preceding instalment again, as this book’s early summarisation makes no reference at all to the machinations of the Iron Warriors Chaos Lord, its impossibly hard to recall just what secrets Rendix and Astorax are hoping to crack open once the missile has detonated upon “the Hive”. 

Equally as confusing to those without an encyclopaedic knowledge of “Warhammer 40K” lore, is Astor Sabbathiel’s “current goal… to uncover whether the Dark Angels are secretly riddled with heresy.” Apparently already convinced of the treachery of Lion El'Jonson’s legion due to the affidavit of an incarcerated “thing”, the Inquisitor unwisely visits a “weather station” potentially “designed to keep a watchful eye on Exyrion” and then barely bats an eye when one of her entourage notices that “after all this time, the air recyclers are still functioning.” The installation clearly reeks of being a trap set by “the creeping things of the warp”, so why is the Ordo Hereticus devotee so convinced that Anya’s discovery of a handful of bullet-riddled corpses found on board is “the evidence you’ve been looking for”..?

Clearly this publication's saving grace though is the outstanding artwork of Tazio Bettin, which is so mesmerising and claustrophobically coloured by Enrica Eren Angiolini, that its almost immaterial how convoluted the storyline has become. The wonderfully drawn illustrations simply carry the reader’s eye along despite the aforementioned somewhat choppy script, and one can actually feel the heavy, living weight of the giant horned hounds as they momentarily fall upon Baltus’ squad and are then eviscerated by his sergeant’s chainsword; “There are spoors here. The place must be guard --”

The regular cover art of "WARHAMMER 40,000: WILL OF IRON" No. 2 by Fabio Listrani

Warhammer 40,000: Will Of Iron #1 - Titan Comics

WARHAMMER 40,000: WILL OF IRON No. 1, November 2016

“Based in the universe of the ever-popular miniatures game, novels, and videogames, this new ongoing series” was probably not the “perfect [entry-point] for both the hardcore Warhammer 40,000 fan and the complete newcomer” that “Games Workshop” and “Titan Comics” arguably hoped for. In fact, it’s hard to imagine anyone not intimately familiar with both the sinister enigmas of Lion El'Jonson’s Space Marine Chapter and the relentless distrust of the Imperial Inquisition, understanding just why Astor Sabbathiel, having witnessed Cypher the Fallen Angel fighting alongside Bloodletters, has become so obsessed with dragging “the secrets of these Dark Angels into the light.”

True, George Mann’s intriguing narrative does provide something of a straightforward setting for these ‘opposing forces’ to meet up against, by conveniently having the “warp storm of eons” abate just long enough to cause Azrael’s warriors and their great rivals, the Iron Warriors, to race towards the Calaphrax Cluster in order ‘protect’ the deeds of their forefathers. But it’s hard to imagine any casual peruser comprehending either the sheer scope or significance of the Horus Heresy, nor interrogator-chaplain Altheous’ earnestness in protecting his brethren’s history from Perturabo’s traitor legion.

Quibbles as to the depth of knowledge arguably needed to fully appreciate this twenty-page periodical’s script aside however, Issue One of “Warhammer 40,000: Will Of Iron” provides plenty of sense-shattering action once Seraphus orders the first wave of Adeptus Astartes to be launched upon the planet Exyrion; “It was here that the warriors of the Dark Angles fought the remnants of the traitorous Iron Warriors in one of the most gruelling battles of the legion’s history.” Indeed, as soon as Baltus and the rest of his Blade Strike Force land and start to “suffer not the warpspawn to live!” this publication literally jumps to life and continues to enthrallingly entertain up until its climatic cliff-hanger…

Just as engaging as Mann’s wicked writing, are Tazio Bettin’s top notch breakdowns. Clean-lined, and vibrantly coloured by Enrica Eren Angiolini, the Italian freelance illustrator imbues both the red-rimmed, manically-eyed Inquisitor, as well as the misshapen monstrosities which stalk the ruinous world, with plenty of inherent deadliness and vigour; even when the later are being rather unceremoniously ripped apart and disembowelled by boltguns and chainswords.

The regular cover art of "WARHAMMER 40,000: WILL OF IRON" No. 1 by Tazio Bettin

Warhammer 40,000: Will Of Iron #0 - Titan Comics

WARHAMMER 40,000: WILL OF IRON No. 0, October 2016

“Aimed at fans and newcomers alike” with its “wealth of compelling characters, species, and searingly-memorable imagery” this twelve-page periodical was packaged alongside the October 2016 edition of “White Dwarf” as a free gift, and advertised as the first in a series of “brand-new comics based in the world of Warhammer 40,000” to be published by “Titan Comics”. Sadly however, it is extremely doubtful that anyone unfamiliar with the “dark-gothic dystopian... universe” created in 1987 would have had much of a clue as to what George Mann’s supposedly “accessible science-fiction action" was actually about, apart from perhaps Astor Sabbathiel’s palpable doubts regarding the chaotic cleansing of the planet Exyrion by Baltus and his fellow Dark Angel Space Marines.

Indeed, as introductory tales go, the most useful aspect of this “exclusive” Prologue is disconcertingly the comic’s opening foreword within which the “Black Library” writer goes into some detail as to the background, past experiences and motivations of the title’s main protagonists. Such a detailed preamble genuinely proves essential reading prior to perusing this mini-series and certainly provides the female inquisitor’s troubled musings some additional gravitas; especially when the text establishes that the Emperor’s “relentless” agent “often engages in questionable methods to get to the truth.”

For those readers already immersed in the lore of the “iconic, power-armor-encased Space Marines” and their unending battle “against unspeakable forces of xenos” though, Issue Zero of “Warhammer 40,000: Will Of Iron” was undoubtedly a thoroughly entertaining look at the Imperium’s campaign within the “re-opened” Calaphrax Cluster and a terrifically dynamic introduction to Interrogator-Chaplain Altheous and his all-smiting power-fist. In fact, Mann’s story-line is so unrelenting in its intensity that the brevity of this tome must surely have had ‘40K fan-boy’ bibliophiles everywhere clamouring for more; “Those with righteousness in their hearts found salvation in the glory of the Emperor’s light.”

Tazio Bettin’s artwork for this comic is equally as pulse-pounding as the Lion’s Blade Strike Force landing amidst “the frothing, Daemonic intensity of Chaos.” Superbly detailed and sense-shattering the breakdowns genuinely portray all the mayhem wrought by the “seventh edition of the tabletop game”. Whilst the Italian’s incredibly revealing “Anatomy Of A Cover” article provides plenty of appeal for those interested in the penciler’s attempt to get “the strongest and most iconic visual” for the first issue’s composite cover.

Writer: George Mann, Artist: Tazio Bettin, and Colorist: Enrica Eren Angiolini