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