Warhammer 40k: Will of Iron #1 Review — Dark Secrets
Dark Angels, amirite? They’re so nutty. Hiding 10,000-year old secrets and stuff, even if that puts them in direct opposition of other Imperial factions. Good times. The funny thing, is despite being one of the stranger loyalist chapters — yes, even weirder than the Space Wolves — the stories involving the Dark Angels generally end up disappointing. Titan Comics’ Warhammer 40k: Will of Iron looks to create a compelling 4-part story starring the Lion El’Jonson’s sons, but can George Mann avoid the all too familiar pitfalls?
For those unfamiliar with the Dark Angels’ history, the tl;dr version is that during the Horus Heresy, part of the Dark Angels legion decided that maybe Horus and his buddies had the right of it, and Chaos was the way to go. Naturally, the loyalist Lion El’Jonson didn’t take kindly to this, the Dark Angels had to kill their own members, and the whole “Some of us were assholes” story became the Dark Angels deepest, darkest secret to keep. Almost no one outside of the Dark Angels knows about this, and they do anything to keep it that way.
Warhammer 40k: Will of Iron #1 begins with a handful of Dark Angels being dispatched to a planet obscured by Warp storms to clean up evidence of this travesty. Which is why I’ve always found the Dark Angels so intriguing as a chapter. While they are devoted to the Emperor and the Imperium, on occasion, it’s clear that their first mission — above all else — is to keep their own secrets hidden. The heresy was a dark mark upon the Lion’s soul and so it continues down through his sons, 10,000 years later.
On the other hand, we have an Inquisitor who claims to have seen Dark Angel forces fighting along side daemons, and she seeks to prove what she saw was real. I have to wonder, though, how Sabbathiel* witnessed these events and lived to tell the tale. One of her kill team mentions they have a “thing” in their holding cells, which claims the Dark Angels are on Calaphrax.
Add into the mix a group of Iron Warriors who appear to want to reclaim something on the planet, and, well, things are going to get boltery in short order. What it isn’t clear, is why they’re just now coming to claim whatever this is? If it’s something on the planet, the Warp storms would keep the Imperium at bay, but considering most traitor legions call the Eye their home, I don’t see why this would pose a problem. Or, is it possible they’re after something far more valuable, like the Dark Angels’ geneseed or technology?
It’s an intriguing premise, but my fear is that it will ultimately devolve into the standard Inquisitor versus Dark Angels up until the Iron Warriors show up, at which point she’ll realize that the Dark Angels really are good guys, and will join forces against the Chaos legion? That is to say, will it turn into yet another misunderstanding-turned-buddy story? More importantly, given that Dark Angels have exactly zero compunctions about killing loyalist factions to keep their secret hidden, how in the world is Sabbathiel not a dead woman walking?
I’ve been waiting for a monthly WH40k comic for years, and Warhammer 40k: Will of Iron #1 is a most welcome treat. I just hope the series can deliver an adequate payoff while remaining loyal (ha!) to the established universe.
Warhammer 40k: Will of Iron #1
Author: George Mann
Artist: Tazio Bettin
Publisher: Titan Comics
Publish date: 10/12/2016
Acquired via Publisher
Our Rating: Yep
*This is clearly a wink and nod at the Sabbat World series by Dan Abnett, right? I mean, generally you see given names, as opposed to surnames referencing the Saint, but it seems way too close to not be a reference. And that is awesome.
