WH40k Will of Iron #2 Review — Even Moar Secrets
With the debut issue of Titan Comics’ Warhammer 40,000: Will of Iron #1 last month, I was pretty stoked to see a rich, intriguing Dark Angel story. All of the pieces were set up accordingly, and the story started with a really great hook. Warhammer 40k: Will of Iron #2 mostly continues that streak, but I am momentarily concerned they have just a few too many plates spinning for a four-issue arc.
On the planet of Exyrion, the Dark Angels easily handle the minions of chaos, only to discover the planet has been hiding a hive city beneath the planet’s surface. This comes as a shock to the Dark Angels, but apparently it’s well known to the Iron Warriors, who have dire plans for it. But before we get to that, the introductory text describes a terrible weapon used during the heresy that “claimed a million lives.” The subsequent purge of life created a psychic warp storm (because the warp loves that sweet, sweet psychic energy) that has rendered the entire system impassable for 10,000 years. How convenient.
Considering the Imperium of Man has at its disposal something called Exterminatus — a weapon which can destroy an entire planet including the destruction of all life and the biosphere itself — I’m a little surprised that this particular weapon caused such long-reaching destruction. Given that it’s heavily implied to be a Chaos weapon, it’s entirely possible that it was something of a different, more Chaosy flavor, but the very idea demands a little explanation. Explanation that we may very well get, as the Iron Warriors strike hard, in effort to find something within the hive city the Dark Angels have just discovered.
Back on the Inquisitor’s team, they’re investigating an observation deck above Exyrion’s orbit. It’s still unclear who or what is leading the Inquisitor and her team on this evidence hunt, but Sabbathiel clearly feels as though they are on the right track. Upon the discovery of ancient, dead Dark Angels, a member of the Inquisitor’s team confirms they have found their evidence. Really? Someone/thing which is clearly of Chaos told you to find evidence, and you’re just going to assume that dead Dark Angels clearly means there are shenanigans afoot? I’m sure we’ll see more next issue, but this didn’t have quite the dramatic reveal, for me, that I think it was intended to.
Our Chaplain has also arrived on a non-Imperial world, and seems eager to speak with those in charge. I’m not even sure, at this point, where this particular piece of the story is going. Which is my biggest complaint, with the issue overall. In an arc that has a mere four issues, the story telling needs to be tight and concise, and already it feels as though it has a bit too much going on to wrap up in two issues. So far it’s still good, but not quite great. The defining factor will be whether or not the series can stick the landing.
Author: George Mann
Artist: Tazio Bettin
Publisher: Titan Comics
Publish date: 11/09/2016
Acquired via Publisher
