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The Horus Heresy #Graphic Novel
Macragge's Honour
The Horus Heresy continues with a stunning graphic novel
In the aftermath of the Word Bearers’ attack on Calth, the wounded Kor Phaeron flees aboard his battle-barge Infidus Imperator, intent on returning to the war that now rages across the entire galaxy. But the Ultramarines First Chapter Master Marius Gage – under orders from Roboute Guilliman himself – has taken the mighty flagship Macragge’s Honour in pursuit, and the battle to come will surely be remembered for all eternity. Cut off from their Legions and with no hope of reinforcement, the crews of the two vessels stalk one another to the very edge of reality... and beyond.
In the aftermath of the Word Bearers’ attack on Calth, the wounded Kor Phaeron flees aboard his battle-barge Infidus Imperator, intent on returning to the war that now rages across the entire galaxy. But the Ultramarines First Chapter Master Marius Gage – under orders from Roboute Guilliman himself – has taken the mighty flagship Macragge’s Honour in pursuit, and the battle to come will surely be remembered for all eternity. Cut off from their Legions and with no hope of reinforcement, the crews of the two vessels stalk one another to the very edge of reality... and beyond.
128 pages, Hardcover
First published November 2, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
November 6, 2015
Despite its critical acclaim among journalists and fans alike, there was always one line in Know No Fear which irked its readers:
“It is the beginning of one of the most infamous naval duels in Imperial history.”
That was the last we saw of the Ultramarines flagship, wounded but still deadly, powering away from the warzone in pursuit of Kor Phaeron’s battle barge, the Infidus Imperator. The two exited the book, and ever since fans have been chomping at the bit to see what fate had in store for the conflict and the Macragge’s Honour. Well, we were finally given our answer and, in all honesty, it’s not the battle many wanted. It’s not bad by any means, but it hardly lives up to that teasing line.
Perhaps the biggest problem of the entire story comes down to the flaws of its creators. Both are renowned for their skills to be sure, well known for their abilities, but this was a test which neither truly fared all too well in. For example, Roberts is famed for his work on multiple Black Library covers. His distinctive look, ultra-detailed and all, has adorned a multitude of books, posters and promotional materials. However, those were single images not viewed through sequential storytelling. As a result, the book has a very skewed aspect to it. Many of the images are individually told, without any lengthy fight sequences or one-on-one duels. The closest we get are fragmentary images of a massed battle, too chaotic to really be told individually. The rest of the time, his scenes are extremely brief, with fights often resolving themselves in one or two panels at the most. This is in part due to the page layout, which seems to have been intended to make use of his best skills. The panels are massive, often coming down to four or five per page with multiple splash pages, each of which looks beautiful but it results in an extremely brief experience.
While the artistic approach and design might have limited the story, Abnett himself is not above criticism. He’s a master when it comes to writing novels, but much of his work in comics often paired him up with Andy Lanning. This often resulted in his strongest works, and it always seemed that the two balanced out one another’s most notable weaknesses. As such, the tale here seems to be slipping back into a few bad habits which we discussed in Inquisitor Ascendant. Abnett here seems to be focusing upon repeatedly giving the reader more and more action, introducing something new at every turn so the reader never gets bored. In theory this is great and, admittedly, up to the point sorcery is introduced it’s going well and keeps the story flowing. The problem is that, to be blunt, after a while he seems to stop wanting to resolve things. The Macragge’s Honour gets boarded twice over, and each time these actions are dealt with off page. In one we only see a single brief duel before it’s over, and in the other it’s covered in a very chaotic page which shows little of the fight itself.
Even the duel between battleships itself is oddly shortened, and Abnett sadly seems to have focused upon big explosive action over anything of substance. The duel really is resolved in mere minutes, and for all its infamy it boils down to a surprisingly simple stunt on the Ultramarines’ part. It doesn’t help that almost the entire thing is basically a series of brief stunts with each vessel broadsiding the hell out of the other without much in the way of real variation, and little subtlety to their tactics. Rather than getting Red October, this is sadly the Horus Heresy’s version of Battleship. Honestly, there’s time when the pursuit makes you stop and admire how Battle for the Abyss handled some elements. Whatever its failings, that book took more time to try and pace things out and flesh out its cadre of various astartes. By comparison, few if any sailor or marine on either side is worthy of mention. Even the figures dueling on the cover get barely a line between them, and many listed in the Word Bearers’ Dramatis Personae don’t even get a line. Hell, most don’t even appear outside of a single panel right at the end.
So, from all that you’re probably guessing this book is terrible, right? Not entirely. It’s a disappointment to be sure, but it’s not without its strengths. There are some admittedly awesome moments which still drew a smile, from the Macragge’s Honour quickly silencing three cruisers to a full company of cataphractii boarding an enemy warship. When the book does stop for a few moments to offer real sequential art, it does it surprisingly well, and it helps to offer some surprisingly memorable scenes admit the action, such as Legion Master Gage taking on a fifteen meter long daemon. The art, as mentioned before, is quite beautiful all throughout. While focusing a little too heavily upon single prominent colours, it aims to be big and bold, and the incredible detail in Roberts’ artwork is always a sight to behold. Even at his absolute worst, he still produces several striking scenes, and the book’s best moments come from when he relies upon that factor. This is especially true of the Warp which, crude as it can sometimes seem, offers a brilliantly 90s style psychedelically view of the daemonic realm.
As for the story’s strengths, to his credit Abnett kept it relatively open to new readers. General knowledge of the betrayal of Calth is all that’s needed to get by on this one, and it serves as a fun side-story to the more comprehensive novels. The final engagement which sees the Ultramarines’ victory is still entertaining, and rather than feeling cheap or delivered by deus ex machina it was a victory well earned. For all its failings, the story also never drags and even the very end offers a nice element which establishes that little bit more about the M41 setting.
Overall, Macragge’s Honour is insubstantial. It’s pretty to look at, but you’re not left with much in the way of real meaning or impact in the grand scheme of things. If you enjoy Roberts’ artwork then it’s certainly worth a gander, but at this moment in time it’s hard to justify the steep price this title is going for. Don’t write this one off, but don’t go out of your way to nab it either.
“It is the beginning of one of the most infamous naval duels in Imperial history.”
That was the last we saw of the Ultramarines flagship, wounded but still deadly, powering away from the warzone in pursuit of Kor Phaeron’s battle barge, the Infidus Imperator. The two exited the book, and ever since fans have been chomping at the bit to see what fate had in store for the conflict and the Macragge’s Honour. Well, we were finally given our answer and, in all honesty, it’s not the battle many wanted. It’s not bad by any means, but it hardly lives up to that teasing line.
Perhaps the biggest problem of the entire story comes down to the flaws of its creators. Both are renowned for their skills to be sure, well known for their abilities, but this was a test which neither truly fared all too well in. For example, Roberts is famed for his work on multiple Black Library covers. His distinctive look, ultra-detailed and all, has adorned a multitude of books, posters and promotional materials. However, those were single images not viewed through sequential storytelling. As a result, the book has a very skewed aspect to it. Many of the images are individually told, without any lengthy fight sequences or one-on-one duels. The closest we get are fragmentary images of a massed battle, too chaotic to really be told individually. The rest of the time, his scenes are extremely brief, with fights often resolving themselves in one or two panels at the most. This is in part due to the page layout, which seems to have been intended to make use of his best skills. The panels are massive, often coming down to four or five per page with multiple splash pages, each of which looks beautiful but it results in an extremely brief experience.
While the artistic approach and design might have limited the story, Abnett himself is not above criticism. He’s a master when it comes to writing novels, but much of his work in comics often paired him up with Andy Lanning. This often resulted in his strongest works, and it always seemed that the two balanced out one another’s most notable weaknesses. As such, the tale here seems to be slipping back into a few bad habits which we discussed in Inquisitor Ascendant. Abnett here seems to be focusing upon repeatedly giving the reader more and more action, introducing something new at every turn so the reader never gets bored. In theory this is great and, admittedly, up to the point sorcery is introduced it’s going well and keeps the story flowing. The problem is that, to be blunt, after a while he seems to stop wanting to resolve things. The Macragge’s Honour gets boarded twice over, and each time these actions are dealt with off page. In one we only see a single brief duel before it’s over, and in the other it’s covered in a very chaotic page which shows little of the fight itself.
Even the duel between battleships itself is oddly shortened, and Abnett sadly seems to have focused upon big explosive action over anything of substance. The duel really is resolved in mere minutes, and for all its infamy it boils down to a surprisingly simple stunt on the Ultramarines’ part. It doesn’t help that almost the entire thing is basically a series of brief stunts with each vessel broadsiding the hell out of the other without much in the way of real variation, and little subtlety to their tactics. Rather than getting Red October, this is sadly the Horus Heresy’s version of Battleship. Honestly, there’s time when the pursuit makes you stop and admire how Battle for the Abyss handled some elements. Whatever its failings, that book took more time to try and pace things out and flesh out its cadre of various astartes. By comparison, few if any sailor or marine on either side is worthy of mention. Even the figures dueling on the cover get barely a line between them, and many listed in the Word Bearers’ Dramatis Personae don’t even get a line. Hell, most don’t even appear outside of a single panel right at the end.
So, from all that you’re probably guessing this book is terrible, right? Not entirely. It’s a disappointment to be sure, but it’s not without its strengths. There are some admittedly awesome moments which still drew a smile, from the Macragge’s Honour quickly silencing three cruisers to a full company of cataphractii boarding an enemy warship. When the book does stop for a few moments to offer real sequential art, it does it surprisingly well, and it helps to offer some surprisingly memorable scenes admit the action, such as Legion Master Gage taking on a fifteen meter long daemon. The art, as mentioned before, is quite beautiful all throughout. While focusing a little too heavily upon single prominent colours, it aims to be big and bold, and the incredible detail in Roberts’ artwork is always a sight to behold. Even at his absolute worst, he still produces several striking scenes, and the book’s best moments come from when he relies upon that factor. This is especially true of the Warp which, crude as it can sometimes seem, offers a brilliantly 90s style psychedelically view of the daemonic realm.
As for the story’s strengths, to his credit Abnett kept it relatively open to new readers. General knowledge of the betrayal of Calth is all that’s needed to get by on this one, and it serves as a fun side-story to the more comprehensive novels. The final engagement which sees the Ultramarines’ victory is still entertaining, and rather than feeling cheap or delivered by deus ex machina it was a victory well earned. For all its failings, the story also never drags and even the very end offers a nice element which establishes that little bit more about the M41 setting.
Overall, Macragge’s Honour is insubstantial. It’s pretty to look at, but you’re not left with much in the way of real meaning or impact in the grand scheme of things. If you enjoy Roberts’ artwork then it’s certainly worth a gander, but at this moment in time it’s hard to justify the steep price this title is going for. Don’t write this one off, but don’t go out of your way to nab it either.
November 18, 2015
AWESOME!!!
July 22, 2014
Imagine if the god you worshiped came down from heaven, knocked over your church, the one *you* built, then waved his finger in your face and said "No! Bad dog!" How would you feel?
The Word Bearers did not take the Imperial Truth seriously. They did not believe that science and logic would free humanity from religion and superstition. They believed the Emperor of Man was a god and worshiped him as such. So when the Emperor sent the Ultramarines to destroy the Perfect City and bring the Word Bearers back into compliance, it kinda/sorta broke their collective psyche.
Horus, the Emperor's favorite son, promised Lorgar, the Word Bearers primarch, revenge. Following the purge @ Isstvan III and the dropsite massacre @ Isstvan V, that revenge came @ Calth, a battle Abnett lovingly detailed in real time in his book Know No fear. Spoiler alert, as if 10,000 years isn't enough time to get caught up: the Ultramarines lost badly: the famed shipyards, the surface of the planet, the surrounding planets and bases, and over half the legion. All gone. At the end of that book, the wounded Roboute Guilliman demanded Kor Phaeron not be allowed to escape. The Word Bearers Master of the Faith did the damage he set out to do, and he fully intended to let the Ultramarines stew in their own tears. Close to the end of Know No Fear, there are 3 lines:
This book is that duel. Boarding actions, counter strikes, hull fighting, impossible maneuvering, sword-to-fang combat, hilarious treachery, bittersweet heroism: describing this as "infamous" admits the English language is too weak to suffice.
The dialog is short, terse even, each word weighed down so heavily by the deaths of whole worlds and hatred so fierce no fire can quench it. As great an author as Abnett is, I think even he knew he couldn't do this battle justice, so he left it out until it could be rendered properly... and who better than the cover artist of so many Warhammer novels? Neil Roberts hand painted each panel of each page in exquisite detail, and the result is jaw-dropping. We're not supposed to be able to see the Warp, our puny brains can't handle it, but Roberts shows us what it *could* look like.
The first printing was print-on-preorder only, so if you want to read it, stop by. Everyone else can wait until the regular edition is released. Whenever that is.
The Word Bearers did not take the Imperial Truth seriously. They did not believe that science and logic would free humanity from religion and superstition. They believed the Emperor of Man was a god and worshiped him as such. So when the Emperor sent the Ultramarines to destroy the Perfect City and bring the Word Bearers back into compliance, it kinda/sorta broke their collective psyche.
Horus, the Emperor's favorite son, promised Lorgar, the Word Bearers primarch, revenge. Following the purge @ Isstvan III and the dropsite massacre @ Isstvan V, that revenge came @ Calth, a battle Abnett lovingly detailed in real time in his book Know No fear. Spoiler alert, as if 10,000 years isn't enough time to get caught up: the Ultramarines lost badly: the famed shipyards, the surface of the planet, the surrounding planets and bases, and over half the legion. All gone. At the end of that book, the wounded Roboute Guilliman demanded Kor Phaeron not be allowed to escape. The Word Bearers Master of the Faith did the damage he set out to do, and he fully intended to let the Ultramarines stew in their own tears. Close to the end of Know No Fear, there are 3 lines:
The Word Bearers battle-barge Infidus Imperator turns in the debris-rich belt of Calth nearspace, ships dying in flames behind it. It engages its drive and begins a long, hard burn towards the outsystem reaches.
As it accelerates away, raising yield to maximum, the Macragge's Honour turns in pursuit, its main drives lighting with an equally furious vigour.
It is the beginning of one of the most infamous naval duels in Imperial history.
This book is that duel. Boarding actions, counter strikes, hull fighting, impossible maneuvering, sword-to-fang combat, hilarious treachery, bittersweet heroism: describing this as "infamous" admits the English language is too weak to suffice.
The dialog is short, terse even, each word weighed down so heavily by the deaths of whole worlds and hatred so fierce no fire can quench it. As great an author as Abnett is, I think even he knew he couldn't do this battle justice, so he left it out until it could be rendered properly... and who better than the cover artist of so many Warhammer novels? Neil Roberts hand painted each panel of each page in exquisite detail, and the result is jaw-dropping. We're not supposed to be able to see the Warp, our puny brains can't handle it, but Roberts shows us what it *could* look like.
The first printing was print-on-preorder only, so if you want to read it, stop by. Everyone else can wait until the regular edition is released. Whenever that is.
February 5, 2024
It's incredibly weird, it's not the greatest graphic novel by any means, and it probably isn't even the best Warhammer graphic novel (I really need to give Titan another read), but it is, in my personal opinion, utterly, heretically gorgeous, with a good script, and does well to continue the thread from Know No Fear, leading to Children. It's also just amazing to have a Horus Heresy graphic novel and I still feel almost as giddy as when I first heard the announcement and pre-ordered it.
With no time to pick up anyone not already aboard, including their Primarch, Chapter Master of the First Chapter, Marius Gage, assumes command of the flagship of the Ultramarines fleet, Macragge's Honour, and gives chase to the fleeing Master of the Faith, Kor Phaeron, fleeing Calth after Roboute Guilliman reached into his chest and destroyed the Word Bearer's primary heart. Gage a desperate chase, epic naval warfare, colossal boarding action, and a haphazard plunge into the Immaterium and the unspeakable things that dwell in that nightmare realm.
Neil Roberts is one hell of an artist and, while Adrian Smith's iconic second take at Horus vs The Emperor (2004) in the first Visions of Heresy may still be the touchstone image for the Horus Heresy, he has been the Senior Remembrancer, Chief Imagist of the 31st Millennium, and the art on every cover since Horus rose and fell in 2006. The Horus Heresy is a colossal group undertaking, but it is Roberts who illuminates that era of treachery and betrayal. The Visions of Heresy we have witnessed over the best part of two decades are his manifestations. So, when I first heard that Roberts and Dan Abnett, Senior Writrix of the Estate Imperium, were going to be collaborating on a graphic novel I lost my mind and pre-ordered as soon as I was able.
Macragge's Honour is an absolute work of art and the limited release fancy faux leather offering was particularly sexy. Reading the ebook this time round lost none of the majesty, beyond the tactile gloriousness. The designs of the ships, the various Heresy Era armour and helmets, something I've seen various complaints about with the opening trilogy covers over the years, but never agreed worn, are wonderful and I love seeing the variety. Aerion Mersaror's golden mask in his Cataphractii armour as he leads Vindicus squad is resplendent and would make a Sanguinary Guard blush. The design and augmetics of the bridge crew, especially Sire Sargune Mara Sept Loquoi, the Navigati Secundus of Macragge's Hinour's fully augmented eyes socketed into tubes that lead off to feth knows where, is a particular delight.
Kor Phaeron looks the part and is serving 'what if Jack Torrens dedicated himself to the Primordial Annihilator?' realness. I'm intrigued by the Master of the Faith's entourage, but they get almost zero screen time, let alone much to say or do, which is really disappointing, especially as it include Aklion, a Wordsinger, who I infuriatingly can't seem to find anything out about at all, beyond she has a card in Horus Heresy Legions, a game that makes looking up things about the Horus Heresy that aren't easily available on Lexicanum. I want to believe that she is a surviving Isstvanian Warsinger, now dedicated to singing the Word of Lorgar. *desperately crossing my fingers and beseeching the Neverborn and their Dark Masters for her to appear on Children of Sicarus.
The epicness of void warfare and the utterly ridiculous gothic and martial majesty that is Warhammer ships is incredible, as is the sheer ludicrousness of sending a trifecta of boarding torpedoes, docking claws, and siege bridges, and the one upping that with sorcery to get tonnes of marines from one ship to another. Every since first picking this up I have been obsessed with siege bridges and the fact you can just have while companies taking a strong in the good between shops. It's just the right level of ridiculous, cool, and ridiculously cool I want from Warhammer space battles.
This spread of the Daemon is heretically divine!
www.40k.gallery/black-library-macragg...
I absolutely love adore the amorphous, uncategoriseable Daemons that couldn't possibly fit an organisational designation for the tabletop wargame. There's a great description of one in a one of the Dark Angels books, at the end of Descent of Angels, I think, that's an unfathomable nightmare of eyes. Don't get me wrong I love seeing and reading about the classics like the Plaguebearers and Plague Zombies in Flase Gods, but the Immaterium's warped imagination is boundless and I want just see the results of sleep terrors brainstorming sessions.
The depiction of the Warp is absolutely fascinating, taking a bit more of a hell in a lava lamp approach, which isn't where my mind instantly goes, admittedly, but this take is so original and unique among any art or description of the Empyrean I've ever seen, but I think it's really effective. The bizarre unreality of it all is clearly there with an extremely different, but nonetheless appropriate 70s psychedelic science fantasy vibe that I am here for.
The story itself is nothing to write home about, but it's entertaining and energised with momentum. Despite one real comic book line from Gage, Macragge's Honour still manages to be less out of pocket and tonally dissonant with the rest of the Calth stories than Censure, which is impressive all round. Abnett goes a good job with the script and the combined forces of Roberts and McNeill truly make me wish we got more offerings like this. I'm definitely glad they haven't churned out Horus Heresy comics and I am always banging on about their being a level of quality, drama, and tragedy that is expected with the series, but there's no reason why they couldn't achieve that with more comics. Slaanesh knows the number of times comics have broken me and left me sobbing. I want that for the Horus Heresy in comic form too!
I know I've really fangirled out on this one, but I am a big fan and a big girl, one of the five genders Abnett acknowledges in Unmarked: ""All five of them – two Imperial Army troopers, a labourer, a girl, and a servitor" Yes. Two of the genders are Imperial Army Trooper, I don't make the rules.
I still can't believe now weird and gorgeous this is, and I do understand how this style could possibly be a little Marmite for people. Lucky for me, I hate Marmite and love this.
I don't think I have anything else to to day other than, I am unsure, but I like to think there was a Chuckle Brothers reference in here.
Please Black Library, can I have some more?
With no time to pick up anyone not already aboard, including their Primarch, Chapter Master of the First Chapter, Marius Gage, assumes command of the flagship of the Ultramarines fleet, Macragge's Honour, and gives chase to the fleeing Master of the Faith, Kor Phaeron, fleeing Calth after Roboute Guilliman reached into his chest and destroyed the Word Bearer's primary heart. Gage a desperate chase, epic naval warfare, colossal boarding action, and a haphazard plunge into the Immaterium and the unspeakable things that dwell in that nightmare realm.
Neil Roberts is one hell of an artist and, while Adrian Smith's iconic second take at Horus vs The Emperor (2004) in the first Visions of Heresy may still be the touchstone image for the Horus Heresy, he has been the Senior Remembrancer, Chief Imagist of the 31st Millennium, and the art on every cover since Horus rose and fell in 2006. The Horus Heresy is a colossal group undertaking, but it is Roberts who illuminates that era of treachery and betrayal. The Visions of Heresy we have witnessed over the best part of two decades are his manifestations. So, when I first heard that Roberts and Dan Abnett, Senior Writrix of the Estate Imperium, were going to be collaborating on a graphic novel I lost my mind and pre-ordered as soon as I was able.
Macragge's Honour is an absolute work of art and the limited release fancy faux leather offering was particularly sexy. Reading the ebook this time round lost none of the majesty, beyond the tactile gloriousness. The designs of the ships, the various Heresy Era armour and helmets, something I've seen various complaints about with the opening trilogy covers over the years, but never agreed worn, are wonderful and I love seeing the variety. Aerion Mersaror's golden mask in his Cataphractii armour as he leads Vindicus squad is resplendent and would make a Sanguinary Guard blush. The design and augmetics of the bridge crew, especially Sire Sargune Mara Sept Loquoi, the Navigati Secundus of Macragge's Hinour's fully augmented eyes socketed into tubes that lead off to feth knows where, is a particular delight.
Kor Phaeron looks the part and is serving 'what if Jack Torrens dedicated himself to the Primordial Annihilator?' realness. I'm intrigued by the Master of the Faith's entourage, but they get almost zero screen time, let alone much to say or do, which is really disappointing, especially as it include Aklion, a Wordsinger, who I infuriatingly can't seem to find anything out about at all, beyond she has a card in Horus Heresy Legions, a game that makes looking up things about the Horus Heresy that aren't easily available on Lexicanum. I want to believe that she is a surviving Isstvanian Warsinger, now dedicated to singing the Word of Lorgar. *desperately crossing my fingers and beseeching the Neverborn and their Dark Masters for her to appear on Children of Sicarus.
The epicness of void warfare and the utterly ridiculous gothic and martial majesty that is Warhammer ships is incredible, as is the sheer ludicrousness of sending a trifecta of boarding torpedoes, docking claws, and siege bridges, and the one upping that with sorcery to get tonnes of marines from one ship to another. Every since first picking this up I have been obsessed with siege bridges and the fact you can just have while companies taking a strong in the good between shops. It's just the right level of ridiculous, cool, and ridiculously cool I want from Warhammer space battles.
This spread of the Daemon is heretically divine!
www.40k.gallery/black-library-macragg...
I absolutely love adore the amorphous, uncategoriseable Daemons that couldn't possibly fit an organisational designation for the tabletop wargame. There's a great description of one in a one of the Dark Angels books, at the end of Descent of Angels, I think, that's an unfathomable nightmare of eyes. Don't get me wrong I love seeing and reading about the classics like the Plaguebearers and Plague Zombies in Flase Gods, but the Immaterium's warped imagination is boundless and I want just see the results of sleep terrors brainstorming sessions.
The depiction of the Warp is absolutely fascinating, taking a bit more of a hell in a lava lamp approach, which isn't where my mind instantly goes, admittedly, but this take is so original and unique among any art or description of the Empyrean I've ever seen, but I think it's really effective. The bizarre unreality of it all is clearly there with an extremely different, but nonetheless appropriate 70s psychedelic science fantasy vibe that I am here for.
The story itself is nothing to write home about, but it's entertaining and energised with momentum. Despite one real comic book line from Gage, Macragge's Honour still manages to be less out of pocket and tonally dissonant with the rest of the Calth stories than Censure, which is impressive all round. Abnett goes a good job with the script and the combined forces of Roberts and McNeill truly make me wish we got more offerings like this. I'm definitely glad they haven't churned out Horus Heresy comics and I am always banging on about their being a level of quality, drama, and tragedy that is expected with the series, but there's no reason why they couldn't achieve that with more comics. Slaanesh knows the number of times comics have broken me and left me sobbing. I want that for the Horus Heresy in comic form too!
I know I've really fangirled out on this one, but I am a big fan and a big girl, one of the five genders Abnett acknowledges in Unmarked: ""All five of them – two Imperial Army troopers, a labourer, a girl, and a servitor" Yes. Two of the genders are Imperial Army Trooper, I don't make the rules.
I still can't believe now weird and gorgeous this is, and I do understand how this style could possibly be a little Marmite for people. Lucky for me, I hate Marmite and love this.
I don't think I have anything else to to day other than, I am unsure, but I like to think there was a Chuckle Brothers reference in here.
Please Black Library, can I have some more?
March 8, 2023
Having just finished the 54th novel of the Horus Heresy today, I thought this would be a nice moment to take a small step back in time and finish this graphic novel that I had lying around for a while now.
I love art, especially sci-fi art, and for that reason alone I give this book the five star treatment. Every panel of this book gives us some jaw dropping imagery, and there are numerous two page spreads that display even more eye candy. The story might not be one of the best, but I still enjoyed it for what it was: a nice action packed story between two starships and their crews trying to get the best of each other. While it might not win any awards, there were enough moments that had me grinning from ear to ear, and I wasn’t bored for a second. I finished it in pretty much one sitting.
This is one I would definitely recommend picking up if you are into comics with cool art and of course the Horus Heresy series :)
I love art, especially sci-fi art, and for that reason alone I give this book the five star treatment. Every panel of this book gives us some jaw dropping imagery, and there are numerous two page spreads that display even more eye candy. The story might not be one of the best, but I still enjoyed it for what it was: a nice action packed story between two starships and their crews trying to get the best of each other. While it might not win any awards, there were enough moments that had me grinning from ear to ear, and I wasn’t bored for a second. I finished it in pretty much one sitting.
This is one I would definitely recommend picking up if you are into comics with cool art and of course the Horus Heresy series :)
May 31, 2025
Let me begin by saying that for some reason GW wishes that book to disappear. It’s nowhere to be found on the web or through any channels. Getting my hands on it has been a major challenge and probably took more time than actually reading it. That said the concept of a comic style novella was an interesting change but I quite prefer the normal writing style esp of an author as good as Abnett. Nontheless this has been interesting and shed some light on an important battle
March 21, 2016
So, this is my first experience with Black Library's graphic novels, and to my knowledge the only full colour one they have, and I must say: It was dazzling!
The story itself was intense, I would want to turn the page the moment I finished the dialogue and looking over the art, but then you really can't take in all that glorious artwork with just 1 look over! I mean really, Neil Roberts did such a damned good job on this, I really don't know how else do describe it. The longer you looked at the warp, the more faces, and eyes, and mouths and such you could see! Literally! It's only failing was 1 really stupid face, and the fact that the warp didn't have inhuman colours(or maybe it did, and I just can't see them!).
Really damned good job from both Dan Abnett and Neil Roberts, definitely glad I got the collector's edition back in January when it came out in the glorious leatherbound, extra large edition.
P.S. and the authors notes/Neil's sketches at the end were great. I wish I could have seen the entire things notes and sketches!
P.S.S. extra star for "Metal Marine"
The story itself was intense, I would want to turn the page the moment I finished the dialogue and looking over the art, but then you really can't take in all that glorious artwork with just 1 look over! I mean really, Neil Roberts did such a damned good job on this, I really don't know how else do describe it. The longer you looked at the warp, the more faces, and eyes, and mouths and such you could see! Literally! It's only failing was 1 really stupid face, and the fact that the warp didn't have inhuman colours(or maybe it did, and I just can't see them!).
Really damned good job from both Dan Abnett and Neil Roberts, definitely glad I got the collector's edition back in January when it came out in the glorious leatherbound, extra large edition.
P.S. and the authors notes/Neil's sketches at the end were great. I wish I could have seen the entire things notes and sketches!
P.S.S. extra star for "Metal Marine"
January 30, 2024
One of the best graphic novels I've read!
The pace is very fast, from the beginning to the end.
We follow the Ultra marines in the aftermath of the betrayal of the Word bearers as their flagship, the Macragge's Honour gives pursuit to the Word bearers Infidus Imperator as it tries to escape. On the Infidus Imperator is Kor Phaeron. The first traitor and the one who brought about the Horus Heresy.
The chase takes the Macragge's honour through both the material realm, and beyond as we get a glimpse of one of the most spectacular space battles between two ships ever!
...wow. I have to dig up my old Battlefleet gothic figures again.
The pace is very fast, from the beginning to the end.
We follow the Ultra marines in the aftermath of the betrayal of the Word bearers as their flagship, the Macragge's Honour gives pursuit to the Word bearers Infidus Imperator as it tries to escape. On the Infidus Imperator is Kor Phaeron. The first traitor and the one who brought about the Horus Heresy.
The chase takes the Macragge's honour through both the material realm, and beyond as we get a glimpse of one of the most spectacular space battles between two ships ever!
...wow. I have to dig up my old Battlefleet gothic figures again.
September 16, 2014
Epic scale graphic novel. The size, the binding, the sumptuous artwork, and the story. Dan Abnett tells a great tale, and Neil Roberts brings life to the characters. Marius Gage chases Kor Phaeron into the warp for an epic space battle.
January 15, 2021
This was a frustrating read for a lot of reasons, and very little of them have to do with Abnett's writing or the glorious art from Neil Roberts. Mostly, the issues here stem from how little we glimpse into the world of the Horus Heresy. Yes, as intended the graphic novel covers a very narrow vertical slice of an immense tapestry, but what's found within isn't particularly exciting, it's more procedural.
Robert's art is more than up to the task, but the panelization and constant use of splash pages ends up feeling over wrought rather than explosive. Abnett's writing which usually shines, ends up feeling prefatory to a scenario that is difficult for someone to discern without being intimately familiar with the events at Calth and what transpired after.
In short for all of it's visual splendor and sometimes tidy progressions, it feels hollow and lacking. It's still a great way to show someone the visuals of the Warp, or ship boarding during the Heresy, or simply put the immense scale of the Warhammer 40K setting's past, but beyond that there's not enough here.
Robert's art is more than up to the task, but the panelization and constant use of splash pages ends up feeling over wrought rather than explosive. Abnett's writing which usually shines, ends up feeling prefatory to a scenario that is difficult for someone to discern without being intimately familiar with the events at Calth and what transpired after.
In short for all of it's visual splendor and sometimes tidy progressions, it feels hollow and lacking. It's still a great way to show someone the visuals of the Warp, or ship boarding during the Heresy, or simply put the immense scale of the Warhammer 40K setting's past, but beyond that there's not enough here.
July 19, 2025
A rollicking rock 'n' roll Horus Heresy graphic novel. With its super heavy metal style and scale that was an absolute blast to read and soak up the beautiful art direction and style.
This story follows the exact aftermath of the betrayal at Calth featured in the excellent novel 'Know no fear' by Dan Abnett.
This graphic novel feels and reads like an old 80s style action movie with its bold colours and its equally bold lines of dialogue.
You can feel the care and love that has gone into this!
An absolutely must-read/experience horus heresy graphic novel!
Also, blacklibrary, why on earth have we not had more of this?!!!
This story follows the exact aftermath of the betrayal at Calth featured in the excellent novel 'Know no fear' by Dan Abnett.
This graphic novel feels and reads like an old 80s style action movie with its bold colours and its equally bold lines of dialogue.
You can feel the care and love that has gone into this!
An absolutely must-read/experience horus heresy graphic novel!
Also, blacklibrary, why on earth have we not had more of this?!!!
December 8, 2025
Directly following the end events of "Know No Fear", this digital comic follows Macragge's Honour in pursuit of Kor Phaeron, after narrowly escaping death from the hands of Guilliman
This was my first Warhammer digital comic, but seeing the ship battle and subsequent pursuit into the Warp was cool to see visually. The story was interesting and once again Kor Phaeron weaseled his way from death at the last second. Curious to see how things pick up in "Children of Sicarus".
I enjoyed this one since it seems like it's relevant to carrying the core narrative forward, as well as visualizing the battle in a media that I hadn't previously borne witness
This was my first Warhammer digital comic, but seeing the ship battle and subsequent pursuit into the Warp was cool to see visually. The story was interesting and once again Kor Phaeron weaseled his way from death at the last second. Curious to see how things pick up in "Children of Sicarus".
I enjoyed this one since it seems like it's relevant to carrying the core narrative forward, as well as visualizing the battle in a media that I hadn't previously borne witness
December 29, 2017
If it was for the art only, I would've given it 5 stars. It gets 4 though, mainly because I don't really see HH or 40k stories to be fitting for the graphic novel format. The whole time I was imagining how much more detailed and interesting it could've been for me, was it a novella with illustrations. It was still good and beautifully done, but when it comes to the Horus Heresy, I prefer to get at least as much text as I get pictures.
July 25, 2019
This was actually the first thing Warhammer I've ever read. It was pretty cool, but I'm not familiar with the universe so I was a little lost with details but overall it was entertaining. The painted art sometimes was a little hard to follow but at other times beautiful.
I think fans of Warhammer would probably really enjoy this on a different level than I did. I do plan on reading some more Warhammer material in the future.
I think fans of Warhammer would probably really enjoy this on a different level than I did. I do plan on reading some more Warhammer material in the future.
March 10, 2023
This is a quick one and done little story that takes place after a book I haven't read yet, still even with little context it is setup extremely well so there was no issue.
The big selling point of this one is the artwork which is ABSOLUTELY stellar. Some of the best artwork I've ever seen in the graphic novel format.
The story is simple and a fun naval battle but the artwork is why you should really check this one out.
The big selling point of this one is the artwork which is ABSOLUTELY stellar. Some of the best artwork I've ever seen in the graphic novel format.
The story is simple and a fun naval battle but the artwork is why you should really check this one out.
May 14, 2023
Fantastic Sci-Fi art. A simple story and best enjoyed if you've read "Know No Fear" (novel) first, in my opinion. It just feels like Warhammer, that was my biggest takeaway and I think that is praise enough.
November 18, 2024
Great illustrations. Dialouge is not very good. But it gets you on to the next read. It was my first 40K comic. So im not sure if others have better dialouge. A few good moments. Awesome veiw of the warp!
November 1, 2018
Great story, and stunning artwork which really helps show the scale of the action!
March 31, 2019
Solid tale of the ultramarines fight and flight. Epic space battles.
December 22, 2021
Freaking Awesome! Glad I managed to get a copy of this
April 26, 2023
Lazy bolter porn comic with art at the level of copied and repasted images. Did not finish.
March 16, 2025
If you want a graphic novel that's mostly a space marine and a space captain arguing about how their ship can't take any it anymore but they have orders to follow, have I got the book for you.
May 5, 2026
El arte está bien, pero la historia tampoco tiene mucho
August 9, 2025
Marius Gage First Captain of the Ultramarines doggedly pursues Kor Phaeron of the Word Bearers, seeking retribution for the destruction of Calth.
The story follows on directly for "Know no Fear" and explains what became of Gage and Kor Phaeron.
Abnett is an experienced comic book writer which is evident from the way the story flows and the simple but effective dialogue. The page never feels cluttered and the action transitions smoothly.
I really enjoyed the character designs, particularly the daemons that infest Macragge's Honour after sacrificial rituals are enacted by the Word Bearers.
The story follows on directly for "Know no Fear" and explains what became of Gage and Kor Phaeron.
Abnett is an experienced comic book writer which is evident from the way the story flows and the simple but effective dialogue. The page never feels cluttered and the action transitions smoothly.
I really enjoyed the character designs, particularly the daemons that infest Macragge's Honour after sacrificial rituals are enacted by the Word Bearers.
February 18, 2015
An impulse buy at the second Black Library Weekender, the thing I remember most about this book was the smell - the chemicals used in the printing process got sealed in by the plastic wrap. Open it up and you got a big noseful of woozy. I don't hold that against the creators. The mediocre plot and less than clear artwork, however, I do hold against them. As a reader of various forms of 'sequential art' I was still disoriented at times by the poor flow from panel to panel. It was often unclear what was going on. It didn't help that the key characters often looked like pre-rendered 'Poser' figures than art created for the sake of this work. I'm not a fan of this CGI-esque effect either when emulated or when created through actual CGI. The writing was nothing to either rant or rave about.
I have to check the next time I find my copy, if it was intentional, but one of the few visuals from the work that did lodge in my mind was a scene which looked like the Ultramarines had decided to line up all of their smurfs on the outside of their hull and fire their personal bolters at the other ship. Part of me thinks this has got to just be a quirk of the art and layout, because not even Guilliman's marines are that dumb. EDIT - I did check, and aside from noting that my copy still retained the new book smell, it turns out the Ultrasmurfs were not shooting the other ship, just the darkness. That's okay, the darkness was made up of demons anyway.
At a lower price point this wouldn't be so bad. Most of my disappointment comes from the sensation of "I paid how much?"
I have to check the next time I find my copy, if it was intentional, but one of the few visuals from the work that did lodge in my mind was a scene which looked like the Ultramarines had decided to line up all of their smurfs on the outside of their hull and fire their personal bolters at the other ship. Part of me thinks this has got to just be a quirk of the art and layout, because not even Guilliman's marines are that dumb. EDIT - I did check, and aside from noting that my copy still retained the new book smell, it turns out the Ultrasmurfs were not shooting the other ship, just the darkness. That's okay, the darkness was made up of demons anyway.
At a lower price point this wouldn't be so bad. Most of my disappointment comes from the sensation of "I paid how much?"
October 19, 2022
Well this was a great experience. Dan Abnett needs no special introduction but artist might not be known to everyone. Neil Roberts is wonderful artist known for gorgeous book covers of Horus Heresy series and also great work for various comic publishers.
In this very short graphic novel that tells the story of Ultramarines engaging the Word Bearers in space combat we are presented with gorgeous epic art depicting the sheer size of the conflict, heroes greater than life and vastness of space humankind decided to conquer.
Art is really .... well you need to see it in order to believe it :) every page is so full of details and everything is in proportion - scenes where thousands of Space Marines fight in the void and shade of battleship covers them up ..... epic! There is no other way to describe it.
This is one of the few forays of Black Library into graphic novel territory and I hope there will be more.
Highly recommended to fans of W40k, Horus Heresy and epic hero stories in general!
In this very short graphic novel that tells the story of Ultramarines engaging the Word Bearers in space combat we are presented with gorgeous epic art depicting the sheer size of the conflict, heroes greater than life and vastness of space humankind decided to conquer.
Art is really .... well you need to see it in order to believe it :) every page is so full of details and everything is in proportion - scenes where thousands of Space Marines fight in the void and shade of battleship covers them up ..... epic! There is no other way to describe it.
This is one of the few forays of Black Library into graphic novel territory and I hope there will be more.
Highly recommended to fans of W40k, Horus Heresy and epic hero stories in general!
May 24, 2016
Nice piece to the saga but the illustrations could have been better.
September 18, 2018
Jaw-dropping artwork for a really good story, meant to be read after Know No Fear.
April 5, 2017
Great graphic novel, the colors, and the art gives you the feeling of the story, the dire predicament and the violence of the fight.
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