Warhammer 40,000: Fire and Honor #1&2 ( BOOM! Studios / McNeill / Parker )
Write-up for issue one: “Meet the Imperial Guardsmen of Blazer Company, garrisoned in a tactical position known with typical soldier’s irony as Paradise City. As the Tau attack, the regiment’s famed Hellhound tanks fry Tau warriors and mortars drop explosive shells on their heads. In the midst of the battle, the fate or war could trip in the Imperial forces’ favor- or tip towards betrayal and annihilation! Beginning here: a new Warhammer 40,000 saga crafted by fan-favorite Black Library novelist Graham McNeill (FALSE GODS)! Features two alternate covers, both by Tony Parker.”
Write-up for issue two: “The Tau ready another attack against the Imperial Guard defenses, armed with inside tactical information from their source on the Imperial planet. Blazer Company ‘s ready, but difficult choices will have to be made during the heat of battle when the scales to war tip against them! Features two alternate covers, both by series artist Tony Parker.”
I’m a big fan of good war stories. I love Saving Private Ryan, Band of Brothers, Platoon, Call of Duty, I even have love for bad sci-fi war movies like Starship Troopers. Graham McNeill takes the best of science fiction and war stories and melds them together into a most excellent tale of war time brotherhood, treachery, and sacrifice.
I’ll admit that I know very little about Warhammer 40,000. I know it’s a highly successful table top war game and soon to be (if not already) an MMO. But it’s not a section of the gaming culture I’m been able to delve into yet. In relation to the story, I was a bit worried that my lack of Warhammer knowledge but that never got in the way of a good story. I know there are aspects of the story that I didn’t understand, like why they pray to the emperor, why there is a war on, and just how B.A. are the Space Marines? Even through all my questions and non-Warhammer knowledge, I still very much enjoyed these books. You should too.
Grade: B
