Dan Abnett

Without doubt the best of the Horus Heresy novels thus far, and perhaps the best overall. This is a novel that would stand up outside the Warhammer-sphere, well written, good characters, great plot that doesn't rely solely on big men punching each other. Great stuff.

This is probably the most Warhammer novel ever. I loved it. It was big, bombastic, grimdark, the author went back through the novel and added in lots of big obscure words in clusters, and we're only in part one of three. Hopelessness, fighting, demons, aerosolised blood, snippets of horror presented like flickering screens, oh my days this is everything the horus heresy promised. Thanks Dan!

Captain Paget’s heroic entrance in an APC is the most badass shit ever, and I just love how overjoyed her comrades are to see her! When Chris9 gets captured by Xenomorphs but manages to send a distress signal from inside the hive, Captain Paget decides to go rescue her! She gives a speech to her troops where she says this is a horrible idea, and that if she were able to run it by command they would absolutely not approve it, so she is only taking volunteers. And then basically her whole show more squad volunteers. It’s just… it’s just the best, guys. It might be cliched as fuck, but I just love it so much. And I super love that Freebody, aka badass butch mohawk black chick, is literally the first volunteer. Queer solidarity, yo.

Chris bullying the alien queen into not killing her friends, and then ultimately into fighting the Engineer, was fucking amazing. And Chris and Jill’s tearful reunion embrace/kiss was so cathartic. I think this might be the first time since Ripley saved Newt in Aliens that I’ve seen someone get rescued from an Alien nest? So having it be a lesbian couple was so, so amazing. show less

Its a travesty that this gem is not on more people's radars. I thought it was an outstanding graphic novel and Dan Abnett's writing really stands out. I would heartily recommend to anyone looking for an intelligent, well written comic that blends murder mystery and horror with some cultural and socio-political commentary in a historical setting. If that makes it sound a little too heavy then think Sherlock Holmes meets the Walking Dead meets Downton Abbey. If you like any one of these three show more then you should check this out. show less