A Chapter Master found, what secrets do the Eldar hide?
Creative Staff:
Writer: Ryan O’Sullivan
Art: Daniel Indro
Color: Kevin Enhart
Letterer: Rob Steen
What They Say:
In their search for Gabriel Angelos, Sergeants Olivarr and Tarkus, along with the Blood Ravens, have been struck down and their Thunderhawk was badly damaged. Having to move on foot, the Blood Ravens find themselves ambushed by Eldar. After a victorious battle, the Ravens find an injured Cyrus, who informs them that the Chapter Master has disappeared into the catacombs. They make their way there, unaware that they’re being observed and followed by a formidable enemy…
Content: (warning, content section may contain spoilers)
Starting this issue of the comic based on the video game Dawn of War III, we start out with Cyrus, Ramos, and the Blood Ravens under attack by Ork forces. The goal of this issue is to locate Chapter Master Gabriel Angelos, much like the last issue. Our focus is the drive and implacability of the Blood Ravens in doing so. Ramos, Tarkus, and a few other Blood Ravens make their way into the catacombs as the others hold off the Orks to secure the Thunderhawk for evacuation. Here, we’re given a rather significant piece of dialogue. One Raven tells the legend of Jotun of Ymir. We get insight into the Eldar mind here as well. The book explores how both Eldar and Space Marine think, which paints a pretty distinct difference between the two. The Chapter Master is found just as an Eldar who appears to be Autarch Kyre (leader of the Eldar forces in the game) attacks with his forces.
The concept of two mindsets and one goal is really what’s at play here though. Both races have different reasoning, but both seem to want Chapter Master Angelos for something. It works well since these two races in particular have had problems with each other for eons. The book does continue with the Thunderhawk defense, with the Orks still converging on it, but less time is spent here. The Eldar psychic powers force one Marine to turn his bolter pistol on himself, while the Blood Ravens are lacking in Psychic powers at the moment, having to resort purely to physical combat. The battle rages on, and again, the book repeats, ” Tell me, brother, have you heard the tale of Jotun of Ymir?” and when that reaches it’s end, the issue ends with all present pausing, Gabriel Angelos now awake with Thunder Hammer in hand.
In Conclusion:
The book balances insightful talk with tons of action, and really, it does deliver on both. Space Marines fight both Eldar and Orks, though much more time is given to their clashes with the Eldar. These aliens had captured Chapter Master Angelos for some purpose, and it wouldn’t have been anything the Blood Ravens would like. Tarkus and the higher ranking Blood Ravens gave us a good look into the Eldar mind. They are ancient, and their thought processes and ways of looking at the universe are much different. They see Space Marines as nothing more than trivial nuisances, so them taking an interest in Gabriel Angelos can’t be a good thing. With the Chapter Master now in hand, the Blood Ravens can evacuate, but I don’t think we’re out of this yet.
We have yet to see fellow Eldar leaders Macha and Ronahn, or the Ork leader Gorgutz. This issue’s focus really was the battle of both arms and wits between the Space Marines and the Eldar.
The marines seem to be winning on the combat front, but I wouldn’t count the Eldar out yet. It’s rather disappointing that we haven’t gotten all three races here fully into the story, but the book achieves what it wanted. As far as psychological looks go, there’s not too much here, but the action and dialogue are all done well and in character. The Eldars’ sneering superiority, the steadfastness of the Blood Ravens, and the action presented here are all done wonderfully. Kevin Enhart and Daniel Indro do well with art and color as well, giving us a grim but vibrant world befitting of a setting like Warhammer 40,000. It’s a great read for fans of the series, and the first two may just get some new readers into the setting. It’s light on talking but the action makes up for it. It’s a well-done book that’s worth giving a shot.
Grade: B+
Release Date: June 28, 2017
Released By: Titan Comics
Age Rating: M
MSRP: $3.99
