You Need To Read This Warhammer Story Before Henry Cavill’s TV Show

With decades spent creating legendary heroes, a cosmic battle between good and evil, and Space Marine armor that keeps getting bigger and bigger, Warhammer 40K is finally being developed into a cinematic universe. But with so sprawling a history, people demand to know: how will Amazon and Henry Cavill’s Warhammer universe take shape, what story will it tell, when will it take place, whom will it follow?

Thankfully, there is one story that perfectly shows why these are the wrong questions to be asking. One story, one mission, and one squad that communicates so much of why Warhammer 40K fans love its one of a kind universe, everyone who is interested in the franchise’s future needs to know about it.

Warhammer: Deathwatch Cuts To The Heart of What Makes 40K Powerful

An Adventure That’s Equal Parts Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, Action, And Myth

Released in 2018 from Titan Comics, the premise of Warhammer 40,000: Deathwatch appears simple enough: a unit of the titular branch of the military is charged with monitoring, hunting, and confirming an alien infestation, and killing it. Unfortunately, a surprise invasion puts this handful of soldiers against the first wave of an entire Ork army. Leading to carnage, heroics, and unforgettably epic scenes to follow.

But with Aaron Dembski-Bowden as writer of this Deathwatch tale (one of the most well-known and well-regarded authors of Warhammer 40K novels), the layers of storytelling and world-building at work are a perfect entry into the larger universe. All delivered in the most exciting, and genre-crossing fashion imaginable, thanks to artists Tazio Bettin and Kevin Enhart.

The unique structure and nature of the Deathwatch itself soon becomes obvious to any reader; a force of Space Marines recruited from across the endless ranks of rival chapters making up the millions-strong Imperial army. As a result, all wearing unique Space Marine armor and heraldry, wielding distinct weaponry, and even issuing rallying cries to different gods, ancestors, and commanders.

And te point becomes clear in just a few pages. That while these Deathwatch Space Marines might appear similar, they are as distinct, as brave, as burdened, or as tortured as any real group of human beings. These ones just happen to be superhuman, centuries-old, and battling space Orks with guns, axes, and chain swords. In short, everything Warhammer 40K does best.

The Warhammer Universe Tells Hundreds of Stories, Not Just One

Which is Why The 40K Cinematic Universe Won’t Be What Marvel Fans Are Used To

As players of the Space Marine video game series will already know, the ranks of Space Marines are filled with boys bred for war, honor, and self-sacrifice to an all-consuming degree. Yet even the mighty Titus is still just one soldier, unlike other famous science fiction franchises now struggling with anchoring their entire plot to one person, one threat, or even one mystery.

By contrast, the Warhammer 40K universe is simply too big, too layered, and too compelling to suffer the same problem. Even in this small a group, there are no uniquely ‘hero’ characters, no one-note archetypes, or forgettable squaddies. A point exemplified by shining the spotlight on just one member of the team: Rurik Warsong, the colossal warrior of the Space Wolves.

Just one soldier of a thousand in his Space Wolves chapter, from as many chapters across the galaxy, the glimpse of Rurik’s origin is as badass, mythic, and significant as any hero from his native viking sagas. Even though the stakes may seem small to an outsider, or the death of this “Old Wolf” a minor moment in so sprawling a universe, the story shows otherwise.

While the Warhammer 40K setting may be shaped by demigods, and involves millions of soldiers across thousands of worlds, ‘insignificance’ is not in its vocabulary. As proven in Deathwatch, and important to remember while awaiting details of what Cavill and Amazon have planned, the scale or scope of the story won’t be the only things that make it Warhammer.

Warhammer: Deathwatch is available wherever comic books are sold.