Book Review: “Brutal Kunnin” by Mike Brooks

Ere we go, Ere we go, Ere we go!! The Orks are storming Hephaestos, and no amount of shiny tech or silly little umies can stop ‘em! The planet’s got a whole lot of Titans down there, and believe me, no one’s going down without a proper scrap.

What’s always grabbed me about Warhammer 40,000 is the sheer, overwhelming tragedy of it all. It doesn’t matter how much light you try to bring; one day, everything’s going to plunge into darkness. Sure, you might win a battle here and there, but in the grand scheme, the war’s a losing one (especially with the Nids coming to eat everyone).

The T’au keep species enslaved under the guise of the Greater Good. The Imperium grinds everything, enemies and its own people alike, into pulp under its relentless war machine. The Chaos Gods? They’re devouring reality and laughing from their dark corners. And then, there are the Orks. They’re zipping around in brightly coloured vehicles, laughing their asses off, and generally having a blast while the universe around them goes boom. Against the backdrop of humanity’s looming downfall, the Orks always seemed, well, a bit silly to me.

Now, don’t get me wrong, silliness has its place, but it isn’t what I expect from Warhammer 40K with all its Grimdark. On the face of it, the Orks always felt out of place for me with their silliness. But then two books changed my mind: Brutal Kunnin & The Big Dakka.

Mike Brooks proves he’s a top-notch writer. Most of his work leans serious, but in Brutal Kunnin, he shows off his comedic chops. And let me tell you, he nails it. This book is laugh-out-loud funny, a rarity that’s hard to find. The comedy hits because the Orks are inherently ridiculous and because they’re having as much fun as we are reading about it. Their lives are short and violent, so who can begrudge them a bit of entertainment? Not me. Writing Ork dialogue that’s both authentic and readable is no easy feat, but Brooks manages it brilliantly.

The Ork lingo is as straightforward as their love for a good scrap. While I wouldn’t want this in every book or even every Warhammer 40,000 book, it works perfectly here, adding a unique flavour to the universe. I won’t ruin any of the plot or story for you, but how the main character names his squig is pure hilarity.

In the early days, Warhammer was openly comedic. One of the most famous Orks was named after Margaret Thatcher—talk about satire! Over time, the storytelling grew more serious, which I appreciated. It’s led to more stories that resonate with me. But sometimes, revisiting the past is just what’s needed. For all its originality, Brutal Kunnin might be the most traditional Warhammer 40,000 book in ages, in a wonderfully circular way.

Pick up this book, and you’ll be grinning from ear to ear. And if not, well, maybe you’re just a boring umie.

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