This was a preliminary drawing by David Sque for the cover of the board game Space Crusade, published by Milton Bradley in 1990.
This dynamic illustration vividly captures the chaotic and desperate combat between Space Marines and Genestealers, set within the claustrophobic corridors of what appears to be a starship or space station. At the forefront, a grim-faced Space Marine, helmetless but clad in iconic power armor adorned with the Imperial Aquila, unleashes a volley of bolter fire with resolute determination. His expression is one of sheer focus and rage as he battles against overwhelming odds, embodying the stoic courage and unrelenting discipline of the Adeptus Astartes. Around him, his brothers in battle join the fray, firing their bolters in synchronized fury, their reinforced armor seemingly impenetrable amidst the onslaught.
The Genestealers, hideous and alien in their insectoid forms, swarm the narrow corridors with terrifying agility. Their sinewy limbs and razor-sharp claws reach out hungrily toward the Marines, their fanged maws wide with a feral hunger that speaks to their insatiable need to consume and corrupt. The confined environment heightens the sense of peril, with no room for retreat or evasion, forcing both sides into brutal close-quarters combat. The Genestealers’ monstrous forms contrast starkly with the clean, angular lines of the starship’s interior, emphasizing the invasive and corruptive nature of the xenos threat.
In the background, the architecture of the starship looms, with its functional design underscored by utilitarian lighting and industrial detailing. This setting amplifies the atmosphere of desperation, where every step forward is contested, and every inch of ground is soaked in blood. The sense of movement and chaos in the illustration is palpable, with bolter rounds streaking through the air, flashes of light illuminating the shadows, and bodies poised in the heat of battle. This artwork encapsulates the grim essence of Warhammer 40,000, where humanity’s finest warriors fight a ceaseless battle against nightmarish horrors in a galaxy consumed by war.