In terms of fandom, Warhammer 40 000 has some interesting figures producing content. There are people like Remleize of 40K Theories who produce lore videos, people like Stringstorm who produce music based on the franchise, the Astartes channel, which did some amazing animation ( that we covered here), and people like NornQueenAlexis, who does videos breaking down the tabletop game. But all 40K fan content makers are in a race for second place when it comes to being the best in producing 40K fan content. The reason for this is that there is one piece of fanwork that is considered the absolute best 40K fanwork of all, and that is “If The Emperor Had a Text-To-Speech Device” (TTS) by Bruva Alfabusa and those working with him.
Background
Starting out with a fan series called the Alfa Legion, Alfabusa and company moved on to a web animation series asking a basic question. What if the Emperor Of Mankind gained access to a Text-To-Speech device and could talk once more? The Emperor soon learns about the current state of the Imperium from his caretaker known as Kitten, he is outraged and sets about trying to fix everything. This of course causes tension with many in the Inquisition and Ecclesiarchy, who do not wish for change.
The series starts small, with Kitten and the Emperor talking about a topic in Warhammer 40K and pointing out the bizarre elements. This has allowed for newcomers to learn more about 40K lore, and the result is many new fans coming into the hobby. Youtubers like Airer have noted how the series has made them fans of 40K, and they are now active in the hobby themselves. As the series goes on, it becomes more apparent that Alfabusa and co have a full story in mind and we are seeing it unfold.
Comedy
The series is some of the funniest takes on Warhammer, with jokes made about all aspects of the franchise. This includes the Custodes originally being nude, the Mary Sue nature of the Ultramarines, and the ever-changing lore that is frequently retconned. Jokes are also made about the very grimdark nature of 40K, as well as how crazy certain aspects of the lore are. The nature of the jokes actually allows for multiple viewings, as you will not understand something the first time you see it.
The series has become even more creative as time went on, and when we come to later specials and the podcasts, the jokes are on a whole different level. The series revels in the absurd and that helps it stand out among all others. It helps that the animation has increasingly gotten better, and music has been provided by the aforementioned Stringstorm.
Drama
This is not to say that you will experience only a comedy when you watch TTS. Alfabusa and his team also have a skill for writing dramatic scenes, and certain events ( that I will not spoil), work as a great character study, and insight into why the Emperor and others are the way they are. The story goes in interesting directions and gradually we see the series give us a new take on the lore, by adding in many new ideas. Characters appear that you might not expect, and the plot takes some interesting turns. The Emperor will always be there for laughs with his sarcasm and foul-mouthed language, but there are genuine tear-jerker moments as well as heartwarming ones.
TTS has managed to win over many fans, and also show why certain aspects of the lore are actually pretty awesome. Certain characters have become fan favorites ( again I am trying not to give spoilers), and the series has even introduced new original characters that earned their own fans. The writers have an understanding of Warhammer and have managed to reference almost every obscure detail they can find while building their own world space to create stories in.
A Different Lore
TTS diverges from the franchise story early on by making some rather large changes, but these are well done and you will want to learn more. We get a new perspective on factions like the Inquisition, the Ecclesiarchy, and the Space Marines, while also showing a different direction the franchise can go in. The world of 40K and TTS have gone in a different direction, but TTS is very faithful to the different aspects of the lore, due to having lore experts like the aforementioned Remleiz helping out.
TTS has become a large project with many creators coming in and helping out, and the result is one of the greatest collaborative efforts in fandom. The series has been cited as a reason Games Workshop finally started moving the story forward and expanded the lore of factions like the Custodes. Many Black Library writers are fans of the series, and some have even assisted with aspects of the production as well.
If you want to become a fan of Warhammer 40K, then TTS is a good place to start. It will help you understand how truly amazing this series is.
You can watch the series on Aflabusa’s channel here.