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I don’t mean this in the “When did the Emperor create genetically engineered soldiers” sense, but in the “what year did Games Workshop first talk about samurai with badass sunglasses?” sense.
Codex Ultramarines* for the Second Edition mentions genetically enhanced warriors which the Emperor used during his conquest of Earth. They're noted to be less powerful than 'Space Marines of later years.' They're not called Thunder Warriors, they're just early Space Marines. But basically the same thing.
* Published 1995.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2019/12/08 00:31:40
"The Last Church" has the Emperor accompanied by warriors he describes as just shadows of the ones to come. This implies Thunder Warriors but again it is vague. Can't find the publication date for TLC.
"Outcast Dead" is IIRC the first appearance of a Thunder Warrior as currently depicted in the fluff.
I stand between the darkness and the light. Between the candle and the star.
The current depiction of TW has them physically larger than regular astartes, but less refined.. I imagine them as powerlifters whereas space marines are more like body builders.
Heresy World Eaters/Emperors Children 
