In Aliens vs. Avengers #1, Earth’s Mightiest Heroes face their most awful adversaries yet — the chestburstin’, ever hatin’ xenomorphs.
Aliens vs. Avengers is the latest in a long tradition of “X versus Y” crossover comics, particularly involving Marvel characters. (Remember Archie Meets the Punisher?) Taking advantage of Disney’s ownership of 20th Century Studios and their vast library of IP, this one pits Earth’s Mightiest Heroes against the dreaded xenomorphs of the Alien franchise.
With Alien recently putting a new installment in theaters and a Hulu/FX series on the way, this particular crossover is not a huge surprise —it’s not even Marvel’s first Alien comic this decade— but what is surprising is the robust creative team at the helm. Written by Jonathan Hickman(!) and drawn by Esad Ribić(!), Aliens vs. Avengers promises some big superhero action mixed with dense sci-fi plotting and gorgeous visuals.
Set in a dystopian future wherein xenomorphs have overrun the Marvel universe and left many of its heroes dead or despondent while Weyland-Yutani emerged as a corporate superpower, a skeleton crew of Avengers (including but not limited to Bruce Banner, Carol Danvers, a symbiotic Miles Morales, Valeria Richards, T’Challa and his son Azari) have been battling the lethal creatures with no end to the problem in sight. But when Valeria procures a xenomorph egg, a final solution may be within reach, but not everyone will survive long enough to see it happen…
As mentioned above, Aliens vs. Avengers has a stacked creative team firing on all cylinders here, and the xenomorphs fit seamlessly into the setting despite being very recognizably from a different world entirely. Hickman’s script is full of his characteristic wordiness and grandiose plotting, but Ribić really shines through with his stark, painterly art. The characters really do come across as tired and worn-down after losing so much to the xenomorphs — who, themselves, also look terrific as depicted by Ribić. I already would have been in the tank for a series like this since I love alternate universes and possible futures, but the inclusion of the Alien franchise is the bonus that really makes this series worth checking out.
Aliens vs. Avenger #1
7.99
Credits
- Writer: Jonathan Hickman
- Artist: Esad Ribić
- Color Artist: Ive Svorcina
- Letterer: VC's Cory Petit
- Cover Artist: Esad Ribić
Credits (cont)
- Editor: Sarah Brunstad
- Publisher: Marvel Entertainment
