Dynamite Entertainment/Dark Horse Comics 2015
Written by Corinna Bechko
Illustrated by Javier Garcia-Miranda
Lettered by Simon Bowland
Coloured by InLight Studios
I have to say i’m impressed because each issue that comes is better than the one before and this kind of continual build-up and characterization is phenomenal. Also once again I love that we don’t see the gore happening here and that we get to see the aftermath or something similiar means that we can imagine the most horrifying and gruesome of deaths in our own heads, something far more creative than seeing it on the page.
So while we see the opening and kind of know what’s happening we move to the guys and the deliberation of whether their sterilization worked. Oh Tucker is one character that we love to hate and his outright bigotry and nastiness is the leading factor in wanting to see a xenomorph either emerge from his chest OR have the little mouth come out of the big one and rip through his head. Either way I want to see the terror on his face as realizes his time is up. Oh and with this being his idea and all he’s still sending Norm do his dirty work yeah Corinna has given us more than enough characterization to understand this man.
Lars and Vampirella are seemingly trapped in the coffin room with two of them outside using their acid to melt through the door. There really is only one thing to do and follow the third one that went upward using its shaft. I am enjoying the fact that we are getting to FEEL the excitement happening here. Between the writing and the interior artwork there’s a real sense of danger and adrenaline pumping. From watching the pair try to go up the shaft to seeing the xenomorphs emerge into the room it’s that race agains the clock feel that excites the reader.
The fact that they emerge into the greenhouse on Mars is utterly fantastic. This is the kind of sci-fi element that makes the reader realize oh yeah it’s probably warm in here and moist so that they can grow and provide more oxygen for the base. So weaving all the worlds of both companies the way Corinna has been doing keeps making me question why we haven’t seen this crossover before now?!?
So much happens this issue and so much more is still to come. Some predictable some not so much but regardless it’s going to get even more thrilling and I’m still amazed. Lar’s wife and her crew are up in orbit waiting for the all-clear which you know even if they don’t get it they’ll land anyway, Norm and Tucker are vulnerable after seeing what’s there but no clue as to what they truly are. Then of course they are on top of a giant Vampire colony with ancients in hibernation with all kinds of bumping and destruction going on to inadvertently wake a few up. Wow could you throw in the kitchen sink just to add another element or fodder for the beasties?
Seriously though with all this issues revelation and reveals that there is more to come makes me excited and impressed in the skill and talent of everyone involved in this. Plus that this is a company crossover just adds a joy to the mix, that amidst market shares etc. that they can do this and bring us as a good a read with this kind of cooperation means the future for the continued company crossover looks bright!