Dark Horse Comics 2016
Written by Dan Abnett
Illustrated by Andrea Mutti
Coloured by Rain Beredo
Lettered by Michael Heisler
Dispatched to Tartarus (LV-797) to investigate unauthorized prospecting on the Weyland-Yutani-owned planet, Captain Paget and her platoon of Colonial Marines discovered three surviving claim jumpers from the Seegson Corporation—and a group of hostile lifeforms: the Predators. Also discovered was a huge spacecraft of unknown origin, which Lorimer, the Weyland-Yutani representative embedded with the marines, wanted for his company. A battle ensued between the marines and the Predators over possession of the spacecraft. The marines suffered heavy casualties, but eventually one team of marines was able to secure the ship and take off, while the remainder of the marines made it back to their own ship, the Hasdrubal, still in orbit above the contested world . . .
Coming literally hot on the heel of Predator: LIfe and Death we see what happens as the team faces what occurred. This is pretty freakin awesome, the whole franchise has been incredibly well done and Dan’s storytelling of it just keeps you so involved and invested with these characters. Yes it’s the franchise and no not everyone survives but for now there’s a rather large contingent still alive and you never know who may or may live to see the end.
As Captain Paget and her team follow the Promethean ship into space she sends out a report. This of course is going to do two things in my eyes. 1. They will order her to keep following it and try to claim it and 2. They will send another team out to ensure that they are able to bring it home. If things go as I think there’s plenty of time for a bloodbath to be coming and plenty of great characterization on tap as the remaining team confronts a new one who has no idea what they are facing but overconfident in that they can.
After the opening the main focus is the team on the Promethean ship. Last issue there was gunfire and the sarcophagus was damaged so this issue one of the ship’s crew does indeed emerge and turns everything upside down. Already gosh you gotta love the pacing here as there really is no rest for the wicked. So now with them being on the run trying to avoid the fate of Indelicato and with the revived Promethean in control of the ship things are going to get incredibly bumpy. I hope that the room where all that black goo and what looks like early egg hatching stations are is still viable because seriously i’d still love to see the xenomorphs come into play.
Andrea is an incredibly good artist and I love the way he can tell a story. While the “God” could be bigger and more imposing it’s still cuts a mean figure. His characters are real people and I love that we can see personalities in their faces. His of pages and panels some with backgrounds other just on the focus really do wonders to tell Dan’s story.
This is the next generation of franchise storytelling. It’s combines all the elements found in this universe keeps the story going in a great way that doesn’t require multiple books a month to tell and it’s got some of the best action/adventure/horror stuff around. You really get a great feeling of tension and despair with only a few glimmers of hope spattered throughout.
If you aren’t reading this series grab this issue and see what i’m talking about here it’s perfectly stand alone and you’ll catch up quickly. You’ll also probably end up getting the prior trades even if you don’t this a must check out book.