Dark Horse Comics 2019
Written by Brian Wood
Pencilled by Kieran McKeown
Inked by JL Straw
Coloured by Dan Jackson
Lettered by Nate Piekos of Blambot
Alec Brand has survived Xenomorphs and fought to become a Colonial Marine, an elite soldier. Out of nowhere, old wounds are reopened as Alec is shocked to find out about that Amanda Ripley and Zula Hendricks are both alive and they need his help.
One of my favourite franchises mainly because of Brian's writing. He takes us through people's lives as they experience the Xenomorphs and the subsequent aftermath. Because let's face it if you survive your experience you are forever drawn back into this world whether you want to be or not. It doesn't matter how long between the times you encounter them you will encounter them it's like a tied destiny thing. In some warped perverted way you are forever linked to them and to see this the way Brian brings it to us is spectacularly well done.
Well I do like that the A.I. On the ship in the opening is David though Alec wouldn't really remember him. Still seeing how he gets into the cryo sleep chamber was interesting and why is it that men get into those with more clothing on than women do? Regardless I do like what we see in the opening page and the kind of tension that it brings.
The way that this story is being told is sensational. The story & plot development and the character development that we see here as they weave in, around, through and move the story forward thanks to the pacing. The way this is told so that it fits into a four issue arc is well done though honestly I wouldn't mind six issues arcs to really flesh out the stories. Still I am fascinated by what we see this issue and while we don't really deal with the fact that they never told him they were alive it's okay, for now, as what we see is a hell of a lot more exciting.
I really am impressed with the way that we see this book move through it's pages. While the characterisation is solid there is still some underlying stuff here that will need to be addressed and maybe it's just me seeing something that's not there. Still the way we see and learn about the moon and the effect this is having on the planet well I do like to be thrown for loops and have everything I know scrunched up and tossed so that I get my knickers in a knot.
The interiors here are amazingly solid. How we see the linework here and how the different techniques in how they are utilised and then how the inking follows with their flourish of touches and techniques make this mesmerising and stunning work. The fact that we see so many backgrounds being utilised makes me so very happy. That we see such great depth perception here as well sets this apart from the normal fare. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show off a stellar eye for storytelling. The colour work too is marvellous. The way light sources are utilised with such consistency to showcase shading and shadows is extremely well done. Plus how colour blocking and how various hues and tones are utilised to show the variations is superb.
I love this it feels like we are getting a preview of the conflict to come. We learn why Alec, well superficially because I still think there's more to it than the girls are letting on. But it also reinforces my belief that once you encounter a Xenomorph you'll forever be linked. Whatever the case may be I absolutely love this franchise and what Dark Horse and 20th Century Fox are allowing the creators to o with the property.