Alien mythology expands in gigantic Marvel Omnibus tome published by Panini Comics
They are probably the most repulsive and deadly creatures in the known universe, and their stories have been around for over four decades. Now that the Xenomorph license is in the hands of Marvel Comics, Panini Comics has taken the opportunity to publish a first volume of luxury with the first adventures that had these beings as villains, compiling comics published from the late eighties to the early nineties. It comes to us under the title of Marvel Omnibus – Aliens: The Original Episode 1.
It all started with Ridley Scott
It is debatable if the film with which the director Ridley Scott gave life to one of the juiciest franchises in science fiction and horror has aged well or not, but what is undeniable is that the influence of both this film and, above all, its immediate successor (this time with James Cameron in management tasks), continues to this day.
And when a universe as rich as the one these filmmakers devised is created, it is almost impossible for these concepts not to expand beyond the film saga that originated them (and if not, that they tell George Lucas and his Star Wars). The world of the ninth art would soon come to face the xenomorphs with Predator (which would end up having its echo in the cinema), with judge dreddcon Terminator or with members of the League of Justice (and maybe soon we will see them face characters from the Marvel Universe), but his first comics were only intended to expand the mythology of these creatures.
This is how, through a multitude of small series, an entire imaginary developed around these perfect killing machines. And they are the most caustic lovers in this universe, those with the least complexes, the ones who are going to enjoy these stories the most and the ones who will constantly look over their shoulders while reading, lest a xenomorph has sneaked into their house. …
Obsessed with continuity, stay away
Those readers who are looking for a river story coherently developed in these comics and that together with what is told in the movies form a rich and continuous universe, stay away from this volume.
In the first miniseries contained here, published between the second and third installments of the film saga, we find Newt y Hicks as protagonists, those characters who accompanied Lieutenant Ellen Louise Ripley in his second confrontation with the xenomorphs, years after the events that occurred then.
These stories were intended to serve as a bridge between film installments, but we already know that the film directed by David Fincher in 1992 definitively ended any hope that what happened in these comics could have happened (at least until some director like Neil Bloomkamp resume the saga with a new installment that reimagines what happened with these characters).
But it is also that, if you look closely, these stories are not even coherent with themselves. Here it is not about being amazed by the ability of the writers when it comes to nit-picking and world building. Here it is about enjoying without obsessing over the details, just as it was done with the stories of Conan written by Robert E. Howard or with the cosmic horror of H. P. LovecraftAll of them stories full of contradictions. We are not facing a work of engineering but rather an enjoyment in cartoons. Also…do the movies have a meaningful continuity?
A blast with a few issues
In general, the adventures compiled here are a real joy for fans of space marines and that claustrophobic and oppressive environment that characterizes this universe, but also for those who enjoy good horror and science fiction stories without fear of getting dirty. hands.
The era in which these comics were made stands out, but that nostalgic flavor is part of the magic of these stories. A genius like John Arcudi He is surely the scriptwriter who best knows how to take advantage of the possibilities that this universe offers, his work being in Genocide the most notable here together with the stories narrated by Mark Verheiden that open the volume
Arcudi not only delves into the social organization of the xenomorphs, but also follows the plot trail already glimpsed in the movies about how these, in addition to being very dangerous bugs, are also a possible source of wealth for those who do not fear the consequences. to poke their noses into their business (something brilliantly followed up in the next story as well, Hive). You could even see a certain ecological message among so much blood…
On the negative side, one could highlight those stories that were basically used to promote the premiere of the third installment of the saga, products clearly intended to exploit the franchise without much pretension. Still, it is curious to see them today…
In the graphic section we did not find big surprises. Despite having an amalgamation of different styles here, it cannot be said that there is one that stands out especially from the others since they are all quite discreet, but it is always good to see the drawings of people like Kelley Jones, Simon Bisley o Sam Kieth.
a gigantic tome
As for the magnificent edition, the deluxe volume of the Marvel Omnibus line – Aliens: The original stage 1 published by Panini Comics in hardcover with dust jackets contains 1024 pages with a size of 18.3 x 27.7 cm. in color.
Includes the translation of the American edition of the numbers Aliens 1-6, Aliens v2 1-4, Aliens: Earth War 1-4, Aliens: Genocide 1-4, Aliens: Hive 1-4, Aliens: Tribes, Aliens: Newt’s Tale 1-2, Alien 3 1-3, Aliens: Space Marines 1-12 and material Dark Horse Presents 24, 42-43 y 56, Dark Horse Presents Fifth Anniversary Special y Dark Horse Insider 14-27.
It also includes a final section loaded with bonus material with sketches, covers and lots of information. The recommended retail price for this tome is 70 € and was put up for sale in February 2022.
Marvel Omnibus – Aliens: The Original Episode 1
As Marvel launches a new xenomorph invasion, rediscover the legacy of the Alien comics!
Some familiar faces star in stories that expand the myths of the movies. As Hicks and Newt embark on a deadly mission to find and destroy the creatures’ homeworld, a deadly outbreak leaves Earth overrun by aliens.
Billionaire Daniel Grant sets his sights on an alien queen, and scientist Stanislaw Mayakovsky must recover one of the galaxy’s most precious substances, alien royal jelly. But can even Earth’s greatest fighting force, the Colonial Marines, hold off the most terrifying and relentless creatures of all?
Autores: Mark Verheiden, Denis Beauvais, Paul Guinan, Anina Bennett, Mike Richardson, Damon Willis, Jerry Prosser, Dave Dorman, Jim Somerville, Steven Grant, Simon Bisley, Steve Bissette, Sam Kieth, Mark Nelson, Kelley Jones y John Arcudi
