Aliens versus Predator (comics)
Encyclopedia
Comics
Comics denotes a hybrid medium having verbal side of its vocabulary tightly tied to its visual side in order to convey narrative or information only, the latter in case of non-fiction comics, seeking synergy by using both visual and verbal side in...
are part of the crossover
Fictional crossover
A fictional crossover is the placement of two or more otherwise discrete fictional characters, settings, or universes into the context of a single story. They can arise from legal agreements between the relevant copyright holders, or because of unauthorized efforts by fans, or even amid common...
franchise originated and published by Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent American comic book and manga publisher.Dark Horse Comics was founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson in Milwaukie, Oregon, with the concept of establishing an ideal atmosphere for creative professionals. Richardson started out by opening his first comic book...
. According to the notes which accompany the first Aliens versus Predator graphic novel, the original idea of combining the Aliens
Xenomorph (Alien)
The Alien is a fictional endoparasitoid extraterrestrial species that is the primary antagonist of the Alien film series. The species made its debut in the 1979 film Alien, and reappeared in its sequels Aliens , Alien 3 , and Alien Resurrection , two crossovers Alien vs...
with Predators
Predator (alien)
The Predator is a fictional extraterrestrial species featured in the Predator science-fiction franchise, characterised by its trophy hunting of other dangerous species for sport, including humans and its fictional counterparts, Aliens....
was the result of a brain-storming session between the comic's creators (AVP artist and editor Chris Warner
Chris Warner (comics)
Chris Warner is a comic book writer and artist who has done work for Dark Horse, notably their mid-1990s line of Comics' Greatest World and Dark Horse Heroes....
is specifically credited) in the late 1980s.
Original
Unbeknownst to the colonists, Ryushi is a traditional hunting ground of the Predators, and they are returning for their initiation rites. On board the Predator ship, the prey are prepared : an Alien queen lays eggs for delivery to Ryushi. Confounding the Predator's safeguards, this queen manages to slip an egg containing the seed of another queen into the shipment.
On reaching Ryushi, the eggs hatch and infect Rhynths. Led by a Predator elder, "Broken Tusk", the Predators arrive expecting to encounter Aliens. However, they soon run into the settlers and, after Broken Tusk is incapacitated, change their plans and hunt them instead.
Meanwhile, the infected Rhynth have been loaded aboard a cargo transporter and, with a queen among their number, an Alien colony quickly takes hold. The Predator assault continues to the settler colony itself, and the surviving settlers find themselves pitched between the Aliens and Predators. Broken Tusk, now recovered due to the intervention of a human doctor, sides with Machiko, and together with the cargo ship's crew they arrange for the transporter's massive orbiter to crash into Ryushi and destroy the colony and the Aliens.
In the ensuing fight, Broken Tusk is mortally wounded, but, admiring the courage of his human comrade, "bloods" Machiko with the mark of his clan. The story concludes with Machiko the sole inhabitant of Ryushi, the surviving settlers having been evacuated from the planet. She awaits, and is rewarded with, the return of the Predators and another hunt. One of Broken Tusk's former Predator rivals greets her and, recognizing Broken Tusk's clan symbol, accepts Machiko into the hunt.
Other titles
- Deadliest of the Species — In this story, the aliens have overrun the Earth and the rich have left the surface to live in skyliners. In one of these airships a girl is having strange dreams and they are about to start coming true.
- Aliens vs. Predator: War — In this story, Machiko Noguchi, disgruntled with her life amongst the hunters, turns on the Predators as they conduct a xenomorph hunt on a planet with a human exploratory colony. Three refugees from a prior corporate-staged Alien encounter have just arrived on the planet and also trying to battle their way to freedom.
- Booty
- Eternal — A 700+ year old man's uses technology from a salvaged Predator ship to gain fame and fortune, and uses Predator body parts to unnaturally extend his life. In the near future, a self-serving reporter gets caught up in his schemes just as the man unwittlingly unleashes xenomorphs from the ship, attracting a Predator hunting party.
- Xenogenesis
- Thrill of the Hunt
- Civilized Beasts
- AVP: Three World War
Crossovers
Other series have thrown extra combatants into the mix in a range of crossovers:- Aliens vs. Predator/Witchblade/Darkness:
- Mindhunter (by David Quinn, Mel RubiMel Rubi-Pencils:Interior pencilling work includes:* Aliens vs. Predator Annual * Aliens vs. Predator vs. The Terminator #1 – #4 * Aliens vs...
, and Mike PerkinsMike PerkinsMike Perkins is a British comic book artist known for both his inking work and full art duties on comic books such as Captain America, Ruse and Stephen King's The Stand.-Career:Mike Perkins began drawing at a very early age...
, Dark Horse ComicsDark Horse ComicsDark Horse Comics is the largest independent American comic book and manga publisher.Dark Horse Comics was founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson in Milwaukie, Oregon, with the concept of establishing an ideal atmosphere for creative professionals. Richardson started out by opening his first comic book...
, 4-issues miniseries, 2000, tpb, 96 pages, 2001, ISBN 1-56971-615-3) - Overkill (by Paul JenkinsPaul Jenkins (writer)Paul Jenkins is a British comic book writer and Gary Gygax's stepson. He has had much success crossing over into the American comic book market. Primarily working for Marvel Comics, he has had a big part shaping the characters of the company over the past decade.-Life and career:Paul Jenkins...
and Clarence Lansang, Top CowTop Cow ProductionsTop Cow Productions is an American comics publisher, a partner studio of Image Comics founded by Marc Silvestri in 1992.-History:...
, 2-issue mini-series, 2000)
- Mindhunter (by David Quinn, Mel Rubi
- Aliens versus Predator versus The Terminator
- Superman and Batman versus Aliens and PredatorSuperman and Batman versus Aliens and PredatorSuperman and Batman vs. Aliens and Predator is a comic book co-published by DC Comics and Dark Horse Comics. It was written by Mark Schultz, with art by Ariel Olivetti...
Publications
A number of Aliens vs. Predator trade paperbackTrade paperback (comics)
In comics, a trade paperback is a collection of stories originally published in comic books, reprinted in book format, usually capturing one story arc from a single title or a series of stories with a connected story arc or common theme from one or more titles...
s have been published:
- Aliens vs. Predator:
- Original (by Randy Stradley, Chris WarnerChris Warner (comics)Chris Warner is a comic book writer and artist who has done work for Dark Horse, notably their mid-1990s line of Comics' Greatest World and Dark Horse Heroes....
, and Phill Norwood, tpb, 176 pages, Dark Horse ComicsDark Horse ComicsDark Horse Comics is the largest independent American comic book and manga publisher.Dark Horse Comics was founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson in Milwaukie, Oregon, with the concept of establishing an ideal atmosphere for creative professionals. Richardson started out by opening his first comic book...
, 1991, ISBN 1878574272, Titan BooksTitan BooksTitan Publishing Group is an independently owned publishing company, established in 1981. It is based at offices in London, England's Bankside area. The Books Division has two main areas of publishing: film & TV tie-ins/cinema reference books; and graphic novels and comics reference/art titles. The...
, 176 pages, 1992, ISBN 1-85286-413-3) - Deadliest of the SpeciesAliens/Predator: Deadliest of the SpeciesAliens/Predator: Deadliest of the Species is a 12 issue comic book limited series published by Dark Horse Comics in 1993-1995.It was written by Chris Claremont, with art in the first three issues by Jackson Guice and John Beatty , Eduardo Barreto took over art duties in issue #4.-Plot:The Story...
(by Chris ClaremontChris ClaremontChris Claremont is an award-winning American comic book writer and novelist, known for his 17-year stint on Uncanny X-Men, far longer than any other writer, during which he is credited with developing strong female characters, and with introducing complex literary themes into superhero...
, with pencils Jackson GuiceJackson GuiceJackson "Butch" Guice , is an American comic book artist who has worked steadily in the mainstream comics industry since the early 1980s.-Biography:...
and inks by John BeattyJohn Beatty (illustrator)John Beatty is an American illustrator born in Whitesburg, Kentucky who has worked for Marvel Comics and DC Comics,-Biography:...
(1-3) and full art by Eduardo BarretoEduardo Barreto-References:...
(4-12), Dark Horse ComicsDark Horse ComicsDark Horse Comics is the largest independent American comic book and manga publisher.Dark Horse Comics was founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson in Milwaukie, Oregon, with the concept of establishing an ideal atmosphere for creative professionals. Richardson started out by opening his first comic book...
, 320 pages, tpb, 1996, ISBN 1-56971-184-4, Titan BooksTitan BooksTitan Publishing Group is an independently owned publishing company, established in 1981. It is based at offices in London, England's Bankside area. The Books Division has two main areas of publishing: film & TV tie-ins/cinema reference books; and graphic novels and comics reference/art titles. The...
, 1998, ISBN 1852869534, hardcover, 1997, ISBN 1-56971-182-8) collects:- Deadliest of the Species Book 1 (tpb, collects Deadliest of the Species #1-6, 152 pages, 1995, Boxtree, ISBN 0-7522-0878-0, Warner Books, ISBN 1-56971-184-4)
- Deadliest of the Species Book 2 (tpb, collects Deadliest of the Species #7-12, 156 pages, 1995, Boxtree, ISBN 0-7522-0695-8)
- War (by Randy Stradley, 5-issue mini-series, 1995, tpb, 1996, Titan BooksTitan BooksTitan Publishing Group is an independently owned publishing company, established in 1981. It is based at offices in London, England's Bankside area. The Books Division has two main areas of publishing: film & TV tie-ins/cinema reference books; and graphic novels and comics reference/art titles. The...
, 176 pages, ISBN 1-56971-158-5, Dark Horse ComicsDark Horse ComicsDark Horse Comics is the largest independent American comic book and manga publisher.Dark Horse Comics was founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson in Milwaukie, Oregon, with the concept of establishing an ideal atmosphere for creative professionals. Richardson started out by opening his first comic book...
, 200 pages, ISBN 1-56971-158-5) - Booty (by Barbara KeselBarbara KeselBarbara Randall Kesel is an American writer and editor of comic books; her bibliography includes work for DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Crossgen, Image Comics and Dark Horse Comics.-Biography:...
and Chris Chalenor, 1996) - Eternal (by Ian EdgintonIan EdgintonIan Edginton is a British comic book writer.He is one of the few British comic talents to follow the reverse trajectory to the one usually taken: becoming successful in American comics before returning to work for 2000 AD.-Biography:...
and Alex MaleevAlex MaleevAlex Maleev is a Bulgarian-born comic book illustrator, best known for the Marvel Comics' series Daredevil , collaborating with writer Brian Michael Bendis.-Career:...
, Dark Horse ComicsDark Horse ComicsDark Horse Comics is the largest independent American comic book and manga publisher.Dark Horse Comics was founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson in Milwaukie, Oregon, with the concept of establishing an ideal atmosphere for creative professionals. Richardson started out by opening his first comic book...
, 4-issue mini-series, 1998, tpb, 88 pages, 1999, ISBN 1-56971-409-6) - Xenogenesis (by Andi WatsonAndi WatsonAndrew "Andi" Watson is a British cartoonist and illustrator best known for the graphic novels Breakfast After Noon, Slow News Day and his series Love Fights, published by Oni Press and Slave Labor Graphics....
, Mel RubiMel Rubi-Pencils:Interior pencilling work includes:* Aliens vs. Predator Annual * Aliens vs. Predator vs. The Terminator #1 – #4 * Aliens vs...
and inkers Mark Lipka and Norman Lee, 4-issue mini-series, 1998-1999) - Thrill of the Hunt (by Mike KennedyMike KennedyMichael Kennedy is a former professional ice hockey centre who played in the National Hockey League from 1994–95 to 1998–99 for the Dallas Stars, Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Islanders....
and Roger Robinson, Dark Horse ComicsDark Horse ComicsDark Horse Comics is the largest independent American comic book and manga publisher.Dark Horse Comics was founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson in Milwaukie, Oregon, with the concept of establishing an ideal atmosphere for creative professionals. Richardson started out by opening his first comic book...
, tpb, 96 pages, 2004, ISBN 1-59307-257-0) - Civilized Beasts (by Mike KennedyMike KennedyMichael Kennedy is a former professional ice hockey centre who played in the National Hockey League from 1994–95 to 1998–99 for the Dallas Stars, Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Islanders....
and Roger Robinson, Dark Horse ComicsDark Horse ComicsDark Horse Comics is the largest independent American comic book and manga publisher.Dark Horse Comics was founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson in Milwaukie, Oregon, with the concept of establishing an ideal atmosphere for creative professionals. Richardson started out by opening his first comic book...
, tpb, 96 pages, 2005, ISBN 1-59307-342-9)
- Original (by Randy Stradley, Chris Warner
- Aliens vs. Predator Omnibus:
- Volume 1 (collects 'Aliens vs. Predator' - original series, Blood Time, Duel, War, Eternal, Old Secrets, and The Web, 456 pages, April 2007, ISBN 1-59307-735-1)
- Volume 2 (collects Deadliest of the Species, Booty, Hell-Bent, Pursuit, Lefty's Revenge, Chained to Life and Death, and Xenogenesis, 448 pages, October 2007, ISBN 1-59307-829-3)
See also
- Aliens vs. Predator franchise
- Aliens vs. PredatorAliens vs. Predator (novel series)The Aliens vs. Predator novel series is a trilogy of novels that belong to the fictional crossover franchise of Aliens vs. Predator, based on the original Aliens vs...
, a novel series - AliensAliens (comic book)The Aliens comic books were first published by Dark Horse Comics in 1988 and set in the Alien fictional universe.Some stories often feature the company Weyland-Yutani and the United States Colonial Marines. Originally intended as a sequel to James Cameron's Aliens, the first mini-series features...
, a comic series - Predator, a comic series