AvP: Omnibus Volume 1 Review

Dark Horse are the ones who started it all. It was their idea that later spawned one of the best selling franchises: Alien vs Predator. It was that fateful meeting when the idea of pitching two of Fox’s creatures gave birth to the hit comic series Alien vs Predator. Since that time, the franchise has gone on to produce many comics, popular video games and now, a film series. But what of the medium that spawned it all? What of the AvP comics? The last comic Dark Horse published was Thrill of the Hunt back in 2004 and it was met with lacklustre response.

But soon that’ll all be over. With a new generation of fans being introduced to Alien vs Predator, now’s the time to show them all where it came from. Alien vs Predator Omnibus Volume 1 is the first in what will hopefully be a number of omnibuses that collect numerous AvP comics and put them together in one handy book. So there I was, lucky me, received a review copy of the Omnibus in the mail. And to be frank, I was impressed. So what I’m gonna do is write little mini-reviews of each comic in the Omnibus, then I’ll sum it up. So…onto Alien vs Predator.

Alien vs Predator
So this is it. The one that spawned it all. And it’s a comic I’ve never liked. Well, the story, yes, but the art no. I don’t particular like the first few AvP comics because of the artwork. I find James Sinclair’s colouring to be pretty awful. It just doesn’t suit the AvP style in my humble opinion. I know, what a way to start a review for something I said I was impressed by.

Aliens vs Predator was a 4 – 5 if you count the prequel – issued comic that was penned by Randy Stradley. It’s one of the well written comics but it had a lot of problems in the art department. One artist did one part, another did another so the style kept on changing. But constantly, the colouring sucks. Overall, it’s an entertaining comic and worth reading for the “Oh, that’s how it started” mentality. You’ll notice a number of things AvP [the movie] borrowed from there. If you ask me, AvP is a comic that could do with being re-drawn altogether.

Blood Time
This is a short little prequel to War. It introduces us to one of the main Predators in the comic. Yet again, another Sinclair coloured comic so my comments about the colouring stand. Okay…up into Eternal, I don’t like the colouring. Blood Time expands on the mentality of the Predators as a race, their customs and their way of honor. It was a really interesting read.

Duel
Well, wow, Duel. This is one I’ve been meaning to get my hands on for some time. Never had the chance until now. Duel is one you need to get your hands on for the same reason as Aliens vs Predator. It’s another first. Duel introduces us to the Predalien. The artwork for this is really nice, and the colouring is a step up from the previous two comics. It’s a really nice and compact 2 issued series that is one of the best written in the Omnibus. It has one of the strongest stories. Duel is a sequel to Aliens vs Predator, dealing with what happening to the planet after AvP.

War
I suppose you could say that War kills two birds with one stone. It’s another sequel to Aliens vs Predator and to the Aliens comic, Beserker. It develops the Machiko character very well and deals with how she is surviving living among the Predators. And as a result, it gives us more insight into the Predator culture. The artwork and colouring in this comic are a lot better than in AvP. A very good step in the right direction. Still not liking those backgrounds though. Doesn’t have a very Alien feel to it.

Eternal
This is quite possibly my favourite Alien vs Predator comic. It’s carried along by a very interesting story and fantastic art. The artwork helps to convey the noir style of the story. Shadows and dark colours are very prominent, something that is very suitable for the story. It has some interesting development about Predator physiology, and the effects of trying to use the Predators for medicine. It also features a kickass sewer fight scene. Can’t help but wonder if Shane had any influence from Eternal when writing AvP2.

Old Secrets
Old Secrets is an interesting little short that deals with the sorts of things I’m interested in. Exploring the past – but with your own twist. Old Secrets tells the tale of Saint George, the main who slayed a dragon. Just so happens that that dragon happened to be a Predator. It’s a pretty short comic. Barely fifteen pages. Not much really happens but it’s interesting. The artwork is nice too.

The Web
Wow. The Web. What a comic. I was really impressed with this little short. Stylistically done in black and white, the artwork is lovely and a nice compliment to the crazy and insane story of The Web. It’s about this guy who uses a distress call to lure Predators to his little moon. You see, “this guy” happens to be the son of the first victims in Alien vs Predator and he has a little vendetta against the Predators. I kid you not, this short is amazing! It has quite possibly the best artwork I have ever seen. If you get the Omnibus, which I expect you all to do, you should all skip to the back pages. Just so you can read this beauty first.

Overall
Despite my negative views on the colouring of the first few comics in the Omnibus, I loved it. It’s such a wonderful idea from Dark Horse. By bringing all these old comics together for the price of 1 and a half TPB comics, the Omnibuses are sure to be a hit with new fans and old ones alike. I would recommend this to ANY Alien vs Predator fan. It’s a chance for you to see the beginnings, your chance to see where everything in current Alien vs Predator mythos came from. You’d be a fool to pass it up. From Hicks here at AvPGalaxy, I award the AvP Omnibus a 4 out of 5!

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