As some of you already know, Dark Horse plans to reboot the Alien, Predator and Alien Vs. Predator comic series and create a single universe that all four comic franchises, including the yet to be initiated Prometheus comic series, will share.
Below you can find the recently revealed covers for the first issues of all the new series:
Aliens #1
Predator #1
Aliens Vs. Predator #1
Prometheus #1If you want to learn more about the Dark Horse’s relaunch, make sure to check io9’s interview with Dark Horse editor-in-chief Scott Allie.
And they've all been f**king awful aside from Aliens Alien3 and most of the concept art being better than the final designs.
I think the people at Dark Horse were really excited when stuff for the issue #1s, like the covers, started rolling in, but they've realized now that they can't share much more without massively spoiling anything. I think we can expect more maybe in March, since the solicits for June will probably be out by then. It might also be smart not to keep people too hyped up, as that usually leads to disappointment. This is Prometheus, after all.
One thing about the reboot I'm curious about is how the individual series will read month-to-month. Xenogenesis was released one miniseries at a time (Aliens for four months, then Predator, then AvP), and the '09/'10 relaunch was basically released that way, too. But this time around the four series are being released in a nested way, two a month (Prometheus #1 + Aliens #1 in June, then AvP #1 + Predator #1 in July, etc.). I wonder how that will effect reading each story, especially since Scott Allie has said that some series are basically sequels to others. For example, will we see things in AvP #1 that won't fully make sense until Prometheus #4? It'll be interesting to see how they handle it.
Mike Richardson and Randy Stradley did another interview with Comic Book Resources today. They talked a bit about the new A/v/P comics, but nothing really substantial.
http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=50557
A few quotes:
"So we decided to find a way to fill in the cracks around what Ridley [Scott] is doing with his movies. He himself said that this all took place in the same universe, and we took that as our launch point to again make comics that we thought would make for great movies. We want to answer a few of the questions that were raised in "Prometheus" and pose some additional questions while having a related set of books all set in that same fictional universe."
"We spent a lot of time just sorting out how we could do this and what the rules would be. How can we answer questions posed in the film itself while also not going too far astray from Ridley's ideas? So just tackling "Prometheus" in that way was a task, and then we had to find how to tell stories in the other franchises where we could also have a set of related characters through all the comics."
"We've been coming up with some related-but-varied themes for each part of the story. So the story in the "Prometheus" chapter is a different story from the one in the "Aliens" chapter which is different than the one in the "Predators" chapter. They're all obviously one larger story, but within the pieces, we're making sure to pin down satisfying stories within each franchise chapter."
"The launches will be staggered, but we'll talk more about that when we get towards the launch dates." That's the only thing that caught my eye, since I was just asking about that earlier today.
Overall, nothing new.
Good speculation
I wouldn't mind if the AvP comic were to unfold like that. I'm down for predator on xeno on engineer on deacon on other "black goo" creatures. My only concern is that if they were really to take that route, the story might lose focus. To many different monsters going at it. It would really be fascinating to see xenos and deacons ripping into each other...or xenos taking on cobras and giant facehuggers. I'd be interested in seeing engineer weaponry too.
Fantastic Analysis.
Prometheus-Follows the rescue crew sent to look for Weyland and the Prometheus (confirmed in interviews). They find the pyramid and various creatures within evolving due to the exposed black goo. Monster madness ensues, with the adult Deacon taking the spotlight. The characters speculate on what the goo is and what it was meant to do, answering fan questions as Dark Horse has said they will. Most of the team dies, taken as hosts by the Deacon for a growing hive. One or more survivors get away.
Aliens-As word begins to get out about LV-223 and the mysterious, yet potentially profitable, alien technology there, a team of scientists or smugglers set out to get a vase of the goo (as the cover of Aliens #1 would indicate). They find LV-223 even more evolved, and this series will address the relationship between the Deacons and xenos. I suspect Galgo (Joshua Williamson's character) will be introduced here.
Predators-I suspect this will be the least inter-related. As Williamson has already said, we'll see an older Predator embarking on his final hunt. It'll turn out that the query is an Engineer, of whom I suspect we won't see to much in the series. Galgo will be the main character, as Williamson has said. The series will end with the Predator tracking the Engineer to -gasp- LV-223.
AvP-I expect this series to be balls-to-the-walls monster action, as the old Predator fights not only the Engineer, but the combined horrors of the Deacons, xenos, and other monstrosities that have spring up on the planet since the goo got loose. This series will answer the "Why did they never go back to LV-223 in later years?" question by having the whole Engineer installation get destroyed by a wrist nuke.
At least, that's how I see things playing out.
As for the second point, I think the black goo getting loose probably caused everything in the pyramid to go haywire, creating a whole new organic environment (hence the big head being covered in what look like tree roots). It makes send that something like that would happen, when the black goo is left on its own uncontained. My guess is that the Aliens series will also be set on LV-223 and further explore what havoc the black goo has wrought (IE a big xeno/Deacon hive, terraformed environment). Maybe we'll even get some cool Giger-esque hell-world stuff.
I noticed two things, one the ridges on this "man" 's nose are identical to that of the Big Head in Prometheus.
https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aliensversuspredator.net%2Fmedia%2Fnewcomics-prometheus-1-cover.jpg&hash=d377fdacea1460c506cbf6643b2eaa6135b2d002
And is it that disturbing the atmosphere in the temple terraformed the entirety/ part of LV223?
What?
It's a reply to MrSpaceJockey's comparison between the two.
And I made the argument of the fact that in technical terms the Deacon in the last shot of Prometheus beats the AVP shlock by a mile, re-read my post maybe?
No, Alien3's compared to Aliens' design. Is closer in spirit.
The sexuality, the lips, the smooth dome etc
He thought it would feel too unrealistic, when it's directly birthed by humanoid creatures.
And your point about Ridley wanting the Deacon to seem less like the Alien by making it opaque instead of translucent confuses me.
Well, first off the Deacon isn't exactly meant to be a Xenomorph just something resembling one.
It's more eerily human than any-one of the designs from AVP/AVP2, the only thing closer in spirit to Giger's original is the design from Alien3 and arguably Aliens.
I'm not saying the Deacon couldn't have been better, in fact making the design as it is translucent would've made it a lot better.
But that's really down to Scott wanting it to look less Alien and more parasite.
It still retains it's own sense of eerie beauty, close to the original Alien. Although the design is completely removed of bio-mechanics it has none of the problems that the AVP design has such as the fleshy shoulders, arms and the worst offender of all, the neck which has barely a semblance of symmetricality, never mind biomechanics.
The Deacon also doesn't have: The unrealistic tail or dopey monster hands, although the Deacon's hands are admittedly quite large that is likely due to it being a cross-breed of human and Engineer.
In terms of the Xenomorph I am a Giger purist when it comes to impregnating humans.
But the Deacon can't qualify exactly as the traditional Xenomorph, nor can anything spawned by the Engineer's Vases.
And your correct about AVP design serving the film it was in, it does, a bad design serves a bad film.
https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi49.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Ff291%2Fsabres21768%2FAlienReference%2FALIEN%2F27720001e2.jpg&hash=65bf6f4e7013fbfa75754171c394abc98e32b219
Above is a Xenomorph.
https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fstatic2.wikia.nocookie.net%2F__cb20130827011033%2Favp%2Fimages%2F1%2F18%2FDeacon_prometheusmovie_still.jpg&hash=de622162a4bd250f44261522e900743b8c6388d5
This is in no-way a Xenomorph, maybe a cousin species that resembles it somewhat, perhaps even grows to be it but not as it stands.
And as for AVP, tubes teeth and a phallic shaped head does not a Xenomorph or Alien make.
You tend to state your opinion as fact and create pseudo objective narration to strictly subjective matter. Still it doesn't change the fact I like nearly ever one Alien design, and think they fit films they were used in. You can really do nothing about it. I would have understood you being purist and discrediting other designs then Giger's original, but putting Deacon as argument is where you really fail.
You and me both.. I thought the AvP Aliens were fine, much better than the Requiem Aliens anyway!
As for the Deacon... Someone had likened them to the alien creature from Alien vs Ninja, and surprisingly... that description sort of fits for the Deacon.
https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-G9ksVG3AJ9M%2FUHHczoKtkDI%2FAAAAAAAAEKI%2FwK7-y62QXTM%2Fs1600%2FDeacon.jpg&hash=d694737b616658e5a089e763b008835859be955c
is any better than this:
https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fshyning27.tripod.com%2Fsitebuildercontent%2Fsitebuilderpictures%2Fbalazs-avp.jpg&hash=4455080acdfd1a74a68e1647d30fbbe6671ddc53
Both equally ugh. Maybe you think the AvP design is worse because the film could've used Giger's superior design, well ok then, but I think plenty of superior designs for the Deacon were passed on as well.
On a different note I hope they keep the Deacon tailless, unlike what we've seen in some concept art released for the comics. I'd prefer a more human-like silhouette, which would better differentiate it from the Aliens anyway.
It takes some balls to say you like a shitty design, like a bad variant of Freddy Kruger or Jason. But kudos.
The best way I know would be to check Things From Another World when the series comes out. They always seem to have the variants, including the retailer incentive ones. Shipping costs can be a pain, though.
http://www.tfaw.com/
And I have a feeling it won't just be the Predator series that gets an issue #1 variant.
I wouldn't jump to that conclusion. Remember that the Mignola AvP variant cover had a traditional xeno, and so did the Aliens #1 variant I found on Comic Book Resources a while ago. I think it'll be more like " Predator vs Xenos/Deacons/Engineers/other black goo monsters"
https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.gawkerassets.com%2Fimg%2F19cg31e31i0kejpg%2Fku-xlarge.jpg&hash=3dcd7b1b83dafe021fb91d3792252938c4eff842
https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Frobot6.comicbookresources.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2013%2F12%2FAllie-Aliens-banner-625x193.jpg&hash=1711d178862e26999774f489f54776d5ac1be28b
The concept designs for the Deacon? Those were pretty cool, especially the albino one that had no mouth. Literally any of the concept designs in the Prometheus art book would have been better than what we actually ended up with.
"I think it might be better if I left... I find you... unpleasant to be around."
Especially compared to the far superior Deacon concept designs present in the Prometheus art book.
More specifically AVPR then, I also hate the fact Anderson had to use AR designs, but as I understand that was due to budget constraints more than personal choice.
You'll take Alien Resurrection designs over the Deacon?
Both plots have their problems but one is rehashed idea in a different medium and the other isn't.
As an artist I can tell you the Deacon design immediately has more depth to it than the disgustingly simplified Xenomorph seen in A:R and in AVP.
It's better to do something new than to try and use an old monster and make it inferior.
Re-reading my post I realise it sounds a little insulting and I don't like fights so let me just say this.
From an artistic and intellectual standpoint Prometheus is superior.
From an entertainment standpoint perhaps not, but I have two ways of appreciating a film.
One category is where films like Predator fall in, The Fifth Element and Batman Returns.
The other, is Donnie Darko, Prometheus, Lawrence of Arabia etc
I simply prefer the second category.
Well, they are supposed to be Godlike at the very least. I just hope the Aliens aren't in the same position they were in the AVP movies being treated like George Lucas' Butter.. Ahem I mean battledroids.
Your opinion is only that, subjective.
Prometheus at least took Alien back to it's roots, where-as AVP took the bad Resurrection designs and turned the Predators into wrestlers that are human-buddies.
Prometheus at least took it in a new direction.
I can't honestly comment on Predators, I thought it was okay but it isn't as fun as the first two. And I'm not that big of a fan of Predator in general anyway.
Girls do need quality role models
Yes, just a tough every day girl who goes around gutting predators and slicing off xenomorphs' heads
Aaaah! Dude put that in a spoiler!
Nice find on Tumblr BTW. This sounds promising:
Part of Machiko's attractiveness for some readers was her lack of "superhero powers," she is just a really tough everyday girl. Looks like they are giving us more of that type of character
That's the direction I prefer. Thinking back at some on some of the interviews, they did say that one of the questions they'll be answering is the "different eggs" in Prometheus, which I take to mean the goo vases. Since they've also been heavily shown on the covers of Prometheus and Aliens #1, looks like this will become a plot point. So I definitely think we'll be getting some kind of answers vis a vis xenos and Deacons. Most likely some rescue crew goes onto one of the other Juggernauts and finds traditional xeno eggs, leading to them putting two and two together about how the two species relate (similar yet different weapons). Maybe they even have a symbiotic relationship.
Any reason particularly why?
I don't think that might be the case, as Ridley Scott apparently said that the Deacon isn't supposed to be a Xenomorph but it's own separate species or race even. Emphasis on apparently. So what do we know? According to an interview with Ridley Scott on Screenrant, the ship which left LV-223 and crash landed on LV-426 crash landed some 200 years before the incident occurred on LV-223 before the biological breakout which wiped out nearly all of the engineers. Not to mention the mural depicts fully developed Xenomorphs, complete with the showing of Giger-esque facehuggers.
I would think that the Deacon is not necessarily the first of it's kind, and the Xenomorphs have been around a lot longer than we think.