First teased by Dark Horse back on Alien Day, Comic Book Resource has just officially unveiled a brand new comic series based on William Gibson’s first draft of Alien 3! Gibson, who has generally been reluctant to talk about his work on the film, had this to say about the upcoming adaptation:
“When your first contracted screenplay (or screenplay of any kind, in my case) isn’t produced, but the film is eventually made with a different screenplay, retaining nothing of yours but a barcode tattoo on the back of a character’s neck, the last thing you ever expect is to see yours beautifully adapted and realized, decades later, in a different medium, by an artist of Johnnie Christmas’ caliber,” Gibson said in a statement released exclusively to CBR. “It’s a wonderful experience, and I have no doubt that Johnnie’s version, which adheres almost entirely to the script, delivers more of my material to the audience than any feature film would have been likely to do.”
Like Dark Horse’s most recent Alien titles (Dead Orbit and Dust to Dust), William Gibson’s Alien 3 is written and illustrated by one talent: Johnnie Christmas of FIREBUG fame. Christmas has also worked with Dark Horse in the past, providing artwork for Angel Catbird and Murder Book.
Tamra Bonvillian will be providing colours for the series. You can check out the 5 page preview of their work in the first issue below!
The first issue (of five) of William Gibson’s Alien 3 is currently slated for release on the 7th of November. What do you think of the new series? Are you as excited as I am for this adaptation? Thanks to Whos_Nick for the link.
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That could actually work
Ultimately it was their decision and that second draft was a more palatable experience, nothing much can be done about it now. Just can't get the what if's outta my mind.
I agree with you on the visuals, hell I couldn't help but chuckle at this bit right here --
Spoiler
Overall it was okay, i was expecting something different when this was announced though. I don't think the visuals jived well with the story.
Spoiler
That's what I've been saying. It makes me suspect that Verheiden may have even read the Gibson script and thought it was going to be produced when he wrote his comics.
Much better than reading it over the course of 5 months.
My critiques of it are that the art was a little lacking with regards to the human characters. Bishop looked great all the time yet Hicks looks nothing like Michael Biehn. Some times the characters lack detail. Christmas can clearly knock out some good artwork. The covers are awesome and as said, Bishop looks great.
The Aliens started to suffer by the last issue as well. I'm wondering if hitting the deadlines with this comic became more of a focus than polishing the line work.
The colour pallets could have been muted a little.
My biggest problem with the book. On two occasions, the panel transitions are pretty bad and tell an unclear story. The scenes in question were, first, when we see the new creature for the first time. Second is the climactic scene in the shuttle bay.
In spite of those issues, i am really happy we got this and quite enjoyed my re read. I really love how well this story retroactivly fits with the new lore that Prometheus and Covenant have added.
I personally would like for this adaptation to spawn a series to follow. An alt universe. Having said that. You could almost read Book One as the next if you are willing to ignore some small discrepancies.
I'll be getting this, in the form of the Hardcover that's coming, if we get some nice bonus material. If it includes the script its an instant buy.
They don't have a big fight outside in the second draft, but I think they hang around on the truck for a bit before the end.
Space Hind!
Yeah, we recorded a chat with him yesterday. Will probably be up in a few weeks. Currently working on editing the 40th Anniversary Shorts review episode atm.
Definitely the first. Both are available to read in our downloads section if anyone wants any reminders: https://www.avpgalaxy.net/downloads/
It got taken out in the second, presumably because Fox read it and balked at how much a sequence like that would cost at the turn of the 90s.
Regarding combat, I seem to remember Hicks taking some marines outside the station and needing to cross to another portion and fighting Xeno's outside. Is that right ?
Interesting/disappointing.
I don't actually think I have read the second draft. For some reason I thought the one I read was the 2nd. It would be a nice extra to have in the Hardcover release. The script I mean.
Did you do a podcast with Johnnie ?
I take it my Easter joke didn't get passed along.
Definitely thinking of the first draft. The second is much more restrained.
So RidgeTop and I just finished chatting to Johnnie. Interestingly, the Interceptor being a dropship came from Fox. His original concepts were more in line with the Defiant from Star Trek. He had also been expecting the colour pallette to be more in line with Alien/s.
That was the first draft of the script in which there were many more people on the station including the presence of Colonial Marines.
This comic is based on the second version which is a bit more restrained regarding aliens and combat.
I always remember there being a lot more of an outbreak with far more of the new and traditional Aliens. Is that the first draft that I have read or am I completely Of base and need to re read ?
Could definitely have used a 6th issue to flesh the scenes out and be more clear throughout.
You sure? I really should re read the script. I could swear the final part of the story, after the aliens are introduced was a lot longer.
To it's detriment, I think. While I do love this particular draft, it did need a tidy. Things like Fox's motivation stuck out and the climax was rushed. While I like it's particularly faithful and not snipped down, I wouldn't have minded seeing Johnnie try and fix some elements.
I thought this too. I've actually read the script a few times and I still found it hard to keep track of what was going on where at times.
Art aside, the script was a dud since we got no memorable new characters and the ones who crossed over from Aliens were wasted. Hicks was literally just along for the ride.
One example for me was the lab scene when the blonde woman turns and another character is going ape. There were about 6 characters present but because the architecture of the ship in the art looks all the same..... it was like i was reading two different scenes. I got a little lost and had to read back to realise it was all one scene and everyone was there. It just did not flow very well in my opinion.
I am really happy we got this and once i get through some 'Swamp Thing' that I am currently reading, ill be re reading in one sitting. More thoughts to come.
Yeah, I can't say I've been having issues with character recognition either.
Overall I'm super happy for new Alien anything and glad the franchise is still putting fresh shoots out into the sunlight however, the story just wasn't there on this one and the art was just ok I guess. Possibly if you've read his script, this will work for you as it's kind of like someone's notes on a story rather than a whole story. Bottom line, there's nothing remarkable about it at all I'm sad to say.
Otherwise its been a fun little what if.
My primary critique would be that the coloring was too bright. A more muted palette would've truly improved the atmosphere in my opinion.
Seems like Hicks didn't really do anything here? Maybe it's just the problem that I am unable to distinguish him from others.
As of now, I really didn't enjoy the comic. Yet I do want to see these scripts get made, like Wards one especially. Just pick the right artist for the job.
No offense to the creator, I'm sure their work would be perfect in a different story, I just personally didn't enjoy this.
I have not posted here in a long time (I think the last time I was here was several years ago after I had just played and finished Aliens: Infestation)
I just finished this mini series and wanted to share my thoughts with other people who have read it. Of course my opinion/review doesn't matter as much as those of long term posters and perhaps more dedicated fans on this forum.
So if you don't care for the thoughts of a newbie just ignore it.
First of all I am a really critical Alien fan, really critical.
For example while I like Aliens as a sci-fi action movie I personally feel now that adding the queen was a mistake to the alien mythology and have come to prefer the egg morphing idea instead. (feels more truly bizarre/extraterrestrial for me)
And I don't like that the aliens are now akin to bees or ants in space.
Edit: I did not care really for Prometheus and Covenant at all and disliked the movie storylines and ideas/revelations behind the Pilots.
Likewise I am pretty critical of the Expanded Universe/spin off material. I definitely love some of the games such as Infestation, Isolation, AvP2, and older games like Alien 3 on the SNES, Sega - 16 bit, and Gameboy. Oh and the AvP game as an action game, not so much as an alien game.
I have read almost all of the comics by Dark Horse (perhaps I missed a few here and there) and some of the AvP ones. But I have not read any of the books and have little interest to do so after reading their description.
Well that is not entirely true, I am currently reading the Cold Forge after reading the recommendations here.
But in general I am not a big fan of the expanded universe; the only Aliens comic that I genuinely liked was Aliens Apocalypse: The Destroying Angels. (and Predator Hell and Hot Water by the same writer)
Okay reintroduction story over, I just wanted to give some background on my own interest in the franchise.
In general I really like William Gibson's Alien 3 (second script) and if this has been a movie I would have watched it even if it may have been a little slow as other people here might have pointed out.
I definitely would have preferred it over the Alien 3 movie we got even if I do love the atmosphere of that one. (just don't care much for the characters)
In comparison to the first script by Gibson for Alien 3 which felt more like trying to do Aliens over again this one was more subdued (hope I am using that word right) and plot building which I really enjoyed.
I also happen to be a fan of the DNA-reflex/alien genetic material can spread like a virus. It is a little underused perhaps here in the story as it could have been a cool plot device that both the characters and watchers/readers would not know who is infected.
Of course the story also has a few cons.
The major ones here perhaps being the art or in particular sometimes the art style as I like others here really had hoped that the UPP Interceptor design had been something different and like the UPP warship had been more in the style of something Syd Mead would have made up. The artist should perhaps really have consulted his art book or designs by other designers or fans in a similar style.
Edit: and the Kansas for that matter. I would rather have seen something like the Legato being reused https://avp.fandom.com/wiki/File:USS_Legato.jpg
The art itself also really lacked some of the detail that we have seen in some of the other current Alien mini series.
The second criticism is another issue also brought up here; the page count. After the slow buildup in the first three issues it really feels that the story had to be finished, this story could really have used a sixth issue for the second half/last part of the story as the characters seek to escape from the station.
That was indeed rather a disappointment.
Still I would put this one next to the other comic I mentioned I might pick up from time to time and read again.
Oh I would also love to see more stories in this "Gibsonverse" though I doubt that that will happen.
I figured I'd forgotten. Going monthly with a story can do that to me apparently. I guess I was also expecting her to have more of a presence, I've never read the script.
Overall, I thought the comic was well done, the story was ok. Call me crazy but I think I like the film we got more, though I'm very curious to see how the action of this comic would've looked on film.
But i agree with the notion of them continuing in this Gibsonverse
You will be chatting with William Gibson?
?