A month ago the bombshell was dropped that Alien and Predator comics would be moving to Marvel as of 2021. It was a move we were all expecting since Marvel are owned by Disney, but it was still a bit of a shock. But in that announcement, it was also revealed that Marvel would be republishing Dark Horse’s older library of Alien and Predator comics and now we have our first details!
Comic YouTube channel Near Mint Condition has the exclusive announcement of Marvel’s first Aliens Omnibus! It seems like it’s going to be a big one! You can check out the included series below:
Aliens (1988) #1–6, Aliens (1989) #1–4, Aliens: Earth War (1990) #1–4, Aliens: Genocide (1991) #1–4, Aliens: Hive (1992) #1-4, Aliens: Tribes (1992), Aliens: Newt’s Tale (1992) #1-2, Alien 3 (1992) #1-3, Aliens: Space Marines (1992) #1-12 plus material from: Dark Horse Presents (1986) #24, 42-43, 56; Dark Horse Presents Fifth Anniversary Special (1991) #1 and Dark Horse Insider (1989) #14-27.
Given the dates on the series I would expect those are the original runs of the first three series, complete with Hicks and Newt rather than Wilks and Billie, and black-and-white artwork for the first series.
One of two potential pieces being considered as the volume’s cover art. Artwork by Mark Nelson.
While Dark Horse did reprint the majority of Alien (and Predator, and AvP) comics in their own Omnibus series back in the early 2000’s, this Marvel Omnibus marks the first collection/reprint of Tribes, Newt’s Tale, and Alien 3!
The Space Marines mini-comics have seen some reprinting in NECA’s release of the original Kenner inspired figures, the comics have never been collected in one place. The reprints from Dark Horse’s ancillary series include Theory of Alien Propagation, Advent/Terminus, The Alien, Reapers and for the first time ever Countdown!
The Omnibus is currently slated for release April 2021, perhaps hinting at an Alien Day release. Thanks to Russ840 and Chad Campbell for the news! You can check out the original video below.
Make sure you stick with Alien vs. Predator Galaxy for the latest Alien and Predator comic and novel news! You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube to get the latest on your social media walls. You can also join in with fellow Alien and Predator fans on our forums!
Update 21/08/2020: Marvel has now officially announced it on their own channels, where they confirmed that the release of Aliens Omnibus Volume 1 using the existing artwork will be a “direct market exclusive.” The general release of the volume will come with brand new cover artwork by Greg Land.
Which is weird because the nature of Alien just begs for Rule 34
Well, now when you've written it I'm beginning to think that too
Well, not full Greg Land. The Alien doesn't have an "o" face.
Unfortunately as people have already pointed out, it's not a secret that he does this and people have been calling him out on it for years, yet Marvel still keeps giving him work and so he still keeps on tracing. I'm beginning to think all the porno expressions he uses are actually lifted from sex tapes involving Marvel editorial staff, because him having dirt on them is about the only thing that makes sense to me as far as why they keep giving him work.
Thanks for sharing the video, RidgeTop
Has anyone tracked porn references Land uses ? I'm asking ...just ...of...curiousity
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhAyTcsgiXs
Was more now when I googled more but I think it gives you guys an idea, and Im leaving for work in 10 minutes xD
And yep taking on marvel: good luck their legal team and amount of money they have: they will walk all over you sadly, and seems most readers dont care as they sell a lot of comics anyways with the stolen art.
Problem is Disney owns Alien and Marvel has the comic license and T has probably already been paid for the work Land ripped off (I think - correct me if I'm wrong). I daresay this kind of repugnant shit is heartbreakingly legal.
I've seen some of the stuff Land has traced/ stolen in the past and it would likely be easier to argue in court, because it's not part of an IP Disney/ Marvel already owned and others own the copyright of the original material.
Count me in
That's definitely debatable, in legal terms as well. Artists have sued for less blatant copycat art than this and won, but US copyright law is sometimes messy and inconsistent. This likely falls right on that grey legal boundary, and Tristan would probably have a strong case here. Marvel has settled out of court for these issues before.
Land has a history of even more blatant copying than this:
It's not theft.
Utterly immoral - but not theft.
Collectively name and shame them in public. Enough voices on here to create a little stir of public awareness hopefully.
Unfortunately, nobody in their right mind would take on the Marvel legal team. That's the problem with these mega corporations.
Royalty payments are one thing that can be put down to contractual arrangements but this is blatantly IP theft.
F*ck em. Not gonna give em a cent.
Won't be supporting Marvel. Won't buy this book.
This is garbage.
We should petition the pricks - make it public. Enough voices in support here to make them hopefully squirm a bit at doing this crap and hiring hacks like Land in the first place.
100% agreed.
This is intellectual property theft.
Intellectual priory theft, is theft!
Period.
Land should be ashamed, and marvel held to account.
There should be ZERO tolerance for thieves and we should unite our voices in saying that this is not ok.
I stopped buying any title he drew for years ago. Awful art that most of the time was guess the porn actress he had traced...
^This
What's it? Being outraged fan never felt that good
Yeah, Jones is by far the best Aliens artist in recent memory, and one of the best overall. I just wish he got to work on stories with a better author (and, more importanly, an author that isn't a piece of shit person). Jones' excellent art deserved better than that. It pains me that Marvel is already screwing Tristan over right off the bat like this because he has so much more that he can bring to this franchise they they are both squandering and stepping all over with this terrible move. Like, his piece in the 40th Anniversary art book was phenomenal – easily one of the best in the book.
I wasn't overly fond of Keith's work in Earth War (but then, I didn't like the writing there, or in the two preceding installments, much either). I loved his work in Inhuman Condition, however, and find that to be one of the best Aliens comics through and through.
It isn't supposed to but this makes me especially mad. What's next - he'll forget to draw dreadlocks on Predator ?
He must be cheap
Hey, Keith's art in Inhuman Condition is great.
But this is just really f**ked up; and the fact that this isn't even a secret, and Land has been doing this for years and comic readers have been pointing it out for years, just boggles my mind...
But on the other hand, as Hicks said if they know fans love Jones art they should've hired him to do covers - he's done great ones for Resistance, Or if they want to go cheap way - why not use that image of Alien David Finch did ? It looks much better IMO.
This certainly leaves sorrow taste in my mouth and now I am as worried about future of Aliens comics as I was when initial news about Marvel getting rights came out
Also, I find it amusing how fast people change their minds about that collection Marvel is doing. I wasn't too thrilled about the idea to begin with and I'm certainly isn't now
HAhahahaha what did I say about marvel?! xD Shouldnt come as a surprise, afterall in their star wars comics a lot of the space designs are stolen from fans and traced/copied and the art is a let down after the first couple of comics:
This is just the start of things and you can guess how the stories will become. RIP Dark horse, this is one of many reasons Im sceptical about marvel doing aliens comics and will probably skip them and ignore them completely.
Note: Found out that their art they reuse for the collections and marvel releases wont give any money to the original artists or royalitys etc, Im so skipping marvel and sticking to getting my dark horse comics.
I cant find the preorders yet. They don't normally go for preorder until the solicit has gone out. So i would imagine the preorders will be out when the book is solicited with the December solicits marvel put out later this month.
Is that up for pre-order yet? I'll probably still cave and get these...I like having physical copies...
F**cking Greg Land.
This cover needs to be binned and replaced. I'll be getting the DM variant either way.
Really, really not an impressive way to start your relationship with this IP, Marvel. And an even worse way to start your relationship with these creators.
Can't believe he has used a recent piece to steal from. Moron and thief.
Hated his knock off cover as soon as I saw it and now even more so.
Looks like he forgot the inner jaw too.
https://twitter.com/Unkle_Lee44/status/1300803239835770880
https://twitter.com/WallMeatJones/status/1300804136322002954
https://twitter.com/WallMeatJones/status/1300825536172683265
To be honest I was mostly thinking of cases where artists may have passed away. I don't really know how royalties work in that scenario.
That certainly sheds some light on things though.
But Dark Horse wasn't paying everyone royalties to begin with, only a select few. Nelson was getting cheques from the latest reprints -- the guy who wrote Berserker never saw anything after the series was completed.
I knew I would not like the Greg Land cover
It sucks that the artists aren't earning for their work, but at the same time Marvel has no legal obligation to pay them, and that's not Marvel's fault. As others have suggested, in some cases it might even be difficult to work out who they should be paying.
From what I've read, I think Dark Horse weren't technically obliged to keep paying them royalties after the work was completed, but they did.
Marvel is good about getting back older talent though. The company does pick up the old creatives to do new work and to me that'd make more sense to negotiate a contract with them then.
But yeah as much as this sucks I just don't see them paying it given they have no reason to honor that agreement since they're not Darkhorse.