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Dark Horse Announces New Comic Series, Alien: The Original Screenplay!

Following on from 2019’s adaptation of William Gibson’s second draft of Alien 3, Dark Horse has just announced (via The Hollywood Reporter) that 2020 will see them adapting another unused Alien film script. However, it’s not going to be tackling another Alien 3 (sorry folk, no visualize of Eric Red’s take), Dark Horse are turning their sights back to the very start; back to Dan O’Bannon’s Alien – formerly known as Starbeast!

The adaptation of O’Bannon’s screenplay comes courtesy of Cristiano Seixas and Guilherme Balbi and follows in the footsteps of Dark Horse’s successful 2018 series, William Gibson’s Alien 3, which adapted the original screenplay for David Fincher’s third movie in the series, restoring material excised in the final version of the script.

Seixas and Balbi’s five-issue miniseries similarly follows O’Bannon’s original version of events, heavily rewritten by Walter Hill and David Giler before production, and is described simply by the publisher as “an alternate line of events.” Among the differences? In the very first version of the story, the spaceship isn’t the Nostromo but the Snark…

 Dark Horse Announces New Comic Series, Alien: The Original Screenplay!

Cristiano Seixas has taken up scripting duties for Dark Horse’s newest adaptation and Guilherme Balbi will be providing the visuals. Seixas has not working within the Alien universe before, but Balbi has previously worked on the Predator side where he did the pencils for A Predatory Life, the prequel comic to Predators that focused on Royce. You can see some of his work for Alien: The Original Screenplay below!

 Dark Horse Announces New Comic Series, Alien: The Original Screenplay!

The new series is due to make it’s debut on the 22nd of April, just days before 2020’s Alien Day! I’m not going to lie, I certainly wasn’t expecting this but I’m excited none-the-less!

Thanks to Whos_Nick for the heads-up! Make sure you stick with Alien vs. Predator Galaxy for the latest Alien and Predator comic and novel news! You can follow us on FacebookTwitter, 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!



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  1. Kailem
    Yeah the Alien being overall fairly similar (mostly the head/lack of eyes) was something that surprised me. I didn't mind it, but given the concept it might have been cooler if we'd got something completely different than the one that made it into the actual final.
  2. RidgeTop
    Quote from: SiL on Mar 21, 2021, 12:28:07 PM
    Quote from: RidgeTop on Mar 21, 2021, 11:10:54 AM
    Quote from: SiL on Mar 21, 2021, 10:03:34 AM
    If they were going to trace, at least trace concept art for the actual script they were working on...

    I bring up this very point in the podcast. It's said in the forward that they were trying to get away from Cobb and Moebius, but then we have all these ship exteriors and interiors we've seen before mashed together. At least give us some early underrepresented designs like the Foss stuff if you're going to be copying those elements.
    Exactly! Foss had some excellent designs to suit their trippy 70s vibe. There was a lot of unused work that would let them move away from the popular concept art that had the greatest influence on the final film while still bringing to life the early conceptions of the story. Throwing it all away to trace Prometheus concept art is just ... Why?

    For real. This would've been the perfect opportunity to use this stuff:

    Spoiler

    And although the Alien itself wasn't copied, and looked good, I also would've preferred seeing something born from this design:

    Spoiler

    What we got with the creature in the comic was not too far removed from the Alien we know.
  3. SiL
    Quote from: RidgeTop on Mar 21, 2021, 11:10:54 AM
    Quote from: SiL on Mar 21, 2021, 10:03:34 AM
    If they were going to trace, at least trace concept art for the actual script they were working on...

    I bring up this very point in the podcast. It's said in the forward that they were trying to get away from Cobb and Moebius, but then we have all these ship exteriors and interiors we've seen before mashed together. At least give us some early underrepresented designs like the Foss stuff if you're going to be copying those elements.
    Exactly! Foss had some excellent designs to suit their trippy 70s vibe. There was a lot of unused work that would let them move away from the popular concept art that had the greatest influence on the final film while still bringing to life the early conceptions of the story. Throwing it all away to trace Prometheus concept art is just ... Why?
  4. RidgeTop
    Quote from: SiL on Mar 21, 2021, 10:03:34 AM
    If they were going to trace, at least trace concept art for the actual script they were working on...

    I bring up this very point in the podcast. It's said in the forward that they were trying to get away from Cobb and Moebius, but then we have all these ship exteriors and interiors we've seen before mashed together. At least give us some early underrepresented designs like the Foss stuff if you're going to be copying those elements.
  5. RidgeTop
    Finally got around to reading this and we did a podcast about it today. I'm going to be ranting a bit about this one.

    Take a guess why...

    Spoiler
  6. Perfect-Organism
    Quote from: BlazinBlue88 on Dec 07, 2020, 05:19:56 PM
    Finished this today. It was a very solid read. Made me appreciate the differences as well as my love for that original film.

    The design for the Alien was different enough. It did feel a little bland. Kinda reminded me of the monsters from Pitch Black.

    The Space Jockey design was very cool. Yorick.

    I would honestly love to see a continuation of this story. But unfortunately never will.

    Overall it felt like there was a touch of what the Prequels did mixed with the original film.


    The monsters from Pitch Black, kinda remind me of... Alien.
  7. BlazinBlueReview
    Finished this today. It was a very solid read. Made me appreciate the differences as well as my love for that original film.

    The design for the Alien was different enough. It did feel a little bland. Kinda reminded me of the monsters from Pitch Black.

    The Space Jockey design was very cool. Yorick.

    I would honestly love to see a continuation of this story. But unfortunately never will.

    Overall it felt like there was a touch of what the Prequels did mixed with the original film.
  8. Xiggz456
    Still waiting on the hard cover (it's ordered though) and I agree that the final three DH releases had some awesome artwork. As for the pacing, to me at least, it matched up with the slow burn of the first film (which can make for a somewhat uneventful issue or two) but I enjoyed the art enough that even the "boring" parts were interesting to look at. I don't know about you but I was always playing "where's Jonesy" throughout those panels  :laugh:
  9. Corporal Hicks
    Quote from: Xiggz456 on Dec 03, 2020, 12:09:08 PM
    Solid final issue! Great artwork and phenomenal coloring. I really liked how brutal they made the alien in this adaptation! Well farewell Dark Horse, it's been a pleasure!

    I got my HC and final issue at the weekend. A strong one for Dark Horse to go out on with Alien. Another fantastic art team (all 3 of the last series have looked fantastic IMHO). Had some minor pacing issues - more so than Gibson's A3, I think - but otherwise a good adaptation!
  10. Perfect-Organism
    Quote from: Kradan on Sep 08, 2020, 09:25:18 AM
    *the most obnoxious voice ever*

    Well, NOW prequels don't look so bad, DO THEY ?

    True that.  Charlie Holloway could have been a descendant if anti-maskers.


    Quote from: bobby brown on Oct 15, 2020, 11:19:12 AM
    I find the uninspired creature design to be puzzling.

    You have this amazing opportunity to illustrate the awesome story of Alien,
    but with a brand new look, and most creatures so far have just been tentacle blobs.

    I thought it would be obvious the hire an illustrator that is really into creature design and such, (I admit there is more to Alien than that) such as a bernie Wrightson type of artist or something.

    Ive seen some images of the adult, and it looks interesting though.

    If I recall correctly though, some of those original concepts WERE just blobs though...
  11. Master
    I do have the hardcover and just ended reading it few minutes ago. I liked it allot . Alien looks good, kills looks good and the plot is different enough to keep one focused and entertained. Hardcover is heavy, cool looking book, but aside from introducing letter and four additional arts at the end there is nothing more in it.
  12. Stitch
    Quote from: Russ840 on Dec 02, 2020, 12:48:02 PM
    Last issue is solid.

    A was hoping for the unused ending where the Alien kills Ripley/Roby and talks in her voice. But I get that it's not in the script. 

    Art is as great as the rest of the series.

    Im hoping for some nice extras in the hardcover, but I won't hold my breath.
    I got a delivery from Forbidden Planet today. Sadly, this was not included. Guess I'll just have to wait longer...
  13. Russ840
    Last issue is solid.

    A was hoping for the unused ending where the Alien kills Ripley/Roby and talks in her voice. But I get that it's not in the script. 

    Art is as great as the rest of the series.

    Im hoping for some nice extras in the hardcover, but I won't hold my breath.
  14. Voodoo Magic
    Quote from: Kradan on Nov 04, 2020, 01:04:25 PM
    Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Nov 04, 2020, 12:32:21 PM
    I'm still disappointed it's not Cobb's take on it, but I still like it.

    I don't think someone should be too dissapointed by that. I have hard time imagining the damn thing moving properly let alone being a viable threat. I always found Cobb's take to be plain goofy

    https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IQ5SMQFWeWM/UaUd-uRZE9I/AAAAAAAAdAs/WZL-tPqgC7A/s1600/ku-medium.jpg
    https://alienseries.files.wordpress.com/2016/01/aa591-alien-concept-cobb.jpg

    I get that, but I'm still with Hicks here. Much like the Boss Film Predator, if there was any visual medium that could make the Cobb creature work, it would be in the still art paneling of comics. And I would have loved to seen that! :)
  15. Kradan
    Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Nov 04, 2020, 12:32:21 PM
    I'm still disappointed it's not Cobb's take on it, but I still like it.

    I don't think someone should be too dissapointed by that. I have hard time imagining the damn thing moving properly let alone being a viable threat. I always found Cobb's take to be plain goofy

    https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IQ5SMQFWeWM/UaUd-uRZE9I/AAAAAAAAdAs/WZL-tPqgC7A/s1600/ku-medium.jpg
    https://alienseries.files.wordpress.com/2016/01/aa591-alien-concept-cobb.jpg
  16. Corporal Hicks
    Just finished #4. I still think the colouring on this is some of the best from Dark Horse. I'm not sure if I'm just confused, or if there's geography mix-up but the airlock and cooling unit both looked the same to me? I do like the new Alien. I'm still disappointed it's not Cobb's take on it, but I still like it.

    Dammmmmnnnnnn at some of the death artwork too. Looking forward to the conclusion. Definitely going to sitdown and re-read the script and then the comic together soon too. Need a refresher.

    I went back to #2 to try translating the text on the wall. It's just non-sense unfortunately, and even looks like some of the Engineer script was flipped around. Shame, that could have been fun.
  17. Russ840
    Quote from: bobby brown on Oct 15, 2020, 11:19:12 AM
    I find the uninspired creature design to be puzzling.

    You have this amazing opportunity to illustrate the awesome story of Alien,
    but with brand new look, and most creatures so far have just been tentacle blobs.

    I thought it would be obvious the hire an illustrator that is realy into creature design and such, (I admit there is more to Alien than that) such as a bernie Wrightson type of artist or something.

    Ive seen some images of the adult, and it looks interesting though.

    To be fair, it's based on the script and at the point in development, it's said that the creature designs were uninspired.

    But. Saying that. I love the Space Jockey here.
  18. bobby brown
    I find the uninspired creature design to be puzzling.

    You have this amazing opportunity to illustrate the awesome story of Alien,
    but with a brand new look, and most creatures so far have just been tentacle blobs.

    I thought it would be obvious the hire an illustrator that is really into creature design and such, (I admit there is more to Alien than that) such as a bernie Wrightson type of artist or something.

    Ive seen some images of the adult, and it looks interesting though.
  19. Russ840
    Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Oct 08, 2020, 02:58:02 PM
    I was a little disappointed with how they handled the chestburster sequence. Felt too rushed and glossed over for me.

    Also, I can't remember if the "wear protective suits" thing was in the original. Can anyone else?

    The Chestburster sequence would be my only grip. In principle there is nothing to fault other than expectation, but it would have been nice if it was more focused. 

    Liked the ending and where it leaves us for the beginning of issue 4. Always wanted to see the food locker sequence with the traditional Alien. 
  20. Corporal Hicks
    I was a little disappointed with how they handled the chestburster sequence. Felt too rushed and glossed over for me.

    Also, I can't remember if the "wear protective suits" thing was in the original. Can anyone else?
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