Dark Horse Fire and Stone (Prometheus/Aliens/AvP/Predator/Omega): All Reviews

[Ultramorph]

I have no problem with it at all. The few art classes I took in school taught me that I'm much better at drawing when I have models to work from.

Incidentally, my mother really likes the Alien art from Reynolds, and I've passed that along to him on Tumblr. He seems like a cool guy.

[SM]

Neal Adams talks about tracing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGRdfPp65eg#

Incidentally this was the first Aliens comic I've bought in 16 years.

[RidgeTop]

Reference is fine, but give it a bit of your own style if you want it to be interesting. The fact that their hands are in the same position in every frame makes them look like what they are, toys.

[predxeno]

I recently finished the Aliens #1 book and I felt the story was rather lacking, at least in comparison to previous Aliens comics.  Without spoiling too much, the gist is basically about how the crew of Hadley's Hope used a ship to escape LV-426 to another location; overall, the story could easily have been told in only a couple of pages instead of an entire book.  Like Aliens: Field Report and the Prometheus movie, I think this story was meant as nothing more than a mere intro into the series, I hope to see some more interesting plot in the future issues.  Prometheus #1 was pretty good, though; the mystery and character backgrounds of that issue created quite an interesting story.

[Quarax]

Reynolds' studio.

[Corporal Hicks]

I finished reading Aliens #1 the other night. I understand River of Pain will obviously lead into Aliens somehow but without that lead in, the revisionist history seems a bit of a sore thumb at the moment. I can buy the idea of the Onager without much explanation but the presence of the Colonial Marines is a little harder for me to buy into without that explanation yet.

The close proximity of LV426 to LV223 seems a little coincidental. From what I remember it was inferred in Prometheus but I can't remember how explicitly (I've not watched it in full since the Blu-ray came out). It seems hard to believe that it was never scanned or investigated - even if they mention in the comic that Wey-Yu records state it is barren.

I also disliked the lack of Decker and the throw-away comment about him being an old boss. There's really no way to reconcile that that with the comic.

I did like the artwork - I find the style suiting for the series and story. I hadn't really noticed the whole figure thing but now RidgeTop has mentioned it I can't unsee it - or that the opening panel is essentially a Colonial Marines screencap.

A lot of set-up as was to be expected and whilst not as good as Prometheus #1 IMHO, I really look forward to seeing where they go with the series.

[predxeno]

I also thought it was odd for the two planets to be so close together but thought it was something I missed when watching Prometheus.

[SM]

I can buy the idea of the Onager without much explanation but the presence of the Colonial Marines is a little harder for me to buy into without that explanation yet.

Spoiler

There's a small detachment based at the colony.  I guess the next book will deal with them more.

[close]

I also disliked the lack of Decker and the throw-away comment about him being an old boss.

Simpson.  Dunno what the reference was supposed to mean.

Spoiler

Had another look at the PDT scan from Aliens; and there's no way 38 people escaped.  So unless they all come back to LV-426, looks like this may be yet another detail that doesn't fit the continuity properly.

[close]

[Ultramorph]

Hopefully my copy comes in the mail tomorrow.

As far as some of the questions...

Spoiler

I can buy the idea of the Onager without much explanation but the presence of the Colonial Marines is a little harder for me to buy into without that explanation yet.

Spoiler

There's a small detachment based at the colony.  I guess the next book will deal with them more.

[close]

I very much hope that River of Pain doesn't go the way of Sea of Sorrows and introduce a large number of mercs/Marines who drag the story to a standstill as they take turns getting killed off.

The close proximity of LV426 to LV223 seems a little coincidental. From what I remember it was inferred in Prometheus but I can't remember how explicitly (I've not watched it in full since the Blu-ray came out). It seems hard to believe that it was never scanned or investigated - even if they mention in the comic that Wey-Yu records state it is barren.

I also disliked the lack of Decker and the throw-away comment about him being an old boss. There's really no way to reconcile that that with the comic.

I also seriously hope they address that, and the 125-year-long gap before anyone goes back to LV-223. If I had to guess, it will probably turn out that one of the "secrets behind the colonization of LV-426" that River of Pain will reveal will be that The Company knew all along what was on LV-223, and set up a colony of the neighboring planet to serve some nefarious experiment.

And since we're on the topic of revisionist history, does anyone else think that we'll be going back to LV-426 at some point in Fire and Stone, and that it will turn out that the Derelict is still there?

Some of Dave Palumbo's comments in that Muddy Colors interview (http://muddycolors.blogspot.com/2014/06/alien-vs-predator.html) a while back hint that this might be the case. The bolding is mine.

My initial plan was naturally for a battle scene.

In the end it seemed best to go with a more symbolic than literal composition, painting the texture of the story rather than a scene from it.

The left side of the image is dominated by aliens and a familiar landscape.

That sure does look like the Derelict on LV-426...

[close]

[SM]

I also seriously hope they address that, and the 125-year-long gap before anyone goes back to LV-223.

I don't know how they'll address that long gap.

The original intent was for the Prometheus comic to happen not long after the film.

Spoiler

If I had to guess, it will probably turn out that one of the "secrets behind the colonization of LV-426" that River of Pain will reveal will be that The Company knew all along what was on LV-223, and set up a colony of the neighboring planet to serve some nefarious experiment.

Thus creating even more continuity problems.

And since we're on the topic of revisionist history, does anyone else think that we'll be going back to LV-426 at some point in Fire and Stone, and that it will turn out that the Derelict is still there?

Based on WYR I really doubt it - but at this point nothing would surprise me.

[close]

Also, no one seems to have noticed the consistent use of Calpamos for the gas giant...

[happypred]

Speculate away

Prometheus #1
When the Prometheus never returned from her fateful journey to LV-223, the questions surrounding the origins of man went unanswered. Now a new team of explorers seeks to uncover the dark mystery that holds not only the fate of theoriginal mission, but possibly their own damnation.

Aliens #1
During a vicious xenomorph outbreak, terraforming engineer Derrick Russell leads a desperate group of survivors onto a rickety mining vessel. They hope to escape the creatures overrunning their colony—but they'll face horrors both in space and on the strange planet they crash on. Ties in with the Prometheus and Aliens films!

Aliens vs. Predator #1
As the mercenary crew of the Perses leave the horror of LV-223 behind them, one passenger reveals a terrible new danger, and the crew soon find themselves in a deadly struggle between predator and prey!

Predator #1
As the Perses begins her long journey home, a deadly stowaway forces the crew into a savage conflict! While the crew defend themselves against this unseen predator, the hunter itself stalks a much more substantial game!

Prometheus #2
After landing on LV-223, a recovery crew uncovers the fate of the Prometheus's doomed mission—and a horror unlike anything known to man!

Aliens #2
After crashing their clunky mining ship on a strange planet, a group of human survivors face both xenomorph attacks and friction among themselves—which could spell doom for everyone! The stranded and desperate group has a single chance: one of their scientists, who seeks the key to their freedom.

AvP #2
A terminally ill scientist's desperate experiment yields deadly results, and offers the Predators a chance to hunt an invincible new game!

Predator #2
After the mayhem and terror of Weyland-Yutani's disastrous mission to the site of the Prometheus, Galgo's troubles continue when his ship is shanghaied by a Predator stowaway! Its obsession with a mysterious, deadly quarry sends them to the last place in the universe Galgo'd like to revisit—the Xeno-infested LV-223!

Prometheus #3
Chaos breaks loose when a member of the Prometheus's recovery team is exposed to the dangerous and mysterious genetic accelerant! Now, with the crew divided and hope for survival fleeting, a terrifying discovery offers a glimpse into the fate of the Prometheus . . . and the colony on LV-426!

Aliens #3
With their numbers dwindling and hopes for rescue fading, the desperate survivors on the strange planet known as LV-223 fight among themselves. A lone scientist may hold the key to their freedom, though—if everyone can live long enough to hear him out! Ties in with the Prometheus and Aliens films!

AvP #3
When a Predator is exposed to a mysterious genetic accelerant, the rest of the hunting party is put in unforeseen peril. And as the android Elden continues his violent evolution, his xenomorph allies reject him from the hive.

Predator #3
Back among the crewmates he betrayed in Prometheus, Galgo must watch over both shoulders, as his former allies want him to pay, and the Predator that holds him captive wants something far more terrible!

Prometheus #4
Casualties rise as the Prometheus's recovery team find themselves trapped between an unrelenting alien horde, a ruthless Engineer, and a vengeful victim of the mysterious accelerant!

Aliens #4
Tying in with the Prometheus and Aliens films, this tale of stranded survivors and the tenacious xenomorphs that stalk them comes to a close! Scientist Derrick Russell makes more stunning discoveries about the strange planet the Hadley's Hope refugees crashed on, while Aliens close in on him!

AvP #4


Predator #4

[Corporal Hicks]

Spoiler

There's a small detachment based at the colony.  I guess the next book will deal with them more.

[close]

That's what I'm hoping. But without that intro prior to this series seems a bit..."wtf, when did that happen". I suppose those short throws a comment in there but still.

I also disliked the lack of Decker and the throw-away comment about him being an old boss.

Simpson.  Dunno what the reference was supposed to mean.

Of course, my mistake. Had Sea of Sorrows in my mind for some reason. It really doesn't equate to much as it just doesn't make sense. If they wanted to ignore the Special Edition, they should have just done so.

[SM]

Didn't they reference the sentry guns in that Field Report short?

[Corporal Hicks]

Unknown. I don't have it. Thought you did?

[SM]

Nah I only read it in the comic shop.  But exey for half a dozen pages.