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With controversial artist Salvador Larroca’s imminent departure from Marvel’s Alien after the release of Alien: Annual #1, it seems Marvel will be relaunching their Alien line with a new #1 (as shown in August’s solicitations) under returning writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson and new artist Julius Ohta!

PHILLIP KENNEDY JOHNSON AND JULIUS OHTA LAUNCH A NEW ALIEN EPIC! MAN, MACHINE, AND THE MOST TERRIFYING CREATURE IN THE UNIVERSE...IT’S AN EXPRESS ELEVATOR TO HELL, AND YOU’RE GONNA WANT TO BE ON IT!

A small colony of synths have settled in secret on a backwater moon. When a company of United System soldiers come to them for help retrieving biotechnology on a hostile planet that could be the key to saving humanity, the synths must decide whether the prospect of peace between man and machine is worth the risk of betrayal.

The above cover is the work of Björn Barends, and the issue will also have variant covers by Travis Charest, Carlos Magno, and Ryan Brown. The new series’ will begin August 2022, though we don’t have an exact release date yet! The series new artist Julius Ohta has previously worked on Captain Marvel, Iron Man, Wastelanders: Doom and Marvel’s Voices: Comunidades. Talking about working on Alien, Julius said:

"When I got invite to draw the new Alien series, I had a professional and standard reaction – I was glad to be invited and I was determined to make it the best work of my life. But then, a few minutes later, it came all at once – I understood that I was going to draw Alien... THE ALIEN. I freaked out (in a very good way) and then I knew the tremendous responsibility that is to be in this franchise." 

Marvel’s announcement about the relaunch, titled Alien: Icarcus, gives us more information about what we can expect from this new chapter of Marvel’s Alien.

“The series kicks off a chapter called ALIEN: ICARUS, which heightens the action in a similar way to how James Cameron's 1986 Aliens did after the original film,” he continued. “In ALIEN: ICARUS, readers will meet the legendary Synthetic Special Operations Team, led by one of my favorite original Alien characters so far: an unstoppable synthetic named Freyja.”

“When disaster strikes a crucial United Systems planet, the entire human population of the system relies on Steel Team finding the long-deserted Weyland-Yutani Research and Development outpost on Tobler-9, one of the most hostile environments in the known universe. Steel Team's the most bad-ass strike team in military history, and they've never met an organic life form that offered them the slightest threat...but they don’t know what’s waiting for them on Tobler-9,” he explained.

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!

Link To Post

Some of Julius' work -

Hey guys, I have some exciting news! I'm selling Digital Monoprints of my art on @comiconart website! You will find B&W interior pages from Bettie Page, Sacred Six, Vampire the Masquerade, all of my colored covers and more! Please check the link below.https://t.co/pRAYfNq8Dk pic.twitter.com/jcSt3WzNLc

— Julius Ohta (@JuliusOhta) December 13, 2021

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A post shared by Julius Ohta (@juliusohta)

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A post shared by Julius Ohta (@juliusohta)

Iron Man #16 (2022) #JuliusOhta Pictures, #ChristopherCantwell Words #OneWayOrAnother pic.twitter.com/9GcMwsnR55

— Rare Comic Books (@MakeMyComicRare) May 10, 2022

Iron Man #16 (2022) #JuliusOhta Pictures, #ChristopherCantwell Words #Please pic.twitter.com/FNInZQBIUl

— Rare Comic Books (@MakeMyComicRare) May 10, 2022

His IG: https://www.instagram.com/juliusohta/

(https://i.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/facebook/000/025/376/DJrmQ8yV4AA9JjX.jpg)

Excellent. Maybe I'll give this comic another shot now.

Does anybody have any feedback on the new artist? Is he good? Does he have a history of plagiarism, tracing, swiping or photoshopping?

The preview you shared Hicks all look pretty good, so this seems like a step in the right direction by marvel!!

the artist is good

There's a solicitation for Predator issue 2 in there too

Good news, time for the writer to step up his game as to me his previous work has been bad with breaking lore and doing made up stuff to the xeno and avoiding explaining his thinking, still no explanation on the facehuggers why they were different and now on the planet they are back to normal after he claimed they keep the traits of the previous generations.....

Relaunch? Does this mean they already removed their own series as uncanon and making a new one? What happened with the whole ongoing series? xD

Oh well, now they get a new chance from me, artist seems good so its all down to the writers work now....

Quote from: judge death on May 20, 2022, 04:32:47 PMGood news, time for the writer to step up his game as to me his previous work has been bad with breaking lore and doing made up stuff to the xeno and avoiding explaining his thinking, still no explanation on the facehuggers why they were different and now on the planet they are back to normal after he claimed they keep the traits of the previous generations.....

Relaunch? Does this mean they already removed their own series as uncanon and making a new one? What happened with the whole ongoing series? xD

Oh well, now they get a new chance from me, artist seems good so its all down to the writers work now....

number 1s sell.  Marvel relaunches stuff when theres a statues quo change , a creative team change or if is coming off a big line wide event Ala theres probably going to be new x-men books after the Judgement day event this summer.  Alien #1 is just a continuation of the previous series just relaunching cause of a new artist   

Quote from: judge death on May 20, 2022, 04:32:47 PMGood news, time for the writer to step up his game as to me his previous work has been bad with breaking lore and doing made up stuff to the xeno and avoiding explaining his thinking, still no explanation on the facehuggers why they were different and now on the planet they are back to normal after he claimed they keep the traits of the previous generations.....

Relaunch? Does this mean they already removed their own series as uncanon and making a new one? What happened with the whole ongoing series? xD

Oh well, now they get a new chance from me, artist seems good so its all down to the writers work now....

Honestly I was wondering about that too... restarting at issue 1

They had that ongoing series, but they used "ongoing" kinda loosely. There was a completely separate story arc for issue #7, so they could have easily re-started at issue 1 there too.

Maybe they're re-starting the numbering because the artist changed?

Maybe, symbolically, they're changing their canon and calling a do-over?

Maybe they're moving away from the ongoing series format and changing to a "limited series" format more like dark horse? (which is what it seemed like they were doing to me already, just keeping the same creative team and a continuous numbering system).

Either way! So stoked larroca is gone! Now just waiting for Phillip Kennedy Johnson to leave alien too!

Is this new comic going to be an Aliens Fireteam Elite story?  ???

August 10 is the slated release date as of May 20

Marvel's doing an Alien comic run?

That's cool, here's hoping it's good.

That artist has quite a task doing a first EVER Alien comic by Marvel. He better not fall on his face, we wouldn't want Marvel's relationship with Alien fans to start on a bad note, would we ?

Finally an actual artist. I'm a bit weary on the writer since he seems to have the worlds blandest takes on mainstream superheroes, but I'll actually give it a shot now.

I LOVE that cover, I will say though.

Quote from: Some Old Dude on May 21, 2022, 07:26:42 AMFinally an actual artist. I'm a bit weary on the writer since he seems to have the worlds blandest takes on mainstream superheroes, but I'll actually give it a shot now.

Imo the writer is pretty terrible. Even some of the things he says in interviews makes me cringe and roll my eyes.

Quote from: BlueMarsalis79 on May 21, 2022, 11:07:48 AMI LOVE that cover, I will say though.

I second that

The cover is also very old skool.  Reminds me of the individual Female War covers from back in the day. 

Since I've been out of the game on the EU happenings for a little while now, what are the releases of the writer/artist that is leaving the Marvel comics?  I know about his tracing and all that bs and that he is kind of a douche, but I've never not bought an Alien comic series before, and as a completionist I have to go on and continue the one hobby that I actually am a completionist about. 

I know he did the original six issues, which I have in tpb form, and I know he's doing the Alien 3 style one that is (how many issues)?  Is the Annual one an actual collection of everything or is it another series he's doing?

TY TY

https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/new-alien-comic-series-xenomorph-key-humanitys-future

Sounds like good stuff.

I read somewhere that the RPG now has elements from the Marvel comics.
Will the EU fully "align itself" at some point? Will elements from the titan novels show up here and vice-versa?

I'll give these comics a new shot with this new artist in charge.

I know that Phillip Kennedy Johnson has been talking since pretty much day one about his third arc being centered around synths (though I'd imagine at that point, that third arc have started in issue 13, not a relaunched issue 1), which given what we know about the franchise's future on Hulu has me wondering a bit if maybe he's seen/had access to any of the treatments/scripts for Hawley's show, in order to align some of his ideas with what that seemingly synth-heavy series is going to be doing.

most likely... he hasn't seen anything and any overlaps will be accidental at most.

I'd imagine, at the very least, he might have been given a guideline or two on things to not reference so as to not step on the toes of what the show is doing/might do, even if there is no direct tie in between the two. Like how basically anything prequel era was off limits to Dark Horse as Covenant was releasing and a Covenant sequel was potentially on the horizon.

i imagine the show and new movie will contradict most things in the EU.

Quote from: skhellter on May 23, 2022, 01:36:43 PMi imagine the show and new movie will contradict most things in the EU.

You mean the ever-continuing adventures of Zula Hendricks and Amanda Ripley won't be getting the big screen treatment? :D

Quote from: Nightmare Asylum on May 23, 2022, 12:41:32 PMI know that Phillip Kennedy Johnson has been talking since pretty much day one about his third arc being centered around synths (though I'd imagine at that point, that third arc have started in issue 13, not a relaunched issue 1), which given what we know about the franchise's future on Hulu has me wondering a bit if maybe he's seen/had access to any of the treatments/scripts for Hawley's show, in order to align some of his ideas with what that seemingly synth-heavy series is going to be doing.

In a recent interview he mentioned reaching out to the folks involved with the show to ensure that the stories don't contradict, but they didn't offer up much so he said he had to contact other means to get some info (guessing that it's Gaska). He's really wanting everything to connect so I appreciate the effort of reaching out to the various new creators and that he's willing to collaborate. 

an effort on his part, not theirs (the showrunners)

EU would be better off just going on their own way. Just make it its own universe.
Would be much better for all the writers and artists working on it.

Neat Comic, would've though there be a feature on the WebSite concerning ALIEN 3's 30th anniversary May 2022

If you mean on AvP Galaxy, we've got a retrospective review and an interview coming up, but they are big pieces of work that are taking longer to get finished. But they'll come. :)

https://graphicpolicy.com/2022/09/01/exclusive-preview-alien-1/

Alien #1 Preview

Quote from: TilotnyWorshiper28 on Sep 01, 2022, 08:20:18 PMhttps://graphicpolicy.com/2022/09/01/exclusive-preview-alien-1/

Alien #1 Preview

Well the art looks improved so far for sure!

Spoiler

(https://i0.wp.com/graphicpolicy.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/ALIEN2022001_Preview-page-006.jpg?fit=674%2C1024&ssl=1)

[close]

Keyline work is great but I wish they'd learn about using the right colour palettes and tones. Alien isn't meant to be vibrant in colour. It's more about muted tones.

Also not to nitpick as I don't know the full context yet but that cityscape looks nothing remotely akin to the functional low-fi style we've seen in the films.

Also what films have the comic artists and writers been watching that they think this is how Aliens kill people.

They bite you in the head or they explode out of your chest, they've never been for this slasher movie nonsense.

To be fair there was some pretty slasher-y stuff in Tristan Jones' rampage panels.

He's one of the people I had in mind when I wrote that post.

Fair.

them doing slasher stuff doesn't bother me lol

Now that's how you draw Aliens! Beautiful and dynamic. Liking the artwork a lot.

Quote from: Prez on Sep 02, 2022, 02:11:22 AMKeyline work is great but I wish they'd learn about using the right colour palettes and tones. Alien isn't meant to be vibrant in colour. It's more about muted tones.

Also not to nitpick as I don't know the full context yet but that cityscape looks nothing remotely akin to the functional low-fi style we've seen in the films.

I have the same problem with the newer comics, I really miss those muted tones from the old DH years. I don't know why the new coloring looks so fake to me in most of the newer comics in recent memory. Not all, like the start of Defiance, but Gibson's Alien 3 was really bad as far as that coloring goes.

I hope for more dark, muted, maybe even grimdark coloring in the future. Like Tribes. Still, this is okay for now. I'm just happy we're getting decent artwork again.

A lot of DH comics were brightly coloured. The first thing I thought of seeing those previews was Kidnapped.

Oh look they actually did something more than tracing

They hired an artist this time.

 I'm sorry that I let my last post to be a downer, at that certain point I wasn't feeling any hope For the franchise, now I'm back with some little more help since the prey came out With good reception

Quote from: SiL on Sep 02, 2022, 07:44:51 PMA lot of DH comics were brightly coloured. The first thing I thought of seeing those previews was Kidnapped.

... yer but they didn't ramp up the saturation and contrast to 100 in Photoshop  ;)

They also didn't have the option for a lot of the classic comics.

The first four series were done with traditional mediums. Genocide was watercolours.

As digital colouring became more prevalent in the industry you certainly do see it reflected in a lot of DH comics.

Cant agree on better art: still using necas big chap figure from how those xenos are drawn, joints still visible, their heads are exactly like necas big chaps in shape. Better posing of them however but good art? No.
Seen better.

They've at least put them into poses the toys aren't capable of, freeing themselves of the hilariously stiff posting of Laroca's.

The one in the foreground's not a trace, the background one though, it is... You can even see the dome's not on properly. *Sigh*

I was thinking it looked, idk, weird ? Oh well, guess we're not quite there yet

Quote from: SiL on Sep 03, 2022, 10:31:44 AMThey also didn't have the option for a lot of the classic comics.

The first four series were done with traditional mediums. Genocide was watercolours.

As digital colouring became more prevalent in the industry you certainly do see it reflected in a lot of DH comics.

The art in those are cosmocly good, aliens book 2 and genocide was done with water color and by hand on paper, beats all Ive seen since then in aliens comics.

I don't know the art looks good to me but I read a lot of comics every week

I've split off the preview discussion and merged it with this announcement thread. I'd been planning to push conversation of Volume 3 to here, and now seemed like the right time. :)

---

With regard to the colours, yeah I'd noticed it looked like "Marvel" on the first page too, but honestly I really don't mind at this point. It's just so nice to see some actual artwork, and it's not like it entirely removes that Alien feel.

Much agreed.

Quote from: judge death on Sep 03, 2022, 03:41:21 PM

Quote from: SiL on Sep 03, 2022, 10:31:44 AMThey also didn't have the option for a lot of the classic comics.

The first four series were done with traditional mediums. Genocide was watercolours.

As digital colouring became more prevalent in the industry you certainly do see it reflected in a lot of DH comics.

The art in those are cosmocly good, aliens book 2 and genocide was done with water color and by hand on paper, beats all Ive seen since then in aliens comics.

I don't think Den Beauvais used watercolors for book 2. Early on, watercolors were used a lot in airbrushing because the paints were thin and wouldn't clog things, and the airbrushes were easily cleaned with soapy water. There are fluid acrylic paints used in a lot of airbrushing now too, and I recall an interview with Den Beauvais that avpgalaxy did a while back where Den talks about using acrylic paints.

His work always looks to me like a mix of airbrush, watercolours and acrylics. There's definitely a lot of conventional brush work, especially for the stark black lines, even though the bulk is air. 

Quote from: SiL on Sep 03, 2022, 10:31:44 AMThey also didn't have the option for a lot of the classic comics.

The first four series were done with traditional mediums. Genocide was watercolours.

As digital colouring became more prevalent in the industry you certainly do see it reflected in a lot of DH comics.

Quote from: SiL on Sep 03, 2022, 10:31:44 AMThey also didn't have the option for a lot of the classic comics.

The first four series were done with traditional mediums. Genocide was watercolours.

As digital colouring became more prevalent in the industry you certainly do see it reflected in a lot of DH comics.

My original point though was about how like Marvels films where it's over the top lollypop colours - even with DB's beautiful colours in book 2 they were still `flatter' in tone. It could also be the stock Marvel uses too perhaps (gloss to semi-gloss?). Marvel's colouring is just too much for me personally. It's like throw the kitchen sink at it and it could be just personal taste (biased from working 30+ years within the digital and print design industry) too.

Either way it doesn't feel `Alien' to me - it feels too clean and superhero like. Alien is grit, grime and dirty.

You are the first person I've seen describe Marvel movies as over the top colourful. Most people complain they're flat and desaturated.

Quote from: SiL on Sep 05, 2022, 05:08:00 AMYou are the first person I've seen describe Marvel movies as over the top colourful. Most people complain they're flat and desaturated.

Really? Pretty much everyone I speak to describes them as every colour of the rainbow. Thor Ragnarok prime example.

Opinions eh  ;)

They got better at it, but a lot of the phase one and two movies are quite dull, low contrast and desaturated. All of the colours are muted, even reds and blues that aren't vibrant in the comics.

This breaks it down nicely:

Alien #1 - interesting beginning 

I actually quite enjoyed #1. It helps it's got art that actually looks good! A lot of setup, but I'm intrigued. I especially like that it's getting at Aliens being used for things other than military purposes. This is the kind of stuff I live for.

https://twitter.com/MightyBrunstad/status/1567543216013975554

The only thing holding back this new #1 for me is that I have to wait another month for issue #2. Solid introduction of Julius Ohta's art. A couple of the panels seem to show off how much more effort was put into the book than Larroca. It also kinda has some Blade Runner vibes that I really dig.

Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Sep 08, 2022, 05:59:04 AMhttps://twitter.com/MightyBrunstad/status/1567543216013975554

That does look very good. I wouldn't mind just a non-coloured format TBH.

I thought #1 was a decent setup! Didn't thrill me exactly, cause it's obviously just the setup. But I'm curious to see where the story goes.

The artwork is undeniably much better, although I do agree with some previous comments in this thread that I wish the colors and the overall aesthetic felt more like Alien. Seems just a little too colorful and Marvel-y imo.

But I'll gladly take it over awkward tracings of action figures, and weird contorted facial expressions, any day lol. As long as the story is good, then I'll be along for the ride!

Quote from: Cosmic Incubation on Sep 08, 2022, 02:31:45 PMI thought #1 was a decent setup! Didn't thrill me exactly, cause it's obviously just the setup. But I'm curious to see where the story goes.

The artwork is undeniably much better, although I do agree with some previous comments in this thread that I wish the colors and the overall aesthetic felt more like Alien. Seems just a little too colorful and Marvel-y imo.

But I'll gladly take it over awkward tracings of action figures, and weird contorted facial expressions, any day lol. As long as the story is good, then I'll be along for the ride!

I think the art is more in line with what we've seen from Marvel's Predator. It tells me that they are making the two books more unified for the inevitable AvP from Marvel. Just my guess.

Quote from: Wompdonkey on Sep 08, 2022, 03:51:42 PM

Quote from: Cosmic Incubation on Sep 08, 2022, 02:31:45 PMI thought #1 was a decent setup! Didn't thrill me exactly, cause it's obviously just the setup. But I'm curious to see where the story goes.

The artwork is undeniably much better, although I do agree with some previous comments in this thread that I wish the colors and the overall aesthetic felt more like Alien. Seems just a little too colorful and Marvel-y imo.

But I'll gladly take it over awkward tracings of action figures, and weird contorted facial expressions, any day lol. As long as the story is good, then I'll be along for the ride!

I think the art is more in line with what we've seen from Marvel's Predator. It tells me that they are making the two books more unified for the inevitable AvP from Marvel. Just my guess.

That was my impression as well. I got a lot of the same artistic vibes as the first Predator issue (for better or worse). I get the impression that it's a mix of them keeping the two semi-consistent/alike for the eventual crossover, and just the fact that a lot of Marvel comics have this kind of look in general. It's their style.

Just gave this issue a read and I'm certainly intrigued to see where this arc goes. Definitely got a Blade Runner vibe from this issue which I thoroughly enjoyed! Looks like it'll be a 6 issue arc again which works for me because I really feel that the stories can breathe better at 6 issues as opposed to 4.

December's Alien Solicitation

ALIEN #4
PHILLIP KENNEDY JOHNSON (W) • JULIUS OHTA (A) • Cover by BJÖRN BARENDS
Variant Cover by TAURIN CLARKE • Variant Cover by LEE GARBETT
Variant Cover by CULLY HAMNER
BETRAYAL IS THE HEART OF EVERY END!
Steel Team's human allies have led them into an ambush, leaving them for dead in the nest of a vicious Xenomorph Queen. As Steel Team suffers their first casualties, Eli's trust in Freyja is tested like never before. Meanwhile, the humans suffer the consequences of their betrayal as a new kind of monster awakens inside one of their own.
32 PGS./Parental Advisory ...$3.99

(https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qXwCpkpd4iXd8oFLbxfWDn-1200-80.jpg)

So wait, did the comics get rebooted?

Quote from: PAS Spinelli on Sep 16, 2022, 05:03:18 PMSo wait, did the comics get rebooted?

New #1 to celebrate the new artist . its still PKJ writing it and its his third arc of his run on the Ip

Quote from: PAS Spinelli on Sep 16, 2022, 05:03:18 PMSo wait, did the comics get rebooted?

Still continuing the same continuity. It's just Volume 3.

Quote from: TilotnyWorshiper28 on Sep 16, 2022, 12:15:07 PMDecember's Alien Solicitation

ALIEN #4
PHILLIP KENNEDY JOHNSON (W) • JULIUS OHTA (A) • Cover by BJÖRN BARENDS
Variant Cover by TAURIN CLARKE • Variant Cover by LEE GARBETT
Variant Cover by CULLY HAMNER
BETRAYAL IS THE HEART OF EVERY END!
Steel Team's human allies have led them into an ambush, leaving them for dead in the nest of a vicious Xenomorph Queen. As Steel Team suffers their first casualties, Eli's trust in Freyja is tested like never before. Meanwhile, the humans suffer the consequences of their betrayal as a new kind of monster awakens inside one of their own.
32 PGS./Parental Advisory ...$3.99

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qXwCpkpd4iXd8oFLbxfWDn-1200-80.jpg

Nice cover, kinda big for a queen though right?

Yeah the queen is kinda big   

We got the cover for Alien #5 from the Leaked marvel solicitation preview for January 2023

no actual solicitation yet only some marvel titles got full solicitations in the preview  Alien , Predator and Star Wars didn't yet .

https://is2.4chan.org/co/1663769518323824.png (https://is2.4chan.org/co/1663769518323824.png)

Quote from: 426Buddy on Sep 16, 2022, 10:39:52 PM

Quote from: TilotnyWorshiper28 on Sep 16, 2022, 12:15:07 PMDecember's Alien Solicitation

ALIEN #4
PHILLIP KENNEDY JOHNSON (W) • JULIUS OHTA (A) • Cover by BJÖRN BARENDS
Variant Cover by TAURIN CLARKE • Variant Cover by LEE GARBETT
Variant Cover by CULLY HAMNER
BETRAYAL IS THE HEART OF EVERY END!
Steel Team's human allies have led them into an ambush, leaving them for dead in the nest of a vicious Xenomorph Queen. As Steel Team suffers their first casualties, Eli's trust in Freyja is tested like never before. Meanwhile, the humans suffer the consequences of their betrayal as a new kind of monster awakens inside one of their own.
32 PGS./Parental Advisory ...$3.99

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qXwCpkpd4iXd8oFLbxfWDn-1200-80.jpg

Nice cover, kinda big for a queen though right?

I like 'em big  ;D  and it is just cover art.

https://graphicpolicy.com/2022/10/13/exclusive-preview-alien-2/

Looks like Marvel's Alien is finally going to play with the

Spoiler

accelerant

[close]

. I'm continuing to dig the artwork. I like the glowing eyes of all the synths with their extra vision on.

I hope they don't go wild when using it.

Quote from: Still Collating... on Oct 19, 2022, 02:02:38 PMI hope they don't go wild when using it.

well we know some form of the woman in the dark is coming

I'm kinda okay with them going the Perfected rout (term introduced in the RPG), I just hope they will be more consistent with the pathogen's use (what the RPG and Alex White put back on track) unlike the latest novel and Aliens Fireteam Elite. 

Just read issue 2 and that was a really exciting issue!

Spoiler

Praetorian, pathogen urns and synth vs xeno slugfest!

[close]

So far this arc has started out very strong. If the story telling stays consistent for the remaining 4 issues this will easily be my favorite arc from Marvel.

 
https://i.4cdn.org/co/1666279297053949.jpg

ALIEN #5

PHILLIP KENNEDY JOHNSON (W) • JULIUS OHTA (A) • Cover by BJÖRN BARENDS

Variant Cover by MATÍAS BERGARA • Variant Cover by NICK DRAGOTTA

RUDE AWAKENING!

The ship the humans stole from the Steel Team has crashed, and from the fiery wreckage emerged a swarm of Xenos led by the monstrous Hybrid! The few remaining humans fled back to their base in a futile attempt to escape slaughter. Meanwhile, with their numbers quickly dwindling, the Steel Team must make difficult decisions that could result in the possible success, or utter failure, of this disaster mission.

32 PGS./Parental Advisory ...$3.99

Quote from: Xiggz456 on Oct 20, 2022, 11:40:18 AMJust read issue 2 and that was a really exciting issue!

Spoiler

Praetorian, pathogen urns and synth vs xeno slugfest!

[close]

So far this arc has started out very strong. If the story telling stays consistent for the remaining 4 issues this will easily be my favorite arc from Marvel.

Yeah, I'm enjoying Icarus so far as well. I'm really happy to have some actual artwork in this run. Really digging Ohta's style for this arc! Am curious to see where they go with the direction. I'm betting the

Spoiler

survivors are genetically modified with some variation or derivative of the accelerant.

[close]

---

https://twitter.com/JuliusOhta/status/1585309403615744001

Quote from: SiL on Sep 02, 2022, 04:33:04 AMAlso what films have the comic artists and writers been watching that they think this is how Aliens kill people.

They bite you in the head or they explode out of your chest, they've never been for this slasher movie nonsense.

Poor Parker... all he wanted to do was eat lambert but big chap beat him to it (slasher deaths 😜)

Quote from: Still Collating... on Oct 19, 2022, 07:19:00 PMI'm kinda okay with them going the Perfected rout (term introduced in the RPG), I just hope they will be more consistent with the pathogen's use (what the RPG and Alex White put back on track) unlike the latest novel and Aliens Fireteam Elite. 

AFE's Pathogen is fine with lots of eye squinting, I guess it's good that they leave it super vague in it

(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/759468956644802570/1042875336792232050/1668710481708148.jpg)

ALIEN #6
PHILLIP KENNEDY JOHNSON (W) • JULIUS OHTA (A) • Cover by BJÖRN BARENDS
Variant Cover by JAMES HARREN • Variant Cover by NIC KLEIN
DEATH IS INEVITABLE!
Steel Team is in fragments. Scores of innocent humans are dead after surviving years on an irradiated rock. A new kind of Xenomorph is emerging...hunting...killing. It's all built to this. Is this the end – or beginning – of a new horror?
32 PGS./Parental Advisory ...$3.99

SHE'S HERE THE GODDESS  THE WOMAN/ONE IN THE DARK 

Pffft, nowhere near as good as Sal's. They need to get him back, to maintain the quality level, for Christ's sake

Can they f**k off with this fursona of theirs

Quote from: TilotnyWorshiper28 on Nov 17, 2022, 06:58:24 PMhttps://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/759468956644802570/1042875336792232050/1668710481708148.jpg
ALIEN #6
PHILLIP KENNEDY JOHNSON (W) • JULIUS OHTA (A) • Cover by BJÖRN BARENDS
Variant Cover by JAMES HARREN • Variant Cover by NIC KLEIN
DEATH IS INEVITABLE!
Steel Team is in fragments. Scores of innocent humans are dead after surviving years on an irradiated rock. A new kind of Xenomorph is emerging...hunting...killing. It's all built to this. Is this the end – or beginning – of a new horror?
32 PGS./Parental Advisory ...$3.99

SHE'S HERE THE GODDESS  THE WOMAN/ONE IN THE DARK 

The two lads on all fours are giving me a AVP movie vibe. I've yet to kick on in this series since the first run. I see `Sil MkII' is still involved.

Quote from: PAS Spinelli on Nov 18, 2022, 01:16:44 AMCan they f**k off with this fursona of theirs

Yeah honestly.

I'm really curious to see where they go with it. Love me some Li or Sil in my Alien.

https://graphicpolicy.com/2022/11/17/exclusive-preview-alien-3/

"David Wept"

Quote from: Kradan on Nov 17, 2022, 08:28:00 PMPffft, nowhere near as good as Sal's. They need to get him back, to maintain the quality level, for Christ's sake

lol.

https://twitter.com/JuliusOhta/status/1595372593921814528

Issue 3 was pretty good

Disapointed in marvel just making up whatever designs of xenos without any explanations or how they even could happen, but more: we do it because I can, type of thinking.

Facehuggers with centerpid legs, implanting several embryos in any opening....alpha alien, the kerrigan wannabe creature, the tiny starship troopers knock off bugs that crawl inside hosts mouths etc. No explanation where they come from or what they do or wtf they are.
But then again trying to explain it will just show how they disregard alien lore and moving away from the perfect organism thinking to: random mutations and they can become crappy xenos or better xenos by random chances.

I'm not gonna lie, I LOVE xeno variants. It only makes sense that. As Wey Yu, experiments, they'll get variety.

Bring on this femalien I say!

Yawn. Dull supposition for an actual story worth telling.

https://graphicpolicy.com/2022/12/15/exclusive-preview-alien-4-2/

WTF is that lightsabers Im seeing?

The artwork's superb, but lightsabers man... Really Kennedy?

well technically there only lazer swords cause I doubt they have a kyber crystal in them ;)

Quote from: BlueMarsalis79 on Dec 16, 2022, 04:45:14 PMThe artwork's superb, but lightsabers man... Really Kennedy?

Lol, we get our own lightsabers now!

Wrong franchise kennedy!

Quote from: judge death on Dec 16, 2022, 07:44:39 PMWrong franchise kennedy!

or is it  *Laughs in supernatural encounters*

Yes it is, this is jumping the entire harbour, never mind the shark.

Next everyone will be wearing capes 🙄

Laser swords?... in Alien?
Marvel you absolute bellends.

I think will be crossover
AvP
Marvel
Star Wars
Disney

Ha ha ha!
Metaverse
Multiverse!

They just add in AvP all similar
And make crossover.
(Malifiscent like species)

I think disney dont understand AvP!))
It must be brutal horror not a Space Fantasy!

But ok i was ready
I dont angry!))
Now it
Space Fantasy Horror!
But epic.

I went back the laser swords have been here since issue 2 lol

Yeah, the laser swords were there from before. Plus the crossbow. Plus the comically GIANT FREAKING AXE. The weapons are ridiculous...

Everything Phillip Kennedy Johnson has contributed to the alien franchise is ridiculous.
I wish they'd just call a do-over, and throw all this nonsense out and start anew with a different writer.

Oh guys It crossover!
Alien and Star Wars!
Phillip Kennedy and Kathleen Kennedy!

---

Quote from: Nelostic on Dec 17, 2022, 11:31:11 AMI think will be crossover
AvP
Marvel
Star Wars
Disney

I think will be videogame like Multiversus but Disneyversus
In 2024!
About It!

Quote from: Engineer on Dec 18, 2022, 04:29:51 AMEverything Phillip Kennedy Johnson has contributed to the alien franchise is ridiculous.
I wish they'd just call a do-over, and throw all this nonsense out and start anew with a different writer.

dont forsee them doing this 

But they f**king should.

lol.

The Dark Horse comics gave us wackier things than laser swords
All the f**king time, too.

remember Xenogenesis? This feels like a subdued version of that.

Quote from: TilotnyWorshiper28 on Dec 18, 2022, 01:56:15 PM

Quote from: Engineer on Dec 18, 2022, 04:29:51 AMEverything Phillip Kennedy Johnson has contributed to the alien franchise is ridiculous.
I wish they'd just call a do-over, and throw all this nonsense out and start anew with a different writer.

dont forsee them doing this 

I know, hence why I said "I wish" lol

---

Quote from: skhellter on Dec 19, 2022, 08:53:51 AMlol.

The Dark Horse comics gave us wackier things than laser swords
All the f**king time, too.

remember Xenogenesis? This feels like a subdued version of that.

This is true.
But, the good thing about the dark horse era was that most of their series were 3 to 6 issues, so if there was an artist or a writer that you didn't care for you could at least look forward to the next series which changes out the creative teams (more issues if you count their more expansive cross-overs but still there was an end in sight).
With marvel's formula, there's no telling how long we've gotta deal with their version of xenogenesis, and that is incredibly frustrating imo.

issue 4 was ok  we got the beginning of what will be the goddess 

The art is fine, but seeing these people running around in their generic sci-fi outfits and wielding axes and crossbows just sucks.

When I ask myself what I would do differently, I just down know.
This is a conundrum for fans. When the well has dried up, are you in your right to be critiquing when they try new stuff?

I say "yes" because something like "Dead Orbit" comes around and shows us that the well isn't really dried up. It's a matter of hiring the right talent; marvel has yet to hire the right talent imo.

I've liked a lot of elements or concepts in PKJ's run, but it's just not coming together for me. I dig the the whole idea of this entire line of Aliens being descended from something special. I dig the idea of a synthetic team - but they're running around with scifi melee weapons as a way to show off how strong and amazing they are, and it's just not there for me.

I am loving Juluis Ohta's work on this though! Thatpage

Spoiler

where he rips his eyeballs out

[close]

in issue #4 looks fantastic, even if that's another section I raised an eyebrow at, despite loving the visuals.

Quote from: Engineer on Dec 23, 2022, 12:34:51 AMI say "yes" because something like "Dead Orbit" comes around and shows us that the well isn't really dried up. It's a matter of hiring the right talent; marvel has yet to hire the right talent imo.

I liked Dead orbit, But it played it very safe. How many Dead orbits can you make and retain a mainstream appeal?

Issue 4 was pretty crazy! But I have to agree that the melee weapons seem a bit silly. Although I am still thoroughly enjoying the premise of an all synth spec-ops team.

Spoiler

Wondering if Lee is turning into the Goddess or she's just an Abomination.

[close]

Haven't heard anything from PKJ regarding another arc at this point so I think we may be getting a creative shake up. Time will tell but as I've said before, after an author writes a trilogy, I always feel that it's then time to give someone else a shot.

Quote from: bobby brown on Dec 23, 2022, 10:31:03 AM

Quote from: Engineer on Dec 23, 2022, 12:34:51 AMI say "yes" because something like "Dead Orbit" comes around and shows us that the well isn't really dried up. It's a matter of hiring the right talent; marvel has yet to hire the right talent imo.

I liked Dead orbit, But it played it very safe. How many Dead orbits can you make and retain a mainstream appeal?

Dead orbit is exactly what I want more of

---

QuoteHaven't heard anything from PKJ regarding another arc at this point so I think we may be getting a creative shake up. Time will tell but as I've said before, after an author writes a trilogy, I always feel that it's then time to give someone else a shot.

I hope you're right. PKJ would have to be at the bottom of my list for alien comic writers at this point.

alien is missing from marvel's solicitations for march so its either skipping a month or were heading for a creative shake up volume 3 in April 

I happy what Species go to Marvel Alien

I want transformation
Species to Some alien queen!
In final!))

Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Dec 23, 2022, 09:17:39 AMI've liked a lot of elements or concepts in PKJ's run, but it's just not coming together for me. I dig the the whole idea of this entire line of Aliens being descended from something special. I dig the idea of a synthetic team - but they're running around with scifi melee weapons as a way to show off how strong and amazing they are, and it's just not there for me.

I am loving Juluis Ohta's work on this though! Thatpage

Spoiler

where he rips his eyeballs out

[close]

in issue #4 looks fantastic, even if that's another section I raised an eyebrow at, despite loving the visuals.

I find it funny how they make new designs of xenos that dont really make sense from how xenos work and some are clearly inspired by other franchises, like these small larvae xenos that goes inside the mouth of people: ripoff idea from starship troopers 2, and the writer dont even know how these tie in with xenomorph biology/lore, he never explains where they came from or how they are made, what causes facehuggers to become centerpide facehuggers that does things previous facehuggers couldnt, alpha alien etc. It just feel like thrown on the wall because its cool and new but have very little thought behind it and wont even bother trying to work into the lore and explain things, like bethesda: its just works, we dont know why mentality.

Theres clear walls of what one can do in the alien franchise and whats it built onto, we know from prometheus up to Alien resurrection how the technology of the world is like, military uses weapons that fire bullets, missiles etc.

In comes someone who now decide lightsabers is a thing of this world and laser guns, extremly large meele weapons like its medieval age again and somehow its effective against xenomorphs, and crossbows wtf? In an era set after Aliens where marines have way more grounded in reality weapons, I dont see soldiers walking around with large axes or androids when there are much more effective weapons around for this time era. Assault rifles, grenades, napalm flamethrowers, Sadar, sonic wallbreakers etc.These new weapons and lightsabers etc dont fit into alien universe which is more grounded in reality and industrial era designs.

Dead orbit was great,and I wouldnt mind seeing more of that or heck aliens labyrinth or new earth war style dark comic, aliens dust to dust was great too. Heck I have several stories set in the alien franchise that uses the foundation of what is established and not create something that isnt fitting in that I would love to create into several comics and read.
Theres so much to use in this franchise theres no need to add technology from star wars to make it new and exciting....

Still haven't read a single Alien comic produced by Marvel and everything I've been hearing sure doesn't make me any more interested to check it out

Quote from: judge death on Dec 27, 2022, 03:04:00 AMIn comes someone who now decide lightsabers is a thing of this world and laser guns, extremly large meele weapons like its medieval age again and somehow its effective against xenomorphs, and crossbows wtf? In an era set after Aliens where marines have way more grounded in reality weapons, I dont see soldiers walking around with large axes or androids when there are much more effective weapons around for this time era. Assault rifles, grenades, napalm flamethrowers, Sadar, sonic wallbreakers etc.These new weapons and lightsabers etc dont fit into alien universe which is more grounded in reality and industrial era designs.

Yeah, I think this is a bad call. It just seems like one of those shorthand ways of trying to show how amazing Steel Team is compared to normal meatbag marines, but it just veers the tone of the series too far off base. I mean, sure we've had swords in Music of the Spears, but that was interesting in spite of that.

Some of the other elements that aren't explained - they irritate the hell out of me, but I have to wonder if they're left dangling for future arcs. I think I spoke about it on the Series 2 podcast, but I wonder how unfair I'm being disliking things like that if it's just another chapter in a story we haven't finished.

This girl species after black goo
Like in prometheus?

Preview
Marvel Alien 5!
https://aiptcomics.com/2023/01/13/marvel-preview-alien-5-2/
https://goldenapplecomics.com/products/nov220893

Alien #5 was a good issue 

Now wait Marve Alien 6! Final!
Andi hope in this year will be anounced
Marvel AvP!
8)

Issue 5 was fantastic! This has definitely been my favorite arc so far from Marvel.

Spoiler

In the beginning blurb/recap they mention the pathogen being responsible for abominations so I'm starting to think that the Goddess/Woman in the Dark is definitely an abomination who is evolving into a Fulfremmen/The Perfected from the RPG. When first reading through the "Heart of Darkness" campaign I speculated that the Fulfremmen was most likely influenced by the Goddess but after this issue I really think they may be one and the same.

[close]

https://graphicpolicy.com/2023/02/02/exclusive-preview-alien-6/

Quote from: TilotnyWorshiper28 on Feb 02, 2023, 11:25:25 PMhttps://graphicpolicy.com/2023/02/02/exclusive-preview-alien-6/

Is that @SiL on the cover??

It certainly looks like The Lady In The Dark. I was wondering if that was going to be something that got wrapped up when PKJ left the run.

Quote from: Local Trouble on Feb 02, 2023, 11:45:52 PM

Quote from: TilotnyWorshiper28 on Feb 02, 2023, 11:25:25 PMhttps://graphicpolicy.com/2023/02/02/exclusive-preview-alien-6/

Is that @SiL on the cover??

yep its the goddess/woman/One in the Dark.  who is probably a character named lee who is currently going through the different abomination stages of the icarus strain of the pathogen after being bit by a mutated fly that was mutated by that strain . 

I just hope that whole thing gets cancelled with the new arch coming up witha new writer, he better not jump the whole harbour like the previous writer.

Quote from: TilotnyWorshiper28 on Feb 03, 2023, 01:46:09 PM

Quote from: Local Trouble on Feb 02, 2023, 11:45:52 PM

Quote from: TilotnyWorshiper28 on Feb 02, 2023, 11:25:25 PMhttps://graphicpolicy.com/2023/02/02/exclusive-preview-alien-6/

Is that @SiL on the cover??

yep its the goddess/woman/One in the Dark.  who is probably a character named lee who is currently going through the different abomination stages of the icarus strain of the pathogen after being bit by a mutated fly that was mutated by that strain . 

I'd like to see it tied up, and I kinda like the idea of the hive mind being timeless (was that something that Vol 1 teased? I can't recall.) but there's just something about it being this modern creature I don't think sounds too satisfying.

Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Feb 03, 2023, 10:43:35 PM

Quote from: TilotnyWorshiper28 on Feb 03, 2023, 01:46:09 PM

Quote from: Local Trouble on Feb 02, 2023, 11:45:52 PM

Quote from: TilotnyWorshiper28 on Feb 02, 2023, 11:25:25 PMhttps://graphicpolicy.com/2023/02/02/exclusive-preview-alien-6/

Is that @SiL on the cover??

yep its the goddess/woman/One in the Dark.  who is probably a character named lee who is currently going through the different abomination stages of the icarus strain of the pathogen after being bit by a mutated fly that was mutated by that strain . 

I'd like to see it tied up, and I kinda like the idea of the hive mind being timeless (was that something that Vol 1 teased? I can't recall.) but there's just something about it being this modern creature I don't think sounds too satisfying.

I think that was something that was teased . I wouldn't be surprised if Lee isn't the first Goddess and that there was previous ones at a earlier time but the Hivemind just blends them all together .


also Charles Soule did a Q&A on twitter https://twitter.com/CharlesSoule/status/1621921509265506305 He'd like to write some Alien

issue 6 is fine

Spoiler

but it doesn't give us any answers bout the goddess. Lee is still alive thou so maybe in the new run. I doubt it thou

[close]

Well thats a theme: that kennedy writer dont seem willing to wanna explain anything of what he added to the alien comics, why and how these new things work in the xenomorph biology etc.

That's because PKJ is a shit writer who didn't know what he was doing with Alien in the first place

Finished the last issue and the art on this one is insanely good!

Spoiler

The panels detailing the final fight with the queen were absolutely gorgeous! Story wise I enjoyed the Blade Runner-esque introspection coming from Freyja and Eli. I also liked seeing the infected Lee take out the General after he admitted that promising synth citizenship was nothing more than a false promise. I would've been interested in learning more about what became of the Lee-abomination but I also like that it's somewhat vague with another stunning panel showing her become one with the hive. The only thing that didn't get fully addressed was whether they helped humanity with the kid's DNA or if they just said f**k those humans lol

[close]

All in all I think I'd rate this arc 8/10. I've come to really enjoy the 6 issue arc format and while he missed the mark at times overall I think Phillip Kennedy Johnson did a solid job during the course of his 19 issues. With that being said I'm now really excited to see what the new creative team will bring!

Please show screenshot of final skin of species girl in the comix!

Quote from: Nelostic on Feb 09, 2023, 01:13:46 PMPlease show screenshot of final skin of species girl in the comix!

Spoiler

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/706365276278751314/1073323249431216209/SPOILER_Screen_Shot_2023-02-09_at_2.22.25_PM.png

[close]

Honestly, I kind of enjoyed this arc. It was definitely better than the the first two.

Quote

Spoiler

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/706365276278751314/1073323249431216209/SPOILER_Screen_Shot_2023-02-09_at_2.22.25_PM.png

[close]

Spoiler

[close]

the-deacon-04.jpg
[/spoiler]
Cool she like deacon
Or Elden from
Prometheus fire and stone
(Darkhorse)

i think she will mutate to alien
And to new alien queen. And after it to alien empress!

---

Now marvel alien is full ended!
They can make new ark or sequel!

After Alien Mosquito
Alies Hive become like Natural Selection the game!
Where in hive can be everyone who have alien DNA
(And+human DNA because aliens similar with human)
In hive can be
Alien spider queen
Alien leon queen
Etc
Etc!
Who more powerfull become queen and king
Of Giger jungle hive!

Wait super alien like The Thing!
Where hive become giger alien creepy city of devils!
Smart transform Aliens dangerous civilizations!
Like zergs or tyranids!
Etc!
With creepy biomechanical megapolis on alien planet!
With creepy alien emperor
It what engineers was fear!
Great end of saga!

---

It what Ridley Scott potencially did after prometheus and covenant!

---

It remember me on
Prometheus fire and stone comix! (dark horse)
But evolution of idea and it cool!
Wait sequel!
About alien planet! Planet of monsters
(Like on covenant concept art)
Where monsters with aliens DNA
(From Black Goo)
With epic final!

---

Oh i so want Alien and AvP game about it!
It will be cool!
Upgrade predator who stole DNA
Vs
Upgrade Alien who stole DNA
Like in character editor!
And alien-black goo like venom for engineers!
Androids like liquid terminators!
Etc
Etc!
This battle will be legendary!
In final war!
And it will be epic final!

---

Now i happy what alien now disney!
We have many books comics videogames and movies
With rating R
And possible unite AVP
And it cool!

---

But now old aliens
It just like humans in giger world.
Like apex predators of giger world!
Now we have many aliens creatures in this giger world!
And Alien Planet!


AvP now like Star Wars But Horror!
And it cool!
Wait sequel
And Final!

I liked bits and pieces of this latest Marvel-Alein run but to echo what others have said, making the synth team into super-heroes with axes and lightsabers and other melee weapons was completely stupid and nearly took me out of the entire storyline.

I also did not like how through all the carnage of slicing and dicing the xenos that the acid blood never came into play, at all?

Like obviously I understand they're synthetics and bad-ass elite fighters, but the reckless fighting having 0 repercussions in terms of the acid blood seemed completely dumb.

I want to give Disney the benefit of the doubt here because I hold out hope Alien will be revived to  its former glory, but stories like this just make that so hard.

Podcast review is up :) https://www.avpgalaxy.net/2023/04/11/david-wept-reviewing-alien-icarus-avp-galaxy-podcast-162/

I think you guys hit the nail on the head when you suggested it was basically a very superheroish Alien comic. Also, since you brought up Enemy of My Enemy, I'll be looking forward to that podcast when it arrives. :p

I'm so glad PKJ is done writing alien comics

I really enjoyed the Icarus storyline, and it's definitely the best of PKJ's run. As an action-focused heist story with xenomorphs I think it's really successful and fun to read, even though it sort of falls off at the end a bit. I can understand the criticisms but ultimately I can forgive the flaws because the book is fun and stylish and refreshing.

 Plus I love a comic book that *knows* it's a comic and makes choices that take advantage of the format, and Icarus definitely does that

Genuinely hilarious, Eric / Xenomorphine is literally taking the words out of my mouth. We're kindred spirits.

Quote from: FinalNeal on Apr 20, 2023, 04:57:08 PMPlus I love a comic book that *knows* it's a comic and makes choices that take advantage of the format, and Icarus definitely does that

I'm guessing you're referring to the superhero critique here. For me, the Alien comics (or the better ones) have always been more grounded in that cinematic or more serious feel so I understand where it being more superhero can stand out. If it were a crossover, I think it'd feel more in line with that, but it's not really the feel I think a lot of us are used to.

Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Apr 21, 2023, 07:39:33 AM

Quote from: FinalNeal on Apr 20, 2023, 04:57:08 PMPlus I love a comic book that *knows* it's a comic and makes choices that take advantage of the format, and Icarus definitely does that

I'm guessing you're referring to the superhero critique here. For me, the Alien comics (or the better ones) have always been more grounded in that cinematic or more serious feel so I understand where it being more superhero can stand out. If it were a crossover, I think it'd feel more in line with that, but it's not really the feel I think a lot of us are used to.

More specifically I mean the general design of the book - the bold color choices and how they create dynamic light and dark, the panel layouts, the stylized text for the sound effects and things like that. You mentioned in the episode the speech bubbles coming from the hands, which is a really creative way to represent sign language in a comic.

The design does tend to highlight the action and give it that superhero feel, which is very different from other Alien(s) books I've read, but as a comic book fan I'm just appreciative of the way the whole creative team built the pages.