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With the 5th and final issue of Declan Shalvey and Andrea Broccardo’s Alien: Thaw due for release on the 16th of August, we now have confirmation that the creative team will be returning for another arc in November! Seemingly titled Alien: Descendant, the new series will also see Declan taking on some of the artistic duties himself on this volume!

The new series will take place in two time periods with Shalvey also on art duties, drawing flashback scenes of a doomed earlier crew in each issue. As readers learn more about the mistakes and goals of the first mission, they'll discover the full unsettling scope of what the present-day protagonists have gotten themselves into!

Connected to the current series but offering a fresh start for new readers, the new run will continue to develop the new subspecies of Xenomorphs that Shalvey and Broccardo have introduced, while laying the groundwork for an even greater threat. Before ALIEN #1 launches, fans will get a chance to get up close and personal with this new breed of creatures in October's ALIEN ANNUAL #1, a double-sized issue that will serve as connective tissue between story arcs.  

The next great Alien story starts in ALIEN ANNUAL #1 and continues in the all-new ALIEN #1! In deep space spins a world infected by the universe's greatest killers. Most people – sane people – would construct a barrier thicker than the hulls of ten Nostromos and leave it to rot. But where most people see a death trap, Weyland-Yutani sees the biggest payout in the history of civilization. And if it costs a few human lives to secure? Those come cheap here. Prepare for more corporate corruption, personal betrayals and extraordinary violence!

Speaking of the new series, Declan Shelvey said that:

“It’s such a joy to continue to build out our own little corner of Marvel Comics' Alien universe with this new 'Descendant' story arc. We’re building on what we’ve done before (with some nods to previous stories) and get to dig a bit deeper in this arc (both figuratively and literally). It’s also a real treat for me to draw a section of the story."

Declan’s first Alien: Annual #1 was recently announced and is scheduled for release October 4th. The first issue of marvel’s 4th volume of Alien is currently slated to hit the comic book store shelves on the 15th of November.

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Hurray! Another senseless reset of numbering in the middle of the storyline, which does not separate the creative teams in any way, because it is the same, and does not separate the end-to-end plot, because the new series is a direct continuation of the current one! Thank you Marvel! I will definitely buy your first Annual, which is not the first but the second!

I assume it's because Declan has taken on art duties as well on this. But yeah, I find it confusing. I know Predator has been putting the series title in the jacket, but can't remember if Alien has as well.

Numbering and generic naming of the series are very confusing, but at least its a new series. I will wait for the trade paperback like always.

Nice! Liking his story so far and the art was fantastic! I hope his art contribution is on Andrea's level. Enjoying this arc and the Predator arc quite nicely. Nothing ground breaking, but so much better than the first 2 issues of the Marvel Alien run.

Nice, so far Thaw is first pretty decent comic from Marvel both in terms of story and art, so I'm glad that this Creative team is coming back. However, with constant restarting of numbering, and not really commiting to one continuing story arc I would prefer bieber rotation of Authors, with new team with every new story, so things could constantly changing and offering new ideas and styles with every new arc. For now, we can be stuck with author's weaknesses for far too Long, I mean we had to survive two arcs with Larroca's abysmal art and 3 whole arcs with Kennedy Johnhon's abandoning of story ideas and middling writing. At least current team is doing good job.

You can now pre-order Issue #1 and #2.

Solicits for issues #1-4: which PRH is now calling Alien (2023B) haha

#1: EVERYONE WILL HEAR YOU SCREAM! In deep space spins a world infected by the universe's greatest killers. Most people – sane people – would construct a barrier thicker than the hulls of ten Nostromos and leave it to rot. But where most people see a death trap, Weyland-Yutani sees the biggest payout in the history of civilization. And if it costs a few human lives to secure? Those come cheap here. Corporate corruption, personal betrayals and extraordinary violence – Declan Shalvey and Andrea Broccardo's next and greatest Alien story starts here!

#2: BODIES, BODIES, BODIES! Looking for that perfect combination of sex, suspicion and slaughter? Boy, has the Weyland-Yutani Corporation got a deal for you! Come aboard the Descendant for a dip into the exotic waters of an icy moon – stay for the pulse-pounding adventure of a lifetime! Scour the ocean floor for buried treasures from a lost vessel and uncover secrets from a legendary disaster. Select participants will receive a special gift from Jun Yutani himself. Don't miss a trip worth dying for!

#3: STAY FROSTY! The Yutani family has decided to settle the invasion of LV-695 personally. But no corporate executive has the authority to tell a Xenomorph what to do...unless the order is "slaughter"! And knowing the Weyland-Yutani Corp? It just might be. Trapped between an avalanche and a watery death, the mysterious "Cole" makes her hardest decisions yet.

#4: THE PERFECT ORGANISM MEETS ITS MATCH?! When Xenomorphs crash-landed on moon LV-695, they did what they do best: SLAUGHTER. And...transformed. The native kaiju of this icy rock thought themselves apex predators, but they were no match for Xenomorph fury. Now a hybrid creature has emerged...is this the evolutionary twist that ends Xenomorphs? And will any humans live to tell the tale? Jun Yutani springs his final trap!

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First preview up for Descendant.

Looks like we're gonna be seeing some great art again, lovely. Even the icy Xeno looks better here than in the one shot, more detailed, nice. But their human Alien? Looks perfect, man they really know how to draw a classic Alien, up there with the best IMO.

The 2023 Annual tie-in story is subtitled Alien: Regicide, which refers to the act of killing a KING. I'm thinking we might get some Aliens: Rogue vibes from Alien: Descendant, which would explain the aggression between both strains on LV-695.

Declan Shalvey is a powerhouse.

first issue was good  Yutani is a brat. Alice is def a synth but she looks like one of the Kage Species from Star Wars just by her skin tone . 

I enjoyed the first issue! Definitely intrigued by the flashbacks. I have a suspicion it maybe about Dayton and how he came about his injuries. Though that would mean he'd had previous experience with the Aliens and I'm not sure how well that fits with Thaw, but we'll see. I like the stylistic choice on Declan's part to have the more unconvincing synths in his flashback. Works nicely with the Joes.

Andrea's art is looking great again. Some great panels of the Aliens in this. And that spread of the Keg with Wendall's corpse was fantastic. Not too sure about the ship designs though. I can see some of the Betty in those worker drones but they're not working that great for me.

I'm curious to see where Descendant goes with the Yutani character. The baseball interest is curious too - especially given what we know of some of the characters in the TV show. There's a minor similarity there.

Despite some flaws, overall, I'm loving this current series.  It feels like an Aliens comic should.  Or Alien, whatever.

Does anyone find it odd that the USCSS Boreas is lying on its side underwater, yet the crew is walking upright on the floor instead of on the starboard wall?  That artificial gravity is impressive!

I enjoyed the second issue as well. Still not keen on this drone ships, but I got a kick seeing the Double Burner. We don't tend to see the USM weapons get much love so I enjoyed that choice. I wonder if that was another visual decision by Andrea? I do miss Tríona Farrell on the colours though. I'm not enjoying what Ruth Redmond is doing as much.

Very very curious to see where Declan is going with the flashbacks. I'm still wondering if Dayton

Spoiler

is supposed to have been one of the androids here.

[close]

And did I catch another suggestion that there's a wider awareness that the synthetics have regarding David and Paradise?

How many trade paperbacks are there of the Marvel stuff so far? I found 4 on Amazon (Bloodlines, Revival, Icarus, and Thaw), did I miss any? Also are there any that suck and I shouldn't get?

Thanks!

Quote from: Xenomrph on Jan 18, 2024, 09:04:23 PMHow many trade paperbacks are there of the Marvel stuff so far? I found 4 on Amazon (Bloodlines, Revival, Icarus, and Thaw), did I miss any? Also are there any that suck and I shouldn't get?

Thanks!

I think that's all, and on the way is next one, Descendant. As for their quality, I'm not a big fan of Philip Kennedy Johnson's run, that is first 3 trades. It's not abysmal and it has some interesting ideas, just doesn't do anything with them really. What is abysmal, it's Salvador Larroca's art, in first two trades. Larroca's is no longer present in Icarus, and art is actually decent in this one. Thaw is so far the best Marvel comic for me and maybe even one of my favourites even considering DH stuff. Both story and art are great. New creative team did great job and is continuing to do it in Descendant, at least in the first half of it so far.

I'm reading Thaw, what is Epsilon Station and Project "Alpha"? Is that from earlier comics?

Edit— just finished it. So those white facehuggers make weird white Aliens? And Zahn's research that she injected herself with ended up being nothing in the end?

I think it left a lot of unanswered questions such that the ending wasn't particularly satisfying. Like, I mean, it wasn't bad, but it was still a little all over the place by the end.

Quote from: Xenomrph on Jan 28, 2024, 02:35:31 AMI'm reading Thaw, what is Epsilon Station and Project "Alpha"? Is that from earlier comics?

They're from the first Marvel series, Bloodlines.

QuoteSo those white facehuggers make weird white Aliens?

They're another strain of Aliens.

Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Jan 29, 2024, 09:07:00 AMThey're another strain of Aliens.

Do they show up anywhere else?

The follow-up Annual called Regicide and then the next series, Descendant.

Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Jan 29, 2024, 10:51:45 AMThe follow-up Annual called Regicide and then the next series, Descendant.

I just preordered the trade paperback for that, looks like it's out in early April.

Edit— volume 3 (Icarus) just came in the mail.

Lithograph Alien variant lol

I love all the references Broccardo has made to previous franchise installments without making the series feel too familiar.

Did anyone catch the Boreas reg. number is the original release date of Alien in Italy?

That being said, were the trinkets that hung from Zasha's backpack references, if at all, to the little gashapons and novelty items seen throughout the Nostromo or are they a more direct reference to something outside of the franchise?

Quote from: Chieftain Suom on Jan 31, 2024, 01:20:28 PMI love all the references Broccardo has made to previous franchise installments without making the series feel too familiar.

What kind of references? I remember seeing a post-it note that said Seegson early in issue 1.

Quote from: Xenomrph on Jan 31, 2024, 03:52:45 PM

Quote from: Chieftain Suom on Jan 31, 2024, 01:20:28 PMI love all the references Broccardo has made to previous franchise installments without making the series feel too familiar.

What kind of references? I remember seeing a post-it note that said Seegson early in issue 1.

There were drinking birds that we originally saw on the Nostromo, a winch and rope system like the one Kane used to descend into the egg chamber, an ice axe like the one used in AVP? Maybe?, a wrench (if I remember correctly) like the one used in Isolation, the Seegson reference, of course, symbols from Ron Cobb's Semiotic Standard were plastered about, also in Descendant, the Italian release date of Alien in Italy (Broccardo's Italian), an Isolation style emergency call box in Descendant, and a few others.. but I'm still curious about the items dangling from Zasha's backpack haha
I reached out to Broccardo on Instagram, he's super fan-friendly, and he told me once the Descendant TPB is released, he'd post a list of all the references and homages he incorporated into his art! So cool.

I posted this in the Thaw thread by mistake...

Spoiler

  Well they really jumped the shark with the latest issue in the series.  I mean I guessed that there would be a huge monster coming up as there were hints, but I didn't realize just how Godzilla this would feel.  It literally feels like Aliens vs. Godzilla on ice, and I'm not sure this is the right vibe or direction for the Aliens universe. 

[close]

I really thought they were going to attach the flying rescue vehicles to the Boreas to lift it.  To use cables is ridiculous.  This was a nadir of the series.  A great run is starting to stumble.

Just read all 4 issues in one go and enjoyed it. Story kept me intrigued (especially the flashbacks) and the ending was wonderfully bleak. Some gorgeous panels from both Declan and Andrea absolutely enhanced the experience. My only real nitpick is the 4 issue constraint which IMO makes the story feel a bit rushed (which used to be my main gripe of the Darkhorse era). But I look forward to re-reading the series along with "Thaw" and the Annual to get the full Declan Shalvey experience.

Quote from: Xiggz456 on Feb 08, 2024, 12:16:40 AMJust read all 4 issues in one go and enjoyed it. Story kept me intrigued (especially the flashbacks) and the ending was wonderfully bleak. Some gorgeous panels from both Declan and Andrea absolutely enhanced the experience. My only real nitpick is the 4 issue constraint which IMO makes the story feel a bit rushed (which used to be my main gripe of the Darkhorse era). But I look forward to re-reading the series along with "Thaw" and the Annual to get the full Declan Shalvey experience.

I'm still behind with issue #3 and the last one, so I can't judge this yet, but if it really feels a little rushed then I just wonder why Marvel is doing this constraint of just 4 issues, or at least that's what it seems with this series and the newest announced Predator one. I mean, in DH times I often felt like many of their runs could use another issue to flesh things out. But with DH being much smaller publisher I could get it, and I thought Marvel wouldn't need to do this. 5 or 6 issues really felt like good runtime for Alien story. I Hope this won't become constant, and future stories will be longer, unless they are written with exactly 4 issues in mind by choice, not by neccesity. Not that I can tell myself if this is the case with this one yet.

The trade paperback collection of Marvel's Alien - Descendant is now available for preorder.

Currently scheduled for release on April 2nd.

Just read all 4 issues today and I think the run has been good. I agree with the people saying it felt rushed. Descendant has good ideas that needed more room to be realized. I found myself really liking Zasha. The flashback reveal was great and genuinely surprised me. The submorphs I could take or leave but I appreciate the effort to do something different. The plotline of a young Yutani leading the expedition I didn't care about at all but that might be because I finished reading the Vasquez novel a couple months ago so I've had my fill of trust fund brats. The ending hurt in the best ways but I would've liked the door to have been left open for more. Reading Descendant next to Thaw though works really well as a sort of epilogue to the first run. Despite not being a total knockout I was hooked on the story and wanted to read the next issue to the end. I hope Black, White & Blood will continue to up the quality. Also I'm not 100% on this but the gun Zasha uses reminds me of either the battle rifle from Colonial Marines or the assault rifle from Resurrection.

Okay, I just read last issue. Descendant was good, but worse than Thaw. Art is still beautiful, family themes still got me, it has some moody sequences. Aliens lurking underwater and in sinked wreckage is a visual that's especially creepy for me. Also I like submorphs, so it was fun to get more of them, again, visual of them crawling under sunken ship like some deep sea crustaceans gave me chills. Also flashbacks were nice, little subplot. I also love its bleak af ending. That said, I can't help but feel it was a little rushed, it certainly could use one more issue. I often got that feeling with many DH comics, and I don't know why such a limitation, if that's what it really is, is set under such a big publisher like Marvel. Because of that there are some anticlimatic endings, for example we see hybrid Queen hatching from kaiju, but we never see it grown, and it is even on the cover. Also Many of mysteries seems abandoned and unanswered, we don't get to know more about hybrids, or human experimentations done by Zahsa's mother. But It also teases some new things with Yutani, maybe we are not done with some story points?

Interesting new kind of alien. :o

I'm just about to start on Thaw. Is Descendant a sequel to it? I know the second Annual (or is it thrid?) is a prequel to Thaw.

Correct. The second annual (it's called Regicide) is a prequel to Thaw, but also setups up stuff in Descendant.

Liked the comic, but it was weaker then their first run. That ending though! Loved the new flashback art style (the colors and lighting has a very old comic feel to it). I don't really like the other creatures and the new Alien design honestly, but the artist draws fantastic classic Aliens.

Podcast review is now up: https://www.avpgalaxy.net/2024/04/12/the-ties-that-bind-reviewing-alien-descendant-avp-galaxy-podcast-182/

Gasp! new podcast episode! Bring me my headphones!

I very much enjoyed Thaw (I think its the best of all the Marvel Alien run), so really looking forward to this

Thaw and Descendent are just both a bit meh. Not bad but not that good either. Art again is a bit too Xenogenesis (and the characters trying to shag instead of searching an abandoned ship owes a debt to Xenogenesis - it was f**king moronic writing then too).

I just find the whole thing a bit uninspired. As appalling as the art was with the early issues at the least the Alien Woman was something different.

Oh and nitpick - the Boreas was on its side underwater, yet when they were exploring it everything was the right way up.