Marvel's Alien has concluded its first story arc - What's next?

Alien: Bloodlines has concluded. I review Marvel's first story arc and speculate on what the future has in store.

ELLEN RIPLEY TIER OF EXCELLENCE: Lady Anne ^^ö^^(Jessica M Kandal, PhD)
WEYLAND YUTANI EXECUTIVE: NanashiFx
QUEENS: Ronni Jensen, XenoShadowMorph, Alyssane, Grizz4756
PRAETORIAN: John Griggs
WARRIORS: Kurt Venetis, Blockerman
DRONES: KuroNyra, Grace Ryder, Matthew Coleman, Yunners, Waya525

CHESTBURSTERS: Anne Mac, James Aponte, Rafael Aguila, Oliver, Stewart Crichton, Matt Bro, BWXenogears, Thomas Watvedt, Gregor Mundell. John C Jones, Sean Arme, Thomas J Gettings, Commodore Erickson, Tariq_RUH, Arkuras, Ambrosia. Project Acheron, Robert Johnson, Axel R. Garcia, Adam LaZerte, David Hokanson, Mark Lennon

[scrimshaw]

Love that clip you inserted of Burke. Sadly I can't shake the feeling that Marvel and Burke have a lot in common, like fucking us over for a goddamn percentage.

[gerryrodriguez]

I see now what you guy's are getting at, and you know what that can bring down a house. So Marvel comics, listen up, the people have spoken.

[VMP]

Personally, as an artist myself, I didn't mind the artwork at all. There were weaker points, sure, but overall it was an ok vehicle for the really interesting story. Loved the very simple Prometheus Fire explanation of role of the Aliens. Sure, the artwork could be better, but I found it inoffensive.

[PopeOfTheBullpuptistChurch]

The least Disney could do is let Dark-Horse finish all the great Alien stories they were in the middle of writing and then move the license fully to Marvel.

[Smiteforce]

Sadly, I've found that lots of marvel comic artists and even some image comics are taking shortcuts. They import real world elements and run a filter over it. Or they just blatantly trace over things. One of the most annoying things to see is the same panel copied and pasted 3+ times to fill up space. What have comics come to? It's pathetic

[christopherharte]

Story was alright, could have been better if they weren't trying to make the xenomorphs into Borg. I hated the alpha alien, seriously how the hell can that thing stand up with a head that has four horns bigger than half it's body or even move through the ship without having to rip every doorway apart, atleast the borg queen looked decent, but i feel like i reading star trek borg episodes and not alien. The twist was cool with the synthetic but i had no investment in the son at all, i didn't care if he survived, by the end, the father is the only person you can somewhat root for and even the synthetic points out how much of a piece of crap he is, overall, wishing dark horse kept this, disney ruins everything

[jamespaul]

I really loved what DH did with unproduced screenplays and am sad they never got to release the predator one. I was hoping we would get more “unproduced” concepts, be it unused treatments for films, games etc. Aliens Engineers would have been good.

[NautYourAverageAstro]

That Burke cut hit me in the right place. I guffawed legitimately. Always lurk on your content. It's so good and I can feel you GENUINELY love the Alien universe like a lot of us out here. Thank you for putting out content, I would have never even found half this expanded universe without your contributions!

[buggyboy]

As you already pointed out the story has potential yes but most of the key elements remind me a lot of the far superior Aliens: Apocalypse - The Destroying Angels classic story, it almost feels like Marvel are trying to play too safe which also reflects their choice of artist. Nothing too out there but also nothing too dull is a great way to summarise what they were going for.

[teenwolf]

Thank you for pointing this out. A lot of the newer comic illustrators in the later Darkhorse issues also took to using McFarland toys as drawing reference for the Aliens which was very irritating as you pointed out their stiffness and overall lack of fluidity. I’m glad I wasn’t the only one bothered by this. It really does ruin the fierceness of the alien. Artists take note of this mistake.

[thrdstooge]

As a comic artist myself, I can tell you with confidence that this was clearly photo referenced. Unfortunately, the artist wasn't skilled enough to mask it. It honestly surprises me that this art made it through as is being it's a Marvel publication.

[alseid]

Whenever you see a comic that has Salvador Larroca, Mike Deodato, or Greg Land listed as the artist, you can write it off as trash immediately.

[Wilkidw]

The problem is that you're looking at this series from an artistic standpoint trying to find it artistic value. Marcel/Disney is looking at it from a corporate standpoint. They just want something out there to allow them to keep the I.P. in their hands, they want a quick buck.

[Jcarroz]

Unfortunately I was not impressed with what I saw. The alpha did not do it for me. I like the story associated with Fire Team more.

[RammyDaBaddest]

I don't cars how it was traced, I loved the clear artwork and lighting effects

[acerock]

Marvel doesn't have the minerals to pull of Alien. Unlike DH, Marvel is too scared to look into those dark spaces.

[TheOtherMJ_]

As you are a long time reader of Alien comics, I’m sure you know that artists as well as writers come and go on comic runs. The artists you don’t care for will have their stint on the book and then give way to another. This is true of all comics regardless of publisher. I would not let a single story arc or two (6 - 12) issues dampen my enthusiasm. There will be artists and writers that impart their style, perhaps one more to your liking in the future. Thank you for your always great content and honest opinions. 😁👍

[badjesus]

great review.. I appreciate you not giving away spoilers, too many channels do that for films etc..
I undescribed/avoid them.
keep doing what you do 👍!
🖖

[Sharksleep]

It seems like they're already ditching some of the more modern canon. I'm okay with this up to a point, but some of the lore choices they've made thus far are worrisome. White xenomorph with liquid nitrogen blood? No thanks.

[socialaccount]

Mike Maehugh's cover for Alien #1 is probably my favorite. I'm not sure why, the pose maybe? Seems unique