Beware, the Aliens!!!

The first, the finest. The first appearance of this critter is in the 1979 movie starring Sigourney Weaver and Tom Skerritt. Maybe not the first time but they sure brought out a dark feeling for a sci-fi story. I've read somewhere that the inspiration for them came from the movie It, the Thing from Outer Space. The movie is in the sci-fi horror genre. Alien was followed by the more action oriented Aliens. They were a throwback to all previous appearances by alien life forms in that they really are totally alien in every way. That is to say, they really look totally strange, behave strangely and not like the cutesy aliens or those gray-skinned with big eyes type. They are like non-intelligent, sentient beings in the likes of animals and they could exist. Their look is unforgettable and some movies have even imitated them. They are perfect killing machines and backstories usually involve a member of the government or a seedy corporation who want a sample of some form to duplicate their deadly abilities.

The original. As mentioned, they are a throwback to all alien types that preceded them. They also introduced something not shown much in previous concepts of alien creatures: an elaborate life cycle. Then, the thought of facing large numbers of them is a very scary thought. True, large numbers of them are scary but even facing one of them is courting death itself. Furthermore, the comics have shown that stories featuring Aliens could range from sci-fi horror to sci-fi action to sci-fi suspense.

The trendsetter. Thanks to Alien and Aliens, they have inspired other alien creature imitators. Be it as a portrayal of an unstoppable creature menace from outer space like in the first movie or the more action oriented Aliens which gives us a very militaristic action oriented feel. For the first movie, we get films like Alien Seed, The Hidden, Species and for the second movie we get Starship Troopers,

If anyone would like to say or add something to what I said, you can e-mail me at tigertron007@hotmail.com

Now, for the list. The list only covers all books and issues published featuring Aliens. They are all one-shots, specials, hard covers, mini-series, tradepaperbacks and the sort. I wouldn't say this list is totally complete or accurate, say there might not have been really a Superman vs. Aliens II, then you can correct me, tell me I missed something. I can't provide any summary because I haven't exactly read all of them and I only got a handful of the books.  I want to thank Richard Goldsmith for his contributions.

Title Format No. of issues Details Amazon Availability
Aliens Standard 32 pages 6   Buy it!
Aliens: Book Two Standard 32 pages 4   Buy it!
Aliens: Earth Wars Standard 32 pages 4 details Buy it!
Aliens: Tribe Graphic Novel 1   Buy it!
Aliens: Genocide Standard 32 pages 4   Buy it!
Aliens: Hive Standard 32 pages 3   Buy it!
Aliens: Newt's Tale Prestige 48 pages 2    
The Best of Dark Horse Presents: Aliens Trade paperback 1    
Alien3 - movie adaptation Standard 32 pages 3    
Aliens: Colonial Marines Standard 32 pages 10    
Aliens: Rogue Standard 32 pages 4   Buy it!
Aliens: Sacrifice Standard 32 pages 4    
Aliens: Labyrinth Standard 32 pages 4   Buy it!
Aliens: Salvation Prestige 48 pages 1    
Aliens: Music of the Spears Standard 32 pages 4    
Aliens: Outbreak Standard 32 pages 4    
Aliens: Stronghold Standard 32 pages 4   Buy it!
Aliens: Earth Angel Prestige 48 pages 1    
Aliens: Berserker Standard 32 pages 4    
Superman vs. Aliens Prestige 48 pages 3   Buy it!
Aliens: Mondo Heat Standard 32 pages 1    
Aliens: Lovesick Standard 32 pages 1    
Batman/Aliens Prestige 48 pages 2   Buy it!
Aliens: Pig Standard 32 pages 1    
Alien Resurrection - movie adaptation Standard 32 pages 2    
Aliens: Purge Standard 32 pages 1    
Aliens: Alchemy Standard 32 pages 3    
Aliens: Kidnapped Standard 32 pages 3    
Aliens: Survival Standard 32 pages 3    
Aliens: The Female War Trade paperback 1    
Aliens: Havok Standard 32 pages 2    
Aliens: Mondo Pest Standard 32 pages 1    
Aliens: The Glass Corridor Standard 32 pages 1    
Aliens: Stalker Standard 32 pages 1    
Aliens: Wrath Standard 32 pages 1    
WildC.A.T.s/Aliens Prestige 48 pages 1    
Aliens: Apocalypse - Destroying Angels Standard 32 pages 4    
Aliens: Xenogenesis Standard 32 pages 4 details  
Green Lantern vs. Aliens Standard 32 pages 4 details Buy it!
Overkill # 1: Witchblade/Darkness/Aliens/Predator Standard 48 pages 1 details  
Witchblade/Aliens/Darkness/Predator: Mindhunter Standard 32 pages 2 details Buy it!
Overkill # 2: Witchblade/Darkness/Aliens/Predator Standard 48 pages 1    
Superman/Aliens II: Godwar Standard 32 pages 4 details  
Batman/Aliens II Prestige 48 pages 3 details  
Judge Dredd/Aliens: Incubus Standard 32 pages 4 details  
Batman/Aliens II Trade paperback 1 details Buy it!
Judge Dredd/Aliens: Incubus Trade paperback 1   Buy it!

 

 

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The hunter and the hunted.

The first, the finest. This brute first appeared in Twentieth Century Fox's movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. I can't remember any villain before the Predator whose sole purpose is to best himself in battle. It's not everyday you find one who wants to fight just to prove he is best. That and the Predator is an alien lifeform to boot. Like Aliens, Predator has a stunning visual that immediately sticks to mind but it is its motive that separates it from all other movie and comic aliens. It's not out to conquer worlds, although it has the capability; it's not out to eat fruitfully, multiply and drive man to extinction; it's not just another strange encounter of the third kind; this thing pits itself against whatever best fighter worlds have to offer and when it wins, it collects its prize.

The original. While Arnold Schwarzenegger has faced many villains in his movies, not one has become as memorable as this one. (well, except for the T-1000 of Terminator 2) We've always known Predator as "the one guy who beat the crap out of Schwarzenegger". Even though we've seen many movies where aliens have superior technology to man, Predator actually makes it feel high tech and deadlier than an ominous death ray. We also see events as it unfolds through Predator's point of view.

The trendsetter. Even though Star Wars was the first film I know to have that high tech feel, Predator paved the way for deadly high tech aliens with bodies of muscle and battle armor. It has inspired others for a similar design, the titles of the movies escape me but some remind me like the alien form in Hard Time on Planet Earth. Also, villains whose motive is to prove they are the better is nothing new but it is rare so Predator makes it almost exclusive territory.

If anyone would like to say or add something to what I said, you can e-mail me at tigertron007@hotmail.com

Now, for the list. The list only covers all books and issues published featuring Aliens. They are all one-shots, specials, hard covers, mini-series, tradepaperbacks and the sort. I wouldn't say this list is totally complete or accurate, say there might not have been really a Superman vs. Aliens II, then you can correct me, tell me I missed something. I can't provide any summary because I haven't exactly read all of them and I only got a handful of the books.

Title Format No. of issues Details Amazon Availability
Predator Standard 32 pages 4   Buy it!
Predator: Cold War Standard 32 pages 4   Buy it!
Predator: The Big Game Standard 32 pages 4   Buy it!
Predator 2 - movie adaptation Standard 32 pages 2    
Predator: Bloody Sands of Time Standard 32 pages 2    
Batman vs. Predator Prestige 32 pages 3 details Buy it!
Predator vs. Magnus, Robot Fighter Standard 32 pages 2    
Predator: Race War Standard 32 pages 0, 4   Buy it!
Predator: Bad Blood Standard 32 pages 4    
Predator: Invaders from the Fourth Dimension Special 48 pages 1    
Predator: Jungle Tales Special 48 pages 1    
Batman vs. Predator II: Bloodmatch Standard 32 pages 4 details Buy it!
Tarzan vs. Predator: At the Earth's Core Standard 32 pages 4   Buy it!
Predator: Dark River Standard 32 pages 4    
Predator: Strange Roux Standard 32 pages 1    
Predator: Kindred Standard 32 pages 4   Buy it!
Predator: Hell and Hot Water Standard 32 pages 4   Buy it!
Batman vs. Predator III: Blood Ties Standard 32 pages 4   Buy it!
Predator vs. Judge Dredd Standard 32 pages 3   Buy it!
Predator: Nemesis Standard 32 pages 2    
Predator: Hell Come a Walkin' Standard 32 pages 2    
Predator: Homeworld Standard 32 pages 4    
Predator: Xenogenesis Standard 32 pages 4    
Superman vs. Predator Prestige 48 pages 3 details  
Overkill # 1: Witchblade/Darkness/Aliens/Predator Standard 48 pages 1 details  
Witchblade/Aliens/Darkness/Predator: Mindhunter Standard 32 pages 3 details Buy it!
Overkill # 2: Witchblade/Darkness/Aliens/Predator Standard 48 pages 1    
JLA vs. Predator Prestige 48 pages 1 details  

 

 

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Title Format No. of issues Details Amazon Availability
Aliens vs. Predator Standard 32 pages 4 Buy it!
Aliens/Predator: The Deadliest of the Species Standard 32 pages 12 Buy it!
Aliens vs. Predator: Duel Standard 32 pages 2
Aliens vs. Predator: War # 0 Standard 32 pages 1    
Aliens vs. Predator: War Standard 32 pages 4 Buy it!
Aliens vs. Predator: Booty Standard 32 pages 1
Dark Horse Classics: Aliens vs. Predator Standard 32 pages 6
Aliens vs. Predator: Eternal Standard 32 pages 4   Buy it!
Aliens vs. Predator Annual # 1 Standard 48 pages 1    
Aliens vs. Predator: Xenogenesis Standard 32 pages 4    
Aliens vs. Predator vs. The Terminator Standard 32 pages 4   Buy it!
Overkill # 1: Witchblade/Darkness/Aliens/Predator Standard 48 pages 1 details  
Witchblade/Aliens/Darkness/Predator: Mindhunter Standard 32 pages 2 details Buy it!
Overkill # 2: Witchblade/Darkness/Aliens/Predator Standard 48 pages 1    
Aliens vs. Predator: Thrill of the Hunt Graphic Novel 1 details Buy it!
Aliens vs. Predator vol. 2: Civilized Beasts Trade paperback 1 details Buy it!

 

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