IT'S GAME OVER MAN! - A GUIDE TO DARK HORSE'S TOP FIVE ALIENS COMICS
"Game over, man! Game over!” Private Hudson
Since it’s arrival, bursting out of the stomach of Kane in Alien, the acid-bleeding Xenomorph has terrified audiences through cinema, games, books and now TV. After the success of Aliens at the Box Office, fans were left wondering where Ripley, Newt, Hicks and the surviving half of Bishop would end up next. But to many people’s frustration, mine included, there was no immediate sequel lined up. However, that frustration was somewhat tempered by the fact that Dark Horse Comics had agreed to publish stories set in the Alien universe, using existing characters and moving the story forward. Dark Horse Comics became a legendary breeding ground for some of the most innovative, horrifying, and expansive stories in the Alien universe. Before their licence lapsed, and Marvel got to have the Xenomorphs face off against Earth’s superheroes, Dark Horse built a vast and intricate lore, introducing us to new characters, harrowing scenarios, and pushing the boundaries of what these terrifying creatures could do.
Get ready to dive into their acid-blooded legacy, as here are my top 5 Dark Horse Aliens comic series:
1. Aliens (1988) – The Original Mini Series
- Writer: Mark Verheiden
- Artist: Mark A. Nelson
- Released before Alien 3 supposedly wiped the slate clean, it follows a mentally scarred, adult Newt and a broken Corporal Hicks as they deal with a Xenomorph infestation on Earth. The series felt a little less action-packed than the Aliens movie but Mark Nelson’s stunning black-and-white, duo-shade artwork remains some of the most atmospheric the franchise has ever seen and set the artistic standard for future Aliens comics
2. Aliens: Nightmare Asylum (1989)
- Writer: Mark Verheiden
- Artist: Dennis Beauvais
- In a dramatic artistic departure, the second Dark Horse Aliens mini series features Dennis Beauvais fully painted artwork as opposed to Nelson’s black and white line work. Beauvais had previously worked on the ‘Terminator’ stories in Warlock 5 by Aircel and also distinguished himself with some classic Dragon Magazine covers. This time round Hicks and Newt find themselves on a space station where a deranged general is attempting to "tame" the Xenomorphs for military purposes. As you can imagine in typical Alien fashion it goes spectacularly wrong. This series ups the ante, showing the fatal consequences of human hubris when confronted with the ultimate apex predator.
3. Aliens: Earth War (1990)
- Writer: Mark Verheiden
- Artist: Sam Keith
- The culmination of what become the original Dark Horse Aliens trilogy, Earth War sees another artistic change of direction, this time with Sam Keith’s exaggerated cartoony style that somewhat divided opinion. It sees humanity making a last stand against the Xenomorphs who have overrun Earth. Ripley makes her long awaited return (Dark Horse were never not going to use her were they?) and joins forces with Hicks and Newt in a desperate attempt to eradicate the alien threat once and for all.
4. Aliens: Salvation (1993)
- Writer: Dave Gibbons
- Artist: Mike Mignola (inked by Kevin Nowlan)
- Originally released as a prestige format one-shot, and sitting outside of any previously established ‘continuity’, Gibbons, Mignola and Nowlan turn in a fantastic psychological horror masterpiece exploring the themes of good and evil, and using the Xenomorph as a framing piece to test the faith of the man stranded all alone on a planet with it. Mignola and Nowlan’s distinctive angular and shadowy art suit the story perfectly.
5. Aliens: Stalker (1998)
- Writer: David Wenzel
- Artist: David Wenzel
- Another one-shot, this time by David Wenzel who is probably better known for his painted adaptation of The Hobbit published by Eclipse Comics, Wenzel takes the action out of the depths of space and has a band of Vikings face up against what they call a ‘Stalker’ but what we know as an alien. It’s a fun read and there’s the implication that the aliens have been on Earth way before their introduction in the film. Dark Horse also did a Predator two parter called The Bloody Sands of Time which was set in the trenches in WW1 which was also a great read.
Whilst they didn’t make my Top Five, there’s a special mention for Aliens: Hive and Aliens: Labyrinth both of which are worth checking out.
Although the franchise is now with Marvel, Dark Horse grew and nurtured the fanbase for Aliens comics with some truly terrifying visions of the Xenomorph. Happy reading and don’t bother to scream….. no one can hear you!
