Aliens vs. Predator (comics)

Aliens versus Predator comic book cover for the story Booty

Aliens vs. Predator (also known as AVP) comics are part of the crossover franchise originated and published by Dark Horse Comics. According to the notes which accompany the first Aliens versus Predator graphic novel, the original idea of combining the Aliens with Predators was the result of a brain-storming session between the comic's creators (AVP artist and editor Chris Warner is specifically credited) in the late 1980s.

Since 2008, collected omnibus editions of all previous AVP comics series, and all new AVP series since, have switched to the form "Aliens vs. Predator", bringing the series' name in line with the AVP films, novels and video games.

Plot

Original

Cover of the trade paper back version of the original Aliens versus Predator comic series.

The first Aliens versus Predator centers on Ryushi, a recently-colonized planet, and Machiko Noguchi, the Chigusa Corporation's administrator there. The settlers on Ryushi raise cattle-like quadrupedal ungulates called rhynth for export to other solar systems, and at the time of the story are in the process of assembling a shipment of the native livestock.

Unbeknownst to the colonists, Ryushi is a traditional hunting ground of the Predators, and they are returning for their initiation rites. Onboard the Predator ship, the prey are prepared : an Alien queen lays eggs for delivery to Ryushi. Confounding the Predator's safeguards, this queen manages to slip an egg containing the seed of another queen into the shipment.

On reaching Ryushi, the eggs hatch and infect Rhynths. Led by a Predator elder, "Broken Tusk", the Predators arrive expecting to encounter Aliens. However, they soon run into the settlers and, after Broken Tusk is incapacitated, change their plans and hunt them instead.

Meanwhile, the infected Rhynth have been loaded aboard a cargo transporter and, with a queen among their number, an Alien colony quickly takes hold. The Predator assault continues to the settler colony itself, and the surviving settlers find themselves pitched between the Aliens and Predators. Broken Tusk, now recovered due to the intervention of a human doctor, sides with Machiko, and together with the cargo ship's crew they arrange for the transporter's massive orbiter to crash into Ryushi and destroy the colony and the Aliens.

In the ensuing fight, Broken Tusk is mortally wounded, but, admiring the courage of his human comrade, "bloods" Machiko with the mark of his clan. The story concludes with Machiko the sole inhabitant of Ryushi, the surviving settlers having been evacuated from the planet. She awaits, and is rewarded with, the return of the Predators and another hunt. One of Broken Tusk's former Predator rivals greets her and, recognizing Broken Tusk's clan symbol, accepts Machiko into the hunt.

Deadliest of the Species

Main article: Aliens/Predator: Deadliest of the Species

The aliens have overrun the Earth and the rich have left the surface to live in skyliners. In one of these airships a girl is having strange dreams and they are about to start coming true.

War

Main article: Aliens vs. Predator: War

Disgruntled with her life amongst the hunters, Machiko Noguchi must make a choice and turns on the Predators as they conduct a xenomorph hunt on a planet with a human exploratory colony. Three refugees from a prior corporate-staged Alien encounter have just arrived on the planet and also trying to battle their way to freedom.

Eternal

A 700+ year old man's uses technology from a salvaged Predator ship to gain fame and fortune, and uses Predator body parts to unnaturally extend his life. In the near future, a self-serving reporter gets caught up in his schemes just as the man unwittlingly unleashes xenomorphs from the ship, attracting a Predator hunting party.

Crossovers

Other series have thrown extra combatants into the mix in a range of crossovers:

• Aliens vs. Predator/Witchblade/Darkness:
  • Mindhunter (by David Quinn, Mel Rubi, and Mike Perkins, Dark Horse Comics, 4-issues miniseries, 2000, tpb, 96 pages, 2001, ISBN 1-56971-615-3)
  • Overkill (by Paul Jenkins and Clarence Lansang, Top Cow, 2-issue mini-series, 2000)

• Aliens versus Predator versus The Terminator
• Superman & Batman vs. Aliens & Predator

• Evidence of an AVP crossover into both the Marvel and DC universes are found at the beginning of Aliens/Predator: Deadliest of the Species #5 in which a lone woman is helping an injured Predator back into her ship. On the side of the comic panel one can see the Predator's trophy case which displays, in addition to the skull of an alien, a skull with a tattered Batman cowl sitting next to a hand with claws (presumably Wolverine's) and another skull wearing a skewed Cyclops (X-men) visor.

Publications

A number of Aliens vs. Predator trade paperbacks have been published:

• Aliens vs. Predator:
  • Original (by Randy Stradley, Chris Warner, and Phill Norwood, tpb, 176 pages, Dark Horse Comics, 1991, ISBN 1878574272, Titan Books, 176 pages, 1992, ISBN 1-85286-413-3)
  • Deadliest of the Species (by Chris Claremont, with pencils Jackson Guice and inks by John Beatty (1-3) and full art by Eduardo Barreto (4-12), Dark Horse Comics, 320 pages, tpb, 1996, ISBN 1-56971-184-4, Titan Books, 1998, ISBN 1852869534, hardcover, 1997, ISBN 1-56971-182-8) collects:
    • Deadliest of the Species Book 1 (tpb, collects Deadliest of the Species #1-6, 152 pages, 1995, Boxtree, ISBN 0-7522-0878-0, Warner Books, ISBN 1-56971-184-4)
    • Deadliest of the Species Book 2 (tpb, collects Deadliest of the Species #7-12, 156 pages, 1995, Boxtree, ISBN 0-7522-0695-8)
  • War (by Randy Stradley, 5-issue mini-series, 1995, tpb, 1996, Titan Books, 176 pages, ISBN 1-56971-158-5, Dark Horse Comics, 200 pages, ISBN 1-56971-158-5)
  • Booty (by Barbara Kesel and Chris Chalenor, 1996)
  • Eternal (by Ian Edginton and Alex Maleev, Dark Horse Comics, 4-issue mini-series, 1998, tpb, 88 pages, 1999, ISBN 1-56971-409-6)
  • Xenogenesis (by Andi Watson, Mel Rubi and inkers Mark Lipka and Norman Lee, 4-issue mini-series, 1998-1999)
  • Thrill of the Hunt (by Mike Kennedy and Roger Robinson, Dark Horse Comics, tpb, 96 pages, 2004, ISBN 1-59307-257-0)
  • Civilized Beasts (by Mike Kennedy and Roger Robinson, Dark Horse Comics, tpb, 96 pages, 2005, ISBN 1-59307-342-9)

• Aliens vs. Predator Omnibus:
  • Volume 1 (collects 'Aliens vs. Predator' - original series, Blood Time, Duel, War, Eternal, Old Secrets, The Web, 456 pages, April 2007, ISBN 1-59307-735-1)
  • Volume 2 (collects Deadliest of the Species, Booty, Hell-Bent, Pursuit, Lefty's Revenge, Chained to Life and Death, Xenogenesis, 448 pages, October 2007, ISBN 1-59307-829-3)

See also

• Aliens vs. Predator franchise
• Aliens vs. Predator, a novel series
• Aliens, a comic series
• Predator, a comic series

References

• Aliens/Predator Panel to Panel (Dark Horse Comics, 192 pages, 2006, ISBN-10: 1-59307-479-4, ISBN-13: 978-1-59307-479-1) An official companion to the Dark Horse Comics' Aliens, Predator and AVP series.

• Beautiful Monsters: The Unofficial and Unauthorised Guide to the Alien and Predator Films (by David A. McIntee, Telos, 272 pages, 2005, ISBN 1-903889-94-4)

External links

• Dark Horse Comics's Aliens vs. Predator section
• Predator comic books
• Alien vs. Predator Hub Comics Section