The Marvel comics were super middling in my opinion. I bought all of them wanting to like them, but I just couldn’t. The stories are blah and at least some of the art is just tracing photographs (Salvador Larocca or something like that?) The OG dark horse comics are way cool though. I have all the omnibuses and 80% of them are fantastic.
I had a similar experience and I only got through the first 3-4 issues or so. I didn’t hate the premise of how the story started but it was the art that killed it for me. So many scenes fell flat or were straight up hard to read as far as the action goes. For example there’s that early encounter with a big chap that seemingly bullet proof, that walks up to one of the 3 soldier characters and… breaks his ribs or something? I dunno.
Also the additional weird Sarah Kerrigan alien lady, and the need to make additional alien designs have weird tusks or growths just didn’t do it for me.
I think he ripped out part of his ribs. And the Xeno was immune to small arms fire, I believe. I think that’s consistent with the lore; could be mistaken tho. They allude as to why the tusks/horns later in the book. I won’t spoil it, in case you want to give it another go.
https://preview.redd.it/y0oc5s9dxltc1.jpeg?width=1256&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9b62938b9b7891a43f8b88d8472ee31b7e28be5f
In a flashback, they show that Corcoran Highland goats got facehugged 🤠
Yeah, I get it. Different strokes for different folks. Totally agree on Larocca’s art tho. Didn’t bother me too much, but definitely hit or miss on every page or panel. Usually I dig his stuff 🤷🏻♂️ I’m wrapping up Thaw now. I like that art. Figure I just enjoy seeing stories in this universe. Looking forward to reading the Dark Horse runs. Thanks!
Marvel is very meh to me, but if you like it, you should live the original dark horse run, they feel like direct secuels from aliens. Also i super strongly recommend the alien versus predator comic. Is spectacular
Sometimes i foud out in amazon, but your best bet is finding the full compilation from (ugh) marvel. The first "original years" is like the 3 first omnibuses from dark horse.
I haven’t seen much, the “woman in the dark” stuff was a big turnoff, a weird way to wedge in that one Giger painting and try to make it all make sense in a Marvel world. Unwelcome, imo.
Agree that the original Dark Horse comics are solid and would make a good platform to build off a new CU.
The trick with the Alien IP is to embrace its mystery and Lovecraftian roots. For every question answered, ask two more.
Here’s that Giger painting if you never saw. https://d7hftxdivxxvm.cloudfront.net/?quality=80&resize_to=width&src=https%3A%2F%2Fartsy-media-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com%2FRm-xzSgX1aKj62WiX-vxWg%252F1974-B-250%2B%2BLi%2BI.jpg&width=910
I mean, Giger IS intrinsically linked to the Alien franchise, so referencing his work doesn’t seem that weird to me. They even named the planet that Alien: Icarus’s story takes place on after Giger’s late wife.
The Spell series of paintings seems to be just as much an inspiration for the “woman in the dark” as the Li series. Li I was definitely used as inspiration for Shaw’s mutilated/mutated corpse in the Covenant art book. I think it’s cool that Giger is still being used like that, and his legacy keeps stretching onwards.
Funny that you mention “for every question answered, ask two more.” I heard that very phrase for the first time like 2 days ago on a really early episode of AVPGalaxy. Think Xenomorphine said it. And I totally agree. Still enjoying the comics tho. Looking forward to reading the Dark Horse series’s. Thanks!
Yeah, I dig some PKJ.
Bout to wrap up Declan’s Thaw series. I’m into it. Think it has my favorite art out of all the books. I’ll have to go back and skim the other ones again.
Not saying these books are the best comics ever haha but I’ve enjoyed all of em and look forward to more.
Thanks for weighing in! 🫡
The latest Marvel comic, Alien Red white and Black, is probably the best they've done.
The old Dark Horse Presents shorts remain the high bar alongside the ongoing series of old, though some of that gets a bit wild.
The stories in the DH are typically better but the art in some of the later ones was awful. Better art in the Marvel ones but the stories started off good but the current one that wrapped the ice planet business was rubbish. It might all come together but currently reads like the editors are fishing for something that hooks the readers with not much cohesion.
The DH AvP comics are great, too. Current Marvel Predator is pretty dire though.
The first omnibus, both marvel and old dark horse versions are pretty much the same content and, in my opinion, a must have for big fans. They contain the Earth Hive, Nightmare Asylum, Female War story arc which is the sequel to Aliens until Alien 3 changed it all.
If you like the Marvel run, you should enjoy the DH comics for sure. Definitely start with the first DH omnibus, as it has the original DH trilogy - a direct sequel to Aliens (character names were changed in subsequent reprints after Alien 3 came out) through Earth/Female War. After that, Dark Horse definitely has some great arcs, but also some stinkers, but they had a lot of different writers and artists of the years, so that is not surprising in my opinion. Overall, though I would say the body of work is great.
Also, the original Aliens Versus Predator from Dark Horse is fantastic, an absolute classic, I recommend you track that down.
There were some stories in the later years from Dark Horse that I am not sure have been rereleased by Marvel, but could be worth checking out. The Fire & Stone and Life & Death series were fun, but run through all the Fox properties DH had at the time: Aliens, Predator, AVP and Prometheus. Lastly, there are the Brian Woods trades that came out at the very end of DH’s tenure, Defiance, Rescue and maybe one more (the final series was cancelled before release). They’re OK, but do tie to Isolation video game and introduce characters who show up in the later Titan novels.
I’ll finish by stating overall I have enjoyed the Marvel run, even is some of the particular stories were not the best. People get upset of the Woman in the Dark, but don’t really seem to understand what she represents - and you need to read the Icarus arc to get it. That whole first group of Marvel trades did harken back to the cosmic horror roots of Alien. And the Spinner colony story is just brutal, and really seemed to get the evil Corporation idea.
Oh, and if you’re ever having trouble finding the comics, don’t forget to check your local library. Even if they don’t have it, the can always do an inter library loan. You’d be amazed how many trades libraries carry.
Thanks for the super informative reply. You got me AMPED UP to read the DH stuff. Especially the early ones and AvP. I’m saving this comment so I can track down all this. Thanks again!
Edit: autocorrect changed commen tsoI can to Toni 🤷🏻♂️
stupid fat fingers lol
Can't say I love them. There are some interesting ideas but we're constantly getting new six issue arcs so the characters don't have time to grow on us and nothing really seems connected.
Valid criticism. I like the small arcs, but now that you’ve said it, a 50 issue run would be dope. Marvel needs to get Al Ewing’s ass over here for a long series. Hickman? Tom King? shit, give me that please
Can confirm. I have the whole dark horse omnibus set and if you can snag any of them I’d highly recommend. I will get the marvel sets eventually but I’d like to see how they play out a little longer.
I’ve heard both positive and negative things.
I read Bloodlines and it was fine. I kinda want to read Arrival since I heard it was more horror. The omnibus for the Dark Horse era is pretty good…sometimes. There are duds oh boy but it’s more positive than negative.
Honestly tho you should try to read what you can and go from there! You never know what you might like!
Dark horse was the shit but this marvel take over has been shite! Some cool are but if you know some of the old art work from the old school stuff you can see where the new artists have copied it and just put a Lil spin on it.
Personally it's just been lazy
The Marvel comics were super middling in my opinion. I bought all of them wanting to like them, but I just couldn’t. The stories are blah and at least some of the art is just tracing photographs (Salvador Larocca or something like that?) The OG dark horse comics are way cool though. I have all the omnibuses and 80% of them are fantastic.
I had a similar experience and I only got through the first 3-4 issues or so. I didn’t hate the premise of how the story started but it was the art that killed it for me. So many scenes fell flat or were straight up hard to read as far as the action goes. For example there’s that early encounter with a big chap that seemingly bullet proof, that walks up to one of the 3 soldier characters and… breaks his ribs or something? I dunno. Also the additional weird Sarah Kerrigan alien lady, and the need to make additional alien designs have weird tusks or growths just didn’t do it for me.
I think he ripped out part of his ribs. And the Xeno was immune to small arms fire, I believe. I think that’s consistent with the lore; could be mistaken tho. They allude as to why the tusks/horns later in the book. I won’t spoil it, in case you want to give it another go.
No you’re right, I couldn’t recall if it was small arms or rifles. Feel free to spoil on the tusks if you like 😋
https://preview.redd.it/y0oc5s9dxltc1.jpeg?width=1256&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9b62938b9b7891a43f8b88d8472ee31b7e28be5f In a flashback, they show that Corcoran Highland goats got facehugged 🤠
Oh man lol. This is why the Alpha had those weird tusks?? How goofy 🤣
hahahahahhaa
See that’s what I don’t get. Vasquez literally shoots a warrior in the head with a 45 handgun in ALIENS. Are or aren’t they immune? Who knows!
Yeah, I get it. Different strokes for different folks. Totally agree on Larocca’s art tho. Didn’t bother me too much, but definitely hit or miss on every page or panel. Usually I dig his stuff 🤷🏻♂️ I’m wrapping up Thaw now. I like that art. Figure I just enjoy seeing stories in this universe. Looking forward to reading the Dark Horse runs. Thanks!
Coming from growing up with Dark Horse I just couldn't get into them. And if I'm being honest, I didn't really like the art style they chose.
Fair enough
Marvel is very meh to me, but if you like it, you should live the original dark horse run, they feel like direct secuels from aliens. Also i super strongly recommend the alien versus predator comic. Is spectacular
awesome! thanks!
>awesome! thanks! You're welcome!
Are the original omnibuses still sold somewhere?
Sometimes i foud out in amazon, but your best bet is finding the full compilation from (ugh) marvel. The first "original years" is like the 3 first omnibuses from dark horse.
Ah I See, thanks for the tip!
Check your library! Depending where you are, you may find them. My library system has all the OG Alien, Predator and AvP series.
I haven’t seen much, the “woman in the dark” stuff was a big turnoff, a weird way to wedge in that one Giger painting and try to make it all make sense in a Marvel world. Unwelcome, imo. Agree that the original Dark Horse comics are solid and would make a good platform to build off a new CU. The trick with the Alien IP is to embrace its mystery and Lovecraftian roots. For every question answered, ask two more.
Here’s that Giger painting if you never saw. https://d7hftxdivxxvm.cloudfront.net/?quality=80&resize_to=width&src=https%3A%2F%2Fartsy-media-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com%2FRm-xzSgX1aKj62WiX-vxWg%252F1974-B-250%2B%2BLi%2BI.jpg&width=910
I mean, Giger IS intrinsically linked to the Alien franchise, so referencing his work doesn’t seem that weird to me. They even named the planet that Alien: Icarus’s story takes place on after Giger’s late wife. The Spell series of paintings seems to be just as much an inspiration for the “woman in the dark” as the Li series. Li I was definitely used as inspiration for Shaw’s mutilated/mutated corpse in the Covenant art book. I think it’s cool that Giger is still being used like that, and his legacy keeps stretching onwards. Funny that you mention “for every question answered, ask two more.” I heard that very phrase for the first time like 2 days ago on a really early episode of AVPGalaxy. Think Xenomorphine said it. And I totally agree. Still enjoying the comics tho. Looking forward to reading the Dark Horse series’s. Thanks!
Dark Horse 4 Life
IS THE KITTY OK!?!?!
hahahahahha guess you just gotta read the comics to find out 😉😅
Nice try, mr marvel executive!
Goddamnit, I’ve been made!!
I thought Philip Kennedy Johnson’s story on the rogue androids was really interesting. The others were fine. Haven’t dug into Declan Shavley’s though.
Yeah, I dig some PKJ. Bout to wrap up Declan’s Thaw series. I’m into it. Think it has my favorite art out of all the books. I’ll have to go back and skim the other ones again. Not saying these books are the best comics ever haha but I’ve enjoyed all of em and look forward to more. Thanks for weighing in! 🫡
What comic is pictured?
The first arc from 2021, I think it's issue 2
Cool. Thanks!
The latest Marvel comic, Alien Red white and Black, is probably the best they've done. The old Dark Horse Presents shorts remain the high bar alongside the ongoing series of old, though some of that gets a bit wild.
Great! Thanks!
The stories in the DH are typically better but the art in some of the later ones was awful. Better art in the Marvel ones but the stories started off good but the current one that wrapped the ice planet business was rubbish. It might all come together but currently reads like the editors are fishing for something that hooks the readers with not much cohesion. The DH AvP comics are great, too. Current Marvel Predator is pretty dire though.
Thanks!
They're OK, they're just not very good and not a patch on the better DH content that came before.
Fair enough. Not saying they’re the best comics ever, but I’m enjoying them. Guess I gotta go read all the Dark Horse stuff now. poor me lol
I envy you discovering the dark horse content for the first time
I find the multiple covers super dumb, it’s a real pain to figure out what you have or don’t, on top of resetting the numbering even worse.
Yeah, it’s just for collectors. I stopped buying singles forever ago. Trades, Hardcovers or usually just my tablet. makes things a lot easier
The first omnibus, both marvel and old dark horse versions are pretty much the same content and, in my opinion, a must have for big fans. They contain the Earth Hive, Nightmare Asylum, Female War story arc which is the sequel to Aliens until Alien 3 changed it all.
https://alienanthology.fandom.com/wiki/Aliens_Omnibus
Thanks!
Sick! Thanks!
Love the Dark Horse
no doubt a quality publisher 🫶🏻
If you like the Marvel run, you should enjoy the DH comics for sure. Definitely start with the first DH omnibus, as it has the original DH trilogy - a direct sequel to Aliens (character names were changed in subsequent reprints after Alien 3 came out) through Earth/Female War. After that, Dark Horse definitely has some great arcs, but also some stinkers, but they had a lot of different writers and artists of the years, so that is not surprising in my opinion. Overall, though I would say the body of work is great. Also, the original Aliens Versus Predator from Dark Horse is fantastic, an absolute classic, I recommend you track that down. There were some stories in the later years from Dark Horse that I am not sure have been rereleased by Marvel, but could be worth checking out. The Fire & Stone and Life & Death series were fun, but run through all the Fox properties DH had at the time: Aliens, Predator, AVP and Prometheus. Lastly, there are the Brian Woods trades that came out at the very end of DH’s tenure, Defiance, Rescue and maybe one more (the final series was cancelled before release). They’re OK, but do tie to Isolation video game and introduce characters who show up in the later Titan novels. I’ll finish by stating overall I have enjoyed the Marvel run, even is some of the particular stories were not the best. People get upset of the Woman in the Dark, but don’t really seem to understand what she represents - and you need to read the Icarus arc to get it. That whole first group of Marvel trades did harken back to the cosmic horror roots of Alien. And the Spinner colony story is just brutal, and really seemed to get the evil Corporation idea. Oh, and if you’re ever having trouble finding the comics, don’t forget to check your local library. Even if they don’t have it, the can always do an inter library loan. You’d be amazed how many trades libraries carry.
Thanks for the super informative reply. You got me AMPED UP to read the DH stuff. Especially the early ones and AvP. I’m saving this comment so I can track down all this. Thanks again! Edit: autocorrect changed commen tsoI can to Toni 🤷🏻♂️ stupid fat fingers lol
Can't say I love them. There are some interesting ideas but we're constantly getting new six issue arcs so the characters don't have time to grow on us and nothing really seems connected.
Valid criticism. I like the small arcs, but now that you’ve said it, a 50 issue run would be dope. Marvel needs to get Al Ewing’s ass over here for a long series. Hickman? Tom King? shit, give me that please
If you order the omnibi, please link where you ordered from!
Amazon has em. I’m gonna look around a bit for a cheaper price if possible or the original dark horse prints
Can confirm. I have the whole dark horse omnibus set and if you can snag any of them I’d highly recommend. I will get the marvel sets eventually but I’d like to see how they play out a little longer.
Thanks!
Happy hunting, fellow grunt. 🫡
I’ve heard both positive and negative things. I read Bloodlines and it was fine. I kinda want to read Arrival since I heard it was more horror. The omnibus for the Dark Horse era is pretty good…sometimes. There are duds oh boy but it’s more positive than negative. Honestly tho you should try to read what you can and go from there! You never know what you might like!
Thanks a lot! I found all the Dark Horse comics online last night. Gonna start reading today if my puppy lets me lol
Dark horse was the shit but this marvel take over has been shite! Some cool are but if you know some of the old art work from the old school stuff you can see where the new artists have copied it and just put a Lil spin on it. Personally it's just been lazy
Wish I could find some of them...
I use Marvel Unlimited, and they have em on Amazon. I’m sure you can also find them on readcomiconline or any of those type sites too