Aliens versus Predator (comics)

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

Note that the comics (and most other "AvP" material) are "Aliens vs. Predator" rather than "Alien vs. Predator".

Plot

Original

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

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.

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 vs. 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 publishers have released trade paperbacks of the franchise over the years (occasionally given as "Alien vs Predator" as in "Thrill of the Hunt" despite its sequel "Civilised Beasts" being in the plural):

*"Aliens vs. Predator":
** "Original" (by Randy Stradley, Chris Warner, and Phill Norwood, tpb, Titan Books, 176 pages, 1992, ISBN 1-85286-413-3)
** "" (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, paperback, 1996, ISBN 1-56971-184-4, [ [http://www.darkhorse.com/profile/profile.php?sku=46-527 "Deadliest of the Species" paperback details] ] Titan Books, 1998, ISBN 1852869534, hardcover, 1997, ISBN 1-56971-182-8 [ [http://www.darkhorse.com/profile/profile.php?sku=46-641 "Deadliest of the Species" hardcover details] ] ) 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 the original series plus "War", "Eternal" and some shorter tales, 456 pages, April 2007, ISBN 1-59307-735-1) [ [http://www.darkhorse.com/profile/profile.php?sku=14-414 Aliens vs. Predator Omnibus Vol. 1 details] ]
**"Volume 2" (collects "Deadliest of the Species" plus some shorter tales, 448 pages, October 2007, ISBN 1-59307-829-3) [ [http://www.darkhorse.com/profile/profile.php?sku=14-815 Aliens vs. Predator Omnibus Vol. 2 details] ]

ee also

* Aliens vs. Predator franchise
*"Aliens vs. Predator", a novel series
*"Aliens", a comic series
*"Predator", a comic series

Notes

References

*"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

* [http://www.darkhorse.com/search/search.php?sstring=aliens+vs.+predator&type=comic Dark Horse Comics's "Aliens vs. Predator" section]
* [http://www.avpvm.com/forums AVPVM: Browser based MMORPG set in the AVP universe]
* [http://members.iinet.com.au/~jaherne/thehunted/comics-books/ Predator comic books]
* [http://avp.ugo.com/comics/ Alien vs. Predator Hub Comics Section]