Aliens Classic Comic Series

Penned with a touch of suave nostalgia by self-proclaimed nerd and pop culture enthusiast August Tales, we’re taking a deep-dive into the exciting world of the Alien franchise. It’s a universe that recently captured public attention once again with the launch of the new movie, Alien: Romulus. The verdict on this latest offering is a contentious 50/50. Still, die-hard Alien fan or not, one can’t help but be intrigued with what’s cooking up from Jonathan Hickman and Esad Ribic – the first issue of Aliens vs. Avengers making its mark last week.

Alien Invasion on the Comics Franchise

As the Alien frenzy continues full throttle, we’re revisiting the humble beginnings of the comics franchise. Remeber when the films were a whispered tease? There’s a sense of charm in revisiting those golden days. At the same time, we’re diving into the in-between periods where shifting canon forced comics to bridge the gaps, creating alternate timelines in a rich universe crafted by various creatives spanning three almost decades.

Horror from the Space Depths

Our mission isn’t just nostalgia; we’re shining a spotlight on the horror greats of the franchise because even in the crushing emptiness of space, your screams can bring chills down the spines of Earthling readers.

“Surely, it all started with an egg,” you’d think.

A Brilliant Incubation

Initially published in Dark Horse Presents #101-102, Ron Marz, Bernie Wrightson, Matt Hollingsworth, and Sean Konot gifted us a 12-page narrative, “Incubation.” It’s a gripping tale of an alien race’s face-off with a Xenomorph and how this catastrophic event brought the extraterrestrials to Earth.

There’s an enigmatic ambiguity to the story—it might just be conjecture. What we’re shown isn’t necessarily fact, rather, a theory pieced together by the man who found the crashed vessel on Earth. A eerily fascinating perspective to say the least.

Artsy Aliens: Crimes of the Craft

Bernie Wrightson’s artwork is no less than a feast for the eyes. Seamlessly portraying the life stages of the Xenomorph, he injects uniqueness into the mature drones, drawing inspiration from various species hosts. His sublime shading does more than justice to the horror undercurrent of the story. It’s an impressive gut-punch, especially considering that the original publication was in black and white. Matt Hollingsworth, though, later added a touch of blue aura to the unfolding saga.

“But did the last one pray?” Now that’s a thought to ponder.

A Prologue to Remember

The unfortunate downside of “Incubation” is that it serves as a prologue, a precursor to a story that might never see a reprint—Batman/Aliens. While there might be a collaborative effort between Marvel and DC to republish it, let’s not hold our breath. Tales suggests scooping up the original series, or the more recently released DC/Dark Horse Crossovers collection, if luck smiles upon you.

Despite its elusive quality, “Incubation” demands attention as a taut, tense short garnished with compelling art by a master of horror. Not all stories require an army of pages to leave an imprint—this one is a testament.

Aliens – Incubation

Unravel the chronicle penned by Writer Ron Marz and Artist Bernie Wrightson, with Matt Hollingsworth’s textures and Sean Konot’s wordsmith skills. Originally from Dark Horse, this fasctinating yarn now has a new home with Marvel Comics. A saga revitalized and ready to be relished all over again as part of the Aliens: The Original Years Omnibus – Volume 3.

Treat yourself to more riveting journeys with our Classic Comic Compendium series, which you’ll find no shortage of stellar tales to explore.

Keep calm and carry on reading, Earthlings.