It’s common knowledge that when two alien species invade your starship and start killing everyone, like in Alien Vs. Predator: Thicker Than Blood, the first thing you do is try to escape. If that doesn’t work, the next step is to make a deal with one of the aliens, joining forces to kill the other one. Intergalactic horror is a pretty important part of sci-fi, and both of the titular creatures have a long history of creating that particular feeling; the first Alien movie came out in 1979, and Predator came out eight years later. With ten gory movies between the two creatures (twelve if you count Prometheus and Covenant), it’s to be expected that a crossover comic would be jam-packed with similar ultraviolence, and this does not disappoint. Written by Jeremy Barlow, illustrated by Doug Wheatley, colored by Rain Beredo, with letters by Michael Heisler and a cover from Chun Lo, the latest issue is a race for freedom, with some murderous, extraterrestrial obstacles in the way.
Humans and androids and aliens, oh my!
In the last issue, Tyler the android and his human “sister” Maria attempted to escape the luxury starliner Maria’s parents captained, as it was attacked by multiple Predators who had a real good time ripping people to shreds. This issue of Alien Vs. Predator starts out with them unable to leave due to the Predator’s ship blocking the escape pod entry. They enter the Predator’s ship and we get to see a cool collection of weaponry, as well as a Predator blowtorching a xenomorph chained to the ship’s ceiling. Sadistic. Tyler connects to the ship’s onboard computer and accidentally unlocks a bunch of stuff, including the xenomorph’s chains. The Predator is promptly killed, and the Alien breaks free, which doesn’t look good for Tyler and company.
A hand, a hand, my spaceship for a hand!
To move the alien ship, Tyler and Maria need the hand of one of the Predators to activate the ship systems. Unfortunately, the Predator killed by the xenomorph is on fire, so no hands there. Maria remembers that there is a dead Predator back on their ship, but the comic cuts over to show us that it is, in fact, not dead, but terribly injured. Another Predator finds the injured companion and uses a laser-whip to remove the damaged arm and leg, as Tyler and Maria run into Lieutenant Denver, who is some geek with a parrot. He was apparently hiding, and as soon as the kids disagree with him about setting off explosives on the ship, he bails on them, most likely to return at an inopportune moment to place their lives in jeopardy. The kids return to the elevator they smashed the Predator in, only to find it gone. Alien Vs. Predator is forcing a team-up, and it looks to be a doozy.
A crippled teammate is better than no teammate
As the last fully-limbed Predator and the xenomorph battle, Tyler and Maria drag the injured Predator away from the fight, planning to use the remaining hand on the Predator to escape on either their own ship or the one belonging to the Predator. The xenomorph decapitates the Predator and the kids make it to the service elevator, offering the wounded Predator the team-up that was hinted at from the beginning. It lacks the mask that is usually responsible for translating other languages, so that may be a problem; future issues will clarify that, undoubtedly. Overall, an excellent issue, with life-like imaging and plenty of dismemberment. Let us know what you thought in the comments section below.