Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Aliens vs Avengers #1!It’s no secret that crossover comics - while incredibly fun and well worth the read - aren’t very good in terms of their plots and characters, and no one was expectingAliensvsAvengersto be any different. However, upon reading the first issue, it’s clear that skeptics couldn’t have been more wrong. Indeed,Aliens vs Avengersshould be one of 2024’s worst comics… but it’s quickly becoming the best on stands.
InAliens vs Avengers#1 by Jonathan Hickman and Esad Ribić,the Marvel Universe is being rocked by the presence of Xenomorphs, including (and especially) Earth. Two sadistic synthetics breed Xenomorphs in a space station laboratory before sending them off to planets across the universe. When four ships transporting Xenomorphs arrive on Earth, the aliens successfully conquer the entire planet within a year - and there was nothing the Avengers or anyone else could do to stop them.
Readers are thrown into this reality after the Xenomorphs have already conquered Planet Earth, with fan-favorite Avengers like Hulk, Captain Marvel, and Spider-Man having grown old in this hellish post-apocalyptic world. What’s left of humanity resides in one city that’s been fortified to survive a planetary Xenomorph infestation. It is from this city that the Avengers operate, launching missions against the Xenomorphs that include an attempt to steal a Facehugger egg, plans to create a Xenomorph-killing virus, and the ultimate goal of weaponizing symbiotes against the alien nightmares. These heroes are fighting to save their world from the Xenomorphs, but more than that, they’re fighting to avenge it.
Predator’s New Cybernetic Yautja Has One of the Coolest Designs in the Franchise
Predator has just updated the design of the Yautja with a new cybernetic twist, expanding on Predator lore by introducing a cool cyberpunk aesthetic.
Aliens vs Avengers Delivers a Captivating Plot While Staying True to the Original Characters
Too often in the past, franchise-wide crossovers deliver pretty bland stories that only serve to pit two opposing forces against each other, all while giving fans versions of their favorite characters that are wildly over/under powered. An average crossover will adhere to a narrative that ensures one side isn’t too much stronger than the other, otherwise one franchise will look worse. They also tend to refuse to dig deep into the lore of either franchise because one fanbase might be new, which gives the entire story an inherently disconnected feeling. And that’s whereAliens vs Avengersis absolutely excelling.
The storyline is rooted deep in Marvel andAlienlore, giving fans what they love from both franchises equally. The Xenomorphs are portrayed in a way that lives up to the cosmic horror they evoke in the Alien franchise, as even Earth’s Mightiest Heroes are terrified to face them. And the Avengers are literally living up to their namesake, with the inclusion of awesome scenes that highlight each of them, including Valeria Richard’s unparalleled brilliance in developing a Xenomorph virus, a one-on-one fight between a Xenomorph and the Hulk, andMiles Morales using his symbiote to fend off a Facehugger.
Aliens vs Avengers isn’t the Only Marvel/AvP Crossover Exceeding Expectations
Predator vs Black Pantherby Benjamin Percy and Lee Ferguson
The secret to making a great crossover seems to be expanding upon established lore rather than brushing over it, and right now, anotherAvPcrossover is doing that as well:Predator vs Black Panther. This crossover is giving fans one of the best looks yet at the Yautja homeworld and hierarchy, while also adding to the lore surrounding vibranium - and, by extension, Black Panther.
Granted, the plot is still just an excuse to get Predator and Black Panther to fight, but it doesn’t ignore or water down the established lore of either franchise to do it. And considering the often gimmicky or less-than-necessary new costumes, armor upgrades, or gadgets constantly being deployed in modern superhero comics, this battle is an easy justification. A new Black Panther costume might be seen by some as a marketing trick, but throw him upagainst a Predator who would wreack havoc in the movies, and it’s just good sense.
Marvel’s Avengers Join The ALIEN Movie Universe With All-New Redesign in Official Art
Earth’s Mightiest Heroes prepare for an all-out war against the alien Xenomorphs, as the Alien franchise officially collides with the Marvel Universe.
WhilePredator vs Black Pantheris successfully adding toPredator’s established lore in new and exciting ways, it’s still much more of a classic ‘versus’ comic thanAliens vs Avengers, which has intricately merged the worlds of Alien and Marvel in a seamless and terrifying way, while staying true to the original characterizations of the Avengers and the deadly traits of the Xenomorphs.
In other words,Aliens vs Avengersis shaping up to be more than just another crossover. It’s even going beyond the potential of becoming one of the best comic crossovers of the year, which is always a difficult title to claim. Based on the story thus far, it’s within the series' grasp to become one of the best comic books on shelves in 2024, period.
Alien
Cast
Alien, directed by Ridley Scott, is a science fiction horror film that follows the crew of the commercial spacecraft Nostromo. Upon investigating a distress signal on a distant moon, they discover a deadly extraterrestrial lifeform. The film stars Sigourney Weaver as Ripley and became a seminal work in both the sci-fi and horror genres, known for its atmospheric tension and groundbreaking visual effects.
