Aliens Vol.1 #2

Mar 1991. Cover price £1.50.
52 pages. Colour & B&W.
Trident Comics Ltd.

Edited by Martin Skidmore.

Cover by Denis Beauvais.
r: cover from Aliens (Dark Horse) #4 (May 1989).

Contents:

 2 Marshal Law Takes Manhattan in-house advertisement; illustration by Kevin O'Neill.

 3 Contents / Title Credits / Indicia

 4 Credits / Story So Far text introduction (uncredited).

 5 Aliens Untitled, part two, w: Mark Verheiden; a: Denis Beauvaus, lettering by Bob Pinaha.

r: Aliens (Dark Horse) #02 (Dec 1989).

30 Credits / Story So Far text introduction (uncredited).

31 Predator The Heat, part two, w: Mark Verheiden; a: Chris Warner, lettering by Jim Massara, colouring by Chris Chalenor.

r: Predator (Dark Horse) #01 (Jun 1989).

45 Credits / Story So Far text introduction (uncredited).

46 Aliens Vs Predator Untitled, part two, w: Randy Stradley; p: Phil Norwood, i: Karl Story, lettering by Pat Brosseau.

r: Aliens Vs Predator (Dark Horse) #01 (Jun 1990).

51 Aliens Next Issue (quarter page) in-house advertisement. / Comic Marts '91 (quarter page) advertisement. / Meanwhile... (quarter page) advertisement; illustrated by UNKNOWN (uncredited). / Fantasy World - Another World (quarter page) advertisement.

52 Toxic! A Major New Weekly Magazine in-house advertisement.

While it might have been more useful for fans had Trident reprinted every Alien appearance from the start, by picking and choosing pieces to package in bite-size chunks we are presented with fantastic artwork such as the Beauvais cover. Effective as the format is, the lack of supplementary material continues to bug me. It would have been relatively easy (in 1991, at least) to list all the Alien strips on a page, allowing those interested to hunt down whatever is unlikely to be reprinted.

There's no editorial, leaving a gaping black space on the third page, which makes the issue look rushed and incomplete. Small details, so important to building confidence in the title, which linger in the mind. One such detail stands out on the introduction to the first story, where the first letter of Story So Far is printed in red, while the rest are white. Against a black background it reads as "Tory So Far" at a glance. Not the best impression to give.

Picking up with Newt telling Commander Spears that they were lucky to survive, to which he responds that it wasn't luck but sedition - he orders Newt and Hicks taken to isolation, in order that they can be analysed, and as they pass through the station they discover that transmissions from Earth are still being received - civilians, desperate for assistance, being all but ignored.

A group of dissatisfied military personnel plan their escape from Spears' command, stealing a tractor to traverse the wasteland outside. Lt. Powell is made aware of Hicks and Newt's history, and informs Spear of records which have come to light. Spear, who has seen an Alien Queen up close, and come away from the experience a changed man, tells them that the Aliens may have the strength and power of true soldiers, but lack leadership. He hopes to provide that for those in his custody.

Hicks investigates the ship on which he arrived, locating a cut communications bundle. Powell, Spears' second-in-command, tells Hicks that the General is insane, while the absconded soldiers discover the colony to be less of a refuge than they anticipated.

Creepy rather than horrific, there is a lot to like in the continuation of Newt's story. Some of the artwork is slightly rougher, but the story is building up a head of steam. Some of the darker artwork hasn't been reproduced well, and a few pieces look too soft and out of focus, but overall captures the world of the characters well.

Carr has survived the Predator's assault, and - in the belief that police had orchestrated the murders - begins firing on Schaefer. The gunman escapes, running into the night.

In the aftermath of another subway attack, Schaefer and Rasche take it upon themselves to attend the scene, drawing ire from McComb, who threatens to have them suspended. They get a hint to keep away from matters from an associate of Dutch's, though Schaefer returns to Lamb's headquarters to try and piece together what he can from the crime scene. Encountering the creature responsible, Dutch attempts to apprehend the killer.

The Heat is stylish and - in places - extremely effective at selling the notion of a Predator hunting in the city. There's a great shot of the Predator standing over Schaefer, and a nice close-up which shows the Predator in all his glory, though the colouring is rather poor in places, taking away from the effectiveness of the art. Subtler tones and more blending of hues would have elevated what is a good strip into a great one.

The final strip, Aliens Vs Predator continues slowly, building tension while highlighting the workings of the Predator preparations. With only five pages to play with, it doesn't move far enough along to offer much in the way of narrative development, but the art is pretty. This is going to get frustrating if developments aren't forthcoming...

#01

Aliens Vol.1

#03