Sunday, January 17, 2010

Aliens vs. Predator: Three World War #1

Should I admit that the original Alien movie was the most frightening movies I'd ever seen (up to that point)? I saw it at the theater when it was first released.

At one point my date actually screamed and ran into the theater lobby - I finally calmed her down and we returned to see the rest of the film, although she kept her eyes closed through most of it (I looked away a couple of times, too - just to check on her, of course).

The Predator movie was a bit more straightforward, and was way over the top, but it was good fun just the same.

If I'm remembering correctly, the idea of crossing the two franchises came from Dark Horse comics, and the studio executive approved it after realizing it was "just like" Godzilla vs. King Kong.

So it was years ago that the two alien races first clashed in the comics (the movie followed several years later).

The basis of the original comic story was that the Predators hunted the bug-like Aliens as a rite of passage, with some unfortunate humans caught in the middle.

Now that concept is back - with a twist - in Aliens vs. Predator: Three World War.

Guiding the story is original series writer Randy Stradley and original artist Rick Leonardi, both in top form here. It's a fast-paced, action-packed issue which sets the stage for the mini-series, as a human outpost is attacked by both Aliens and Predators - neither one acting in a normal fashion.

The series brings back Machiko Noguchi, a confident leader who happens to be the only human to have spent time living and hunting with the Predators.

Personally, I enjoy these mash-ups (or team-ups or crossovers or whatever you want to call them), and by bringing in some fresh twists and lots of action, this one is off to a very promising start.

Grade: A-

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