MARCO SPEAKS SPIDEY: Aliens Vs. Avengers (2024) #1 REVIEW

So, honestly, I was going to come into this review with a bit of a bias. I was relieved when I read the first issue and realized that Spider-Man plays a significant role, because otherwise, I would have had a hard time justifying why this series gets special mention on the website. But admittedly, I am a huge fan of the Alien franchise, and I’ve been following and thoroughly enjoying all the movies, making sure I watch each and every one of them when they come out in the cinemas, and trying my best to follow the different adaptations across all media and platforms. When I saw the star-studded creative team behind this new series, it was a no-brainer, really. If you combine my love for the Xenomorphs and my passion for Spidey and Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, you have a recipe for a masterpiece. And thankfully, the first chapter was a banger!

Official Marvel Comics Description:

Published

August 28, 2024

Writer

Jonathan Hickman

Penciller

Esad Ribic

Cover Artist

Esad Ribic

ALIENS AND AVENGERS FACE OFF! It’s all led to this: Xenomorphs reach Earth! The perfect organism meets a planet of superhumans. Who will be first to fall? Legendary collaborators Jonathan Hickman and Esad Ribić cut loose in this four-part epic unmissable for Marvel and Alien fans alike!

PROS:

• Well, right off the bat, I have to make it clear that Spider-Man, indeed, plays a major role in this tale. Miles Morales not only gets caught up in all the action with the likes of the Hulk, Captain Marvel, Val Richards and the others, but it appears like he will be the central figure moving forward. I was a bit surprised when he got jumped on so easily by the alien parasite, but it turns out the parasitic nature of the symbiote trumps anything a Xenomorph has to offer. So, by the end of the initial salvo, we get a Spider-Man that is part human, part symbiote and part Xenomorph. Fun times ahead!
• In true Jonathan Hickman style, we as readers get a very detailed look into how the Xenomorphs take over different worlds. It is a meticulous, cold, dark, and ruthless process, but Hickman is a master of conjuring up very realistic scenarios out of the unknown. If you add the extra layer of Earth being the latest target of the Aliens, it’s a real hair-raising moment. Seeing how Atlantis crumbles, and how Wakanda falls, just to name a few, is enough to send shivers down your bones.
• It’s triggering to see most of our favorite heroes so old, so defeated, so tired and worn out. But that is the bleak atmosphere that is metaphorically and literally drawn up for us, the audience. The entire mood of the first issue conveys a unique sense of terror, despair, horror and tragedy that only the best and brightest from Marvel can offer. Even when the Hulk launches into action, we feel a kind of pessimism at any attempt at heroics. Things turn out for the worst when Val, already an older woman than we are more usually accustomed to, makes a fatal mistake that could potentially doom (pun intended) the whole planet once and for all, despite her best intentions of saving the world and striking at the heart of the problem. It feels like the only bright spot in the universe flickers out when the Xenomorph strikes.

CONS:

• Some readers may find themselves a tad bit disappointed if they were looking for a beefier line-up of Avengers. This may be resolved in the coming issues, of course. But rest assured, Spidey fans, we are eating well this first chapter.

FINAL GRADE: A

Like I mentioned earlier, I honestly have strong feelings for the Alien franchise, so this is going to get the instant green light from me. But being more objective, this comic truly feels, looks, and even “sounds” like a hard-hitting horror story straight from the original timeline. The first issue captures the aesthetic and vibe of the science fiction line of properties but at the same time, it also feels like it is only a matter of mere moments before everything escalates and ramps up into a big, full-scale war between Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and the Xenomorphs. It will definitely be interesting to see what role Miles Morales will play, and which side he will be on… or should I say… which side THEY will be on. My Spider-Sense is telling me to anticipate a bad ending for the humans, or one with some hanging, loose threads when the dust settles.