Dark Horse Classics - Aliens versus Predator is a six-issue reprint comic book series that was first published by Dark Horse Comics from February-July 1997. It's a colorized reprint that collects the very first Aliens vs. Predator short story from 1989, the follow-up four-issue series from 1990, and the subsequent epilogue story from 1991. The series was written by Randy Stradley, pencilled by Phill Norwood and Chris Warner, inked by Karl Story, Robert Campanella and Norwood, colored by Chris Chalenor, lettered by Pat Brosseau, and edited by David Land, with cover art by Michael Dubisch.
In the Aliens vs. Predator comics line, Dark Horse Classics - Aliens versus Predator was preceded by Aliens vs. Predator: War, and was followed by Aliens vs. Predator: Eternal.
Publisher's Summary[]
#1: In a land covered primarily with sand and dirt, the searing heat of Ryushi's nineteen-hour day causes most of the native creatures to burrow for shelter. It's not anybody's idea of a vacation spot — but the Predators aren't looking for a vacation. And the Aliens aren't looking to be disturbed... When this comic first appeared, it debuted as the best-selling comic to ever be published by an alternative publisher. Now it's being presented again as part of the Dark Horse Classics line of titles, celebrating ten years of the world's greatest comics! Whether you're enjoying it for the first time or simply reminiscing, you won't want to miss this six-issue celebration!
#2: Things are a bit rough on the planet Ryushi and that's not just because of the heat. The ranchers of Prosperity Wells have found the dried-up husk of something spider-like, but bigger, and with a tail. Something dangerous. Something... Alien. Fox's two greatest horror properties, Aliens and Predator, go at it tooth and claw in this very first meeting, presented to an all-new audience as part of the Dark Horse Classics line!
#3: "Let sleeping dogs lie," Momma always said. But she also said, "Be kind to animals." So what do you do if you think the "sleeping dog" is injured? The ranchers at Prosperity Wells opt for the latter. Too bad for them the "animal" isn't a dog — it's a Predator. And they're about to learn Momma's third little axiom: "No good deed goes unpunished." Fox's two greatest horror properties, Aliens and Predator, go at it tooth and claw in this very first meeting, presented to an all-new audience as part of the Dark Horse Classics line!
#4: It's a classic case of "bait and switch." The ranchers at Prosperity Wells are preparing for an invasion of Predators, and are instead set upon by an infestation of Aliens — that's the "switch." And the "bait"...? That'd be the ranchers themselves. Fox's two greatest horror properties, Aliens and Predator, go at it tooth and claw in this very first meeting, presented to an all-new audience as part of the Dark Horse Classics line!
#5: They're on the ranch, in the compound... they've even infiltrated the hospital. Everywhere you turn, Aliens and Predators — the ultimate horror and the ultimate hunters — are fighting tooth and claw. And it's up to Machiko to stop them. Fox's two greatest horror properties tear it up in this very first meeting, presented to an all-new audience as part of the Dark Horse Classics line!
#6: The first violent clash between the ultimate horror and the ultimate hunter ends here! Fox's two greatest horror properties tear it up in this very first meeting, presented to an all-new audience as part of the Dark Horse Classics line!
Behind the Scenes[]
The contents of the six-issue series actually represents three separate original publications — the very first Aliens vs. Predator short story from 1989, the follow-up four-issue series from 1990, and the subsequent epilogue story from 1991. All three had previously been combined in the trade paperback release of the 1990 series.
For the six-issue re-run, the story was recolored by Chris Chalenor and In-Color and re-edited by David Land. The cover artwork by Michael Dubisch was also created for the release.
Trivia[]
- In the documentary The Making of AVP, copies of issues 1, 3 and 4 of the comic can be seen mounted on the wall of the the movie's design office, alongside many pieces of conceptual artwork for the film.
- Aliens versus Predator is one of two Dark Horse Classics reprint titles from the Aliens/Predator/Aliens vs. Predator comic book franchise, the other being Predator: Jungle Tales. Dark Horse released a number of such comics during the 1990s, including titles for Star Wars and Godzilla.
Gallery[]
Issue covers[]
