Marvel has released a trailer for its upcoming comic book series titled Alien #1, which is set to hit shelves next month and for those who are hoping to see brutal, violent Xenomorph action, are in for a treat.
The series centers on Gabriel Cruz, a Colonial Marine who barely survived an encounter with the Xenomorphs. Cruz is trying to patch up his relationship with his son, but the threat of the Xenomorphs comes back to haunt him. Phillip Kennedy Johnson (Superman, Action Comics) will write Alien while Salvador Larroca (Invincible Iron Man, X-Treme X-Men) handles illustration on the title.
When Marvel announced the series, Kennedy said, “Just as a reader and fan, I was as excited as anyone when I heard the franchise was coming to Marvel, and when they asked me to WRITE THE LAUNCH, I was floored. I’ve been training my whole life for this gig without knowing it. Ever since seeing Ridley Scott’s Alien at way too young an age, I’ve been OBSESSED with the xenomorph, the single most iconic representation of terror on film.”
As part of the Disney/Fox merger, Disney acquired the rights to the Alien (and The Predator) franchises back when they purchased 20th Century Fox. And since they also own Marvel, the legendary publisher will now be handling comics set within that world. Marvel quickly opted to announce that the IP would be getting its own comic franchise, unveiling a new series back in July 2020.
Illustrator Larroca added, “Drawing this has been like a dream come true, and I am so grateful to be a part of this series! Ever since I was young, Alien has been one of my favorite sci-fi horror references, and I never could have expected to have the chance to draw this. Alien is a creative reference to a whole generation of artists, and I’m so proud to now be illustrating this series. I hope readers enjoy it as much as I do drawing it! Phillip’s story is going to be a delight for fans of this awesome franchise!”
The trailer doesn’t offer a great grip on the story. Instead, it focuses on showcasing the art, which looks very true to the universe. We also get several looks at the creature in question, which looks faithful to the original H.R. Geiger designs.
The video shows the dangers of Xenomorphs, as they’re on the hunt on a space station, as Facehuggers can be seen. Also present is a remix on the iconic tagline, reading “42 years later, no one can hear you scream.” The trailer features new artwork that hasn’t been shown yet.
For those who are worried that Marvel Comics might water down the franchise in the comics in order to appeal to a wider audience, that doesn’t appear to be the case. The Alien franchise seems to be in good hands as the trailer makes it clear that Marvel has paid close attention to what made the original franchise great. All this, while introducing new characters to bring freshness to a more than 40-year-old franchise. The trailer is tense, suspenseful, and filled with terror.
The comic book series will hit the shelves on 24 March 2021 .