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Alien by Declan Shalvey & Andrea Broccardo
Alien, Vol. 1: Thaw
Collects Alien (2023A) #1-5.
Declan Shalvey and Andrea Broccardo take the ALIEN franchise to bone-chilling new depths! Talbot Engineering Inc. is under new management - and its brilliant chief scientist, Batya Zahn, will do just about anything to get her family off the icy moon where they've been conducting research on water conservation. But there's more than glacial springs to find in this forgotten corner of the galaxy. When they discover an extraordinary organism buried in the ice, it doesn't take long for tensions to heat up. What is hidden in the snow comes forth in the thaw - and no one will be welcoming this spring. But Zahn is not willing to give up her work to this unexpected threat without a fight, no matter what horrors emerge from the ice in the black of night!
Declan Shalvey and Andrea Broccardo take the ALIEN franchise to bone-chilling new depths! Talbot Engineering Inc. is under new management - and its brilliant chief scientist, Batya Zahn, will do just about anything to get her family off the icy moon where they've been conducting research on water conservation. But there's more than glacial springs to find in this forgotten corner of the galaxy. When they discover an extraordinary organism buried in the ice, it doesn't take long for tensions to heat up. What is hidden in the snow comes forth in the thaw - and no one will be welcoming this spring. But Zahn is not willing to give up her work to this unexpected threat without a fight, no matter what horrors emerge from the ice in the black of night!
126 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 15, 2023
17 people are currently reading
133 people want to read
About the author
Declan Shalvey
489 books63 followersDeclan Shalvey is an Irish comics artist and writer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
June 21, 2025
EN I always hesitated to dive into the comic book side of this universe, even though I’ve always loved the films. There’s already so much to read that I wasn’t sure if it would really be worth it.
Well, I’m very glad I took the plunge.
I really enjoyed this first volume of the new Alien series, and I’ll most likely pick up the next one soon.
The storyline will feel familiar to fans of the franchise: a group of scientists lands on a remote planet, discovers something they shouldn’t have, the military gets involved, things go sideways… and by the end, only a few survive. Nothing new, right? Maybe. But while the structure is known, everything is told in a surprisingly original and engaging way.
Honestly, it just made me want to rewatch the films.
Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys this universe.
--
PT Sempre hesitei em mergulhar neste universo da banda desenhada, apesar de adorar os filmes. Havia já tanto para ler que não sabia se valeria realmente a pena.
Pois bem, estou muito contente por ter dado esse passo.
Adorei este primeiro volume desta nova fase de Alien e é bem provável que pegue no próximo em breve.
O enredo é bastante familiar para quem conhece este universo: um grupo de cientistas chega a um planeta remoto, descobre algo que não devia, as tropas entram em ação, tudo corre mal… e, no fim, poucos sobrevivem. Nada de novo, certo? Talvez. Mas apesar de a estrutura ser conhecida, tudo é contado de forma surpreendentemente original e envolvente.
Sinceramente, só me deixou com mais vontade de rever os filmes.
Recomendo vivamente a quem aprecia este universo.
Well, I’m very glad I took the plunge.
I really enjoyed this first volume of the new Alien series, and I’ll most likely pick up the next one soon.
The storyline will feel familiar to fans of the franchise: a group of scientists lands on a remote planet, discovers something they shouldn’t have, the military gets involved, things go sideways… and by the end, only a few survive. Nothing new, right? Maybe. But while the structure is known, everything is told in a surprisingly original and engaging way.
Honestly, it just made me want to rewatch the films.
Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys this universe.
--
PT Sempre hesitei em mergulhar neste universo da banda desenhada, apesar de adorar os filmes. Havia já tanto para ler que não sabia se valeria realmente a pena.
Pois bem, estou muito contente por ter dado esse passo.
Adorei este primeiro volume desta nova fase de Alien e é bem provável que pegue no próximo em breve.
O enredo é bastante familiar para quem conhece este universo: um grupo de cientistas chega a um planeta remoto, descobre algo que não devia, as tropas entram em ação, tudo corre mal… e, no fim, poucos sobrevivem. Nada de novo, certo? Talvez. Mas apesar de a estrutura ser conhecida, tudo é contado de forma surpreendentemente original e envolvente.
Sinceramente, só me deixou com mais vontade de rever os filmes.
Recomendo vivamente a quem aprecia este universo.
April 22, 2025
I had hoped that Declan Shalvey would do a bit better than the terrible fan fic run Philip Kennedy Johnson farted out, but I'm sad to say he doesn't. The story is dull and feels derivative. There's a new xenomorph variation that goes nowhere and looks silly (although I suppose it could be that terrible xeno variation from that one-off that came out between vols 1 and 2 of PKJs dumb run).
July 25, 2024
Stop me if you've heard this one before:
A remote outpost, a chilling discovery, a reckless scientist, a greedy corporate stooge, some meathead Colonial Marines, a character revelation you didn't see coming, a Final Girl.
Yep, this was a pretty much paint-by-number Aliens story, but at least they made a solid effort to stay within available Canon and the art was well executed.
Didn't exactly set me alight with anticipation for Alien: Romulus, though.
A remote outpost, a chilling discovery, a reckless scientist, a greedy corporate stooge, some meathead Colonial Marines, a character revelation you didn't see coming, a Final Girl.
Yep, this was a pretty much paint-by-number Aliens story, but at least they made a solid effort to stay within available Canon and the art was well executed.
Didn't exactly set me alight with anticipation for Alien: Romulus, though.
August 16, 2024
I've rarely seen such uninteresting and/or stupid characters in the Alien series.
I don't expect the franchise to reinvent the wheel with each iteration. The concept is basic, the mechanics well oiled and no executive will take any risks, granted. The only solution is to come up with characters that are at least a little interesting and send the cannon fodder into the fire.
In this case, the characters are all uninteresting and never developped in any way but the mother wins a special prize. Her decisions are so stupid and unthinkable for a mother that I was definitely thrown off the book.
Add to that a drawing that's very pretty in itself, but far too Disney to be Alien, and a narrative that's too unnecessarily distended in order to fill 5 issue- instead of developing the characters.
I'm generally a good audience member when it comes to Alien, as long as I'm not taken for too much of a fool, but Shalvey didn't keep his end of the bargain here.
I don't expect the franchise to reinvent the wheel with each iteration. The concept is basic, the mechanics well oiled and no executive will take any risks, granted. The only solution is to come up with characters that are at least a little interesting and send the cannon fodder into the fire.
In this case, the characters are all uninteresting and never developped in any way but the mother wins a special prize. Her decisions are so stupid and unthinkable for a mother that I was definitely thrown off the book.
Add to that a drawing that's very pretty in itself, but far too Disney to be Alien, and a narrative that's too unnecessarily distended in order to fill 5 issue- instead of developing the characters.
I'm generally a good audience member when it comes to Alien, as long as I'm not taken for too much of a fool, but Shalvey didn't keep his end of the bargain here.
January 9, 2024
The Alien franchise (and horror in general) is no stranger to characters with room temperature IQs, but I found myself positively cackling at some of the insane, outlandish, and stupid decisions made in this story. Most of the main characters were simply too stupid to breathe.
A few of the side characters actually seemed interesting, but unfortunately there were too many of them for it to matter much - I didn't get enough time with any of them to really care.
Finally, the art style, while competent, had a youthful feel to it that didn't quite suit the story.
A few of the side characters actually seemed interesting, but unfortunately there were too many of them for it to matter much - I didn't get enough time with any of them to really care.
Finally, the art style, while competent, had a youthful feel to it that didn't quite suit the story.
April 18, 2024
3.5
I liked the idea/story but it did feel constrained in five issues.
Characters weren't developed to their potential and it all could have been a little bit more nerve-wracking..
Pregnant Woman...Resourceful Child..
Plus the couple of unexpected turns..I maybe should have been expecting.
I liked the idea/story but it did feel constrained in five issues.
Characters weren't developed to their potential and it all could have been a little bit more nerve-wracking..
Pregnant Woman...Resourceful Child..
Plus the couple of unexpected turns..I maybe should have been expecting.
November 14, 2023
Marvel’s Alienverse output has been strong until now. Alien Thaw is full of the cliches you’ve come to expect from an Alien related product (big bad company, experiments gone wrong, dumb ‘smart’ characters and precocious children) but when mixed with an odd cartoon style art this is a let down overall.
The ‘real’ monsters being the humans is a bit played out and the aliens attacking the seemingly new species with little to no reasoning felt like a missed opportunity.
2/5
The ‘real’ monsters being the humans is a bit played out and the aliens attacking the seemingly new species with little to no reasoning felt like a missed opportunity.
2/5
September 9, 2024
If the last volume of the Marvel Alien run took things back to basics, this one takes us even further back. Research outpost on an isolated planet + frozen facehugger = a familiar slice of hell breaking loose. Nothing particularly fresh here, but the pieces are jumbled up and rearranged in a way that makes it decently fun to take a stroll through this haunted house again.
June 8, 2025
Despite anyone with a minimum of knowledge about this franchise knowing what inevitably lies in wait, the opening scenes seemed to capture the feel, intent, and suspense of the first two films (ALIEN and ALIENS). At least that was the case for the first two issues, which prompted me (to my later regret) to pre-order the remaining issues. At least it was pared down to five issues instead of the initial plan for a six-part story. However, all of us familiar with this know full well in advance that this won’t end well, and most if not all of the characters will meet their end.
Writer Shalvey introduces some new characters to worry about, particularly the mother and daughter stuck on a planet of ice. Artist Broccardo minimizes the grossness of previous arcs (although this does get grimmer and grosser in the later issues) and goes for the big picture, with some very panoramic images and interesting illustrations of aliens running amok like ants in a frenzy.
In 2195, a family of three is stranded on frozen moon LV-695 while the parent company that funded their water-resourcing mission (Talbot Engineering) is bought out by those unscrupulous folks at Weyland-Yutani who started this mess back in 2122.
Pregnant scientist Batya Zahn is forced to comply with Weyland thugs and turn over her research. Teen daughter Masha discovered a frozen face-hugger during an excavation, which prompts the corporation to dig it all up and uncover a nest. Husband Dayton, who lost his arm in an accident is confined and helpless to intervene. You know what’s coming, and it happens before Issue #2 ends.
There are a couple plot twists to keep it interesting, but this falls into the familiar tropes as it progresses. Ho hum. What started out promising ended up boring me. I sped through the remaining issues. More worthy of TWO AND ONE-HALF STARS.
Writer Shalvey introduces some new characters to worry about, particularly the mother and daughter stuck on a planet of ice. Artist Broccardo minimizes the grossness of previous arcs (although this does get grimmer and grosser in the later issues) and goes for the big picture, with some very panoramic images and interesting illustrations of aliens running amok like ants in a frenzy.
In 2195, a family of three is stranded on frozen moon LV-695 while the parent company that funded their water-resourcing mission (Talbot Engineering) is bought out by those unscrupulous folks at Weyland-Yutani who started this mess back in 2122.
Pregnant scientist Batya Zahn is forced to comply with Weyland thugs and turn over her research. Teen daughter Masha discovered a frozen face-hugger during an excavation, which prompts the corporation to dig it all up and uncover a nest. Husband Dayton, who lost his arm in an accident is confined and helpless to intervene. You know what’s coming, and it happens before Issue #2 ends.
There are a couple plot twists to keep it interesting, but this falls into the familiar tropes as it progresses. Ho hum. What started out promising ended up boring me. I sped through the remaining issues. More worthy of TWO AND ONE-HALF STARS.
September 15, 2024
4.5 stars. I understand that in space no one hears you scream...but why is every scream in this spelled "AIEEEE!"?
Also, Everyone spends a lot of time walking from one point in the base to another, without running into each other. Slows down pacing but better than talking heads. Action/Gore were awesome.
Also, Everyone spends a lot of time walking from one point in the base to another, without running into each other. Slows down pacing but better than talking heads. Action/Gore were awesome.
June 17, 2024
3.5 Stars.
Another Alien-based story. Usually unfolds the same as all the other, but always entertaining. This time we put our story on a frozen world, searching for water, an essential component to space travel and the survival of the human race and the xenomorphs are there. A girl finds a frozen face-hugger, Wayland-Yutani shows up.... que Alien story. A very odd white variant shown here too.
Overall, I always enjoy reading an Alien tale. Recommend for fans of the series.
Another Alien-based story. Usually unfolds the same as all the other, but always entertaining. This time we put our story on a frozen world, searching for water, an essential component to space travel and the survival of the human race and the xenomorphs are there. A girl finds a frozen face-hugger, Wayland-Yutani shows up.... que Alien story. A very odd white variant shown here too.
Overall, I always enjoy reading an Alien tale. Recommend for fans of the series.
August 1, 2025
The year is 2179; it's a big universe, but there's a limited number of moons (I guess?!) and so we're back on LV-426, Hadley's Hope. Instead of Weyland-Yutani it's Talbot Engineering who are out to exploit; resources and people...by the end only Zash makes out alive, leaving Dayton behind with only xenomorphs for company...
A diverting enough read. I really hope Alien: Earth is better than this.
A diverting enough read. I really hope Alien: Earth is better than this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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March 7, 2024"If there’s one thing the Alien franchise understands, it’s that greed gets punished—in this case through exploding chest cavities and widespread terror."
Full review at No Flying No Tights: https://noflyingnotights.com/blog/202...
Full review at No Flying No Tights: https://noflyingnotights.com/blog/202...
February 26, 2024
Really feels like some of the dumbest scientists work specifically on the xenomorphs.
March 9, 2024
The best alien graphic so far imo
October 31, 2024
Only okay. Basically, a standard, by the numbers, cookie cutter plot that turns somewhat ridiculous toward the end.
December 28, 2024
basically the first Alien movie with different characters in comic form but way more aliens -- perfectly captures the essence of dread and bad decisions from the crew throughout the story -- just how fans like it ;)
November 10, 2023
Interesting expansion to the world but kind of an odd story and odd finish. Not sure what to make of it.
December 22, 2023
Humanity is spreading through the stars, and a lack of water is becoming a limitation. A husband, wife and daughter crew are stationed alone on an ice moon conducting research on water, but they’ve been there for a long time and are long overdue for pickup. Their moon contains a hidden, frozen xenomorph hive.
The daughter discovers a white facehugger in the ice and takes it back to base. Mum calls it in to base, but the transmission is intercepted by Weylan-Yutani, who buy out the water company and send a ship.
The interaction goes to hell once the hive is thawed, W-Y demand the family’s research, people start dying, and a number of lies, secrets and twists come out. And in the middle of it all is a towering white xenomorph, that’s just there (obvs from the white facehugger), but with no clarity on its origins. The battling between the black and white xenomorphs is like that seen in the miniseries ‘Aliens: Genocide’.
While still entertaining, ‘Thaw’ didn’t grab me as much as ‘Bloodlines’ or ‘Icarus’; however, still far better than ‘Revival’. The only likeable character is the daughter, who just has to roll with reveal after reveal. The art is great though.
The daughter discovers a white facehugger in the ice and takes it back to base. Mum calls it in to base, but the transmission is intercepted by Weylan-Yutani, who buy out the water company and send a ship.
The interaction goes to hell once the hive is thawed, W-Y demand the family’s research, people start dying, and a number of lies, secrets and twists come out. And in the middle of it all is a towering white xenomorph, that’s just there (obvs from the white facehugger), but with no clarity on its origins. The battling between the black and white xenomorphs is like that seen in the miniseries ‘Aliens: Genocide’.
While still entertaining, ‘Thaw’ didn’t grab me as much as ‘Bloodlines’ or ‘Icarus’; however, still far better than ‘Revival’. The only likeable character is the daughter, who just has to roll with reveal after reveal. The art is great though.
December 3, 2023
In this fourth attempt at writing an Alien story, it's glaringly obvious that Marvel is just not a good match for this franchise. The story beats feel perfunctory, the dialogue contains the kind of quips the biggest Marvel detractors complain about, there's a strange degree of censorship where it looks like they can say "shit" once per issue and censor the rest, and the artwork is good but far too clean in design (the mother and daughter look strangely the same age in every panel). When you have all this coupled with some of the stupidest characters in any of these stories, it's just frustrating.
If it's still available to pick up, Aliens: Dead Orbit is a way better comic to spend your time on.
If it's still available to pick up, Aliens: Dead Orbit is a way better comic to spend your time on.
March 21, 2025
The concept seemed promising with the aliens frozen in ice becoming loose but the story just didn’t move me. The mom character is really strange lol. I was excited to see the mysterious troopers from the end of alien 3 make an appearance and was excited at the thought of maybe their lore being expanded on more but now I wish they just kept them more mysterious because they were used just like standard grunts in this comic. The androids are always the most interesting part to me with alien but the android in this felt way too different than the ones we know from the movies. He was far too close to human so it wasn’t too interesting and didn’t feel consistent with what we know about androids in this universe.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 12, 2024
Certainly a weaker alien story- ice planet devoid of life has scientists working and scraping by only for Weyland Yutani to buy their company out and demand the information they’ve been secretly gathering on the alien species - the art is a little too cartoony for such a violent and dark franchise as well as the plot being such a cliche. I was disappointed by this one but it was quick and aliens are so cool-
May 21, 2024
У “Відлизі” кляті ксеноморфи представлені на льоду. Добре, що не на ковзанах.
Далеке майбутнє, період активної колонізації та тераформінгу. Усім потрібна вода, бо з неї легко робити кисень. Води повно на астероїдах, кометах та льодяних місяцях чи планетоїдах. На одному такому небесному тілі розташувала свою лабораторію невелика компанія. Найняла туди сімейний підряд, сім’я мала там свою драму та виконувала роботу - досліджувала водичку та проводила таємні експерименти, звичайно ж. Мати вагітна, батько загинув, але є його заміна - кремезний однорукий мужик. І дочка-підлітка, бо комусь треба втілювати кліше про підлітку, яка хитріша за дорослих як Тимошенко за бабусь.
Одного разу під час збору зразків підлітка знаходить фейсхагера і тарабанить його на базу. Мати одразу викликає головний офіс, бо їй вже хочеться звалити з цього шматка льоду. Середовище ж нестабільне, градус вище - і ти вже не ковзаєш, а тонеш.
А прилітає в поміч зореліт лиходійської корпорації “Вайланд-Ютані”, бо мати в радіоповідомлені згадала про інопланетний зразок. Тут, насправді, дивна ситуація з мотивацією. Можливо, спрацював материнський інстинкт, бо дитину скоро народжувати. Але насправді мати, яку, до речі, звати Батя, дуже прикіпіла до своєї роботи. До її таємної частини. А народження дитини… Далі по сюжету буде один дуже дивний вчинок, який наче і виправдовує Батю, але й переводить її у ранг лиходіїв. Ось цього я спойлити не буду.
“Вейланд-Ютані” прилетіли, наплели про те, що недавно купили оту маленьку компанію, яка володіла лабораторією, захопили все і поперли добувать мерзлих еліенів. В результаті активного копання трохи розмерзлося, і повалили еліени. Команда копачів від “Вейланд-Ютані” в черговий раз була не підготовлена, про місцеві умови ніхто не подумав, чуваків зі зброєю на розкопки ніхто не взяв, вчені не провели якісь початкові дослідження льоду, і все пішло по одному місцю. Ще й презентувався морозний вид еліенів, білого кольору. Звідки взявся - ніхто не знає, ніхто не пояснює. Може, це результат експериментів Баті.
Купка людей на локаціях намагаються виживать, в лабораторії вибухи, корабель “Вейланд-Ютані” тоне (бо температура піднялася), під водою на місце катастрофи пливуть ксеноморфи, евакуаційний шатл розмерзається (його обледеніння було основною причиною, чому Батя та її сім’я не звалювали з цього шматка льоду), Батя творить херню на грані добра і зла, на іншому персонажі спрацьовує шаблон про неочікуваного андроїда-сінта, фінальний бій обходиться без Королеви Чужих (ого, як сміливо! До речі, де вона?), залишаються питання про таємні дослідження і експерименти з натяками на… різне.
Так, це клішовано, але заслуговує на середню оцінку. Не найгірший доробок “Марвел” в стилі “Відбийся від Чужих, борець з лихими мегакорпораціями”.
Далеке майбутнє, період активної колонізації та тераформінгу. Усім потрібна вода, бо з неї легко робити кисень. Води повно на астероїдах, кометах та льодяних місяцях чи планетоїдах. На одному такому небесному тілі розташувала свою лабораторію невелика компанія. Найняла туди сімейний підряд, сім’я мала там свою драму та виконувала роботу - досліджувала водичку та проводила таємні експерименти, звичайно ж. Мати вагітна, батько загинув, але є його заміна - кремезний однорукий мужик. І дочка-підлітка, бо комусь треба втілювати кліше про підлітку, яка хитріша за дорослих як Тимошенко за бабусь.
Одного разу під час збору зразків підлітка знаходить фейсхагера і тарабанить його на базу. Мати одразу викликає головний офіс, бо їй вже хочеться звалити з цього шматка льоду. Середовище ж нестабільне, градус вище - і ти вже не ковзаєш, а тонеш.
А прилітає в поміч зореліт лиходійської корпорації “Вайланд-Ютані”, бо мати в радіоповідомлені згадала про інопланетний зразок. Тут, насправді, дивна ситуація з мотивацією. Можливо, спрацював материнський інстинкт, бо дитину скоро народжувати. Але насправді мати, яку, до речі, звати Батя, дуже прикіпіла до своєї роботи. До її таємної частини. А народження дитини… Далі по сюжету буде один дуже дивний вчинок, який наче і виправдовує Батю, але й переводить її у ранг лиходіїв. Ось цього я спойлити не буду.
“Вейланд-Ютані” прилетіли, наплели про те, що недавно купили оту маленьку компанію, яка володіла лабораторією, захопили все і поперли добувать мерзлих еліенів. В результаті активного копання трохи розмерзлося, і повалили еліени. Команда копачів від “Вейланд-Ютані” в черговий раз була не підготовлена, про місцеві умови ніхто не подумав, чуваків зі зброєю на розкопки ніхто не взяв, вчені не провели якісь початкові дослідження льоду, і все пішло по одному місцю. Ще й презентувався морозний вид еліенів, білого кольору. Звідки взявся - ніхто не знає, ніхто не пояснює. Може, це результат експериментів Баті.
Купка людей на локаціях намагаються виживать, в лабораторії вибухи, корабель “Вейланд-Ютані” тоне (бо температура піднялася), під водою на місце катастрофи пливуть ксеноморфи, евакуаційний шатл розмерзається (його обледеніння було основною причиною, чому Батя та її сім’я не звалювали з цього шматка льоду), Батя творить херню на грані добра і зла, на іншому персонажі спрацьовує шаблон про неочікуваного андроїда-сінта, фінальний бій обходиться без Королеви Чужих (ого, як сміливо! До речі, де вона?), залишаються питання про таємні дослідження і експерименти з натяками на… різне.
Так, це клішовано, але заслуговує на середню оцінку. Не найгірший доробок “Марвел” в стилі “Відбийся від Чужих, борець з лихими мегакорпораціями”.
January 12, 2025
Alien, Vol. 1: Thaw (2023)
Writer – Declan Shalvey
Artist – Andrea Broccardo
Series – ALIEN (2023A) #1-5
Genre – Sci-Fi, Horror, Thriller, Drama
Synopsis: It’s the year 2195, and on a distant moon, a family of three make a discovery under the frozen grounds, which attracts them a whole lot of unwanted attention.
Thaw is Marvel’s fourth standalone Alien story starting off fresh after the trilogy of stories by Phillip Kennedy Johnson. The story is another standalone chapter in Marvel’s Aliens, set before the events of the previous 3 books. The plot follows the head scientist, her boyfriend and their daughter mining at the cold moon. With no responses from the head office, the family does their routine job not knowing the dangers that lay below them.
Thaw has some interesting concepts added to the Alien evolution and that makes up for a fun read. There are plenty of thrills and Aliens that keep the readers hooked onto the story. Some twists are great and the family dynamics are good.
However, the main story is once again a textbook routine of the typical Alien tale. Aside from Aliens being defrosted, there isn’t much ingenuity in the story. The dialogues are a bit tedious at times and characters get a bit annoying. Dayton was the only noteworthy character but his development seems half baked. The Weyland antagonists are the same old and just add to the alien feed.
The artwork style as expected, is a fresh from the previous style. The aliens are well designed.
Overall its another good addition to the Marvel Alien catalogue, but we are still awaiting for stronger stories.
RJG Rating – 3.40/5
Goodreads – 3.30/5
#book #bookshelf #bookrecommendations #bookstagram
Writer – Declan Shalvey
Artist – Andrea Broccardo
Series – ALIEN (2023A) #1-5
Genre – Sci-Fi, Horror, Thriller, Drama
Synopsis: It’s the year 2195, and on a distant moon, a family of three make a discovery under the frozen grounds, which attracts them a whole lot of unwanted attention.
Thaw is Marvel’s fourth standalone Alien story starting off fresh after the trilogy of stories by Phillip Kennedy Johnson. The story is another standalone chapter in Marvel’s Aliens, set before the events of the previous 3 books. The plot follows the head scientist, her boyfriend and their daughter mining at the cold moon. With no responses from the head office, the family does their routine job not knowing the dangers that lay below them.
Thaw has some interesting concepts added to the Alien evolution and that makes up for a fun read. There are plenty of thrills and Aliens that keep the readers hooked onto the story. Some twists are great and the family dynamics are good.
However, the main story is once again a textbook routine of the typical Alien tale. Aside from Aliens being defrosted, there isn’t much ingenuity in the story. The dialogues are a bit tedious at times and characters get a bit annoying. Dayton was the only noteworthy character but his development seems half baked. The Weyland antagonists are the same old and just add to the alien feed.
The artwork style as expected, is a fresh from the previous style. The aliens are well designed.
Overall its another good addition to the Marvel Alien catalogue, but we are still awaiting for stronger stories.
RJG Rating – 3.40/5
Goodreads – 3.30/5
#book #bookshelf #bookrecommendations #bookstagram
September 2, 2024
Alien by Shalvey & Broccardo Vol. 1: Thaw (2023) #1-5. Calificación 3/5 estrellas.
Alien #1 calificación 3/5 estrellas
Alien #2 calificación 3/5 estrellas
Alien #3 calificación 3/5 estrellas
Alien #4 calificación 3/5 estrellas
Alien #5 calificación 3.5/5 estrellas
En mi segunda lectura es un poco más aburrido. Buen arte de Broccardo, con estilo visual tipo manga y anime, centrándose en las mujeres.
No son tan interesantes los personajes principales, ni los villanos humanos, solo la chica Zash o la variente de los xenomorphs blanca.
¿A quién en su sano juicio se le puede ocurrir tener un hijo híbrido de Xenomorph?, solo a Batya. Dayton demasiado impulsivo para ser Synthetic, el Synth mató a una mujer con una llave Stilson golpendola por la parte posterior de su cabeza, ella estando de espalda un asesinato cobardemente planeado a sangre fría por parte de este androide qué era el protagonista.
Atravez de los años he leído drafts en Internet de la franquicia Alien, debieron hacer más comics o convertirlos en fanmade comic/mangas, hacerlo los fans con ayuda de la Inteligencia artificial:
. "A L I E N I I I" by William Gibson Revised first draft screenplay (3/5 estrellas)
"ALIEN III": BY WILLIAM GIBSON, REVISED 1ST DRAFT (3/5 estrellas)
. ALIEN III screenplay by D. T. Twohy. FIRST DRAFT. October 1989 (3/5 estrellas)
. First draft. 2/7/89. ALIEN III. Written by. Eric Red (2.5/5 estrellas)
. Alien III. Screenplay by John Fasano. Story by Vincent Ward & John Fasano. FIRST DRAFT. March 29, 1990 (4/5 estrellas)
. The Hunt: Alien vs. Predator was a 1991 script draft (3.5/5 estrellas).
Alien #1 calificación 3/5 estrellas
Alien #2 calificación 3/5 estrellas
Alien #3 calificación 3/5 estrellas
Alien #4 calificación 3/5 estrellas
Alien #5 calificación 3.5/5 estrellas
En mi segunda lectura es un poco más aburrido. Buen arte de Broccardo, con estilo visual tipo manga y anime, centrándose en las mujeres.
No son tan interesantes los personajes principales, ni los villanos humanos, solo la chica Zash o la variente de los xenomorphs blanca.
¿A quién en su sano juicio se le puede ocurrir tener un hijo híbrido de Xenomorph?, solo a Batya. Dayton demasiado impulsivo para ser Synthetic, el Synth mató a una mujer con una llave Stilson golpendola por la parte posterior de su cabeza, ella estando de espalda un asesinato cobardemente planeado a sangre fría por parte de este androide qué era el protagonista.
Atravez de los años he leído drafts en Internet de la franquicia Alien, debieron hacer más comics o convertirlos en fanmade comic/mangas, hacerlo los fans con ayuda de la Inteligencia artificial:
. "A L I E N I I I" by William Gibson Revised first draft screenplay (3/5 estrellas)
"ALIEN III": BY WILLIAM GIBSON, REVISED 1ST DRAFT (3/5 estrellas)
. ALIEN III screenplay by D. T. Twohy. FIRST DRAFT. October 1989 (3/5 estrellas)
. First draft. 2/7/89. ALIEN III. Written by. Eric Red (2.5/5 estrellas)
. Alien III. Screenplay by John Fasano. Story by Vincent Ward & John Fasano. FIRST DRAFT. March 29, 1990 (4/5 estrellas)
. The Hunt: Alien vs. Predator was a 1991 script draft (3.5/5 estrellas).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 11, 2024
Marvels Version des Alienverse im ersten dreibändigen Zyklus von Philip Kennedy Johnson war an sich recht solide, in „Tauwetter“ verfällt Shalvey allerdings in denselben Trott, der sich über Jahre hinweg in ähnlichen Geschichten herausgebildet hat, denn letztendlich wird meist auf die gleichen Elemente zurückgegriffen: Eine Truppe von Hauptfiguren, von denen mindestens einer nicht ganz menschlich ist, unlautere Hintergedanken eines Großkonzerns und ein Angriff von Xenomorphen führt zum unausweichlichen Überlebenskampf Einzelner.
Auch hier taucht eine neue Variante von Xenomorphen auf, Hintergrundinformationen bezüglich der Herkunft werden aber nicht genannt.
All das reduziert den ersten Band des zweiten Zyklus auf eine weitere Lektüre, die weder überrascht noch mit ihrer Umsetzung überzeugt und nichts zum Mythos Alien beiträgt.
Das einzige Plus ist, dass es sich flüssig lesen lässt. Interessant nur für eingefleischte Fans der schwarzen Brut.
ACHTUNG SPOILER
Eigentlich sollte es sich doch bei Weyland-Yutani rumgesprochen haben, dass den Xenomorphen nicht so einfach beizukommen ist, und trotzdem landet der Konzern mit nur einem Unterhändler und ein paar tumben Soldaten auf einem Planeten voller Aliens ohne jegliche Vorkehrungen und Vorsichtsmaßnahmen. Es ergibt so gar keinen Sinn, dass auch nach 70 Jahren (2122 -2195) W-Y nicht bewusst ist, mit was sie es hier zu tun haben und somit ist es für mich unverständlich, dass sich diese Geschichten immer gleich abspielen.
Auch hier taucht eine neue Variante von Xenomorphen auf, Hintergrundinformationen bezüglich der Herkunft werden aber nicht genannt.
All das reduziert den ersten Band des zweiten Zyklus auf eine weitere Lektüre, die weder überrascht noch mit ihrer Umsetzung überzeugt und nichts zum Mythos Alien beiträgt.
Das einzige Plus ist, dass es sich flüssig lesen lässt. Interessant nur für eingefleischte Fans der schwarzen Brut.
ACHTUNG SPOILER
Eigentlich sollte es sich doch bei Weyland-Yutani rumgesprochen haben, dass den Xenomorphen nicht so einfach beizukommen ist, und trotzdem landet der Konzern mit nur einem Unterhändler und ein paar tumben Soldaten auf einem Planeten voller Aliens ohne jegliche Vorkehrungen und Vorsichtsmaßnahmen. Es ergibt so gar keinen Sinn, dass auch nach 70 Jahren (2122 -2195) W-Y nicht bewusst ist, mit was sie es hier zu tun haben und somit ist es für mich unverständlich, dass sich diese Geschichten immer gleich abspielen.
March 13, 2024
I got to actually talk about this as it's good, but a bit confusing. I like the story. I understand why the mother was experimenting and trying to save her unborn baby. But to take something you don't know is compatible with the baby is as good as killing it too. So...that seem pointless. The baby didn't even become a hybrid or add anything to the plot.
I also don't understand where the ice aliens came from. There's only two shown, but they're not from any specific host or egg. They're super cool, but they are sudden and random to me. The mother says that there was another strand of genetics that they found that didn't match what they'd found before. Get that, so the first facehugger could explain their being one. But where'd the second come from? Also the normal aliens attack that one, so was this a DNA War situation that got frozen over?
Why did they rename him Dayton? I get on the books, they needed too. But they didn't have to call him that in reality. Or gave him nickname? That just really weird, special from the daughters view. She known him since before he was Dayton and they just called him "The Janitor"? Like what? She never asked? They never gave him one? And supposedly he felt like they treated him like family? That's confusing and twisted.
There were just a lot of questions that didn't feel like they got a good enough explanation. This needs a prequel, I think.
I also don't understand where the ice aliens came from. There's only two shown, but they're not from any specific host or egg. They're super cool, but they are sudden and random to me. The mother says that there was another strand of genetics that they found that didn't match what they'd found before. Get that, so the first facehugger could explain their being one. But where'd the second come from? Also the normal aliens attack that one, so was this a DNA War situation that got frozen over?
Why did they rename him Dayton? I get on the books, they needed too. But they didn't have to call him that in reality. Or gave him nickname? That just really weird, special from the daughters view. She known him since before he was Dayton and they just called him "The Janitor"? Like what? She never asked? They never gave him one? And supposedly he felt like they treated him like family? That's confusing and twisted.
There were just a lot of questions that didn't feel like they got a good enough explanation. This needs a prequel, I think.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 1, 2025
Ok, so I can understand the general feelings of “meh” that this new iteration of Alien seems to evoke amongst readers.
When you cut right down to it, nothing in Thaw is even remotely new to the franchise. We’ve seen basically everything here before. Remote outpost that harbors the xenomorph life, which, unsurprisingly, is released and pure carnage and mayhem ensue. And of course, during all of this, there is some whacky experimentation going on that could lead to a xenomorph/human hybrid. Oh, and did I mention there’s an android in the mix too? Yeah, Thaw is incredibly paint-by-numbers, with very little originality or unique aspects to make it stand out as anything new.
That being said, it’s not terrible and I did enjoy it for what it was. It’s moderately fast paced, has an art style that isn’t typical, and it’s pretty violent and gory. And while it’s not a good thing in some respects, it doesn’t attempt to reinvent the wheel, so to speak, meaning it’s easy to follow and doesn’t require a vast amount of foreknowledge to understand.
When you cut right down to it, nothing in Thaw is even remotely new to the franchise. We’ve seen basically everything here before. Remote outpost that harbors the xenomorph life, which, unsurprisingly, is released and pure carnage and mayhem ensue. And of course, during all of this, there is some whacky experimentation going on that could lead to a xenomorph/human hybrid. Oh, and did I mention there’s an android in the mix too? Yeah, Thaw is incredibly paint-by-numbers, with very little originality or unique aspects to make it stand out as anything new.
That being said, it’s not terrible and I did enjoy it for what it was. It’s moderately fast paced, has an art style that isn’t typical, and it’s pretty violent and gory. And while it’s not a good thing in some respects, it doesn’t attempt to reinvent the wheel, so to speak, meaning it’s easy to follow and doesn’t require a vast amount of foreknowledge to understand.
December 4, 2023
This was a bit of a mess. Shalvey tried to have his cake and eat it too, packing way too many elements into this one story. You don't care about the majority of these characters dying as most don't even get names. They are just there to add to the body count. The family at the heart of the story doesn't get much actually explained until the last issue.
There are a lot of oddities to this as well. I read this in single issues and it started as a 6 part story that went down to 5 by issue two. There's also curse words that are bleeped out in later issues. I guess editorial changes were made mid stream. It was just strange. I also hate how every Marvel Alien miniseries is just called Alien. How are you supposed to tell them apart, especially when there are multiple miniseries in a single year?
There are a lot of oddities to this as well. I read this in single issues and it started as a 6 part story that went down to 5 by issue two. There's also curse words that are bleeped out in later issues. I guess editorial changes were made mid stream. It was just strange. I also hate how every Marvel Alien miniseries is just called Alien. How are you supposed to tell them apart, especially when there are multiple miniseries in a single year?
December 24, 2023
Random Goodreads crashes when I’m midway into a review is just killing me!
I think this comic would have maybe worked better as a novel. Dayton’s reveal could be foreshadowed better, Batya’s turn wouldn’t have to feel so hurried, and Harrison (Two-Face) could have been showed as both a psycho and a good teammate in equal measure earlier to justify his character arc. I did like the art — lots of throwbacks to Alien and a few to Aliens, and I love that some of the xenomorphs are different without any explanation. I do feel like, having read 3-5 Alien products annually for the past few years, they all rely so heavily on the misguided/evil scientist trope that I think it’s as intrinsic to the fabric of these stories as the xenomorphs themselves. Maybe I need to read Sigler’s book with its medieval-like setting or something of the like to shake things up.
I think this comic would have maybe worked better as a novel. Dayton’s reveal could be foreshadowed better, Batya’s turn wouldn’t have to feel so hurried, and Harrison (Two-Face) could have been showed as both a psycho and a good teammate in equal measure earlier to justify his character arc. I did like the art — lots of throwbacks to Alien and a few to Aliens, and I love that some of the xenomorphs are different without any explanation. I do feel like, having read 3-5 Alien products annually for the past few years, they all rely so heavily on the misguided/evil scientist trope that I think it’s as intrinsic to the fabric of these stories as the xenomorphs themselves. Maybe I need to read Sigler’s book with its medieval-like setting or something of the like to shake things up.
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