Aliens vs. Predator: The Essential Comics Volume 1

Aliens vs. Predator: The Essential Comics #1

by Randy Stradley

Fourteen years before the first AVP film, the comics laid the groundwork. Now collected for the first time in one volume is the complete Machiko Noguchi/Aliens Versus Predator trilogy--over 400 pages of extraterrestrial action!

Two of cinema's greatest monsters clash in a battle that spans the galaxy and extends across one woman's lifetime! Machiko Noguchi's life was altered when she was caught in the middle of a collision between a ravenous Alien horde and a hunting party of Predators. That initial conflict ended her living and hunting with the Predators for a time--until the hunters zeroed in on human prey, forcing Machiko to decide where her loyalties truly lie.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Horror, Fiction, Science Fiction

424 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 29, 2019

About the author

"Nearly thirty years of writing and editing comics, and this is what I have to show for it."
—Randy Stradley, pointing to this biography.

More to come, folks!

Reviews

[Aaron Newlands · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was fun, certainly better than the movies and it didn't take itself too serious. It played with some cool ideas and created some cool characters. Its fine for the first one but they do suffer from the constant problem of humans needing to be in the story as the hero/heroine. I don't know many people that care about the humans in these stories. This is different to those ones where it was essential. Alien, Aliens, Machiko in the first AvP comic. But ongoing its the Predator who are the stars, but they have to fumble around human plot lines.

I picked up the kindle version for a handful of dollars and for that price it was excellent value and nice to revisit something I have not read for some time. I have the original AvP comics packed away. The Kindle lets me read them without fear of damage.

[ダンカン · Rating 3 out of 5]

When artist Chris Warner uttered the two words 'Aliens Vs. Predator', it was a project that became too popular among fans that speaks so loud, only Dark Horse Comics have the rights to published these fan-favorite monster movie icons into one comic book mini-series in 1990. In this Essential Comics edition, is a complete trilogy that features the first protagonist Machiko Noguchi from her first appearance in Alien vs. Predator to her two final appearance (Aliens vs. Predator: War & Aliens vs. Predator: Three World War all in one single volume

Randy Stradley, who wrote the first mini-series has a clear mind how these two titans meet that eventually wrote the two sequels, and how he wanted it to end. I have read the first and felt its not that bad, love the art by Phil Norwood and Chris Warner, the sequel 'AvP:War' on the other hand felt unbalance as to where it leads to and for the first time reading 'AvP: Three World War' felt like a let down even though its a closure to Machiko's journey. As any fans of AvP, this is a delightful read, not too boring but not really that great. I enjoy most parts for this collected edition because I am a fan and I leave it as that.

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am completely in love with this omnibus. It contains four comics that are well-curated and printed on thick paper with big art inserts between the stories. Very pleasant to hold. The stories are obviously chosen because they focus on Machiki Noguchi. This is good because she is a real jewel for the series; a capable and driven woman who remains alienated by her peers. She is great at moving the stories forward and giving them an emotional core. How valuable is survivability? More valuable than community? What else would you sacrifice to go on living? And what are you left with after that?

Good selection but a little stingy at four stories. And what the hell is with that face hugger thing? It looks like a pussy with a little boy dick coming out of it.

[John Marlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Better than the film we got

Prior to the release of 2003’s Aliens vs. Predator film, the comics world was free to imagine multiple storylines and plots imagining battles between two of the universe’s deadliest species in a now non-canon way. This volume collects the very first Aliens vs. Predator limited series released in 1990 by Dark Horse Comics and is a very entertaining and violent offering, opposed diametrically to the watered-down PG-13 film released over a decade later. As a bonus it also includes a few of the Dark Horse Presents comics as a prelude to the main story.

[Seren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really loved the original comic. It's easily one of the comics in the franchise. The dialogue between Tom and Scott at the beginning is such a highlight I'm disappointed they didn't include it in the novelization.
I didn't like War. Three World War was better, but it doesn't have much by way of characterisation.

[Zain · Rating 4 out of 5]

I personally thought this was an excellent comic anthology. I definitely liked Machiko Noguchi as a protagonist, but I really don't like how she went on to join the Predators. I personally thought that was kind of dumb, but at least she realizes the mistake she made later on.

The action sequences are very well drawn and vibrant, and the side characters are quite likable. I liked the Three World War storyline, which does a good job of concluding Machiko's story, and it definitely ends it with a bang.

If you're a fan of either Alien, Predator, or even both, there's a little bit of something for everyone.

[Brendan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Continuing adventures of Aliens and Predators.

[Brandon Smith- Scolaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing collection. Now that Disney has the rights to Alien and Predator comics I would highly recommend any fan of these amazing creatures to read these.

[John T]

I never read the Aliens and Predator series before this and I am glad i did.

[Scott Schmidt · Rating 4 out of 5]

The original story and War are so good. I'd never read Three Word War, didn't care for it. Great collection, though.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

Writing is not the strongest in these works but great concepts