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Aliens / Predator / Prometheus Universe
Aliens Book Two
The world goes mad for Hicks and Newt. In their desperate attempt to escape an Earth overrun with aliens, their ship lands at a top secret Marine Base where a crazed General is attempting to train aliens for use in battle!
Newt and Hicks join with the survivors of General Spear's army of Marines in a desperate attempt to reclaim the Earth from the aliens, but it is an effort that seems to be doomed from the start! However, help comes from an unexpected quarter in this spectacular conclusion to one of the most popular miniseries of the year!
Newt and Hicks join with the survivors of General Spear's army of Marines in a desperate attempt to reclaim the Earth from the aliens, but it is an effort that seems to be doomed from the start! However, help comes from an unexpected quarter in this spectacular conclusion to one of the most popular miniseries of the year!
120 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
2 people are currently reading
136 people want to read
About the author
Mark Verheiden
273 books34 followersMark Verheiden is an American television, movie, and comic book writer. He was a co-executive producer for the television series Falling Skies for DreamWorks Television and the TNT Network.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 20, 2021
As usual, I read this as individual issues as I do with most comic book series. I've had these comic books since, I was probably ten or so. I've read this particular series multiple times, but I admit it's been a solid decade or more since I've revisited these. I've rather forgotten how good this particular series is.
This is before Dark Horse got the hang of naming their actual mini series of comics, instead this was just Aliens: 2nd Series, which was rather lame. Luckily by the third series they dropped this approach altogether. First and foremost, I have to say that this series features some of the most eye catching and best cover art work ever featured in the Aliens archives. Even today I still find these covers incredible and every time I pull these issues out, these covers just pull you in! I don't believe Denis Beauvais has ever drawn for the Aliens series again and it truly is our loss. Beauvais' work on this was quite different from Nelson's, especially in the sense that this series is entirely in color! I guess this was a big deal back then for Dark Horse as a publisher. I will say Nelson's black and white art was perfect for the mood of that series, just as Beauvais' color art is perfect for this one in my opinion.
In terms of the story, this continues the tale of Hicks and Newt that was first laid out during Mark Verheiden's first Aliens series. This series, only being four issues, goes at a much faster pace. I remember reading a comment somewhere about the first series that they didn't believe they'd ever be able to re-create the action aspects of the movie Aliens, so when Mark wrote the first series he went for a much moodier approach. However, in this series, it does get quite action packed by the end, and I think having the art in color does make a bit of a difference.
I actually rather enjoyed Verheiden's story ideas for this. While everyone is clamoring about a lack of Ripley in the series, to be honest, I kind of like it. Let's explore some other characters too! Ripley can totally dominate the movies as needed, but in the expanded universe we should see what else is going on! Anyway, in the first series there was a sub-arc that dealt with religious zealots that basically worshipped the Aliens. In this second series Verheiden takes that feel, but casts it onto a crazy general who thinks he can control the Aliens. I sort of feel like his idea for the insane military commander was inspired by stories like Apocalypse Now, because our General Spears in this story has that similar unhinged feel. Here the general and his unit are breeding Aliens that he has "trained" and he has this wild idea of reclaiming Earth with his new "military". It's certainly an interesting idea, but with Hicks, Newt, and Butler crashing the party they really throw a wrench into Spears' plans.
Naturally, Hick and Newt want nothing to do with the general's plans, but they are certainly willing to play along rather than be used as Alien incubators for more of his army. So, they bide their time to wait for an opening to do something about it. Naturally, that's the climax of the tale and I won't give it away. One of the cool aspects of this story is this base has constantly been monitoring signals from Earth, so throughout the comic we get to see how Earth is fairing after being overrun by Aliens. It really makes you wonder if Spears' plan could ever really be successful...
I will say, the ending is fairly predictable, but I feel like that's sort of the expectation from Aliens stories at this point. At this point there's definitely an expectation that humans will inevitably screw themselves over in this fight, which just makes the Aliens more unstoppable. That undercurrent of the franchise has become quite the staple over the years.
If you liked the first series, there's no reason to think you won't enjoy this one. It's tough to decide who's art I prefer more, but I can say with confidence that Beauvais covers are absolutely my choice. I think they're still my choice after all these years and probably literally hundreds of Aliens comics being published since 1988.
This is before Dark Horse got the hang of naming their actual mini series of comics, instead this was just Aliens: 2nd Series, which was rather lame. Luckily by the third series they dropped this approach altogether. First and foremost, I have to say that this series features some of the most eye catching and best cover art work ever featured in the Aliens archives. Even today I still find these covers incredible and every time I pull these issues out, these covers just pull you in! I don't believe Denis Beauvais has ever drawn for the Aliens series again and it truly is our loss. Beauvais' work on this was quite different from Nelson's, especially in the sense that this series is entirely in color! I guess this was a big deal back then for Dark Horse as a publisher. I will say Nelson's black and white art was perfect for the mood of that series, just as Beauvais' color art is perfect for this one in my opinion.
In terms of the story, this continues the tale of Hicks and Newt that was first laid out during Mark Verheiden's first Aliens series. This series, only being four issues, goes at a much faster pace. I remember reading a comment somewhere about the first series that they didn't believe they'd ever be able to re-create the action aspects of the movie Aliens, so when Mark wrote the first series he went for a much moodier approach. However, in this series, it does get quite action packed by the end, and I think having the art in color does make a bit of a difference.
I actually rather enjoyed Verheiden's story ideas for this. While everyone is clamoring about a lack of Ripley in the series, to be honest, I kind of like it. Let's explore some other characters too! Ripley can totally dominate the movies as needed, but in the expanded universe we should see what else is going on! Anyway, in the first series there was a sub-arc that dealt with religious zealots that basically worshipped the Aliens. In this second series Verheiden takes that feel, but casts it onto a crazy general who thinks he can control the Aliens. I sort of feel like his idea for the insane military commander was inspired by stories like Apocalypse Now, because our General Spears in this story has that similar unhinged feel. Here the general and his unit are breeding Aliens that he has "trained" and he has this wild idea of reclaiming Earth with his new "military". It's certainly an interesting idea, but with Hicks, Newt, and Butler crashing the party they really throw a wrench into Spears' plans.
Naturally, Hick and Newt want nothing to do with the general's plans, but they are certainly willing to play along rather than be used as Alien incubators for more of his army. So, they bide their time to wait for an opening to do something about it. Naturally, that's the climax of the tale and I won't give it away. One of the cool aspects of this story is this base has constantly been monitoring signals from Earth, so throughout the comic we get to see how Earth is fairing after being overrun by Aliens. It really makes you wonder if Spears' plan could ever really be successful...
I will say, the ending is fairly predictable, but I feel like that's sort of the expectation from Aliens stories at this point. At this point there's definitely an expectation that humans will inevitably screw themselves over in this fight, which just makes the Aliens more unstoppable. That undercurrent of the franchise has become quite the staple over the years.
If you liked the first series, there's no reason to think you won't enjoy this one. It's tough to decide who's art I prefer more, but I can say with confidence that Beauvais covers are absolutely my choice. I think they're still my choice after all these years and probably literally hundreds of Aliens comics being published since 1988.
November 19, 2017
The art is reminiscent of David Lloyd's in V for Vendetta. Which is pretty cool.
But, the story is a far cry from the otherwise cool artwork. Convoluted as it is dumb.
Meh.
But, the story is a far cry from the otherwise cool artwork. Convoluted as it is dumb.
Meh.
January 31, 2025
Seldom if ever have I left a review - posting this just for my friends list to know this was a banger and I loved it.
September 23, 2012
Great art, a classic opening chapter, a bombastic twist of an ending, and a bit of lag in the middle. Still, the strongest of the original "sequel trilogy" to the film Aliens.
March 30, 2022
4 Stars
Crazy military man wanting to control the aliens like soldiers.... yeah, that'll work. NOT.
Crazy military man wanting to control the aliens like soldiers.... yeah, that'll work. NOT.
July 14, 2020
Este tomo compila el último número del primer cómic de la franquicia "Alien" (editado originalmente por Dark Horse en 1988) y los cuatro números correspondientes al segundo cómic (de 1989).
Historia que continúa inmediatamente después de la primera miniserie. Hicks, Newt y el androide Butler llegan a un planeta terraformado en el cual conocen al general Spears, un megalómano que cree poder controlar a voluntad a los Aliens para formar con ellos un ejército y así reconquistar la Tierra, devastada por sus congéneres extraterrestres.
En esta segunda historia, Verheiden insiste en temas como el control de la naturaleza por parte de los humanos (los Aliens para su utilización como soldados excepcionales), el amor entre humanos y androides, y hay pinceladas de algo que, creo recordar, ahonda más en el siguiente cómic de la franquicia: el lazo afectivo entre una madre y sus hijos. Es una historia más concreta, donde se hace hincapié sobre todo en un tema, a diferencia de la miniserie anterior donde había muchos personajes y temas llevados de una forma más desordenada. Los dibujos de Denis Beauvais son eficaces y de un talante más realista.
Historia que continúa inmediatamente después de la primera miniserie. Hicks, Newt y el androide Butler llegan a un planeta terraformado en el cual conocen al general Spears, un megalómano que cree poder controlar a voluntad a los Aliens para formar con ellos un ejército y así reconquistar la Tierra, devastada por sus congéneres extraterrestres.
En esta segunda historia, Verheiden insiste en temas como el control de la naturaleza por parte de los humanos (los Aliens para su utilización como soldados excepcionales), el amor entre humanos y androides, y hay pinceladas de algo que, creo recordar, ahonda más en el siguiente cómic de la franquicia: el lazo afectivo entre una madre y sus hijos. Es una historia más concreta, donde se hace hincapié sobre todo en un tema, a diferencia de la miniserie anterior donde había muchos personajes y temas llevados de una forma más desordenada. Los dibujos de Denis Beauvais son eficaces y de un talante más realista.
August 13, 2013
Pretty much takes up where the first book ended, with the continuing adventures of Newt & Hicks... plus a half-chunk of an android.
Bonus... it's in Color! and the colors are actually very nice!... so's the art. And although this isn't really that strong of a story, it's still pretty fun.
Bonus 2... it ends on a cliffhanger with the apparition of Ripley totting a big-arse gun on the very last page.
Bonus... it's in Color! and the colors are actually very nice!... so's the art. And although this isn't really that strong of a story, it's still pretty fun.
Bonus 2... it ends on a cliffhanger with the apparition of Ripley totting a big-arse gun on the very last page.
April 29, 2020
Always loved that Denis Beauvais artwork! There are some stunning frames in this book. The plot is clever and interesting. And, of course, there are plenty of Xenos!
You'll need to read Book One first to understand what is happening but since that is brilliant that shouldn't be a problem.
You'll need to read Book One first to understand what is happening but since that is brilliant that shouldn't be a problem.
October 20, 2018
Scary... storyline right after the movie Aliens... haven't read the first volume, but want to!
January 16, 2020
A much more coherent story than Book One, with some beautiful fully painted artwork.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews