Aliens: The Original Years Omnibus Vol. 2

Aliens: The Original Years Omnibus #2

by Kelley Puckett, Ian Edginton, Chris Warner

Explore new worlds of terror! A rogue scientist’s genetic experiments create a horrific new Alien King! A ragtag unit of Colonial Marines battles a xenomorph infestation on a space station — and the survivors face a pack of bizarre hybrids! An investigator must solve a murder on a deep space Alien research station! But what dread music will a deranged composer make with an Alien’s screams? And can a synthetic xenomorph rebel against its sadistic creator? Plus, flash back to an Alien attack in the 1950s! And witness the fate of England as Aliens overrun the Earth!

Aliens: Colonial Marines (1993) 1-10; Aliens: Rogue (1993) 1-4; Aliens: Labyrinth (1993) 1-4; Aliens: Salvation (1993) 1; Aliens: Music of the Spears (1994) 1-4; Aliens: Stronghold (1994) 1-4 -- plus material from Dark Horse Comics (1992) 3-5, 11-13, 15-19; Previews (1993) 1-12; Previews (1994) 1; Aliens Magazine (1992, UK) 9-20

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Comic Book, Aliens, Horror

998 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 11, 2022

About the author

Kelley Puckett is a comic book writer. He is the creator of the character Cassandra Cain, the Batgirl who succeeded Barbara Gordon and who was succeeded herself by Stephanie Brown, as well as the second Green Arrow, Connor Hawke.

Reviews

[James DeSantis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like any Omnibus, you take the good with the bad.

I really loved some of these stories. From the creator of Hellboy or the Mask brings in some crazy, interesting, and fun stories. There's also a excellent story about a mad scientist, but the ending hits really strong, and overall my favorite story.

But then you get a 10 issue alien run that's horrible, different writers/artist, and barely connects with shit characters. Takes up nearly 200 pages if not more and it's terrible. Also some really bad one shots, and shit about religion and aliens.

But it's not bad. Not as solid as the first volume but sadly the long Marines story drags this one down. A 3 out of 5.

[Xroldx · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where the stories in the first omnibus continued from the movies, the stories in this one explore new planets and situations. It's collection of miniseries with only Aliens as common thread. Some were better than others. But the Mike Mignola drawn one was great as well as the last three stories.

[Paul Cocker · Rating 4 out of 5]

After surviving the first Aliens: The Original Years Omnibus, I couldn’t resist diving into Volume 2—though getting my hands on a copy felt like its own Colonial Marines mission. This second installment pulls from a wild mix of Dark Horse’s 1990s output, capturing everything from cult classics to deep cuts that rarely saw print outside the original issues. It’s a volume that doubles down on the franchise’s chaotic energy while showcasing how experimental—and unpredictable—the Aliens comics scene was during that era.

This collection gathers a wide range of miniseries stories, plus various shorter works from Dark Horse Comics and Previews. Notably, it includes "Aliens: Crusade"—with its never-before-published final chapters (in black and white)—and "Aliens: Rogue", which wasn’t even listed in some of the original solicitations. There are a few digital hiccups (such as a swapped cover for Labyrinth), but overall, it’s a hefty and fascinating dive into Aliens lore beyond the films.

The highlights are truly worth the price of admission. John Byrne’s contribution to the short "Aliens: Backsplash" offers a quick and clever burst of storytelling. Dave Gibbons and Mike Mignola team up for "Aliens: Salvation", a moody and beautifully rendered survival horror story that feels like a lost fable. And for me, the all-time standout is John Arcudi and Doug Mahnke’s work on "Aliens: Stronghold"—an atmospheric, tightly-paced story with a strong grasp of both horror and black humor. Kilian Plunkett’s haunting visuals in "Aliens: Labyrinth" also deserve special mention, rounding out a collection that, at its best, shows some of the finest creative talent ever to tackle the Alien mythos.

That said, the omnibus doesn’t always fire on all cylinders. "Aliens: Colonial Marines" is the biggest misfire: a 10-issue slog of disconnected creative teams, weak character work, and muddled plotting that grinds the middle section of the book to a halt. Some of the shorter pieces from the Previews magazines and UK Aliens Magazine feel rushed or unfinished, offering little beyond strange curiosities. It’s very much a 90s experience—sometimes wildly inventive, sometimes frustratingly uneven.

Even with its rough patches, Aliens: The Original Years Omnibus Volume 2 is an essential grab for Alien fans. When it works, it captures the franchise’s sense of claustrophobic terror, corporate greed, and body horror in ways the films only hint at. With a third volume on the horizon, I’m ready to see what other horrors the hive mind of Dark Horse cooked up.

[Rumi Bossche · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aliens The Original Years omnibus vol 2.

Its was a strugle to get this book ! But now that i have the books complete, it was time to dive in. This is reall 90s stuff. More Aliens then Alien style wise. This has some great artists and writers attached, John Byrne, Peter Milligan, Dave Gibbons, John Arcudi and the goat Mike Mignola. The stories range from badshit weird, to fantastic. I love love love the different art styles, but some of the stories are just to weird. It has a series published for the first time again because it was cancelled, fine for completionist, but i could have done without it because it was terrible. The final issues are not even colored, but still a double feeling for including it. After that we have a Mike Mignola Alien drawn story, and that made me happy again. I dont need alot when it comes to Aliens, give me some cool space marines and a cool horror like setting and i am good. And thats just what you get in this beautifull omnibus. Great stuff for Alien fans.

[Vicente Ribes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Otro tomo con buenas historias. Destacaria el arco de "Cosecha" donde unos científicos inventan un traje de xenomorpho que permite introducirse en una colmena alien y pasar inadvertido. Las tres historias del tomo giran en torno al concepto de la jalea que crean los alien y sus supuestos beneficios para los militares, los cuales acaban enganchados al liquido como si fuese una droga.
La mejor historia para mí la de "Laberinto", que lo tiene todo.
Un marine, único sobreviviente de una expedición masacrada por los aliens va a parar a una nave donde un científico loco está experimentando con los aliens. La historia de como este científico fue secuestrado por los aliens y sobrevivió a ellos es muy intrigante.
En Frenzy, una pareja es enviada a una nave dirigida por un extraño personaje que es el único humano a bordo. Este está acompañado de androides, uno de los cuales simula un alien y es bastante gracioso.
La cosa se pondrá mala cuando el tipo suelte a unos aliens en la nave.

[Sam Judge · Rating 5 out of 5]

This second volume of Dark Horse's Alien series presents a captivating collection of stories that delve deeper into the franchise's rich lore. Among the standout tales are "Labyrinth," "Rogue," "Salvation," "Music of the Spears," and "Stronghold," each offering a unique perspective on the xenomorph universe. One notable theme that emerges is the portrayal of the 'mad scientist,' a recurring motif.

The artwork featured throughout the volume is exceptional, capturing the essence of the 90s aesthetic while maintaining a timeless quality that resonates with readers today. As the series progresses, the narrative continues to evolve, promising even more gripping adventures in volume 3. Overall, this volume is a must-read for fans of the Alien franchise, offering a compelling blend of storytelling and visual artistry that keeps readers eagerly anticipating the next installment. Bring on volume 3 and beyond!

[Julia Cannistra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great collection of Aliens

Important to note - In addition to various titles, this set includes “Aliens Rogue”, which wasn’t in the item description when I purchased it. Also includes the completed “Aliens Crusade” with the final chapters that I don’t believe was ever previously released. The final chapters of Crusade are black and white. My digital copy includes an error, Aliens Labyrinth’s 4th is cover is mistakenly swapped with the second cover for Aliens Backsplash. Unfortunately, the 4th cover is not included elsewhere in this set. I don’t know if the same error exists for the physical copy.

Overall, this is a great collection of various Aliens stories which includes some of the best (Rogue, Labyrinth, Salvation) and really good (Stronghold, Sacrifice). There’s some that just aren’t as good, but with any complete collection, that’s going to happen.

[OmniBen · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Zero spoiler review) 3.5/5
I've reviewed most of the arcs making up this omnibus, so now when it comes time to reviewing the collection, I found that I don't really have that much to say about it. Better than volume one perhaps, although not by any considerable margin. When it was good, it was good. When it was bad, it was bad. Thankfully, it was far more of the former than the latter. Mostly beautiful artwork. A strong restoration. A worthy addition should one wish to diversify their collection from the typical caped crusaders that make up the bulk of the comic industry. 3.5/5


OmniBen.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Glad I got a good deal on this omni, because quality is all over the place in book. Dark Horse comics were hit or miss in the 90’s. And the hits just barely outweigh the misses. There is some good art with slightly confusing storytelling in “Rogue” and “Colonial Marines”. Fantastic art and story in Mignola’s “Aliens: Salvation” and “Labyrinth”. Then there is mind-numbing bad from the UK Aliens magazine and Previews. The latter by John Byrne who must have had a stroke while writing. There are some gems I haven’t even mentioned. This is a good book if you can skip past the junk.

[Sotofunkdamental · Rating 4 out of 5]

Horror Show: ☆☆☆ (3/5)
Ángel de la Tierra: ☆☆ (2/5)
Sacrificio: ☆☆☆☆ (4/5)
Rebelde: ☆☆☆☆ (4/5)
Gusto: ☆☆☆ (3/5)
Prueba Fallida: ☆☆ (2/5)
Laberinto: ☆☆☆☆ (4/5)
Marines Coloniales: ☆☆ (2/5)
Cruzada: ☆☆ (2/5)
Salvación: ☆☆☆☆ (4/5)
Cargo: ☆☆☆ (3/5)
Alien: ☆☆☆ (3/5)
La Música de las Lanzas: ☆☆☆☆ (4/5)
Fortaleza: ☆☆☆☆ (4/5)

[David · Rating 1 out of 5]

I bought this for the Mike Mignola story. Didn't care for it, nor did I find anything collected herein to be of any interest. Gave it a try. Didn't work for me. Most of the art looks unprofessional.

[Martijn Van · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a time of multibiljoniar franchises its hard to imagine that there was a time when creators could go completely wild with a big Hollywood franchise. Not all stories aged well but men was this fun.

[Trevor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just Aliens doing alien things.

[Alain del Risco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite stories:
1. LABYRINTH
2. COLONIAL MARINES
3. SALVATION
4. STRONGHOLD
5. DARK HORSE COMICS #17-19

[alejandro galvez · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good.

From start to finish, a masterpiece. Hands down some of the best comics has to offer. The last story was EPIC! Read all of them. Well worth your time.