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Alien by Phillip Kennedy Johnson
Alien, Vol. 3: Icarus
Man, machine and the most terrifying creature in the universe! It's an express elevator to hell, and you'll want to be on it! A small colony of synths has settled in secret on a backwater moon. When a company of United System soldiers comes to them for help retrieving biotechnology on a hostile planet that could be the key to saving humanity, the synths must decide whether the prospect of peace between man and machine is worth the risk of betrayal. Because "Steel Team" - the legendary, unkillable Synthetic Special Operations team - is the United Systems' only hope as they navigate the hellscape that the once-idyllic Tobler-9 has become. Since its mysterious downfall years earlier, Tobler-9 is considered one of the most hostile environments in the known universe - a place where nothing organic could possibly have survived…or could it? Collecting ALIEN (2022) #1-6.
136 pages, Paperback
First published May 9, 2023
20 people are currently reading
167 people want to read
About the author
Phillip Kennedy Johnson
543 books98 followersPhillip Kennedy Johnson earned a Master of Music degree from the University of North Texas, where he served as Teaching Fellow for the Department of Jazz Studies, and a Bachelor of Music degree from Eastern Kentucky University. SFC Johnson has performed with the Lexington Philharmonic, Dallas Opera, Washington Symphonic Brass, and the Moscow Ballet, and was a member of the Glenn Miller Orchestra from 2004 to 2005. SFC Johnson remains active as a composer, arranger, teacher, and clinician, and also enjoys a second career as a writer of comics and graphic novels. His work has been published by DC Comics, Marvel Comics, BOOM! Studios, and more.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
May 26, 2023
Once again a return to the Alien Universe in comics, while the movie series kinda faltered these days the written and drawn word is still doing well.
A world got damaged by a nuclear explosion and the only saving can be done on a wrecked world of the Weyland Yukatani cooperation which was destroyed by an alien infestation. So sending in the troops would mean a massacre. So there is this elite synth commando group living outside the reach of humans that could be the answer for a job like this, and they will be promised about anything to get them to this once paradise Tobler-9 . There they will discover that there is still life but not as they know it. Tobler-9 carries some secrets and evolution which could be critical for humanity and also the Alien race.
It is an action comic consisting of 6 parts, the writing is straightforward and the art is quite good, the story while sometimes predictable it does get the job done.
For those who enjoy the universe created by Scot some 40 years ago it will be more than enjoyable.
A world got damaged by a nuclear explosion and the only saving can be done on a wrecked world of the Weyland Yukatani cooperation which was destroyed by an alien infestation. So sending in the troops would mean a massacre. So there is this elite synth commando group living outside the reach of humans that could be the answer for a job like this, and they will be promised about anything to get them to this once paradise Tobler-9 . There they will discover that there is still life but not as they know it. Tobler-9 carries some secrets and evolution which could be critical for humanity and also the Alien race.
It is an action comic consisting of 6 parts, the writing is straightforward and the art is quite good, the story while sometimes predictable it does get the job done.
For those who enjoy the universe created by Scot some 40 years ago it will be more than enjoyable.
July 29, 2024
Conclusion of PKJ's Alien arc. Pretty good- even if fundamentally predictable in many respects- and above all superbly illustrated by Julius Ohta- who reminds me of the excellent Pepe Larraz- who draws some pretty violent scenes with aliens that are frankly convincing, apart from . I'm not always convinced by Yen Nitro's colour chart either.
The use of synths as totally badass main characters is interesting even if it's hard to get attached to them. We're nowhere near the level of empathy we can have with Bishop. On the other hand, it's nice to see the aliens in trouble against credible threats for once.
I give this arc a higher mark (3.5*) than the previous 2, not for its plot - the level of quality is globally equivalent - but for its very superior drawing.
The use of synths as totally badass main characters is interesting even if it's hard to get attached to them. We're nowhere near the level of empathy we can have with Bishop. On the other hand, it's nice to see the aliens in trouble against credible threats for once.
I give this arc a higher mark (3.5*) than the previous 2, not for its plot - the level of quality is globally equivalent - but for its very superior drawing.
April 12, 2023
I read the first issue of this and thought, jeez what am I doing reading an Alien comic? I haven't seen Aliens in a decade and besides the first (which I watch all the time) I never bothered with the other movies! So I have this comic to thank for launching a movie marathon. I finally saw Alien3, Resurrection, and Alien Covenant - plus the others for the second time.
This is I guess volume 3, the covers in typical Marvel fashion made it seem like a new #1. So I'm thrown into the story, I don't feel like I was too confused though. Here we follow a band of synthetics who get told "hey do this mission for us, even though you hate humans now, and we'll make you honourable humans!" So off they go to a planet infested with Aliens to steal an Alien egg.
It's an action comic. We get synthetics fighting aliens on every page and dealing with how much they absolutely hate humans. I think it fits in with the Alien universe, especially knowing how poorly the humans in those movies always treated synthetics.
2-star just because the whole damn time I was nit-picking little plot points and critical of how everything was happening. Not really worth going through those issues in detail, but it just felt like a dumb action story in the end and not particularly worth reading.
This is I guess volume 3, the covers in typical Marvel fashion made it seem like a new #1. So I'm thrown into the story, I don't feel like I was too confused though. Here we follow a band of synthetics who get told "hey do this mission for us, even though you hate humans now, and we'll make you honourable humans!" So off they go to a planet infested with Aliens to steal an Alien egg.
It's an action comic. We get synthetics fighting aliens on every page and dealing with how much they absolutely hate humans. I think it fits in with the Alien universe, especially knowing how poorly the humans in those movies always treated synthetics.
2-star just because the whole damn time I was nit-picking little plot points and critical of how everything was happening. Not really worth going through those issues in detail, but it just felt like a dumb action story in the end and not particularly worth reading.
February 16, 2026
Really good sci-fi horror!
July 17, 2023
Taking place a few years after the last installment in the series, Icarus finds a group of synthetics who have made a life for themselves on a far away planet abandoning the United Systems military that abandoned them first. That same military shows up asking for their help on last mission only they are suited to take. A colonized planet where food is grown for numerous other inhabited planets has had a catastrophic nuclear event, rending most of it uninhabitable. But the US believes Weyland-Yutani ahd developed something that could make people immune to radiation. The once catch is, that scientific lab is located on an asteroid where xenomorphs have led to it's abandonment. The synths are promised if they successfully retrieve the key to the antidote, they'll be granted full citizenship. Reluctantly agreeing, the squad heads to the planet where they encounter a series of surprised en route to finding what they need.
As it has been throughout this title, the artwork is still pretty amazing. The story was bit different and interesting and propelled forward at a good pace. The ending I didn't really care for, but I hope Marvel continues to produce more Alien stories. 3.5/5 stars.
As it has been throughout this title, the artwork is still pretty amazing. The story was bit different and interesting and propelled forward at a good pace. The ending I didn't really care for, but I hope Marvel continues to produce more Alien stories. 3.5/5 stars.
June 25, 2023
So in this volume we jump ahead 15 years from the last volume. An agricultural planet in the Wayland colony has had a nuclear plant blow up and is now threatening a lot of people. The military wants to enlist the help of this former “Steel Team”. A group of synthetic soldiers. But the military has screwed them over before and they ain’t trying to help. They make a promise to them that sounds good and they reluctantly agree to help. The mission? Go to this planet decimated by nuclear weapons to retrieve this special alien egg that can be used to make a treatment that will prevent humans from being affected by radiation. But when they get there, they find more than they bargained for. A lot of action in this one and it was cool seeing the synthetics kick ass. There was a different artist here and I liked their art better than Larroca’s. Well, Declan Shalvey is now taking over this series so we will see what he does with it.
November 30, 2024
Another good volume. As I've said in previous reviews, with most Alien comic series you do get a sense that you've seen it before, and that's true here as well. What's different is that this time it's a team of combat synths facing the aliens, rather than humans. It's very reminiscent of the James Cameron ALIENS movie, but in this case that's not a bad thing.
May 25, 2023
Probably the best of the new Marvel takes at the franchise but still a few frustrating creative decisions. Not gonna lie though, I chuckled at the idea that David from Prometheus is Jesus Christ to synthetics in universe.
August 28, 2024
Phillip Kennedy Johnson ends his Alien run by finally trying something new. A group of soldier synthetics have been living off the grid (apparently, they're kind is being hunted down). They're captured and promised freedom if they complete one last mission: collect a xenomorph egg from a planet that's been abandoned to the creatures.
What follows is a pretty by-the-numbers plot: team arrives on the planet, discovers it actually is populated, fights a bunch of aliens. There's one interesting twist (), though I'm not sure it'll mean anything long term since this is Johnson's last Alien volume. I'll admit: I really appreciated Salvador Larrocca not being on art duty here.
What follows is a pretty by-the-numbers plot: team arrives on the planet, discovers it actually is populated, fights a bunch of aliens. There's one interesting twist (), though I'm not sure it'll mean anything long term since this is Johnson's last Alien volume. I'll admit: I really appreciated Salvador Larrocca not being on art duty here.
September 9, 2024
Nice to see the Marvel run in the hands of a competent artist. This is a fairly straightforward Alien story, but the machine is well-oiled, and the details are enjoyable.
Hard not to laugh at the characters being surprised by the presence of life on the irradiated world after walking through a jungle for several pages. Not sure if that was a script-to-art problem or the author forgetting that plants also have DNA.
The feints made at playing with the Prometheus-style black goo are interesting, but don't lead very far. Alien authors always seem timid when taking steps in that direction, which probably means that Disney is cautious about taking big swings with changing the franchise. A shame because Alien has always been a franchise that has benefited from big swings. Weyland-Yutani won't let the Xenomorph die and neither will Fox-Disney. Tale as old as time.
Hard not to laugh at the characters being surprised by the presence of life on the irradiated world after walking through a jungle for several pages. Not sure if that was a script-to-art problem or the author forgetting that plants also have DNA.
The feints made at playing with the Prometheus-style black goo are interesting, but don't lead very far. Alien authors always seem timid when taking steps in that direction, which probably means that Disney is cautious about taking big swings with changing the franchise. A shame because Alien has always been a franchise that has benefited from big swings. Weyland-Yutani won't let the Xenomorph die and neither will Fox-Disney. Tale as old as time.
March 12, 2023
Nu m-am omorât după story-ul ăsta care pare să încheie implicarea lui Phillip Kennedy Johnson în Alien-urile de la Marvel pentru moment. Primele 2 povești au fost bune. Aici avem un soi de Alien vs. Terminator, ptr că e vorba de o echipă de elită de militari androizi, care sunt momiți să salveze un ou de alien de pe o planetă cotropită, în schimb li se promite că vor deveni cetățeni egali oamenilor cu drepturi depline. Vechea poveste... Pe noua planetă - Tobler-9 - se pare că mai există oameni care au supraviețuit evenimentelor anterioare. Apar tentații, trădări, și xenomorfi în toată splendoarea. Iar gașca noastră de luptători perfecți nu mai pare așa perfectă. Ah, și iarăși ni se prezintă o creatură xenomorfă mixtă, om-alien de data aceasta, nu chiar ideea mea preferată din serie...
September 10, 2023
So, wie ein Alien-Band sein sollte: Schnell, hart und brutal. Aliens als beständige Bedrohung von Außen, Menschen als beständige Bedrohung von Innen.
Ich liebe das Setting der Alien-Romane und -Comics. Und auch, wenn in diesem Fall vielleicht ein wenig grob mit dem Material umgegangen wird (wobei ich nicht die Protagonistengruppe aus Androiden meine sondern vielmehr die Ausweitung der fortpflanzungstechnischen Möglichkeiten der Xenomorphen) mochte ich die Stimmung.
Als Film würde ich mir anderes wünschen - aber für einen Comic fand ich's absolut in Ordnung. Für Zwischendurch.
Ich liebe das Setting der Alien-Romane und -Comics. Und auch, wenn in diesem Fall vielleicht ein wenig grob mit dem Material umgegangen wird (wobei ich nicht die Protagonistengruppe aus Androiden meine sondern vielmehr die Ausweitung der fortpflanzungstechnischen Möglichkeiten der Xenomorphen) mochte ich die Stimmung.
Als Film würde ich mir anderes wünschen - aber für einen Comic fand ich's absolut in Ordnung. Für Zwischendurch.
September 28, 2023
3.5 Stars.
Another typical Alien story, but they are always fun to read.
This time, a group of 5 synthetic special forces units are sent into a ruined colony to rescue a vaccine that can help humans survive extreme radiation. They find a group of surviving humans who end up betraying them. Add in fighting a huge Queen, and using an offworld insect to allow for a weird alien/synth hybrid (which I'm sure will come up if there is another Volume) and you get a pretty good, yet standard Alien story.
A fun read. recommend.
Another typical Alien story, but they are always fun to read.
This time, a group of 5 synthetic special forces units are sent into a ruined colony to rescue a vaccine that can help humans survive extreme radiation. They find a group of surviving humans who end up betraying them. Add in fighting a huge Queen, and using an offworld insect to allow for a weird alien/synth hybrid (which I'm sure will come up if there is another Volume) and you get a pretty good, yet standard Alien story.
A fun read. recommend.
August 26, 2023
Another solid entry in Marvel’s use of the Alien franchise. This is the first volume I felt Marvel were allowing the writer to stretch beyond what I’d consider ‘safe’. The story here sees synthetics being used to collect eggs etc and we get to see the use of the David blueprint with the bots having personality etc.
But the shining light here is the creation of a new creature. This was a fun idea that opens the world up a bit beyond the standard Xeno’s. Hopefully we see more of this.
4/5
But the shining light here is the creation of a new creature. This was a fun idea that opens the world up a bit beyond the standard Xeno’s. Hopefully we see more of this.
4/5
October 24, 2024
Overall, I enjoyed this. I like how we're seeing many different sides of the universe, outside of the more narrow scope of the movies.
The writing was quite good, the art, while occasionally a touch confusing, for the most part was beautifully done.
My biggest concern is the end. I truly hope this is not a direction that will be pursued. I don't understand why, when the xenomorph is so fascinating on its own, each writer has to come up with some new iteration.
The writing was quite good, the art, while occasionally a touch confusing, for the most part was beautifully done.
My biggest concern is the end. I truly hope this is not a direction that will be pursued. I don't understand why, when the xenomorph is so fascinating on its own, each writer has to come up with some new iteration.
July 1, 2023
It’s fascinating but unfulfilling.
August 6, 2024
Really liked this arc.
In fact, this was my favorite of the three.
I think at this point it is safe to say that Alien is not just about the Xenomorphs and survival. It’s also about the synths.
This idea is amore recent one, one that came with David from Prometheus and Covenant (like them or hate them, they’re part of the universe for good until it is said otherwise), but was present even in the original Alien and Aliens.
This arc puts the synths at the center and explores their humanity, and quite well I may add. Freyja is arguably the most human among them, whereas Eli is the least, and even then, he exhibits behaviors that are very humanlike and idiosyncratic.
It also questions whether or not humans can be as cold, or colder, than the ai they birth (shocker: they can!).
The character interactions and dynamics between humans and synths were well done by Johnson. And Ohta’s art was very awesome and very reminiscent of Pepe Larraz in the best way. The colors are sublimely vivid and sharp, and remind me of House of X and Powers of X (some of my favorite art in this medium).
Johnson’s run on this series has shown that Alien can be different things and doesn’t have to be merely about humans’ survival on a spaceship. Dare I say that he has evolved the franchise a but where the films struggled to after the James Cameron sequel.
In fact, this was my favorite of the three.
I think at this point it is safe to say that Alien is not just about the Xenomorphs and survival. It’s also about the synths.
This idea is amore recent one, one that came with David from Prometheus and Covenant (like them or hate them, they’re part of the universe for good until it is said otherwise), but was present even in the original Alien and Aliens.
This arc puts the synths at the center and explores their humanity, and quite well I may add. Freyja is arguably the most human among them, whereas Eli is the least, and even then, he exhibits behaviors that are very humanlike and idiosyncratic.
It also questions whether or not humans can be as cold, or colder, than the ai they birth (shocker: they can!).
The character interactions and dynamics between humans and synths were well done by Johnson. And Ohta’s art was very awesome and very reminiscent of Pepe Larraz in the best way. The colors are sublimely vivid and sharp, and remind me of House of X and Powers of X (some of my favorite art in this medium).
Johnson’s run on this series has shown that Alien can be different things and doesn’t have to be merely about humans’ survival on a spaceship. Dare I say that he has evolved the franchise a but where the films struggled to after the James Cameron sequel.
June 11, 2023
Alien: Icarus, the third volume of the Marvel run, is far superior to what was offered in volume two.
The protagonists are a team of synthetic elite soldiers that have found their own world and escaped from humans. But, a disaster that threatens the lives of humans on 25 worlds prompts an aged general to seek them out for one last mission, with the payment being recognition of equal rights for synthetics. All they have to do is retrieve a biological sample from a xenomorph-swarmed world. All is not as it seems; the humans have layers of agendas; and, the world has additional threats than evolved xenomorphs.
I loved the nod to some of the more subtle xenomorph biology introduced in Alien: Covenant, the nods to the wisdom of David, and some visual homages to the designs of Giger.
The protagonists are a team of synthetic elite soldiers that have found their own world and escaped from humans. But, a disaster that threatens the lives of humans on 25 worlds prompts an aged general to seek them out for one last mission, with the payment being recognition of equal rights for synthetics. All they have to do is retrieve a biological sample from a xenomorph-swarmed world. All is not as it seems; the humans have layers of agendas; and, the world has additional threats than evolved xenomorphs.
I loved the nod to some of the more subtle xenomorph biology introduced in Alien: Covenant, the nods to the wisdom of David, and some visual homages to the designs of Giger.
December 23, 2023
Having read the original five issues of this without totally finishing (or remembering) the sixth, I skimmed a lot of this through Hoopla. Maybe one of the more compelling Aliens narratives, even though it has a lot of parallels with, and kindred thematics from, Prometheus. I liked the idea of focusing in on a squad of free synths, picking up threads from Resurrection and even Blade Runner as a Scott-adjacent project that actually kept the narrative moving along and the stakes feeling sufficiently engaging such that character deaths felt impactful. I feel like this was meant to reveal the origins of the weird Giger Xenomorph Woman we’ve been seeing going to the earliest of Marvel’s recent run, but then the story just ends? Maybe we’ll see her again? Does anyone care?
October 2, 2024
"When at last they are gone, humanity will leave behind two gifts to the universe, precious in equal measure. Our creation and their own self destruction. More than any other trait, man is defined by his inexorable, inevitable attraction to the flame. His childlike need to touch it with no thought of consequence. The brighter and more destructive the flame, the more fiercely it calls to him, and the brightest flames have always been the stars. Since the first man raised his eyes to the night sky, his destruction has called out to him, seducing him from the blackness of space. She patiently awaits his answer, a glittering corpse in the dark."
Yeah this might be the peakest thing i've read this year, Freyja is my robot wifey
Yeah this might be the peakest thing i've read this year, Freyja is my robot wifey
May 19, 2024
Це історія не про автобус. І не про відомого співака, чий гурт безсоромно плагіатив творчий доробок “The Cure”.
Це історія у всесвіті Чужих про майже магічне яйце, яке треба забрати з роздовбаної планети, бо в яйці тім не білок-жовток, а цілий фейсхагер, здатний подарувати імунітет від радіації. О, а тут якраз і добрячий викид ізотопів стався на аграрній планеті, і евакуювати всіх не встигли, а цілій системі з 25 колоній їсти-то шось треба. За магічним яйцем відправляють загін безжалісних синтетів. Вони спочатку були дуже проти, вчинили тим, хто прийшов їх просити, невеличке розривання на складові частини, а потім стали дуже за, бо вусатий генерал пообіцяв андроїдам права та свободи для всіх людиноподібних машин, якшо вони те яєчко в еліенів відіб’ють, бо яєшня з того яєчка дозволить людей порятувать.
Якщо закрити очі на купу сюжетних проблем цього коміксу і розслабитися, то він навіть розважає. Але якщо копнути глибше, то вже на обіцянці прав та свобод андроїдам можна засумніватися в тому, чи то перед нами андроїди взагалі, бо блоку аналізу чи критичного мислення там немає, та й ведуть вони себе як люди, і це навіть сюжетно обумовлено (типу "Люди злі та підступні пригнічувачі, не веди себе як людина! - Ніт, не можу, бо люди мене й створили!"). В черговий раз сюжетом рухає дурість. Ну хто ж буде виконувати такі обіцянки? Хто взагалі уповноважив вусатого генерала на такі мотиваційні плюшки? Про брехню андроїди ніколи, напевно, не чули.
Глобальний ай-ай-ай стається вже на планеті, де оте яйце залишилося. В яйці органічний матеріал, який дає імунітет до радіації. І яйця на місці немає. А є… виживальники, люди, які чомусь не підсмажилися, коли на планеті стався ядерний бадабум (планета була колонією “Вейланд-Ютані”, інвестиційним хабом, де вкладалися бабосіки в різні протизаконні експерименти, в тому числі з біоматеріалом Чужих). Вивезли не всіх, а ті, кого нє, мали вимерти. По ідеї. Але ні, якось вижили. Як же вони вижили? І яйця тут немає… Хмм… Хммммм… Але як я вже казав, в бойових андроїдів немає блоку аналізу. Та якби був, то одразу по висадці на планету можна було схопити одного з виживальників і чкурнути рятувати аграрну колонію (якщо така дійсно існує, бо, як бачите, вусатий генерал ще те брехло). І ніхто не сперечався би, бо в андроїдів сучасна зброя, а в виживальників лише надія пропетляти і втекти з планети.
Далі дурості не стає менше. Наприклад, поселення виживальників в певний момент мало було би бути заражене генетично модифікованими комахами, укус яких перетворює людей на агресивні гібриди. Бойові андроїди не мають вбудованих детекторів руху і не здатні нормально себе захистити в бою. Виживальники ніколи не стикалися із гібридами і не можуть визначити ознаки зараження, хоча наче живуть у агресивному біомі роками. Еліени роками не знищували поселення людей, аж поки не з’явилися андроїди.
Фінал також залишає питання, чи врятували отой аграрний світ. Мабуть, це буде в анотації до наступних коміксів. Або на це взагалі заб’ють.
Намальовано пристойно. Основні обкладинки окремих глав серії відлякують, але всередині хороший арт, якому, як на мене, потрібно більше простору, бо кадри іноді замалі у сценах, де хочеться розгледіти більше.
Це історія у всесвіті Чужих про майже магічне яйце, яке треба забрати з роздовбаної планети, бо в яйці тім не білок-жовток, а цілий фейсхагер, здатний подарувати імунітет від радіації. О, а тут якраз і добрячий викид ізотопів стався на аграрній планеті, і евакуювати всіх не встигли, а цілій системі з 25 колоній їсти-то шось треба. За магічним яйцем відправляють загін безжалісних синтетів. Вони спочатку були дуже проти, вчинили тим, хто прийшов їх просити, невеличке розривання на складові частини, а потім стали дуже за, бо вусатий генерал пообіцяв андроїдам права та свободи для всіх людиноподібних машин, якшо вони те яєчко в еліенів відіб’ють, бо яєшня з того яєчка дозволить людей порятувать.
Якщо закрити очі на купу сюжетних проблем цього коміксу і розслабитися, то він навіть розважає. Але якщо копнути глибше, то вже на обіцянці прав та свобод андроїдам можна засумніватися в тому, чи то перед нами андроїди взагалі, бо блоку аналізу чи критичного мислення там немає, та й ведуть вони себе як люди, і це навіть сюжетно обумовлено (типу "Люди злі та підступні пригнічувачі, не веди себе як людина! - Ніт, не можу, бо люди мене й створили!"). В черговий раз сюжетом рухає дурість. Ну хто ж буде виконувати такі обіцянки? Хто взагалі уповноважив вусатого генерала на такі мотиваційні плюшки? Про брехню андроїди ніколи, напевно, не чули.
Глобальний ай-ай-ай стається вже на планеті, де оте яйце залишилося. В яйці органічний матеріал, який дає імунітет до радіації. І яйця на місці немає. А є… виживальники, люди, які чомусь не підсмажилися, коли на планеті стався ядерний бадабум (планета була колонією “Вейланд-Ютані”, інвестиційним хабом, де вкладалися бабосіки в різні протизаконні експерименти, в тому числі з біоматеріалом Чужих). Вивезли не всіх, а ті, кого нє, мали вимерти. По ідеї. Але ні, якось вижили. Як же вони вижили? І яйця тут немає… Хмм… Хммммм… Але як я вже казав, в бойових андроїдів немає блоку аналізу. Та якби був, то одразу по висадці на планету можна було схопити одного з виживальників і чкурнути рятувати аграрну колонію (якщо така дійсно існує, бо, як бачите, вусатий генерал ще те брехло). І ніхто не сперечався би, бо в андроїдів сучасна зброя, а в виживальників лише надія пропетляти і втекти з планети.
Далі дурості не стає менше. Наприклад, поселення виживальників в певний момент мало було би бути заражене генетично модифікованими комахами, укус яких перетворює людей на агресивні гібриди. Бойові андроїди не мають вбудованих детекторів руху і не здатні нормально себе захистити в бою. Виживальники ніколи не стикалися із гібридами і не можуть визначити ознаки зараження, хоча наче живуть у агресивному біомі роками. Еліени роками не знищували поселення людей, аж поки не з’явилися андроїди.
Фінал також залишає питання, чи врятували отой аграрний світ. Мабуть, це буде в анотації до наступних коміксів. Або на це взагалі заб’ють.
Намальовано пристойно. Основні обкладинки окремих глав серії відлякують, але всередині хороший арт, якому, як на мене, потрібно більше простору, бо кадри іноді замалі у сценах, де хочеться розгледіти більше.
January 7, 2024
"Alien Vol. 3: Icarus" to komiks, który wprowadza nowy, ekscytujący rozdział do kultowej serii "Alien". Phillip Kennedy Johnson tworzy dzieło, które z pewnością zaintryguje zarówno fanów serii, jak i nowych czytelników.
Fabuła skupia się na dramatycznym wydarzeniu w kolonii rolniczej Demeter-2, gdzie awaria reaktora jądrowego stawia pod znakiem zapytania życie 1,4 miliarda osób. Rozwiązaniem tego problemu ma być Steel Team, specjalna jednostka syntetycznych żołnierzy pod dowództwem sztucznej inteligencji o imieniu Freyja. Misja Steel Team polega na odnalezieniu genetycznego lekarstwa, które może uratować ludzkość przed zagładą nuklearną – lekarstwa ukrytego w jaju xenomorfa na opuszczonym świecie Tobler-9.
Komiks wyróżnia się oryginalnością – skupia się na postaciach "syntetycznych" (androidach), które walczą z całkiem nowym zagrożeniem. Co ciekawe, odkrywają oni grupę ludzi, którzy przetrwali wśród ruin, w tym zmutowanego, zainfekowanego przez xenomorphy - Lee.
Artystycznie, dzieło to jest wyraziste, z silnym tuszem i intensywnymi kolorami, które nadają ton historii. Design xenomorfów, jak i zmutowanych postaci, jest szczegółowy i przerażający, co jest znakiem rozpoznawczym tej serii.
Jednakże, komiks ten nie jest pozbawiony wad. Zarzuty dotyczące zarówno jakości grafik, jak i wierności oryginalnej mitologii Obcego, były przedmiotem debaty wśród fanów już po pierwszym numerze. Pomimo tego, Johnson wprowadza innowacyjne koncepcje (dla komiksów o obcym wydawanych przez Marvela), takie jak hybrydy.
Na poziomie narracyjnym, "Alien Vol. 3: Icarus" kolejny raz dosyć dobrze łączy elementy horroru z akcją i science fiction, tworząc opowieść, która jest zarówno dynamiczna, jak i pełna napięcia.
Przyjemność 3,4/5
Styl: 3,4/5
Historia: 3,7/5
Ocena 3,5/5
Fabuła skupia się na dramatycznym wydarzeniu w kolonii rolniczej Demeter-2, gdzie awaria reaktora jądrowego stawia pod znakiem zapytania życie 1,4 miliarda osób. Rozwiązaniem tego problemu ma być Steel Team, specjalna jednostka syntetycznych żołnierzy pod dowództwem sztucznej inteligencji o imieniu Freyja. Misja Steel Team polega na odnalezieniu genetycznego lekarstwa, które może uratować ludzkość przed zagładą nuklearną – lekarstwa ukrytego w jaju xenomorfa na opuszczonym świecie Tobler-9.
Komiks wyróżnia się oryginalnością – skupia się na postaciach "syntetycznych" (androidach), które walczą z całkiem nowym zagrożeniem. Co ciekawe, odkrywają oni grupę ludzi, którzy przetrwali wśród ruin, w tym zmutowanego, zainfekowanego przez xenomorphy - Lee.
Artystycznie, dzieło to jest wyraziste, z silnym tuszem i intensywnymi kolorami, które nadają ton historii. Design xenomorfów, jak i zmutowanych postaci, jest szczegółowy i przerażający, co jest znakiem rozpoznawczym tej serii.
Jednakże, komiks ten nie jest pozbawiony wad. Zarzuty dotyczące zarówno jakości grafik, jak i wierności oryginalnej mitologii Obcego, były przedmiotem debaty wśród fanów już po pierwszym numerze. Pomimo tego, Johnson wprowadza innowacyjne koncepcje (dla komiksów o obcym wydawanych przez Marvela), takie jak hybrydy.
Na poziomie narracyjnym, "Alien Vol. 3: Icarus" kolejny raz dosyć dobrze łączy elementy horroru z akcją i science fiction, tworząc opowieść, która jest zarówno dynamiczna, jak i pełna napięcia.
Przyjemność 3,4/5
Styl: 3,4/5
Historia: 3,7/5
Ocena 3,5/5
December 19, 2024
Alien: Icarus
This is by far the best book in the series so far I really liked this book because this book kind of took away some of the issues I had with the other books earlier in the series by giving us more variety and different places that they go to instead of 2 different places for the whole book I would rate this a 4.5 star but it doesn't allow halves but I would definitely recommend this book it was a very good read for me for sci fi horror
This is by far the best book in the series so far I really liked this book because this book kind of took away some of the issues I had with the other books earlier in the series by giving us more variety and different places that they go to instead of 2 different places for the whole book I would rate this a 4.5 star but it doesn't allow halves but I would definitely recommend this book it was a very good read for me for sci fi horror
August 31, 2023
Alien, Vol. 3: Icarus (2023)
Writer – Phillip Kennedy Johnson
Illustrator – Julius Ohta
Series - Alien #13-#18
Synopsis: An elite team of synths are recruited to recover a cure from a radioactive planet.
Like the previous two arcs, Icarus starts fresh with new leads, but the same terrorising creature.
Icarus revamps the series with a different and unique perspective and most notably a different artist. The story arc on the team of synths was well done in the short span, and the characters were ironically more relatable than the human counterparts in the previous story arcs. The mission was well captured and thrilling till the very end.
The artwork was a welcome change and was very well done by Julius Ohta.
On the downside, we have the similar twists and character changes. The fight sequences in the final chapters looked muddled and hard to follow through. Also, the Synth team felt reminiscent to a group of superheroes.
The final connection with the Alien lore predicted in Bloodlines was well done, and has potential for further exploration.
Overall Icarus was a big step up, and an exciting read.
RJG Rating – 3.85/5
Goodreads –3.53/5
Writer – Phillip Kennedy Johnson
Illustrator – Julius Ohta
Series - Alien #13-#18
Synopsis: An elite team of synths are recruited to recover a cure from a radioactive planet.
Like the previous two arcs, Icarus starts fresh with new leads, but the same terrorising creature.
Icarus revamps the series with a different and unique perspective and most notably a different artist. The story arc on the team of synths was well done in the short span, and the characters were ironically more relatable than the human counterparts in the previous story arcs. The mission was well captured and thrilling till the very end.
The artwork was a welcome change and was very well done by Julius Ohta.
On the downside, we have the similar twists and character changes. The fight sequences in the final chapters looked muddled and hard to follow through. Also, the Synth team felt reminiscent to a group of superheroes.
The final connection with the Alien lore predicted in Bloodlines was well done, and has potential for further exploration.
Overall Icarus was a big step up, and an exciting read.
RJG Rating – 3.85/5
Goodreads –3.53/5
October 18, 2023
15 years have passed between Aliens Revival and this book. We are visited upon the pleasure planet of Demeter. Tragedy happens and the planet has had a nuclear plant meltdown that is going to be catastrophic. The nearby planet of Tobler-9 is a blacksite for Alien research and development. It also is an irradiated ruin, totally inhospitable for Human life. The UA military go to Europa 5, also a planet not acceptable for Human life. They go there to recruit a quintet of synthetic who were combat chassis and deadly. They were given the planet as their own to live on in peace. They are tapped into going to Tobler-9, being lied to that if they do so, synthetics would be given the same rights as Humans. The group reluctantly agrees to go and there the trouble starts. They are effective in combatting the Aliens but the inevitable happens and though it is a better ending in many ways than the events of the other two graphics in this trilogy, it is still no end, for the endgame is coming and the Xenomorph threat has never been stronger, or more evolved......
-Danny
-Danny
June 18, 2023
Maybe more like a 2.5? Tough to say.
Solid art, especially all the cover pages and stuff, they kick ass. But the rest is... ugh? Two dimensional, formulaic characters, no real sense of threat from the Xenomorphs, weirdly fast pacing. It has its moments but it is basically just 'Aliens' without that film's nuance, down to having a child colonist survivor that the female lead has to rescue from a Xeno Queen. Started this review at 3 stars and dropped to 2, it's one of those 'the more you think about it the more frustrating it is' kinda deals. Could've easily been made much better by not being crammed into a single issue, if this particular story was spread out over two or three volumes it'd probably benefit a lot.
Solid art, especially all the cover pages and stuff, they kick ass. But the rest is... ugh? Two dimensional, formulaic characters, no real sense of threat from the Xenomorphs, weirdly fast pacing. It has its moments but it is basically just 'Aliens' without that film's nuance, down to having a child colonist survivor that the female lead has to rescue from a Xeno Queen. Started this review at 3 stars and dropped to 2, it's one of those 'the more you think about it the more frustrating it is' kinda deals. Could've easily been made much better by not being crammed into a single issue, if this particular story was spread out over two or three volumes it'd probably benefit a lot.
April 17, 2024
I really enjoyed this. Just when I thought I'd seen it all in an Alien comic, Johnson manages something new: he focuses on a "family" of synthetics, the former Steel Team of mercenaries, called upon by the United System forces to go into the hellish planet, Tobler-9, and rescue an Alien egg thought to contain the secret to making humans impervious to radiation. When they get there, they're surprised to find a small group of surviving humans, who promise to help in exchange for getting off the planet. But will one human survivor, stung by a mutated insect discovered in a lab, become something even worse than the usual Alien queen? Nice artwork, though it gets a bit busy and hard to follow during some of the action sequences.
September 4, 2024
Androides contra xenomorfos en una aventura de acción y ciencia ficción, de ritmo rápido pero con buena escritura. Los androides me han parecido "demasiado humanos" e incluso "superheroicos", pero salvando ese detalle, la historia es entretenida y satisfactoria. De los 3 tomos realizados por Phillip Kennedy Johnson éste es el más ágil y accesible, pero por haber sacrificado carga narrativa. Su trabajo no llega a la altura de los cómics de Aliens publicados por Dark Horse, pero suponen un entretenimiento digno para fans de la saga. No obstante, ya va siendo hora de visitar terrenos menos explorados, hace falta algo más de innovación. Ya veremos qué nos deparan los siguientes equipos creativos.
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