The unlikely crossover arrives this summer!
18th April 2024
By Paul Dunne
If you had to ask yourself what Jonathan Hickman would be doing post launching the new Ultimates Universe, what would you have put on his dance card?
Because I certainly wouldn’t have put this crossover down as first choice! In July, Marvel will release Aliens Vs. Avengers, by Hickman and superstar artist Esad Ribic, who collaborated with Hickman on Secret Wars.
As reported earlier today by EW, both creators are experiencing career highs right now, with Ribic still feeling the deserved acclaim of his Eternals run (written by Kieron Gillen) and Hickman revitalising the X-Men and of course, resurrecting The Ultimates line, as mentioned.
But what brought Hickman to a licensed property? "I've never worked on a licensed or 'non-superhero' property the entire time I've been at Marvel, so when all of this came together almost two years ago, I kind of jumped at the opportunity. I love the Aliens universe and the mythology, and obviously just how atmospherically and well-designed everything is has always gotten my creative juices flowing. It was tricky finding a way to make these two things work together, but I think Esad and I landed on something that works for fans of both franchises."
This takes me back to the days of DC / Dark Horse crossovers, which saw the Xenomorphs and their distant cousins The Predators go up against Batman, Superman, Green Lantern, not mention a brief excursion into Stormwatch territory. Will the Marvel adventures measure up? And how will Ribic and Hickman do to make this a winning a combination?
"Probably one of the coolest things about the project is how we've found really fun ways to 'Avengerize' Aliens and 'alien-up' Avengers. I think fans will be surprised at how elegantly some of those things fit together. It really turned out to be a chocolate-and-peanut-butter situation."
According to the synopsis supplied by Marvel, this crossover will do something that none of the Alien films have accomplished – bring the acid-blooded chittering horrors to earth! Check it out:
"It's all led to this: Xenomorphs reach Earth! The perfect organism meets a planet of superhumans. Who will be first to fall?"
Find out more on 24th July and get the Alien’s next onslaught in Alien Romulus on 16th August. And don’t forget to drop by The Comic Crush on 26th April for our Alien Day celebrations!