Alien [2023] #4 - Marvel Comics

ALIEN No. 4, September 2023

Incredibly fast-paced and impressively continuing several different plot-threads simultaneously, there was probably plenty for fans of Twentieth Century Studios’ science-fiction franchise to enjoy with Issue Four of “Alien” upon its release in July 2023. Indeed, Declan Shalvey’s twenty-page long narrative must have kept many a bibliophile utterly hooked with some truly gruesome demises, plenty of deadly xenomorphs slowly battering their way into Talbot Engineering Incorporated’s beleaguered base on LV-695, and a seriously surprising conclusion which would have had many a viewer spluttering out their popcorn if this comic’s storyline was being shown upon the silver screen; “You can come out now. It’s safe. Nothing’s going to hurt you. I promise.”

One of this book’s main intriguing elements is arguably scientist Batya Zahn’s revelation that her pregnancy is much more complicated than it ever seemed, with the woman’s unexpected baby emerging as an extra-terrestrial hybrid. Admittedly, this disclosure possibly came as no surprise to those bibliophiles already suspicious of the woman conducting “some covert work on the side.” But for others caught up in the hope that the unlikeable character’s sole saving grace was the Doctor’s love for her family, this plan to sell the “bio sample” to Weyland-Yutani so she could get “off this rock” is as shocking as her duplicity despicable.

Similarly as well-penned though is the handling of this publication’s secondary cast, with the Irish author debatably doing a good job in imbuing the likes of Doc Cleary, Harrison, and their Sergeant some solid moments in the spotlight. The facially-traumatised Harrison is especially electrifying, as he coldly leaves his fellow soldier to die with a face-hugger wrapped around his head, and then savagely states he’ll happily allow young Zasha to “burn or freeze” without a moment’s hesitation.

Possibly, this comic’s sole disappointment therefore comes in the shape of Andrea Broccardo’s pencilling, which at times arguably appears a little too Manga-like to convey the disconcerting darkness of Shalvey’s grim narrative. This ‘art-style’ is particularly irksome during the scenes featuring Zahn and her daughter, where the couple’s doe-shaped eyes jar with everything else – most notably when the panels surrounding them feature either company troopers racing towards the facility’s sole life-pod, or the Xenomorphs tearing towards the icy planet’s survivors.

The regular cover art to "ALIEN" #4 by Dike Ruan & Matthew Wilson