Alien, Predator, And Planet Of The Apes CGD 2026 #1 - Marvel Comics

ALIEN, PREDATOR AND PLANET OF THE APES CGD 2026 No.1

There should be little doubt that this “promotional giveaway” certainly lives up to its pre-publication promise of providing its audience with a trio of intriguing “stories from across Twentieth Century Studios”, for whilst the twenty-page-periodical arguably leaves its best tale until last, all three of the yarns found inside Issue One of “Alien, Predator, And Planet Of The Apes CGD 2026” are pretty good. Indeed, the most successful of the narratives probably depends upon which of the science-fiction franchises any onlooker is most interested in; “Okay. We’ve run this drill a dozen times! Coordinated strike on my mark… Fire!”

However, it’s probably a fairly safe bet that Saladin Ahmed’s “Kingmaker” will probably land the most awkwardly with bibliophiles, seeing as its basically consists of four Power Ranger-like humanoids being created so as to help overcome an alien infestation of the Colony World Sovryn. Admittedly, Emilio Laiso’s artwork definitely helps when it comes to the quartet’s fight against a single xenomorph drone. But when the protagonists are unimaginatively named Red, White, Green and Blue, it is debatably difficult not to disconcertingly hear Ron Wasserman’s "Go Go Power Rangers" theme track playing in the background as the super-powered heroes morph into their “full enhancement mode.”

Far more impressive, as well as entirely self-contained, is Jordan Morris’ “Together Forever”, which tells of two top-class pugilists romantically coming together at the zenith of an underground fighting tournament. Proficiently pencilled by Roland Boschi, this unlikely couple appear to be on the verge of breaking out on their own until a Predator ambushes them in the surrounding jungle, and is sadly brings their dreams of a future together to a very bloody end.

Lastly is the four-page sneak into Marvel Comics’ upcoming mini-series “Predator Versus Planet Of The Apes”, which frankly should have any fan of Franklin J. Schaffner’s 1968 movie or the original film franchise immediately pre-ordering the title from their local store. Packed full of the furious action experienced during the flick’s famous hunt sequence through one of Ape City’s more remotely located cornfields, and prodigiously sketched by Alan Robinson, this all-too brief taster is wonderfully reimagined as a Yautja warrior suddenly sees the gorilla soldiers riding down the unarmed humans (as well as a female astronaut) as entirely fair game.

Writers: Saladin Ahmed, Jordan Morris & Greg Pak, and Artists: Emilio Laiso, Roland Boschi & Alan Robinson