Comic Book Review - Alien #1

In Space, Declan Shalvey CAN hear you scream…

It’s fair to say that Marvel’s forays into the realms of Ridley Scott’s Alien universe have so far been a bit rocky. From Phillip Kennedy Johnson’s retreading of familiar grounds to Salvador Larroca’s questionable art, the famous Xenomorph became a mediocre comic. Too be fair, I’m being overly harsh on Kennedy as both Revival and Icarus did start to tread new ground for the franchise. 

For the franchise’s fourth arc, Marvel turned to Declan Shalvey who brought us Thaw. Taking place on a barren ice-world Thaw introduced us LV-695 - a barren ice-world that’s hiding a deadly secret. While the Xenomorph’s introduction was always going to be a given, it was through Shalvey’s human cast where the mystery stemmed from. Introducing us to a likeable protagonist  and her family, Shalvey takes us on a wild ride that involves corporate takeovers, long buried secrets, greed, and a heavy dose of old fashioned horror.

Taking place a few years after the events seen within the Alien Annual, this new arc re-introduces us to Zasha Zahn - now grown up and working under the directive of Wayland-Yutani. All isn’t as it seems as not only is Zasha is going under the false identity of “Cole”, she’s heading back to LV-695. Not only this, but the mysterious Mr. Yutani is also hitching a ride on his private yacht. The reason why Cole (and Wayland-Yutani) is heading back to LV-695 is to uncover the mystery that surrounds the now sunken USCS Boreas, and the ultimate fate of Dayton - Zasha’s synthetic father figure. 

Naturally past event soon find their way to the surface as the salvage crew come in contact with the ever present Xenomorph. And for those who’ve read the annual - well let’s just say that “the perfect species” has adapted to its artic surroundings. 

This new arc (Descendants) sets itself off to a good start. Shalvey introduces us to his new cast, while re-introducing us to his prior heroine. The only thing that lets this opening down is the side narrative that takes pace in the past. However, I am fully expecting to see this get expanded upon especially considering the arcs title. The introduction to Jun Yutani also makes a nice change and bucks the tend of having a Wayland descendant pulling the strings. Shalvey also gives us subtle hints that something more sinister is operating behind the youngsters facade. 

Artwork continues to come from Andrea Broccado, who along with colour artist Ruth Redmond bring a welcome change to that of previous outings. Each character oozes their personalities and I’m already placing my bets on who’s the hidden synthetic. The Xenomorph has also undergone a redesign, and while those classic traits still remain, this new variant looks far more dangerous. LV-695 is as much a character as the human cast, and the desolate landscape gives everything a chilling tone. There’s a lot here that started to remind me of The Thing mixed with a little bit of The Shining! 

Overall, under Declan Shalvey Marvel’s Alien is in good hands. Much like the work Cavan Scott is doing with Star Wars, Shalvey is taking a well established franchise and placing a new spin on things. Gone are the tired and played out Colonial Marines, and instead we’ve got an intricate story about family, and betrayal in the cold reaches of space.

Rating: 8/10 

Rob Lake - For more comic book and video game chat why not follow us on X/Facebook @GeekCultureRev, TikTok/YouTube @Geekculturereviews, and BlueSky @geekculturereviews.bsky.social