Review

"They're still alive. I don't have any choice." - Billie

Omnibus V1 contains three feature length graphic novels, comprising a story arc set in the Alien universe by Mark Verheiden, along with two shorter works to add some real value for money in a 384 page full colour release by Dark Horse Books. The graphic novels follow the fortunes of survivor Billie and marine corporal Wilkes as they battle the elder Gods from the Alien home world to Earth, and unearth yet another alien threat to mankind.

In the first book, Outbreak, we meet survivor Billie and her rescuer Wilkes, the only two left alive after an alien infestation on the terraforming world of Rim. Both are deeply scared, one psychological and one physically, by their experience combating the Alien hordes. Naturally they both end up going "back out" to the Alien home world in order to claim a specimen for military research. That doesn't go so well, as expected, with Billie, Wilkes, and Private Bueller only just making it back to Earth. Unfortunately they discover Earth has been overrun by the Aliens due to a breakout in a private research facility some months prviously. The trio stow away aboard a space freighter bound for the unknown.

Deep in space Nightmare Asylum kicks off with Billie becoming aware of aliens aboard the freighter. A space battle ensues, with the alien threat thwarted for the time being. The freighter's destination is a remote military outpost where Commander Spears is raising a unique army to re-conquer Earth. Spears is the sort of megalomaniac that let's nothing stand in his way and considers personal, civilian and military, as expendable in his search for glory. A rebellion lead by Wilkes has Spears hurtling toward Earth and his final fate as saviour and messiah of the new world order. On the bright side the end of the story does re-introduce everyone's favourite Alien character, Ripley!

The trilogy finishes with The Female War which sees Ripley leading a ragtag expedition to the Alien home world to capture the ultimate Queen. Returning with the monarch to Earth to launch a plan to wipe out the aliens, and a resurrection of the human race. Unfortunately while the plan is great in principal it appears to be the result of another alien intelligence that desires Earth for itself.

Omnibus V1 completes with a discussion on the Alien life cycle, which I think arrived somewhere in the middle of the original stand alone graphic novel of Outbreak. And a piece that concludes the Space Jockey storyline that Dark Horse developed in a different direction to the recent Prometheus movie.

Overall you get a solid enough book containing three full colour graphic novels and a couple of stories that round out the collection nicely. As expected there are differing art styles involved and intriguing story lines that should have most Aliens fans pretty excited with the publication. Full recommendation to those folks, peeps that like some horror in their comic fare, and generally purveyors of quality graphic novels everywhere, I certainly got value for money.

Aliens Omnibus Volume 1 is currently available from Amazon at a featuring price of only $18 USD plus P&H. The book should also be available at all decent comic stores and head shops.