What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 49

Happy New Year to all my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?

I recommend you check out the following topics and the related videos I found.

You, Me and the Movies react to The Tower (2012) – The Tower (2012) is a South Korean disaster film that drew huge audiences in its country and found some success overseas. Its concept will remind long-time movie buffs about 1974’s The Towering Inferno which itself was an inspiration for director Kim Ji-hoon. If you want to discover The Tower but you are not willing to spend time and money to see it, I encourage to watch You, Me and the Movies’ reaction video.

Alien versus Predator games history examined by Slope’s Game Room – I really enjoy watching the retro gaming videos of YouTuber Slope’s Game Room. This time around, Slope examines the history of video games featuring one of the most memorable sci-fi crossovers ever: Alien versus Predator. For the newcomers reading this, there was a time when Alien and Predator were separate sci-fi film franchises. How a crossover between them happened and what video games were made are explained in detail in the video below.

The rise of cold coffee in America – Do you like drinking coffee that is actually cold? Over the past several years in America, spending on cold coffee skyrocketed and outpaced hot coffee. To be clear, cold coffee includes iced coffee, cold brew and frozen coffee drinks. Already, cold coffee sales really grew for certain businesses that sell coffee. To find out why Americans are buying more cold coffee and what possibly started the trend, watch the video below.

Changing the Middle East – There is no denying the fact that Israel will be remembered for significant gains against Iran-sponsored terrorists in 2024. They did not have much support from Biden-led America but Israel still succeeded in eliminating Yahya Sinwar (Hamas) and Hassan Nasrallah (Hezbollah). Israel also succeeded in hitting military targets in terrorist state Iran which crippled them significantly. Also the collapse of the wicked Assad regime in Syria proved to be a huge loss for Iran which had a sinister alliance with Bashar al-Assad (who abandoned Syria).

With Donald Trump set to return as United States President on January 20, 2025, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed confidence of changing the Middle East. Netanyahu talked with Trump recently and you can learn more by watching CBN News’ video.

If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, I encourage you to pray to Him in support of Israel and the new Trump administration to change the Middle East in 2025. Pray to Him for the Christians in Syria who will soon be affected negatively by the new regime’s plan to impose Sharia Law. Pray to Him for the rescue or release of the hostages of the October 7, 2023 attacks.

Lefties losing it – In case you did not notice, the Democrats in America don’t just have wicked and dishonest leaders. They also have Hollywood celebrities as Democrat activists who are actually phony intellectuals who love to fool their fellow Americans. A lot of Democrat leaders and activists are actually out of touch with the people and reality in general, which is what this Lefties Losing It video from Sky News Australia emphasized clearly. Watch and learn from start to finish.

PatmanQC examines Gun.Smoke – Developed by Capcom, Gun.Smoke debuted in the arcades in 1985 and eventually got ported to different platforms. I never played the arcade version but I had fun with Gun.Smoke on the Nintendo Family Computer (Famicom) Disk System. It was a run-and-gun shooter with an Old West setting and its designer was Yoshiki Okamoto (1942, Street Fighter II and Resident Evil). The production history of the game is quite interesting and you can find out more in PatmanQC’s video.

Ashleigh Burton reacts to The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear – I love watching Ashleigh Burton’s movie reaction videos, especially the ones that has her laughing a lot. She’s a jolly YouTuber and often entertaining. That being said, you have to watch her reaction to 1991’s The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear.

Popcorn in Bed reacts to Star Trek: Nemesis – Were you able to watch the entire Star Trek: The Next Generation (Star Trek: TNG) series from 1987 to 1994? I never had the privilege to watch all seven seasons but I managed to watch several random episodes of it and got to know the characters enough before proceeding to watch all four Star Trek: TNG movies from 1994 to 2002. Star Trek: Nemesis (2002) was released in American theaters right in the middle of intense box office competition with a Harry Potter movie, a James Bond movie and a Lord of the Rings movie. Apart from its box office failure, there was something wrong that happened behind the scenes during Star Trek: Nemesis’ production which explains its disappointing quality. If you want to discover the movie but you don’t want to spend too much time nor money on it, I encourage you to watch Popcorn in Bed’s reaction video.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

A Look Back at Predator #1 (1989)

Welcome back science fiction enthusiasts, 1980s arts and culture enthusiasts, movie fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1989 to take a look at a significant event of the Predator entertainment franchise – the comic book launch of Predator.

For the newcomers reading this, Predator started as a sci-fi action movie in 1987 directed by John McTiernan (Die Hard) and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, and Jesse Ventura to name some. The writers and creators were Jim Thomas and John Thomas. As the movie became a huge commercial success, it led to the start of its own multi-media entertainment franchise covering video games, toys, novels and comic books. It also led to the release of more movies including a crossover film with the Alien franchise.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Predator , published in 1989 by Dark Horse Comics with a story written by Mark Verheiden and drawn by Chris Warner. The is the first chapter of a 4-issue mini-series and it would later be referred to as Predator: Concrete Jungle.

The cover.

Early story

The story begins during a very hot summer day in 1991 New York City. A man killed his own wife using a shotgun which eventually leads to the arrival of cops, medics and his arrest. The two detectives Errol Rasche and John Schaefer (brother of Dutch) have been working together in the local war against crime and they have a tendency to do things that violate their superiors’ orders.

In one of the rundown buildings of New York, a secret meeting between two gangs got terribly disrupted by a Predator who attacked from the outside. Chaos and destruction followed.

Shortly after, Rasche and Schaefer arrive outside the same building which has been surrounded and isolated by the local police. When a man suddenly fell out of the building and crashed on top of a police car, the two detectives decide to enter willfully violating the order to stay out.

Once they enter the room where the secret gang meeting was held, Rasche and Schaefer are shocked to see many skinned and dead bodies inside. Schaefer is convinced that what happened was not the result of a gang war…

Quality

A gang meeting about to be disrupted by the unseen Predator.

This comic book – written as a not-too-obvious sequel to the 1987 movie – is absolutely very intriguing to read from start to finish. Mark Verheiden clearly wrote a crime story that happens to involve the species of deadly hunters from outer space. In fact, this comic book has very notable elements that also made it into the core concept of the 1990 movie Predator 2.

Story is set within a massive city that happens to be suffering from a heat wave – check! There is rampant crime and conflicts between gangs – check! The Predator causes huge disruptions on the criminals – check! The detectives willingly violate protocol to solve cases – check! One of the detectives is gradually getting closer to retiring and his pension – check. It’s almost as if this comic book was a huge influence on the people who made Predator 2.

Going back to the story, this is a strong tale of crime and urban war told through the exploits of detectives Schaefer and Rasche who have worked many years together, they treat each other like brothers (similar to Predator 2’s Mike Harrigan and Danny Archuleta).

With their record of disobeying orders, Schaefer and Rasche simply involve themselves in cases believing they have the right know the details on the spot and to solve problems their way even though their superiors don’t need them. This is the anti-authoritarian portrayal of law enforcers that easily reminded me of certain TV shows and movies of the 1980s.

All throughout, the story by Verheiden is nicely structured, has lots of engaging details to follow and carefully blends sci-fi elements with detective storytelling. Verheiden clearly knows how to build up tension, keep the narrative progressing and use action or spectacle with precise timing.

When it comes to the visuals, Chris Warner’s style is very good. His approach on drawing the characters made them look exquisite and visceral at the same time. In fact, there were some shots of people in this comic book which reminded me of Todd McFarlane’s way of drawing people during his early works in comics. Lastly, I should say that Warner’s approach on hard action and his way of drawing of the Predator must be seen.

Conclusion

Rasche and Schaefer defy orders. Schaefer (holding the gun) is the brother of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character in the Predator movie of 1987.

I really enjoyed reading Predator (1989). This is indeed really fine work by the Verheiden-Warner team and as far as building up the lore of the Predator goes, they clearly succeeded and their contributions here strongly influenced the creation of Predator 2 which opened in cinemas in late 1990. This comic book has the visceral touch and violence that make it comparable with both the 1987 and 1990 movies.

Overall, Predator (1989) is highly recommended!

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

A Look Back at Aliens vs. Predator #4 (1990)

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1990 to take a close look at one of the more significant non-superhero crossover comic book events ever published – Aliens vs. Predator!

In my previous review, things changed for the worse for the humans as their colonial community gets overwhelmed by the presence of Aliens and Predators. Risking her own life, Machiko Noguchi does what she could to protect her constituents. Along the way, one certain Predator that was restrained and examined in the laboratory eerily decides to help the humans.  

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Aliens vs. Predator , published in 1990 by Dark Horse Comics with a story written by Randy Stradley and drawn by Phill Norwood. This is the final issue of the mini-series.

The cover.

Early story

The story begins with Noguchi and Miriam flying in a Copter and right below them is the chaos composed of a cattle stampede and the ongoing conflict between Alien Xenomorphs and the armed Predators. While flying, Noguchi and Miriam spot a lone Predator climbing up a tower while fighting off several Xenomorphs chasing him unrelentingly. It turns out the said Predator was Miriam’s own patient at the laboratory and she urges Noguchi to help him.

As part of the tower separates itself, the Predator is about to fall down and the Copter piloted by Noguchi comes closer to help him. Miriam uses a communicator to help the Predator realize they are helping him. As the Predator hangs on to one part of the Copter, an Alien jumps towards the vehicle causing Noguchi to react instinctively by jerking the controls. The Copter then spins on its axis as the nearby tower collapses.

The Copter begins to fall down on the street below…  

Quality

Even as this comic book is packed with lots of action scenes, thrills, and Aliens-Predator fights, the creative team succeeded in emphasizing the narrative all throughout.

I am delighted to say that the Stradley-Norwood duo succeeded with maintaining the high quality works of this mini-series and concluded it with impact. At the heart of the story is the theme of survival with the humans being symbolized as casualties of a raging conflict between the fully determined and instinctive Aliens and the strategic and technological Predators.  

Through the protagonist Machiko Noguchi, readers will realize that as a species, humans can survive not only by having a powerful will to progress backed with focus, but also by communicating and cooperating with an intelligent non-human species that shares their traits. In this case, the non-human species I’m referring to are the Predators. That being said, the Aliens are the non-human species with limited intelligence, fully determined to hunt anyone or anything, and absolutely do not care about morals nor the existence of any species they find different from themselves. All the symbolism about the three species got portrayed powerfully and creatively throughout the story here.

As before, the plot moved at a medium pace and details are emphasized through dialogue, visuals and narrations without ever dragging the pace down. This shows how the creative team proved to be efficient with explaining the details as they focused on telling the story in ways to keep readers engaged.

I should mention that the protagonist Machiko Noguchi became even more significant in this comic book. Without spoiling the details, I can say she blossomed into a heroic figure who risks her life to help many even as she faces tremendous odds. In case you are wondering, Noguchi is NOT a rip-off of Ellen Ripley as she is the colonial overseer dedicated to the corporation. It just so happens that Noguchi shares common traits with the cinematic icon such as bravery, the refusal to give up and having the will to help others even while risking her own life. I can only imagine Ripley and Noguchi conflicting with each other if they were together under normal circumstances.

Noguchis’s short but intense union with the cooperative Predator was told very believably which added depth to the story as well as impact on the conclusion.

As this is the final issue of the mini-series, the creative team really ramped up the big-payoff to what was built up before. In fact, the final conflict here seems to show that Stradley and Norwood were aware about what made the cinematic final conflicts of Aliens (1986) and Predator (1987) entertaining and memorable to moviegoers. That being said, I can say that certain action and sci-fi elements from those movies were implemented in this comic book’s final conflict which I found really engaging, inspired and fun to read.

Conclusion

The union between Machiko Noguchi and this particular Predator is a must-read!

Aliens vs. Predator (1990) is truly a great comic book as well as a powerful conclusion to this very significant comic book mini-series. The creative team not only told the whole storyline with great quality, a steady pace and strong engagement all throughout. It is also here where you will get to see Machiko Noguchi become very significant not only within the Aliens-Predator comic book universe of Dark Horse Comics but in sci-fi comics in general. The ending of this comic book is very powerful and served also as a big pay-off to what preceded it. This is a genuine sci-fi comic book classic!

Overall, Aliens vs. Predator (1990) is highly recommended!

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

A Look Back at Aliens vs. Predator #3 (1990)

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1990 to take a close look at one of the more significant non-superhero crossover comic book events ever published – Aliens vs. Predator!

In my previous review, the humans of Prosperity Wells begin to get impacted by the presence of the Predators and the Aliens. A family got killed by Predator hunters at their home in the wilderness and only a young boy was able to get away and catch people’s attention in the outpost. Machiko Noguchi and her team initiate defensive measures in response to what has been happening. Two people even brought back a living Predator with them from the ruins of a Predator ship they inspected in the wilderness.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Aliens vs. Predator , published in 1990 by Dark Horse Comics with a story written by Randy Stradley and drawn by Phill Norwood.  

The cover.

Early story

The story begins with Noguchi who finds herself in a dangerous position. In front of her is a horde of Xenomorphs and behind her is one Predator warrior who even assisted her a few moments prior. Armed with futuristic weapons, the armored warrior suddenly jumps above her and right into the Xenomorphs. The Predator efficiently slashed off the parts of a few Aliens using a bladed weapon and blew up one of them using another weapon.

The warrior eventually gets overwhelmed by more Aliens that came into the action. As the Xenomorphs focused strongly on the downed Predator, Noguchi takes advantage of the situation to run away and somehow get back to protecting the people as the outpost has been clearly invaded by two deadly non-human species.

Meanwhile inside the huge cargo ship that did not launch, two crew members freed themselves from the Xenomorphs’ restraints and try to sneak by the Alien Queen which they perceived to be sleeping…

Quality

This is a fine example by the creative team on telling a sequence of intense moments without a single word of dialogue.

From a storytelling point-of-view, this one is a huge pay-off to the build-up established in the first two issues and I can say I enjoyed this one. At this stage of the 4-issue mini-series, the human colony has turned into a battle zone between the Predators and the Xenomorphs and this obviously results in a lot of action scenes and other wild turns of events. It is also in this story where you will get to see Machiko Noguchi at her bravest yet, as well as her uncompromising way of protecting her people and solving the crisis at hand. As she and her fellow humans are in the middle of a crisis, nothing straightforward could happen nor could they make solid plans with any real chance of succeeding. The decisions Noguchi made here came with risks and through her struggles, you will be able to relate with her and you will also witness how the series of unfortunate events turn out with unpredictable ways which added some suspense and surprise to the narrative.

The spectacle here, unsurprisingly, are the battles between the Aliens and Predators. Such conflicts happened mostly in the background which is effective enough to establish the chaos that the humans have to endure. One of the Predators – which does not have a name – became a notable additional supporting player to the cast and his presence and actions added some intensity to storytelling even as the narrative consistently focused on Noguchi.   

The way the story is told, this one maintains the natural progression of details from issue and even though the action has been ramped up, there were still plenty of opportunities for readers to understand the details and grasp the plot. There is also rising tension as the narrative moves forward.

Conclusion

There is nothing like trying to sneak past an Alien Queen in an area surrounded by multiple eggs laid by her.

Being a big pay-off to the huge build-up of issues and , Aliens vs. Predator (1990) is highly entertaining and compelling to read! The action scenes and chain of incidents were ramped up a lot and yet this comic book never turned into a brainless fest of violence. The creative team managed to add some breathing space to not only let readers absorb the story details but also to immerse themselves with the situations. By the time I reached the end, I experienced this great satisfaction as well as further motivation to discover how the story will conclude in the next issue.

Overall, Aliens vs. Predator (1990) is highly recommended!

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

A Look Back at Aliens vs. Predator #2 (1990)

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1990 to take a close look at one of the more significant non-superhero crossover comic book events ever published – Aliens vs. Predator!

In my previous review, most of the humans living and working in Prosperity Wells are unaware about the creeping danger coming at them. Alien eggs were laid in the wilderness while a ship carrying multiple Predator hunters has landed. At the human outpost, the leader Machiko Noguchi remains disrespected as the staffers and ranchers still trust her predecessor Hiroki Shimura.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Aliens vs. Predator , published in 1990 by Dark Horse Comics with a story written by Randy Stradley and drawn by Phill Norwood.  

The cover.

Early story

The story begins with the huge spaceship still at the launch platform of Prosperity Wells. The ship should have launched already with a huge cargo of indigenous animals – the Rynth – for export. It turns out that the two human pilots were captured by the Xenomorphs and in the presence of the Alien queen inside the ship, they witness one rynth (part of the herd from the ranching) die as a Chestburster alien comes out of its body.

Meanwhile, Machiko wakes up as her respected predecessor Shimura arrives and tells her that Dr. Revna still has not returned. During her talk with the wife (also a doctor), Machiko learns that the missing doctor was on his way to Iwa Gorge to find more aliens (note: the Facehugger alien) and that a lady worker (who made the first discovery of a Facehugger) informed him of the place.

As Machiko and Shimura analyze what they know, two outpost personnel discover the remains of a destroyed Predator space ship and, more notably, one unconscious Predator hunter…

Quality

The Predators looks really odd with the colors implemented on them by the creative team of this comic book.

If you were deeply engaged in issue , then you will have a lot to be engaged with in this issue. The script by Stradley is very solid and with a medium pace, details were consistently laid out for readers’ understanding while the build-up for the inevitable chaos – between Xenomorphs and Predators with humans in the middle literally – is strongly felt.

Machiko Noguchi’s management and ability to analyze situations really get tested in this story and along the way, you will see how much the outpost changes reflecting the moves made by her administration which is ultimately a response to a brewing crisis. At this stage of the comic book mini-series, the danger of the two galactic species begin to make impact on innocent humans in violent ways. The scene showing the home of people (located some distance away from the main complex of the outpost) getting invaded by the Predators has uncompromising violence which makes the incidental action look really disturbing.

More on the human characters, this comic book has very rich dialogue backed with special attention to details implemented by Stradley. This is very evident in the scene in which Machiko, Roth, Ackland and Shimura talk intensely about what happened and what factors caused those things to happen. Through the verbal exchange, you will witness Machiko’s bravery and leadership come to life as she confronts a rebellious rancher (who insulted her in a very personal way) over the truth about what happened. Not only that, you will also feel the stress she experiences as she manages the outpost at a time of crisis.

For the fans of Predators and Aliens reading this, you will see a lot more of them in this issue and I can assure you that Norwood is really great in visualizing them and showing them with violent action that will remind you of the movies. As with the previous issue, the colors implemented on the Predators remains very odd to look at.

Conclusion

Live humans helplessly watching an animal die as a Chestburster alien comes out of it in the presence of the Alien queen.

Aliens vs. Predator (1990) is a great follow-up to issue . As expected, the stakes were raised higher and the tension really intensified as the narrative went on. The creative team really should be admired for not only crafting this high-quality chapter of the mini-series, but also for their believable and engaging build-up of the plot, the characters and conflict altogether. This comic book is a lively reminder of how great a non-superhero comic book crossover could be.

Overall, Aliens vs. Predator (1990) is highly recommended!

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

A Look Back at Aliens vs. Predator #1 (1990)

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1990 to take a close look at one of the more significant non-superhero crossover comic book events ever published – Aliens vs. Predator!

For the newcomers reading this, the respective movie franchises of Aliens and Predator started many years before the comic book crossover event happened. By the year 1990, moviegoers had enjoyed Alien (1979), Aliens (1986), Predator (1987) and Predator 2 (late 1990). Cinematic between Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Predator in the jungle and that of Sigourney Weaver and the Queen Alien became unforgettable sequences for many millions of people. It should be noted that an Alien head was shown near the end of Predator 2 emphasizing a crossover.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Aliens vs. Predator , published in 1990 by Dark Horse Comics with a story written by Randy Stradley and drawn by Phill Norwood.  

The cover.

Early story

The story begins in space when a fast-moving ship enters the atmosphere of Ryushi, a planet at the edge of the Chigusa Corporation’s holdings in the Beta Cygni System. On the planet is Prosperity Wells, a human outpost with a population of one hundred fifteen composed of freelance ranchers, their families and a staff of corporate overseers.

The ship’s presence gets detected by operators at Prosperity Wells and one of them speculated it to be a meteor that shows no signs of breaking up. Seeking Hiroki Shimura (no longer the head of the outpost), the operator instead contacts his replacement Machiko Noguchi and informs her about the perceived meteor. After talking with the operator, Noguchi tells her predecessor near her that even though she has been leading the outpost for nearly six months, people are still reporting to him as they treat her like a stranger. Shimura tells her that she’s been trying to adapt the job to her rather than adapting herself to it, and that she cannot just run an operation while hiding from it.

Meanwhile in the wilderness, a machine starts to climb out of the pit and starts releasing Alien eggs… 

Quality

Whenever there are Alien eggs, trouble is inevitable.

I can say that this comic book is essentially one long build-up that intends to execute the conflict between the Aliens (also referred to as the Xenomorphs) and Predators later. While the two galactic species are indeed here, the narrative is told mainly through the humans whose operations – ranching, business administration, outpost activities – are emphasized with heavy and precise details. The result here is that by the end of the comic book, you will be fully immersed with the sci-fi concept, the characters and the related developments which ultimately will prepare you for the inevitable Aliens-Predator conflict. To put it clearly, Stradley crafted a script that efficiently introduces the characters (note: Noguchi is the clear protagonist), emphasize what has been going on while also moving the story forward in a well-paced manner without compromising the details.

That being said, don’t expect the Aliens and Predators to fight each other immediately here. This is one big build-up as a whole and very notably, there is nothing boring and there were no useless scenes portrayed. Everything told and shown in this comic book made sense, and if you are the kind of person who likes paying close attention to details of the story as well as the gradual development of the key characters, you will find this one an engaging read. The narrative moved at a medium pace and cleverly the suspense happens whenever the creative team gradually build-ups the tension for the inevitable Aliens-Predators fight.

As with many other entertainment tales across varied media forms, this story has a critical portrayal of the corporation slightly emphasizing greed while making the contractors (technically the laborers) look disadvantaged. It is not a one-sided portrayal against corporatism, however, as there were moments showing the contractors relying on deception (note: disregarding quality and the safety of consumers who will soon consume the products from the ranching operation) just to achieve their goals.

More on the protagonist Machiko Noguchi, she is not the typical corporate figure for readers to hate. In fact, she is somewhat sympathetic as she is has yet to earn the respect of others even though she had been working as the head of the outpost for months. The grudge against her is subtle yet clear. The comic book also made clear that she is destined for something significant in the upcoming fight between the two galactic species.

The art by Phill Norwood is very good. While the characters have that comic book aesthetic, the Aliens and Predators are easily recognizable and were drawn with sufficient visual details. What I find weird is the creative team’s approach on applying color on the Predators. Norwood also has a really nice approach on illustrating futuristic stuff (examples: the technologies, office equipment, clothes of the characters) while also emphasizing the wilderness of Ryuchi.

Conclusion

Machiko Noguchi takes charge even though she is despised by many.

Aliens vs. Predator (1990) is one very detailed build-up type of comic book that happens to be pretty engaging to read and the set-up for the expected conflict between the two species worked nicely. By the time I reached the end of this tale, I got immersed into its concept, the situations and characters. The build-up also came out with really interesting parts here and there which made the reading experience a very good one. Right now, I am eager to read the next issue.

Overall, Aliens vs. Predator (1990) is highly recommended!

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco