Alien: Romulus #1 Review!

Alien: Romulus #1 is a comic book prequel to the film which covers the characters hinted at with the intro of the asteroid with xenomorph! The beginning of Alien: Romulus had the ship, Echo Probe, to retrieve a fragment from the wreckage of the Nostromo. It is taken into the ship and watched over by masked, voiceless personnel. This gives more about the unseen characters and fills in their story and what happened until discovered by Rain and Andy in the film. There is a brief preface by director, Fede Alvarez, about how his dreams was to a comic book and also an Alien film. He provides the story along with co-writer, Rodd Sayagues. 

So this comic is an official part of the Alien: Romulus canon and essential to the Alien universe. I hope it would be part of a bonus feature for Blu Ray or home release. It is written by Zac Thompson, the author of Into the Unbeing, the horror comic, and the artist is Daniel Picciotto. The other work by Picciotto includes the comic limited series, Danny Ketch: Ghost Rider. The cover by Leinil Francis Yu has a dripping red background with the hissing head of the Xenomorph and its claws! We see the fragment taken into the ship’s cargo hold. This is at the Zeta Reticuli system near moon LV-426. The moon was named Acheron by later colonists and the world that led to the Alien infestation. The asteroid is hled in a reserach lab on the Renaissance Station and examined by a team in space suits. Picciotto's artwork resembles the dark pencils of Ghost Rider artist, Javier Saltares. 

We find that this is Science Officer Rook (who resembles Ian Holm) holding up a flashlight and stating that it is made of a “secreted resin”, a cocoon. Mattos wearing glasses asks Rook about the risk and with approval begins cutting free the cocoon, self preservation for the Alien in the vacuum of space? The automated laser cuts into the cocoon. We are told that it “oozes rotten energy” from a woman with an eye patch, Hyla. She observes it on the upper floor overlooking the bay with a bearded man, Adrian. We see the xenomorph curled insectoid in the cocoon. Hyla pulls out her pulse rifle, but is held back by Adrian. He says it is dead and is confident in Rook. At the Remus Lab, Mattos remarks that the xenomorph killed seven crew members, the Nostromo crew in Alien (1979). Rook corrects him that is six victims, with one survivor, Ripley! Great hint at the original! 

Mattos is eager to weaponize the xenomorph and Rook says that is a human reaction like nuclear fusion and sarin gas. This moves from Mattos over the xenomorph to a closeup of Rook. He says Synths could exterminate humankind if is needed! A Terminator solution. Of course Synthetics are programmed not to harm humans. He turns to work on a computer discussing the “Nostromo event” and remarking about the xenomorph’s rapid evolution. Also its tissue regeneration and ability to “survive almost any environment.” We move from Rook reaching for a surgical laser to a worm’s eye view from the xenomorph of him. He notes the dream of the “founding father”, Peter Weyland. The founder and CEO of Weyland-Yutani was played by Guy Pearce in Alien: Covenant (2017). I do like how Alien: Romulus ties all of the Alien threads together. 

He says the dream was eternal life, which Rook calls, “Prometheus fire”, closeup of the laser cutting into the green, burning blood of the xenomorph. Mattos is startled by the Alien arm whipping to the side! Rook explains that it was a muscle spasm. He adds that the control rig it is in keeps the temperature at subzero. Hopefully to keep it in stasis. Hyla and Adrian are posted as guards outside of the lab. She doubts that the xenomorph is dead, Adrian asks what it is doing, and Hyla says it is playing dead, a tactic she learned from the Colonial Marines. This was the military seen in Aliens (1986). She points to her eyepatch and then tells Adrian about her deployment to LV-147. She is blasting bugs, multiple legged, spider-like with tails, with her pulse rifle. Hyla has killed three of the bugs, leans to examine one, and it leaps at her slashing her eye! It is fascinating to see another world and also the xenomorph, bugs, that Pvt. Hudson was mentioning as a "bug hunt" in Aliens.

Adrian says she never told that story. Hyla states that the rock is a threat to everyone. He backs her up. Hyla's plan is to wait when the lab is empty and send it into space. I think the loss of Hyla's eye, these two who see the Alien as dangerous, makes them sympathetic. The scenario of Rook surviving in the film kinda sets the station's fate, but still my heart was racing when they deal with the xenomorph. We get "Days later" at the lab where Rook records that they have taken the Alien's DNA and found that it is made up of human and extraterrestrial that he dubs the XX121 Xenomorph. He examines a fleshy box which Rook reports as its basic form. They have also made the "parasitoid" second stage that seed the host, yeek! Closeup of the Facehugger as he says it has the accelerant that quickly grows the creature. Rook has formed a compound which is the ticking clock for this story. Mattos wants the parastoids for the bio-weapons division. 

Rook has formed a compound which is the ticking clock for this story. Mattos wants the parastoids for the bio-weapons division. Rook says he needs all of them to find the secret of immortality. Mattos storms away. This all the set up for the film. Hyla and Adrian see them and share a brief kiss. Then, Huyla tells Adrian to de-rig the cocoon to strap it on the station's defense rockets. He starts to do so with the xenomorph hanging above him. Hyla rushes over to take an axe to open the cryochamber. It hisses open. In shadow, Hyla sees the chamber that is synthesizing the parasites! She swings the axe to shatter the chamber holding fluid. Adrian turns to see what is happening and then Hyla hears his scream! She rushes over to see the empty rock with Adrian slumnped over it. She finds his peeled face and then opens fire with her pulse rifle! Rook is stunned. He explained that it wakened when they tried to take it from the control rig. 

Rook checkes on Compound Z01 and tells the Romulus lab to start trials. Closeup of fluid extracted from a Facehugger, injected nto a rat, then, it is crushed! Rook says the xenomorph needs to be killed in case it stops his research. Hyla is ready with her pulse rifle. In a way, I like the team up of Rook and Hyla, but can't trust Rook. He gives Hyla a tracker and says that it will likely protect its young! In the Remus lab, Mattos is impressed that the xenomorph could clean failed colonies! Just a total unfeeling, cruel person. He says to a colleague that it is easier to wipe out colonist, plausible deniability, than extract them. Then, he hears a guttral sound in a dark chamber! Then, we get a full page spread of the Alien hissing while it grabs a researcher's and two others scream! Mattos starts running and seals the door for his collegues. The xenomorph sees the encased Facehuggers and with its tail swipes them free. Hyla is the last chance of the Renaissance Station to stop the Alien and we know the dark fate from Alien: Romulus!  

Five+ Control Rigs out of Five!  

#AlienRomulus, #FedeAlvarez, #RoddSayagues, #ZacThompson, #DanielPicciotto, #LeinilFrancisYu, #Hyla, #Adrian, #ScienceOfficerRook, #Mattos, #PeterWeyland 

Comic Creators Block Party!

Today was the Revenge Of presents Comic Creators Block Party with Patton and Jordan! Comic cons, including the ones I have attended this year, are expensive. Admission, which takes out a part of what you can spend, then there are exclusives that you could buy, and creator signatures. Add in any food and drink costs, transportation, and possible photo ops. Besides the cost, there may be some flyers and a booklet. I do remember when I had full bag of freebies of posters, comics, and bookets at Comic Con. Then, unloaded it at the parking garage, and then went back to refill it again! Those days may be long gone, but there is something new with the Comic Creators Block Party now in its second year that puts to shame mega cons. 

Comic Creators Block Party, author’s photo. 

This was at the Revenge Of store which has comics, graphic novels, and pinball! It had a great selection of back issues so much so that it is worth a return visit. I really wanted to try the Godzilla and John Wick pinball machines. The Golden Apple Store had a raffle for signed items. Past the store was a gate to let in the patio area. There was no admission, just a queue that formed to get in, then open to walk ins until the end of the day. 

Also note that there was a security guard at the gate and at the back area of the store. The covering was needed later when it started sprinkling towards the end of the day. This split into two tables with an upper area for tables that leads into the store. Past the fence was Hot Tongue pizza which was baking the pizzas and most of the guests picked up slices! There were signing blocks, A-D, from 11-12 with a half hour between signers. Then, an hour for each signing block. 

Patton Oswalt, Jordan Blum, and Heath Corson, the Minor Threats team!, photo by the author. 

Also note with the music playing and the dull roar of talking in the enclosed area that it can get overwhelming. I took a few breaks to give my ears and feet a rest! Brian Michael Bendis was so popular, I think he signed until 4 p.m.! Also popular was Mark Waid and David Dastchalchian. The signers with stamina, though, were the presenters, Patton Oswalt and Jordan Blum, who lasted the day! Also author, Jody Houser! At one of the tables to the right, had the exclusive for Revenge Of, a Francesco Francavilla cover for the horror comic, The Exorcism at 1600 Penn, by Hannah Rose May who was one of the signers. 

There were trade paperbacks of Minor Threats including Vol. 2: The Fastest Way Down before its release. The co-creators of Minor Threats, Oswalt and Blum, at the next table. Oswalt is a comedian, the best IMHO, currently on his Effervescent tour. Blum created the stop motion animated show, M.O.D.O.K., voiced by Oswalt. Also at the table was Heath Corson who joins Oswalt and Blum on The Brood. It is in the world of Minor Threats and they offered free posters of the comic set to be released on December 11th. Minor Threats is going to be a live action show on Netflix. 

Pornsak Pichetshote, writer of The Manchurian!, author’s photo.  

J. Holtham had The Horizon Experiment comic for free that samples the different stories found in the one-shots. The creators take marginalized protagonists into a twist like The Manchurian, a Chinese spy like James Bond, by Pornsak Pichetshote. He was there to sign and also had a copies of The Manchurian. The line was formed outside of the gate for Bendis. A surprise for Signing Block B was seeing Thomas Krajewski and Jennifer Muro, the writers for the graphic novel and comic series, Primer. 

Ashley Rayburn is a teen girl whos e body paints can used for super powers. A popular superhero for young readers, she has entered the DC universe with her new series, Primer: Clashing Colors. I think young readers sustain the comic book industry so give the comic to them! The next block had Geoff Johns and also, writer, Maytal Achut. The store had copies of her latest comic set in the Hyde Street section of Ghost Machine, Devour. The surprise was Brian Lynch, he is the writer of Illumination animated films, Minions (2015) and The Secret Life of Pets (2016). Free posters for both films! 

David Dastmalchian!, signing DC Horror Presents, photo by the author. 

The last block featured David Dastmalchian, he stars in The Life of Chuck based on the 2020 Stephen King novella. The store offered copies of his comics; Count Crowley and Knights vs. Samurai. Also, DC Horror and Headless Horseman with writer, Leah Kilpatrick, who was also signing. Dastmalchian was in last year’s horror film, Late Night with the Devil (2023). I was impressed that he played Wojchek in The Last Voyage of the Demeter (2023). Kilpatrick stars in this year’s crime comedy, Best Man Dead Man. Hannah Rose May was a few tables down from them. She played the Synth Woman in the sci fi show, Altered Carbon. 

She previously wrote the limited series, Rogues Gallery (2022). The surprise was seeing writer, Rodney Barnes, who adapted the Ahsoka series into comic form. The only downside for the event is that there were attendees who brought cases of comics to get signed, just to sell, which results in long lines. It should be maxium ten or something. This could be just for the creators with lines. There was a number of comic creators who fans had a chance to chat and get comics signed at Comic Creators Block Party. Comics were a big part of the event, but there were some filmmakers there too! 

#ComicCreatorsBlockParty, #RevengeOf, #MinorThreats, #PattonOswalt, #JordanBlum, #TheBrood, #HeathCorson, #JHoltham, #TheHorizonExperiment, #TheManchurian, #PornsakPichetshote, #ThomasKrajewski, #JenniferMuro, #Primer, #PrimerClashingColors, #GeoffJohns, #Devour, #MaytalAchut, #BrianLynch, #Minions, #DavidDastmalchian, #LastVoyageOfTheDemeter, #CountCrowley, #KnightsVsSamurai, #HeadlessHorsemanm #LeahKilpatrick, #HannahRoseMay, #TheExorcismAt1600Penn, #AlteredCarbon, #RodneyBarnes, #Ahsoka

Tribute to Greg Hildebrandt

Greg Hildebrandt has died and his artwork leaves an eternal vision of fantasy and science fiction. The artist with his twin brother, Tim, formed the Brothers Hildebrandt that painted the iconic Star Wars (1977) poster. The image was used on many t-shirts and other merch. It was symbolic to me of Star Wars, fantastic, lush colors that gave me an early idea that people made art. Greg Hildebrandt and his brother contributed to magazines like Heavy Metal and album covers for Trans Siberian Orchestra and others. 

The brothers produced artwork for Lord of the Rings calendars starting in 1976 to 1978. In 1977, they illustrated the Sword Of Shannara novel by Terry Brooks. This is one of the first books I read so was really pivotal in my interest in fantasy. It was finally in 2016 that the fantasy vision was put on film with the series, The Shannara Chronicles. The Brothers Hildebrandt worked with Jerry Nichols on an illustrated novel, Urshurak (1979), which had all of their fantasy and sci fi concepts merged into an incredible world. 

Also in 1979, The Art of the Brothers Hildebrandt was published. Then, the brothers painted the poster for Clash of the Titans (1981), the last Ray Harryhausen film, another important figure for me, it had the vibrancy of the Star Wars poster. Greg Hildebrandt worked on his own, producing a Mary Stewart’s Merlin calendar in 1984. He later painted in 2004 the book cover for the Merlin Trilogy collecting Mary Stewart’s novels. The first novel was adapted into a BBC film, Merlin of the Crystal Cave (1991).

In 1984, Hildebrandt began illustrating a series of books; Greg Hildebrandt’s Favorite Fairy Tales, and some of the other novels were Dracula (1985), Wizard of Oz (1985), Robin Hood (1989), and Alice in Wonderland (1990). From Tolkien To Oz: The Art Of Greg Hildebrandt was published in 1986. In 1990, Hildebrandt painted a series of calendars, American Beauties, in the pin up style. Greg and Tim Hildebrandt returned to paint a series of trading cards for Star Wars: Shadows Of The Empire adapting the novel, comics, and video game! 

The trading cards, Marvel Masterpieces Series III (1994), was illustrated by Greg and Tim Hildenbrandt. Also in 1994, Tim and Greg painted the cover and a story in the independent comic, Xenya #1. The brothers had painted the cover for Spider-Man 2099 Special #1 (1995). In 1996, Greg and Tim Hildebrandt painted the graphic novel, X-Men 2099: Oasis! The book, Star Wars: The Art of the Brothers Hildebrandt was published. (1997). The New Adventures of Terry and the Pirates (1999) comics featured artwork by Greg and Tim Hildebrandt. Their paintings were found in over 150 Magic: The Gathering cards. In 2006, Tim Hildebrandt died. 

Hildebrand illustrated the covers for the Marvel Illustrated: Treasure Island (2007) comics. Greg and Tim Hildebrandt: The Tolkien Years was published in 2001. The variant cover of Captain Phasma #2 (2017) was painted by Greg Hildebrandt. In 2019, he painted for the first time, Star Trek with the cover of the conic, Star Trek: Year Five #1. He painted a variant cover for Marvel Comics #1000. Hildebrandt contributed to the 2022 benefit comic anthology, Comics For Ukraine. He posted on Facebook, "OREO just announced their new Star Wars cookies with my art on the packaging!” There is an upcoming documentary on Greg Hildebrandt. The artwork of Greg Hildebrandt gives us the beauty of fantasy and other worlds that allows everyone to dream their own worlds. 

#GregHildebrandt, #TimHildebrandt, #BrothersHildebrant, #StarWars, #LordOfTheRings, #SwordOfShannara, #TerryBrooks, #TheShannaraChronicles, #Urshurak, #JerryNichols, #TheArtOfTheBrothersHIldebrandt, #ClashOfTheTitans, #RayHarryhausen, #MaryStewart, #MerlinOfTheCrystalCave, #GregHildebrandtsFavoriteFairyTales, #Dracula, #WizardOfOz, 

#RobinHood, #AliceInWonderland, #FromTolkienToOzTheArtOfGregHildebrandt

#MarvelMasterpiecesSeriesIII, #Xenya, #AmericanBeauties, #StarWarsShadowsOfTheEmpire, #MarvelMasterpiecesSeriesIIII, #SpiderMan2099Special, #XMen2099Oasis, #StarWarsTheArtOfTheBrothersHildebrandt, #MagicTheGathering, #MarvelIllustratedTreasureIsland, #GregAndTimHIldebrandtTheTolkienYears, #CaptainPhasma, #StarTrekYearFive, #MarvelComics, #ComicsForUkraine.