Marvel Comics is set to delve deeper into the Alien universe with the release of a one-shot prequel comic, ALIEN: ROMULUS #1. Scheduled for publication on 16 October, this comic aims to enrich the backstory of the recently released Alien: Romulus, which has already amassed US$315.7 million worldwide, marking it as the franchise’s second biggest box office success.
Written by Zac Thompson (Absolute Carnage: Avengers) and illustrated by Daniel Picciotto (Danny Ketch: Ghost Rider), the ALIEN: ROMULUS #1 Marvel comic is set before the events depicted in the film, focusing on the eerie happenings at the Renaissance space station before characters Rain and Andy arrive. The comic will feature cover art by Leinil Francis Yu, with variant covers by Björn Barends and Marco Checchetto, and a special movie variant cover is also available.
Marvel’s press release highlights the ALIEN: ROMULUS #1 comic’s intent to explore the initial incidents that led to the space station becoming a battleground against the universe’s most dreaded creatures.
“The film took Alien storytelling back to its roots with a thrilling saga of young space colonizers coming face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe. Marvel’s one-shot will take place prior to the events of the film, providing an illuminating backstory behind the film’s main threat. Made in close partnership with Director Fede Álvarez and frequent collaborator Rodo Sayagues, both of whom wrote Alien: Romulus, the one-shot adds a new layer to one of the biggest film releases of the year,” the press release stated.
Thompson also expressed his enthusiasm about contributing to the Alien saga, “The Alien franchise is responsible for my lifelong love of body horror, so needless to say, I’m ecstatic to be contributing a small piece to the canon. Working with Fede Alvarez to craft a prequel to Alien: Romulus was a genuine dream come true and a responsibility I don’t take lightly. The result is a thrilling, terrifying story that slowly gestates into something wholly unpredictable.”
The storyline of the ALIEN: ROMULUS #1 comic fills in the gaps left by the movie, providing details about the disastrous events on the space station Romulus/Remus. It begins with the discovery of a Xenomorph cocoon from the USCSS Nostromo, the ship from the original Alien film, which ultimately leads to a catastrophic outbreak on the station. This backstory sets the stage for the comic, which promises to further explore the ominous ‘Prometheus Strain’, a hybrid human-Xenomorph DNA experiment aimed at achieving human perfection.
As the ALIEN: ROMULUS #1 comic prepares for its release on 16 October, fans of the franchise can look forward to a new chapter that not only honours the Alien legacy but also expands its mythos, providing a deeper understanding of the events that set the stage for the new wave of Xenomorph terror depicted in the film.
Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, games, and comics — you name it. When she’s not reading or geeking out about the latest shows on Netflix, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of meeting her idols.
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