When we, as consumers of cultural goods, sit down to a position from the Alien universe , we have certain expectations. It is difficult to look at these works in isolation from the original and it is difficult to judge them without comparing them. This applies to both movies and other cultural texts - including comics. Aliens: Ashes to ashes is set in the world created by Ridley Scott in 1979. How does it compare with its prototype?
Narration and mood
The comic focuses on the story of a young boy – Maxon. The boy and his mother live on a terraformed planet. The colony has unfortunately become the target of an alien invasion. As you know, in this universe, the appearance of xenomorphs never ends well for humans. This is also the case here.
The Aliens Mood : Dust to dust is grim. By making the child the main character, it was by no means to soften the meaning of the story. The comic is definitely not for Maxon’s peers. Unfortunately, however, this position does not evoke the same emotions as the first two Alien films. As in The Eighth Passenger Nostromo , the heroes have to face an unknown (at least for some of them) threat. In the comic, the company’s profits are also higher than people’s lives. Finally, both the content and the visuals of Aliens: Ashes to Ashes as well as Scott and Cameron’s films reinforce the gloomy, fearful atmosphere. However, despite these similarities, the comic book fares much less.
Another issue is a certain repetition of the work of Gabriel Hardman and Rain Beredo. The first two Alien movies were fresh. With Aliens: Dust to Dust uses the motifs we know from the movies. It is true that the story is different, but too many elements are repeated and the new ones are not explored well enough. On the one hand, you can appreciate the references to the original, on the other – it’s a bit disappointing.
Dark frames
Aliens: From ashes to ashes, it is in a dark tone. The colors emphasize the realities of the presented world. The mood created by successive frames corresponds well to what we expect from a work set in the Alien world . Unfortunately, in some places the creators went a step too far and the frames are so dark that it is hard to read. This does not prevent you from understanding the comic’s plot, but it is a downside to this position.
The drawing style is well suited to the mood of the comic. The line is not meant to please the eyes, but instead to present the brutal and gloomy world of the future. This does not mean that Aliens: Ashes to ashes is ugly or incorrectly drawn. From the technical side, apart from too dark frames, this position is at an appropriate level. It is worth noting that the creators found the right balance between places that require many details and those in which simplifications can be applied.
Edition
Aliens: It looks really nice from dust to dust . The hard cover is adorned with an excellent work by Gabriel Hardman. Inside, apart from the story itself, there is room for a few additional illustrations – both by the comic book author and Carlos D’Andy. These works are a nice addition and are of a really high standard.
Summary
Aliens: Ashes to ashes is even quite a comic set in the universe known from the Alien movies. Unfortunately, compared to its cinematic predecessors, it looks a bit pale and secondary, but it is worth remembering that it also has its strengths. Fans of the series will find something for themselves here, and people who have not had contact with an Alien before should feel the right atmosphere.
