Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 1:48 pm
Volume 1 reviewed here.
Another collection of stories set in the future universe where mankind is constantly battling Aliens and Predators.
The main story of this collection deals with a trophy wife who begins having bad dreams and is kidnapped by a Predator. The story is written by Chris Claremont (the guy behind the X-Men's immensely popular run in the 80s) and to be honest, it's not as good as Volume 1's. This story is more...I don't want to say mystical or spiritual, but there aren't other words for it. It just didn't seem to "fit" well with the characters. This is especially true considering just how well the Aliens and Predators were defined in the previous volume. Don't get me wrong, the story is entertaining, but it's very, very slow and the fact that it does stray from established character behavior will piss a few readers off.
The additional stories are entertaining, but hold form to the main story's departure from established character behavior.
One of my primary complaints about this volume (and probably the Alien series in general) is that too many untrained humans easily survive encounters with Aliens and Predators while highly trained, well equipped military and security folks get their asses handed to them. One example is a couple having a domestic dispute through a door while he's fighting off aliens with only a handgun. Through the whole scene he's mostly facing the door, he's already been characterized as a coward with no military trianing, yet here he is standing against a swarm of aliens with a handgun. Really poor writing.
More of the stories dealt with mixed race babies (Alien-Predator-Human hybrids). I wasn't a fan of these stories either. I've always found the concept very stupid. The face hugger simply sticks the alien within you. It doesn't impregnate you. Thus, why would the host's DNA transfer to the Alien? On top of that, why in both volumes does it show beings from birds to monkeys to hippo like creatures all being impregnated yet all producing the same Alien drone? Why would a predator produce something different. That kind of shit is either an ignorance of the character or incompetence. Take your pick.
This volume is entertaining, but I'd say it's only a good read for those who are fans of Aliens and Predators. Nobody else with even a casual interest need apply. Go get Volume 1, it's miles better.
5 out of 10.
Another collection of stories set in the future universe where mankind is constantly battling Aliens and Predators.
The main story of this collection deals with a trophy wife who begins having bad dreams and is kidnapped by a Predator. The story is written by Chris Claremont (the guy behind the X-Men's immensely popular run in the 80s) and to be honest, it's not as good as Volume 1's. This story is more...I don't want to say mystical or spiritual, but there aren't other words for it. It just didn't seem to "fit" well with the characters. This is especially true considering just how well the Aliens and Predators were defined in the previous volume. Don't get me wrong, the story is entertaining, but it's very, very slow and the fact that it does stray from established character behavior will piss a few readers off.
The additional stories are entertaining, but hold form to the main story's departure from established character behavior.
One of my primary complaints about this volume (and probably the Alien series in general) is that too many untrained humans easily survive encounters with Aliens and Predators while highly trained, well equipped military and security folks get their asses handed to them. One example is a couple having a domestic dispute through a door while he's fighting off aliens with only a handgun. Through the whole scene he's mostly facing the door, he's already been characterized as a coward with no military trianing, yet here he is standing against a swarm of aliens with a handgun. Really poor writing.
More of the stories dealt with mixed race babies (Alien-Predator-Human hybrids). I wasn't a fan of these stories either. I've always found the concept very stupid. The face hugger simply sticks the alien within you. It doesn't impregnate you. Thus, why would the host's DNA transfer to the Alien? On top of that, why in both volumes does it show beings from birds to monkeys to hippo like creatures all being impregnated yet all producing the same Alien drone? Why would a predator produce something different. That kind of shit is either an ignorance of the character or incompetence. Take your pick.
This volume is entertaining, but I'd say it's only a good read for those who are fans of Aliens and Predators. Nobody else with even a casual interest need apply. Go get Volume 1, it's miles better.
5 out of 10.