REVIEW: ‘Alien,’ #3

Alien #3 is published by Marvel Comics, written by Declan Shalvey and Andrea Broccardo, colors by Tríona Farrell, and letters by Clayton Cowles. In the aftermath of the first Xenomorph attacks, the humans scramble to find each other.

This issue does an excellent job of allowing the ramifications of the last chapter to breathe. There were explosions, fire, and multiple deaths that moved people around the board to be picked off somewhere else. What escape routes there were being eliminated dramatically and rapidly. Any little victories over Xenomorphs are dwarfed by the fact there’s a thawing lake full of them. Shalvey recognizes both the slow, quiet horror that comes with the Alien franchise and the loud and explosive terror that is to be expected. Every issue has also been brilliant at placing the Xenomorphs before the characters themselves have seen them, ramping up that tension. The last part of the comic is shocking, before a final page that blows what happened just before out of the water.

The human characters in Alien #3 are great. At its core is the family, making moves to be reunited despite all of the brutality. Even after everything, there is still discontent and miscommunication. They squabble and can’t decide on the right course of action, which makes the situation even scarier as it means they’re not fully concentrating. And when you think that they are safe being the central characters, Shalvey seems to delight in shattering that concept. Some other humans are developing personalities, regrouping, and displaying interesting moments. But at the speed they’re dropping, you adapt to not getting attached to their dialogue. 

The art is tremendous. With the intensity of the series at a constant high, that reflects on every page even if there isn’t a Xenomorph or enemy soldier in sight. The facial expressions of everyone are filled with nerves and fear. The base was considered safe at one stage, but now it’s inhuman and hostile. The pieces of action are exceptional. The book excellently balances what it shows. There are moments where there’s a visceral piece of gore as someone gets brutally ripped apart. But arguably, what is more terrifying is when Broccardo shows what happens just before someone dies, either offering a weapon or the Xenomorph. Then in the next panel or scene is the conclusion and the aftermath. The threat of violence can sometimes be scarier than real violence. And it should be said that the artist can draw a disaster, depicting both massive explosions and the largest details.

The colors are powerful and eye-catching. While commonly dull tones are used for the backgrounds and location in general, there is almost always something brighter and more vibrant in the foreground. This is either on clothes or in a character’s hair or even blood, whether red or green. Then there is the occasional panel where a fantastical, unnatural shade, such as purple or yellow, is again used to draw attention. The lettering is very impressive. The changes in font size to denote tone and increase effectiveness is excellent throughout the issue.

Alien #3 is a book that embraces the franchise’s relationship with fear. It recognizes the many ways of scaring people through Xenomorphs and Alien stories. Sometimes quiet and insidious, but with the potential for a cacophony of noise, fire, and blood, the issue is always intense. Even on the page, the Xenomorphs generate fear better than practically any other monster. There is something about their visceral appearance and unrelenting desire for slaughter that has made every issue of the series so far utterly infectious to read.

Alien #3 is available now wherever comics are sold.