REVIEW: ‘Alien Annual 2023’ Issue #1

Alien Annual 2023 #1 is published by Marvel, written by Declan Shalvey, art by Danny Earls, colors by Ruth Redmond, and letters by Clayton Cowles. As a ship carrying a Xenomorph queen lands on a planet, the native species on that world come out to hunt.

This issue is pure chaos, created with a really interesting idea. This is an issue with no humans flooding the entire annual with aliens. That is not purely a word regarding the title of the franchise either, as it is different races and species at play. The lack of humans turns the book into a silent comic, and so it is a purely physical issue as the Xenomorphs take over another planet. The passage of time unfolds superbly, as it shows the phases that come with the lifespan of a Xenomorph. Even if they are pegged back and facing a stronger enemy, their arsenal has enough weapons to evolve and take over. However, the previous Alien series introduced a new race to the universe that could threaten that. The escalation within the annual is brilliant, changing the circumstances constantly to remain interesting. The pace is rapid because there isn’t dialogue to fill the slower moments. But the storytelling remains excellent enough that there isn’t a need for words. The ending leaves the door open for this ongoing universe to continue.

It’s difficult to establish characters when they are all bestial. However, like a nature documentary, it is still possible. The concept of a hierarchy and the transition of power is established early on in the issue and becomes the backbone for the rest of Alien Annual 2023 #1. There aren’t what could be referred to as personalities, but there are prominent beings that become the alpha of the scenario until someone else comes along. The issue isn’t true silence, but what comes out of the mouths of the creatures are nothing more than hisses.

The art is pivotal to all of the storytelling of the issue. Earl’s presentation of the planet and the creatures within it make it one of the most hostile and inhospitable settings around. The Xenomorphs have a lot of variety, and all of them look terrifying. Some of them are new, created by Andrea Borccardo in the main series, and those that have never been seen before this Annual. The near-constant action is awesome. The ferocity from both races is relentless, with blood and spit flying everywhere as alien armies clash against each other. It isn’t just the monster that can be seen either, as there always seems to be something under the snow. As creatures get bigger, the issue seems to reflect a Kaiju story, perhaps even more guttural. The level of detail is immaculate, with so many creatures on the page simultaneously. The last part of the book has a brilliant method of depicting evolution, setting in a deep dred for what comes next.

The colors are fantastic. This comic takes place in another icy world, but a much bigger medley of shades is on display. The sky is stunning, and from the initial impact, the site creates a fire that generates an orange glow against the desolate wasteland. The lettering for the SFX and the screeching dialogue is fantastic, making them count and giving the creatures a voice.

Alien Annual 2023 #1 is a horrific nature documentary. It’s an example of what the beasts get up to when no humans are around. It is often queried whether a monster story can exist and excel without the inclusion of regular people, and this issue is a fantastic addition to that experiment. It’s gloriously violent with visual storytelling that drives the entirety of the plot on its own, tapping into a vein of Alien action that looks bottomless. It’s a fantastic transition into the next era of the comic series.

Alien Annual 2023 #1 is available where comics are sold.