The Monstrefact: Aliens vs. Avengers

In this episode of STBYM’s The Monstrefact, Robert discusses Marvel Comics’ "Aliens vs. Avengers" comics and some of the xenomorphic ideas it explores...

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
Welcome to Stuff to Blow Your Mind, a production of iHeartRadio.

Speaker 2 (00:09):
Hi, my name is Robert Lamb and this is The
Monster Fact, a short form series from Stuff to Blow
Your Mind, focusing on mythical creatures, ideas, and monsters in time.
In past episodes of The Monster Fact, I've discussed both
the xenomorphs of the Alien franchise and the various monsters, mutants,

(00:31):
and superheroes of Marvel Comics. In today's episode, I'll be
talking about both of them. As I just finished reading
the newly released Aliens Verses Avengers, written by Jonathan Hickman
and art by Isadriebitch and Ivas Fortina. I have to
admit that I was skeptical about this crossover at first.
There have been so many Alien comics crossovers over the years,

(00:54):
from Predator and Judge Dredd to Yes, Buffy the Vampire
Slayer and Archie Captain America versus The Face Hugger just
wasn't high on my list of crossover matchups. But after
hearing some encouraging tidbits, I put this volume on my
reading list, and I'm delighted to say that it's a
really fun ride that honors both franchises while delivering a dark,

(01:14):
richly creative tale of cosmic doom that doesn't hold anything back.
So spoiler alert, I'm about to talk about some twists
and turns in the Aliens Versus Avengers comic book. If
you want to read it reasonably cold, this is a
good place to cut out and return a bit later.
All right, here we go. The comic book takes this

(01:34):
to a future Earth on the verge of complete destruction. Waconda,
Atlantis and every last nation on the planet has fallen
to the hordes of rampaging xenomorphic organisms. The surviving mutants
have fled to Mars. In a single city pretected by
the surviving members of the Avengers, fights against utter destruction,
against all hope, they desperately search for an answer. As

(01:57):
it turns out, in a parallel universe following the events
of Alien Covenant, the rogue android David succeeded in wiping
out all non xenomorphic life and replicating himself. Over the
course of the ensuing millennium, they developed the means to
cross over into other universes, and thus sent their android
emissaries followed by seed ships, to eradicate life there planet

(02:21):
by planet by planet. I'm a rather big fan of
the themes explored in Ridley Scott's prequel films Prometheus and Covenant,
so I appreciated the turn of events here, and it
sets up a fitting foil for the scientists, wizards and
super soldiers of the Avengers. There's even a little engineer
drama thrown in for good measure. The comic book really
kicks into high gear, however, when the action spills over

(02:43):
to Mars. Here, the few surviving Avengers flee Earth for
the mutant occupied Red Planet, but quickly discover mostly death
and desolation here as well. Because who happened to get
his hands on some xenomorphic organisms for study and experimentation,
Why none other than mister Sinn. Born doctor Nathaniel Essex.

(03:03):
Mister Sinister was a contemporary of Charles Darwin and therefore
contemporary of Alfred Russell Wallace as well. Sinister is a
neo Victorian mad scientist who became obsessed with mastering the
next phase of human evolution, a quest that takes on
additional dimensions as he falls under the influence of the
ancient Egyptian mutant apocalypse. Who uses alien technology to transform

(03:26):
Essex into the bizarre, undying mister Sinister. He becomes a
cloning master and an endless self experimenter. And so when
Sinister in his many clones encounter xenomorphic life on Mars,
he doesn't see it so much as the end of
all life, but a potential new beginning for himself. At first,
it seems Sinister and his clones have merely protected themselves

(03:47):
from xenomorph aggression by implanting dormant embryos inside their own bodies.
But then Sinister himself allows his own embryo to develop
and burst forth as a red fleshed xenomore, complete with
the signature Sinister Diamond on its forehead. Even worse for
the surviving mutants and Avengers, this new zeno, the Sinister Queen,

(04:09):
possesses the mutant abilities of such deceased x men as
Colossus and Nightcrawler, creating a deadly hybrid that can only
be stopped by another, particularly shall we say, venomous xenomorphic evolution.
It's a delicious combo, as Sinister, throughout Marvel Comics, is
obsessed with creating a perfected human species, while the xenomorphous

(04:31):
we all know is the perfect organism that Sinister could
give himself over to it and mirror the David's in
his plotting and ambition seems entirely appropriate. Aliens Versus Avengers
goes all out, exploring several books worth of ideas in
a single volume, and with an absurdly high body count.
It's definitely worth giving a quick read while waiting for

(04:52):
the next episode of FX's Alien Earth, which I'm also
enjoying and remain cautiously optimistic about. Tune in for additional
episodes of The Monster, Fact, The Artifact, or Animalius to
Pendium each week. Write in with any alien comic, book
and novel recommendations as well, and as always, you can
email us at contact at Stuffdblow your Mind dot com.

Speaker 1 (05:22):
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