ALIEN PARADISO #4: A Mad Dash

Alien Paradiso #4: The teams are separated, leaving Dash, Tsula, Ricky, and Lydia with unlikely friends and foes as they are ambushed by Xenomorphs who want only one thing: to kill…

Creative Team:

Steve Foxe (WRITER), Edgar Salazar (PENCILS), Victor Nava (INKER), Carlos Lopez (COLORS), Peter Nguyen (XENOMORPH POV ARTIST), Clayton Cowles (LETTERS), Iben Coello, and Yen Nitro (COVER)

*SPOILERS AHEAD*

The Story:

Foxe continues to up the suspense with this story, breathing life into the horror aspect of a Xenomorph tale. The way he leaves the reader guessing as to what is right around the corner leaves this entire issue suspenseful the entire step of the way. Separating the characters and placing a “villain” with one of the Marshall’s is a clever way to blend in the action tropes that can beautifully go hand in hand with a story such as this. The quips as Lydia is about to die even though she is a synthetic shows us their bond and how there is more than just robotics with a synthetic.

The Artwork and Letters:

I have started to look forward to what gruesome manner we are going to watch an innocent victim die in these issues, and the team did not disappoint. Edgar, Victor, and Carlos gave a new Xenomorph kill that I have never seen, which was watching one use its hand to crush a skull explosively. The amount of detail, such an eyeball flying off to the side and the spraying of blood and brain matter, was gnarly and very fun in an odd way.

Peter gives us even more of a look into the POV of a Xenomorph, which stands to still be some of my favorite parts of these issues as well. Along with Clayton verbalizing them as they stalk their prey, this team is on their A game throughout.

Final Thoughts:

Alien Paradiso is expanding on the lore of this franchise in ways I never thought of, all the while leaning into gruesome and bloody horror, upping the suspense in this particular issue. We are met with surprises and jump scares, making this run a must-read every month.

Overall Grade: 9.5

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