Baron Von Strucker is searching for something that he has heard whispers of that may help Red Skull tip the odds in their favor and alter the course of history. Unfortunately, something lies deep and buried where it should have remained.
Creative Team: Frank Tieri (WRITER), Stefano Raffaele (ARTIST), Neeraj Menon (COLORS), Clayton Cowles (LETTERS), and Leinil Francis Yu and Romulo Fajardo Jr. (COVER)
*SPOILERS AHEAD*
The Story:
Frank’s choice of taking us back in time to World War Two is excellent in setting up this story as the Nazis and Red Skull are known for their tastes in finding scientific ways to gain the upper hand. This story, as many so often do when involving Xenomorphs, involves beings who do not understand what it is they’re getting themselves into. Frank works in clever ways that show us the destruction they are capable of as he brings the Inhumans into the fold and leaves hints as to what happened to them. I do enjoy him using them as the tool that Strucker is searching for and leading it into creepy territory. We don’t get much of Cap or Bucky in this issue but, the little we do get is enough to build that feeling in the pit of our stomachs and lean into the horror aspect of the Alien franchise as the two genres blend once more.
The Art and Letters:
Stefano uses detail to progress the plot and tell the story in the panels of this issue. Using drawings on the cave that Strucker and his crew find, we are able to show rather than tell what went down with the Inhumans and how they fell victim to the dreaded Xenomorphs. I love that the art time showcases these details and drawings to build up the suspense and Claytons letterings add into this.
Neeraj captures the spirit of the setting taking place in the 40’s as we get Bucky in his original attire and the Hydra agents decked out in their green suits. Neeraj adds to the creepy feeling by using the reds and darker colors of blood in certain sequences that stand out against the cold stone background.
Final Thoughts:
Alien vs. Captain America #1 sets the tone for this terrifying tale. Frank, Clayton, Neeraj, and Stefano lean into the mythos of the Xenomorphs and use the art to allow the story to unfold while showcasing the misguided egos of Strucker and his team. This is going to be an amazing run, I can already tell!
Overall Grade: 10/10
For more reviews by Matt, be sure to check out http://linktr.ee/hopsgeeknews and let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
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