As an avid Aliens fan and a self-proclaimed xenomorph expert it’s easy to fall into two categories: everything is awesome (if that is now stuck in your head, I’m sorry) or everything is awful. The stories involving these wonderful creatures don’t seem to vary much, especially with the Colonial Marines. It’s not often a story does something different, and Aliens: Life or Death #2 tries a different approach. And it works.

After a steady diet of action, Dan Abnett decides to ease down for issue number two. Instead of yet another story of Colonial Marines and the aliens kicking the crap out of each other, we are treated to a battle of words and will. The Hasdrubal is orbiting LV-223 when they find out that Chris is alive (who was abducted by aliens in Prometheus: Life or Death #2). Naturally, the corporate suits are happy to bug out and call it even. They got what they needed, why risk more lives for one woman? But this isn’t just any random person, Chris is Jill’s wife and there is no way she will be left to the wrath of the xenomorphs. The entire discussion was one of my favorite parts of the series so far, and Dan Abnett nailed it.

SUMMARY

Now we’re getting somewhere, Aliens: Life or Death #2 was a sorely needed change of pace for the story. I hope we get more like this; it brings more meaning to the carnage and death when there is some meat (pun intended) behind the characters.