Creating the perfect crossover

Captain America and the Avengers receive a distress signal in outer space. Jumping aboard the Quinjet, Earth’s Mightiest Heroes fly to save the day but are confronted by xenomorphs. Perhaps they encounter face blasters that infect Wolverine, giving us a xenomorph with an adamantium skeleton and a huge healing factor. For the most part, it feels like setting up a traditional crossover between Marvel’s main superhero team and some of cinema’s scariest creatures. Jonathan Hickman and Esad Ribic didn’t go down that route, and by creating such an unexpected and unusual story, they may have created one of the greatest crossovers for both franchises.

In the second issue of this crossover, things are not going well for the Avengers. Earth’s Mightiest Heroes are much older than readers are used to, and the tide is turning against them. While Tony Stark was able to evade Weyland Yutani’s advances in the boardroom, thanks in part to some Iron Man-style tricks, the elderly Avenger came to a terrifying conclusion. Humanity is doomed, and the Avengers need to save those they can. The final pages of issue two may be the final display of heroism from some of Marvel’s best heroes. There is a very interesting element emerging in the conflict that could undermine humanity’s chances of survival.

Video from ComicBook.com

A comic book crossover for the ages

Jonathan Hickman is a world-building genius and has a strong grasp of the characters that are part of any sandbox he helps build. Aliens vs. Avengers feels as big as Secret Wars, arguably one of Marvel Comics’ greatest crossovers, which both Hickman and Ribic were responsible for. This fact helps create a different, more awesome feel for this crossover, helping readers become more invested in these characters who act as reflections of the Avengers from Earth 616. On top of that, Hickman created a completely different threat to the world. generally.

The alien scourge currently overwhelming humanity and threatening its very existence is far from the only threat facing Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. With this story, Hickman really brings together all the elements of the Alien Universe to present a multi-layered threat to the Avengers. Weyland-Yutani and his androids act almost like Hickman’s “Builders,” a key part of the writer’s “Avengers” script that kept the group of superheroes on their toes. The final pages give us a look at the Engineers, longtime denizens of the Alien universe who pose a very different threat. Aliens vs. Avengers is a story that hits the characters from all angles and yet makes for an amazing read. This series is a prime example of “expect the unexpected.”

Extrapolating from this point, I need to point out Miles Morales and the hilarious new symbiote that Brooklyn’s friendly neighborhood Spider-Man is partnering with. It’s an ingenious way to connect two universes together, and it’s such a strength of Hickman’s that it’s worth focusing on here. The merging of these two universes feels so natural that you can see it happening in any landscape, which is another major strength of the series.

Leave Earth

Of course, a great comic book series needs a great artist to accompany the writer, and Esad Ribić once again reaches the pinnacle of his career with this story. Ribic is able to simultaneously reflect the threat of xenomorph scourge and the heroism inherent in what remains of humanity in its final quest for survival. While the Avengers may look very different from the ones we’ve seen in the past, you can tell from Ribic’s designs who is supposed to be who and the emotions that show on their faces in this darkest hour.

Aliens vs. Avengers is an example of what can really be done in the world of comic book crossovers. We’ve seen Aliens and Predators create fantastic crossovers in the past, meeting characters like Batman, Superman, Justice League, Wolverine and more, but Hickman and Ribic are on another level with this series. I can’t think of anything I don’t like about this series, I’m on the edge of my seat turning every page and I can’t wait to see how the creative team takes this series to the end.

Published: Marvel Comics

On: Wednesday, November 6, 2024

Author:: Jonathan Hickman

Art Author: Esad Ribic

Colors: Ive Svorchina

Letters from: Cory Petit from VC