It’s important to remember that comics are largely meant to be fun. We want to see spectacular fights, extraordinary characters and captivating stories that leap off the page. This is exactly the kind of book Alien vs. Captain America is – pure, popcorn entertainment – and writer Frank Tieri nails that tone in this blood-soaked second issue.
The story opens with Captain America, Bucky, Nick Fury, and the rest of the Howling Commandos arriving at a Hydra research facility. It’s quiet, the dread palpable as they enter to find the dismembered bodies of Hydra soldiers blanketing the floor. Anyone who’s seen an Alien movie knows what’s coming as our heroes are quickly ambushed by the Xenomorphs, resulting in an absolute bloodbath. It’s not until the arrival of a mysterious ally that our heroes are saved, barely having time to catch their breath as they flee the chaos.
The Howling Commandos vs. Xenomorphs
You can tell Tieri is having a lot of fun with this series. The book is light on plot and relies on a convenient rescue in its ending, but that’s not what popcorn entertainment is about. Tieri prioritizes spectacle instead of complexity and that’s the right call for this crossover. The way he slowly builds angst reads like a horror movie. We quickly learn no one is safe as the aliens viciously tear through the Howling Commandos, dismantling the decorated squadron in a matter of minutes. These are America’s finest soldiers, but basic training didn’t prepare them for this kind of threat. It’ll be fascinating to see who makes it out alive and who suffers brutal deaths.
Tieri picked the perfect setting and cast for this story. World War II serves as a cold, unforgiving backdrop that amplifies the violence while echoing the fish-out-of-water themes of the Alien films. Cap proves his mettle by keeping his cool while even Bucky and the normally unshakeable Nick Fury start to lose it. When our titular hero confidently beheads a Xenomorph in close combat, we’re reminded that Cap isn’t just a hero but also a soldier at war, willing to neutralize any threat to keep his squad alive.
Stefano Raffaele’s Art Brings the Gore to Life
Marvel’s smart to not hold back artist Stefano Raffaele. He’s able to turn the gore up to eleven as we see soldiers losing their heads, ripped in half, and stabbed through the chest. The Xenomorphs are portrayed as the alpha predators they are, with gnashing teeth and razor-sharp tails rendered in great detail. You’ll get goosebumps from a panel on page nine when they’re revealed to be stalking our heroes from right above their heads. It’s hard to include a good jump scare in comic format, yet Raffaele somehow pulls it off.
Colorist Neeraj Menon does a fantastic job capturing the sinister themes of this book. The desolate landscapes are wrapped in heather greys and muted greens while the eerie blacks of the Hydra facility build an anxiety-ridden atmosphere. Cap and Bucky’s reds and blues pop just enough to be a flickering ray of hope in a desperate situation, giving our heroes a smart contrast against the surrounding horrors. VC’s Clayton Cowles’ letters do an impressive job of enhancing the chaos. Each SKTT and RRRPPP is portrayed in blood-red font, allowing the reader to hear as well as see the unfortunate fate of the commandos.
Pay What You Want!
Final Verdict
Alien vs. Captain America is pure fun that succeeds in entertaining, even if the plot is thin. Tieri and Raffaele keep their focus firmly on what matters, giving us frenzied battle scenes and hard-nosed character moments. They’ve successfully established the Xenomorphs as a vicious threat capable of killing off major characters. Cap and his allies are going to have their hands full fighting this new war.
‘Alien vs. Captain America’ #2 Review: Can Cap Survive the Xenomorphs?
Alien vs. Captain America is pure fun that succeeds in entertaining, even if the plot is thin. Tieri and Raffaele keep their focus firmly on what matters, giving us frenzied battle scenes and hard-nosed character moments.
