Aliens vs. Predator Omnibus Vol. 1: When Nightmares Collide!

Alright, real talk, am I a sucker for reading every Aliens and Dark Horse comic I can get my hands on, or am I just scraping the bottom of my reading list? Who knows! What I do know is that I’ve now jumped headfirst into the Aliens vs. Predator series… and it’s about to get absolutely bonkers.

Title: Aliens vs. Predator Omnibus, Vol. 1

Editor: Chris Warner

Author: Randy Stradley

Illustrator: Glenn Fabry

Format: Kindle

Page Count: 446 pages

“Mankind’s two ultimate nightmares come together in mortal combat — and whoever wins, we lose.”

Classic tagline, right? You can practically hear it in a gruff ‘90s trailer voice. On the remote planet Ryushi, a small ranching colony finds itself in the middle of an intergalactic trophy hunt, Predators dropping in to test themselves against a batch of Alien eggs. Unfortunately, one of those eggs belongs to a Queen, and well... things escalate quickly. Let’s just say it’s not a good week to be a rancher.

First Things First

Fun fact: these comics were later adapted into novels by Steve and S.D. Perry. I’ve already grabbed Volume One of the books (Prey, Hunter’s Planet, and War), so expect those reviews soon.

But for now, we’re diving into the original comic stories, and wow, Dark Horse went hard in this volume.

Aliens vs. Predator (Main Story)

We start on the cattle-farming planet Ryushi, simple premise, solid execution. Predators seed the world with Alien eggs, unaware that humans have settled there. Chaos erupts as three deadly forces — humans, Xenomorphs, and Yautja — clash in one glorious nightmare.

Our hero, Machiko Noguchi, stands out as a badass lead who earns the respect of the Predators. Her alliance with the lead hunter to take down the Alien Queen is pure cinematic gold. The art might look a little dated now, but the story’s pacing and energy still hold up. Honestly, this could’ve been a killer film or limited series.

Blood Time

A quick one-shot showing a Predator’s ritual hunt and what happens to those who cheat the system. Brutal, short, and oddly satisfying.

Duel

We’re back on Ryushi with a squad of Marines searching for Noguchi. Instead, they find a pack of Predators, and accidentally rescue one infected with a Xenomorph embryo. Cue the first-ever PredAlien hybrid! It’s fast, it’s mean, and it forces the humans and Predators to team up if they want to live. Honestly? Duel slaps. It’s one of my favourites in the collection.

War

The official sequel to Aliens vs. Predator, and it brings Machiko back for more interspecies chaos. This one also crosses over with the Aliens comics (Frenzy / Berserker in novel form), and it’s got everything: Marines, Xenos, Predators, and even a murder robot for good measure. It’s wild, but in the best way.

Eternal

Okay, this one lost me a bit. We shift to Tokyo, where a scavenger gets his hands on a crashed Predator ship and uses the tech (and some heart-eating habits, yes, really) to stay alive for 700+ years. There’s a weird steampunk vibe with 19th-century cars and fashion, and by the time the Xenomorphs show up, I was mostly confused but mildly entertained. You can skip this one guilt-free.

Old Secrets

This one is quirky but fun. It mashes up the legend of St. George and the Dragon with Aliens vs. Predator. If any institution was going to hide Xeno eggs, of course it’d be the church! It’s silly, it’s clever, and I kind of loved it.

The Web

The collection wraps up with The Web, a darker tale following another survivor from Ryushi. No spoilers here, but let’s just say madness has well and truly set in. It’s twisted, tragic, and a great way to end the volume on a high note.

Final Thoughts

All in all, Aliens vs. Predator Omnibus Vol. 1 is a blast. Sure, some stories age better than others (looking at you, Eternal), but as a collection, it’s an awesome mix of grit, gore, and pure sci-fi fun. Dark Horse knew exactly what fans wanted: epic monster battles, solid character moments, and enough chaos to fill a Weyland-Yutani cargo ship.

If you’re into the Aliens or Predator universes, this is essential reading. It’s pulpy, dramatic, and surprisingly deep at times. Bring snacks, dim the lights, and dive in, you’ll be hooked before the first facehugger hits the ground.

Where to Find It (note it is hard to find): Amazon has it at a silly price – Aliens vs. Predator Omnibus Vol. 1 if you purchase with this affilate link a massive thank you.

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