Marvel Comics has announced that an all-new Alien comic book series will debut in early 2021, exploring never-before-seen corners of the popular science-fiction franchise.

Writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson (Empyre: Captain America) and artist Salvador Larroca (Doctor Doom) collaborate on Alien #1 launching in March 2021. The comic will feature new and classic characters from Earth and beyond, including a Weyland-Yutani mercenary named Gabriel Cruz. The Alien #1 description says Cruz "battles a deadly new breed of xenomorph with the survival of his child hanging in the balance."

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"Just as a reader and fan, I was as excited as anyone when I heard the franchise was coming to Marvel, and when they asked me to WRITE THE LAUNCH, I was floored. I've been training my whole life for this gig without knowing it," Johnson said in a statement. "Ever since seeing Ridley Scott’s Alien at way too young an age, I’ve been OBSESSED with the xenomorph, the single most iconic representation of terror on film."

"Drawing this has been like a dream come true, and I am so grateful to be a part of this series!" Larroca said. "Ever since I was young, Alien has been of my favorite sci-fi horror references, and I never could have expected to have the chance to draw this. Alien is a creative reference to a whole generation of artists, and I'm so proud to now be illustrating this series. I hope readers enjoy it as much as I do drawing it! Phillip's story is going to be a delight for fans of this awesome franchise!"

“I’ve devoured every Alien story I could in every medium available and spent a lot of hours in the back of a classroom sketching out ideas for what happened before, after, and in-between the chapters we got to see," Johnson added. "Now I have the opportunity to bring my favorite nightmares to life. And with my insanely talented friends at Marvel and some of the greatest artists in comics telling these stories with me, I can promise you: our nightmares will be yours."

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Marvel announced that it had acquired the publishing rights to the Alien and Predator franchises in July. Dark Horse Comics previously published lines of Alien and Predator comics, but now Marvel will be the exclusive home of these adventures that will continue to expand on the feature films. January 2021 will see a slate of Marvel vs. Alien-themed variant covers.

Alien #1 by writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson and artist Salvador Larroca goes on sale in March 2021 from Marvel Comics.

Source: Marvel