Over the past few weeks, “Alien: Earth” has swiftly climbed the ranks as one of this summer’s most-watched shows, a title it truly deserves. Notably, it’s the first television series based on the “Alien” franchise, and it stands out by being the first installment to take place on Earth instead of in outer space. What makes it even more captivating is that it delves into the corporate entities driving repeated and expensive attempts to encounter and exploit the dangerous alien species, despite their potential hazardous effects on humanity. However, this isn’t the first time the franchise has touched upon themes of corporate greed and exploitation that have long been present in the “Aliens” universe.
Fans of the Alien comic book series have been deeply engaged in a wealth of history and lore that makes it clear the series is not just a science fiction horror story. In truth, much of what forms Alien: Earth’s base stems from the comics rather than movies.
Dark Horse’s Take on Greed and Xenomorphs
Approximately a decade post the release of Ridley Scott’s Alien, and only two years after James Cameron’s sequel Aliens, Dark Horse Comics introduced their Aliens comic book series by Mark Verheiden and Mark A. Nelson, marking the beginning of a long line of Alien comics published by both Dark Horse and Marvel Comics later on. Instead of merely replicating the films, Dark Horse predominantly used its Alien storytelling as an extension of the universe, expanding upon and enhancing the fundamental movie mythology. In contrast, Marvel’s comic books have primarily adhered to the established universe of the films, which is set mainly in deep-space colonies, derelict spacecraft, and alien planets.
expanding on elements not extensively explored in the films. This could mean delving into corporate secrets, political undercurrents, and species other than the primary Xenomorphs.
The charm of these stories lies in their ability to stand alone or connect to a larger comic series, making them suitable additions within the wider film universe. Notably, since Marvel took over the franchise, they’ve been introducing narratives that delve into the corporate world and culture surrounding the hunt for the Xenomorphs – aspects which appear to be the main focus of Alien: Earth.
Dark Horse’s Expanded Universe of Notorious Corporate Interests
To truly understand the underlying tale of corporate greed in the story of “Alien: Earth“, it’s advisable to begin at the root with Mark Verheiden and Mark A. Nelson’s 1988 original Aliens series, even though it was initially conceived as a sequel to Cameron’s Aliens film. The subsequent release of David Fincher’s Alien³ in 1992 led to some character adjustments, but the core concept-that corporate greed and the powerful influence corporations hold over governments and militaries were instrumental in triggering the alien disaster for humanity-remains valid.
Beyond just showcasing corporate avarice, the series uncovers numerous instances of scientific excess, individual greed, and questionable moral conduct among team members, doctors, administrators, and political figures. This unethical behavior played a crucial role in human’s perception that they could master the Xenomorph species.
The intricate moral dilemmas are delved deeper into within Verheiden and Sam Keith’s series, Aliens: Earth War. In this series, the main story revolves around a mission to eliminate the Xenomorph invasion on Earth, but beneath that lies a narrative implying that it isn’t just the alien creatures causing havoc, but also certain human figures who are willing to jeopardize humanity for a possible new weapon or profitable resource. Essentially, if there was no corporate greed and systematic exploitation, Earth might not have been exposed to Xenomorphs in the first place.
The Long History of Profit Over Lives in the Alien Universe
In a different turn of events, the graphic novel “Aliens: Hive” penned by Jerry Prosser and Kelley Jones focuses on corporate greed and personal ambition as primary themes. These factors repeatedly provide a chance for the Xenomorphs to wreak havoc and devastate humanity. Here, two independent businessmen aspire to seize the Xenomorph’s precious “royal jelly,” an extraordinarily costly substance. This action sparks interest from large corporations, who are ready to resort to extreme measures for its acquisition. As for the idea of creating a cybernetic Xenomorph, given the bleak history of human-Xenomorph interactions, it appears more like a hasty and perilous plan.
In Brian Wood’s comic series “Aliens: Defiance” and “Aliens: Resistance,” the theme of corporate greed, specifically that of Weyland-Yutani Corporation, is delved into from different viewpoints. The narrative unfolds through the experiences of two employees – a marine working for the corporation and one of its synthetic officers. These characters face not only the threat of Xenomorphs but also the treacherous machinations of Weyland-Yutani itself. In “Aliens: Resistance,” the author, Brian Wood, further investigates Weyland-Yutani’s corporate practices, as Amanda Ripley, daughter of the main character from the original “Alien” series Ellen Ripley, aims to unmask the company for its long history of shedding innocent lives in their ruthless exploitation of alien species like Xenomorphs.
These examples illustrate how Dark Horse has skillfully crafted the Alien saga, incorporating numerous sci-fi action sequences and nerve-wracking battles, yet subtly underscoring that the true terror is rooted in human flaws – such as greed, ambition, and ethical compromises that disregard clear warnings of danger. As Aliens’ narrative transitioned to Marvel, there seems to be a developing tendency to amplify these themes. For example, Philip Kennedy Johnson and Salvador Larroca’s 2021 Alien work provides an inside look at Weyland-Yutani, revealing the company’s unwavering commitment to prioritize corporate interests over everything else. Following in Dark Horse’s footsteps, Alien: Earth carries on this tradition by portraying the disastrous repercussions of unrestrained scientific curiosity, corporate exploitation, and the heavy toll that greed exacts on humanity.
Read More
- Don’t Miss the BBC Proms 2025: Full Schedule Revealed!
- One Piece’s Anime Unveils First Look at the Final Saga’s Best Scene
- Gold Rate Forecast
- Nobody 2 Streaming Release Date Rumors: When’s It Coming Out on Peacock?
- Marvel’s AI Character Raises Alarming Questions
- All New Items in Abiotic Factor 1.0
- How to Do Restore Power to the Arcade in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4
- Ozzy Osbourne and the Memecoin Madness: When Death Becomes a Crypto Trend
- PI PREDICTION. PI cryptocurrency
- 3 Underrated Hulu Movies to Watch This Weekend (June 27-29)
2025-08-27 06:10