Green Lantern Versus Aliens
Encyclopedia
Green Lantern Versus Aliens is a four-issue comic book
mini-series
published jointly by DC Comics
and Dark Horse Comics
monthly from September 2000
to December 2000. It is written by Ron Marz
and illustrated by penciller Rick Leonardi
and inker Mike Perkins
, with covers by Dwayne Turner
.
The series stars several Green Lantern
s, primarily Kyle Rayner
, and the titular xenomorphs
from the Alien
movie series. Whether the series' takes place in the continuity of the DC Comics Universe is unclear, as Brik and Salaak are alive in current Green Lantern continuity, and no mention of Mogo's Xenomorph inhabitants is ever made.
In 2001
, the series was collected into a single volume with a new cover by artist Eric Kohler.
(who at the time of the series’ publication, had long been dead) is then summoned by the Guardians of the Universe
to rendezvous with fellow Green Lanterns Kilowog
, Katma Tui
, Tomar Re, The Green Man
and Salaak on the planet Tirama in Sector 1522. The six Green Lanterns are informed of the disappearance of Barin Char, and proceed to the border world where he is believed to have disappeared. Tracing the signal from Char’s displaced power ring, they enter a cavern inside a mountainous butte, where they discover Char’s corpse, before being attacked by a swarm of xenomorphs. Jordan decides that rather than exterminate an alien species – particularly since the xenomorphs appear to be only the interstellar equivalent of shark
s; the perfect killing machine without actually being evil – they would transport the xenomorphs to the sentient Green Lantern planet Mogo
, where they can not harm anyone.
A decade later, the Signet Dawn, a Coluian long-range ore
transport vessel, crashes onto the planet. Five extraterrestrials — the Xudarian Tomar-Dar, Brik, Ash, M’Hdahna and the aforementioned Salaak — appear on Earth in the apartment of Kyle Rayner, who at the time, is the Green Lantern of Earth
, and the only Green Lantern in existence. These five are either former Green Lanterns, or were intended to become Green Lanterns at the time of Parallax
’s destruction of the Green Lantern Corps, and they inform Rayner of the Signet Dawn’s crash on Mogo. The six then journey to Mogo to rescue the ship’s crew. Inside the hull of the ship, they encounter Crowe, the ship’s first officer, who tells Rayner that after the crash, the aliens carried off the other 37 crew members, but left her for some reason. Crowe leads Rayner and the others deeper into the ship, where the xenomorphs attack them, taking Rayner’s companions captive, leaving only him, Crowe and Salaak. When Rayner tries to grab Tomar as he is pulled down a shaft, his power ring slips off his finger and falls down the shaft.
The trio then climb down the shaft - Kyle and Salaak subsequently settling any remaining tension between them when Salaak apologizes for judging Kyle by what he was not rather than what he was, and discover five of Crowe’s crewmates, cocooned by the xenomorphs, four of which have been killed by chestbursters. The xenomorphs
then attack the trio, and Crowe and Rayner flee through a passageway, separated from Salaak. They then come across a chamber where they discover a xenomorph Queen, with the remainder of Crowe’s crew and Rayner’s companions cocooned around the walls, and Rayner’s power ring on the floor. After exchanging a brief kiss for luck, Crowe jumps into the chamber firing at the aliens to distract them while Rayner goes for his ring. During this attempt, the skin on the right half of Crowe’s face is ripped away, revealing that she is a gynoid
. Rayner reacquires his ring. Crowe, fatally damaged during the melee, tells Rayner that he shouldn’t leave the xenomorphs alive to endanger someone else in the future as Jordan did, so Rayner destroys the xenomorphs, rescuing the surviving Signet Dawn crew and his companions. Ash, Brik and Salaak do not survive. Rayner is left with the thought that sometimes the past comes back to haunt you no matter what one does, another reminder of the legacy of Hal Jordan that looms over him.
:
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
mini-series
Limited series
A limited series is a comic book series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
published jointly by DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
and Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent American comic book and manga publisher.Dark Horse Comics was founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson in Milwaukie, Oregon, with the concept of establishing an ideal atmosphere for creative professionals. Richardson started out by opening his first comic book...
monthly from September 2000
2000 in comics
-February:*Strange Adventures vol. 2, #4, final issue cover-dated February - January :* January 5: Goseki Kojima, co-creator of Lone Wolf and Cub, dies at age 71.* January 6: Mad magazine fixture Don Martin dies at age 68....
to December 2000. It is written by Ron Marz
Ron Marz
Ron Marz is an American comic book writer, known for his work on titles such as Silver Surfer, Green Lantern, Marvel vs DC, Batman/Aliens and Witchblade.-Career:...
and illustrated by penciller Rick Leonardi
Rick Leonardi
Rick Leonardi is an American comic book illustrator who has worked for various books for Marvel Comics and DC Comics, including Cloak and Dagger, The Uncanny X-Men , The New Mutants, Spider-Man 2099, Nightwing, Batgirl, Green Lantern Versus Aliens and Superman...
and inker Mike Perkins
Mike Perkins
Mike Perkins is a British comic book artist known for both his inking work and full art duties on comic books such as Captain America, Ruse and Stephen King's The Stand.-Career:Mike Perkins began drawing at a very early age...
, with covers by Dwayne Turner
Dwayne Turner
Dwayne Turner was born in Brooklyn, New York and began his career as a comic book artist during the end of high school.Turner got his start at Marvel Comics on various titles such as Transformers, Wolverine and Avengers Spotlight. In 1995, he co-created the title Sovereign Seven for DC Comics with...
.
The series stars several Green Lantern
Green Lantern
The Green Lantern is the shared primary alias of several fictional characters, superheroes appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The first Green Lantern was created by writer Bill Finger and artist Martin Nodell in All-American Comics #16 .Each Green Lantern possesses a power ring and...
s, primarily Kyle Rayner
Kyle Rayner
Kyle Rayner is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in books published by DC Comics, usually in those starring the Green Lantern Corps, an extraterrestrial police force of which Rayner is a member. Created by writer Ron Marz and artist Darryl Banks, Rayner first appeared in Green Lantern vol...
, and the titular xenomorphs
Xenomorph (Alien)
The Alien is a fictional endoparasitoid extraterrestrial species that is the primary antagonist of the Alien film series. The species made its debut in the 1979 film Alien, and reappeared in its sequels Aliens , Alien 3 , and Alien Resurrection , two crossovers Alien vs...
from the Alien
Alien (franchise)
The Alien film series is a science fiction horror film franchise, focusing on Lieutenant Ellen Ripley and her battle with an extraterrestrial lifeform, commonly referred to as "the Alien"...
movie series. Whether the series' takes place in the continuity of the DC Comics Universe is unclear, as Brik and Salaak are alive in current Green Lantern continuity, and no mention of Mogo's Xenomorph inhabitants is ever made.
In 2001
2001 in comics
-Year overall:* Marvel Comics withdraws from the Comics Code Authority and established its own rating system for its publications.- January :* January 23: Fred Ray, Superman's primary cover artist of the 1940s, passes away at age 80.- September :...
, the series was collected into a single volume with a new cover by artist Eric Kohler.
Plot
The story opens in flashback, ten years before the (at the time) current continuity of the Green Lantern comic books, showing an extraterrestrial Barin Char, the Green Lantern of Sector 1522, dying when a xenomorph bursts from his chest. Hal JordanHal Jordan
Harold "Hal" Jordan is a DC Comics superhero known as Green Lantern, the first human shown to join the Green Lantern Corps and a founding member of the Justice League of America. Jordan is the second DC Comics character to adopt the Green Lantern moniker...
(who at the time of the series’ publication, had long been dead) is then summoned by the Guardians of the Universe
Guardians of the Universe
The Guardians of the Universe, alternatively known as the Guardians or Oans are a fictional extraterrestrial race in the DC Comics universe. They first appeared in Green Lantern Vol. 2 #1 , and were created by John Broome and Gil Kane. Here they do not reveal their existence to Hal, bringing his...
to rendezvous with fellow Green Lanterns Kilowog
Kilowog
Kilowog is a fictional superhero from DC Comics, and a member of the Green Lantern Corps.-Origins:A towering alien with a brutish and porcine appearance, Kilowog is renowned throughout the Green Lantern Corps as the primary trainer of the Corps' newest recruits...
, Katma Tui
Katma Tui
Katma Tui is a fictional comic book superhero, an extraterrestrial from the planet Korugar, and a member of the intergalactic police force known as the Green Lantern Corps. She first appeared in DC Comics' Green Lantern Katma Tui is a fictional comic book superhero, an extraterrestrial from the...
, Tomar Re, The Green Man
Green Man (comics)
Green Man is the name of two fictional comic book superheroes, both extraterrestrial from the planet Uxor in the Vega star system, one a member of the Omega Men and both members of the Green Lantern Corps. Green Man first appeared in DC Comics' Green Lantern Green Man is the name of two fictional...
and Salaak on the planet Tirama in Sector 1522. The six Green Lanterns are informed of the disappearance of Barin Char, and proceed to the border world where he is believed to have disappeared. Tracing the signal from Char’s displaced power ring, they enter a cavern inside a mountainous butte, where they discover Char’s corpse, before being attacked by a swarm of xenomorphs. Jordan decides that rather than exterminate an alien species – particularly since the xenomorphs appear to be only the interstellar equivalent of shark
Shark
Sharks are a type of fish with a full cartilaginous skeleton and a highly streamlined body. The earliest known sharks date from more than 420 million years ago....
s; the perfect killing machine without actually being evil – they would transport the xenomorphs to the sentient Green Lantern planet Mogo
Mogo
Mogo is a fictional character and planet in the DC Universe, a member of the Green Lantern Corps. It first appeared in Green Lantern vol. 2 #188 , in a story titled "Mogo Doesn't Socialize." Mogo was created by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons....
, where they can not harm anyone.
A decade later, the Signet Dawn, a Coluian long-range ore
Ore
An ore is a type of rock that contains minerals with important elements including metals. The ores are extracted through mining; these are then refined to extract the valuable element....
transport vessel, crashes onto the planet. Five extraterrestrials — the Xudarian Tomar-Dar, Brik, Ash, M’Hdahna and the aforementioned Salaak — appear on Earth in the apartment of Kyle Rayner, who at the time, is the Green Lantern of Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
, and the only Green Lantern in existence. These five are either former Green Lanterns, or were intended to become Green Lanterns at the time of Parallax
Parallax (comics)
Parallax is a fictional comic book supervillain in the DC Comics universe. Created by writer Ron Marz and artist Darryl Banks for Green Lantern vol...
’s destruction of the Green Lantern Corps, and they inform Rayner of the Signet Dawn’s crash on Mogo. The six then journey to Mogo to rescue the ship’s crew. Inside the hull of the ship, they encounter Crowe, the ship’s first officer, who tells Rayner that after the crash, the aliens carried off the other 37 crew members, but left her for some reason. Crowe leads Rayner and the others deeper into the ship, where the xenomorphs attack them, taking Rayner’s companions captive, leaving only him, Crowe and Salaak. When Rayner tries to grab Tomar as he is pulled down a shaft, his power ring slips off his finger and falls down the shaft.
The trio then climb down the shaft - Kyle and Salaak subsequently settling any remaining tension between them when Salaak apologizes for judging Kyle by what he was not rather than what he was, and discover five of Crowe’s crewmates, cocooned by the xenomorphs, four of which have been killed by chestbursters. The xenomorphs
Xenomorph (Alien)
The Alien is a fictional endoparasitoid extraterrestrial species that is the primary antagonist of the Alien film series. The species made its debut in the 1979 film Alien, and reappeared in its sequels Aliens , Alien 3 , and Alien Resurrection , two crossovers Alien vs...
then attack the trio, and Crowe and Rayner flee through a passageway, separated from Salaak. They then come across a chamber where they discover a xenomorph Queen, with the remainder of Crowe’s crew and Rayner’s companions cocooned around the walls, and Rayner’s power ring on the floor. After exchanging a brief kiss for luck, Crowe jumps into the chamber firing at the aliens to distract them while Rayner goes for his ring. During this attempt, the skin on the right half of Crowe’s face is ripped away, revealing that she is a gynoid
Gynoid
A gynoid is anything which resembles or pertains to the female human form. It is also used in American English medical terminology as a shortening of the term Gynecoid ....
. Rayner reacquires his ring. Crowe, fatally damaged during the melee, tells Rayner that he shouldn’t leave the xenomorphs alive to endanger someone else in the future as Jordan did, so Rayner destroys the xenomorphs, rescuing the surviving Signet Dawn crew and his companions. Ash, Brik and Salaak do not survive. Rayner is left with the thought that sometimes the past comes back to haunt you no matter what one does, another reminder of the legacy of Hal Jordan that looms over him.
Collected editions
The series has been collected into a trade paperbackTrade paperback (comics)
In comics, a trade paperback is a collection of stories originally published in comic books, reprinted in book format, usually capturing one story arc from a single title or a series of stories with a connected story arc or common theme from one or more titles...
:
- Green Lantern Versus Aliens (96 pages, September, Titan BooksTitan BooksTitan Publishing Group is an independently owned publishing company, established in 1981. It is based at offices in London, England's Bankside area. The Books Division has two main areas of publishing: film & TV tie-ins/cinema reference books; and graphic novels and comics reference/art titles. The...
, ISBN 1840232838, August 2001, Dark Horse, ISBN 1569715386)