Book Review 204 // Aliens: Infiltrator: A Novel by Weston Ochse

What is it and the Alien franchise that keeps me coming back? This time I enter another body horror tale with the xenomorph threat called Infiltrator by Weston Ochse. Let's see how bad this gets!

Title: Aliens: Infiltrator

Author: Weston Ochse

Blurb: The official prequel to the huge new Alien video game from Cold Iron Studios, as a Weyland-Yutani scientist arrives at Pala Station and finds the researchers there courting disaster... of the Xenomorph kind.

Dr. Timothy Hoenikker arrives at Pala Station, a Weyland-Yutani facility. Lured there by the promise of alien artifacts, instead, he finds a warped bureaucracy and staff of misfits testing the effects of Xenomorph bio-materials on living creatures. Unbeknownst to the personnel, however, there is an infiltrator among them whose actions could spell disaster. Also on staff is Victor Rawlings, a former marine who gathers together other veterans to prepare for the worst. As the personnel receive delivery of alien eggs, the experiments spin out of control, and only the former Colonial Marines can stand between the humans and certain death.

Alien: Infiltrator TM & © 2019 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All rights reserved.

Buy on Amazon.ca

Format: 299 pages, Kindle Edition

Review

I didn't realize this until after, but Aliens: Infiltrator is actually a prequel to the game Aliens: Fireteam (is this worth playing?). This novel is an excellent stand-alone book, and little knowledge is needed to get into it as it is well explained. This ease of joining in also holds it back; we aren't really getting anything new, aliens get loose, people die, etc. But this is what I needed, so I was pleased with the results.

Now of course it can't be an Aliens story without the dreaded Weyland-Yutani company being involved. And involved they are. We join Dr. Timothy Hoenikker as he arrives at the Weyland station Pala. He had believed he was coming to study alien artifacts but instead, he discovers a darker reason. Turns out the base is a Colonial Marine testing site, and here the scientists are tasked with developing better equipment. Their goal once honourable was to create acid-resistant armour and save lives, sadly power corrupts, and soon the team is creating deadlier xenomorphs! Why would you do this?

Of course, the shit hits the fans and the bugs are soon loose causing mayhem and only with the aid of some ex-marines turned rent a cop are the bases survivors able to last as long as they do. 

I loved the chaos and action of this title, the characters were well thought out and portrayed even if they are the traditional archetypes. It was also nice to get a little change in pace by having the scientists tamper with the genetics of the hosts to manipulate the Xenos (an idea tested in Prototype). These little twists worked really well. I was engaged the entire time and by the end felt very satisfied with the title. A great filler book.

Think I need to paint a white Xenomorph that cover image is ace!

Audio Review 90 // Alien: Prototype by Tim Waggoner

Seems like an age since my last Alien title. So I was rather happy to see this audible title pop up in my timeline. I felt I needed a Warhammer break, and this seems to be the perfect title.

Title: Alien: Prototype (Aliens / Predator / Prometheus)

Author: Tim Waggoner

Buy the book via Amazon

Blurb:

Dead cargo!

Venture, a direct rival to the Weyland-Yutani corporation, will accept any risk to crush the competition. Thus, when a corporate spy "acquires" a bizarre, leathery egg from a hijacked vessel, she takes it directly to the Venture testing facility on Jericho 3.

Though unaware of its danger, the scientists there recognize their prize's immeasurable value. Early tests reveal little, however, and they inevitably conclude that they need a human test subject...

Enter Zula Hendricks.

A Jericho 3 security staff member, Colonial Marines veteran Zula Hendricks, has been tasked with training personnel to deal with anything the treacherous planet can throw their way. Yet nothing can prepare them for the horror that appears - a creature more hideous than any Zula has encountered.

Unless stopped, it will kill every human being on the planet. 

Review

I did not expect Zula Hendricks in this tale, and I loved it. That will teach me to not read the blurbs before diving in. In this tale, we have two main, strong female leads. Up first is Zula Hendricks, an ex-colonial Marine now security team trainer and Tamar Prather, a simple procurer of items, aka, a corporate spy for hire. These two characters are set within a corporate station owned by Venture - a similar company to Weyland-Yutani.

The tale starts as all good things do with Tamar procuring an alien egg for Venture. Once there, the scientists begin their tests and realize that the only actual test must involve a human subject (why?). Of course, the shit hits the fan quickly, and soon the base collapses. Luckily Hendricks is nearby and rallies her team for a Xeno hunt!

Ultimately the two main leads are kick ass for different reasons. Hendricks for being the strong, brave leader type and Tamar for the classic save my ass archetype. The scientist is crazy/stupid/evil enough to unleash the monster, and the android though comical at the start becomes a solid character by the end. You can tell Waggoner enjoys the lore and cares about the storytelling process. Everything made sense. Zula being there felt natural and realistic, rather than a forced "hey, use this character" concept. Also, the way they made the Xenomorph even more deadly was well handled and cleverly thought out. All I can say is to watch out for genetic corruption without giving spoilers. The pacing was quick, and at no point did my interest wane. This is an excellent Alien book, and I recommend listening or reading it if a fan of the series.

Have you read it? Let me know in the comments below which title I should seek next. Thank you for reading and supporting the blog.

Comic Review 181 // Alien Vol. 1 Bloodlines by Philp Phillip Kennedy Johnson

I just can't stay away from the Alien franchise. This time we get to enjoy Marvels' first outing with the series. Will this be a success or suffer a lot like Dark Horse did over the years.

Title: Alien, Vol. 1: Bloodlines

Author: Phillip Kennedy Johnson

Artist: Salvador Larroca

Commercial Fluff: The iconic cinematic terror makes its Marvel debut! Gabriel Cruz gave his life to the Weyland-Yutani Corporation — almost literally, thanks to an alien attack that he barely survived! Recently retired, Cruz is trying to patch things up with his abandoned son with the help of his friend, a Bishop-model android. But his re-entry into civilian life is not going smoothly…, and his encounters with the deadly Xenomorphs are far from over! Now, Cruz has only one chance to save his son from the horrific fate he barely escaped. The clock toward total collapse is ticking. The aliens are loose! Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Salvador Larroca team up for an all-new tale of the sci-fi/horror titan that has terrified audiences for decades. No one is safe. No one is innocent. And no one can hear you scream.

Format: 144 pages, Paperback

Buy Now: Amazon Link

Review

Going, to be honest, and straight-up say it wasn't that bad! Yes, it has issues, but it is not worse than Dark Horse Comic versions. Like most Alien tales, the story is generic; of course, we have the "evil" company, Androids and loose Xenos. There are also a few good plot twists that better people will realize before I did. But ultimately, there is nothing new, and to be truthful, I didn't care.

I found it interesting that they added an Apex alien instead of using the Praetorian class alien? But the real standout piece was showcasing new hybrids; the goat-style one was cool and extreme Headbanger metal of them. But like many people, I don't truly understand the idea of this humanoid xenomorph; I am hoping it will all be explained, but it seems forced in when a classic Queen Mother could have the same effect. The design seemed wrong to me, but I am willing to see what they do with it.

The human and Android characters were pretty throw-away for me and, for the most part, flat apart from Bishop, who always makes me smile. I'm not really sure where volume two will take us?

So, where do I sit on this title? Above average, worth reading and wasting a lazy Sunday on but not a go-to must recommend. What are your thoughts? Let me know in the comments.

Comic Review 180 // 2000 AD Prog 1334

Sad news, everyone; as I write this piece, I have discovered my beloved Pixelbook 2017 edition Chromebook has died. Sadly the motherboard has fried, and replacement parts are stupidly expensive. Luckily, I still have my gaming P.C. and an old Lenovo tablet, but I will miss reading my comics on such a beautiful system.

This week's prog review replaces my audiobook slot as I have struggled to find time to listen to anything. But it does allow us to continue through the year 2003, we have reached April 2nd, and we have a V.C.s cover image; it gives us no real hint as to what may be inside, I am also finding the series a little dull, so this doesn't fill me with joy.

As always, we start with Judge Dredd VS Aliens: Incubus Part 14. Wow, this series just keeps going! Judge Dredd and Sanchez have escaped the Alien resin and are lost in the nest. While this is happening, Judge Giant's extermination team is ambushed by the mutie gang hanging out in the ruins of the old world. A pretty exciting action pack start. It was also great to finally see the Queen appear!

Though I am enjoying the series, I miss the fear of the earlier issues. The xenomorphs have lost the edge and have become nearly non-threatening.

The new story up next is a Future Shock tale called Head. It is a bit of a silly adventure involving an art critic who gets his comeuppance and ultimately becomes a piece of art himself. These Future Shock tales make me think of Black Mirror. A nice little filler piece, I highly recommend this one.

The V.C.s E & E. Really not enjoying this series. I feel it is just too on the nose for a sci-fi adventure. In this week's story, the team loads up and attempts a rescue mission. The odds are heavily against them, and they soon discover a plot that could change the war's course. This is too much WW2-style adventure comic for me, I am sure this has a lot of fans, but sadly I am not one.

Tales of Telguuth: The Iniquities of Snedron Part 2. Sylvana flees her father and heads to the local tavern for help. Here she finds a rogue who is willing to kill her father in exchange for a night with her, but first, he needs her to steal her father's talisman of protection. Of course, all is not as it seems, and the twist is evident to workout, but such a fun and comical piece. Lovely artwork and storytelling.

Then to finish up the week, we have Atavar II Part 6. While searching the abandoned Wosk World, Atavar discovers a sole inhabitant. The Wosk is an unusual-looking creature with both Bat and Mouse features. While dealing with this creature, we question how advanced they are. They seem highly spiritual and lack their own weapons. When pushed about the missing population, our Wosk responds that they have left to see "God." Soon Atavar and Worldbreaker are gearing up and leaving the planet searching for this new being.

A fun enough tale. I found the Wosk annoying, and I am also confused about the scale. I thought Worldbreaker was a massive ship, but it seems at most the size of a small house? How can this be? Help me understand.

With the end of Atavar, we reach the end of issue 1334. Overall an enjoyable issue; even though I am not enjoying V.C, it is still a solid tale, and I can see the appeal. What are your thoughts? I hope you have been enjoying this series of quick reviews. As always, I appreciate you all and hope you have a fantastic week.

Comic Review 178 // 2000 AD Prog 1333

Look at us! Now at Prog 1333 of March 2003. As you can see in the image, the cover is actually a bit on the dull side. Just the face of Judge Dredd, no honest info at all. Hopefully, the stories inside are more exciting.

We start, as always, with the Judge Dredd story. Judge Dredd vs Aliens: Incubus Part 13. Straight into the action as we join Dredd and Sanchez hanging upside down inside the alien next. It would seem our duo have had the facehugger treatment. During this time, Judge Giant has formed an Extermination team and rides into the Undercity to destroy the nest. Sadly I was left feeling a little disappointed by Mr. Bone's ending; it came too quickly and seemed a sad way to finish him off. I can't see many more issues, so we must see the Queen soon!

Up next Caballistics, Inc. Moving in Part 3. The team has arrived at the basement to rescue Jen, but the only problem is they can't open the door. Inside, Jen has been possessed by a demon and is battling the forces of Malcolm, soon she defeats him, and it would seem the demon inside has complete control of Jen. This is the final part of this section, and I am starting to really enjoy these and hope they will be back soon.

Then we get The V.C.s: M.I.A. I've not really got into this series; it is just too military for me. The stories are straightforward and bare, and the artwork doesn't aid it. In this story, the team rushes to rescue an old friend and discovers he has crashed on an asteroid base overrun with the enemy. Time for a rescue mission (Yawn). Let us move on.

Tales of Telguuth: The Iniquities of Snedron Part 1. We are introduced to a young lady being stalked by a demon named Snedron. Turning to her Wizard father, she discovers that he has cursed her to a life of servitude to this demon in exchange for power. The story ends with the young girl running into the night. I've enjoyed these high fantasy tales, and I think this will be a good one. Will have to wait and see.

Atavar II Part 5. Atavar and the Worldbeaker travel to seek aid from the Wosk, the most ancient of "The Five." As they arrive at the closet colony, they discover the U.O.S. advance forces have already arrived. After a swift space battle, the duo heads to the surface to find the colony abandoned. Just who are the Wosk, and where are they? This story is growing on me but feels like a soap drama. A massive galaxy where everything seems to be happening locally.

And with that story, we are done. As always, Dredd, Caballistics, Inc and Telguuth were great. Atavar was okay, and The V.C.s was meh. I think Caballistics won this week, but let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

Cheers for reading.

Comic Review 177 // 2000 AD Prog 1332

Straight away, we know we are heading into a scary issue of 2000 A.D. this time. Prog 1332 was released way back in March 2003, and the cover is dominated by a Caballistics, Inc. image. Seems the new house is definitely haunted or cursed!

But before we can discover the truth behind the cover image, we kick off this issue with Judge Dredd vs Aliens: Incubus Part 12. The Mechanismo Units are loose in the Grand Hall of Justice, and it seems to be the tipping point of the battle. With the aid of the robot units, the Judges are finally able to start pushing back against the xenomorph menace. Sadly casualties still rise, and Judge Sanchez is grabbed by the fleeing Xenos and dragged into the Undercity. In his classic heroic ways, Judge Dredd goes off to rescue Sanchez and orders Judge Giant, to seal the portal. The issue finishes with Dredd swarmed by Facehuggers. I feel Dredd is in trouble here. Great start to the issue.

With such an epic sci-fi start, we jump into Caballistics, Inc. Moving In Part 2. The team is finally settling in for sleep in their base of operations. But their bliss is soon disrupted by a scream; seemingly, the house has some extra guests, and they seem to be in the basement. I am definitely enjoying this arc of the Caballistics as I am starting to understand the characters more, and I am intrigued to see what happens next in this haunted house story.

From the slightly slower-paced supernatural story to a fast pace Sci-fi thriller. The V.C.s this week were all guns blazing, full of characteristic sexism and gun porn. Nothing over the top but a good filler piece.

Tales of Telguuth - One Cold Winter Night. We explore the frozen forests of Varthor, where a hunter gets an unusual guest at their fireplace. A classic story of double or maybe triple crossing. Demons vs Humans vs Demons...who is the real evil here? Enjoying the Telguuth stories so far; I wish they could find some better artist, though.

The Final tale for this issue is Atavar II - Part 4. Having been ambushed by World Breaker, the Atavar has to act quickly to survive. Luckily he can best the Champion without causing death. This act of grace proves that Atavar can be trusted, and the beginning of an alliance seems to be forming. It's an okay tale, a bit dull, but at least it is moving the story forwards.

Of course, the standout story is Dredd, closely followed by Caballistics, Inc. I am really enjoying these stories, so expect more reviews in the coming weeks.

Audio Review 64 // Alien: The Cold Forge by Alex White

My audible listening schedule has been knocked off course of late. But I did just finish this new to me Alien title. The Cold Forge. So let's not waste time filling up on incinerator fluid and head straight in.

Title: Alien: The Cold Forge (Aliens / Predator / Prometheus)

Author: Alex White

Narrator: Michael Braun

Commercial Fluff: A dramatic new Alien novel, as Weyland-Yutani seeks to recover from the failure of Hadley's Hope and successfully weaponize the Xenomorphs.

With the failure of the Hadley's Hope, Weyland-Yutani has suffered a devastating defeat--the loss of the Aliens. Yet there's a reason the company rose to the top, and they have a redundancy already in place. Remote station RB-323 abruptly becomes their greatest hope for weaponizing the Xenomorph, but there's a spy aboard--someone who doesn't necessarily act in the company's best interests. If discovered, this person may have no choice but to destroy RB-323... and everyone on board. That is if the Xenomorphs don't do the job first.

Review

This new generation of Alien books is killing it. I am really enjoying the series's direction since Prometheus, and this book definitely adds to the series. It reads exactly how I imagine Aliens would be written for a modern-day audience.

The main characters are worthy of remembering and fulfilling the classic archtypes. Then in classic Alienverse style, they are all given the piece of shit character trait and spend too much energy undermining each other rather than attempting to survive. The author does a great job capturing these very human traits that make us scarier than the xenomorphs. The two key characters are focused more on greed and selfish acts than helping others survive. This type of villainy is what I enjoy about the alien franchise and Weyland Yutani in general; it just brings back Burke-style persona.

The story has everything an alien fan needs. We have a secret Weyland Yutani Project; we have Xenomorphs, a ragtag team of expendable crew, synthetics and, of course, facehuggers! It is everything this franchise represents, and I love it.

Highly recommend reading/listening to this story. If you are interested in this, please use this link to purchase off Amazon, as I will get a kickback! Link to Amazon

Comic Review 173 // Alien: Rescue by Brian Wood

Following on from Aliens: Resistance comes Aliens: Rescue and continues the story of Amanda Ripley, Zula Hendricks and Alec Brand. Hopefully, we have a better account than Resistance. Here are the details

Title: Aliens: Rescue (Alien: Isolation #4)

Author: Brian Wood

Illustrations: Kieran McKeown

Description: Colonial Marines are the elite military fighters of the future, battling alien threats across the galaxy.

One hero has the chance to fight alongside Amanda Ripley and Zula Hendricks, who saved his life from Xenomorphs so long ago.

Following Aliens: Resistance, Alec Brand, the colonist rescued by Amanda Ripley and Zula Hendricks, has grown up into an elite Colonial Marine. A secret mission brings him back to the Alien-infested moon where he was rescued...and face to face with the past.

Brian Wood (Massive, Aliens: Defiance) joins artist Kieran McKeown (Halo: Lone Wolf) for an action-packed battle against a dangerous alien threat.

Collects Aliens: Rescue #1-#4.

Page Count: 96 pages

Review

The good news is this is better than Resistance! Following on the adventure of the disappointment that was Resistance comes Rescue. Rescue is set five years after the last comic and continues Amanda Ripley's and Zula Hendrick's attempt to bring down the mega-corporation Weyland Yutani. I can't explain how much better this story is compared to Resistance; it has a good pace, a clear storyline and characters that seem natural and not two-dimensional. 

Though an improvement is still on the weaker side of comics, the artwork seems weak and a bit lazy, and the story ending seems rushed and forced in a way that can close off the story. Seems like maybe the series ended sooner than planned?

As mentioned definitely a step up on the last comic, but still with too many flaws. If you are a fan of Aliens and must read everything, go ahead. If you are more casual with the franchise, give it a skip.

Comic Review 172 // 2000 AD Prog 1331

Here we go with another 2000 A.D. Prog. We are exploring Prog 1331, which came out on March 12th, 2003. The cover is a strange one featuring, at least to me, an unknown bearded man with glowing eyes. The catchline states, "The Atavar is Back from the Dead." So at least I know it is from the Dan Abnett Sci-fi strip, then across the top, we have a Caballistics story teased. Let us dive in.

Judge Dredd vs Aliens: Incubus Part 11: The halls of Justice are under siege with the Xenomorphs pouring in through the underhive. Even with the skills of the Verminators, the Judges are being pushed back. Judge Giant activates an extreme measure with a rising body count and releases the Mechanismo units.

Great opener. Good to see the Judges struggling against the Xenomorphs and not just gunning down a non-threatening alien. Also, I love the Mechanismo units; they are so cool!

Caballistics Inc. Moving in Part 1: Following on from the earlier story from 2003, we get to catch up with the Caballistics team as they move into Exham Priory. Unfortunately, it turns out that the new base of operation was once the home of Malcolm Critchley, a Magus of a Cult wiped out back in 1934. The final panel hints that something sinister is stirring in the house.

Solid start to a new series. I am interested in seeing how the creative team develops it; I am enjoying an occult story arc in the progs.

The V.C.s Bystander Part 2: We kind of meet a new race in this episode known as the Polity, a collective of advanced alien races, who could stop the war between the Humans and the Geeks but instead hide behind ethics to not get involved.

Bit of a slow-burning story. Intrigues to see where it goes.

Tales of Telguuth - Pagrok the Infallible Part 2: Continuing on Pagrok's adventures to rescue a Damsel and make himself stupidly rich in the process. A classic ending to a fable, the main character Pagrok gets his wealth and gold, just not the way he had hoped for.

Rather enjoyable two-parter, I might seek out the graphic to review.

Atavar II Part 3: The title story! Still don't fully understand this series. But the Atavar is a cloned human from our extinct race designed to help fight the UOS, who turns out to be created by humans. It would seem he has decided to help the alliance and is travelling back to the war fleet when he is ambushed by World Breaker, a gigantic ship!

No idea what the hell is happening, but I am enjoying it, hahaha.

Overall a hugely enjoyable issue. Gimme more!!

Book Review 167 // Alien Isolation by Keith R.A. DeCandido

Hopefully, you have been following my Alien: Isolation gameplay? If not for shame! Head over to Youtube now to watch. Okay, all caught up? This game has me hooked and scared in equal measures. While visiting my local library (support libraries, please), I discovered this title on the shelf and knew I owed it to myself to read. Definitely spoilers to the game in this book.

Title: Alien: Isolation 

Author: Keith R.A. DeCandido

Fluff:

The product of troubled and violent youth, Amanda Ripley is hell-bent on discovering what happened to her missing mother, Ellen Ripley. She joins a Weyland-Yutani team sent to retrieve the Nostromo flight recorder, only to find space station Sevastopol in chaos with a Xenomorph aboard. Flashbacks reveal Amanda's history and events that forced her mother to take the assignment aboard the Nostromo.

Amazon CA: Alien Isolation

Page Count: 336 pages

Review

As I already confessed, I am in the process of playing through Alien Isolation, and I have so far been really enjoying it. Such a scary game and sucks you in, so I was really hoping the book would do that too.

Firstly though a game adaptation, it would seem DeCandido was given space to fill out some back story. Allowing him to explain what happened to Amanda Ripley before we met her. Though interesting, they started to become rather annoying as we kept having "flashbacks," which for me ruined the flow of the story. These parts should have been combined to produce a prologue to the main story. That way, we still get the character's background without destroying the horror flow.

Thankfully the representation of the game is well portrayed and can create a lot of atmospheres and capture all the essential parts. He does well to showcase the environment as a critical part of the game; we read about the graffiti and posters that litter the station. We also hear about her creating items from scratch, another critical play point. These were very nice touches to help merge the two in my mind.

Overall I really enjoyed the book. It is an excellent adaptation; the author used the game and brought it to life. Yes, there are issues, but there will always be a computer game adaption. This excellent introduction to the Alien series and has enough horror to keep me hooked.

Well, I hope you enjoyed the review and will come back soon for my next post. Check out more of my Xenomorph adventures here. LINK.

Comic Review 168 // 2000 AD Prog 1330

Usually, Thursdays would be an audible review, but with the festive season, I have fallen behind on listening, so instead, we are having a second 2000 A.D. prog review. Prog 1330 was released in March 2003, and the cover hints straightaway at what to expect in the issue. We have Judge Dredd facing off against a Xenomorph horde. This is an impressive two-page wrap, but it is also fun to see Xeno getting his face blown off. Now to see if the stories impress.

Judge Dredd vs. Aliens: Incubus Part 10. Mr. Bones has blown a hole from the Undercity straight into the Halls of Justice. With Xenomorphs pouring through the breach, the Judges are quickly on the back foot. Luckily Judge Dredd and the exterminators are on hand, and the rally to secure the halls begins. Elsewhere, the Med Judges attempt to remove a chestbuster when it decides not to go quietly and attacks the Judges!

Great opener for the issue, plenty of action, and I really enjoy this part of the story. I am ready for more action and possibly Mr. Bones to enter the fray.

Bec & Kawl: Eeevil.com. Urgh. I can't do it; these over-the-top computer references and pop culture comments are crap. At best, the story itself is weak, and I couldn't care less for the characters. Thankfully this is the end, and I seriously hope they don't return. Wow. I haven't hated a comic strip so much.

The V.C.s: Bystander Part 1. Finally, after a few one-off stories, we seem to be getting a series. I have no idea what is going on, if I'm honest. I hope that I will start working it all out with a complete story. But we seem to have an entire battle happening, and though our cast is receiving a beating, they seem to be winning. Then the final panel hits hard as a mysterious spaceship that is massive and dwarves the other crafts appear out of nowhere.

I am definitely intrigued to see where this will go. I have faith in the creative team on this one, so I am sure it will be good.

Tales of Telguuth: Pagrok the Infalliable Part 1. Enjoying these high fantasy tales, they feel Conan about them with the classic, what goes around comes around mentality. In this tale, we meet Pagrok, who seems to read the knucklebones and see the future. After being requested to locate a missing girl, Pagrok discovers a lot of wealth and attempts to find the girl to claim some of the money. But so far, it seems the journey will be dangerous and maybe more troublesome than it is worth.

Atavar II: Part 2. Seems strange to have Abnett working on two sci-fi battle adventures but here we go! The Voidshaker Spaceship is wreaking havoc on the enemy forces, but their numbers seem more significant than even this Godship can handle. After losing contact, the alliance believes the ship to be lost. In truth, the ship has survived and has made contact with Atavar.

I am sure the final panel would have meant more to me if I had read the original series. Instead, I am left wanting answers and have to move on to the next issue to find out what is happening!

Overall a good issue, it misses being a great issue due to Bec & Kawl, but with that finished, we can hopefully move on to something more exciting and fun. I hope you enjoy these quick and dirty reviews and don't mind me producing them?

If you would like to learn more and support the blog, please consider purchasing through these links (as I get an amazon kickback).

Reading on a Pixelbook using the 2000 A.D. app.

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Comic Review 167 // 2000 AD Prog 1329

First comic review of 2022! I had to start strong, so we are diving straight in with a 2000 A.D. prog. Issue 1329 was released on the 25th of February 2003. The cover doesn't feel me with joy as it references Bec and Kawl, and I am genuinely over them. But let's hope for the best and dive in.

Judge Dredd vs Aliens: Incubus Part 9. A little filler piece, to be honest. We seem to be moving into the final stages of the comic story, with Mr. Bones ready to blow a hole in the justice department. Still a beautiful-looking comic, excited for the fighting to begin.

Bec & Kawl - Eeevil.com Part 2. Why does this bore me so much? I really don't enjoy this; we now have a matrix rip-off nerd group fighting the Anti-geek in a Ripley-style Powerloader. Absolute garbage.

The V.C.s - Tickover. It's a slow story for sure; we get an introduction to the team as they wait to see if they contact the enemy. What is going on with this issue? It is so slow this week.

Tales of the Telguuth - The Black Arts of Skrixlan Nort. A story following a Wizard who paints. It would seem that whoever the Wizard Paints he can summon, so many of his paintings involve demons and monsters. This comes in extremely useful as he has to combat a Necromancer!

It is a bit more exciting tale; it was nice to have a bit of fantasy in the comics.

ATAVAR II - Part 1. It is a sci-fi tale that I am unsure if there was a first season or not. Either way, we are dropped hot into a story of an intergalactic war. Seems like one race was pretty much wiped out and have become tactical advisors for another race. Together they have created a creature/weapon to turn the tide and have released it onto the galaxy. As it razes a world of the enemy, there seems to be an unknown issue arising, and we are left wanting more.

Interestingly enough, start a new series. Hopefully, this will improve and grow.

Overall a slow issue. Judge Dredd seemed to just be ticking over, Bec & Kawl is a full-on disaster, The V.C.s was also quiet, Tales of the Telguuth was a fun one-shot, and Atavar II has potential. So closer to an average issue all around. Seems a shame as the issues before have been relatively good. I hate to see it slide.

Want to learn more about 2000 A.D.? Why not start with the 2000 A.D. Encyclopedia (link is via Amazon, and I get a kickback). Thank you for reading, and if you want to chat more, come find me on Instagram.

Comic Review 166 // 2000 AD Prog 1328

Time to enjoy another Prog. Issue 1328 was released on Feb 19th, 2003 and has a deadly duo on the cover; it looks like Dante finally catches up with his mother.

As always, we start with Judge Dredd vs Aliens: Incubus Part 6. The xenomorph Judge Dredd killed has melted a hole through to the undercity, creating a rather big headache for the Justice Department, who are rushing to discover the truth behind this attack. Unknown to them, their target is located in the undercity. Mr. Bones is a badass character! Viewed as a mutant and shunned by the city, Mr. Bones became part of a starship crew and soon rose to a position of power. Unfortunately, he discovered a starship carrying alien eggs and was forever changed. With the ability to grow an army, he is seeking his revenge, and I feel we are ramping up to the central conflict. Excited!!!

** Note ** I need to make a Mr. Bones for the Judge Dredd game and create a few Xenomorph characters for the judges to fight.

Sadly this incredible tale is followed by another Bec & Kawl. Titled EEEVIL.COM Part 1. Seems like we are getting a multi-part story, so maybe they will grow on me? Sadly this story did nothing for me. Kawl is sucked into the internet, where he meets the spider in the middle, and while Bec attempts to work out what is happening, she is kidnapped by men in suits. A pretty dull tale, and the artwork for me just doesn't do anything for me. A big miss.

Third, in the prog comes The V.C.s - Shotgun. These tales read like an old Battle Magazine, and I am all for it! A great short but sweet story that may bleed into the next issue? We have a fighter team attempting to protect a transport ship against an enemy group. Unfortunately, our team lost the fight, and the transport was destroyed utterly. It is strangely refreshing to see the heroes fail; it truly makes for a more believable story. Great job.

The fourth and final tale is Nikolai Dante: Hell and High Water Part 8. Dante is reunited with his Pirate Queen Mother and explains a rough but incomplete version of events leading to them reuniting. At this point, the Pacifica Forces attack; their goal was to aid Dante in installing himself into his mother's care, but sadly Lord Murakami oversteps his mission and attempts to kill both Dantes. This, of course, does not go to plan, and Nikolai Dante soon has the Murakami at his mercy. Fearing that the cowardly Lord would reveal his plans to save his own skin, Nikolai kills him, keeping his silence. This attack has allowed the Dante's to bond, and the story ends with the pair sailing off. This also seems to be the end of the story arc. I hope Dante is back soon!

Overall a solid issue. Bec & Kawl is a letdown for me, and I fear how long this series will last. Otherwise, great Dredd, V.C.s and Dante stories. I hope this pace continues, and Bec & Kawl is just a hiccup.

Want to learn more about 2000 A.D.? Why not start with the 2000 A.D. Encyclopedia (link is via Amazon, and I get a kickback). Thank you for reading, and if you want to chat more, come find me on Instagram.

Unboxing

The Final Gale Force Nine Expansion kit for ALIENS: Another Glorious Day in the Corps has arrived. Titled ALIENS: Get Away From Her, You B***h! We get some rather significant and impressive models like the Xenomorph Queen, Ripley in the Powerloader, a Ripley and Newt Combo and two Bishops. We also get enough tokens to replant a forest.

Sit back, relax and enjoy as I unbox and build these miniatures.

If you enjoyed the video, be sure to watch more and subscribe!

Links:

To buy the Game & Expansions

Aliens: Another Glorious Day in the Corps

Aliens: Ultimate Badasses

Aliens: Get Away from Her, you Bitch

Aliens: Assets and Hazards

Equipment

Camera Sony EV10

Blue Yeti Nano Mic

This video is part of Adventure with Peps blogging. Solo Link to everything social media.

Alien Isolation Walkthrough Part 2 - Axel is crazy

Time for some more gameplay action of Alien Isolation. Will I finally meet a Xenomorph, who the hell is this Axel guy or will I just spend 30 minutes pooping my pants at every noise? Only one way to find out!

I am also tweaking my new mic, so hopefully, this sounds okay (let me know in the comments). I hope you are enjoying this new series, let me know and I hope we can keep these videos coming.

This video is part of Adventure with Peps blogging:

Solo Link to everything social media

Get the book - Alien Isolation

Camera: Sony Alpha ZV-E10

Mic: Blue Yeti Nano

Comic Review 164 // 2000 AD Prog 1327

The festive season is upon us, and I am taking my foot off the gas on some of my projects, the main one being a slow down on reading books and a slow down on audible reviews. I will try and enjoy the season a bit and spend some quality downtime with family. This means that you will see an uptick in comic reviews, especially on these 2000 A.D. prog reviews. It is so easy for me to just pick up and read a comic before bed or during a lunch break. So expect so many more!

Today's review is of Prog 1327, originally released on Feb 12th, 2003. The cover features a V.C. character and an alien. Hands up, I know nothing about the V.C.s, so I feel I have a steep learning curve to climb. I find the cover art a little lacklustre, to be honest. I just hope the inside is better.

Judge Dredd vs Alien: Incubus Part 7. Still a powerful story. Judge Dredd has faced off against a Xenomorph, and while it was reeling from a flare to the mouth, Judge Dredd launches it off the zoom train to plummet to the city bottom. Here it goes, splat melting a colossal hole into the undercity. At this time, we discover Jeremiah, an activist, is behind these creatures, but who is he working for, and why on earth would they hide out in the undercity?

Love this story so much. Even though I strongly remember this story, re-reading it gives me goosebumps.

New tale! Bec & Kawl: Enlightenment. Hopefully, this is a one-shot. I didn't enjoy it at all; a pair of stoners summon a grass spirit and request the meaning of life. After being fed a load of B.S., the characters leave feeling unfulfilled and setting a fire near the grass spirit.

Wow, I was unfulfilled after that. No thank you 2000 A.D., No thank you!

The V.C.s: Look on the Bright Side. So my knowledge of the V.C.s is zero, but it would seem they are a military unit specializing in hard-to-achieve goals. For this mission, they are attempting to take out a solid military point; the only problem is a blinding sun bathes the land roughly every minute, blinding defender and attacker alike. V.C. Smith (who might be the main character?) gets a crazy idea and almost burns up achieving the goal, but he does succeed in destroying the base.

For a one-shot, it was pretty good. Wish I had a better grasp of what this story arc is about.

Terror Tales!: The Statue Garden. A young man questions a blind old man in a bar about a local artist who creates stunning and life-like statues. His goal is to attempt to rob her, but he realizes his error following the chat with the blind old man.

A great short tale, super enjoyable, great artwork, and just stunning. I really enjoy this one.

Nikolai Dante: Hell and High Water Part 7. Finally, Dante's mum has appeared! Working for the Black Dragons, Dante has sought out his mother for an unknown reason. It is also nice to see how his mother interacts with this new location's population. She doesn't seem as scary as I remember...but I am sure this can change.

Overall this was interesting. Not as strong as the previous issues but still Dredd, Dante and the Terror Tales are some good reads and well-deserving of the cover price.

Want to learn more about 2000 AD? Why not start with the 2000 AD Encyclopedia (link is via Amazon, and I get a kickback). Thank you for reading, and if you want to chat more, come find me on Instagram.

Comic Review 161 // 2000 AD Prog 1325

I am really getting into these short prog reads. I promise Judge Dredd Complete Case Files 16 is coming. But for now, let us enjoy Prog 1325. Released way back in 2003 on January 29th. The cover is full of zombie goodness and actually has me intrigued by what is happening in Caballistics Inc. this week. So less chat, more reviewing.

Judge Dredd vs Aliens: Incubus Part 5. What a fantastic romp this has been so far. The pest control team has been ambushed by the Hospital Xenomorph, and it rapidly chews through three members of the group. I love this story for a few reasons. 1) The artwork is stunning just love it. 2) The Xenomorph is deadly. We get to see them as the silent, stalking killers of our nightmares. One managed to maul up a Judge Team real bad, and the second is kicking ass and slaughtering its way through a hospital. Love it!

Caballistics Inc. Going Underground Part 5. Okay, so the cover had really nothing to do with the story. The team is still fleeing through the underground tunnels, heading towards the occult bomb that has reactivated under London. It would seem there is a way to defuse the device, but it will require Ravne to sacrifice someone - Miss Simmons. I am still enjoying the series, but this was a solid filler piece.

Nikolai Dante: Hell and High Water Part 5. Dante is saved by the Black Dragons airships, who drive the forces of the Kraken away but not before the Kraken chows down on one of his crewmen's hearts while declaring vengeance on Dante (Crazy ass character). The Black Dragons mind, you don't seem much better, and soon Dante is in a duel and being his classic charismatic shelf. I like series; it is tempting me to pick up his early adventures and start reading them.

Sinister Dexter: Relode Part 4. Holy Moses has the boys trapped and outgunned in a D-Jump lab. Sadly for the duo, the professor is years away still from having a ready prototype. Luckily as the bullets fly, Billi has a fantastic idea of pre-booking a D-flight and the pair are saved as Manx crashes his craft straight into the lab, saving the trio and jumping out of that timeline. It is then revealed that they may have not been in their own history and instead in an alternate dimension. The story finishes with Holy Moses putting the moves on the professor. I have a strong feeling Holy Moses will be back to get the pair soon! Great little fun four-part story. Was nice to see the return of a classic character like Moses and his mafia-styled gang. I love the characters, and I really hope they return soon.

Slaine: Moloch Part 5. Slaine still does not trust the Demon Moloch (rightly so he is a demon), so he enlists the aid of a seer to help him see the future. The seer seems unsuccessful before suddenly prophesying the actual future - steel chariots and birds, a demon trapped in crystal, no fish in the sea. Having heard the news, Slaine dismisses her slight and grows moody over Ireland's future. Wishing to be alone, Niamh walks the coast, where she is ambushed by Moloch; in a shocking scene, we see the demon stab her before raping her (this was a horrific scene). Slaine is worried about how long Niamh is gone and goes in search. Discovering her death, we have a rather heartbreaking farewell and an enraged Slaine.

Another solid Prog from 2000 AD. I am so glad I got back into reading these. I had stopped pre-2000 due to what I felt was a decline in quality, but these are some vital issues so far. Let's hope it continues.

Want to learn more about 2000 AD? Why not start with the 2000 AD Encyclopedia (link is via Amazon, and I get a kickback). Thank you for reading, and if you want to chat more, come find me on Instagram.

Audio Review 51 // Alien: Covenant - The Official Movie Novelization by Alan Dean Foster

Oh, what a surprise more Alien! Yep, I am addicted and love a good Alien product. I personally was a fan of the Covenant film. It felt fitting and deserving of its telling, did it fit with the OG films? Nah, but it expanded the galaxy and the setting and this I can appreciate. So let dive into the audiobook:

Title: Alien: Covenant - The Official Movie Novelization
Author: Alan Dean Foster
Fluff:
Ridley Scott returns to the universe he created, with Alien: Covenant, a new chapter in his groundbreaking Alien adventure. The crew of the colony ship Covenant, bound for a remote planet on the far side of the galaxy, discovers what they think is an uncharted paradise. But it is actually a dark, dangerous world.

When they uncover a threat beyond their imaginations, they must attempt a harrowing escape.

Acclaimed author Alan Dean Foster also returns to the universe he first encountered with the official novelization of the original Alien film. Alien: Covenant is the pivotal adventure that preceded that seminal film, and leads to the events that will yield one of the most terrifying sagas of all time.

Listening Time: 8 hrs 58 mins

Review

Let's get some facts out there.

1. Alan Dean Foster is a great movie to a novel writer. I enjoy his work.
2. This feels like Ridley Scott and has us focused on the Alien.
3. I enjoyed the film and novel.

So let us get into it. We discover the fate of the Prometheus and Elizabeth Shaw and David. We also get an all team of people to enjoy and of course Walter. We also get the Neomorph, a new sub-species created by the joining of a Fungus spore/virus and a human, rather than the traditional facehugger to human. In the film it was gross, whilst in the book, it was terror-inducing, pure body horror taken to a new level. Basically, this form will track you and infect you, before turning your own body against you. All this and the virus is microscopic so you can't even fight it!

The cast in my opinion is your standard movie characters. A strong female lead, a religious man who cares too much for the opinion of others, macho action characters who die off quickly and an overconfident pilot. A blessing of the novel format is the fact we learn more about them, it answers questions I had about them and actually makes me want to care about them. A definite plus. Daniels is of course the stand-out character. A strong female lead, who though obs broken by mental trauma is able to rebuild herself and come back stronger every time something goes bad. Such inner strength is her main feature, no mothering nature of Ripley, just pure self-survival instincts and I love it. If I was ever in this type of situation I would also like to think I had the resolve to just worry about the next step and not get overwhelmed by the disaster.

Overall it rang true to the book, it added depth and was an enjoyable listen. Go treat yourselves!

Buy the audiobook: Alien: Covenant

I hope you enjoyed the review? Feel free to comment below or seek me out on one of the many social platforms I hang out on. Here is a quick LINK (Solo bio link) to my details. Cheers to reading this.

Audio Review 49 // Alien: Covenant Origins by Alan Dean Foster

Something a little different for us all today. It's an Alien review ha!

In all seriousness, I get a little obsessed with the series, and currently, I am all about the Alien series. Movies, books, games, I am hooked. I am attempting to pace them so I am not just purely doing the same thing. But I can't resist for long.

Today's title is Alien: Covenant Origins. Cased as a prequel to Covenant and book 0.5 in the series with Covenant being 1. Here are the details:

Title: Alien: Covenant Origins

Author: Alan Dean Foster

Narrator: Tom Taylorson

Fluff: The Covenant mission is the most ambitious endeavour in the history of Weyland-Yutani. A ship bound for Origae-6, carrying two thousand colonists beyond the limits of known space, this is a make-or-break investment for the corporation and for the future of all mankind. Yet some would die to stop the mission. As the colony ship hovers in Earth orbit, several violent events reveal a deadly conspiracy to sabotage the launch. While Captain Jacob Branson and his wife, Daniels, complete their preparations, security chief Daniel Lope recruits the final key member of his team. Together they seek to stop the perpetrators before the ship and its passengers can be destroyed.

An original novel by the acclaimed Alan Dean Foster, author of the groundbreaking Alien novelization, Alien: Covenant Origins is the official chronicle of the events that led up to Alien: Covenant. It also reveals the world the colonists left behind.

Buy via my Amazon code: https://amzn.to/3zBmoW3

Style: Audible Audio

Listen Time: 8h 31min

Review

A strange one is this. What we have here is a well-written, world-building novel to give Alien fans something to buy. It showcases the Earth that everyone wishes to leave, one full of pollution and decay. One lacking hope, one controlled by the corporations. If this interests you (like it does me) then you will enjoy the book. But if you are looking for Xenomorphs and horrors you may as well move on.

I liked the idea of Weyland-Yutani being unpopular due to this new colony mission, I like the idea of corporate sabotage, I disliked the idea of the Prophet. For those who care, I will attempt to withhold spoilers. But basically, the Prophet is having visions of demons and in an attempt to not draw their attention he creates a cult that attempts to stop the launch of the Covenant. This is where I have issues. As we know he is right, xenomorphs, predators, engineers, there are definitely demons out there. But we also know they fail as we have the film. Leaving us with kind of a pointless story would be perfect in a short story collection but as a stand-alone tale, it is lacking.

What we do get is a crime/action/mystery tale. Plenty of criminal activities, a couple of kidnappings and some solid gunfights. It kept me entertained on my walks to and from work and that is all I can ask for from an audible book. It had a lot of space to give us something more but it just fell short. Overall I love this series and I am happy to have it in the collection, but it also would not be missed.

I hope you enjoyed the write-up and leave me a comment below. As always I hope you will support my blog by using the link below.

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Book Review 147 //Aliens: Berserker by S.D Perry

Unfortunately, I have struggled to find the Bantam the Book series in order so I have dangerously jumped forward by four books to number nine in the series. Now I have read the comics so I know what is happening and understand that the stories are written to be stand-alone pieces so there are no real spoilers to worry about.

With this in mind let us delve into the horror of Berserker.

Title: Berserker

Author: S.D Perry

Page Count: 230

Style: Paperback

Fluff: It is called a Berserker team - reckless, desperate volunteers recruited by the Company to destroy alien infestations. Based on the spaceship Nemesis, it consists of three brutal ex-cons who do all the grunt work and the Berserker itself, code-named MAX: an armed and armoured exoskeleton powered by the living brain of what was once a human, configured into an unstoppable killing machine.

When the Nemesis is sent to a massive space station, D.S. 949, the team finds an alien hive, the largest in history, with nearly a thousand hapless humans cocooned and incubated. The team mission: to destroy the aliens while leaving the terminal intact. The mission seems like suicide to the bug hunters and their small support staff. And that is perfectly fine for the Company... which wants no witnesses left to the terrifying secret of D.S. 949.

So firstly, let us get the important stuff out the way. Yes, we have seen this story before in comic format. It was a Dark Horse comic called, Aliens: Berserker. It was written by the legendary John Wagner of Judge Dredd and Strontium Dog fame. He was assisted by Paul Mendoza and Andy Mushunsky.

The novel adaptation does the comic proud. In this story, we find out about the Berserker squad. Made up of baiters, people whose job is to be captured by the xenomorph to be taken to the nest. Some specialist weapons experts to assist, and the armoured killing machine named MAX. Once the baiter is captured his suit becomes a tracking device allowing the MAX suit the ability to rapidly find the Queen and kill her. The MAX suit is full-on future tech, anti-acid armour, flamethrowers and a giant-sized pulse rifle, all of which allow it to destroy a nest. But the real twist is the squad being made up of felons who can reduce their sentences in exchange for completing missions. Real dark shit. 

Having completed a mission the team is expecting some RnR when they are forced back into action, following the communication blackout of a research space station near their location. Following a quick detour, the team finds themselves facing a space station overrun by the Xenomorph. Needless to say soon the shit hits the fan and the mission goes awry. Leaving only three members of the team alive at the end.

Perry did a great job bringing the comic to the written page. We bounce between characters in a well-executed manner, that moves the story along in easy to understand way. This was an enjoyable entry to the series and I am so glad to have read it.

Now to get back to finding the other novels. As always I hope you enjoyed and will support my blog by using the link below.

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