Aliens/Vampirella by Corinna Beckho, illustrated by Javier Garcia-Miranda

Dynamite, 2016

ISBN: 978-1606909911

Available: Hardcover, Kindle edition, and comiXology ebooks

In this graphic novel, the first human colonists on Mars digs into the planet’s soil, only to discover it is an excavation into horror. When they uncover the catacombs of a long-sleeping civilization called the Nosferatu, Vampirella is called to lend her knowledge and abilities to the human colony, although she is looked at with suspicion by the humans. During their venture into the planet, Vampirella and her nearly unwilling allies enter a chamber containing familiar, leathery, pulsing eggs, in the process of hatching. When the crew loses contact with the station above ground, hatred and fear of Vampirella grows on the surface, as the humans overhead think the vampire’s hunger got the better of her….until they learn the truth.

I was very skeptical picking up this comic. Usually I find that merging two franchises together can either be great, or it can be a groan worthy failure. I’m happy to say I found this combination to be creative and well done. Between the artwork and the story, I was entertained from the first page. One of the most interesting parts of this book was seeing the product of a Xenomorph and a vampire. The Xenomorph/vampire hybrid is utterly terrifying.

If you like the Vampirella and Alien franchises, and ever wondered if a crossover could be done, let alone done well, you won’t be disappointed. Recommended.

Contains: blood and gore

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker