When it comes to exploring the vast multiverse within the Marvel Comics Universe, the cornerstone of that exploration outside the main continuity resides in Marvel’s iconic What If…? comic book series. Readers old and new have welcomed this twisted version of Marvel continuity which offers new takes on some of Marvel’s most beloved heroes, villains, and teams; all the while introducing viewers and readers to new characters, exciting adventures, and new worlds to great extents including Marvel Studios’ What If..? animated series. These tales always beg a prominent question and Marvel is now lending that question to the world of James Cameron’s Aliens franchise in the newly announced comic book series ‘ALIENS: WHAT IF…?’
This five-issue comic series will take readers back to the events of the franchise’s original sequel to ask the question, ‘What If… Carter Burke has lived?’ The actor behind the 1987 film’s beloved villain, Paul Reiser, joins his son Leon and the star-studded team of writers and producers Adam F. Goldberg (The Goldbergs), Brian Volk-Weiss (The Toys That Made Us) and Hans Rodionoff (Damage Control) for this pulse-pounding journey back to Hadley’s Hope and the twisted escape of a man who should have died.
On art duties is Guiu Villanova, known for providing intergalactic excellence on titles like Cosmic Ghost Rider and Eternals. The saga will further explore the nature of the man who infamously betrayed Ripley and the lengths he’s willing to go to get his hands on the deadliest species in the galaxy…
For decades, What If…? has allowed creators to put bold twists on classic Marvel Universe stories. This March, this beloved comic series format enters the groundbreaking—and terrifying—world of Alien for the first time in ALIENS: WHAT IF…?.
Reiser was asked about this new opportunity to revisit his famed character and his motives, in which he said “For years, people have asked me about Burke, what it was like to play such a ‘bad guy,’ to which my response was always ‘You say ‘bad’, I say ‘misunderstood.’ Now the world will find out!”
For years, fans of James Cameron’s legendary Aliens questioned whether Carter Burke, a company man more hateable than the Xenomorphs themselves, had actually survived the traumatic events on the terraforming colony Hadley’s Hope. Thirty-five years later, Burke is seeking out a cursed existence on a backwater asteroid. With his once-promising career in the toilet, Burke’s only remaining purpose in life is to care for his daughter, Brie. She hates him, probably for being a horrible person. And when she finds out what he’s up to now? It’s not going to be a friendly reunion. Has Burke learned his lesson, or is he about to get all of his companions killed again?
Does that get you excited about Burke’s return? If you’ve been missing out on Marvel’s current Alien series then this is a great starting point for those of you looking to once again embark on this journey. Marvel has teased some of the details but more details are to come in the months ahead according to the official press release.
While we all wait, check out the first two covers for the upcoming mini-series above by Phil Noto, and make sure to pick up the first issue when it hits shelves on March 6th.
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