‘Alien #7’ (review)

Written by Phillip K. Johnson
Art by Salvador Larroca
Published by Marvel Comics

It’s never over with the Xenomorphs, as a new arc gets under way in Marvel’s flagship Alien comic book, thanks to Disney now owning Fox and moving the franchise within its own multi-corporate house.

So far the comic is happy to add on to the many, many tales of humans encountering the Xenomorphs and hell breaking loose whenever that occurs.

But this time, what if those humans believe the Xenos are from actual hell?

Writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson understands that the people side of this equation has to be interesting for us to care about seeing the Xenos succeed or fail (largely succeed) at ripping them to bits.

Set two years after the previous arc, we meet the Spinners, an anti-technology religious sect who have settled on the moon Euridice. (The fact that the moon is named after Orpheus’ doomed bride in Greek myth does not bode well for this story, right?)

The Spinners live on Euridice at the behest of the United Americas government, which has now annexed and colonized parts of space to terraform and inhabit. The colonies attempted 23 years ago in places such as Hadley’s Hope – from Aliens – are now a reality.

The issue smartly spends a lot of time with the Spinners, outlining the political situation surrounding the terraformed moon. The impending independence of the colony may seal their fate.

The Spinners see humanity’s reliance on technology and AI as ungodly and making Earth uninhabitable Machines become idolatry in this religion, and they warn of “dogs of perdition” that will come for those who worship the false computer gods that man built in his own image.

Through the eyes of Jane and Ambrose, two leaders in the colony, the Spinners’ story unfolds. Not just their religion, but the bitter sacrifices that led to this moment when all appears to be coming to fruition, and the guiding hand of providence has delivered them this promised land.

And that’s when a survey ship from the U.A. crash-lands onto the moon. Jane enters the burning wreckage looking for survivors, only to find a room full of eggs and a woman begging them to “get it out” before it’s too late.

You can guess what happens next.