Out of the four “Fire and Stone” books, “Alien Vs. Predator” is by far the most carnage-filled insanity-fest. I had to read both issues twice because I was so overwhelmed by the horrific slayings happening on every page. This issue continues Elden’s hunt for Francis aboard the Geryon as he is confronted by Predator’s for the first time. Watching how easily he dispatches with them is shocking and builds him as an unstoppable threat. It seems there is nothing that can stop Elden now, until something absolutely amazing happens that I refuse to spoil for you. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I have to pinch myself while I read “Fire and Stone” because it is just so god damn fantastic.
WRITTEN BY: Christopher Sebela
ART BY: Ariel Olivetti
PUBLISHER: Dark Horse
Price: $3.50
Release: November 5, 2014
Review By Eric Switzer
And so continues the incredible balancing act that is “Fire and Stone”. There are some new hints as to what went down by on 223 (the events of “Prometheus: Fire and Stone), there is some new insight into the history of the engineers and their relationship with the Aliens and Predators, and there is a fantastic cat-and-mouse narrative and Elden stalks the dying Francis, leaving chaos in his wake. Francis is not completely helpless though, and it seems he has plan of his own to defeat the twisted Elden. That is if the warring armies of predators and aliens don’t get in the way.
Now it is clear how the four titles work together: “Prometheus” and “AVP” are Acts one and two of the story, as “Prometheus” ends where “AVP” begins. “Aliens” gives a backstory and clues us in on why everything went wrong in “Prometheus”, and the story “Predator” runs concurrently with issue 2 of “AVP” and shows us what happens to Galgo after he escapes from the Geryon and is also the book that will end the entire story. It is an incredibly well crafted event. Everything from the release order to the reveals in each individual issue is carefully planned out. I can’t express enough how impressed I am by “Fire and Stone’. My only hope as an insatiable fan is that it inspires other creators to do similar events. I hope they release I hard cover in reading order rather than by series. I will be being this trade as gifts for every one I know that knows awesome when they see it.
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Eric Switzer is an aspiring filmmaker and screenplay writer living in Los Angeles. His work tends to focus on the lighter side of entropy, dystopic futures, and man’s innate struggle with his own mortality. He can be found on twitter @epicswitzer or reached via email at ericswitzerfilm@gmail.com.