As the Avengers face a shocking defeat that goes further than even their MCU loss at Thanos’ hands, iconic members including Steve Rogers’ Captain America, Tony Stark’s Iron Man and Carol Danvers’ Captain Marvel get gritty costumes as part of their last chance to save the human race. The new looks come courtesy of superstar artist Esad Ribić, with Hulk, Black Panther, and Miles Morales’ Spider-Man also on the roster.

In recent solicit information for Aliens vs Avengers #2, Marvel has revealed Esad Ribić’s epic cover art of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes standing against the Xenomorph scourge. The Marvel/Alien crossover – published under Marvel’s 20th Century Studios imprint – will see the Avengers face off against a mass invasion of Xenomorphs, with the summary for the upcoming issue 2 confirming that not only will many, many lives be lost, but humanity will be forced to surrender and flee the Earth.

Aliens vs. Avengers #2

Release Date:

September, 2024

Writer:

Jonathan Hickman

Artists:

Esad Ribić

Cover Artist:

Esad Ribić

EARTH SURRENDERS?!

  • Overwhelmed by Xenomorphs, the survivors abandon their home planet!
  • But so many are dead. So many wounded. And a terrifying few…CHANGED.
  • The Avengers…must avenge.

The Avengers have lost big before, with notable occasions like Age of Ultron and The Kang Dynasty seeing them pushed to the brink of total defeat, even officially surrendering in the latter story. However, they’ve never been so badly defeared that they’ve ceded the entire planet to an invading force and fled into the stars. Aliens vs Avengers takes place in the future, with “older, grittier versions” of the Avengers taking on the Xenomorph army. Now, fans know that the aged-up heroes will have new looks to mark this unique era of storytelling.

mcu thor over image of superman and thor trading blows

Related

Thor vs Superman Was Just Officially Settled Beyond a Shadow of a Doubt

After inheriting Odin’s All-Power, Marvel fans had speculated Thor was finally powerful enough to beat Superman. Now, they get an official answer.

Aliens vs Avengers Introduces New Looks for Marvel’s Biggest Heroes

Older, Grittier Versions of Captain America, Iron Man and Captain Marvel Fight for Earth

Aliens vs Avengers 1 cover

Aliens vs. Avengers is the latest Marvel crossover with a 20th Century Studios property, with the recently concluded Predator vs Wolverine (Benjamin Percy and Greg Land) and the upcoming Predator vs Black Panther (Benjamin Percy and Chris Allen) seeing Marvel’s heroes taking on the Xenomorphs’ longtime galactic enemies. However, so far those series have been more or less one-on-one affairs, with the heroes fighting for their lives in semi-honorable struggles. In contrast, Aliens vs Avengers will be a full-scale invasion story – one in which it’s clear that no outcome is off the table.

Ribić’s art shows the Avengers assembled, with Captain Marvel and Black Panther showcasing new armor, as well as a respirator for T’Challa. Iron Man is wearing new armor with a pale faceplate and rounded lines, whereas Captain America wears a tactical uniform with white lenses – a notable change from his usually more human, approachable look as a symbol of the American Dream. Miles Morales and the Hulk round out the team with their classic looks, though likely now with Miles as an adult hero.

captain marvel fighting one of alien's xenomorphs

Alien stories tend to end with major losses for humanity, making this a series where it’s possible the older, grungier Avengers will actually lose. That’s an intriguing prospect for Marvel fans even beyond the appeal of seeing Aliens crossover with the Marvel Universe. Hopefully, Captain America, Iron Man and Captain Marvel‘s costumes have some custom anti-Xenomorph weaponry and protection, otherwise this may be yet another Alien story where humanity doesn’t stand a chance.

Aliens vs. Avengers #1 is coming from Marvel Comics August 28, with the second issue following in September 2024.

  • Alien
    Comic Release Date:
    213775,213776,655101

    First Film:
    Alien (1979)

    Cast:
    Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton, John Hurt, Ian Holm, Yaphet Kotto, Michael Biehn, Paul Reiser, Lance Henriksen, Carrie Henn, Bill Paxton, Charles S. Dutton, Charles Dance, Pete Postlethwaite, Winona Ryder, Ron Perlman, Dan Hedaya, Noomi Rapace, Charlize Theron, Idris Elba, Guy Pearce, Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston, Billy Crudup, Danny McBride, Demián Bichir

    TV Show(s):
    Alien

    Movie(s):
    Alien (1979), Aliens (1986), Alien 3 (1992), Alien: Resurrection (1997), Prometheus (2012), Alien: Covenant (2017), Alien: Romulus (2024)

    Character(s):
    Ellen Ripley, Arthur Dallas, Joan Lambert, Brett (Alien), Gilbert Kane, Ash (Alien), Dennis Parker, Corporal Hicks, Carter Burke, Bishop (Alien), Rebecca ‘Newt’ Jorden, Private Hudson, Dillon (Alien), Clemens (Alien), Bishop II, David (Alien), Annalee Call, Johner (Alien), General Perez, Elizabeth Shaw, Meredith Vickers, Janek (Alien), Peter Weyland, Walter (alien) Daniels (Alien), Christopher Oram, Tennessee, Lope (Alien)

    Video Game(s):
    Alien: Isolation (2014), Aliens: Colonial Marines (2013), Aliens vs. Predator (2010), Aliens vs. Predator 2 (2001), Aliens vs. Predator (1999), Alien 3: The Gun (1993), Alien 3 (1992), Aliens (1990), Aliens: The Computer Game (1986), Alien (1984)