But Phil's also the guy who coordinates Dark Horse's publication of some of our most tried and true licensed comics, like Terminator, Aliens, and Predator. These titles are a far cry from the loopy lunacy of titles like Scatterbrain, but Phil somehow manages to bring the same zest he has for humor to the work he contributes to these action-heavy sci-fi comics. I think Phil deserves a lot of credit for helping keep properties like Aliens and Predator fresh and invigorated for the comics market long after the films they're based on have left the movie theater. Fans have certainly reacted enthusiastically to Phil's handling of these titles, and the last couple of years of Aliens, Predator, and Terminator comics are proof that he's been drawing from a rich pool of creative talent and when he's mapping out the endless possibilities of which direction these books will take next.
I sat down with Phil recently, and we talked about the next big era of Aliens and Predator comics, which fall under the subtitle Xenogenesis. If you love intense stories and crazy amounts of monster action , you won't want to miss these four-issue series. The first issue of Aliens: Xenogenesis hits comics shops August 4, and Predator: Xenogenesis debuts August 18. Read on to learn more about the creative masterminds responsible for each series, and see what other fun stuff Phil has lined up for Aliens and Predator fans.
SE-G: I think the first thing people will want to know about this book is where the title comes from. I know 'Xenophobe' means someone who's afraid of strange or alien things. Does this tie in with Xenogenesis?
PA: Dark Horse publisher Mike Richardson came up with the subtitle. If we take it literally, it means "alien beginning." I think that's a pretty good encapsulation for these two series, since each one is a new beginning in terms of story, tone, art, characters, etc.
SE-G: Now that we've got the title figured out, can you give us some idea of what this series is about? And how do both Aliens and Predators figure in the overall Xenogenesis framework?
PA: Well, you know how editors hate giving stuff away! Fans will have to read the comics! I will say this--the Aliens and Predators have finally met their match. These books are non-stop action. I was looking over some pages for the Aliens series the other day, and I don't think there's a single page that doesn't have an Alien and/or some kind of action sequence on it. Also, the two Xenogenesis books do compliment each other, but in a very subtle way. Readers would have to be very conscious of it. After the two initial miniseries, things will start to fall into place.
SE-G: Over the years, Dark Horse has kept fans happy with a number of different Aliens/Predator crossover titles--can we expect any crossover action in this series?
PA: Fans can expect an Aliens vs. Predator: Xenogenesis crossover sometime later this year, but far be it from me to give away ant details! Fans can also look for an AvP crossover sometime next year with a certain cyborg killer from the future, but that's the only hint you get!
SE-G: Can you give the readers some background on how these fighting units came to be established? Who's controlling the various teams and who's making the big decisions?
PA: Who's controlling the teams? Good question. In the Aliens book, you can bet the Company is behind the team somehow, someway. This is pretty creepy when you think about it: that there's some mysterious, all-powerful corporation that has seeped into every aspect of human society--wherever it is in the galaxy--and has become the government, the military, etc. That idea is a nice counterpoint to the series: here are these humans fighting Aliens, and finally winning, but the evolution and mindset of humanity itself has been thoroughly corrupted. In the Predator book, we're seeing the first stages of something similar, with the secret organization that backs Spearhead, our group of Predator fighters.
SE-G: Maybe more importantly, what events have lead up to this sort of action becoming a viable (and necessary) option?
PA: Two simple points: these creatures are everywhere, and mankind finally has the technology to kick their butts. In the Predator XenoGenesis this actually entices the Predators. Man is a more interesting prey now.
SE-G: That's an interesting development I hadn't thought of. I bet the fighting gets more even more fierce after the first issue.
PA: You can bet on it.
SE-G: Do the events of either of the Xenogenesis titles tie-in directly with other Aliens or Predator series Dark Horse has published? And are there any characters readers might have seen before?
PA: No, this is completely new, a great jumping-on point for readers to make Aliens and Predator their own without a lot of previous continuity to digest.
SE-G: Let's talk about the creative teams behind these series--who are we looking at for each book? And why did you choose these particular creators for the project?
PA: For Aliens XenoGenesis, the writers are Tom and Mary Bierbaum. I'm a big fan of the
work they did years back on Legion of Super-Heroes with Keitch Giffen. The artist is Dave Ross. This is his most dynamic work to date, very Kirby inspired in terms of his composition. Fans will not believe how good this "veteran" artist has become.
On Predator XenoGenesis, the artist is Mel Rubi, who's immensely talented and a
dream to work with. And for writer, Ian Edginton, who I've worked with extensively. Ian's ideas have to be some of the freshest and smartest in the biz. Definitely one of the most underrated writers out there.
SE-G: In the last year, there have been some really cool and amazing developments in the storylines of both Aliens and Predator comics, and you've been the editorial mastermind behind the direction of the titles . . . what's most important to you when you're considering what should be done with any specific Aliens or Predator series?
PA: That's tricky. How do make a comic different when readers even somewhat familiar with the books know the basic formula? There's no easy answer. It's just a matter of infusing the books with different talent until we strike a chord with fans that know their stuff. For example, we did a book a few years ago called Aliens: Havoc, which featured a different cool artist on each page. The book did well, but it wasn't a huge success. But
recently, Mark Schultz and Doug Wheatley revamped "classic" Aliens with the "Destroying Angels" series. We've never had so much amazing feedback from fans!!!
SE-G: One thing you've done particularly well, it seems, is how you've managed to keep infusing new life into these properties that have each been around for over a decade . . . what do you think is the appeal of these outerspace guys? And what's your secret for keeping interest in them alive? Do you credit the creators you work with?
PA: Yes, I've been very lucky to work with truly talented, inspired creators: Mark Schultz, David Wenzel, Eduardo Risso, Dave Stewart, Pop Mhan, Dave Ross, Brian O'Connell, Derek Thompson, Guy Davis, Brian Bolland, Dave McKean, Kent Williams, the list goes on and on!
SE-G: Speaking of all those guys--with all the great creators you've worked with, and considering the level of work they've all done, this could be hard--, but what are some
of your favorite Aliens and Predator issues or miniseries of the last year?
PA: Without question, my favorite is Aliens Stalker, written and painted by David Wenzel. It got lost in the shuffle, and most fans didn't find it. David, who's best known for his comic adaptation of The Hobbit , did a wonderful job. Who else could have Aliens battle Vikings and make it work in a convincing way?! Somehow, he did it!
SE-G: Can you give us any idea of future Aliens and Predators projects we can look forward to seeing in the next year or so?
PA: One word: crossovers. You won't believe what we've lined up until you see it.