Aliens and Predators are without a doubt the two greatest big screen monster creations, ranking in my book way above Godzilla and the like. There's is much depth to the Predators, an entire culture, while the Aliens are unlike any animal, but animal none the less. It is only natural that both are explored in more depth in a visual medium like comics. And only in comics can ideas spring forth and come together so easily such as the combining of these two cinematic properties, and work out so well... repeatedly.
Aliens vs. Predator: Eternal is less about the two creatures, and more about the humans whom they interact with (as all good stories featuring either monster are). In this case we begin in the past, a primitive tribe is slaughtered, the only survivor a lowly coward in the hills. But while in the hills the coward sees something none of the others do: a huge ship on fire and decending to the Earth.
Seven hundred years later, that coward is the richest, most powerful man in Tokyo, surviving for ceturies due in large part to diet: predator hearts. Gideon Suhn Lee has built his vast empire employing captured predator technology for military and his own gain. But Gideon is aging once again, and there seems to be no fresh predator prey around, so he decides to make his own using the egg sacks he found on his recent predator ship conquest (do you see a problem here?). Unfortunately, when the eggs hatch and then subsequently gestate, Gideon realizes his mistake, "Doctor," he says calmly, "I'm no xenobiologist, but these do not strike me as being Predator young."
Meanwhile, a British reporter is caught in the crossfire of a war in Ghambia, South Africa, only to witness a full fledged Predator attack on both sides. In the mess, her cameraman is killed, a foreign object protruding from his chest. Further investigation later reveals that the only link to this peculiar metal is one Gideon Suhn Lee.
As Rebecca McBride investigates Gideon, she finds herself treading on liquid ground, and she comes to find out that knowledge about Gideon Lee is controlled by Gideon Lee. But McBride has the opportunity to learn much more about Gideon as he want her to write his biography. But for her to do so, she has to be part of it, meaning she must take part in the hunt for Predators.
A fantastic look at intriguing characters, and a very different take on the entire Alien/Predator/Human relationship than in past Dark Horse Comics efforts. Edgington fleshes out McBride and Suhn Lee masterfully, giving them depth and a tremendous amount of realism. At the same time, Maleev's artwork is incredibly cinematic, and you can see the panels flow into one another. He is an excellent talent, deserving regular work on a dark and brooding series somewhere.
I couldn't end this without a mention of the covers by Glenn Fabry (Preacher). His work is always amazing, with strong shadows accentuating muscle tone. His take on the Predators is truly formidable, and his Aliens are more biological looking than most others renderings.