Review: Aliens vs. Predator: Three World War

Aliens vs. Predator: Three World War by Randy Stradley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Rating 3 out of 5 | Lowered Expectations lead to a surprisingly better reader experience

When I saw this gorgeous cover page for AvP: Three World War, I approached the story with a healthy amount of trepidation. For, In my experience, these series have a history of giving your great cover pages, followed by a mediocre, lackluster story.



But this time around, for the most part, I'm glad I was wrong in my assessment. Three world war, deals with a conflict between Colonial humans, & your classic Yautja (Predators), against the 'Killers' a more violent faction of the species, who can control the Xenomorphs using pheromones and use them like disposable attack dogs. This is something that the classic Predators find 'dishonorable' and which needs to be wiped out from their race. So, with a bunch of humans dropped in the middle, the war commences in full swing.

The protagonist of the story is a recurring character from the previous AvP storylines, Machiko Noguchi, who has the distinction of being perhaps the only human who, for a time was adopted into a Yautja clan. Having lived with them for several months, she has gained an intimate understanding of their culture, behavior and is perhaps the only one capable of holding negotiations with the Predators. She must also convince the Yautja to aid the humans in their conflict with the Killers.

A lot of Machiko's character traits are lifted right from Alexa woods from the first Alien vs Predator movie. Which doesn't mean she doesn't kick ass. There is this unique dynamic she has when dealing with, in turns, her crew, the colonial marines and the Yautja, which is engaging to watch. Also helps that she has a badass human-predator styled armor, complete with a mantle.

Her understanding of the Yautja culture allows her to essentially use the tribe as glorious blood thirsty summons against the Killer-Alien army. Which is fun to watch.



Speaking of things that work; the story does at least try and establish a begrudging camaraderie between the humans & Yautja, which, while not maybe a win worthy moment, does bring a smile to your face while reading.



The Artstyle is passable, although I'd have preferred if they had leaned in a bit more into the graphic side of things, seeing as how this is a story with Aliens & Predators. The Xenomorphs have little else to do, other than being disposable alien attack dogs, McGuffins or go about face hugging people. Can't blame the writers for that, in this sense, they are like the Tyranids. Hard to write engaging scenes centered around a nom nom hivemind.

Some of the cover art, is a tad too derivative. For e.g. this one, seems more like something out of Starcraft, the queen of blades, rather than AvP.



In Summary, this is one of the better entries in the franchise, the premise is intriguing enough, the Predators are always solid. And Machiko is an interesting enough character that I now want to go and read her preceding storylines.

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