Aliens: Mondo Pest was a one-shot comic book published by Dark Horse Comics in April 1995. It collected a story originally serialized in three parts in Dark Horse Comics #22-24 from June-August 1994.
The story was written by Henry Gilroy, illustrated by Ronnie del Carmen, colored by Matthew Hollingsworth, lettered by Steve Dutro and edited by Ryder Windham. The collected issue version featured a cover by del Carmen and included a special sketch section featuring a behind-the-scenes look at the art and formation of the story. DHC issue #22 also featured a separate Mondo Pest cover by del Carmen.
Mondo Pest is one of three Aliens comics to feature the Alien-killing mercenary Herk Mondo (first seen in Aliens: Colonial Marines Issue #6 in August 1993). It was refered to at the time as one of the Aliens line's "most out-of-control stories ever!"
In the Aliens comics line, Aliens: Mondo Pest was followed by Aliens: Incubation (Sept.-Oct. 1995), and then by the February 1996 sequel, Aliens: Mondo Heat, which was also the next story to feature Herk Mondo.
Plot[]
Official description of collected story and of originally released individual issues:
Stock up on ammo and lower your visor! Herk Mondo, that cigar-chomping, tail-kicking Alien-hunter extraordinaire is back, and if it isn't human, it's dead! Mondo answers a general distress call, hoping for a hefty bit of dosh from a bunch of grateful colonists, but finds himself at the business end of the planetary defense system and a surprise party of his favorite targets -- bugs!
You better stock up on ammo, because this issue of Dark Horse Comics brings you "Aliens: Mondo Pest," a new solo adventure of Herk Mondo, that cigar-chomping, tail-kicking Alien-hunter extraordinaire!
Mondo answers a general distress call, hoping for a hefty bit of dosh from a bunch of grateful colonists, but finds himself at the business end of the planetary defense system... All this and bugs too!
Also, don't miss part 2 of "Aliens: Mondo Pest." A wounded Herk Mondo escapes from the underground hive, but finds the terraformer colony overrun with Aliens!
This issue of DHC also brings you the action-packed conclusion to "Aliens: Mondo Pest," as Herk heads into the hive for one last confrontation with more Aliens than even he can count.
Behind the Scenes[]
Interestingly, when Herk Mondo makes his first somewhat random cameo appearance in Aliens: Colonial Marines #6, he is already apparently a galaxy-renown bug hunter, as the Marines already know him by reputation and are in awe of him.
Mondo Pest and Mondo Heat writer Henry Gilroy would go on to write a small number stories for Dark Horse's Star Wars line, and eventually become main writer/story editor for Cartoon Network's Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
The Mondo stories are rarities in the Aliens universe in that they are clearly action/comedy stories with a slightly cartoony and sexy sensibility thrown in with the typical Aliens horror motiff. They also make Herk Mondo one of the few recurring characters to have appeared in more than just one Aliens miniseries.