Aliens: Reapers is a graphic short story published by Dark Horse Comics in the Dark Horse Presents Fifth Anniversary Special in April 1991. The story was written by John Arcudi with art by fan-favorite artist Simon Bisley and coloring by Chris Chalenor. The story was edited by Randy Stradley.
"Reapers" was first collected alongside a number of other DHP Aliens stories published up until that point in the special single-issue release Dark Horse Presents: Aliens Platinum Edition in April 1992. That issue also featured a cover by Bisley. The story was eventually again collected alongside other Aliens comics in Aliens: Omnibus, Volume 3, published in March 2008.
In the Aliens comics line, Aliens: Reapers was published concurrently with Aliens: Countdown (Sept. 1990-Dec. 1991) and was followed by Aliens: The Alien (Nov. 1991).
Taglines[]
- It's the greatest single-issue blow-out of all time! Dark Horse Comics cordially invites you to a 112-page birthday bash celebrating this critically-acclaimed title's fifth anniversary and presenting brand new stories written and illustrated by many of the absolute top talents in the comics industry. get ready for some exciting, all-new tales, including... Aliens by John (Terminator) Arcudi and Simon (Lobo) Bisley...
- All of the stand-alone stories from the past issues of Dark Horse Presents in one volume, and in color for the first time! This package includes stories by...John Arcudi and Simon Bisley (DHP 5th Anniversary Special)... This volume is colored by Rachelle Menashe and Chris Chalenor. All wrapped up in a stunning new cover painting by Simon Bisley.
Plot[]
This short action-heavy story focuses on an expedition by another alien species (presumably the "Reapers" of the story's title) hunting an alien hive, eventually facing its monstrous Queen. The Xenomorphs in the story, particularly the Queen, are shown to be much larger than the typical ones faced by humans, perhaps as a result of gestation in infected Reapers. In the end, it is revealed that on the Reaper homeworld, the Xenomorphs are a form of cuisine.
Behind the Scenes[]
Reapers is one of the few Aliens stories to depict another sentient Alien species. The others being the Space Jockeys of the film Alien, shown in various stories, the alien pilot shown in Aliens: Earth Angel, the hunting village aliens from Aliens: Alien, the lizard-like space travelers in Aliens: Theory of Alien Propagation.
John Arcudi is a veteran Aliens and Predator writer who has worked on various stories for both series. UK-based artist Simon Bisley is world renown for his painted fantasy-style artwork on titles such as Judge Dredd, Lobo, and Heavy Metal Magazine.