Aliens: Salvation is an awesome Aliens tale for Dark Horse Comics scripted by Dave Gibbons and artwork by Mike Mignola and Kevin Nowlan. Salvation tells the story of Selkirk, a God-fearing cook with morals, and his struggle for survival when he and his captain, Foss, abandon the Nova Maru when something goes wrong with the cargo they were carrying and crash land on a remote planet.
Selkirk and Captain Foss (who has gone insane at this point) believe they’re alone and marooned. But are they? What was in that cargo and what happened that made them abandon it in the first place? Extraordinary circumstances cause extraordinary decisions to be made and faith to be tested. This is something Selkirk faces when he has to deal with his maddening captain. It becomes a survival of the fittest, which may or may not include a certain methodical creature.
As far as graphic novels are concerned, this one is quite short at 58 pages. But size matters not as Yoda would say. Proof is in the work itself. The first rate quality of the script by Gibbons and the supported artwork by Mignola and Nowlan reminded me so much of Frank Miller’s Dark Knight Returns. That’s a compliment of the highest order. Much like Miller’s DKR, Salvation is dark, gritty and perfect. You know you have a solid story when you fear turning to the next page. It’s that unexpected feeling in the pit of your stomach (no pun intended for all you Alien movie fans out there) that drives the story forward.
Salvation is very heavy on the religious theme and overall tone. This may be a turn off for some but I have to say, it works and if anything, it makes us as the reader, reflect on our own morals regardless of faith.
If you’re a fan of the Aliens mythology, you owe it to yourself to get your hands on this and add it to your collection.