Aliens Vs. Predator: Three World War (Comics) | Review

What happens when you're the only human who's survived encounters with both Xenomorphs and Predators, lived to tell about it and absolutely refuse to do it again? That's the central tension driving Aliens Vs. Predator: Three World War, a return to the franchise by writer Randy Stradley that he created back in 1989.

This isn't just another monster mash-up comic-book story where two iconic movie creatures tear each other apart for our entertainment. Instead, we get something far more interesting: a tale of a reluctant hero wrapped inside an interspecies war drama.

Machiko Noguchi has earned her retirement the hard way and she's definitely not interested in Colonial Marine recruitment pitches or Predator honor codes anymore. However, the problem is that when a rogue Predator clan starts working with Xenomorphs instead of hunting them down, retirement stops being an option entirely.

The story kicks off when Colonial Marines discover something that breaks every rule they thought they knew about Predator behavior: a dangerous clan working alongside Xenomorphs instead of hunting them for sport and honor as they traditionally do.

This unholy alliance threatens not just human colonies but the traditional Predator code that has governed interspecies relations for centuries. Enter Machiko Noguchi, the battle-hardened human female who survived the events of the original Aliens Vs. Predator comic-book and later turned against her Predator allies in "War".

She's been through extensive debriefing by Colonial Marines and wants nothing more than to be left alone. The Marines, however, need someone who understands both species well enough to forge an alliance between humans and traditionalist Predators against this new threat.

What makes this storyline compelling is how it uses Machiko's exhaustion and reluctance as driving forces. She's not the eager warrior from previous stories but someone who's seen too much death and knows exactly what she's being asked to sacrifice.

The three-way conflict emerges not from simple territorial disputes but from fundamentally different philosophies about honor, survival and what it means to be a truly worthy opponent in deadly combat between different alien species entirely.

The rogue Predator clan represents something genuinely disturbing in this universe: hunters who've completely abandoned the challenge of the hunt in favor of guaranteed victory. By weaponizing Xenomorphs rather than proving themselves against them in combat, they've broken the most sacred aspect of Predator culture.

This creates a scenario where traditional Predators and humans find themselves fighting for the same principles, even if they can barely communicate those shared values effectively. The alliance becomes based on mutual respect for honorable combat rather than agreements.

Randy Stradley, who created the Aliens Vs. Predator comic franchise, uses this story to explore the logical endpoint of his character's journey. Machiko has evolved from survivor to hunter to someone who questions ritualized violence. The war becomes as much about her internal conflict as external battles across multiple worlds.

Pencil work by artist Rick Leonardi (Avengers: Vision and the Scarlet Witch, Cloak and Dagger: Lost and Found) brings a kinetic energy to the action sequences while maintaining the detailed approach necessary for both alien designs and human technology.

His Predator designs stay faithful to the established look while giving each clan distinct visual characteristics that help readers track the complex political dynamics effectively throughout. The Xenomorph sequences capture both their individual lethality and their overwhelming numbers when they attack en masse against enemies.

Stradley's writing demonstrates why he remained connected to these characters for two decades. His dialogue feels naturalistic when depicting Machiko's war-weariness and Marines' desperation. The pacing allows for great action sequences and quieter character moments.

Three World War succeeds as both explosive science fiction action and thoughtful character study perfectly. Stradley uses his final Aliens Vs. Predator story to examine what happens when survival instincts clash with moral principles and how individuals navigate loyalty when all traditional way of alliances break down completely.

This storyline works best for readers familiar with Machiko's previous adventures, though newcomers can follow the conflict without extensive back-story. The narrative provides enough context to understand the stakes and character motivations driving the three-way war.

It's a mature conclusion to one of Dark Horse's most successful franchises that treats its characters as more than action figures while delivering the spectacular alien warfare fans expect. The story balances character development with battle sequences, creating a narrative that satisfies both longtime readers and newcomers.

The story serves as both satisfying conclusion to Machiko Noguchi's arc and demonstration of why the Aliens vs. Predator concept remained compelling for over twenty years of continuous publication and reader interest throughout multiple comic-book series.

Aliens Vs. Predator: Three World War (2010) is collected in a trade paperback from Dark Horse Comics. The physical edition can be found through Amazon, eBay and retailers, while the digital edition is available on ComiXology and Kindle for instant access.