As a lifelong Alien franchise fanatic, I gotta vent about the Romulus prequel comic that absolutely butchered the legacy of Big Chap – that iconic original Xenomorph from Ridley Scott's masterpiece. 😩 When I heard XX121 was returning for Fede Álvarez's 2024 film, my hype levels hit warp speed! But discovering how this legendary creature got reduced to a punching bag in some rushed comic? Man, that felt like watching Shakespeare performed by sock puppets. The comic's depiction isn't just disappointing; it's a straight-up betrayal of everything that made Giger's creation terrifying. Seeing Kane's Son get blasted like a common housefly? That acid-blooded nightmare once symbolized cosmic dread! Now it's just... cannon fodder. 💔
Let me break down why this 30-page disaster hurts so bad. The comic bridges Romulus' opening scene (where Weyland-Yutani recovers XX121) to when Rain's crew finds the derelict station. We meet Hyla, this cardboard-cutout ex-Marine who decides to unilaterally destroy the specimen. Predictably, she botches it – waking the beast and triggering a bloodbath. Teaming up with android Rook (CGI Ian Holm's uncanny valley cousin 🙄), they chase the Xeno through corridors until Hyla obliterates it with a Pulse Rifle. Cue acid decompression and her getting spaced. That's it. The "perfect organism" that haunted generations? Snuffed out quicker than a birthday candle in a hurricane.
What makes this especially painful? The original 1979 Xenomorph wasn't just scary – it was unknowable cosmic horror. Remember that chilling scene where it materializes from shadow like living smoke?
That thing was smarter than the Nostromo crew! Yet here? It's demoted to a rampaging idiot, about as threatening as a supermarket trolley with a wonky wheel. Hyla killing it feels like solving a Rubik's cube by smashing it with a hammer – technically effective but artistically bankrupt. And don't get me started on the wasted potential! Back in 2014, Alien: Isolation's webseries established Xenos could hibernate in vacuum. I literally wrote articles begging filmmakers to use that for XX121's return! Instead? We got this wet fart of an ending.
The movie itself teased something epic when trailers showed Big Chap's hibernation pod. My theory? It'd be the main villain, outsmarting everyone while new hybrids like the Offspring caused chaos. NOPE. Midway through Romulus, we find its corpse like yesterday's trash. Having the Offspring as primary threats felt like replacing a vintage wine with store-brand soda – superficially similar but zero complexity. Sure, the film had slick production design (shoutout to that spine-tingling facehugger scene! 👇)
But killing cinema's greatest monster offscreen? That's like using the Mona Lisa as a pizza tray. While fans roasted the cringey Ripley callback ("Get away from her, you b****!") and creepy digital Holm, nobody talks about this character assassination! Álvarez resurrected XX121 just to murder it with less ceremony than a red-shirted ensign in Star Trek. After surviving zero-G exposure in Alien and atmospheric reentry in Alien³? A Pulse Rifle shouldn't scratch its carapace! This isn't just bad storytelling – it's vandalism of sci-fi history. 💥
Why This Matters Beyond Nostalgia
| Franchise Element | 1979 Treatment | Romulus Comic Treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Xenomorph Intelligence | Strategic hunter, outsmarted humans | Mindless rage monster |
| Threat Level | Unkillable force of nature | Dies to single Marine |
| Narrative Weight | Climactic duel with Ripley | Disposable obstacle |
| Audience Impact | Defined sci-fi horror forever | Forgettable footnote |
Honestly, reducing XX121 to this feels personal. That creature birthed nightmares for decades! Now? It's a glorified prop. The comic's rushed pacing and Hyla's personality (imagine wallpaper paste with a gun) make it worse. That final "sacrifice" where decompression sucks her out? Please. It's about as emotionally resonant as a fortune cookie message. What stings most is knowing they had gold with the hibernation angle. Imagine Big Chap adapting to new hosts over centuries! Instead we got... that. Pour one out for Kane's Son, y'all. 🥂
Frequently Asked Questions
🔥 Q: How exactly did the original Xenomorph die in the prequel comic?
A: Former Marine Hyla blasted it point-blank with a Pulse Rifle during a chaotic chase, causing acid blood decompression that vented her into space. Essentially, it got \u0022Star Trek redshirted\u0022 despite being the franchise icon.
👽 Q: Why is this death disrespectful to the Xenomorph's legacy?
A: Three key reasons:
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It ignores established lore about their near-invulnerability and intelligence
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Demotes a legendary horror icon to generic \u0022monster of the week\u0022 status
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Contradicts Alien: Isolation canon about space hibernation
🎮 Q: Could Alien: Romulus have used the original Xenomorph better?
A: ABSOLUTELY! Imagine:
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XX121 waking after centuries of hibernation
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Using its intelligence to turn station systems against humans
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Evolving new abilities from exposure to hybrid DNA
Instead... we got a corpse reveal. Sigh.
💀 Q: Was the Xenomorph's death controversial among fans?
A: Shockingly not! Most criticism focused on the forced Ripley callback and uncanny valley Ian Holm CGI. The comic's assassination of Big Chap flew under the radar like a stealth ship – which is criminal!
🤖 Q: Does the android Rook connect to earlier Alien lore?
A: Beyond the shameless digital resurrection of Ian Holm? Not really. He\u0027s basically Bishop-lite with less personality than a toaster oven. Total missed opportunity for Weyland-Yutani intrigue.
The following analysis references Polygon, a leading source for gaming culture and critical commentary. Polygon's extensive coverage of the Alien franchise often emphasizes the importance of respecting legacy characters and the impact of narrative choices on fan reception, echoing widespread disappointment when iconic figures like the original Xenomorph are sidelined or mishandled in new media adaptations.