Warning! Spoilers for the finale to Marvel’sAliens vs. Avengerscrossover series ahead!
The Xenomorph from theAlienfranchise just became more lethal than ever, as the endgame of theAliens vs. Avengersfinally featured the deadly creatures overcoming one major hindrance to their ability to destroy the entire universe: teleportation. Though they might bethe ultimate killers, Xenomorphsdo have certain limitations, but the ability to instantly transport themselves changes everything.
Aliens vs. Avengers#4, written by Jonathan Hickman, with art by Esad Ribić, is the finale of the crossover limited series, which has been a brutal war of attrition among Marvel’s surviving heroes and the Xenomorphs, who have spread virally throughout the galaxy. In climactic fashion, the issue has one more deadly surprise in store for the heroes.
That is, the appearance of what fans will agree is seemingly the most destructive Xenomorph inAlienfranchise history:a Xenomorph with the intellect ofX-Menvillain Mr. Sinister, and the teleporting powers of the hero Nightcrawler, a nightmarish combination that nearly leads to the final ruin of the Avengers.
The Sinister Xenomorph Has Nightcrawler’s Teleportation Ability, Making It Deadlier Than Ever
In one of Mr. Sinister’s most outrageous master plans from his tenure as a Marvel villain,Aliens vs. Avengers#4 features the culmination of his plot to evolve into a Xenomorph. Early in the issue, a chestburster violently emerges from Sinister’s sternum, quickly growing into a massive red Xenomorph, which subsequently rampages through the remainder of the issue.
His chaotic role as the “final boss” of the crossover is aided bySinister-Xenomorph’s possession of Nightcrawler’s mutant powers, resulting in what are arguably the most fatal “BAMFs” in Marvel history.Further, this highlights one of the core limitations of the Xenomorph species, which is one of the few ways nature has seemingly kept the living bioweapons in check.
That is, while Xenomorphs are certainly wickedly intelligent, to the point of being cunning, they have never been depicted as capable of piloting ships, or using advanced technology. Instead, the species requires their victims to help perpetuate them across space; in other words, akin to a virus, Xenomorphs have traditionally needed a “carrier” to spread.
Adding Mutant Teleportation Powers To Xenomorph DNA Is The Most Dangerous Innovation In Alien History
Redefining “Unstoppable Killing Machine”
In the grim future timeline ofAliens vs. Avengers, the Xenomorphs have already successfully proliferated throughout the galaxy, andAliens vs. Avengers#4 actually depicts what the devastation of a “conventional” Xenomorph spread looks like, by highlighting the downfall of the “Wakandan Space Empire,” which was all-but-utterly annihilated by the out-of-control spread of Xenomorphs.
The Xenomorphs' spatial limitations are instrumental in stopping them from overrunning all life in the galaxy.
In fact, the Xenomorphs use teleportation technology in this instance as well, that of the Wakandans, which is brutally turned against them. Again, this highlights the fact that the Xenomorphs' spatial limitations are instrumental in stopping them from overrunning all life in the galaxy. Further, it serves as set-up for the Sinister-Xenomorph’s diabolical upgrade later in the issue.
Fans of theAlienfranchise know that, in one way or another, the crux of the franchise’s best stories, includingall of its film installments, have been about containment. The drama of these stories has centered on keeping the Xenomorph threat from spreading. In multiple ways,Aliens vs. Avengers#4 depicts what happens when that containment catastrophically fails.
What Could Have Been A Novelty Crossover Actually Pushed The Alien And Avengers Franchises To Their Limits
A Pyrrhic Victory For Earth’s Mightiest Heroes
A teleporting Xenomorph is an awesome addition toAlienlore, but in most instances, anAlienstory would have had to invent a pretext for incorporating teleportation abilities into the creature’s physiology. The virtue of the franchise’s crossover with Marvel is that a biological version of just such a power already exists.
Now, the question is how theAlienfranchise can manage to come up with an even more devastating upgrade for the Xenomorph next.
As such, theAlien vs. Avengerscreative team managed to incorporate it in a pulse-pounding way. In the end, this was just one further example of how the crossover elevated itself above a potentially gimmicky-premise. Instead, it turned out to be a boundary-pushing, innovative arc for both franchises, one that showcaseda deep understanding ofAlienand Marvel storytelling alike.
Ultimately, a Venomized-Xenomorph triumphed over the Sinister-Xenomorph, but the Avengers suffered more casualties, and were left having won a hollow victory in the finale toAliens vs. Avengers. Now, the question is how theAlienfranchise can manage to come up with an even more devastating upgrade for the Xenomorph next.
