Barry Sonnenfeld's Dinosaurs Vs Aliens HC [Hardcover]

The title of this comic has obviously caught your eye, and you're devling into the reviews, so you must want to know more. So what can you expect beyond sensationalist theropodal carnage and flashing laser beams?

Well, an alien mothership belonging to a dying race from a dying world, after countless ages traversing space, finally comes across a nice, hospitable little blue planet said aliens would like to settle. The only problem is that this planet -- Earth -- is already inhabited by a complex society of surprisingly intelligent reptile species: the dinosaurs. And the dinosaurs do not like the idea of strangers muscling in on their turf. According to the introductions, this is a parable for the idea of "Manifest Destiny" leading white settlers to wipe out as many Native Americans as they could. Okay, so there's your mandatory important morality shoehorned into your violent entertainment. Violence + important lesson: always good in my book, as it makes for a greater impact.

The only understandable words in the comic itself are the log entries of the alien commander, the rest being various static garbles and archosaurian roars, growls, chirps, and squawks. But if you have problems following the action, the shooting script for the story is thoughtfully included at the end, along with lots of artist's sketches. And I use the term "shooting script," because this is also set to become a movie. (Come Hell or high water, I'll be at that cinema on opening night, and the first to order the DVD!) The comic ends rather aburptly on a bit of a cliffhanger because, as mentioned in A. Hislop's review, this is only Part 1, and I have yet to see any info on the release of further volumes.

I must say that the idea of aliens and dinosaurs on the same planet has been done a few times before, but not quite as stylishly. The artwork is superb, and the portrayal of the dinosaurs as a savage (not just primitive, but actually darned vicious) yet intelligent culture is quite compelling and appealing. All attempts have been made to portray the dinosaurs in as scientifically up-to-date a manner as possible (apart from the tattoos, jewelry, armour and weapons, of course), with such features as feathered 'raptors, caring parenting, and interspecies herd groups. The only deviation from this accuracy is the use of species from different time periods and areas of the planet co-existing for the sake of visual impact. But once you have tribal-blinged dinosaurs waging war on tentacled invaders, a Giganotosaurus and a Spinosaurus living in North America alongside an Allosaurus is small beer.

If you liked the "Age of Reptiles" comics by Ricardo Delgado, you'll very likely get a kick out of this as well. Not bad for a project stemming from Barry Sonnenfeld playing with his toy dinosaurs and military vehicles as a kid!

As soon as I heard the title, I was adamant I had to buy it. I was a little worried when the release date had changed and disappeared without any word anywhere. I am happy to see The Book Depository was selling a copy and now many others.
I have just received the book this morning and I am thrilled with it. Absolutely beautiful, the story is interesting, not really following a typical storyline. Promising a unique future story. Yes this isn't just a one off, this is part one and I really do hope that Dynamite comics embrace the comic for future volumes. Like WE3 and Mouse Guard, this is truly special. Give it a go!