Actor, writer, and comedian Paul Reiser is opening up new worlds with a What If…? series that expands on the events of Aliens. More specifically, the first issue revealed Carter Burke didn’t die! The possibilities for where this story goes are exciting, and given the last issue’s cliffhanger, things will get risky with alien eggs! But how does the second issue shake out this alternate timeline? It’s a question that comes with a surprising answer: More comedy.
Comedic elements are slightly more obvious in this second issue, which shouldn’t be surprising since Reiser is well versed in comedy. He also told me in an exclusive chat with him last month that was something he was interested in infusing into the character. He’s a bit of a goof and an awkward dad, so that element of the character makes some sense.
This issue picks up where we left off right after introducing how Burke got ahold of a war-ready replicant. The cliffhanger revealed he had one searching the universe for an Alien egg, and now, with one in possession, it’s time to enact his plan. The plan involves redemption, as the Weyland-Yutani blamed Burke for the failed mission we all saw in Aliens. Little do they know the crew lived, which will likely play a part later. Instead of bringing back Ripley, this issue is all about Burke getting his full-grown Alien—the mad idiot.
That replicant is in a bad way.
Credit: Marvel
If you’ve seen Office Space, you’ll probably find the main events of this issue familiar. Burke and his replicant end up behind a desk interviewing folks in his office. Their goal is to find the biggest jerk to be the sucker who gets an egg put inside them. The back and forth in the interviews reveals Burke isn’t so bad and has a problem with giving people what they want so they’ll go away. Much like the last issue, the creative team aims to make Burke a good guy, or at the very least a misunderstood go-getter.
This issue continues the theme of Weyland-Yutani being a greedy corporation, although one could argue Burke may be the only guy who can take them down. He works for them on a far-off planet, and his miserable life finally allows him to get an edge and show them who his boss is. At the same time, writers Hans Rodionoff and Leon Reiser flesh out Burke’s shaky relationship with his daughter.
The art is fantastic, rendered by Guiu Vilanova with colors by Yen Nitro. It’s detailed with a grittiness that suits the Alien universe. The likeness of Reiser is spot on and never misses, and the awkward charm of Reiser shines through. It’s a mostly dialogue-heavy read, but there’s a fun double-page layout of the replicant running into all sorts of Aliens that’ll please longtime fans.
So are there any weaknesses with the second issue? I’d argue the comedy doesn’t really work. The quirky nature of Burke is pulled off, but the interviews are more sad and awkward than anything. Folks Burke interviews either cry or luck their way into handouts. It makes the lengthier portion of the issue fall flat while we wait for Alien threats to emerge.
Aliens: What If…? continues to be a surprising twist Aliens fans will love. Burke is a complex character who is clearly misunderstood, with years of guilt and anger built up to stick it to his corporate overlords. For that reason, he’s a hero we can get behind.
Join the AIPT Patreon
Want to take our relationship to the next level? Become a patron today to gain access to exclusive perks, such as:
- ❌ Remove all ads on the website
- 💬 Join our Discord community, where we chat about the latest news and releases from everything we cover on AIPT
- 📗 Access to our monthly book club
- 📦 Get a physical trade paperback shipped to you every month
- 💥 And more!
You must be logged in to post a comment.