Review by Ian Keogh

In 2010 Randy Stradley, let us not forget, the person who conceived and introduced the Aliens vs. Predator franchise in 1989, returned for one final outing.

Each of his previous stories features Machiko Noguchi introduced in the original Aliens vs. Predator, and she’s back here, in no mood to co-operative with marines, referencing her extensive interrogation following the events of Aliens vs. Predator: War. She’s reintroduced with a exceptionally well plotted scene showing just what she’s capable of, and why the marines want her expertise as the only human to have hunted alongside Predators.

At issue is a group of Predators who don’t follow the strict rules of the hunt, where honour is everything. The Killers prioritise death, and they’ve found a way to control the Aliens, but they’re outcasts despised by the majority of Predators. The three world war of the title encapsulates Machiko’s plan.

You’d assume given the title characters any artist could deliver the threat and the thrills, but as several Aliens vs. Predator graphic novels have proved, it takes more, and Rick Leonardi’s understated pages are a masterclass in maximising the potential. In addition to great, detailed depictions of the alien life forms, he tells the story so well, cutting cinematically from scene to scene, defining individuals and making sure readers can follow what’s happening even in the middle of chaotic action. Yet there’s so much going on in every panel.

Stradley doesn’t just pile in with the solution, but weaves a tense plot where convincing Machiko is the easy part of diplomacy, so it’s not until halfway through that she and the main cast arrive at the point of conflict. He avoids the cliché of introducing several characters in fact only intended as cannon fodder, supplies an anomaly, is good with subtle foreshadowing and has a smart way of exploiting humans and Predators not quite understanding each other. Stradley also builds in stages, making good use of the six chapters at his disposal by plotting a series of peaks and troughs, allowing some down time between action. Because it’s not a rush to the end Stradley needs a big climax, and he delivers it, exploiting miscommunication and chaos.

If being picky, Three World War isn’t an even balance between Aliens and Preadtors, with the Predators very much dominant and Aliens being a secondary blunt weapon. Otherwise this supplies everything wanted from an Aliens vs. Predator smackdown, and is an intelligent broadening of their shared world. It’s great.

Mariko’s entire story is also collected in Aliens vs. Predator: The Essential Comics Volume 1.