Aliens: Tribes (Aliens)

This is the first in a series of graphic story albums based on the popular motion pictures of the same name, with each volume bringing together a well-known writer and artist. Tribes debuted the first major literary work of Stephen R. Bissette, an award-winning comic book artist universally recognized for his artwork on Swamp Thing . Bissette's take on the movie series is to lock us into an orbiting medical facility infested with a horde of aliens. The only way they can be destroyed is to unleash upon them a specially trained military cleanup crew programmed to be even more ruthless than the aliens. Bissette displays an instinctive talent for writing gripping, visceral prose equal to his talents as a horror artist. The volume is further complemented by the magnificent full-color paintings of another award-winning artist, David Dorman. A truly terrifying ride, it should come as no surprise that this book later won a Bram Stoker Award from the Horror Writers Association. --Stanley Wiater