Aliens: What If...? #1
☆ Be the first to review + Add to your collection — Join freeAliens: What If...? #1 is historically notable as the first time Marvel's decades-old 'What If...?' format — a concept built entirely around Marvel Universe continuity — was applied to a licensed film property, crossing a storytelling tradition from superhero comics into the Alien franchise. It inaugurated a new creative lane for Marvel's stewardship of the Aliens license (acquired following Disney's purchase of 20th Century Fox), demonstrating that the property could support speculative, character-driven narratives rather than straightforward action stories. The series is also remarkable for the direct involvement of Paul Reiser, the actor who originated the role of Carter Burke in James Cameron's 1986 film, making it a rare instance of a Hollywood performer co-writing a comic continuation of their own screen character. Reviewers at the time noted it was among the most creatively ambitious things Marvel had attempted with the Aliens license since acquiring it in 2021.
ComicBooks.com Value
This exact issue on ebay
CGC 9.8 ▾ $65–$299 4 listings
Raw — NM ▾ $4.24–$24.64 13 listings
Raw — NM- ▾ $14–$49.99 4 listings
Raw / ungraded ▾ $2.69–$100 39 listings
More listings for this title
Read it digitally
Sell my copy
Have this issue — or a whole collection? Get a fair offer from us, skip the marketplace fees and the hassle.
We Buy Collections ▸History
The concept originated from Paul Reiser's rediscovery of the intense fan connection to Aliens — which he has cited as crystallizing at the franchise's 30th anniversary reunion at San Diego Comic-Con — and his longstanding personal interest in examining why Burke did what he did rather than simply accepting him as a villain. Reiser collaborated with his son Leon, TV producer Brian Volk-Weiss (The Toys That Made Us), showrunner Adam F. Goldberg (The Goldbergs), and screenwriter Hans Rodionoff to develop the story, with Rodionoff serving as the primary scripter on each issue. Art duties fell to Guiu Vilanova, a Marvel artist previously known for Cosmic Ghost Rider and Eternals, and editor Sarah Brunstad shepherded the project. Marvel announced the series in January 2024, with issue #1 hitting shelves on March 6, 2024.
Trivia · 8 facts
- Published March 6, 2024 by Marvel Comics; cover date May 2024; a five-issue limited series (of 5).
- First application of Marvel's 'What If...?' storytelling format to a licensed non-Marvel film property — specifically the Alien franchise.
- Written by Paul Reiser, Leon Reiser, Adam F. Goldberg, Hans Rodionoff, and Brian Volk-Weiss; interior art by Guiu Vilanova; main cover by Phil Noto.
- Central premise: 'What If... Carter Burke Had Lived?' — exploring the unseen escape and aftermath for the Weyland-Yutani antagonist (played by Paul Reiser) from James Cameron's 1986 film Aliens, whose on-screen fate was deliberately left ambiguous.
- Paul Reiser is credited as co-writer — making him one of the few actors to co-author a comic book continuation of their own film role for a major publisher.
- The series introduces Burke's daughter Brie as a new original character, and later issues feature a damaged combat synthetic named Cygnus — both original to the comic continuity.
- Issue #1 carried multiple variant covers including editions by Adi Granov, Peach Momoko, Skottie Young, and Lucio Parrillo, plus retailer incentive variants (1:25 by Skan Srisuwan; 1:50 Adi Granov virgin).
- The complete five-issue run was subsequently collected in a trade paperback edition. The story is set in 2179, consistent with the timeline of the Aliens film.
Cast · 1 character
Full credits
Reprints
Reprinted in Aliens: What If...? #[nn] (2024)
Variants (6)
Reviews
Reader reviews
No reader reviews yet.