Reviewing comic books, especially individual issues, can occasionally prove challenging. Many books are fine if read in sequence but lack something if taken in a vacuum. Despite it being the middle book in a series, Alien vs. Predator: Fire and Stone #1 makes me want to read the two series that it connects, and that is actually a delightful surprise.

I like the idea of Alien vs. Predator, the combo storyline of the deadliest predator and prey facing off, with the human beings stuck in the middle. It evokes a cosmic horror flavor of Lovecraft, the idea that we, human beings, are not the biggest, baddest, or even smartest thing in the universe. In a universe of infinite size and scope, monsters live that we cannot comprehend or deal with.

This book goes on with the grand tradition with plenty of death and decay caused by man reaching beyond his grasp.

I wasn’t sold on the art until about halfway through the book. When I first saw it, I was confused as to whether it was trying to be realistic, artistic, or simply horrifying. Somewhere along the way,the art began to stir with the story, to blend into anearly seamless experience. It’s solid and yet abstract, a truly interesting style that skirts the line between the two extremes without having its potency diluted.

The story wastes no time setting up what is going on and getting to the action. It skips the plot problem of reexplaining the current situation, so anyonenew can understand what is going on. While this was initially confusing, the pacing of the book and the conversations set up enough of a skeleton that I caught on quickly.

It is a rare instance that a comic in the middle of a series perks my interest to track down the rest of the series, but this one has me questioning how it got started and where it will go.  I think, on the whole, this series is worth looking into; if nothing else, it’s a bit of a visual feast for the eyes.