View source for Alien: The Illustrated Story


{{Infobox graphic novel 
| title           = Alien: The Illustrated Story
| foreigntitle    = 
| image           = Alien The Illustrated Story cover.jpg
| imagesize       = 
| alt             = 
| caption         = Cover of the original edition<br>by [[Walter Simonson]]
| publisher       = [[Heavy Metal (magazine)|Heavy Metal Communications]] (1979)<br>[[Titan Books]] (2012)
| date            = June [[1979 in comics|1979]]
| issues          = 1
| series          = ''[[List of Alien (franchise) comics|Alien]]''
| main_char_team  = [[Ellen Ripley]]
| creators        = [[Dan O'Bannon]]<br>[[Ronald Shusett]]
| writers         = [[Archie Goodwin (comics)|Archie Goodwin]]
| artists         = [[Walter Simonson]]
| pencillers      = 
| inkers          = 
| colourists      = Walter Simonson<br />[[Louise Simonson]]<br />Deborah Pedlar<br />Polly Law<br />[[Bob LeRose]]
| letterers       = [[John Workman]]
| editors         = [[Charley Lippincott]]
| single_creator  = 
| origpublication = 
| origissues      = 
| origdate        = 
| origlanguage    = English
| origisbn        = 0930368428
| origedinfo      = 
| origisbn2       = 978-0930368425
| origedinfo2     = 
| origisbn3       = 
| origedinfo3     = 
<!--......-->
| origisbn9       = 
| origedinfo9     = 
| transpublisher  = 
| transdate       = 
| transisbn       = 
| pages           = 64
| translator      = 
| previous        = 
| previous-date   = 
| next            = 
| next-date       = 
}}
'''''Alien: The Illustrated Story''''', or simply '''''Alien''''',<ref>{{cite web |author=Callahan, Timothy |title=Revisiting Goodwin & Simonson's "Alien" |url=http://www.cbr.com/revisiting-goodwin-simonsons-alien/ |publisher=[[Comic Book Resources]]|date=September 1, 2012 |access-date=2017-06-19}}</ref> is an American sixty-four page [[graphic novel]] adaptation of the 1979 [[Science fiction film|science fiction]] [[horror film]] ''[[Alien (film)|Alien]]'' published by ''[[Heavy Metal (magazine)|Heavy Metal]]'' magazine in [[1979 in comics|1979]]. It was scripted by [[Archie Goodwin (comics)|Archie Goodwin]] and drawn by [[Walt Simonson]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Muir, John Kenneth |title=Remembering Heavy Metal's Alien: The Illustrated Story |url=http://flashbak.com/remembering-heavy-metals-alien-illustrated-story-59183/ |publisher=[[flashbak]]|date=22 April 2016 |access-date=2017-06-19}}</ref> It is the first comic from the [[Alien (franchise)|''Alien'' franchise]] and one of few [[List of Alien (franchise) comics|of the franchise's comic]] publications which is not associated with the long-lasting [[Aliens (Dark Horse Comics publications)|''Aliens'' line]] from [[Dark Horse Comics]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Head, Arrow |title=Book Review: Alien: The Illustrated Story |url=http://www.joblo.com/horror-movies/news/book-review-alien-the-illustrated-story |publisher=[[JoBlo.com]]|date=October 2, 2012 |access-date=2017-06-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Speech, Infinite |title=Titan Reviews: Alien: The Illustrated Story TPB |url=http://comicattack.net/archives/92858 |publisher=[[Comic Attack]] |date=September 25, 2012 |access-date=2017-06-19 }}{{Dead link|date=September 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The book was a major critical and commercial success and was the first comic to ever be listed on the ''[[New York Times Bestsellers]]'' list.

==Development==
[[Walt Simonson]] became involved in the project through a call from ''[[Heavy Metal (magazine)|Heavy Metal]]'' magazine art director [[John Workman]]. Initially, the plan was for [[Carmine Infantino]] to pencil the comic with Simonson inking. However, during discussions, Simonson ended up taking on both penciling and inking duties himself. He then suggested [[Archie Goodwin (comics)|Archie Goodwin]] as a possible scripter for the comic, which Workman agreed was a good idea.<ref name=CBR-2012>{{cite web |author=Keily, Karl |title=Walt Simonson Reflects on "Alien: The Illustrated Story" |url=http://www.cbr.com/walt-simonson-reflects-on-alien-the-illustrated-story/ |publisher=[[Comic Book Resources]]|date=October 30, 2012|access-date=2017-06-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title= American Comic Book Chronicles: The 1970s|author1=Sacks, Jason |author2=Dallas, Keith|year=2014 |publisher=[[TwoMorrows Publishing]]|isbn=978-1605490564 |page=272|chapter-url =https://books.google.com/books?id=k3CqDgAAQBAJ&q=%22Alien%3A+The+Illustrated+Story%22&pg=PA272|chapter = In Space Nobody Can See You Reach The Bestsellers List|via =Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ILopomw3UpMC&q=Walt+Simonson+alien&pg=PA29 | title=Modern Masters Volume 8: Walter Simonson| isbn=9781893905641| last1=Nolen-Weathington| first1=Eric| last2=Ash| first2=Roger| year=2006| publisher=TwoMorrows}}</ref>

While developing the comic, Goodwin worked from the original script.<ref>{{cite web |author= Hatcher, Greg|title=Cross-Hatchings for Labor Day Weekend 2012 – Updated! |url=http://www.cbr.com/cross-hatchings-for-labor-day-weekend-2012-updated/ |publisher=[[Comic Book Resources]]|date=August 31, 2012 |access-date=2017-06-19}}</ref> Simonson, as well, had access to [[production still]]s and even saw a [[rough cut]] of the film, which helped him capture the essence of the story. As a result, however, a few scenes that were cut from the final film ended up being included in the graphic novel.<ref name=CBR-2012 />

Most of the coloring of the comic was done by [[Louise Simonson]], Polly Law, and Deborah Pedlar.<ref name=CBR-2012 />

Simonson's design for the comic's logo featured a [[H. R. Giger|Giger]]-esque type treatment; [[20th Century Fox]] was initially unhappy with the cover art because it was deemed better than the movie's actual poster.<ref name=CBR-2012 />

== Publication history ==
Heavy Metal published an eight-page teaser for the book in ''[[Heavy Metal (magazine)|Heavy Metal]]'' magazine in vol. 3,  #1 (May 1979).<ref>{{cite comic|title=Heavy Metal|volume=3|issue=1|date=May 1979|publisher=Heavy Metal|story=Alien: The Illustrated Story|writer=Archie Goodwin|artist=Walter Simonson}}</ref> A second eight-page preview was published in ''Heavy Metal'' vol. 3, #2 (June 1979).<ref>{{cite comic|title=Heavy Metal |volume=3 |issue=2|date=June 1979|publisher=Heavy Metal|story=Alien: The Illustrated Story|writer=Archie Goodwin|artist=Walter Simonson}}</ref> The original 64-page [[Trade paperback (comics)|trade paperback]] was released in June 1979 and distributed by [[Simon & Schuster]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Muir, John Kenneth |title=Remembering Heavy Metal's Alien: The Illustrated Story |url=http://flashbak.com/remembering-heavy-metals-alien-illustrated-story-59183/ |website=flashbak|date=22 April 2016 |access-date=2017-06-19}}</ref>

The book was translated in 1979 into Dutch and republished in the Netherlands by Oberon, in Japanese by Japan UNI Agency, and in Spanish for Spain by Prohibida La Reproduction.<ref>{{cite comic|title=Alien
|date=1979|publisher=Oberon|location=Netherlands|language=nl}} {{isbn|90-320-0367-4}}</ref>

In 2012, [[Titan Books]]' reissued the graphic novel, "meticulously restored from original artwork in Walt Simonson's studio."<ref name=AintItCool>{{cite web |author=Oliver, Glen |title=Check Out These Pages From Titan's Very Awesome Alien: The Illustrated Story Reissuance!! Goodwin and Simonson Greatness!! |url=http://www.aintitcool.com/node/58109 |website=[[Ain't It Cool News]]|date= September 5, 2012|access-date=2017-06-19}}</ref> The book was lauded for its high production values.<ref>{{cite magazine |author=Floyd Kelly, James |title=The Horror Returns — Alien: The Illustrated Story |url=https://www.wired.com/2012/08/alien-the-illustrated-story/ |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]|date=August 28, 2012 |access-date=2017-06-19}}</ref> That same year, Titan also released an "oversized hardcover edition" that included "an in-depth interview with Simonson, the original script pages, color tryouts and sketches."<ref name=AintItCool />

The book was translated into French (as ''Alien: le huitième passager'': "Alien: the Eighth Passenger") and published in France by [[Soleil Productions]] in 2013.<ref>{{cite comic|title=Alien: le huitième passager |date=Apr 2013|publisher=Soleil US Comics |location=France|language=fr|editor=Jean Wacquet}} {{isbn|978-2-302-02461-8}}</ref> 

==Plot==
The plot of the graphic novel follows that of the theatrical film, with minor differences.<ref>{{cite web |author=Lamar, Cyriaque |title=Holy hell, the 1970s Alien comic book was awesome |url= http://io9.gizmodo.com/5826225/holy-hell-the-1970s-alien-comic-book-was-awesome/|publisher=[[io9]].[[Gizmodo]]|date=July 30, 2011|access-date=2017-06-19}}</ref> 

One reviewer praised Archie Goodwin's script adaptation, which he felt improved on some flaws in the film: "Goodwin ... seems to get more into the class divisions on board the ''Nostromo'' between [[Ellen Ripley|Ripley]] and Parker.... [T]he characters are a bit more fleshed out...."<ref>{{cite web |author=Burgas, Greg |title=Trade paperbacks, older editions, and miscellaneous for September 2012 |url=http://www.cbr.com/trade-paperbacks-older-editions-and-miscellaneous-for-september-2012/ |publisher=[[Comic Book Resources]]|date=September 30, 2012|access-date=2017-06-19}}</ref>

A few scenes that were cut from the final film made it into the comic, as described by artist Walt Simonson:
{{bquote|There's a scene ... at the end, when Ripley is running around the spaceship, she bumps into a box and the box unfolds itself and it turns out to be the alien waiting there for her in the hallway.... [I]t was in the rough cut that I saw. I thought it was really cool.... They were still editing the film at that point, so when I got to the point in the graphic novel where I had to put that page in or not put it in, because it would affect the placement of the left and right pages of the story, I asked and they said, 'Right now, it's in.' I added it back in, pasted everything around it, and then, lo and behold, the movie comes out and the scene isn't there.... What that does, speaking as a storyteller, is it foreshadows what the alien does later when Ripley gets into a lifeboat and she isn't at all aware that the alien was there. I thought it was very cool that they would do something in the story where you begin to understand that the alien can fold up in ways that doesn't look like itself.... It moves the alien a few feet further away from just being a guy in a rubber suit.}}
{{bquote|There's also a short scene, just three panels or so, where Ripley and Lambert are talking and one of them asks the other if she's slept with [[Ash (Alien)|Ash]], the [[Ian Holm]] character, and she says, 'No; I never got the impression he was interested,' and the first girl didn't either. I thought that was very nice. It foreshadowed what you discover about Ash later on down the road.<ref name=CBR-2012 />}}

==Reception==

===Sales===
The book was a major success and appeared on ''[[The New York Times]]'' Mass Market bestseller list<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hnuQBQAAQBAJ&q=%22alien%3A+the+illustrated+story%22&pg=PA781 |title=Comics through Time: A History of Icons, Idols, and Ideas [4 volumes]: A History of Icons, Idols, and Ideas |first=M. Keith |last=Booker |date=28 October 2014 |publisher=ABC-CLIO|page=781 |via=Google Books|isbn=9780313397516 }}</ref> — the first comic to ever do so<ref>{{cite encyclopedia| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K2J7DpUItEMC&q=%22alien%3A+the+illustrated+story%22&pg=PA7 | title=Adaptions from other media | encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Comic Books and Graphic Novels | publisher=ABC-CLIO | access-date=2017-06-23 | author=Crowder, Craig | editor=Booker, M. Keith | year=2010 | location=Santa Barbara, CA | pages=7| isbn=9780313357466 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author= Greenberger, Robert|title=For Your Consideration: Titan's Alien: The Illustrated Story |url= http://www.westfieldcomics.com/blog/interviews-and-columns/for-your-consideration-titans-alien-the-illustrated-story/|publisher=WestfieldComics.com|date= 2012|access-date=2017-06-19|author-link=Robert Greenberger }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Whitaker, J. |date=1979|title=? |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pcEqAQAAIAAJ&q=%22alien:+the+illustrated+story%22+sales|work=The Bookseller, volume 3841 |publisher= [[The Bookseller]] (Publishers' Association, Booksellers Association of Great Britain and Ireland)|location=University of California |via=Google Books|access-date=2017-06-23 |page=229}}</ref> — for eight weeks between July and September 1979, reaching as high as number seven on the list. (The book was featured on the list decades before the graphic novel-specific list was created for the ''New York Times''.)<ref name=Levitz2015>{{cite book|last=Levitz |first=Paul|author-link=Paul Levitz|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=HHfjCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT262 |title=Will Eisner: Champion of the Graphic Novel|publisher= Abrams ComicArts |date=2015|isbn=978-1-61312-864-0 |via=Google Books}}</ref> The book was a rare high-seller for the American comics industry in the year 1979 since sales were very down at that point. Of the success of the book, artist Walter Simonson downplayed his contributions, stating, "It was ''Alien''. Anybody could have done it and [made it a best-seller]."<ref>{{cite book |title= American Comic Book Chronicles: The 1970s|author1=Sacks, Jason |author2=Dallas, Keith|year=2014 |publisher=[[TwoMorrows Publishing]]|isbn=978-1605490564 |page=272|chapter-url =https://books.google.com/books?id=k3CqDgAAQBAJ&q=%22Alien%3A+The+Illustrated+Story%22&pg=PA272|chapter = In Space Nobody Can See You Reach The Bestsellers List|via =Google Books}}</ref>

===Critical response===
''The New York Times''<nowiki>'</nowiki> review of the book called it "an eye-filling and vibrant graphic portrayal of the gripping and fantastic tale that is ''Alien''."<ref>{{cite book|title=New York Times Saturday Review of Books and Art|date=1980|publisher=Arno Press|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eqMPAQAAMAAJ|access-date=29 June 2017|language=en}}</ref> Frank Plowright of ''The Slings & Arrows Comic Guide'' expressed that the book remains ''Heavy Metal''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s best home-grown work.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Plowright|first1=Frank|title=The Slings & Arrows Comic Guide|date=2003|publisher=Slings & Arrows|isbn=9780954458904|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AMEbAQAAIAAJ|access-date=29 June 2017|language=en}}</ref>

Comics writer [[Warren Ellis]] named ''Alien: The Illustrated Story'' as "the single best adaptation of film into comics ever," calling it "a stunning piece of work, hugely progressive and innovative."<ref>{{cite web |author=Ellis, Warren |title=CBR Exclusives Issue #10 |url= http://www.cbr.com/issue-10-11/|publisher=[[Comic Book Resources]]|date=February 4, 2000 |access-date=2017-06-19}}</ref>

''[[Comic Book Resources]]'' (''CBR'') covered the re-issued edition of the book in a number of articles. Timothy Callahan's review included this analysis: "Archie Goodwin and Walt Simonson crafted a little near-perfect slice of cinema in graphic novel form back in 1979, and they did it by using all the tricks at their disposal."<ref>{{cite web |author=Callahan, Timothy |title=Revisiting Goodwin & Simonson's "Alien" |url=http://www.cbr.com/revisiting-goodwin-simonsons-alien/ |publisher=[[Comic Book Resources]]|date=September 1, 2012 |access-date=2017-06-19}}</ref> In a detailed analysis of Simonson's art, Greg Burgas characterized ''Alien: The Illustrated Story'' as "a really nice book on its own, in some ways better than the movie."<ref>{{cite web |author=Burgas, Greg |title=Year of the Artist, Day 132: Walter Simonson, Part 4 – Alien: The Illustrated Story |url=http://www.cbr.com/year-of-the-artist-day-132-walter-simonson-part-4-alien-the-illustrated-story/ |publisher=[[Comic Book Resources]] |date=May 12, 2014 |access-date=2017-06-19 |archive-date=2019-12-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209142102/https://www.cbr.com/year-of-the-artist-day-132-walter-simonson-part-4-alien-the-illustrated-story/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> And in his rundown of the 15 best [[Xenomorph (Alien franchise)|Xenomorph]] comics, Michael Holland of ''[[Comic Book Resources|CBR]]'' listed ''Alien: The Illustrated Story'' as #3, calling it a "must-read" and calling out the few scenes that showed events from the film from a different perspective.
<ref>{{cite web |author=Holland, Michael |title=Aliens: The 15 Best Xenomorph Comics |url=http://www.cbr.com/aliens-the-10-best-xenomorph-comics/ |publisher=[[Comic Book Resources]] |date=January 2, 2017 |access-date=2017-06-19 }}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Scott Collura of ''[[IGN]]'' praised the work of Goodwin and Simonson, citing "Goodwin's lean adaptation of the screenplay" and his ability to "trim bits and pieces to keep the comic moving at a brisk, readable pace, but it never feels like anything has really been cut." Of Simonson, he wrote "the artwork itself is beautiful (in an alien ripping your head open kind of way). . . ," calling it "ornate and detailed" and going on to write, "But the art is also rough and tough at times, which is certainly in keeping with the 'truckers in space' story. It's not uncommon to turn the page and discover another stunning layout: a double-splash page of the Space Jockey's ship. . . ."<ref>{{cite web |author= Collura, Scott|title=Alien: The Illustrated Story Review; In 30-year-old movie adaptations, no one can hear you scream.|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/10/09/alien-the-illustrated-story-review |publisher=[[IGN]]|date=October 2, 2012|access-date=2017-06-19}}</ref>

Lee Pfeiffer of ''[[Cinema Retro]]'' praised the book, writing that it "does an admirable job of compacting all of the key story elements without resorting to the kinds of 'artistic license' that often compromise many other comic adaptations of films," and calling the artwork "ground-breaking."<ref>{{cite web |author=Pfeiffer, Lee |title=Book Review: "Alien: The Illustrated Story" Remastered Edition from Titan Books |url= http://www.cinemaretro.com/index.php?/archives/7012-BOOK-REVIEW-ALIEN-THE-ILLUSTRATED-STORY-REMASTERED-EDITION-FROM-TITAN-BOOKS.html|publisher=[[Cinema Retro]]|date=September 19, 2012 |access-date=2017-06-19}}</ref> Brett Chittenden of ''Geek Hard'' praised the book as well, noting "the pacing seems a little different but never in a bad way. It's very much like Ridley Scott shot his film and then Goodwin and Simonson came in and re-shot the entire film with the same actors and sets and without seeing Scott's version. And it works really well."<ref>{{cite web |author=Chittenden, Brent |title=Fear and Loathing in Geekdom #52: Alien The Illustrated Story |url=http://geekhardshow.com/2012/12/fear-and-loathing-in-geekdom-52-alien-the-illustrated-story/ |publisher=[[Geek Hard Show]]|date= December 24, 2012|access-date=2017-06-19}}</ref>

Scott VanderPloeg of ''AE Index'' praised the "Original Art Edition" of the book, citing the extras: "a signature plate with Simonson's in pencil, complete script, colouring examples, an in-depth interview and an afterword by Simonson," and calling it "a bargain at $75."<ref>{{cite web |author=VanderPloeg, Scott |title=Alien: The Illustrated Story, The Original Art Edition |url=http://www.comicbookdaily.com/collecting-community/bound-together/alien-illustrated-story-original-art-edition/ |publisher=[[Comic Book Daily]]|date= December 16, 2013|access-date=2017-06-19}}</ref>

Alien vs. Predator Central ranked the comic as #10 in the Top 10 Alien Comics list.
<ref>{{cite web |author=V, Janno|title=Top 10 Alien Comics |url= https://www.avpcentral.com/top-10-alien-comics|date=September 27, 2018 |access-date=2018-09-27}}</ref>

Kevin Church of ''[[ComicsAlliance]]'' reviewed the book positively, calling it the fifth-best comic book adaptation of a film, and noting that:
{{blockquote|''Alien: The Illustrated Story'' is an example of a lower page count working to make a better adaptation. The creators work with the larger page size to ensure that each one matters. Simonson's panel arrangements are nothing short of masterful throughout, with storytelling that's simultaneously easy to follow and dynamic. This page is an example of how effectively the creators used what they were given: three minutes on film is compressed into 13 panels, but it never seems rushed or compressed.<ref>{{cite web |author=Church, Kevin |title=Five Great Comic Book Adaptations Of Movies (And One That's Just Really Cool But Kind of Terrible) |url=http://comicsalliance.com/five-comic-book-adaptations-kirby-simonson-sienkiewicz-baker/ |publisher=[[ComicsAlliance]]|date=October 24, 2013 |access-date=2017-06-19| archive-date = June 19, 2017 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20170619163612/http://comicsalliance.com/five-comic-book-adaptations-kirby-simonson-sienkiewicz-baker/}}</ref>}}
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NOT SURE WHO SIMON MONK IS AND IF HE'S NOTABLE: <ref>{{cite web |author=Parkin, John |title=What Are You Reading? with Simon Monk |url=http://www.cbr.com/what-are-you-reading-with-simon-monk/ |publisher=[[Comic Book Resources]]|date=February 5, 2012|access-date=2017-06-19}}</ref> 
NOT MUCH HERE: <ref>{{cite web |author=Girdwood, Andrew |title=Alien – The Illustrated Story review |url=https://www.geeknative.com/32294/alien-the-illustrated-story-review/ |publisher=[[Geek Native]]|date=September 23, 2012 |access-date=2017-06-19}}</ref>
ESSENTIALLY A PREVIEW: <ref>{{cite web |author=MacDonald, Heidi|title=The original Alien by Archie Goodwin and Walt Simonson |url=http://www.comicsbeat.com/preview-the-original-alien-by-archie-goodwin-and-walt-simonson/ |publisher=[[ComicsBeat]]|date= September 4, 2012|access-date=2017-06-19}}</ref>
DEAD LINK: <ref>{{cite web |author=Robinson, Iann |title=Off The Shelf: Alien – The Illustrated Story |url=http://www.craveonline.com/site/196699-off-the-shelf-alien-the-illustrated-story |publisher=[[CraveOnline]]|date=September 25, 2012 |access-date=2017-06-19}}</ref>
BROKEN LINK: <ref>https://books.google.se/books?id=Xi_BBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA224&dq=Walt+Simonson+alien&hl=sv&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj1gcKX_djXAhWpbZoKHfWUA4U4ChDoAQhFMAQ#v=onepage&q=Walt%20Simonson%20alien&f=false {{Bare URL inline|date=May 2022}}</ref> 
REALLY MORE ABOUT PRODUCTION: <ref>{{cite web |author=Collura, Scott |title=From Alien to Thor to Avengers: Walt Simonson; As his classic Alien adaptation gets re-released, we talk to the artist about his past, present and future in comics. |url= http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/10/25/from-alien-to-thor-to-avengers-walt-simonson |publisher=[[IGN]]|date=October 25, 2012 |access-date=2017-06-19}}</ref>
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====Art analysis====
The work has been highly praised for its art.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Graphic Novel: An Introduction |author1=Dr. Beatens, Jan |author2=Dr. Frey, Hugo|year= 2014|publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]]|isbn=978-1107655768|page=71|url =https://books.google.com/books?id=zkelBAAAQBAJ&q=Alien%3A+The+Illustrated+Story+simonson&pg=PA71|via =Google Books}}</ref> Jan Baetens and Hugo Frey, the authors of the book ''The Graphic Novel: An Introduction'', assert that ''Alien: The Illustrated Story''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s art by Simonson has a distinctive format, particularly the panel and page layout, which serves to provide the audience with a careful and cohesively shaped work which highlights the tension in the plot (as well as for the characters) and brings them to greater attention to the readers. According to Baetens and Frey, Simonson achieves this by utilizing standard comic frames, but then subtly breaking the images outside of the panels and organizing the pages into a more "free-form" style. In contrast to another acclaimed graphic novel, ''[[A Contract with God]]'' by [[Will Eisner]], more traditional [[panel (comics)|grid panels]] are still present at places but are frequently reduced or are abandoned altogether as the story progresses. In their opinion, so does the characters and backgrounds without framing lend the work a confidence and readability that is impressive. Comparing it again to ''A Contract with God'', they express that Simonson's highly planned-out but simultaneously free-flowing approach prepares readers for three double [[Splash page (comics)|splash pages]] of major scenes from the story.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Graphic Novel: An Introduction |author1=Dr. Beatens, Jan |author2=Dr. Frey, Hugo|year= 2014|publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]]|isbn=978-1107655768|page=71|url =https://books.google.com/books?id=zkelBAAAQBAJ&q=Alien%3A+The+Illustrated+Story+simonson&pg=PA71|via =Google Books}}</ref>

Fellow comic book artist [[Chris Sprouse]] has praised Simonson's work on the book and stated that the copy he owns had a place of honor in his comic collection in his youth. Sprouse expressed that he loved Simonson's work with the technology portrayed in the comic, which he described as accurate, and that he appreciated that Simonson put effort into making the story visually exciting, as opposed to many other movie-tie-in comics that Sprouse had read. Sprouse cited Simonson's work as his greatest inspiration, together with that of [[Frank Miller]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Dezago |first=Todd |author-link=Todd Dezago |author2=Eric Nolen-Weathington |title=Modern Masters Volume Twenty-one: Chris Sprouse |publisher=[[TwoMorrows Publishing]] |date=June 2009 |volume=21|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i7M3LFB_VHgC&q=alien+walt+simonson&pg=PA18 |pages=18 |access-date=October 17, 2009 |isbn=9781605490137 }}</ref> Similarly, cartoonist [[Kyle Baker]] said that ''Alien: The Illustrated Edition'' was the only comics-format film adaptation he ever liked.<ref>Nolen-Weathington, Eric. [https://books.google.com/books?id=eogeLUVJ3P4C&dq=Walt+Simonson+alien&pg=PA24 ''Modern Masters Volume 20: Kyle Baker''] (TwoMorrows Publishing, 2009), p. 24</ref>
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===Awards===
* [[Harvey Awards]]
**[[List of Harvey Award winners#Best Graphic Album of Previously Published Work|Best Graphic Album of Previously Published Work]] (2013)<ref>{{cite web |author=Parkin, John |title=BCC: 'Saga,' 'Adventure Time' among Harvey winners |url=http://www.cbr.com/bcc-saga-adventure-time-among-harvey-winners/ |publisher=[[Comic Book Resources]]|date=September 7, 2013 |access-date=2017-06-19}}</ref>

==Legacy==
Walt Simonson would later participate in the making of a parody of ''Alien: The Illustrated Story'', in the pages of ''[[Howard the Duck]]'', in a story named "SNAILIAN", which features a snail in the role of the Alien creature as it menaces Howard.<ref>{{cite comic|title=[[Howard the Duck]] |issue=7|date=September 1980|publisher= [[Marvel Magazine Group]] |story=Snailian|artist=Walter Simonson}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Mantlo|first1=Bill|title=Howard the Duck: The Complete Collection Vol. 3|date=2016|publisher=Marvel Entertainment|isbn=9781302489243|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QY8TDAAAQBAJ&pg=PT366|access-date=29 June 2017|language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://comicbookdb.com/issue.php?ID=70220 Alien: The Illustrated Story (1979)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170712040609/http://www.comicbookdb.com/issue.php?ID=70220 |date=2017-07-12 }} at the Comic Book DB
* [https://www.comics.org/issue/235014/ Alien: The Illustrated Story] at the [[Grand Comics Database]]

{{Alien (franchise)}}
{{Walt Simonson}}

[[Category:1979 graphic novels]]
[[Category:Alien (franchise) comics]]
[[Category:Comics by Archie Goodwin (comics)]]
[[Category:Comics by Walt Simonson]]
[[Category:Comics based on films]]
[[Category:Harvey Award winners]]
[[Category:Heavy Metal (magazine)]]
[[Category:Horror graphic novels]]
[[Category:Science fiction graphic novels]]

{{Wikipedia attribution|original_title=Alien: The Illustrated Story|access_date=2026-02-25}}