Warning: Contains spoilers for Alien #11
The latest issue for Marvel's Alien series has unveiled cover art that's giving Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" a terrifying twist. The current comic series centered around the iconic Xenomorphs has provided a range of gorgeous artwork. From seeing the terrifying alien in all its glory to seeing Facehugger parasites latch themselves on unsuspecting prey, cover artist Marc Aspinall has perfectly captured the dread and fear that has been associated with the franchise since the first film's 1979 release. What's interesting though is that the covers have all been relatively straightforward as they showcase iconic imagery like eggs, Facehuggers and the Xenomorph itself. The newly unveiled cover for Alien #12, however, features Aspinall managing to sneak in a clever homage to one of the biggest rock bands of the 1970s.
The previous issue, Alien #11 by Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Salvador Larroca ends on a bleak note to say the least. After Jane and her group of Spinners get caught by a settlement of androids, they're thrown into a dark room where they discover the horrifying truth of what happened to the humans at Gamma Station. All of them are dead, and they're stuck in there with a plethora of Xenomorph eggs with Facehuggers already beginning to hatch. This is the penultimate chapter to the comic's "Revival" arc, and it's taking readers down a path of unfathomable darkness and dread. What's amazing to note though is that the newly teased cover art for Alien #12 sets up the unsettling situation they're in...while also being a pretty amusing Queen reference.
The art for Alien #12 features Jane and three other members of her Spinners with two standing behind her and one standing behind them. This manages to form a diamond of people, and all but Jane have Facehuggers latched onto them with Jane struggling to keep on off of her. Looking closely at this artwork, music fans will notice a striking similarity to one of Queen's most notable vinyl covers, Queen II, but it's best known as the imagery recreated for the "Bohemian Rhapsody" music video. Just like the cover art, band members Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon form the same shape as what's shown in Alien. This is one of the most iconic images in the band's history, and it's beautifully recreated by Aspinall.
What's even better though is that this cover isn't just a stunning recreation of a famous Queen moment. It also works exceptionally well in terms of the atmosphere that Johnson and Larroca left readers with Alien #11's cliffhanger. The feeling of hopelessness and struggling to fight what appears to be a losing battle is ever present in this cover as Jane fights off what's already taken her friends. Plus, the positioning of the people behind her to match the iconic album is downright uncanny as they stare off into space, not being able to see because of the parasite latched onto them. It gives off a feeling of dread that only Alien can provide, leaving the reader eager to know how Jane will get out of this situation and how this arc will come to a close.
Alien #12 is currently slated to hit comic store shelves on June 1, 2022; so the Alien comics will be taking a brief break in May before returning. After the cliffhanger left in Alien #11 though and the promising cover art for this next issue, it's going to be a rough wait...but it'll be worth it. The terrifying twist to Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" will make this long-awaited issue in Marvel's Alien series worth the pick-up, and if the conclusion is as good as this artwork, fans of the Xenomorphs will be in for an absolute treat.
