Aliens/Vampirella #1 cover by Gabriel Hardman.

Writer Corinna Bechko has worked on such comics as Invisible Republic, Planet of the Apes, Heathentown, Star Wars Legacy II, and more. Now she turns her attention to vampires and xenomorphs in Aliens/Vampirella from Dynamite and Dark Horse. Westfield’s Roger Ash contacted Bechko to learn more about this upcoming series.

Westfield: How did you become involved with Aliens/Vampirella?

Corinna Bechko: Joseph Rybandt, my editor at Dynamite, asked me if I had any ideas I’d like to pitch for the crossover. Indeed I did! I loved the concept. And happily, we settled on the one set on Mars, which was my favorite.

Aliens/Vampirella #1 preview page 1. Art by Javier Garcia-Miranda.

Westfield: What makes Aliens and Vampirella crossing paths fun for you as a writer?

Bechko: It’s always fun when two monsters meet, but in this case one of the monsters is a whole lot more likable than the other. It’s been great to play with the ways in which Vampirella is like the humans she interacts with, and yet very unlike them. And then to contrast that with the utter inscrutability that typifies the xenomorphs. When you have a crossover between two characters that are similar, and more evenly matched, it often isn’t nearly as enjoyable as when they are so wildly different.

Aliens/Vampirella #1 preview page 2. Art by Javier Garcia-Miranda.

Westfield: Is the anything you can tell us about the story and some of the other characters we’ll meet?

Bechko: Certainly! The setting is a Mars base in the near future, just after humans have begun expanding into space but before they are doing any long haul, deep space exploration. But when they begin to excavate below their base in order to enlarge it, they find that another Earth-based species has gotten there first, a millennium before they arrived. It’s a mystery that only Vampirella can solve, but when she arrives she awakens something older still… And that’s when the fireworks start. Can the humans trust a vampire? Should they? And whose side is she really on? Besides Vampirella, we’re meeting all new characters. And of course some xenomorphs.

Aliens/Vampirella #1 preview page 3. Art by Javier Garcia-Miranda.

Westfield: You’re working with artist Javier Garcia-Miranda on the book. What can you say about your collaboration?

Bechko: It’s been terrific! He’s very good at making the action scenes dynamic, and he draws one hell of a horrifying xenomorph. His Vampirella is lovely too, even when she’s fighting tooth and nail against such an implacable enemy. We talked a lot early on about making sure the human cast was diverse, and about how to handle Vampirella. It’s always a thrill to see Javier’s new pages. I can’t wait for people to see this book!

Aliens/Vampirella #1 preview page 4. Art by Javier Garcia-Miranda.

Westfield: Any closing comments?

Bechko: Just that I’m happy that folks seem to be excited about this book. I’ve been having a great time working on it (I’m a huge fan of Alien and Aliens) and I love to write horror. I hope folks enjoy reading it, and thank you to everyone who picks it up!

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Aliens/Vampirella #1