Ennis’ “In Springfield No One Can Hear You Scream” was drawn by John McCrea and coloured by Dave Stewart, the go-to colorist of the “Hellboy” comics. It doesn’t straight parody “Aliens.” (i.e. Marge is not any Ellen Ripley). As a substitute, the comedian opens with Bart watching an “Itchy & Scratchy” riff on “Aliens” — Itchy is the Xenomorph who makes use of his acid blood as a weapon towards Scratchy, the ill-fated astronaut.
Marge warns Bart it will give him nightmares, however Bart brushes her off. Till he walks into the lounge and sees his household strung up in an alien hive. Chestbursters, every one taking the likeness of their host, start erupting out of everybody; naturally, Mr. Burns is the Alien Queen. Bart runs for his life till awakening with a fright however is reassured it was all only a dream. Till a closing panel reveals Maggie hiding an alien interior jaw behind her pacifier.
“In Springfield, No One Can Hear You Scream” options Ennis writing a parody utilizing established characters he didn’t create. So, it’s kind of troublesome to listen to his voice within the comics — however if you happen to hear intently, you may hear whispers of it.
“Alien” and “Aliens” are the uncommon case the place a movie and its sequel stand roughly equally in popular culture. Which one you like principally comes down to non-public style. Ennis, although, is particularly drawing on “Aliens,” with the hive setting and alien queen, and it makes whole sense that he prefers Cameron’s movie over Ridley Scott’s.
Ennis loves warfare tales. (His finest comedian, “Sara,” is about an all-women Soviet sniper squad in World Battle 2.) He admires old-school, John Wayne warrior masculinity however acknowledges it may be damaging. Ennis’ lead characters, from Billy Butcher in “The Boys” to Frank Fortress in lots of “Punisher” tales, dwell that dichotomy. “Aliens” is a few cocky area marine squad who discover themselves completely outmatched however refuse to give up; that adrenaline-pumping most likely resonates with Ennis extra so than the measured horror and area trucker leads in “Alien.”
Much less flatteringly, a few of Ennis’ edgelord homophobic humor seeps in too. The Mr. Burns queen’s tongue-mouth naturally wears the face of Smithers. As soon as he pops out, he declares proudly: “I am a queen too, Sir!” Garth Ennis’ voice has made him some of the revered writers in American comics, however it’s additionally a voice that is unafraid to carry something again.
