Notice! This post contains SPOILERS for Aliens vs Avengers #2In the MCU, Iron Man became obsessed with protecting the world from future alien invasions after the events of 2012 Avengers. Now, a new comic book event has taken Tony Stark’s same obsession and made it the key to humanity’s survival in the face of Foreigner the franchise’s unstoppable xenomorphs. As seen in the Marvel movie Aliens vs Avengersa version of Earth in the Marvel Universe was seeded with xenomorphs. However, Tony Stark received advance warning, prompting a bold (and tragic) contingency plan to save what he could.
At Marvel Aliens vs Avengers #2 by Jonathan Hickman and Esad Ribić, where the world is already close to being completely invaded by xenomorphs, a flashback to 20 years before the present day of the crossover sees the Foreigner Weyland-Yutani Corporation from the franchise seeking to purchase Stark Industries, a precursor to the true alien invasion with Earth being seeded with xenomorphs by David 8 (synth Michael Fassbender from Prometheus and Alien: Alliance). However, it is revealed that Tony Stark discovered the truth behind Weyland years before the world was truly taken over:
Before you kill this one David (of which there are many), Tony Stark was given his timetable to plan and prepare for the imminent alien invasion and to create a chance for humanity’s survival, however small it may be.
Iron Man knew the Xenomorph invasion was coming
Be 16 years old to plan and prepare for the survival of humanity
20 years later, in the present, the city built by Tony Stark is the last one existing on Earth, with the planet just moments away from being completely invaded by what have become legions of deadly xenomorphs. Furthermore, Stark reveals to his fellow surviving heroes that he has built a colony ship beneath the city to give humanity a chance at survival despite the inevitability of losing Earth itself.. As such, Iron Man, Captain Marvel, and Miles Morales load the ship with 1,400 souls before beginning the launch sequence.
As a result, Tony Stark’s enduring status as a futurist and the rare advance warning he received have proven invaluable for the sake of humanity’s continued survival as they are now heading for the stars. That said, giving up Earth and ensuring survival came at a great cost. In the end, Aliens vs Avengers #2 confirms at the end of the issue that not all survivors could be saved, including some of Earth’s own Avengers.
Iron Man just saved what little was left of humanity
But the cost was incredibly high
Although the launch was a success, Stark had to make the difficult decision not to delay the launch, even with the late arrival of Captain America and an entire group of survivors that Steve Rogers was protecting from hordes of xenomorphs that surrounded the city.. After all, waiting would be taking a risk and exposing the colony ship to xenomorphs and their vicious life cycle. Similarly, Bruce Banner’s Hulk chooses to stay behind and fight Captain America despite the inevitability of defeat, ignoring Stark, who begs him to remain aboard the ship at the end of the issue.
“This new edition of Alien vs Avengers proves that Iron Man and his classic obsession with the MCU were fundamental to humanity’s survival against the Foreigner franchisee’s xenomorphs…”
As such, it certainly seems like the tragedy has only just begun for Iron Man and the surviving Avengers, who barely manage to save just a small portion of humanity before the entire world is overrun. As such, it will be fascinating to see where humanity goes now that it is exclusively among the stars, especially considering that the Engineers have apparently followed David 8 across the multiverse. In any case, this new edition of Alien vs Avengers proves that Iron Man and his classic obsession with the MCU were fundamental to humanity’s survival against the Foreigner xenomorphs of the franchise.
Aliens vs Avengers #2 It’s on sale now at Marvel Comics.