For their first comic talk of 2026, Phillip and Eric break down the surprisingly good Marvel crossover, Aliens Vs. Avengers by Jonathan Hickman and Esad Ribić. They discuss how it subverts the expectations of the cheap cash grab IP crossover, its exploration of the narrative themes Hickman gravitates towards, and how Alien: Earth is better than anyone gives it credit for.

The Patrick H. Willems video essay on Hollywood franchises that inspired this episode.