[Fan-made Photonovel] Alien versus Predator: Grit and Glory

What is a photonovel? Photo comics are a form of sequential storytelling that uses photographs rather than illustrations for the images, along with the usual comics conventions of narrative text and word balloons containing dialogue. They are sometimes referred to in English as fumetti, photonovels, and similar terms. In this particular format, the use of action-figures or the like are used rather than drawn art or actors. This particular type of medium rose to prominence on the Yakface Forums and many different stories have cropped up there over the years; such as Star Wars, Indiana Jones, etc. I thought I would share this here, as it is another medium I enjoy making. If this builds interest, I will post the second episode. Which has better content, more story, and is longer in length.

EPISODE 1:

**split into 2 posts due to photo limit per page.










The Weyland-Yutani facility on LV-742 was established to conduct Top-Secret weapon's development research and exploit the resources on the planet... shortly after establishing the facility, ancient ruins were discovered all over the region

It wasn't long before Weyland-Yuntai's research into Xenomorphs resulted in disaster. In all of his hubris, man believes himself to be an all-controlling God...



Weyland-Yutani Personnel could not maintain quarantine of the facility...



...the first Xenomorph escapes onto LV-742 through an atmosphere processing pipe!



The creature scans it's surroundings, looking for the next unsuspecting victim...



United States Colonial Marine Operations Command (USCMOC) located at Camp Lejeune is made aware of the dire situation on LV-742. A distress call is made by the surviving Weyland-Yutani personnel at the research facility. The call for help is responded by sending the USS. Valkyrie, a Bougainville-class attack transport with a full regiment of USCM marines.



Meanwhile, half the galaxy away...



Kalakta, the supreme leader of Yautja Prime awaits a petition from an Elder seeking hunting rights.



Elder Dhi'rauta approaches Kalakta with a bow of the head and extending forth a hand in greeting.



Dhi'rauta paces as he speaks. <"Exalted One, I seek hunting rights to an ooman (human) planet. They breed the r'ka (Xenomorphs) on it's surface. Much glory, many trophies!"> Shaman Yin'tekai listens intently, acting as religious advisor to all Yautja. Also council to both Dhi'rauta and Kalakta.



Kalakta cocks his head and lifts a hand before speaking. <"Dhi'rauta, old friend. What warriors will you bring to the hunt?"> Dhi'rauta lifts a hand to indicate speech once again. <"These finest warriors will bring much glory.">



Dhi'rauta's clan mates step forward at attention to Kalakta.



Many look upon Kalakta for the very first time. Tales of his Glory permeate through all of Yautja society. The Elite warriors are asked to come forward from the Young Bloods.



Upon approaching, both Gahn'tha-cte and Bhu'ja clasp a fist across their chest. Dhi'rauta states proudly: <"These are among the finest warriors in my Clan. They will lead the hunting party against the oomans and the r'ka." Kalakta's mandibles click in approval. "See to it that these warriors instruct the Youngbloods. The hunting petition is granted. Yin'tekai will also accompany your hunting party. Bring many trophies and glory to your clan!"> Dhi'rauta addresses Kalakta and chuckles. <"I would have it no other way.">



The Yautja mothership carrying the "New" Lost Clan arrives in the same system as LV-742. While scanning the planet, the ship remains undetected.



The ship-board systems detect an anomaly in orbit above the planet.



The scan reveals a human ship....!

Re: [Fan-made Photonovel] Alien versus Predator: Grit and Glory - Series 1, Episode 1


Further scans indicate that the ship is filled with armed human warriors.



The computer systems register the exact type of weapons compliment the human warship is carrying!



Seemingly from nowhere, the Yautja mothership de-cloaks.



The mothership's weapons come online, acquiring the target ahead of them...



The Yautja open fire on the unsuspecting human warriors!



The human crew has no time to react or take evasive action.



A single USCM dropship is scrambled at the last second!



The human dropship manages to escape the attack unnoticed...



At the same time the mothership scores a direct hit...! Killing the rest of the humans before they could escape the crippled ship.



The Yautja launch a trio of hunter landing pods in the ensuing chaos.



They bank towards the planet!



The USCM dropship begins its decent into the atmosphere of LV-742, narrowly making its escape. It carries a single squad of marines.



The dropship's entry does not go unnoticed...a fugitive Bad Blood looks towards the sky.



The Bad Bloods hunt the surviving Marines and systematically kill them!



Many trophies are taken.


TO BE CONTINUED!

Re: [Fan-made Photonovel] Alien versus Predator: Grit and Glory - Series 1, Episode 1

EPISODE 2:

**Split into 3 posts due to 20 photo limit...












Arriving 2 weeks after the USS. Valkyrie went missing, the USS. Sulaco enters the LV-742 system.



The Sulaco enters orbit above LV-742.



The crew members are awakened from Stasis...



Idle chatter between Hicks and Doyle is broken up when Gunnery Sergeant Windrix enters the room. "Briefing in five. Meet up on the hangar deck, near the drop ship." Corporal Hicks and Private Doyle answer in unison, "Right away, Gunny!"



Gunnery Sergeant Windrix asks Corporal Hicks, "Corporal - I've heard you've got experience on bug hunts?" He follows up with: "Should be a routine sweep and clear. Weyland-Yutani only had a couple of specimens." Corporal Hicks interjects, "Nothing is routine with the bugs, Gunny." Windrix offers a nod. "Briefing is in five - be there gentleman."



Corporal Dwayne Hicks collects his gear and equipment from an adjacent locker room to the hangar. When he is approached by Private Doyle who asks, "Hey Corporal, what do you know about our new C.O.?" While reaching to grab his bucket off the top shelf. Hicks answers, "Yeah - he's a season veteran from several battles with insurrectionists on the fringe systems. Don't know more than that...but with all due respect, he is greatly underestimating the bugs."



Windrix gathers up some of the remaining crew members, instructing them to meet in the hangar. Lance Bishop II works on activating key systems throughout the ship, in preparation for the operation planet-side.



Gunnery Sergeant Windrix briefs his squad on the mission. "Our mission is two fold - primary object is to gather intelligence on what happened to the USS. Valkyrie and to rescue any survivors from the Weyland-Yutani base if possible. If we encounter anything that's not human execute it with extreme prejudice."



Bishop II readies the last of the gear for the mission. He preforms maintenance on the UA 571-C Automated Sentry Guns in the Armory.



A dropship is quickly dispatched from the Sulaco, carrying Gunnery Sergeant Windrix, Corporal Hicks, Specialist Malcolm, Private Doyle, Lance Bishop II, and Private Thomas.



The squad is deployed from the dropship after a quick dust-off at the LZ. Their first steps are taken on LV-742. Communications and electrical equipment are not reliable. It isn't clear if the planet itself or something else causes the issue...



The Marines trek for miles on foot, moving through some of the harshest jungle any of them have seen. The heat and humidity is demoralizing...



Corporal Hicks decides to take point and scout ahead of the group.



While scouting ahead, something catches Corporal Hick's eye.



As he advances, he can't believe what his eyes take in. He whispers under his breath, "Sweet mother of God..." Unable to move, he does the first thing that comes to mind. "Gunny, you better come take a look at this... bring the squad."



The rest of the Marines quickly catch up to Hicks, all of them are in a state of disbelief in what they see.



Windrix approaches the skinned human. Attempting to make sense of what his eyes take in but his mind rejects.



Debris on the ground catches Private Doyle's eye and he goes in to investigate.



He locates a customized Ithaca Model 37 Shotgun. None of the rounds on the side saddle have been used. He checks the weapon further and makes a discovery. "Damn - not a single round fired. Looks like whoever this was didn't get use it."



Doyle locates a standard issue M-10 Pattern Ballistic Helmet! The victim of this gruesome death a was a fellow Marine. He pans the helmet to the side and finds the name "Ramirez" on the back. Adding more to the mystery, the Marine was also registered to the USS. Valkyrie. The helmet-mounted camera had been smashed. Judging from appearances it would almost seem intentional...



Corporal Hicks Stops and stares off in the distance. Unsure of what he might have noticed, Bishop checks the motion tracker. No movement is detected ahead of them for 20 meters besides their fellow squad mates.



Hicks turns to Bishop, "I thought I saw something out there. I could have sworn." Bishop replies, "No contacts detected on the motion tracker, Corporal. Probably just the heat getting to you." Hicks sighs. "Yeah, must be."



After the Marines move out, something shimmers into existence in the brush behind where they just were...



The glowing eyes of the Biomask flash through the brush!



The Bad Blood emerges from bushes and follows the Marines from a safe distance.



Several miles ahead, Gunnery Sergeant Windrix signals his squad to stop.



Specialist Malcolm and Private Thomas are ordered forward! They discover a Weyland-Yutani atmosphere processing pipe! It appears to have been knocked open.



Malcolm and Thomas cautiously approach the pipe, making sure it is clear. They don't see any hostiles, but notice the damage inside the pipe.



Private Thomas gives the all clear signal to the rest of the men.



The squad regroups at the pipe, covering the area and establishes a perimeter.



Bishop carefully examines the damage to the pipe, realizing that a Xenomorph's claw marks are responsible for the interior damage.



Windrix turns to Hicks. "Back there - that Marine, you ever seen anything like that, Corporal?" Hicks shook his head. "Never seen anything like that - bugs don't do things like that." Bishop adds to the conversation, "I can confirm that a Xenomorph did escape through this pipe. Beyond that, I can't really say what we're dealing with exactly." Windrix states, "One thing is for sure... this at-mo pipe is the only entrance we've found to the base so far - so I hope we all enjoy tight spaces."


One month Prior to the Weyland-Yutani Quarantine Failure...



20 kilometers from the Weyland-Yutani facility, ruins of a space-faring race have been discovered. Their monolithic sculptures appear very human-like. Their technology is ancient and highly advanced. A great deal of investment has been made by the company in excavating the ruins.



Weyland-Yutani's efforts have mainly been concentrated in underground caverns, honeycombed with thousands of ancient passages and relics.



Doctor Walter Heisenberg and a Commando escort venture into the ancient catacombs in search of alien relics...



One particular room is discovered. It contains alien hieroglyphics and numerous relics! The hieroglyphics tell of an ancient conflict between the ruin builders - Engineers as they have been dubbed by Weyland-Yutani and the Yautja. A group of alien hunters who engaged in war with the Engineers.



Two distinct sets of relics are discovered - the first appears to be an ancient weapon of some kind - related to the very makers of the ruins!



The second cluster of relics belong to the hunters - which even includes a Xenomorph skull! Adding further mystery in the relationship between the Engineers, Hunters, and Xenomorphs. A great deal of research will be required in order to address these questions...



Shortly after the Weyland-Yutani expedition team returns for the day, one of the artifacts begins to hum to life and radiate energy!



This in turn awakens a sleeping God...!



Deep within the ancient ruins, an Engineer awakens after slumbering for a millennia.



The ancient being activates a powerful weapon within the temple, that unleashes an EMP attack! All electrical systems and security features within the Weyland-Yutani complex are disabled.



The Engineer activates a holodisplay of the star system, observing how it has changed over time...leaving the seeded children of the Engineers to take the mantel that their creators left behind.



The Engineer heads to where weapons were last kept.



The towering Being reaches for the familiar grip of his Energy rifle...



The weapon is still functional!



With his weapon now ready and filled with purpose, the Engineer will deal with the human trespassers accordingly.



Doctor Heisenberg returns to find that his laboratory has been compromised! An energy pulse from the ruins has disabled all high-tech equipment within the facility. Only basic functions remain.



One of the stasis chambers in the back of the lab attracts Heisenberg's attention...



His chestburster specimen has escaped containment and fled through a vent on the wall!



Heisenberg requests a Commando team to report to his lab to deal with the rising Xenomorph threat!


Present Day - Aboard the Yautja Mothership



Recent human vistors to LV-742 garner the attention of the hunters...



Another hunting party is gathered to deal with the latest threat!





TO BE CONTINUED!

Very nice but a couple of things.

One, NCOs (with the exception of Marine Corps DIs in boot camp) are not addressed as Sir. In the US Army any segeant, no matter the exact rank, is addressed as Sgt. In the Marine Corps only Sgts. are called Sgt. all others are addressed by their exact rank, SSgt., Gunnery Sgt., Master Sgt., etc. or their accepted nickname.

Two, the structure used hold/hous aircraft are hangars (with an A), hangers are what you use to hang your clothes on in the closet, or a small curved sword.

Riceball said:

Very nice but a couple of things.

One, NCOs (with the exception of Marine Corps DIs in boot camp) are not addressed as Sir. In the US Army any segeant, no matter the exact rank, is addressed as Sgt. In the Marine Corps only Sgts. are called Sgt. all others are addressed by their exact rank, SSgt., Gunnery Sgt., Master Sgt., etc. or their accepted nickname.

Two, the structure used hold/hous aircraft are hangars (with an A), hangers are what you use to hang your clothes on in the closet, or a small curved sword.

Click to expand...

Haha, thanks. I've never been military, so that helps. I'll admit when I get something wrong. I'll go back and fix those basic issues.

How was everything else though so far? I'm trying to go for that suspense feel the original Predator had. I hope I nailed that. Did everything else seem okay?

Edit: If Marines.mil is to be believed, Windrix is wearing a Gunnery Sergeant emblem on his sleeve. So I retroactively fix that.

The rest of the mistakes were also corrected.

mcoractual said:

Haha, thanks. I've never been military, so that helps. I'll admit when I get something wrong. I'll go back and fix those basic issues.

How was everything else though so far? I'm trying to go for that suspense feel the original Predator had. I hope I nailed that. Did everything else seem okay?

Edit: If Marines.mil is to be believed, Windrix is wearing a Gunnery Sergeant emblem on his sleeve. So I retroactively fix that.

The rest of the mistakes were also corrected.

Click to expand...

No problem, glad I could help. If you have any military related questions, esp. Marine related feel free to PM me. And you're correct, 3 chevrons with 2 rockers is indeed a Gunnery Sgt., in which case everybody in his unit would call him Gunny for short.

One other thing for future reference, in the US military, we don't salute in the field. So if you decide to have an officer down the line and they're anywhere either not onboard ship or a base they won't be saluted. This is done for the safety of the officer because saluting an officer makes them sniper bait.

Anyway, keep up the good work, I'm really enjoying this.

Riceball said:

No problem, glad I could help. If you have any military related questions, esp. Marine related feel free to PM me. And you're correct, 3 chevrons with 2 rockers is indeed a Gunnery Sgt., in which case everybody in his unit would call him Gunny for short.

One other thing for future reference, in the US military, we don't salute in the field. So if you decide to have an officer down the line and they're anywhere either not onboard ship or a base they won't be saluted. This is done for the safety of the officer because saluting an officer makes them sniper bait.

Anyway, keep up the good work, I'm really enjoying this.

Click to expand...

That much I know. Getting religious in the field is never optimal. Thank you for military corrections. I also have a lot of character profiles that go in-depth into each of the characters, but that has so much information that it would require it's own thread. I will be sure to keep up with it! I'm trying to find someone to help me with the special effects bit of the story, because I can only do basic stuff. I'm very good at practical effects. I plan to use home-made explosive effects and most of the Neca figures come with muzzle flashes that look really high quality (on par with export figures). But thank you for the high praise. I really love this medium of story-telling. I grew up reading the Star Wars photonovels on Yakface. So it's only natural I would make one for my favorite intellectual properties (Predator/Aliens/AVP/Prometheus, etc).

Nice!

CB2001 said:

Nice!

Click to expand...

Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it!

mcoractual said:

Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it!

Click to expand...

You're welcome. I'll admit, I've considered doing something like this.


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CB2001 said:

You're welcome. I'll admit, I've considered doing something like this.


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Click to expand...

You should! I want to start a new trend on the RPF here with it.

mcoractual said:

You should! I want to start a new trend on the RPF here with it.

Click to expand...

Well, I need to come up with a story first. Or, it wouldn't be different from some of my previous action figure pictures I've taken.


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Added some FX shots to improve overall quality.