Xenomorph XX121, commonly referred to as simply the Xenomorph and known colloquially as the Alien, is a highly aggressive endoparasitoid extraterrestrial species. The Xenomorphs are vicious predatory creatures with no higher goals than the propagation of their species and the destruction of any life that could pose a threat to them. Like wasps or bees, Xenomorphs are eusocial, with a fertile Queen breeding a host of subordinate castes. The creatures are known for their potent acidic blood and their pharyngeal jaws, although their biological life cycle, in which their offspring are implanted inside living hosts before erupting violently from their chests, is in many ways their signature aspect.
Aside from their repeated conflicts with humans, Xenomorphs have notably been associated with the Yautja, who know them as kiande amedha ("hard meat"). The Yautja revere the creatures as incredibly dangerous and thus highly worthy prey, notably employing them in initiation Hunts that serve to test young members of their society and mark their progression into adulthood.
Featured in these Comics
Other Personas of Xenomorph XX121
History
Life cycle of the Xenomorph XX121
- Ovomorph (Egg) - are produced and laid by the Queen. They are an egg-like capsule containing a Facehugger.
- Facehugger - hatch from 'egg's and exists solely to implant a Chestburster within a host creature via their mouth.
- Chestburster - the infant form of the species. It is implanted into a host lifeform's chest cavity by a Facehugger, and upon maturing it will erupt violently from the host's chest, killing them in an incredibly bloody and traumatic fashion.
- Drone/Warrior - the most common adult form of Xenomorph XX121. They are between 7–8 feet in height and 14–16 feet long (including their tail)
Other Xenomorph Caste
Above the Xenomorph Drone/Warrior there are a number of castes.
- Queen - is a large form of the species Xenomorph XX121 that serves as the mother and leader of a Xenomorph Hive. Queens are one of the largest, strongest, and most intelligent Xenomorph castes, and their appearance differs from that of smaller variants, with a pair of extra arms growing from their chest and a large head crest extending rearwards from their skull.
- Praetorian - also known as the Royal Guard, is one of the final stages in the life cycle of the species Xenomorph XX121, and arguably the most common and widely-acknowledged form of Xenomorph to emerge from the numerous expanded universe castes. Praetorians are created when a hive population gets over 300 individuals and serve as Queen or Empress' Royal Guard and army commanders and unlike other Xenomorph types, Praetorians rarely operate outside their Hive grounds. They are among the largest and most powerful Xenomorph strains. Visually, Praetorians resemble a Queen, though smaller in size (although they are still far larger than typical Xenomorphs), typically standing at least 10 feet tall.
- Queen Mother - also referred to as the Mother Queen or Hive Mother, is a large form of the species Xenomorph XX121 that serves as the supreme controlling force of the species; even Queens are subordinate to them. Queen Mothers have only been encountered on Xenomorph Prime, where they were protected by Palatines.
Other Xenomorph Variants
In the canon Aliens/Predator universe there are a number of other Xenomorph.
- Predalien - (or PredAlien) is a Xenomorph spawned from a Yautja. Amongst the most notable results of the Xenomorph's DNA reflex, the Predalien takes more clearly after its Yautja host, sharing physical features such as dreadlocks, mandibles and lighter skin coloration. They are lethal combatants, often seen to possess strength far in excess of human-spawned Xenomorphs owing to the greater physical prowess of their hosts, a trait the Predalien subsequently inherits and enhances. They are apparently rare and are regarded by the Yautja as abominations and an insult to their species.
- Praetomorph / Newborn - also known as the Planet 4 Xenomorph, was a variant of the species Xenomorph XX121 that attacked the crew of the USCSS Covenant. The species originated on Planet 4 as a result of genetic experimentation carried out by David 8.
- Rogue/King - The Rogue, also referred to as the Usurper, Chimera or "King" Alien, was a human/Xenomorph hybrid genetically engineered by Professor Ernst Kleist as part of Project Chimera. The final product of Kleist's research, the Rogue was intended to act as a control mechanism — a tame equivalent of a Xenomorph Queen that could be controlled by man, and could in turn be used to control other Xenomorphs. Instead the creature proved to be ferociously aggressive towards natural Xenomorphs, and would go on to challenge the Queen kept at Charon Base, a contest that the Rogue ultimately lost.
Cross-Over Xenomorph
There have been a number cross-overs where Aliens (and sometimes also Predators) appeared with other existing comic book characters. These are all considered non-canon in the Aliens/Predator universe, but some are canon in the universe they cross-over with. These cross-overs have created Xenomorph with characteristics from things they gestated from that universe.
- Ani-Men Xenomorphs - The Ani-Men Xenomorphs are four Xenomorphs that were created when Dr. Niels Reinstöt used his sentient human/animal hybrids known as Ani-Men as experiments once more by impregnating them with Facehuggers. From a Judge Dredd cross-over.
- Crocodile Alien - The Crocodile Alien was very large in size, with far more mass and height than its original host. it had monstrous strength and was only defeated by being dropped into a volcano by Batman. From Batman/Aliens.
- Killer Croc Xenomorph Hybrid - created by Dr. Fortune using a combination of Alien and Killer Croc bio matter. From Batman/Aliens Vol. 2.
- DarkAlien - a Xenomorph born from a Darkling, which is one of many small demons summoned by the supernatural powers of Jackie Estacado, aka The Darkness. It has all the capabilities of the Darkness, which makes it virtually indestructible until it is out of the shadows, as the Darkness regenerates while in hibernation. From Witchblade/Aliens/Darkness/Predator: Mindhunter.
- Fire-Eater Alien - a Xenomorph born from the body of the super-heroine Fahrenheit. Fahrenheit's super power allowed her to throw fire, thus the Alien inherited this power and can spit fire by the mouth instead of acid. From WildC.A.T.s/Aliens.
- Vampiric Queen - a Queen born from the incubation in a vampire. From Aliens/Vampirella