Aliens Vs Predator CCG

Aliens vs Predator CCG landed before the Paul W. S. Anderson film, during the era when AvP was primarily a Dark Horse Comics concept, which gives it a very different visual identity from the later movie iconography.

The game

Released in 1996 by HarperPrism (a short-lived HarperCollins CCG division) and designed by Robert A. Kraus, Aliens vs Predator CCG is a three-faction combat duel: Marines, Aliens, and Predators each have distinct decks and win conditions. Marines win by completing Mission cards, Aliens by spreading Hive tokens, and Predators by collecting Skull Trophies from opposing faction kills.

The context

HarperCollins was trying to expand its book-retail footprint into hobby games, and AvP CCG was one of their flagship CCG releases alongside Shadowfist and the Superman Adventure CCG. Art was sourced from Dark Horse Comics' AvP illustration pool, including Chris Warner and Phill Norwood, making it a natural crossover collectible for comic fans.

The collector angle

The base set and the Foresters-vs-Kills Premiere expansion are the main English runs. HarperPrism exited the CCG business in 1997 and the planned third expansion (Queen Mother) never shipped. The rare Predator Queen card and the foil Bishop-android cards are the visible chase pulls. Dark Horse Comics staff-signed cards from the 1996 San Diego Comic-Con circulate in comic-collector channels more than CCG channels, creating an unusual cross-market for the same physical objects.