Editing Alien Loves Predator

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2013}}
{{Infobox webcomic| <!-- Part of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject_Webcomics]] -->
| title = Alien Loves Predator
| image = 
| caption = Abe (l.) and Preston (r.) of ''Alien Loves Predator''
| author = Bernie Hou
| url = http://www.alienlovespredator.com/
| status = Currently halted
| first = 2004 ([http://alienlovespredator.com/category/alp/ archive])
| genre = Comedy, New York City
}}

'''''Alien Loves Predator''''' (sometimes shortened as '''''ALP''''') is a [[webcomic]] written by Bernie Hou. It spoofs the ''[[Alien vs. Predator]]'' franchise. Reversing the adversarial relationship depicted in the comics, games, books and movies, ''ALP'' presents an [[Alien (creature in Alien franchise)|Alien]] (named Abe) and a [[Predator (alien)|Predator]] (named Preston) as friends and [[roommate]]s in modern-day New York City.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sequentialtart.com/reports.php?ID=3718&issue=2005-01-01 |title=Ginger Meyerson, ''Sequential Tart'' |publisher=Sequentialtart.com |date=February 1, 2005 |accessdate=2011-07-20 |archive-date=March 22, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070322224519/http://www.sequentialtart.com/reports.php?ID=3718&issue=2005-01-01 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=Taylor>Robert Taylor, [https://web.archive.org/web/20071011163001/http://wizarduniverse.com/magazine/wizard/000862589.cfm Mingling Species: Bernie Hou Q&A], ''Wizard'' magazine, July 10, 2006</ref>

The first issue of ''ALP'' was released in 2004. On August 28, 2008, the author of the strip announced that ''Alien Loves Predator'' would be updated sporadically, abandoning its regular weekly format. After a short run of a different webcomic, ''If You See Something'', Bernie Hou announced that he would once again be running the strip and updating it weekly. It stopped updating in June 2011 and as of June 2024 appears to be offline.

==Style==
The artwork of ''ALP'' is composed by juxtaposing photos of real-life [[action figures]] into backgrounds also primarily generated from photos. This style has alternately been called [[photocollage]], photocomics or [[Photo strip|fumetti]]. A reviewer has stated that ''ALP'' "sets the bar for this art style."<ref>{{cite web|author=Korsil |url=http://korsil.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=Reviews&file=index&req=showcontent&id=153  |title=Korsil :: Korsil Webcomic Reviews: It's like Webcomics 'R' Us, but better! |date=August 2, 2005 |accessdate=2010-09-23 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20050802092912/http://korsil.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=Reviews&file=index&req=showcontent&id=153 |archivedate = August 2, 2005}}</ref>

''ALP''{{'}}s humor is often based on [[surreal humor|absurdism]] and [[Non sequitur (literary device)|non-sequitur]]s. Abe and Preston speak English and treat each other just as human friends do, and the specific mythology of the ''[[Alien (film)|Alien]]'' and ''[[Predator (film)|Predator]]'' franchises is not a primary focus. Although the New York City of the strip seems virtually identical to the one we know in real life, the humans we see are generally unconcerned by the fact that an Alien and a Predator are living among them. (An [[parallel universe (fiction)|alternate universe]] storyline that [http://alienlovespredator.com/2009/07/28/chinese-on-speed-dial/ began in July 2009] has challenged this notion.)

Along with the [[surrealist]] humor of seeing alien races act just like humans, the strip simultaneously presents an observational brand of humor. Abe and Preston often are depicted going through the same frustrations that real-life modern-day New Yorkers encounter as they try to do such things as rent apartments, eat out at restaurants, and ride the [[New York City Subway|subway]]. [[Transformers (film)|''Transformers'']] screenwriter [[John Rogers (writer)|John Rogers]] has compared ALP to ''[[Seinfeld]]'' in this respect.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://kfmonkey.blogspot.com/2004/12/that-looks-like-work.html |title=Kung Fu Monkey: That looks like work |publisher=Kfmonkey.blogspot.com |date=December 19, 2004 |accessdate=2009-05-30 |archive-date=December 7, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101207035615/http://kfmonkey.blogspot.com/2004/12/that-looks-like-work.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Recognition==

''ALP'' was a finalist for a [[Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards|Web Cartoonists' Choice Award]] for outstanding photographic comic in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ccawards.com/2008finalists.html |title=The Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards—2008 List of Winners & Finalists |accessdate=2009-03-08 |publisher=Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards Committee |date=March 8, 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090310200607/http://www.ccawards.com/2008finalists.html |archivedate=March 10, 2009 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }}</ref>

Bernie Hou has been a featured guest at the MoCCA, ICON and UberCon comic conventions<ref>{{cite web|url=http://iconsf.org/guest.php?rid=23&id=63 |title=ICON Science Fiction |publisher=Iconsf.org |date= |accessdate=2009-05-30}} {{Dead link|date=November 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ubercon.com/nj/content/guests.php#299 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060615195824/http://www.ubercon.com/nj/content/guests.php#299 |archivedate=June 15, 2006 |title=UberCon – the Ultimate Gaming Experience – UberCon VIII: October 20–22, 2006 |date=June 15, 2006 |accessdate=2010-04-15}}</ref> and has been interviewed by [[Wizard (magazine)|''Wizard'']] magazine.<ref name=Taylor/> ''ALP'' received favorable mention in the March/April 2005 issue of ''Creative Screenwriting'' magazine,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://csorders.com/store/product127.html |title=Creative Screenwriting No. 60 – The Interpreter – Mar/Apr 2005 |publisher=Csorders.com |date= |accessdate=2010-04-15 |archive-date=February 22, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222230953/http://csorders.com/store/product127.html |url-status=usurped }}</ref> the February 2006 issue of [[Stuff (magazine)|''Stuff'']] magazine, and the April 2010 issue of ''[[Comics Buyer's Guide]]'' magazine.<ref>{{Cite AV media|url=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2664/4425917735_f8dc98bbcf_o.gif |title=Can two characters live together...?|publisher=[[Comics Buyer's Guide]]|access-date=April 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406031630/http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2664/4425917735_f8dc98bbcf_o.gif |archive-date=April 6, 2012 }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.alienlovespredator.com Official site]
* [http://www.sequentialtart.com/reports.php?ID=3718&issue=2005-01-01 ALP review at Sequential Tart]
* [https://archive.today/20130415084940/http://www.mindpollution.org/2008/09/04/interview-bernie-hou-on-alien-loves-predator-and-if-you-see-something Mind Pollution interview with Bernie Hou about ALP and his other works]
* [http://www.fleen.com/archives/2005/12/23/so-this-is-new-york/ Fleen essay about ALP]

{{Alien vs. Predator (franchise)}}

[[Category:Alien vs. Predator (franchise)]]
[[Category:2004 webcomic debuts]]
[[Category:Comics based on films]]
[[Category:Comics set in New York City]]
[[Category:American comedy websites]]
[[Category:Parody webcomics]]
[[Category:Photocomics]]