| "Queen Facehugger" links here. For the Kenner toy, see Queen Face Hugger (Kenner). |
The Royal Facehugger, also known as the Super Facehugger[1] or Queen Facehugger, was a special variant of Xenomorph Facehugger capable of implanting an embryonic Queen. Royal Facehuggers were capable of implanting more than one embryo into multiple hosts before they died, typically in the form of a second, regular Xenomorph embryo which served as a "guard" for the infant Queen.[2]
Characteristics[]
As with regular Xenomorph facehuggers, the Royal Facehugger was spawned from an egg laid by a Queen; however, it was somewhat larger and featured variations such as armor and a bladed tail to help it protect the unborn Queen it carried.
A Royal Facehugger was capable of impregnating at least two separate victims with Chestbursters: one with an infant Queen, the other with a typical Xenomorph. Like a typical facehugger, the Royal Facehugger would expire upon completion of its biological imperative, though it would not do so until both embryos were implanted.[2]
Behind the scenes[]
The Royal Facehugger has only appeared once on-screen, and very briefly, in the Special Edition of Alien3; it is only seen for a few seconds on-screen when Murphy finds the dead creature alongside Babe's corpse when the latter is taken to the prison slaughterhouse.
In the special features included on the Alien3 DVD and Blu-ray, Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruff, Jr. discuss this "Super Facehugger" and point out that they had taken design inspiration for the creature from the Xenomorph Queen. They also consider it to be the creature that implanted the Queen embryo inside Ripley.[1] The Royal Facehugger model was sculpted by effects artist Chris Halls.[3]
However, when Alien3 was released in cinemas, the scene featuring the Royal Facehugger was completely removed and s regular Facehugger was used in the theatrical cut instead. The change also removed clarity as to how two Xenomorphs came to be on the planet, as only one Egg is seen and traditionally Facehuggers have died as soon as their job of implanting a Xenomorph embryo is complete. However, the Royal Facehugger reappeared in the novel Alien: Sea of Sorrows, its appearance described as akin to that created for Alien3.[4]
A Royal Facehugger
The Queen Facehugger's appearance in the comics is different to that depicted in Alien3; Royal Facehuggers in the comic have the same coloration as normal Facehuggers, but possess spines on their backs and spots on their air bladders. They have appeared in several comic books including Aliens vs. Predator: Deadliest of the Species, but all share the same appearance.
The Aliens toyline by Kenner features a Queen Face Hugger, referred to as a Giant Face Hugger Alien in the accompanying mini–comic Aliens: Terrordome.
Appearances[]
- Alien3/novel
- Alien 3: The Gun
- Aliens: Armageddon
- Alien: Sea of Sorrows
- Alien: River of Pain (mentioned only)
Gallery[]
See also[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Vincent Ward, David Giler, Ezra Swerdlow, Sigourney Weaver, Paul McGann, Alec Gillis. Wreckage and Rage: Making Alien3 (2010), 20th Century Fox [Blu-ray].
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Vincent Ward (writer), David Fincher (director). Alien3 Special Edition (2003), 20th Century Fox [DVD].
- ↑ Dave Hughes, Lee Brimmicombe-Wood. Aliens, Vol. 1 #17, p. 28 (1992), Dark Horse International.
- ↑ James A. Moore. Alien: Sea of Sorrows, p. 297 (2014), Titan Books.