THE WAR OF THE WORLDS
Based on the classic concepts of H.G. Wells

No one would’ve believed that in the beginning years of the twenty-first century this world was being watched by an intelligence far greater than man’s and yet as mortal as his own. Aliens were the stuff of legends, fairy tales to scare children or to entertain those wanting to escape the mundane existence of their lives. Few men took them seriously, let alone see them as a threat. Yet as mankind busied itself about their petty affairs they were being scrutinized and studied perhaps as narrowly as a scientist might watch under the microscope the microbes that swarm and multiply in a drop of water.

We seemed sure that we were the superior species in the universe, yet across the immense gulf of space, minds that are to our minds-- as ours are to the mice in the fields--, intellects vast, cool and unsympathetic, regarded this earth with envious eyes and slowly and surely drew their plans against us for what some claim would be the second time.

The month of September in the first year of the new millenium held the beginning of our great disillusionment. It happened slowly at first, three to nine cylinders per day. We threw nearly everything we had at them, as if we knew just how to fight the myths of our childhood. Every time it looked like we were victorious, another wave of cylinders would arrive and continue to crush our efforts, eventually we began to lose.

When New York finally fell, we became downtrodden. When Washington and Los Angeles fell we, as a nation and perhaps a race, fell into a deep state of shock. Soon we were hearing of a world wide invasion. London, Rome, Moscow, Tokyo had all apparently fallen to invaders dropping down on us from space, some say from the planet Mars.

The war is almost lost. But there is hope as pockets of civilization exist and humans show their great capacity for survival.

 

Brief Description: Continuing the story begun by H.G. Wells of an alien invasion attempting to conquer the earth. Modernized for today’s audience, but still retaining the same sense of fear and disbelief that the original novel contained.

Key Elements: Touching on a subconscious fear that is in everyone that our world may not be alone in the universe and if there are other intelligent beings, there is no guarantee that they will be friendly.

Association: The topic of aliens invading the Earth has long been a favorite theme of many novels, movies and television. The classic novel written by H.G. Wells triggered many imitators, including such blockbuster films as Independence Day, the 1960’s version of War of the Worlds, television shows such as V and Alien Nation.

Format: The War of the Worlds has had a limited series from both Caliber and Arrow Comics. The storylines are told in mini-series format to permit a beginning, middle, and end.