When it comes to iconic 80s action franchises, very few can stack up to that of the Alien and Predator series, both of which found near-universal acclaim and developed huge fanbases for their incredible worlds and, more importantly, terrifying antagonists. The fact both have seen countless reboots since they were first devised over thirty years ago shows that they have an enduring legacy with pop culture that likely won't go away anytime soon.

That statement appears truer than ever with the news that Marvel Comics has acquired both properties and will be developing new stories centred in each of the seminal sci-fi universes. The line of comics was originally owned by Dark Horse Comics, who has been releasing new stories about both series since the late 80s, however, it seems that agreement will now come to a close and Marvel will look to leave its own stamp on both the Predator and Alien worlds.

RELATED: Co-Op Aliens Game Was in Development Before Disney/Fox Merger

To cement this exciting changing of hands, David Finch - a renown comic artist heralded for his work on Batman, Moon Knight, and The New Avengers - drafted up some new images of Alien's dreaded Xenomorph and Predator's titular foe. Finch's work on the Xenomorph paints a towering, shadowy interpretation of the iconic sci-fi villain, showing it stood in a cargo bay on its hind legs. His interpretation of the Predator is far more tongue in cheek, with Finch depicting it looming atop the Avengers tower with a spear in one hand and the disembodied head of Iron Man in the other. Finch's artwork can be viewed in the tweet below:

IGN, who exclusively revealed the story, was quick to point out that the second image is not meant to confirm that a Predator and Avengers spinoff is in the works. Instead, it's meant to merely be a fun piece of art showing that the Predator is ready to cause some chaos through the talented storytellers over at Marvel. Speaking on the IPs changing hands, Finch claimed "Alien and Predator are the two of the most identifiable, iconic characters of all time, and I love them for that... I’ve seen every movie they’ve ever been in, and I cannot wait to see them wreaking havoc in the Marvel Universe."

Marvel's editor and chief C.B. Cebulski was also quick to comment on his excitement to see these two legendary IPs come into the fold, stating "I can clearly remember where I was when I saw each of these modern masterpieces for the first time, and reveling in how both masterfully weave extraterrestrial dread and drama into some of the most iconic scenes we’ve ever seen on film." He continues to promise fans that more Alien and Predator news is on the way, claiming "we can’t wait to share more in the coming months!”

MORE: 5 Things We Love About Predator: Hunting Grounds (& 5 We Don’t)

Source: IGN