Warning: contains major spoilers for Alien #6!
Cats have been present in Alien from the beginning, but now Marvel has finally given felines a clear-cut purpose. Alien #6 sees Gabriel and Bishop continue their fight for survival, though any victory they claim may be short-lived. The Alpha xenomorph has left a door open for trouble in the near future.
Marvel's first Alien series since the Disney-Fox merger is well underway. Already a new species of xenomorph has been introduced and a few specifications it has have been added to canon. The Alpha xenomorph has a connection to its hosts, can survive the vacuum of space, and is only one of many xenomorph variations. Additionally, it leaves signs of infection.
Aliens #6 has the creative team of Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Salvador Larroca, Guru Efx, and Vc Clayton Cowles. In the latest issue, Gabe takes on the Alpha xenomorph in space, but a surprise involving a recently introduced cat spells trouble - potentially even doom - for the current main characters. This cat is different from Alien's Jonesy, but it may prove to be one of the most important cats in the entire franchise. This cat proves that the species is not too small to be impregnated by xenomorphs.
Earlier in this series, the Alpha xenomorph was revealed to have a tell when it comes to infection. People or animals that were infected had scratches on their faces. This allowed Gabe to know that someone they ran into on Epsilon Station was a carrier who would pose a greater risk to everyone left on the station. Now, at the conclusion of Marvel's first Alien comic arc, the newest feline addition to the series is shown to be infected in a cliffhanger ending. This cat does not have a name and it hasn't been a core part of this series thus far, but that seems poised to change soon.
Cats have been present in the Alien franchise since the beginning, though fans have long theorized about their actual purpose. Jonesy, in the first movie, has been thought of as being a reminder of normalcy or a source of comfort for Ripley. Some fans have believed that cats are one of the few species that are unaffected by xenomorphs, potentially being too small to be infected. However, Marvel has confirmed that this is not true at all. Cats can be infected the same as any other creature in the universe thus far - or at least by the Alpha xenomorph.
Presenting a cat with a xenomorph infection is a new element for the franchise, while also being a fun throwback to the original film. As of late, Marvel has been making cats rather dangerous, considering Goose from Captain Marvel is actually a dangerous alien. While this cat may not be an alien, it has become a host to one of the most deadly versions of the xenomorph fans have seen thus far. The lore of the franchise as a whole is growing with each addition to the newest era. If this newest development is a sign of things to come, the future is very bleak for any characters who will find themselves in Marvel's world of Alien.