Call me cracked, but I have a theory about the new Eddie, and it stems from that sketch of the more traditional Eddie with the alien woman and fetus. In that sketch, it looks like Eddie has taken something out from himself, perhaps his heart (?), and is contemplating it. It could be then that he imparts whatever essential part of him this is to the alien fetus in order for there to be a newer, tougher, alien version of himself to take on the missions in outer space for which an Eddie from Earth would be insufficient (?). So in a sense, it is Eddie, and not quite, at the same time. I think Melvyn Grant said it was an alien on the cover, so this could explain why this version of Eddie does, in fact, look so alien. Still, only a theory.
