Matthew Sykes


 * For the television series version, please see Matthew Sikes.

"Why don't you try standing next to an ocean of hydrochloric acid and see how well you surf?"

- Sykes explaining his partner's reluctance to come anywhere near salt water.

Matthew Sykes was a protagonist in the 1988 movie Alien Nation.

Sykes was portrayed by James Caan.

After the murder of his partner Bill Tuggle by a Newcomer, Sykes chased the murder suspect until loosing tract of him. The Newcomer police officer Sam Francisco was one of the officers called to assist him, but Sykes angrily pushed him away. A short time later Francisco was promoted to be the first Newcomer Detective in the LAPD. Captain Warner asked for volunteers to partner with the new detective. Sykes volunteered to be partnered with the Newcomer Detective Francisco. Refused permission to investigate his partner's death, Sykes hoped Francisco would still be able to use his connections with other Newcomers to help figure out who was responsible for Tuggle's death.

Not caring for Francisco's name, he decided to call his new partner George, which his new partner agreed to.

Investigating the two men realized that the Newcomer William Harcourt was producing the narcotic jabroka on Earth as a means of taking control of other Newcomers. George and Sykes defeated Harcourt and destroyed the drugs he was producing. Harcourt swallowed the last vial of jabroka, taking a massive dose that altered him. Harcourt finally died when Sykes pushed him into salt water, dissolving Harcourt. George pulled Sykes out of the water into a police helicopter, burning his hand in the process.

A few days later George joined his friend Sykes in a local church as Sykes prepared to give his daughter away in marriage. Because Sykes had a broken arm from his fight with Harcourt, George assisted him with putting on his tie. As they walked towards the nave, Sykes told George he wanted to apologize in advance to his new partner for all the things he would do and say over the years. As Sykes took his daughter's arm, George quipped that it was all right, that Sykes was only human.