Predator #2 - Comic Review

 

The new series of Predator has taken a different, yet familiar turn to the last series (also named Predator) by dumping us on an alien planet filled with soldiers and fighters for a trio of Yautja to stalk and hunt in order to hone their skills. Whilst the book is taking heavy inspiration from the Predators movie, it has added a neat little twist into the tale with this story, the humans dumped onto this remote hunting ground are from different times. It appears that the Yautja are keeping people in stasis, and letting them out to hunt. There's a mix of people here from the 1980's through to the 2050's. It does feel like an interesting new dimension to the scenario, though it would have been fun to have seen it pushed further; throw in a World War Two solider, or a samurai to mix things up a bit.

With the group of disparate fighters gathered together under the leadership of Theta, an experienced Yautja killer, it finally feels like the group might have a chance of survival. The humans begin a long trek through the alien jungle, following their new leader as she promises to lead them to safety. Unfortunately, Theta did kill one of the hunters, and now the other two have the groups scent, and an incentive to come after them even harder.

A good portion of the issue is given over to following the group as they follow Theta, giving the characters a chance to finally catch their breath and try to make sense of everything that's happened to them. Some of the characters start to form some early bonds, and a pair of soldiers from the 2020's seem desperately hoping that the Yautja have access to time travel so that they can get home, rather than it being stasis. The desperation that the two of them, a married couple, show makes me think that we're going to learn that they had family waiting for them back in 2020, probably a child.

When the group finally arrives at Theta and Paolo's ship, the Sandpiper, they come under attack from the alien hunters. One of the group rushes inside, and uses some tech they've got with them to take over the ship and fly it away, leaving everyone else stranded. Theta rushes into battle with one of the creatures to buy the others some time to escape, and loses an arm in the process. We last see Theta on her knees in front of the monster, it's weapon raised ready for a killing blow. Meanwhile, the other humans are suddenly swarmed by a bunch of the River Ghost aliens.

Things seem kind of hopeless for the humans right now, and the next issue could see a lot of casualties. However, I do think that it might be a bit of a misdirect, and I think that the River Ghosts are going to be a big part of that. I don't think that we're going to see them swarm and attack the humans, but go after the Yautja instead. They're prey too, and a group of them attacking one of the hunters together might give them the edge they need to take one down. I think that we might see them inadvertently come to the aid of Theta, giving her the time she needs to live. I don't think that she's going to be dying so quickly, not with her seeming to be the main focus of the Marvel Predator books. She may have lost an arm, but I think we're going to be seeing her getting another machine limb like her leg.

After a very hectic feeling first issue it's nice that this one has slowed down a little and given readers a chance to catch their breath. The character moments we get are decent enough, and a few strong personalities are starting to come through from some members of the group. There's the mystery of why a barman was taken along with a bunch of soldiers too, and I'm just hoping it's not the same kind of bad twist as the Topher Grace character in the movie. 

The art on the book, by Netho Diaz, Belardino Brabo, Roberto Poggi, and Erick Arciniega, looks good, and I prefer it to the previous Predator title. The environments look good, the rain effect that's throughout most of the issue adds atmosphere and gloom to an already gloomy situation. The characters are all distinct from each other and have a decent level of detail. But it's the aliens that really stand out here, with both the Yautja and River Ghosts looking superb. The final image of the book of the River Ghosts bursting out of the jungle and flying towards the humans is gorgeous and nightmarish at the same time.

I wasn't sure about this particular story with the first issue, as it felt like a lot of retread, and whilst I'm still not totally blown away by this arc, the second issue has definitely improved my opinions of it, and has gotten me interested in seeing what happens.

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