REVIEW: ‘Predator,’ Issue #1

Predator #1 is written by Ed Brisson, illustrated by Kev Walker, colored by Frank D’Armata, and lettered by VC’s Clayton Cowles. It’s published by Marvel Comics. In the year 2056, humanity has achieved interstellar travel and formed settlements on uncharted planets. But the promise of a new frontier grows tinged with horror for Theta Berwick when her parents are brutally murdered by the hideous alien hunter known as the Yautja – better known as the Predator. Scarred by the experience, Theta has dedicated her life to hunting Yautja in the hopes that she’ll find her parents’ killer.

The Predator has long been a staple of comics, and now that the franchise has landed at Marvel, Brisson & Walker are aiming to bring a fresh take to the franchise. We’ve seen Predators hunt Aliens, and we’ve seen different types and tribes of Predators in the films. And now, in the spirit of the franchise, this comic presents a new twist: What happens when the Predator becomes the prey? Brisson’s script slowly builds out a new corner of the Predator universe, including how humanity has adapted to the stars and how Theta uses the Yautja’s own weaponry against them. Flashbacks also fill in her tragic backstory and will remind readers just how terrifying a Predator can be.

Walker’s artwork helps capture the Predators in all their horrific glory, from their lurking in the shadows to their spider-like mandibles and bloodshot eyes. Given that this is a Predator comic, fans can also expect more than a fair bit of bloodshed. Nowhere is this made clearer than in the opening sequence, which features a pair of Predators going at it; razor blades and spears cut through flesh, drawing lime-green blood. And since the action has moved from Earth to the stars, this gives Walker the chance to design new aliens and sleek starships. The space setting, combined with the horror elements, feels somewhat similar to the House of Ideas’ take on the Alien franchise.

Topping it all off is D’Armata’s color work. He separates the past sequences from the present with a subtle shift in color; the past sequences feature lighter colors and turn darker once the Predators appear. Other sequences feature a planet filled with lush green vegetation and another covered in pure white snow. As for the alien hunters themselves, their word balloons are as twisted and jagged as the weapons they wield – and sound utterly horrific, courtesy of Cowles. Cowles also designs the title page to feature blood-red letters as well as a recap of the previous Predator movies. I can’t help but feel that’s intentional, as we may see locations and/or characters from those films in the future.

Predator #1 marks the hideous hunter’s debut at Marvel with a smart twist on the Predator lore and some disturbingly well-crafted art. If you watched Prey and enjoyed it, I recommend checking this comic out. And hopefully, this marks a lengthy run of new Predator comics – I, for one, would love to see Predator vs. The Marvel Universe.

Predator #1 is available now wherever comics are sold.