Script: John Arcudi
Art: Javier Saltares
Colors: Wes Dzioba and Andrew Elder
Lettering: Blambot!
Cover Art: Raymond Swanland
Variant Cover Art: Chris Warner and Wes Dzioba
Editor: Chris Warner
Associate Editor: Samantha Robertson
Book Design: Stephen Reichert
Art Director: Lia Ribacchi
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a Predator movie or read a Predator comic book. I think the last comic book I read with these insane alien hunters in it had to be over fifteen years ago. I wasn’t an early adopter of the comic book series, but it was fun. I think it got a little over exposed, but it was still a fun comic book to read. Fast forward to 2009 and Dark Horse is bringing the alien hunters with the awesome weapons and funky infrared lens and giving new and old readers alike something they can sink their teeth into.
The issue opens up in East Africa where a convoy is attacked and everyone is pretty much slaughtered. The story then moves to a hired security force much like Blackwater is being debriefed on the convoy attack and their preparations for another convoy and how they plan on tightening up the security. The preparation leads into another attack and insanity spins out of it all.
The great thing about this issue is that readers are left wondering ‘where are the Predators’. No. You get them pretty early in the issue and you continue to see them throughout the issue. While I enjoy the need for them to sneak around and hunt their prey, seeing them out in the open really adds more to the story. We’re not wondering what is attacking the soldiers. We know without actually being told, and I appreciate John Arcudi not toying around with us, the readers. There’s no need to be secretive about the Predators. We know they’re there, and boy are they!
Arcudi has put together an entertaining story. I don’t think you can open up a new Predator series and have it been one that the readers need to think about a lot. There is an expectation by readers of what they want to see in a comic book like this, and Arcudi brings it out quickly. Now, if he wants to take a few steps back next issue or the one following that and begin to develop some strong characters that will really add a lot of depth to the story. We’re already seeing some characters take the lead and it will be interesting to see if these are our lead characters or just red herrings for something else.
Javier Saltares provides the pencils for this issue with Wes Dzioba and Andrew Elder on colors and Blambot! Providing the lettering. Artwise, this is a good book. The firefight scenes are great. The colors really jump up off the pages. After I finished read the book I had to go back over it and take some time on the art. Saltares has always been one of those artists that seems to pop up where you least expect them and really knock an issue out of the park. I think the whole art team did a great job with this issue and I can’t wait for more.
Predator as a franchise has a solid history at Dark Horse. I like that we’re getting new stories about this species as well as their Alien counterparts. I think if Dark Horse can continue to have talent work on these titles go for broke with every issue, we’re going to be seeing these titles for a very long time. The fans will come – new and old.
Just About Comics 