Several strangers suddenly wake up on an unknown planet. They don’t remember how they got there, they can’t agree on what year it is, and they don’t know who they can trust. All they know is that something out there is tearing them apart, one by one.
One hell of a setup, right? At first glance, this new series from Ed Brisson and Netho Diaz appears to simply be riffing on 2010’s underrated feature film installment, Predators. And honestly, even if that was all this book had up its sleeve, that would be enough to get me excited for over-the-top horror/action mayhem. But without spoiling anything major, this first issue has managed to take advantage of the entire official Predator timeline in an intriguing way. It also ratchets up the level of action from the previous miniseries. If Brisson and Kev Walker’s first volume was Alien, this bad boy is Aliens.
We’re rapidly introduced to several new characters, all of whom make a solid attempt at being more than fodder for the titular beasts (to varying degrees of success, of course). Each of them are given some basic background and interesting personality traits, as well as various areas of expertise that will hopefully come in handy as the hunt commences. The opening of this one feels like a nice mix of the original film’s character intros and the expository action seen throughout Predators, allowing us to get to know these folks a bit as they run for their lives. Of course, not everyone makes it to the end of the issue, but that’s kind of why we tune into this franchise, right?
Yes, aside from the brief character moments, most of this first issue is devoted to all-out sci-fi action. Blood and guts are all over this book, with characters being bifurcated and otherwise dismantled in increasingly inventive ways. The creative team is clearly having a blast showing off what they can do without the constraints of a film or television budget. We’re talking big monsters, weird weapons, and lots of different types of terrain, all of which gets taken advantage of in this opening salvo.
Diaz definitely brings the gore here, illustrating some set pieces and deaths that I’m shocked made it into a mainstream Marvel book. The action is chaotic and quick, showing readers just how disorienting it would be for the characters in this situation. They’ve barely gotten their bearings when an invisible menace descends upon them, and panic is etched into every face here. To this creative team’s credit, the book never feels difficult to follow, even as the characters are all stumbling over one another in their attempts to escape. Colorist Erik Arciniega also does some interesting things with blues and grays that help distinguish when the Predators are camouflaged or materializing into view, which makes some of the chase sequences feel even more intense.
The final page seals the deal for me, and folks who enjoyed the previous Predator miniseries are not going to want to miss this one.
Join the AIPT Patreon
Want to take our relationship to the next level? Become a patron today to gain access to exclusive perks, such as:
- ❌ Remove all ads on the website
- 💬 Join our Discord community, where we chat about the latest news and releases from everything we cover on AIPT
- 📗 Access to our monthly book club
- 📦 Get a physical trade paperback shipped to you every month
- 💥 And more!
You must be logged in to post a comment.