Reading through the first issue of Predator vs. Spider-Man, I couldn’t help but feel that Benjamin Percy was reading my mind. As someone whose favorite superhero is Spider-Man and whose favorite movie monster is the Predator, I’d always wondered what would happen when the two met. Predator vs. Spider-Man #2 thankfully keeps the momentum of the first issue going, blending heroics with horror.
With New York City in the grasp of a record heat wave and the merciless Yautja known as “Skinner” picking off victims, Peter Parker races to solve the mystery of the insane Predator. But he has other problems to deal with: not only is NYPD detective LaPearl hot on his tail for photographing a crime scene, his girlfriend Mary Jane Watson is trapped underground with Skinner – and the Yautja is unknowingly being targeted by Kraven the Hunter!
I have to give Percy some major credit for juggling all of these plot threads, showcasing how each person deals with the menace of Skinner. Like any classic Spider-Man story, Peter utilizes his brain to track down the history of Skinner’s slaughters in the public library. Kraven takes a more hands-on approach, studying the murder sites with the precision of a predator. It’s MJ who has the most surprising story, as she manages to get others to safety. It’s a reminder that before symbiotes or luck powers, what makes her a great character is the fact that she’s able to help others, even with a superheroic significant other.
Marvel
Predator vs. Spider-Man #2 also sings thanks to Marcelo Ferreria’s artwork. Ferreria has a knack for drawing Spidey swinging through the air; as he fires web after web, he moves with a grace and speed that feels like a legion of Spideys soaring through the air. I also love the way Ferreria draws facial expressions – when Peter learns LaPearl is at his front door and wants to take him in for questioning, his dialogue reads “classic Spidey wisecracking” but his face reads “crap, crap, CRAP.” Ferreria even draws a classic J. Jonah Jameson shouting moment.
But if the Spidey action is great, Ferreria one-ups it with all the horror elements. There’s a reason Skinner earned his name: he rips the skin off his victims, even using it as a disguise to surprise and trap his victims. It leads to some disturbing imagery, including a subway door opening to spill out gallons of blood or someone literally getting their face peeled off. Further underlining the horror is Jay Leisten’s color work, which throws shadows everywhere – save for Spidey’s red and blue suit and Kraven’s golden vest – not to mention Clayton Cowles’ lettering depicting Skinner’s war cry as a horrific, spine-chilling screech.
But the truly disturbing images come when MJ stumbles upon Skinner’s lair. Without hyperbole, I can say it’s some of the most horrifying moments I’ve witnessed in a Spider-Man comic, and it only showcases how much danger Spidey, MJ and the rest of New York is in. Predator vs. Spider-Man #2 not only keeps the momentum of the first issue, but it manages to balance the superhero and horror element with ease, leading to a last page reveal that only promises Percy and Ferreria are getting started.
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