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Batman versus Predator is a three-issue limited crossover comic book series that was first published by DC Comics and Dark Horse Comics from December 1991-February 1992. It was written by Dave Gibbons, pencilled by Andy Kubert, inked by Adam Kubert, colored by Sherilyn Van Valkenburgh, lettered by Adam Kubert, and edited by Diana Schutz, Denny O'Neil, Randy Stradley, Kelley Puckett and Jenette Kahn. The series was simultaneously published in both regular and prestige formats; the covers for the regular series were by Chris Warner and Gregory Wright, while the covers for the prestige version were by Arthur Suydam.

An immense success at the time of its original release, the series was eventually followed by two sequels, Batman versus Predator II: Bloodmatch, from December 1993-March 1994, and Batman versus Predator III: Blood Ties, from December 1997-February 1998.

Batman versus Predator was the first comic book produced by Dark Horse that crossed the company's Aliens / Predator / Aliens vs. Predator properties with another franchise. It began a series of franchise crossover comics that has continued irregularly ever since, involving both other Dark Horse properties and those from other major publishers. In the overall Dark Horse crossover comics line, Batman versus Predator was followed by Predator versus Magnus, Robot Fighter.

Overview[]

The prestige version of the comic featured different cover art, was printed on different paper stock and came with a selection of trading cards. These trading cards featured work by artists John Byrne, Matt Wagner, Chris Warner, Tim Sale, Gregory Wright, Mike Mignola, Sam Kieth, Steve Rude, Jackson Guice, Chris Chalenor, Lovern Kindzierski, Art Adams, Adam Hughes, Michael W. Kaluta, Walter Simonson, Richmond Lewis, Tom Yeates, John Higgins, Joe Kubert and Sam Parsons. The trading card images were also featured as pin-ups in issue #2.

Publisher's Summary[]

#1: The hunter becomes the hunted as Batman, Earth's ultimate detective, is pitted against the Predator, the galaxy's most ruthless hunter! Neither is known for their ability to compromise, assuring readers a break-neck paced three-issue series!

#2: The hunter becomes the hunted as Batman is pitted against the Predator in the second issue of the blockbuster comics event.

#3: The final showdown takes place in the Batcave, as the Predator hitches a ride on the Batmobile. But man versus alien it isn't anymore, as Batman discovers the Predator is not alone!

Plot[]

Within the crime-ridden city of Gotham, mob bosses Alex Yeager and Leo Brodin, settle out their fued by hiring professional boxers to fight in a sanctioned bout, with Yeager's man, Marcus King, winning.

BVPBatman

The Batman emerges.

Meanwhile, a Predator kills the owner of an RV. With the boxing match earning the creature's curiosity, it subsequently crashes into King's penthouse and kills him. Upon hearing of this, billionaire playboy Bruce Wayne gears up into his vigilante alter-ego - the Batman. He arrives at the scene of crime, alongside Commissioner James Gordon and inspects the bodies. Suspecting the killing to be a revenge hit by Brodin, Batman arrives at the mob boss' gym, but realizes that he was not the culprit, all the while the Predator watches from a distance in active camo.

Murders at the gym suddenly force Batman to return there, and he is met with the aftermath of a gruesome massacre, with only an elderly, blind boxing trainer left alive. The trainer describes that after brutally slaughtering the boxers there, the creature approached him and mimicked "open season" in Batman's voice, before leaving. The trainer suddenly has a hole blown through him with an energy blast, and Batman realizes that the killer is following some twisted code of honor, only picking off targets deemed worth killing.

BVPPred2

The Predator brutalizes Batman.

Yeager and Brodin meet at Raymond Squires quarters, the 'Squire Center', and discuss matters, both realizing that neither one of them were responsible for the back-and-fourth murders. The true assailant suddenly crashes into the building and murders the guards, and just as Batman arrived at the scene, Brodin pulls out a Double-Barreled Shotgun and blasts the Predator out of the building window. Acquiring a lead from his butler, Alfred Pennyworth, Batman travels to the 'Picketts Salvage' junkyard and approaches an abandoned RV, before suddenly noticing the wounded Predator return. Though he attempts to ambush the creature, the Predator eventually overwhelms him and prepares to finish him off. However, Batman calls in the Batmobile, and manages to escape, albeit barely and suffering grievous wounds.

With Bruce being bedridden for his wounds, the Predator goes on to brutally kill Raymond Squire, Brodin, and Gotham City mayor, Julius Lieberman, earning the moniker the "See-through Slasher". After Batman fails to answer Commissioner Gordon's public pleas for help, the Predator roars in triumph, claiming dominion over the city, before moving on to Gordon himself. Whilst on the phone to Bruce, the Predator attacks Gordon in his office, though he manages to escape. Hearing Bruce's voice over the phone, the hunter angrily challenges him.

BVPfaceoff

Batman and the Predator face off once more.

His wounds still not healed, Bruce gears up in a specialized auxiliary suit and faces off against the Predator atop Gotham City Police department. A brutal melee ensues, culminating in Batman ramming the Predator with the bumper of the Batmobile and into Wayne Manor's estate. Eventually, the fight leads the two into the Bat-cave, and though the Predator briefly overwhelms Batman, Alfred saves him by blasting it with the shot of a Blunderbuss.

BVPBatman2

Batman defeats the Predator.

The Predator grabs Alfred and throws him aside, now disgruntled with his hunt, and attempts to retreat. Batman catches up with him outside, however, armed with a baseball-bat he had taken from a mantlepiece, and finally subdues him with a brutal swing. Suddenly, a Predator Mother Ship arrives nearby, with a clan of fellow Predators emerging. The clan has the defeated Predator commit ritual suicide by stabbing itself with a blade, before presenting the blade to Bruce as a trophy for defeating one of their own. As Bruce and Alfred watch on as the Mother Ship takes leave, Alfred questions if the creatures were to return, though Bruce assures him that they won't, knowing now what awaits them.

Characters[]

Reprint History[]

Batman versus Predator was first serialized and reprinted in the United Kingdom in 9 parts in Total Carnage #1-9, from April-December 1993.[1]

Batman versus Predator Vol 1 TPB

Cover to the 1993 Batman versus Predator: The Collected Edition trade paperback by Gibbons.

The comic was collected and released as a trade paperback in April 1993, with the title Batman versus Predator: The Collected Edition. The release was edited by Kij Johnson and Bob Kahan and featured a new cover by series writer Dave Gibbons.

Batman versus Predator was collected again as part of the DC Comics/Dark Horse Comics: Batman vs. Predator trade paperback, alongside the sequel stories Batman versus Predator II: Bloodmatch and Batman versus Predator III: Blood Ties. The collection was released in June 2017. The cover art, by Mike Mignola, was taken from one of the trading cards included with the prestige edition of the original comic.

Behind the Scenes[]

The overwhelming success of Batman versus Predator would pave the way for numerous other crossover series involving Dark Horse Comics' various properties, the Aliens and Predator lines in particular, with other Dark Horse franchises as well as those from other companies. The comic would also inspire the popular and influential 2003 fan short film Batman: Dead End.[2]

Brother comic book illustrators Andy and Adam Kubert are the sons of famed comic book illustrator and educator Joe Kubert — founder of the Kubert School of Cartooning in New Jersey, from which many successful comics have emerged. Both brothers would go on to successful careers as comics illustrators in their own right, in such high profile titles as Marvel's X-men, DC's Batman and countless others.

Writer Dave Gibbons is also a famed comic book illustrator who was co-creator as artist with writer Alan Moore of DC's groundbreaking Watchmen, which was later turned into a theatrical film of the same name.

Trivia[]

  • Several sets of the original run of three issues were given away as part of a contest run in Aliens magazine, Vol. 2 #2.

Gallery[]

Issue covers[]

Variant covers[]

Other[]

Navigation[]


External Links[]

References[]

  1. "Hasslein Blog - The Alien/Predator Comic Strips, Part Two". Retrieved on 2015-06-15.
  2. Sandy Collora, Daren Hicks, Simon Tams, Gregory Ramoundos. The Making of 'Batman: Dead End' (2003), Sharpline Arts [YouTube].
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