Summary
Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Predator vs Black Panther #1!It’s no secret that thePredatorspecies is one of the most advanced in the entire galaxy. The Yautja have mastered interplanetary travel, they have cloaking tech that makes them practically invisible, and they even carry weapons of mass destruction on their person. And what do they do with this advanced technology? They hunt. Now, thePredators - who have committed their entire society to hunting the deadliest prey- have just found the next evolutionary step in their weaponry in the form of “Godmetal”.
InPredator vs Black Panther#1 by Benjamin Percy, Chris Allen, and Sean Damien Hill, readers are taken to the Yautja homeworld, where one Predator rules over the rest, and his two sons are vying for his attention and approval. One of his sons is the clear favorite, as he’s stronger and more ferocious than his younger brother. The other was born with a physical disability, and he’s naturally smaller than his older sibling. However, the younger brother is much smarter.
The younger Predator knows how he can defeat his older brother and claim the title of his father’s heir: getting his hands on “Godmetal” aka vibranium. The father has a spear of vibranium that he claimed after a hunt on Earth decades ago, and the youngest son believes that if he can make a full suit out of vibranium - complete with weapons of all sorts - then he will become the ultimate Predator. And that puts thisPredator in direct conflict with Black Panther.
Predator Just Confirmed Black Panther is Deadly on a Cosmic Scale
The entire plotline of this series is that a Predator wants to create a vibranium “Godmetal” suit, as that would make him the deadliest Predator. Predators - as fans have seen from their countless stories in films, comics, and novels - are already some of the deadliest warriors in the galaxy. The Yautja actively hunt the strongest prey, and the fact that they are a thriving society means that, more often than not, they are successful in killing that prey.
So, if vibranium is all it will take to make an otherwise physically weaker Predator the deadliest of them all, then that means Black Panther can already effectively claim that title. Black Panther isn’t just some guy in a vibranium suit, either. He’s one of the most skilled hand-to-hand fighters in the Marvel Universe, not to mention his heightened speed, agility, and strength. Fans already knew Black Panther was a force to be reckoned with, but this Predator crossover just confirmed that he’s deadly on a cosmic scale.
Marvel Comics has the Chance to Craft Its Biggest Event in Years
Marvel is Setting the Stage for a ‘Predator vs the Marvel Universe’ Event
Predator vs Black Panthercomes after the previous crossover,Predator vs Wolverine. While the first was an epic tale that spanned more than a century, it was also a very personal, closed-off story. This one, however, involves the potential evolution of the entire Predator species. If this Predator successfully kills Black Panther, claims Wakanda, and steals all of its vibranium, then thePredators could launch a full-scale attack on the Marvel Universe- and potentially come out on top.
Indeed, Marvel could be on the precipice of crafting the biggest events it’s done in years, as this continuity exists in its own pocket universe, meaning anything could happen. Not only would allowing the Predators to win this ‘versus’ match set up an awesome ‘Predator vs the Marvel Universe’ event, but it would also be one of the most significant evolutionary steps taken by thePredatorswhen it comes to their weaponry, giving them unparalleled upgrades with the “Godmetal”.
Predator vs Black Panther #1by 20th Century Studios is available now.
Predator
Predator is an action sci-fi franchise created by Jim and John Thomas, beginning with the original film released in 1987. The franchise follows a warrior alien race known as the Yautja who travel the far reaches of space looking for worthy prey to hunt, constantly bringing them to Earth due to the sheer amount of conflict harbored on it. The series has spun off into comic books and animated features and has even enjoyed several crossover events via film and video games with the Aliens franchise.
