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10 Greatest Predator Comic Book Crossovers
Cue Predator Growl By Ben Johnson
July 08, 2010
10 Greatest Predator Crossovers
© Bob Trate/Mania
The one thing you can say for Predators is they don’t take easy prey. You’ll never see Predator vs. Bambi. What you can expect is a brawl to end all brawls between two heavy hitters, and the infamous Predator crossovers are some of the best of all time.
10. Superman/Batman vs. Alien & Predator
Batman discovers a tribe of Predators and a hive of aliens have been secretly hidden on our little blue globe for centuries and quickly realizes he’s going to need a bigger boat. He and Supes take on the baddies and kick some off-worlder butt.
If this one had to stand on story alone it wouldn’t make the list, but the art is absolutely amazing. Nothing like seeing realistically drawn characters throw down, especially when it’s a slugfest between DC’s heavy hitters and the two most famous evils to fall from the sky.
9. Aliens vs. Predator: Deadliest of the Species
After the success of the original Aliens vs. Predator Dark Horse decided to release a 12-issue long form miniseries in 1993. The story takes place in the distant future where aliens run rampant on the earth. As they are prone to do, the rich have escaped into the sky and float around, living lives of luxury, far removed from the carnage below. This volume ultimately suffers from it’s length, but there were some super cool moments, especially a shot of a Predator’s trophy case containing Batman’s cowl, Cyclops’s visor, Wolverine’s claws and Magneto’s helmet, proving that particular Predator clan is the most badass of all.
8. Aliens vs. Predator: Xenogenesis
Dark Horse tapped super cool indy writer Andi Watson to bring his own take on the AVP universe with this run. A boyfriend is trying to get his significant other out of the stir, which he manages to arrange as long as the two will pull a heist and steal research from a laboratory. Unfortunately, a certain predatory being gets there first and releases said research. Three guesses what it is. OK, it’s Aliens, and they’re pissed off at being experimented on.
7. Predator Vs Magnus Robot Fighter
Way, way back in the ‘90s, there was a company called Valiant Comics that resurrected a bunch of Gold Key characters to some (at least initially) great success. Among those brought back from the grave was Magnus the Robot Fighter, who takes some time off from killing clockwork men to take on (who else?) the Predator. Turns out some highfalutin muckedy-mucks seeking out the next big thrill decided to steal a trophy from a certain intergalactic hunter and, surprise, surprise he wants it back and doesn’t mind bringing a little of the old utraviolence. It’s a pretty good two-parter written by Jim Shooter and John Ostrander.
6. Tarzan vs. Predator: At the Earth's Core
Some of the best crossovers are the ones showcasing two characters that should never meet, books like Archie/Punisher, Star Trek/X-Men, and this little gem right here. What we end up with is a Walter Simonson-penned tale that manages to pay homage to Edgar Rice Burroughs’s swingingest creation and keep the Predator mythos intact. The galaxy’s most hardcore version of Elmer Fudd shows up in Pellucidar, the last primeval forest in the world, to do a little hunting. Unfortunately for them that location is protected by none other than Tarzan himself, and he’s not to keen on the idea of having his friends and adopted parents slaughtered for sport.
5. Aliens vs. Witchblade vs. Darkness vs. Predator: Mindhunter
This little beauty isn’t much of a read, but when you include this many characters clashing over a three issue mini you know there’s going to be at least a few HELL YES!!! moments and Aliens vs. Witchblade vs. Darkness vs. Predator: Mindunter doesn’t disappoint. Witchblade and Darkness are abducted and find themselves on a giant spaceship filled with Aliens and a Predator that wants the Witchblade power. One of the most badass moments is when readers are introduced to an Alien/Darkling highbred.
4. Predator vs. Judge Dredd
One of the coolest Predator crossovers includes a run in with none other than Mega-City’s most hardcore super cop, Judge Dredd. When the dreadlocked hunters invade the city they pick out the toughest prey, the peace keeping judges themselves. In a cool twist, one of the main characters, Psi Division Judge Schafer, is a distant relation of Alan “Dutch” Schaefer, Ah-nold’s character from the original movie. This hardcore story gets a bit more brutal than the others, perhaps becuase of the mature content matter in both home books.
3. Predator vs. Superman
When Superman first finds the Predator ship he loses his mojo after he comes in contact with an extra-terrestrial virus and everyone reading is thinking the same thing, COP OUT! Whenever Big Blue has to fight a weaker opponent writers always seem to fall back on the same idea, depowering him. What’s cool about this three issue mini is that Superman powers back up before the end, but still has a hell of a time stopping the his clever foe and the legions of dreadlocked badasses looking to make our planet their new home.
2. Predator vs. Alien
I’m sure a lot of you checking out this list have been wondering when this little title would make an appearance. The grand-daddy of all Predator crossovers receives high points for getting the ball rolling. If you were of reading age in 1990 you knew about the coolness of this book. Kids who grew up on E.T. got ready to see the two scariest extra-terrestials any of us had ever seen going head to head, with the fate of a human colony in the balance. This would be #1 on the list, but unfortunately it doesn’t stand up to the awesome memories we all have from the ‘90s.
1. Predator vs. Batman Collected Edition
We’re cheating a little here by including all three meetings between the two titular characters, but they have to be included as one because combined the coolness factor is off the charts. Batman, the most interesting, intelligent and dynamic of all comic characters makes a great target for intergalatic hunters looking to collect the ultimate trophy. With all their toys and wiliness, the Predators are hands down the best inter-company match for Batman. Each installment in the series has a different plot, some better than others, but that isn’t why we read this comic. We’re here for blood, and the good news is we don’t get let down.
We are getting excited about Predators, here are some Predators related items to check out: 10 Hunters More Lethal Than the Predator and The Movie Maven gets Hunted by Predators. Comic Books your thing? Then try 10 Handicapped Comic Book Heroes Who Kick Ass and 5 Rules for Making The Avengers Movie.
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Predators vs. Batman was the best. Hard to argue with that one. Have to admit I haven't read most of the others though.
I know its not a Predators vs. but the Image universe (Stormwatch, Wildcats) vs. Aliens was a damn fun series. Just thought I would mention it.