Predator Omnibus, Vol. 2

Predator Omnibus #2

by John Arcudi, Andrew Vachss, Randy Stradley

Trophy hunters from another world, hiding in plain site, drawn to heat and conflict. A historical scourge, lethal specters, powerful, savage, merciless. Utilizing their feral instincts and otherworldly technology in the sole pursuit of the most dangerous game . . . Man. Whether haunting the blazing deserts of the Southwest, stalking the claustrophobic woods of the Pine Barrens, or infiltrating a maximum security prison, the Predators take no prisoners and leave only death in their grisly wake. But even these bestial killing machines can meet their match when men swallow their fear and channel their own primal rage . . . and the hunter becomes the hunted! Dark Horse Comics set the comics industry on its ear with its comics expansion of the Predator mythos, comics so true to the spirit of the Fox film blockbuster that concepts were incorporated into the Predator screen universe. Predator Omnibus Volume 2 continues the complete presentation of these comics classics-some never before collected-featuring over 400 gripping story pages in full color, penned by a who's-who of top writers.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Horror, Science Fiction, Fiction, Adventure, Action

448 pages, Paperback

First published February 20, 2008

About the author

John Arcudi has made a name for himself by scripting comics that manage to combine long-running subplots with impeccable characterization and action sequences, making for some of the most exciting and consistently good comics out today.

Reviews

[Sleepy Boy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really solid writing and art direction across the board here.

[Luana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Big Game - Conveys the battle of attrition between one frustrated Navajo serviceman and the Predator hunting him very well. Probably should have been Predator 2!

God's Truth - Black & white short about a sheriff and his deputies looking for an escaped convict in the 1920s Everglades. Probably the best thing in this collection.

Race War - I was psyched for this one: such an inappropriate title was really setting me up for some ill-advised 90s edge. Unfortunately we spend most of the miniseries finding CROSS the ultimate tracker to convince him to go undercover inside the maximum security penitentiary that is having some Predator Problems (uhh, the alien kind). This one feels toothless because despite its meanspiritedness it bumps up against the weird PG-13 these books often operated under. You've got several people dropping the hard-r N-word, a lady cop is called a dyke, but nobody swears? Someone flips someone else off and it has to happen off-screen? Shame - there was filth in this one's heart, but it did not reach my eyeballs.

The Hunted City - Fun concept, a Predator in a noir setting with dames 'n mooks, but the art is so shitty I couldn't tell what happens in the climax.

Blood on Two-Witch Mesa: Decent little flashback tale where Enoch Nakai (the main guy from Big Game) is told by his unc about a family legend. First Western Predator, and pretty good, even if it's quite short.

Invaders from the Fourth Dimension: Really great concept - a schlock filmmaker in the 50s designs a new type of 3D glasses (4D!) to lure in the rubes. A prototype falls in the hands of his young son, who sees "the real monster outta the screen" aka a Predator and his cloaking device. Imagine if Joe Dante did a 50s suburbia Predator full of nods to classic B-movies. Great stuff, but this is really toothless. Joe Dante woulda killed some kids! And even if ya don't, we coulda done with some splatter!

1718 - Nice little easter egg short about the origin of the musket from Predator 2. Between this and God's Truth, one starts to think shorts are the ideal format for Pred stories.

[Vitek Novy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Druhá souborná sbírka comicsů s Predátorem, tentokrát jsou to povídky z různých časových období, které ukazují že Predátoři na Zemi loví již velmi dlouho a lidé jim v několika případech dovedli více či méně úspěšně vzdorovat. Předchozí sbírka s detektivem Schultzem byla zábavnější, ale ani tahle nebyla špatná, takový nenáročný akční comics se spoustou báječného násilí.

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

These Predator comics hold up pretty well. Big Game is here, which I think was technically the second Predator comics series. The longest story in the volume was Race War, which was written by Andrew Vachss and I think starred the same characters as his "Cross" series of novels. It wasn't bad, but it was more a gritty crime comic with a Predator thrown in rather than the usual Predator story. The hero of Big Game returns in Two Witch Mesa, and then there's one of my favorite all time Predator stories, Invaders from the Fourth Dimension which is an homage to 50s sci fi films. A few shorter tales round out the volume, and overall it's strong material.

[Mitchell · Rating 3 out of 5]

More interesting adventures in the Predator universe.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

DPL hoopla. This was more of the same although it had a bit of an extended story arc for a while. Nonetheless it really just is "let me put my monster(s) in a new place with new people to kill." Yes, the Predators (generally) only kill other killers (or people with lots of power) so it serves as a commentary on humans but there are far less violently graphic and FAR better ways to critique these issues. There are a couple more volumes available but Imma skip 'em.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review is for all four Omnibus Volumes read consecutively

Like most such collections it shows it's age with several outmoded art styles, but the tales themselves, particularly the short form work, is quite enjoyable.

[Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun schlock even if the art isn’t the best. Nobody can seem to figure out how to draw the Predator right. Highlights are the insanely ‘90s prison-set “Race War” and the one where the Predator shows up at a drive-in movie. Glad to be back to the Alien/Predator Dark Horse comics!

[The Smoog · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not very good, to be honest. Only the last couple of stories were up to much, and they weren’t a big percentage of the book. The artwork is all pretty subpar too (especially in the first story. Probably one for completionists only.

[Erik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stories are more interesting and varied than the first volume, though the action isn't as good. The standout is Invaders from the Fourth Dimension.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easily the best of the three volumes, some engaging stories, much like the last… easy and fun. It was more creative in reach with what should always remain a primeval David and Goliath story.

[Ivan V. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesantes historias.

[BIGnick BIGnick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great collection of Predator stories, including how the lead predator at the end of predator 2 got his flintlock trophy.

[Adam Barrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are fun stories. I read the Big Game novel and enjoyed it, so reading the graphic novel was enjoyable. The shorts are also fun.

[Lexu · Rating 4 out of 5]

The true crime research that was but into this volume is what made this read quite fun. That and the cruel dark humor carry it far. More lore from different stories but no conclusion from the 1st volume's main story arc. Still it be the encore of the last volume?
Hardcore Predator fans would have made it this far, the casuals will probably stop here. A light hearted story has been thrown into the mix and they might say it is a bit of filler but no need to be cynical.

[J. · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story and art in here are pretty hit-or-miss. The lengths of the stories are all sort of wrong--the short ones are too short to get interesting, and the long ones were too stretched out. Only "Invaders from the Fourth Dimension" really manages to have a cool premise, solid art, and a fitting length. But the book would still be a 3/5 if it didn't fall apart halfway through reading it. That really adds a touch of annoyance.

[Marcus D. Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fan

Great stories and art, plus I love the collaboration of different artists on projects like this. More like this wanted

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better stories than the first one!