Predator: Life and Death #1

Predator: Life and Death #1 (of 4)

Writer: Dan Abnett
Artist: Brian Albert Thies
Colorist: Rain Beredo
Letterer: Michael Heisler
Cover Artist: David Palumbo

As a Predator fan, I had to check out Predator: Life and Death #1. Life and Death is a follow up to last year’s Fire and Stone story cycle which covered Aliens, Predator and Prometheus. I was a little apprehensive when I opened the comic and saw Brian Albert Thies artwork, but thankfully Dan Abnett’s writing does a great job of carrying the story.

The issue opens with another ship heading to LV-797 with a new host of victims. I mean this is a horror story, right? It’s kind of hard not to think in those terms, especially given how Fire and Stone went. However Dan Abnett really harnesses the feel of Aliens. The comic feels more like a military story than a horror story. But then again, this is Predator. One leads to the other. Part of the driving force is the snappy military jargon that gets the point across and hits rapidly. There’s bits and pieces of color that adds brings life to the characters. Plus it’s very refreshing to be following a military unit instead of another bunch of civilians. When the humans are up against things like Predators, xenomorphs and engineers, it helps when they can fight back competently. All in all the story is solid. It holds your attention, sparks interesting, and keeps the story moving even in the face of the less than stellar artwork.

So yeah, now for the bad news. The art stinks. I mean it’s not absolutely horrible. The humans look like humans, the Predators look like Predators, but it’s nothing gorgeous. There aren’t any panels that make you stop and drink in the beauty. It’s a rough and simple style that gets it done without flash. Sadly, that means there’s not a lot to the visuals. They work, but there’s a lot better looking comics out there. If there’s one bad thing about the comic, it’s the artwork.

While the visuals are disappointing, the writing makes up for it, and it’s enough to justify checking this comic out. I give it a four out of five metal bikinis.

Reviewed By: Skuldren for Roqoo Depot.