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Get to the Batwing!

WORLDS OF WONDER

By KALEON RAHAN I [email protected]

"IF it bleeds, we can kill it," said Arnold Schwarzenegger's character Dutch in the first Predator movie back in 1987. But what happens when a super­ hero who doesn't believe in killing his enemies comes up against this intergalactic serial hunter who kills for sport? Well, comic books fans got the answer over three memorable Batman versus Predator crossovers, which unsurprisingly featured a body count heavily tipped in the Predator's favour! What started off as a '力imting experiment" between DC Comics and Dark Horse Comics in the What started off as a 'hunting experiment' between DC Comics and Dark Horse Comics led to three exhilarating predalor-prey-predalor meetings 1990s, has since led to three exhila­ between Batman and the Predator. - Photos: DC Comics/Dark Horse Comics rating predator-prey-predator meet­ ings between Gotham Cit^s protec­ was brought in to focus on a “Blood tor and representatives from the tit­ Ties" theme, with a father-and-son ular extraterrestrial race. Predators taking on Batman and On paper, Batman is expected to Get to the Batwing! Robin (Tim Drake). Credentials fare better against a Predator than wise, this creative team's resume rhe leader of a private rnilitary team may pale in comparison with their like Dutch or a police otEcer like predecessors, surprisingly this 3rd Lieutenant Mike Harrigan (played Batman has faced the Predator aliens on three different Batman vs Predator outing turned by Danny Glover in 1990"s Predator occasions in the comics universe. Here's a look back at just out to be the best. Why so? 2). However, there were many The father-son angle added a moments in these crossovers where how epic they were. new dimension to the hunter-hunt- I wished Superman was around to ed/predator-prey themes of every help out. Moench. Paul Gulacy and Terry Predator franchise. While the With Predators now back on the ⑥聲会將《慄二:含 Austin. Dubbed Bloodmatch, a new Predators' blood ties were only evi­ radar thanks to Disney*» acquisition s Predator arrives in Gotham ta com­ dent in the last issue. Batman's of the franchise via the mega 21st plete the previous hunt. paternal instincts over Robin domi­ Century Fox deal, I hope Marvel can Making matters worse for the nated the series -giving Alfired the learn a thing or two from this epic Dark Knight is a drug lord named opportunity to play the “sporting 1990s comics crossover. Think Terraro, who has hired seven of the grandpa" role. about it - Punisher vs Predator, world's best professional assassins This tale also includes Mr Freeze, Deadpool vs Predator... the possi­ to hunt him. With everyone gun­ who provided the scientific break­ bilities are endless! ning for him, the Batman's only sal­ through that Predators' thermal But for now, leE$ turn back the vation comes in the guise of the based vision can't function on clock and see how the Bat (barely) Huntress - though I wonder where cold-blooded beings (something that survived three hunting seasons. the other Bat-family members were Dutch discovered by camouflaging at that time. himself with mud in the first Obviously with so many “hunt­ Predator movie). Aside froin that, First Blood ers" in the picture, you can expect Freeze along with Catwoman and The Dark Knight first crossed some 'unfriendly fire' that eventual­ the Oracle are mere supporting paths with a Predator in a 1991 ly benefited Batman. The biggest characters in this tale that focuses three-parter, courtesy of Dave plot twist came in the guise of two on the fi^ht between Batman and Gibbons (Whtchmen), who surpris­ more Predators who arrived in Robin and the father and son pair ingly wrote the tale instead of draw­ Gotham to stop their comrade. of Predators. ing it, and with art by the Kuberr All these developments certainly After reading all three “hunts”， brothers Adam and Andy. added more excitement to the I have one major dissatisfaction. Adding some depth to the usual During Batman's absence, baseball bat to halt the Predator. 'hunts' and the main event neatly Unlike other “Batman vs" fran­ predator-prey plot, the Predator's Commissioner Gordon almost Like most Predator movies, the wraps up everything to ensure that chises (i.e. Judge Dredd, Captain killing spree begins when he takes becomes the Predator's scalp and ending includes a visit by a the Dark Knight goes home feeling America, Spider-Man, Hulk, etc) down two championship boxers the combined might of the Gotham Predators entourage to signify the comforted that no Predators will crossovers, this encounter with (separately), followed by their City PD, the National Guard and end of the hunt, which prompts the dare to come again... or so he the Predator(s) should have been respective mob backers. The brutal­ SWAT teams proved incapable of defeated Predator to kill itself in thought! the perfect excuse for the Dark ity behind the killings prompts ending the Predators hunting shame. Knight to break his no-kill rule, as Batman to accelerate his detective Overall, this first meeting gener­ the Predators can be considered spree. Fathers and Sons work, en route to an encouiwer with Inevitably, Batman returns, in a ated enough hype for a rematch "generic" extraterrestrial hunters the Predator in a scrapyard. sonar powered exaskeleton suit to and even earned Adam Kubert an Though the crossover was pretty who have experienced countless Having just minimal intel on the balance the odds against his much Eisner for his work on the project. much a no-brainer in conwiercial defeats in all their movies. Predator, the Dark Knight is beaten more superior foe. terms, it still took four years for However, the scripts still ensured to a pulp and barely escapes from While the new tech does enable another Batman-Predator show­ Bloody Rematch that the Dark Knights code is the battle. Thanks to Alfred's medi­ Batman to deliver a few punishing down to happen. upheld. Oh well, here's hoping cal skills, Batman lives to fight blows, it fell to the combined might The rematch took place two years This time, another creative team they decide to do so if they ever another day but at the expense of of Alfred's old blunderbuss and a later (1993-1994) via a four-parter (comprising Chuck Dixon, Rodolfo release another Batman/Predator being bedridden for days. whack from a good old wooden with a new creative team of Doug Damaggio and Robert CampaneDa) crossover.