Batman vs. Predator
Encyclopedia
Batman versus Predator is a comic book
crossover
featuring a duel between Batman
and the creature from the Predator
film. It was written by Dave Gibbons
, with art by Andy Kubert
and published by DC Comics
and Dark Horse Comics
in 1991
.
In 1995
, a sequel was published called Batman versus Predator II: Bloodmatch. It was written by Doug Moench
, with art by Paul Gulacy
and Terry Austin. In this one, Batman gets help from Huntress
in taking down the Predator
.
A third series, Batman versus Predator III: Blood Ties was published in 1997
. Written by Chuck Dixon
, the story featured a father-son Predator duo taking on Batman and Robin
. Mr. Freeze
is the only Batman super-villain to have appeared in a Batman versus Predator story in this comic book, though Catwoman
makes a brief cameo, and The Joker is mentioned.
In an attempt to defuse the conflict, the mayor of Gotham arranges a meeting between the two crime lords during which Yeager is murdered by an intruder. Clues lead Batman to the killer's hideout but in a deadly duel he comes close to losing his life to the Predator, who escapes. Batman gets back to Wayne Manor where his butler Alfred sees to his injuries.
Over the next few days, and in the absence of the Dark Knight, the Predator takes out Yeager's manipulative assistant, Brodin and Gotham's current mayor in a series of calculated assaults. Commissioner James Gordon
himself is almost killed in his own home by the hunter, but escapes. Batman attempts to recover quickly, knowing the death toll rises every day. A countdown is initiated by the National Guard and SWAT
teams: if Batman does not show before the end of the countdown, they plan to flush the Predator out of hiding by searching street by street, a tactic that will likely take more lives than would be saved.
Batman, nowhere near healed yet able to walk, plans one last face-to-face match with the Predator, using a specially-designed powered sonar exoskeleton suit to increase his strength and compensate for his recovering blindness and the Predator's stealth technology. The battle begins on the roof of the Gotham City Police Department, continues in the Batcave and ends on the outskirts of Wayne Manor. Batman finally defeats the Predator just as its ship lands, with others of its kind disembarking. The defeated Predator honorably commits suicide with a sword which the Predator commander then presents to Batman before leaving. Batman is confident that the Predators will not return after having met what lives in Gotham.
. The criminal reveals that his boss, a crime lord named Terraro, has put a price on Batman's head — the Huntress begins her own hunt for potential assassins. Shortly after the capture, a strange, luminous object (reported to be a meteorite) lands beyond the Gotham River. A lone marksman attempts to make a shot at Batman as he patrols the streets, but is killed by an invisible creature. The victim is one of seven hired assassins tasked with tracking and killing Batman.
The creature kills several police officers at the police station, injuring others including Police Commissioner James Gordon before retreating with the Bat-Signal. After investigating a crime scene where two of Terraro's associates were killed and the Huntress knocked out (and immediately assessing that this is the work of yet another Predator), Batman follows the signal's direction beyond the city limits. Batman is ambushed by the creature, only to be saved by the timely arrival of the Huntress. Another of Terraro's assassins is eliminated by the Predator when he tries to steal the kill
during the fight.
Now informed on the creature's identity, the Huntress follows leads on Terraro, avoiding two assassins that kill each other accidentally. The FBI arrive, revealing plans to set up a specialized strike force to kill the creature quickly. Batman and the Huntress both confront Terraro himself, but all are attacked, and Terraro is murdered in his own loft. Another of Terraro's assassins is apprehended afterward. Batman tracks the alien, only to find the Predator dead; stranger still, it's not the same Predator, and its own head has been taken. When another Predator retrieves his fallen comrade in plain sight of him, Batman deduces that these two are not tracking him, but rather the Predator rampaging through Gotham, who seems to have no qualms in killing members of its own species.
After disabling one of two of Terraro's remaining assassins, Batman regroups with Commissioner Gordon, now aided by the FBI. They plan to use the Bat-Signal to lure the creature into the open, where they can assault it. The attempt fails: both federal agents are killed, a non-threatening Predator is mistaken for the real killer and is injured (perhaps dying), and one of the team, Lt. Stocker, is captured by the true killer and taken hostage. Batman and the Huntress track it back to the ship, followed by the last of Terraro's assassins, who is also murdered by the beast. It overpowers the both of them, but Lt. Stocker sacrifices his life impaling the Predator with its own spear, though the creature lives long enough to activate the ship's engines. As Batman and the Huntress escape the fleeing vessel, another ship appears and follows, opening fire on the vessel and destroying both ships. The book ends with the Bat-Signal lighting up again, signaling trouble from The Joker; a relative relief to the other-worldly troubles.
Gotham's criminal population continues unaware of the visitors, until Mr. Freeze and his associates are attacked by the two cloaked Predators. Though all of his nearby henchmen are killed, Freeze is left alive. Despite Robin's questions about the bizarre attacks, Batman does not reveal anything more than what Robin has already overheard, though he agrees to let Robin aid him until Freeze is found. Batman later confides to Alfred
that he's keeping Robin at distance to prevent the boy from becoming another Predator mark.
Batman attacks one of the aliens with a "stolen" helicopter with many technological advances (the craft actually belonged to Wayne Technologies), inadvertently saving Catwoman's
life in the process (and convincing her to take a night off from her jewel-thieving plans). Batman discovers the second Predator, too late to prevent the copter from being destroyed, though he's able to eject. Meanwhile, Robin learns many of the details during his computer research on the previous "hunts" through confidential government files, after taking advice from Barbara Gordon
(under the alias "Oracle"). He also successfully tracks down Mr. Freeze and subdues him. When questioned, Freeze reveals the creatures did not seem to have even seen him.
With Freeze now in custody, Batman orders Robin to lie low, further aggravating the youth. Bruce manipulates WayneTech into closing down for 24 hours to provide a battleground he can control, in an effort to defeat the beasts. He also modifies the powered exosuit he used in his first encounter to mask his body temperature, correctly assessing from Freeze's incident that the Predator's vision is thermal-based. The plan works, but only lures one of the two. Responding to Batman's confusion, and using Tim Drake's voice, he indicates that it is now tracking Robin — who, ironically, is at a drive-in theater with friends, watching old science-fiction alien flicks.
Alfred contacts Robin, who immediately accepts the truth when he sees the creature's silhouette and returns to the Bat-Cave. Alfred reveals what little they know of their assailants before they are attacked. The two are nearly caught, until Batman returns, carrying one of the elder Predator's ornaments and telling the younger hunter to cut his losses, take his defeated (and still living) father and return home. When questioned, Batman reveals they were chosen as targets because the Predators saw them as they themselves were: father and son warriors.
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
crossover
Intercompany crossover
In comic books, an intercompany crossover is a comic or series of comics where characters published by one company meet those published by another...
featuring a duel between Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
and the creature from the Predator
Predator (film)
Predator is a 1987 American science fiction action film directed by John McTiernan, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Jesse Ventura, and Kevin Peter Hall. It was distributed by 20th Century Fox....
film. It was written by Dave Gibbons
Dave Gibbons
Dave Gibbons is an English comic book artist, writer and sometime letterer. He is best known for his collaborations with writer Alan Moore, which include the miniseries Watchmen and the Superman story "For the Man Who Has Everything"...
, with art by Andy Kubert
Andy Kubert
Andrew "Andy" Kubert is an American comic book artist, son of Joe Kubert, and brother of Adam Kubert, both of whom are also artists...
and published by DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
and Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent American comic book and manga publisher.Dark Horse Comics was founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson in Milwaukie, Oregon, with the concept of establishing an ideal atmosphere for creative professionals. Richardson started out by opening his first comic book...
in 1991
1991 in comics
-January:* Checkmate is canceled by DC Comics with issue #33.* El Diablo vol. 2 is canceled by DC with issue #16.* Count Duckula is canceled by the Marvel Comics imprint Star Comics with issue #15....
.
In 1995
1995 in comics
-January:*After Xavier: The Age of Apocalypse is launched. All X-titles change to different names for the next four months.* Thor marks his 400th appearance in Marvel Comics with issue #482....
, a sequel was published called Batman versus Predator II: Bloodmatch. It was written by Doug Moench
Doug Moench
Douglas Moench , better known as Doug Moench, is an American comic book writer notable for his Batman work and as the creator of Black Mask, Moon Knight and Deathlok.-Biography:...
, with art by Paul Gulacy
Paul Gulacy
Paul Gulacy is an American comic book illustrator best known for his work for DC Comics and Marvel Comics, and for drawing one of the first graphic novels, Eclipse Enterprises' 1978 Sabre: Slow Fade of an Endangered Species, with writer Don McGregor.-Early life and career:Paul Gulacy began...
and Terry Austin. In this one, Batman gets help from Huntress
Huntress (Helena Bertinelli)
Huntress is a fictional character in the DC Universe. Based upon the Earth-Two character Helena Wayne, she is one of several DC characters to bear the Huntress name...
in taking down the Predator
Predator (alien)
The Predator is a fictional extraterrestrial species featured in the Predator science-fiction franchise, characterised by its trophy hunting of other dangerous species for sport, including humans and its fictional counterparts, Aliens....
.
A third series, Batman versus Predator III: Blood Ties was published in 1997
1997 in comics
-January:*Avengers #3 - Marvel Comics*Captain America #3 - Marvel Comics*Fantastic Four #3 - Marvel Comics*Iron Man #3 - Marvel Comics-February:...
. Written by Chuck Dixon
Chuck Dixon
Charles "Chuck" Dixon is an American comic book writer, best known for long runs on Batman titles in the 1990s.-Biography:Dixon grew up in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, area, reading comics of all genres...
, the story featured a father-son Predator duo taking on Batman and Robin
Robin (comics)
Robin is the name of several fictional characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, originally created by Bob Kane, Bill Finger and Jerry Robinson, as a junior counterpart to DC Comics superhero Batman...
. Mr. Freeze
Mr. Freeze
Mr. Freeze, real name Dr. Victor Fries , is a DC Comics supervillain, an enemy of Batman. Created by Bob Kane, he first appeared in Batman #121 ....
is the only Batman super-villain to have appeared in a Batman versus Predator story in this comic book, though Catwoman
Catwoman
Catwoman is a fictional character associated with DC Comics' Batman franchise. Historically a supervillain, the character was created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, partially inspired by Kane's cousin, Ruth Steel...
makes a brief cameo, and The Joker is mentioned.
Book One
The first book opens with a boxing match in Gotham. Each of the fighters are backed by two of Gotham’s biggest gangsters — Alex Yeager and Leo Brodin. When the winner of the fight is killed in his apartment shortly after the bout, Batman is called in to help investigate the crime. Though accusations are directed against Brodin, the sponsor of the losing fighter, the grisly yet unusual murder (consisting of spine and skull removal) suggest otherwise. Batman’s main goal initially is to avoid a battle on the streets of Gotham between the two mob bosses — the death of the losing boxer only making matters more complicated.In an attempt to defuse the conflict, the mayor of Gotham arranges a meeting between the two crime lords during which Yeager is murdered by an intruder. Clues lead Batman to the killer's hideout but in a deadly duel he comes close to losing his life to the Predator, who escapes. Batman gets back to Wayne Manor where his butler Alfred sees to his injuries.
Over the next few days, and in the absence of the Dark Knight, the Predator takes out Yeager's manipulative assistant, Brodin and Gotham's current mayor in a series of calculated assaults. Commissioner James Gordon
James Gordon (comics)
James Worthington Gordon, Sr. is a fictional character, an ally of Batman that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and was created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane...
himself is almost killed in his own home by the hunter, but escapes. Batman attempts to recover quickly, knowing the death toll rises every day. A countdown is initiated by the National Guard and SWAT
SWAT
A SWAT team is an elite tactical unit in various national law enforcement departments. They are trained to perform high-risk operations that fall outside of the abilities of regular officers...
teams: if Batman does not show before the end of the countdown, they plan to flush the Predator out of hiding by searching street by street, a tactic that will likely take more lives than would be saved.
Batman, nowhere near healed yet able to walk, plans one last face-to-face match with the Predator, using a specially-designed powered sonar exoskeleton suit to increase his strength and compensate for his recovering blindness and the Predator's stealth technology. The battle begins on the roof of the Gotham City Police Department, continues in the Batcave and ends on the outskirts of Wayne Manor. Batman finally defeats the Predator just as its ship lands, with others of its kind disembarking. The defeated Predator honorably commits suicide with a sword which the Predator commander then presents to Batman before leaving. Batman is confident that the Predators will not return after having met what lives in Gotham.
Book Two
The story opens after a successful apprehension of a criminal during a drug-related homicide by Batman — unwillingly aided by the HuntressHuntress (Helena Bertinelli)
Huntress is a fictional character in the DC Universe. Based upon the Earth-Two character Helena Wayne, she is one of several DC characters to bear the Huntress name...
. The criminal reveals that his boss, a crime lord named Terraro, has put a price on Batman's head — the Huntress begins her own hunt for potential assassins. Shortly after the capture, a strange, luminous object (reported to be a meteorite) lands beyond the Gotham River. A lone marksman attempts to make a shot at Batman as he patrols the streets, but is killed by an invisible creature. The victim is one of seven hired assassins tasked with tracking and killing Batman.
The creature kills several police officers at the police station, injuring others including Police Commissioner James Gordon before retreating with the Bat-Signal. After investigating a crime scene where two of Terraro's associates were killed and the Huntress knocked out (and immediately assessing that this is the work of yet another Predator), Batman follows the signal's direction beyond the city limits. Batman is ambushed by the creature, only to be saved by the timely arrival of the Huntress. Another of Terraro's assassins is eliminated by the Predator when he tries to steal the kill
Kill stealing
In online games and especially first-person shooter games, MMORPGs and MUDs, kill stealing is the practice of arranging to get credit for killing an enemy, when it should have clearly been another player's kill. An example is when a player in a first-person shooter whittles an enemy's health down...
during the fight.
Now informed on the creature's identity, the Huntress follows leads on Terraro, avoiding two assassins that kill each other accidentally. The FBI arrive, revealing plans to set up a specialized strike force to kill the creature quickly. Batman and the Huntress both confront Terraro himself, but all are attacked, and Terraro is murdered in his own loft. Another of Terraro's assassins is apprehended afterward. Batman tracks the alien, only to find the Predator dead; stranger still, it's not the same Predator, and its own head has been taken. When another Predator retrieves his fallen comrade in plain sight of him, Batman deduces that these two are not tracking him, but rather the Predator rampaging through Gotham, who seems to have no qualms in killing members of its own species.
After disabling one of two of Terraro's remaining assassins, Batman regroups with Commissioner Gordon, now aided by the FBI. They plan to use the Bat-Signal to lure the creature into the open, where they can assault it. The attempt fails: both federal agents are killed, a non-threatening Predator is mistaken for the real killer and is injured (perhaps dying), and one of the team, Lt. Stocker, is captured by the true killer and taken hostage. Batman and the Huntress track it back to the ship, followed by the last of Terraro's assassins, who is also murdered by the beast. It overpowers the both of them, but Lt. Stocker sacrifices his life impaling the Predator with its own spear, though the creature lives long enough to activate the ship's engines. As Batman and the Huntress escape the fleeing vessel, another ship appears and follows, opening fire on the vessel and destroying both ships. The book ends with the Bat-Signal lighting up again, signaling trouble from The Joker; a relative relief to the other-worldly troubles.
Book Three
Gotham, suffering yet again from sweltering temperatures and increased gang warfare, finds itself with more mysterious deaths. Aided now by his ward, Robin, Batman worries that this may be yet another series of hunts by the brutal Predator aliens — yet refuses to disclose this to his partner, which only serves to irk Robin. Indeed, not one, but two beasts are prowling in Gotham: an elder creature who seems to tell stories of previous hunts to his younger partner.Gotham's criminal population continues unaware of the visitors, until Mr. Freeze and his associates are attacked by the two cloaked Predators. Though all of his nearby henchmen are killed, Freeze is left alive. Despite Robin's questions about the bizarre attacks, Batman does not reveal anything more than what Robin has already overheard, though he agrees to let Robin aid him until Freeze is found. Batman later confides to Alfred
Alfred Pennyworth
Alfred Pennyworth is a fictional character that appears throughout the DC Comics franchise. The character first appears in Batman #16 , and was created by writer Bob Kane and artist Jerry Robinson. Alfred serves as Batman’s tireless butler, assistant, confidant, and surrogate father figure...
that he's keeping Robin at distance to prevent the boy from becoming another Predator mark.
Batman attacks one of the aliens with a "stolen" helicopter with many technological advances (the craft actually belonged to Wayne Technologies), inadvertently saving Catwoman's
Catwoman
Catwoman is a fictional character associated with DC Comics' Batman franchise. Historically a supervillain, the character was created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, partially inspired by Kane's cousin, Ruth Steel...
life in the process (and convincing her to take a night off from her jewel-thieving plans). Batman discovers the second Predator, too late to prevent the copter from being destroyed, though he's able to eject. Meanwhile, Robin learns many of the details during his computer research on the previous "hunts" through confidential government files, after taking advice from Barbara Gordon
Barbara Gordon
Barbara Gordon is a fictional character appearing in comic books published by DC Comics and in related media, created by Gardner Fox and Carmine Infantino...
(under the alias "Oracle"). He also successfully tracks down Mr. Freeze and subdues him. When questioned, Freeze reveals the creatures did not seem to have even seen him.
With Freeze now in custody, Batman orders Robin to lie low, further aggravating the youth. Bruce manipulates WayneTech into closing down for 24 hours to provide a battleground he can control, in an effort to defeat the beasts. He also modifies the powered exosuit he used in his first encounter to mask his body temperature, correctly assessing from Freeze's incident that the Predator's vision is thermal-based. The plan works, but only lures one of the two. Responding to Batman's confusion, and using Tim Drake's voice, he indicates that it is now tracking Robin — who, ironically, is at a drive-in theater with friends, watching old science-fiction alien flicks.
Alfred contacts Robin, who immediately accepts the truth when he sees the creature's silhouette and returns to the Bat-Cave. Alfred reveals what little they know of their assailants before they are attacked. The two are nearly caught, until Batman returns, carrying one of the elder Predator's ornaments and telling the younger hunter to cut his losses, take his defeated (and still living) father and return home. When questioned, Batman reveals they were chosen as targets because the Predators saw them as they themselves were: father and son warriors.
Collected editions
The series have been collected into trade paperbacksTrade paperback (comics)
In comics, a trade paperback is a collection of stories originally published in comic books, reprinted in book format, usually capturing one story arc from a single title or a series of stories with a connected story arc or common theme from one or more titles...
See also
- Batman/AliensBatman/AliensBatman/Aliens is a crossover between the Batman and Aliens comic book franchises. It was published in 1998. A sequel was released in 2003.-Batman/Aliens:...
, a comic series in which Batman confronts the AliensXenomorph (Alien)The Alien is a fictional endoparasitoid extraterrestrial species that is the primary antagonist of the Alien film series. The species made its debut in the 1979 film Alien, and reappeared in its sequels Aliens , Alien 3 , and Alien Resurrection , two crossovers Alien vs... - Batman: Dead EndBatman: Dead EndBatman: Dead End is a fan film made by Sandy Collora that premiered July 19, 2003 at the San Diego Comic-Con, and on the internet shortly thereafter.-Plot:...
, a fan filmFan filmA fan film is a film or video inspired by a film, television program, comic book or a similar source, created by fans rather than by the source's copyright holders or creators. Fan filmmakers have traditionally been amateurs, but some of the more notable films have actually been produced by...
where Batman fights groups of both Predators and Aliens. - Superman & Batman vs. Aliens & Predator