Predator Omnibus Vol. 1 — Welcome to the Hunt!

Alright, folks. Time to lock and load because we’re heading into the jungle… or New York… or Siberia. Basically, wherever the galaxy’s most terrifying hunters decide to drop in next.

After blasting through the Aliens vs. Predator comics, I figured it was finally time to dip my toes into the Predator universe properly. So wish me luck, and maybe send snacks.

To kick off Predator season, we’re starting big with Predator Omnibus Vol. 1, a 400+ page monster packed with blood, bullets, and that iconic clicking sound we all know and fear.

Concrete Jungle

We open in the sweltering summer heat of New York City. Sunspots are messing with TV signals, crime is through the roof, and detectives Rasche and Schaefer (yes, that Schaefer — brother of Dutch from the original Predator movie) are investigating a brutal murder.

Pretty quickly, things spiral into full-on sci-fi mayhem. As Schaefer digs deeper, he uncovers ties to his brother’s disappearance and, you guessed it, an alien hunting party running wild in the city.

It’s gritty, it’s chaotic, and it absolutely oozes ‘90s comic energy. The art style exudes a retro coolness, and even though it’s showing its age, it still delivers the perfect blend of action and mystery—a solid start to the omnibus.

Cold War

Next, we swap the concrete jungle for the icy wilderness of Siberia. A Russian team guarding an oil field gets ripped apart by Predators, leaving only Lt. Ligachev alive. She’s soon sent back in to uncover what really happened: just as the U.S. military starts forming their own “Predator-hunting” task force.

Enter Schaefer again (because apparently, he can’t catch a break). Soon, we’ll have Russians and Americans forced into an uneasy alliance against the ultimate hunters. It’s brutal, fast-paced, and feels like a lost Predator movie script. Honestly, one of the strongest stories in the bunch.

Dark River

Round three for our unlucky hero, Schaefer! This time, the hunt takes us deep into South America, where he discovers that one of the Predators from Concrete Jungle didn’t quite die. Cue revenge, jungle battles, and a lot of plasma cannon fire.

By this point, I was feeling a bit burned out on the “Schaefer saga.” The story’s fine, decent action, familiar beats, but I’m ready for new faces (and fewer government conspiracies). Still, it wraps up his arc nicely, and it hints at bigger lore surrounding Dutch, which has me intrigued.

Rite of Passage

Now this one’s special. No dialogue, no narration — just pure visual storytelling.

We follow a young hunter on the plains who returns home to find his village destroyed. He tracks the culprit, a Predator, and the two engage in a fierce, silent duel. The human wins and claims the Predator’s skull as a trophy.

It’s elegant, powerful, and surprisingly emotional for a story with zero words. Easily one of my favourites in the volume.

The Pride at Nghasa

We’re staying on the plains for this one. This time, a Predator takes on a group of Western hunters, and in a twist of fate, the local wildlife decides to fight back. Yes, you read that right, lions, elephants, and rhinos versus Predator!

It’s a bit wild (pun intended), but still a fun, pulpy read. Not the strongest story, but I appreciate the creativity.

The Bloody Sands of Time

Here we get a bit of Predator history, and I love it. A modern-day investigator stumbles upon a diary from a French soldier during World War I. Inside are detailed accounts of strange encounters with what the troops thought were “ghosts” — but of course, it’s our favourite intergalactic hunters at work.

It’s creepy, atmospheric, and ends with a great little twist. A definite highlight of the collection.

Blood Feud

The final story takes us to Tokyo, where we meet Juta, a blind scientist developing an infrared implant to restore his sight. When his apprentices are murdered, Juta begins having strange visions of feudal Japan, where, in a past life, he apparently angered the Predators.

Now they’re back to settle the score. The concept is wild, and the execution surprisingly works. It’s a great blend of sci-fi and mysticism, with some samurai-style flair thrown in for good measure.

Final Thoughts

Predator Omnibus Vol. 1 is a blast. Packed with solid stories, brutal action, and more skull trophies than a Yautja mantelpiece. The only downside is that the Schaefer storyline runs a little long, but even that has its charm if you like your comics drenched in testosterone and ‘90s grit.

Overall, it’s a strong start to the Predator run. I’m genuinely excited to see how Volume Two holds up. Will it keep the quality or slide into quantity-over-quality territory like some of the Aliens collections? Guess we’ll find out soon enough.

If you’re a fan of the Predator films, the comics are absolutely worth the hunt. Just… maybe keep your heat signature low while you read.

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