Predator Vs. Wolverine #4

Predator versus Wolverine

by Benjamin Percy, Ken Lashley (Illustrator), Kei Zama (Illustrator)

THE BEST THERE IS AT WHAT THEY DO! Who will take the final trophy? Will Wolverine's adamantium skull join the bones of countless others? The Predator's long hunt catches up to the present day as Wolverine sets his trap. But what hope does he have against an enemy who's slaughtered prey across the universe?

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Superheroes, Horror

34 pages, Comic Book

First published December 27, 2023

About the author

Benjamin Percy is the author of seven novels -- most recently The Sky Vault (William Morrow) -- three short fiction collections, and a book of essays, Thrill Me, that is widely taught in creative writing classrooms. He writes Wolverine, X-Force, and Ghost Rider for Marvel Comics. His fiction and nonfiction have been published in Esquire (where he is a contributing editor), GQ, Time, Men's Journal, Outside, the Wall Street Journal, Tin House, and the Paris Review. His honors include an NEA fellowship, the Whiting Writer's Award, the Plimpton Prize, two Pushcart Prizes, the iHeart Radio Award for Best Scripted Podcast, and inclusion in Best American Short Stories and Best American Comics.

Reviews

[Benji's Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice conclusion to the miniseries, with some good artwork amd a fast-paced story. Always fun to read a Predator crossover with another favorite character!

[James DeSantis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid ending to a fun series..never got bored of wolvie going against a predator but didn't feel like I had to worry either.

[Wasim Mahmud · Rating 5 out of 5]

আমি চতুর্থ ইস্যুর অপেক্ষায় ছিলাম প্রায় এক মাস। অবশ্য প্রিডেটর এবং উলভারিনের একে অপরকে হারানোর দীর্ঘ এবং দুর্ধর্ষ শতবর্ষী দ্বৈরথে যে অপেক্ষা লেখক বেঞ্জামিন পারসি লিখেছেন সেটার তুলনায় আমার ওয়েইটিং কিছুই নয়।

পর্ব ৪ এ প্রিডেটর ভার্সেস উলভারিনের সমাপ্তি ঘটতে যাচ্ছে তা জানা ছিলো। কিন্তু এত চমৎকার এন্ডিং লেখক দিতে পারবেন সেটার ব্যাপারে সন্দেহ ছিলো।

তিনটি ভিন্ন সময়রেখায় প্রিডেটর এবং উলভারিনের শত শত বছরের শত্রুতার যে এপিকনেস তা বলতে গেলে প্রিডেটরের টাইম বম্বিং ডিভাইসের মতো বিস্ফোরিত হয়েছে।

বর্তমান সময়ে লোগান যখন সেই ইয়াউটজার সাথে দ্বন্দ্বে লিপ্ত ঐ সময়েই লোগানের মনো-সংলাপ দারুন হয়েছে। যেভাবে লোগান ভাবে, একজন শিকারী হিসেবে লোগান কী পরিমাণ অভিজ্ঞ এবং ধূর্ত, এমনকি একজন দক্ষ প্রিডেটরের বিপক্ষে তা দেখার মতো।

জাপানে ক্ষ্যাপাটে গুরু মুরামাসার কাছে দীক্ষা নেয়ার সময় প্রিডেটর এসে হাজির হয়েছিলো সামুরাই লোগানের সন্ধানে। জাপান চ্যাপ্টারে একজন সম্মানিত যোদ্ধার ফিলসফি এবং অবজার্ভেশন দুজন দক্ষ শিকারীর ফাইটের মাঝেও মুরামাসা নিজে ইনভলভড না হয়ে যেভাবে ব্যক্ত করেছেন তা ছিলো চমৎকার।

‌ওয়েস্টচ্যাস্টার, নিউ ইয়র্কে প্রফেসর চার্লস জ্যাভিয়ারের ইশকুলে প্রিডেটরের হামলা চলেছিলো। লোগান ঠিক এ কারণেই উলভারিন প্রায় সময় লোনার। তাঁর কারণে গিফ্টেড ইয়াংস্টারদের উপর বিপদ নেমে আসুক তা সে চায় না। তবে প্রিডেটর সম্ভবত সেই সময় বুঝে উঠতে পারে নি লোগানের দুর্বলতাই শক্তি। কারণ ঐ ইশকুলের মিউট্যান্টগুলো তো আর কম ক্ষমতাধর নয়। তবে লোগান চায় ওয়ান টু ওয়ান সমাধান।

বর্তমান সময়ে শতবর্ষী গন্ডগোলের ইতি ঘটতে চলেছে। লোগান কাজ করেছেন আর্মি, স্পাই, গুপ্তঘাতক, সামুরাই, উওপেন এক্স, এক্স-ম্যান এবং সর্বোপরি একজন সুপারহিরো হিসেবে। বিভিন্ন সময় তাঁর উপর করা পরীক্ষা-নিরীক্ষার কারণে বহু স্মৃতি লোগানের মন থেকে মুছে গেছে। কিন্তু প্রিডেটরের ব্যাপার রেডিওর কোন গান কিংবা কোন মুখোশ অথবা অন্যকিছু দেখে লোগানের মাথা থেকে পুরোপুরি হারিয়ে যায় না।

ট্রফি এবং স্পোর্টস হিসেবে একজন ইয়াউটজা দীর্ঘ জীবন প্রাপ্ত অ্যাডামেন্টিয়াম কঙ্কালের অধিকারী, সুদক্ষ শিকারী, যোদ্ধা উলভারিনকে আদর্শ মনে করে। পুরো কমিক্স জুড়ে অনারের সাথে ফাইট করে গেছেন এই প্রিডেটর। বারবার ফস্কে যাওয়া লোগানের সাথে কানাডার এক জঙ্গলে শেষ যু*দ্ধে লিপ্ত লোগান।

কমিক্স আর্ট চমৎকার হয়েছে। তিনজন আর্টিস্ট যথারীতি তিনটি সময়রেখা অঙ্কন করেছেন ব্রিলিয়ান্টলি। বেঞ্জামিন পারসি পুরো কমিক্স জুড়ে লিখেছেন এক স্টার রাইটারের মতোই। পুরো ফাইটগুলো জুড়ে লোগানের স্বগোতক্তির মধ্যে যে অদ্ভুত স্ববিরোধী ফিলসফির দেখা পেলাম তা লোগানকেই মানায়। সংলাপহীন প্রিডেটরের কার্যকলাপ, দুরভিসন্ধি এবং অনারেবল আচার-আচরণ পারসি অন্যদের দিয়ে যেভাবে লিখেছেন তা প্রশংসনীয়।

শেষটা, শেষের দিকের ফাইট, মনোলগ, লেখকের লেখনি এবং শিল্পীর অঙ্কনে একীভুত হয়ে যেভাবে পুরো প্রিডেটর ভার্সেস উলভারিনের ইতি টেনেছে তা আমার কাছে স্মরণীয় হয়ে থাকবে।

Comics Review

Name : Predator Vs Wolverine ( Issue #4 )
Writer : Benjamin Percy
Artists : Ken Lashley ( Present Day ), Kei Zama ( Muramasa Era ), Gavin Guidry ( Westchester Era ),
Cover : Marco Checchetto
Publisher : Marvel
Publication Date : December 27, 2023
Genres : Action, Adventure, Mini-Series, Superhero
Reviewer : Wasim Hasan Mahmud

[Joey Amorim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Comic Pop just released their Back Issues episode for this book, so I finally read this so I can watch it. I won’t lie, having the Predator blow itself up to take Logan out only to have him survive makes total sense, but I can’t help but feel that it’s a bit anticlimactic. In pro wrestling terms, it’s a “dusty finish” that lets Logan technically win the fight without making the Predator look too weak, in that Logan wasn’t able to kill him fair and square. The Japan chapter felt unnecessary, but watching the X-Men help Logan take on the Predator was awesome to see! That can be a whole miniseries by itself!

[Julio Bonilla]

There was an emptiness inside me.

Another day off work so I can read comics. Nothing compares!
Anyways, Predator Vs. Wolverine #4 takes the cake since the 2 warriors have had beef throughout their history. Especially, at Xavier's School for the Gifted. No wonder he/she/it retreated. Predator is a silent killer. All you'll here is the wind!
It'd been better if the series was longer, but....

[Niko Dasilva · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Jordison Francisco · Rating 3 out of 5]

Os melhores no que eles fazem.

Nota: 3.0/5.0 [Bom]

Com a aquisição de quase toda a Fox pela Disney, duas das maiores franquias de monstros alienígenas do cinema passaram a ser propriedades da Casa do Camundongo: Alien e Predador. Até a data da presente crítica, apenas a franquia Predador havia ganhado um novo filme lançado diretamente no streaming, O Predador: A Caçada, com uma promessa de uma série de TV da franquia Alien por ninguém menos do que Noah Hawley. Nos quadrinhos, naturalmente, o passo foi mais acelerado, com Alien ganhando uma sucessão de interessantes arcos de HQs desde 2021, com Bloodlines, e Predador começando sua publicação pela Marvel Comics a partir de 2022. No entanto, até setembro de 2023, os dois monstrões haviam permanecido ao largo do Universo Marvel de super-heróis já muito bem estabelecido editorialmente e havia dúvida se eles sequer um dia fariam parte dele.

Pois essa dúvida não mais existe, pelo menos não em relação aos Yautjas, coloquialmente conhecidos como Predadores ou até Caçadores. A minissérie em quatro edições Predador vs. Wolverine vem para definitivamente inseri-los na vasta lista de espécies extraterrestres do Universo Marvel. Não é, obviamente, o primeiro crossover dos Predadores nos quadrinhos, muito longe disso, pois, quando ambas as franquias eram publicadas pela Dark Horse Comics, houve a oportunidade de diversas publicações “inter-editoras”, começando pela DC com Batman Versus Predador, em 1991, mas nunca com a Marvel. Se o Morcegão era a escolha mais natural na Distinta Concorrência, ainda que não a mais óbvia, para um tête-à-tête com um Predador, Wolverine é a escolha perfeita em todos os sentidos.

O projeto editorial encabeçado por Benjamin Percy nos roteiros é, vale notar, bem mais ambicioso do que os crossovers com a DC. Lá, compreensivelmente, as histórias eram essencialmente “soltas”, sem o estabelecimento efetivo de um universo único. O que Percy faz vai muito além do que eu estava esperando, que seria a mera chegada de um Predador em alguma zona remota da Terra em que Wolverine por acaso estivesse passeando, de forma que os dois pudessem protagonizar uma sucessão cada vez mais destrutiva de rinhas de galo. Não que ele não faça exatamente isso, pois faz, mas o roteirista se dá ao trabalho de entrelaçar os momentos mais importantes da longa vida de Wolverine com um Predador obcecado em ter seu crânio em sua sala de troféus, no que é, essencialmente, um gigantesco e completamente desavergonhado retcon (sigla de continuidade retroativa em que fatos até então desconhecidos são inseridos no passado de determinado personagem). E se alguém acha que eu vou reclamar disso, podem tirar o cavalinho da chuva, pois eu já sou burro velho e estou mais do que vacinado contra essa estratégia e não me importo nem um pouco quando ela é empregada.

E, aqui, os retcons chegam até a ser divertidos, devo confessar. Enquadrado por uma ação no presente em que Wolverine, de uniforme, aparece todo estropiado fugindo de um Predador e que é narrada ao longo das quatro edições, cada uma delas contém, ainda, um flashback para um período específico da vida do Carcaju que marca seus encontros com o alienígena. Na primeira edição, vemos o Jovem James Howlett, em sua reclusão no norte do Canadá, efetivamente esbarrando na criatura e tendo seu primeiro entrevero com ela, que logo percebe seu valor como “troféu”. Na segunda edição, vemos Wolverine como parte da Equipe X, ao lado de Dentes de Sabre, Maverick e outros, sendo caçados pelo mesmo Predador, só que acompanhado de alguns amigos em uma missão que parece mais de vingança. Na terceira edição, descobrimos que o Predador teve importante participação no projeto Arma X, em que o adamantium foi fundido ao esqueleto de Wolverine. Entre a terceira e quarta edições, talvez demonstrando que a ideia era ter pelo menos uma quinta edição, a narrativa corre um pouco e vemos a Era Murasama, com Wolverine treinando no Japão e a Era Westchester, com ele já na Mansão X que, então, leva aos eventos correntes.

Para marcar essas transições, cada época tem arte de uma equipe diferente e todas elas conseguem capturar a essência desses momentos de Wolverine, especialmente, diria, Kei Sama ao trabalhar a mentoria de Murasama. Chega a ser uma pena que haja tão pouco espaço para que cada um desses passeios pela história de um dos mais usados e abusados personagens da Marvel não ganhe mais páginas, mas a história em si tem um roteiro muito simples, com Percy não reinventando a roda e simplesmente fazendo o que todo mundo costuma fazer com Wolverine, ou seja, a cada combate ampliar o nível de destruição que seu corpo aguenta até chegar ao completo ridículo, ainda que um completo ridículo divertido, além de o roteirista inserir diversas pequenas e bem sacadas piscadelas à franquia cinematográfica, especialmente ao primeiro e mais clássico filme. Afinal, ver Wolverine reentrar na Terra como uma cápsula espacial em sua fase Arma X arrancou-me risadas que me lembraram a história, no Universo Ultimate, em que o Hulk literalmente quebra o Carcaju em dois pedaços que, depois, vão se recompondo.

Predador vs. Wolverine é diversão descerebrada garantida que coloca os dois grandes caçadores dos quadrinhos em constante rota de colisão em uma estrutura em que o alienígena passou a ser parte integral de toda a história do mutante, uma escolha certamente inusitada, mas que parece indicar que a Marvel Comics quer apostar nos Yautjas como a mais nova espécie alienígena ameaçadora do Universo Marvel. Será interessante ver se os monstros obcecados por troféus terão outros encontros com heróis e vilões da editora, ainda que o resultado não venha a ser muito diferente do que Percy nos entrega aqui. E, claro, porque não trazer os xenomorfos logo também para o mesmo universo?

[Amy Walker - Trans-Scribe Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

The final part of the first Marvel Predator cross-over comes to a close as Benjamin Percy manages to not just squeeze two clashes with between the titular characters into the issue, but gives us three separate fights across three different time periods.


As with previous issues, this issue is framed by a modern day story, one that sees Logan trying to lure the alien hunter to him in an attempt to bring this decades old battle to an end. We learn here that Logan is the one who instigated this clash, where all of the other times the Predator has been the one to come calling. However, unlike previous issues we don't get flashbacks to a point in the past where they've fought before; this time we get two.
The first of these we saw at the end of the third issue, where Logan is training in Japan with the swordsman Muramasa. Having been taught to not just rely upon his claws, Wolverine has been training with the sword, learning to become more focused in battle. Interestingly, this change in the way that he fights seems to not do much for Logan here in regards to giving him an edge against the Yautja, and if anything it makes this one of the tougher fights that the two of them have had. The fight is drawn to a close early as the Predator flees, not wanting to fight through a cadre of Hand ninja's in order to go after Logan.

It's something of an anti-climactic ending to this segment, one that seems over before it's really had a chance to do much, and one that kind of makes the Predator seem a bit soft. Rather than waiting to see what happens with the Hand, or even picking them off himself, he just leaves ending the hunt early. Whilst the hunt ends early, the flashbacks don't, as we catch up with Logan further along his timeline, during the Claremont era of Uncanny X-Men.

Logan returns to the mansion when it comes under attack from the Predator, who seems to have gotten over his issues about going after Wolverine when other people are around. He invades the school, ready to hurt anyone who gets between him and his prize. This, along with the fellow X-Men's nature to get involved and help their ally, means that we actually get some other characters interacting with the Predator, including Colossus, Nightcrawler, Kitty Pryde, Dani Moonstar, and Rogue. It's really cool to see the team all getting involved in the fight, and I really want a full issue or more of a Predator going after Nightcrawler now.


Thanks to the help of the other X-Men, the Yautja once again retreats, knowing that he's pretty outclassed. Again, this kind of hurts the image for this particular Predator I think. I don't blame it for not wanting to take on several X-Men at the same time, but having it run from a fight two fights in a row does make him seem a bit weak and cowardly. I'm also a little surprised that Rogue touching him isn't used as a way of Logan knowing that the Predator species is called Yautja, something Logan calls it in his narration, when it'd be easy to explain away her getting information from it this way.
The two flashback segments have their own artists, with Kei Zama on art and Alex Guimaráes providing colours for the Murumasa segment, whilst Gavin Guidry does art for the Westchester flashback, with Matthew Wilson on colours. The Muramasa segments looks really good, and I love the way that Zama depicts the Predator with his skull mask (which we learn is made from the bear from the first issue). The combat between the two fighters looks really dynamic here, and the colours really help to add a lot of vibrancy and energy to the scene. The Westchester part looks very different in comparison, and Guidry and Wilson keep things very simple and clean. The art style here is evocative of older comics, whilst not simply being a reproduction of the style from the time. The flashback looks like it could slot into the comics from that era, yet still manages to look new in a way that's wonderful to see.

The rest of the issue has to deal with the conclusion of the fight between Logan and his Predator, a fight that comes with a wonderfully grim fake-out for both the Predator and the reader as we're led to believe that Logan is pulling an Arnie in order to get the upper hand. The fight is brutal and bloody, and ends in a way that most of confrontations with the Predator does; though it's a way in which Logan might be the best equipped to survive. As with previous issues, the modern parts of the book are drawn by Ken Lashley, with colours by Juan Fernandez, and look really good. The two of them do a wonderful job at making the fight look brutal and bloody, and some of the wounds that Logan receives are gory enough to make you pause and wonder if even he can survive them.

This might not be the best issue of the series, and it does feel like the book may have ended on its weakest chapter, but the quality that has been there across the series as a whole is still here, and the book remains hugely entertaining. As the series comes to a close the question of whether or not the Predator works within this universe has well and truly been answered. Hopefully we'll see more cross-overs again in the future, with even more characters; and hopefully they won't feel like they ended so quickly the next time too, as this series feels like it could have been twice as long and not lost quality.

[Richard Pulfer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a review for the entire series, not just issue #1

Overall, I think it's a very fun series with plenty to love for both Wolverine and Predator fans. The series follows a grudge match between Logan and the sneaky alien hunter which starts in 1900 and then moves through various eras of the X-Man's history.

It's a very solid premise, and the art style maximizes the brutal showdown at every corner. I particularly like the Team X era, which recreates several key moments of the original creature feature. Still, that does lead me to one major complaint with the series - it feels like it would be strongest if it just picked one era.

It's not that it isn't fun to watch a Predator and Wolvie fight in different eras. It's just that by stretching out this fight over several eras, the impact seems to be lost at time, and I kinda of wanted to see each era get its own mini-series playing off the tension.

Still it's a fun ride from start to finish.

[Philmore Olazo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing finale.

The story focuses on how Wolverine changed how he fights and how he sees his battles through the lens of maturity.

Showcasing his time with Muramasa in Japan, and how his X-men family makes him stronger.

The final confrontation with the hunter is nothing short of brutal and the amazing art style only makes it all the much better.

The story is perfectly timed and nothing is unnecessary.

[Виктор Минин · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here is the final issue. The whole series went well and read perfectly. The final issue disappointed me a bit though, it was read with interest. I recommend reading it at least in order to complete this series.

[Ellen Schoener · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing art and some cool fight scenes.
What else would one want from a title like this.

[Trae Stratton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent conclusion to a great series. Would make a great movie.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

5

[Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was always going to end this way. But what a cold short series.

[David Dalton · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great storyline. Loved the art as well!

[Egypt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ammmmmmmazimg

Defines wolverine. Short but really gives you all your heart can bear. Wish it was maybe the pages longer but then I'd want ten more pagea.

[Colin Combs · Rating 4 out of 5]

There wasn’t a place to do review the whole comic but the whole series was a 4

[RubiGiráldez RubiGiráldez · Rating 4 out of 5]

El desenlace de este crossover llega a un buen término. Benjamin Percy logra que la retrospectiva de Lobezno con las cacerías intermitentes de un Yautja encuentren un excelente clímax al tener el último flashback del pasado con el momento más vital para el mutante canadiense desde que pudo lucir la X de emblema de la Escuela y sueño de Charles Xavier y esa idea final de que el lado más primitivo de Lobezno nunca dejará de ansiar ser la presa que se convierta en el cazador definitivo.

[Giallo Julian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Putting aside that Kraven the Hunter would’ve been the more appropriate opponent, this crossover really doesn’t live up to its potential. A Predator chasing Wolverine since the early 1900s and showing up at different periods in his life is a cool concept, but the bare minimum is done with it. Also, not a big fan of the art. Not even sure what’s happening sometimes. But, it does have Wolverine fight a Yautja (which he somehow knows the name of the species… Maybe Rogue told him), so it lives up to its title, if only barely.