Since their debut in 1987's Predator, audiences have loved the alien race known as the Yautja. There is no denying that they’re cool. They’re built like 1990s wrestlers, their weapons are eye-catching and creative, and they’re brutal fighters with a code. Another bonus is that the creative teams have continued to upgrade the Yautja’s technology and appearance. Not seeing the same fighters, weapons, and attacks keeps people interested in the franchise and their star character.
Recently, the Predators franchise has undergone a bit of an upgrade. Their appearances in Marvel Comics with Wolverine, Black Panther, and Spider-Man (the latter is on issue 3 of 4), and two Hulu exclusive movies (Prey and Predator: Killer of Killers), have reminded people why the Predators have been around for close to 40 years. That being said, we can admit that they aren’t the unstoppable killing machines that we say they are.
The first example I normally go with is from Predator 2. Throughout the movie, the Yautja hunter is tearing through some ruthless and vile people. However, at the end of the film, he was defeated by Lieutenant Mike Harrigan (played by Danny Glover). It's one thing to lose to Arnold Schwarzenegger in Predator in 1987; he was a skilled military leader who was built like a god. Harrigan, on the other hand, always looked like he was a day away from retirement.
In the defense of Mike Harrigan, he wasn’t your average detective. He lived and worked in an area that was at war and survived. But, come on, he’s just a guy fighting a being from a race of aliens who fight the Xenomorphs for a vacation trip. On top of all that, at the end of the movie, the Yautja got the drop on Harrigan with its body-cutting net and still lost. What’s even more embarrassing is that he was defeated by one of his own weapons.
And then there’s Prey. This Yautja did a good job fighting the British, who were attempting to capture, enslave, and kill Naru’s tribe, the Comanche. But the hunter almost lost a fight to a bear and was later beaten by Naru. That doesn’t sound like an unbeatable character. What it sounds like is the perfect antagonist to make heroes look great.
As I was watching Hulu’s Prey and Predator: Killer of Killers, my partner pointed out that Yautja are the antagonist created to show how humans never give up. She was right. It hit home when you finish the Prey and Predator: Killer of Killers, or look back at Predators. The one thing all of the projects have in common is that humans can overcome their disadvantages to win an overwhelmingly lopsided encounter.
Later this year, on August 13, Marvel Comics will continue its run of Predator comics with Predator Kills the Marvel Universe. And while titles can seem misleading, writer Benjamin Percy (who’s been writing the Predator vs…titles) says this isn’t a misdirection. "This one's gonna hurt. Your favorite heroes and villains will fall — even as others rise up against this extinction-level event. The Predator King is here — the Yautja are armed with vibranium — and Earth is now a hunting preserve."
If you’re a Marvel Comics fan, don’t worry. This event doesn’t take place in Universe-Prime. That means the death you’ll see will be permanent, but your favorite characters will stay alive in the main continuity. The defeats will be sad to see, but this will be a good thing because the Yautja can get some major victories under their belt. It’s even better if they’re convincing. Since Benjamin Percy is writing this, there’s no doubt this will be a must-read. Stay tuned to Bam Smack Pow to see how the story ends for the Yautja in Marvel Comics.