Warning: Contains spoilers for Predator vs. Black Panther #2! The Predator Species is one of the deadliest, most advanced alien races in all of science fiction, and one Yautja in particular just proved to be the smartest of them all. However, the predator’s sanity seems to come at the cost of Yautja values, as he breaks a franchise rule by doing the one thing no predator has done before: not hunting – even though the reward is great.
in Predator vs. Black Panther #2 By Benjamin Percy, Sean Damien Hill, Jonas Trindade and Lee Ferguson, Wakanda has been invaded by a Yautja clan led by the son of the King of All Predators. The Predator is one of two sons, the weaker of them. So, in order to defeat his brother and his father to become the new King Predator, this Predator has decided to travel to Earth to steal his reserve of Vibranium. Since vibranium is the most abundant in Wakanda, this is where the Yautja and his clan go, putting Predator in direct conflict with Black Panther.
When the Predator sees Black Panther for the first time while stalking him in the jungle, he stands in awe of the Avenger’s vibranium suit. The Black Panther suit withstands multiple hits from a plasma caster, and generally makes Black Panther practically untouched. This is all the Predator wants for himself, but instead of challenging Black Panther for the honor of receiving the vibranium suit after a victorious hunt, the Predator retreats. He instead focuses his attention on Wakanda’s vibranium reserve that his clan has found, with the intention of mining the vibranium as opposed to winning it in battle.
Predator’s New Utah has no real interest in hunting
The goals of Predator vs. Black Panther’s Yautja have nothing to do with hunting
throughout Predator Learning, the primary objective of Yautjas has always been the hunt. Predators have developed advanced technology to travel to different worlds and hunt down the deadliest prey. Even their age-old conflict with AlienXenomorphs is centered around hunting, as the predators abduct queens and seed worlds with xenomorph life to ensure their continued survival for the sole purpose of hunting them. In other words, if a predator is not hunting during one mission, it is only to set up a future hunt at a later time. This is not the case with the Predator.
Nothing about the predator’s goals has anything to do with hunting, but rather the pursuit of power and influence.
Predator vs. Black PantherS Yautja has no interest in hunting. He travels to Earth to steal vibranium, avoiding conflict if possible (as shown when the Yautja didn’t hire Black Panther). And with the vibranium, the Predator wants to build armor, weapons, and even ships in order to destroy the current Yautja regime (his own family) and become king of the Predators himself. Nothing about the predator’s goals has anything to do with hunting, but rather the pursuit of power and influence – something decidedly atypical in Yautja culture.
Predator’s New Yautja may be different, but that’s why he’s smarter
This predator is what his species needs to become even bigger hunters
The predator may not value hunting above all else, but that is precisely why it is smarter than the rest. Not only that, this predator is necessary for the continued progression of his entire species. If each Predator only cares about huntingPut their lives on the line for nothing more than a single hunt, then their race will never advance. By rejecting the urge to hunt down Black Panther to steal the vibranium without a fight, this predator is ensuring that his men will have vibranium at their disposal, making them all infinitely deadlier as a result.
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If the Predator can continue to avoid unnecessary violence, he can claim all the vibranium he wants, conquer his home world, become king and offer his species new weapons, armor and ships that will make them unstoppable. A typical predator would see a black panther and let nothing get in the way of hunting it, and only then claim the vibranium. But, this Predator Defy the impulse, making him the smartest Yautja yet—even if his new tactics break franchise rules.
Predator vs. Black Panther #2 by Marvel Comics is now available.