The Predator’s New Story Is Just As Unique As Badlands
Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Predator: Bloodshed #1 It's no secret that the Predator franchise has been on a creative hot streak across mediums, especially after the recent release of Predator: Badlands. However, the newest Predator series is kicking off a story that's arguably just as unique as the epic 2025 movie. Published by Marvel Comics, Predator: Bloodshed #1 has just been released from writer Jordan Morris with art by Roland Boschi and Ruairí Coleman. In the new series, we see a brand-new kind of hunting ground for a mighty Yautja warrior, one we've never quite seen before from the Predator franchise.
Predator: Bloodshed #1 opens in the distant future of 2035, where a shadowy organization routinely hosts exclusive underground martial arts tournaments for mega-rich VIPs. Featuring only the very best fighters from all over the world, it's confirmed that there is no drug testing of any kind in these tournaments, nor are there any restrictions when it comes to cybernetic upgrades. Furthermore, the fights never stop for any reason, even death. At the center of this new Predator series is Kai Daniels, a skilled fighter desperate to win the prize money to help his sick son. He's also surrounded by equally formidable contenders seeking wealth, fame, and glory. However, none of these hopeful champions are aware they were being observed with all-too-familiar thermal vision until it's far too late.
Right as Kai is about to be murdered at the hands of his first foe via a smuggled sword, the observing Yautja warrior makes his first move instead. Making himself known to all the fighters and viewers alike, the Predator is shown severing the limbs of Kai's former opponent, having been one of the more physically imposing combatants due to their various cybernetic upgrades. Brutally murdering the cyborg, the Yautja's mission feels clear: he's going to take on each of Earth's greatest fighters one by one, further proving himself as a mighty alien warrior. Likewise, there's a clear implication that the fight will continue to be aired to all the VIPs, with the underground organizers having no intention of shutting down the broadcast despite the Yautja crashing the party. As such, the rest of the fighters will no doubt need to band together to survive.
Overall, it's a pretty cool premise for this new five-issue series, one that breaks the mold in new ways just like Predator: Badlands did with its young Yautja (Dek) as its leading protagonist, embarking on his first hunt on a deadly alien world. Without a doubt, Predator fans have been eating good the last few years, and Predator: Bloodshed will keep those good times going. Predator: Bloodshed #1 is available now from Marvel Comics.
Release Date
November 5, 2025
Runtime
107 minutes
Director
Dan Trachtenberg
Writers
Dan Trachtenberg, Patrick Aison, John Thomas, Jim Thomas
Producers
Brent O'Connor, John Davis, Marc Toberoff, Dan Trachtenberg, Ben Rosenblatt
Elle Fanning
Thia / Tessa
Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi
Dek / Father
