Marvel Comics has announced Predator: Bloodshed, a new five-issue series that will see the titular alien hunters enter a whole new arena: MMA. Written by Jordan Morris (Youth Group) with art by Roland Boschi (Rogue Storm), the comic revolves around an underground fighting tournament that gets crashed by one of the monsters, forcing the competitors to band together to defeat it.
In the near future, Earth’s fiercest fighters have gathered for an underground martial arts tournament organized by a shadowy organization. But all hell breaks loose when an unexpected combatant enters the ring: an alien PREDATOR! Now the champions are battling not just for the grand prize, but for their very lives! Can a disparate group of competitors band together in time to survive the extraterrestrial hunter? Choose your fighter, place your bets and brace yourselves for a bloody tournament unlike any other!
The book marks Morris’s third Marvel credit, following this year’s anthology Predator: Black, White & Blood, and next month’s Venom #252. He states, “Getting to be part of Predator: Black, White & Blood was such an honor. The Yaujta is one of the coolest characters in pop culture history and I can’t believe the good folks at Marvel are letting us tell another longer, cr@zier, bloodier story in this awesome universe!”
He adds, “As a lifelong fan of the Predator franchise, I know that the Yaujta love testing themselves with new challenges. I figured an underground martial arts tournament where Earth’s strongest fighters gather under one roof to wail on each other would be an ideal challenge for the galaxy’s greatest hunter. I grew up on fighting video games and martial arts movies, so I am of the opinion that an underground fighting tournament is the coolest setting there is. I am so excited for folks to see the Yaujta absolutely wreck shop!”
Boschi also says, “I’ve been a fan of Predator since the original film. The iconic threat in a hostile nature, the hunters becoming the hunted, overwhelmed by gruesome attacks… And the explosions! Now blend it with a rough MMA tournament, I know it’s gonna be a thrill!”
Issue #1 will be released on February 25. In the meantime, the latest Predator film, Predator: Badlands, is currently tearing it up in theaters, after setting a record for the franchise with a $40 million opening weekend. A prequel to the film is also available now, while Predator Kills the Marvel Universe #4 (of 5) will be released next week.
