Finally got my very own copy of Batman vs Predator. I'd read it many years ago but never got around to buying it back then. Nowadays, the TPB's been out of print for forever so the used price is usually pretty high. I managed to find it on Amazon for about 20 bucks and felt that was alright for a rare book. I mean, it'll probably only go higher in the future, right? Seemed like an alright investment, though my reason for buying it was simply because it's a great comic.

Of the 3 Batman vs Predator stories DC's put out over the years, I can say with some certainty that the first one is still the best, by a considerable margin. The second book suffers from an incredibly bad artist at the helm, and some plot twists that are straight out of Predator 2... resulting in a story that's often clumsy and feels derivative. The third book is quite an improvement, possessing good quality artwork, but since it's the third outing with Batman and these fiendish foes, there's a sense of familiarity and Batman feels a lot more confident in taking them on, which makes the Predators feel completely nerfed. It doesn't help that we have to deal with the pesky sidekick Tim Drake, who butts in and wants to know what's going on every five minutes.

The first book is everything that you could hope for in a titanic crossover matchup between Batman and the Predator. They're both hunters of men, so naturally the Predator judges Batman to be the worthiest prize for his trophy collection. But on the side, he doesn't mind spending some free time cutting and gutting some of Gotham's most dangerous mob bosses and henchmen.

Since this is their first encounter, Batman isn't really sure what's going on at first and we get to see his detective skills at work. But even though he gradually pieces it together, it's not nearly enough, as this Predator is fully as capable as he's ever been depicted and nearly kills Bats in their first direct confrontation. That's what's so satisfying and refreshing about this story, the fact that unlike the majority of his street level foes, Batman is at a severe disadvantage and gets knocked out by a foe vastly more skilled and vicious then any he's faced in his past.

But of course, you know Batman will rebound and prep time his way to even the playing field for round two. And he does it just as you'd imagine Batman would, with equal parts technology, martial skill, and strategic thinking. It's very reminiscent of Arnold's prep time in the first Predator movie. And that's the thing... with the Predator in this urban jungle, you'd think it'd be very similar to Predator 2. But while that's true on a superficial level, the actual essence of the story is much closer to Predator 1, with two larger than life characters eventually finding themselves in a duel to the death.

Besides the excellent story, BvP also boasts fantastic artwork from a young hungry Andy Kubert. In the prime of his youth and brimming with talent, Kubert delivers a very high quality Jim Lee-style depiction of Batman, while simultaneously drawing a striking and powerful image of the Predator. He perfectly captures the sheer strength and musculature of the Predator from the movies, in highly dynamic poses which effectively convey the savage nature of this alien from beyond the stars. Since the book came out after Predator 2, we also get the full arsenal of the Predator, such as his target seeking smart disc and net-gun.

Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in Predator or Batman... it's the best of the series and one of the greatest crossover efforts in all of comics.