PREDATOR VERSUS SPIDER-MAN #2: Guilty Until Proven Innocent

Predator Versus Spider-Man #2: New York City is in total blackout as the heat continues to beat down on its inhabitants. Unbeknownst to them the city has become a hunting ground for more than our friendly neighborhood spider and Kraven..

Creative Team:

Benjamin Percy (WRITER) Marcelo Ferreira (PENCILLER) Jay Leisten (INKS) Frank D’Armata (COLORS) Clayton Cowles (LETTERS) Paulo Siqueria (COVER ART) Yen Nitro (COVER COLORS)

*SPOILERS AHEAD*

The Art:

I wanted to start off with the art because from the start even before you open the book, the cover boasts incredible imagery for this issue. Yen and Paulo showing MJ scratching the floor causes me to reactively cringe as though I can hear it and the Predator has a menacing look to him setting up what’s inside.

This issue continues more from the first in that this Predator known as Skinner is having entirely too much fun. Marcelo, Jay, and Frank create some jump scenes where Kraven and others stumble upon his victims and the scenes are artistically horrifying. There’s so much detail in the raw muscle that is exposed and the blood dripping that it’s also impressive. Some standouts more so from me are the ranges of emotion Peter goes through in his apartment when the detective shows up which was quite the ride in a funny way. Another scene when Peter is flying through the city I loved the use of space with the way his webs wrapped around the page encompassing him and the city buildings in the background. The art is a highlight for me in this issue! I love how Clayton’s letters blend in with the scenery and are adding artistic depth to the sequences throughout.

The Story:

If Ben Percy could write everything Predator from now until the end of time I would eat every story up regardless of who he pairs with it. This story has become a three-way race against time as Kraven is hunting the Predator to beat Spider-Man, while Peter hunts Skinner, and a new player has entered the chat. Allowing Ben to add lore and depth to the Predators is my favorite thing Marvel has done because as we are left with the cliffhanger at the end, it shows there are hierarchies and rules to their methods. They are all about honor and when one does not have any then it sets them off. It is those types of lore adding details that I adore and it is meshing well with the usual lightheartedness of a Spider-Man comic.

Overall Grade: 10/10

Predator Versus Spider-Man #2 is subtly adding depth to the Predator lore and furthering their story while introducing us to stomach-wrenching scenes. Setting up this three-way battle is building anticipation at a perfect pace that I cannot wait to see pay off.

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