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Predator: 1718 is a comic book short story that was first published by Dark Horse Comics in the special anniversary anthology series A Decade of Dark Horse #1, in July 1996. It was written by Henry Gilroy, illustrated and colored by Igor Kordey, lettered by Steve Dutro, and edited by Randy Stradley.
In Dark Horse's Predator comics line, Predator: 1718 was preceded by Dark Horse Classics - Predator: Jungle Tales, published concurrently with Predator: Dark River, and was followed by Predator: Strange Roux.
Plot[]
Dropping anchor at an island in Guinea in 1718, Captain Raphael Adolini, leader of a small band of pirates, has a dispute with them over their latest plunder; gold sacraments from a church. Adolini disapproved of robbing a church and that their acquisition involved murdering a priest, ordering the holy symbols to be returned. This greatly angers his crew, who turn against him in greed and attack to take the gold for themselves. A fight breaks out, an enraged Adolini killing two of his mutinous crew and fleeing with the treasure into the forest, pursued by the remainder.
A cloaked Predator watches the confrontation, and as the pirates catch up to Adolini, he kills one with an extendable sword. Adolini attacks the Predator while the other pirates, uncaring about his alien assailant, attack them both to seize the treasure. The Predator retaliates and fights back-to-back with Adolini, slaying the rebellious crew. In the climactic scene, with the crew dead and the Predator and Adolini about to battle, the captain is shot in the back by the last surviving crew member, who hid instead of fighting and makes off with the treasure. Denied his fight and trophy, the Predator angrily blasts the crew member off a cliff with his plasmacaster.
The Predator returns to Adolini, who's dying and has drawn his pistol. With his last breath, Adolini whispers "Take it..." to the Predator, dropping his engraved pistol. With Adolini dead, the Predator shows some curious respect. Not only does he make a grave to bury Adolini, but he also retrieves the stolen church sacraments, leaves them with Adolini's body and takes a moment to reflect on the situation. As a final gesture of respect, the Predator leaves his extendable sword at the grave while repeating Adolini's last words.
The Predator sinks Adolini's vessel and takes his leave in his spaceship.
Characters[]
Reprint History[]
Cover to the Decade: A Dark Horse Short Story Collection trade paperback by Dave Gibbons.
Predator: 1718 was first reprinted in the Decade: A Dark Horse Short Story Collection trade paperback in April 1997, with a cover by Dave Gibbons featuring a spoof of Mount Rushmore made up of various Dark Horse characters, including the Predator. The release included all of the stories from the four original issues of A Decade of Dark Horse.
The comic was collected again as part of Predator Omnibus: Volume 2 in February 2008, with new title page cover art by Kordey.
The comic was released digitally through Dark Horse Digital on April 10, 2013, collected with Predator: Hell Come a Walkin' and reusing Dean Ormston's cover art from Predator: Hell Come a Walkin' #1.
Marvel Comics[]
Following Marvel Comics' acquisition of the rights to Predator comic books, the comic was collected as part of Marvel's Predator: The Original Years Omnibus Volume 1 collection, alongside many other early Dark Horse stories. The collection was released on December 27, 2022.
Behind the Scenes[]
In Predator 2, the scene where Greyback hands Danny Glover the flintlock pistol dating from 1715 was based on an idea conceived by screenwriters Jim and John Thomas for a possible Predator movie that would take place in a time where was no modern weapons available to combat the creatures, much like the finale of the original Predator.[1] This concept, which was explored in Predator: 1718, was allegedly also the subject of a potential Predator sequel script written in the mid-90s.
Trivia[]
- Predator: 1718 is the first of two Predator stories set in the 18th century, the other being the 2022 film Prey.
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ Jim Thomas, John Thomas. Predator 2 audio commentary (2005), 20th Century Fox [DVD].