Predator: Race War is a three-part comic book short story that was first published by Dark Horse Comics in the anthology series Dark Horse Presents, Vol. 1 #67-69, from November 1992-January 1993. Originally published in black and white, the story was written by Andrew Vachss and Randy Stradley, illustrated by Jordan Raskin, inked by John Beatty and Bob Wiacek, lettered by Clem Robins and edited by Stradley. The issues of Dark Horse Presents also featured Predator cover art by Ray Lago. The comic served as a prequel to the four-issue series of the same name.
In the Predator comics line, Predator: Race War (short story) was preceded by Predator: Rite of Passage, published concurrently with Predator: Blood Feud, and was followed by Predator: Race War (series).
Publisher's Summary
#67: Beginning in this double-sized issue: Part 1 of a three-part lead-in to the upcoming miniseries, Predator: Race War. Story by novelist Andrew Vachss (Hard Looks), adapted by Randy Stradley (Aliens vs. Predator) and artists Jordan Raskin and John Beatty (Punisher).
#68: In part two of the three-part introduction to "Predator: Race War," a government-sanctioned task force is tracking Predator activity across the globe, and they've come to one conclusion: You have to hire a killer to find a killer. Story by novelist Andrew Vachss (Hard Looks), adapted by Randy Stradley (Aliens vs. Predator) and artists Jordan Raskin and John Beatty (Punisher).
#69: Meet Cross: outlaw, freelance avenger, and, when the situation calls for it, professional killer. He's just the kind of person the Predators might take an interest in — which is why the government's Predator Task Force wants him! Next month Predator: Race War debuts as a four-issue color miniseries. Story by novelist Andrew Vachss (Hard Looks), adapted by Randy Stradley (Aliens vs. Predator) and artists Jordan Raskin and John Beatty (Punisher).
Reprint History
The short story was collected and released as issue 0 of Predator: Race War (series) in April 1993, newly colored by Matt Hollingsworth and edited by Jerry Prosser. It has subsequently been integrated into the full Predator: Race War series and has been collected alongside it ever since.
Behind the Scenes
The Race War short story is notably the only black and white Predator comic that has ever been reissued in color. The other four — Predator: God's Truth, Predator: No Beast So Fierce, Predator: Bump in the Night and Predator: Demon's Gold — have only ever been republished in their original black and white.
