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- "What is it Oscar Wilde said about hunting...? Ah, yes -- "the unspeakable in pursuit of the uneatable.""
- ―Alfred Pennyworth (from Batman versus Predator)
The "See-through Slasher", as referred to by the public, was a lone Yautja that hunted in the city of Gotham, killing many of its public figures. He was a member of the Gotham City Hunting Party.
The killings would earn the attention of the crime-fighting vigilante, the Batman, and the Slasher soon became determined to claim his head as a trophy.
The Slasher would go on to be defeated by Batman, and he opted to take his own life to preserve his honor in a ritualistic suicide.
Biography[]
Hunt in Gotham[]
- "King, the boxing champion, is killed face to face...Same with Bersaglio and a room full of other fighters -- all defeated in hand-to-hand combat. Yet two armed guards are simply shot and a terrified girl spared. A blind old Ex-fighter is passed over, then casually picked off...Our murderer is choosing his prey, acting within some savage code of honor..."
- ―Bruce Wayne regarding the Slasher (from Batman versus Predator)
At some point, a Yautja Mother Ship, home to a clan of Yautja, was presumably orbiting Earth, specifically over Gotham City. One of the members of the clan, their champion, would drop to Earth and arrive at the crime-ridden city of Gotham to conduct a hunt. Amidst a local war between two mob bosses, Alex Yeager and Leo Brodin, who are sanctioning boxing matches against each other, the Predator entered a junkyard and killed a man and his dog, subsequently residing in his RV.
News of the recent victor of the gangsters' boxing match, Marcus King, earned the hunter's attention, and it later infiltrated King's penthouse and brutally killed him.
As Gotham City's crime-fighter and criminal detective, Batman, arrived at the scene to investigate the murders alongside Commissioner James Gordon, the Predator watched him from afar in his cloak and began stalking him. After turning a corner and seeing Bruce Wayne emerge in his car, having seemingly lost his target, he angrily killed a cat, swearing to kill him "next round".
The hunter attacks Yeager, Brodin, and Squire.
The Predator moved on to Leo Brodin's boxing gym and massacred everyone inside. Turning its attention to a defenceless, blind and elderly boxing trainer, the creature mimicked "open season" in Batman's voice, before leaving. The Predator waited for Batman and the police to arrive at the crime scene, before killing the trainer in front of the group with a shot from its Plasmacaster. The M.O. of the killings eventually allowed Batman to deduce that the hunter was choosing his victims, and was following some twisted code of honor.
With the two mobsters Yeager and Brodin meeting at Yeager's partner, Raymond Squire's quarters, to discuss the murders. The Predator crashed into the building and murdered the guards and Yeager. Just as Batman arrived at the scene, coming face-to-face with the creature, Brodin pulled out a Double-barreled Shotgun and blasted the Predator out of the building window.
Duel against Batman[]
- "Understand the rules. Championship."
- ―The Slasher to Batman (from Batman versus Predator)
The Predator prepares to kill Batman.
The Predator subsequently returned to his junkyard, unaware that Batman was waiting for him. Whilst treating his wounds, Batman threw a gas grenade at him, but the hunter was quicker, and wounded Batman's leg with a Smart Disc. After being briefly incapacitated by Batman after having a pile of junk dropped on him using a junkyard magnet, it surprised him by blasting Batman with his Plasmacaster, grabbing him and preparing to kill him with his Wristblades. However, Batman had vocally overridden the Batmobile to ram into the Predator. He managed to escape in the vehicle with his life, but not before the hunter tossed his Combistick at him, impaling Batman in his side.
Dominance over the City[]
- "Our killer. I don't believe it's of this world. I think it's on safari here in Gotham, choosing only the biggest, most powerful prey to hunt..."
- ―Bruce Wayne regarding the Slasher (from Batman versus Predator)
The Slasher roars in triumph.
With Batman critically injured, and no one left to oppose him, the Predator began a murderous rampage across Gotham. The hunter quickly became the subject of headlines in the press, and was dubbed the "See-through Slasher"; it went on to kill Squire, Brodin and city Mayor Julius Lieberman whilst Batman was bedridden by his grievous injuries.
The Slasher attacks Gordon.
After Commissioner Gordon's issued a public plea for Batman's help, the 'Slasher' eagerly watched the broadcast as the clock struck midnight, and Batman failed to answer Gordon. Roaring in triumph atop a cathedral, the Slasher claimed dominion over Gotham City, having defeated its guardian. The Slasher made Gordon its next target, and entered his quarters whilst he was on the phone to Bruce. Before killing him, he was interrupted by officer Kandowski, who riddled him with bullets before hastening Gordon out of the complex whilst she held the creature off. The Slasher killed Kandowski as Gordon successfully managed to escape. Hearing Bruce's voice over the phone, he angrily challenged him before crushing the device.
Final Duel with Batman[]
- "B-but it's madness to face this...This monster alone, friend. Even with a...A sonar unit and reflective body armor you can't hope to --"
"Numbers make no difference to it, Jim -- And too many have died already." - ―James Gordon and Batman (from Batman versus Predator)
Batman faces off against the slasher once more.
Noticing the Bat-signal shining again, he travelled to the Gotham City Police Department, and faced off against Batman once again, the latter now donning a specialized exo-suit. A brutal melee ensued, culminating in Batman kicking the Predator over the building, before ramming him with the bumper of the Batmobile and into Wayne Manor's estates. Eventually, the fight led the two into the Bat-cave, whereby the slasher was trapped by Batman in a cage made out of titanium steel and subsequently shot with a powerful tranquilizer dart. In a fit of arrogant laughter, the Slasher activated his Self-Destruct Device and taunted Batman, causing him to open the cage and short-circuit the device with a loose cable. The brawl continued, and the slasher feigned unconsciousness from the dart to get the better of Batman, striking him against the Bat-cave's giant penny and causing it to collapse onto him. Just as the slasher was about to kill Batman, he was interrupted by Bruce's butler, Alfred Pennyworth, who blasted the Predator with a shot from a Blunderbuss. The Slasher grabbed Alfred, but tossed him aside, the tranquilizer taking its toll on him.
Suicide[]
- "Understand...Rules. Loser."
- ―The Slasher before his death (from Batman versus Predator)
The Slasher commits suicide to preserve his honor.
Groggy and disorientated, the Slasher yielded from the hunt, and opted to retreat from Wayne Manor, stumbling outside. Batman chased after him, armed with a baseball bat he had taken from a mantlepiece, and brutally beat the creature. With the slasher finally defeated, his clan's Mother Ship arrived nearby, and his brethren emerged. With the slasher bested by the greater warrior, the Clan Leader gave him a sword, to which he plunged it into his abdomen, preserving his honor in a ritualistic suicide. The leader than cleaned the blade and presented it to Batman as a trophy for his efforts, before the clan dragged the slasher's corpse back onto the ship and took off.
Legacy[]
In an unofficial truce with Batman, the clan vowed never again to hunt in Gotham's premises.[1] However, a rash, young hunter would become infuriated with the Slasher's defeat, and sought to kill the Batman. As such, it defied the clan's vows and landed in Gotham, intent on claiming the head of Batman for himself.
Personality and Traits[]
- "Understand the rules. Eight...Nine. Ten! It's over! Pot roast! Aha ha ha ha Haaaa!"
- ―The Slasher activating his Self-Destruct Device (from Batman versus Predator)
The 'See-through Slasher' was a skilled warrior who only sought what he considered the most worthy game. His sights soon became fixed on Batman, and he would butt-heads with the vigilante multiple times in numerous deadly skirmishes. He was a powerful opponent for Bruce, and was able to overwhelm him with relative ease using his superior strength and assortment of gadgets. He continued to hold his own whilst drugged with a powerful tranquilizer by Batman.
Though he was not above petty acts, killing defenceless animals and an old blind man to deny Batman a useful asset, the Slasher recognized defeat, and killed itself through ritualistic suicide to preserve his honor.
Unlike other hunters, the Slasher was rather talkative, and frequently mimicked human voices. He even possessed a sense of humor, and would sometimes crack twisted jokes, such as likening the results of his self-destruct device to "pot roast", or seeing the funny side in being defeated by Batman with an actual bat.
The Slasher seemed to enjoy watching television during his time in Gotham and used it to pick targets. Many of the words it constantly repeated were from watching television (i.e. "pot roast", "gonna get you", etc.)
Equipment[]
List of Notable Victims[]
- Marcus King
- Unnamed boxing trainer
- Bull Bersaglio
- Alex Yeager
- Leo Brodin
- Julius Lieberman
- Kandowski
Appearances[]
- Batman versus Predator
- Batman versus Predator II: Bloodmatch (mentioned only)
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ Batman versus Predator II: Bloodmatch Issue 1 description