Set Description:
Dark Horse Comics: Jun 1989 - Feb 1992
1989 Jun 1989 - Feb 1990
Summer of 1987, even though I was only 9 years old (almost 10) I had already seen Terminator, Conan and Commando making me a huge Arnold fan. When the previews for Predator were aired I begged my father to take me, which he obliged and man, was I pumped!!! Off we go to the theatre and little did I know that this was going to be first of many (thousands) viewing’s of the greatest movie ever put to film. Killer humanoids from space, explosions, automatic weapons fire and a respectable body count. What more can a kid in the 80’s ask for? I am 100% positive that this movie was the absolute reason why I wanted to be in the military.
Late 1989, I’m strolling through the local mall and there was a magazine stand with a copy of Predator issue #1. That classic Chris Warner cover; the Predator on top of the building, arms stretched out and head toward the sky in a war cry pose. Jaw hits the floor and I know I gotta have it. At this point the book had already been in circulation for a couple months and the price was a whopping $8. In those days, if you didn't get a copy right when it was released it was immediately marked up. Needless to say that didn’t deter me from purchasing said copy. Over the next couple of months I managed to get the rest of the series the day of release and I probably read it once a week if not more.
In May 2016 I purchased my first 9.8 copy of Predator issue #1 first print. I paid the GPA high of that year, something I am not proud of. Shortly thereafter I picked up a second printing of issue #1 along with issues #2 and #4 by the end of the year. I knew issue #3 had a low population in 9.8 and I passed on an eBay auction that September. Pretty sure it was due to me running out of my self imposed comic budget for the month (fiscal responsibility can get in the way sometimes). Unbeknownst to me this would actually work completely in my favor the following May.
As mentioned in the set description of my Aliens 1988 set I made a cash/traded deal with iceman3991 for my Predator books. I ended up selling my issue #1 first print at a loss but in the midst of all this I had negotiated a deal with gyro on “My Slabbed Comics” for a full 9.8 set of this series (including issue #1 second print) for an extremely great price. All in all I broke even and was satisfied with how things worked out. To be honest I was extremely lucky cause that whole situation could have been “one ugly mother f*@%^r”. See how I did that? HA!
Big Game Mar 1991 - Jun 1991
A year after the initial release of the first Predator mini series Dark Horse published Big Game. At this point I was completely immersed in the “Big 3” and was able to purchase these books off the rack. Again, Chris Warners art graced the cover and the storyline was an action packed as usual. The Predator comes to earth and takes on a US military unit based in Arizona. I loved this series and it was the first storyline that did not have a tie in to the first movie. A definite must read for any Predator fan.
I picked up a 9.8 copy of issue #1 in 2017 a couple months after completing the first series. I didn’t make a conscious decision to complete this series in 9.8 it just kind of happened over time. It only took two years to complete and issue #2 was the first 9.8 on the census. Issues #3 and #4 were purchased together from Red Hood Comics.
Cold War Sep 1991 - Dec 1991
Once again we follow Detective Schaffer as he is recruited by General Phillips to assist a military unit on a mission in Siberia to track down Predators. He eventually teams up with a disgraced Soviet Commander in a fight for their lives. This story followed Big Game and was another fantastic Predator mini series from Dark Horse.
I snagged issues #1 and #2 in quick succession off of eBay. The other issues hadn’t been graded but I knew it was only a matter of time until that happened. Roughly a year later I picked up issue #4 and issue #3 came shortly after. Issue #3 in this set was the first 9.8 on the census.
Bloody Sands of Time Feb 1992
This is by far my favorite Predator story ever written. Yes, the three previous mini series were down right excellent but Bloody Sand of Time crushes them in my opinion. I imagine that my love for these two issues stems from my passion of military history. Mixing the battlefields of World War 1 with the Predator is pure genius. It would make sense that The Great War would attract their attention making it a tantalizing hunting ground. I wish that Dark Horse would have placed The Predator in more historic settings than they did. I do enjoy a modern day atmosphere but what’s great about the Yautja is they can be anywhere, anytime throughout human history and it makes sense.
I never would have imagined that someone would have submitted this series for grading. It’s not a key by any means and its only two issues. But fortunately for me someone did and within a year I was able to get issues #1 and #2 in 9.8. Issue #2 in this set was the first 9.8 only the census.
”CONTAAAAAAACT!!!”
(Predator 1987)
”LONG TALL SALLY”
Gonna tell Aunt Mary 'bout Uncle John
He claim he has the misery but he's havin' a lot of fun
Oh, baby, yes, baby, woo, baby
Havin' me some fun tonight, yeah
Well long, tall Sally
She's built for speed, she got
Everything that Uncle John need, oh, baby
Yeah, baby, woo, baby
Havin' me some fun tonight, yeah
Well, I saw Uncle John with bald-head Sally
He saw Aunt Mary comin' and he ducked back in the alley, oh, baby
Yes, baby, woo, baby
Havin' me some fun tonight, yeah, ow
Well, long, tall Sally
She's built for speed, she got
Everything that Uncle John need, oh, baby
Yes, baby, woo, baby
Havin' me some fun tonight, yeah
Well, I saw Uncle John with bald-head Sally
He saw Aunt Mary comin' and he ducked back in the alley, oh, baby
Yes, baby, woo, baby
Havin' me some fun tonight, yeah
We gonna have some fun tonight
We gonna have some fun tonight, woo
Have some fun tonight, everything's alright
Have some fun, have me some fun tonight |