With Kraven the Hunter aiding their cause, the Yautja launch a full-scale assault on Earth, striking first at its most formidable heroes and villains. As powerful defenders fall in brutal fashion, the planet’s survival hangs in uncertainty, with no clear savior in sight.
While Predator Kills the Marvel Universe #1 delivered a brutal debut filled with carnage, but the stakes climb even higher as the spotlight in this issue shifts to the X-Men and the Avengers. Writer Benjamin Percy and artist Marcelo Ferreira waste no time after wiping out the Guardians of the Galaxy and Fantastic Four, and now, with Kraven joining the hunt, the question becomes whether Earth’s mutants can possibly survive. With an extinction-level showdown on the horizon, the series positions itself to dismantle the greatest obstacles standing in the way of Yautja’s conquest.
Predator Kills the Marvel Universe #2 builds on its opening by showing the Yautja fleet preparing to invade Earth, using Kraven’s knowledge and advanced cloaking technology to gain a decisive edge over the planet’s defenders. The issue quickly escalates as a Predator King, armed with a devastating vibranium arsenal, turns Earth into a sprawling hunting ground. Before the full-scale assault begins, the hunters target Magneto, recognizing his magnetokinetic powers as the greatest threat to their plan. This calculated strike removes a key protector of humanity, leaving the remaining heroes exposed and setting the stage for a relentless, high-stakes battle against the Predators.
The story wastes no time, showing Magneto and Xavier locked in a quiet chess match, unaware of the impending attack until Magneto is violently struck down. His death is more than a personal loss to the X-Men; it removes one of humanity’s strongest defenders, underscoring the devastating scope of the Predators’ plan. This issue heightens the tension by eliminating even more prominent characters in a startling sequence, creating an atmosphere of mounting dread and uncertainty. The narrative leaves the outcome uncertain, with no clear indication of who remains capable of standing against the Yautja threat.
Unfortunately, the pacing feels unusually brisk. Everything moves rapidly between locations, shifting from S.H.I.E.L.D. operations to a Weapon Plus facility without lingering long enough to build sustained tension. The X-Men’s clash with the Predators in the Danger Room is delivered at a fast clip, giving little time to explore the encounter, while a brief interlude with Captain America and his allies also passes way too quickly. The issue closes with the setup of another major Marvel figure stepping into the conflict, though the moment arrives and ends almost as swiftly as it begins.
The sense of hurried pacing is heightened by the sluggish opening centered on Xavier and Magneto. Their exchange spans three pages before the Predators strike, yet the dialogue feels like a familiar repetition of their long-running debates, offering little to the larger story. Elsewhere, the Weapon X Predator sequence primarily serves as a reminder that this plot line remains relevant, while the S.H.I.E.L.D. Interlude serves primarily to establish Milano’s infiltration.
Ferreira’s art team, joined by Picciotto, Leisten, and D’Armata, delivers an issue that is equal parts striking and unsettling. The opening spread of ships surrounding Earth is visually stunning, setting the tone for the carnage to come. Magneto’s gruesome death is particularly haunting, drawn with a raw intensity that captures both the brutality and tragedy of the moment. Other violent encounters do not always land with the same clarity, though the blood-soaked detail keeps the tension high. The X-Men’s Danger Room sequence is a standout visual set piece, yet the issue’s true impact lies in Yautja’s merciless precision.
Overall, this second chapter struggles to maintain the momentum of its stellar debut. While it delivers shocking imagery such as Magneto’s gruesome death and expands the Predator threat to Earth’s greatest heroes, the execution feels uneven. A rushed pace undermines the tension that gave the first issue its edge, and lengthy exchanges with Xavier, Magneto, and S.H.I.E.L.D. add little to the overall narrative. Visually, there are striking moments, but inconsistent clarity leaves some key scenes flat. The Predator action is too sparse, yet the groundwork for an extinction-level war suggests the story could regain its footing in the next installment.
‘Predator Kills the Marvel Universe’ #2 Review: The Killing Continues
While Predator Kills the Marvel Universe #2 delivers shocking imagery, such as Magneto’s gruesome death and expands the Predator threat to Earth’s greatest heroes, the execution feels uneven.
