Predators vs. Giant Beasts: List Of Yautja Monster Hunts

The Yautja were known for seeking out difficult prey on a variety of worlds, including animals far larger than themselves. Accounts from comics, novels, and expanded universe material describe their clashes with oversized creatures found on both Earth and alien environments. These stories show that their hunts included wildlife, prehistoric animals, and large extraterrestrial organisms. This article rounds up all of the encounters of Yautja and large beasts.

Ahab vs. Giant Centipede

During the events of Fire and Stone, the Elder Predator known as Ahab spent about a year stranded on LV-223, where he encountered wildlife mutated by the Black Goo accelerant. One of these creatures was a giant centipede that he fought using a crude spear he crafted from local materials. Ahab relied on these improvised weapons because his advanced gear was damaged or unavailable. He killed the centipede as part of a series of encounters with dangerous fauna on the moon. Although his main trophy was that of an Engineer, he greatly enjoyed these hunts.

Underwater Predator vs. Giant Squid

Predator: Hell And Hot Water features a Yautja operating off the Chilean coast, where volcanic activity had heated the surrounding waters. The Predator hunted a giant squid in the region, showing that he was actively tracking large marine life. Afterward, he entered a submerged cave system and encountered an unidentified tentacled creature. The fight took place underwater in enclosed spaces, and the story ended with the Predator dying inside the cave. The identity of the sea creature was left unknown, although it was most likely of terrestrial origin.

Dek vs. Kalisk

On the planet Genna, the young Yautja Dek attempted to earn his standing by seeking out the Kalisk, a creature widely regarded as unkillable. Although Dek also hunted and killed several other creatures on Genna (including the Stone Bison, and the Vine Creature), the Kalisk was the most powerful one. The Kalisk, also labeled specimen XX0522, was covered in spikes and long tendrils and had previously fought a Weyland-Yutani synthetics and survived. Dek tracked it across the Badlands and managed to behead it during their encounter, only to see it regenerate its head. Their encounter was left unresolved for the time being, as both the beast and the Yautja were captured by Weyland-Yutani.

Predators vs. Dinosaurs

Evidence of Yautja encounters with dinosaurs appeared in several sources, including the trophy room in Predator 2, where a skull resembling a Tyrannosaurus rex was displayed. Additional material, such as Tarzan vs. Predator depicted Yautja hunters entering Pellucidar inside the Earth, where dinosaurs like T-Rexes and Triceratopses were still alive. The hunters engaged several prehistoric species during their expedition. Later on, a Triceratops herd trampled multiple Yautja and destroyed their ship, ending their expedition.

Predator vs. Orca Whale

The Predators enjoy hunting the wildlife on Earth, including animals like wolves, tigers, and bears. However, one of the largest Earth animals ever targeted by the Predators was the Orca, or Killer Whale. This unusual hunt appeared briefly in the Wolverine vs. Predator comic, which depicted Yautja activity in the Alaska Territory around 1900, where they also pursued several smaller species. A solitary Predator was shown riding on the back of an Orca while attempting to stab it with a Yautja spear. The outcome remained uncertain, as no Orca trophy later appeared, and the whale may have escaped by diving and dislodging the hunter.

Guard Predator vs. Arena Creature

In the last segment of Predator: Killer Of Killers, a Guard Predator oversaw a gladiatorial event in which a massive quadrupedal creature was released into an arena containing human prisoners. Although not directly meant for a Predator hunt, the beasts attacked the Guard Predator and swallowed him up. Later, the human named John Torres was also swallowed by the creature, but managed to survive and attack the creature from the inside. The beast was killed by the surviving fighters afterward, who then took on the Grendel King.

Predator vs. Bigfoot

Apparently, Predators have also hunted Bigfoots, who are real in the Predator universe. In the short story The Monster from Predator: Eyes Of The Demon anthology book, a Yautja encountered a creature similar to the Bigfoot legends of Earth. However, Bigfoots have another connection to the Predator series, through the Harry and the Hendersons comedy film, released the same year as Predator. Harry was played by Kevin Peter Hall, the same actor who played both the Jungle Hunter from the first Predator and the City Hunter from Predator 2.

Conclusion

Across different stories, the Yautja encountered giant creatures, including mutated alien animals, prehistoric species, marine life, and cryptids. These creatures offered big trophies for the Yautja seeking for worthy prey. The hunts appeared in various periods and settings, ranging from alien worlds to ancient or remote areas of Earth. Some of the encounters ended with the Predator successfully killing the creature, while others remained unresolved or fatal for the hunter.

Tag Categories: Predator Hunt