Super Power Loader: Guide To The Badlands Mech Suit

The Super Power Loader was a large powered mech suit used during the events of Predator: Badlands. It was an industrial exosuit produced by the Weyland-Yutani Corporation and was never intended to function as a dedicated combat platform. Instead, the loader was designed for heavy labor in extreme and hazardous environments, particularly on frontier worlds with dangerous terrain and hostile wildlife. During operations on the planet Genna, the Super Power Loader was repeatedly placed into high-risk situations that exceeded its original industrial role.

The Weyland-Yutani Super Power Loader

Unlike the famed P-5000 (used by Ellen Ripley in Aliens) which was developed by Caterpillar, the Super Power Loader was built and operated by Weyland-Yutani. One of the loader's primary duties was lifting and transporting large cargo crates to and from a Weyland-Yutani spacecraft. On the "Death Planet" of Genna, the mech was operated by androids and mostly used to carry crates and clear vegetation. These crates often contained captured native animals, many of which were extremely aggressive and posed a serious threat if containment failed. The mech itself was not equipped with integrated ranged weapons or military-grade systems.

Capabilities Of The Super Power Loader

The Super Power Loader significantly amplified the physical strength of its operator, enabling it to lift massive cargo containers, restrain large creatures, and exert crushing force with its mechanical arms. Its reinforced frame and heavy structural components allowed it to withstand impacts, falling debris, and violent physical assaults that would have destroyed lighter equipment. The enclosed cockpit provided protection from environmental hazards such as toxic atmospheres, airborne debris, and extreme weather conditions present on Genna. Despite its durability, the loader was slow and lacked the agility of combat-focused exosuits. The cutting saw remained its only integrated tool and, while effective at close range, required the operator to place the suit in direct danger.

Super Power Loader vs. Dek Predator

On Genna, the Super Power Loader was piloted by Tessa, an android and the artificial "sister" of Thia. Tessa independently operated a captured Yautja shoulder cannon, which was mounted on her body rather than built into the loader, allowing her to engage threats while continuing to control the mech. The Super Power Loader engaged Dek, when Dek tried to rescue Tessa from the clutches of the Weyland-Yutani Corporation. Tessa killed Dek's organic shoulder cannon nicknamed "Squirt" with her own shoulder cannon. However, the suit's limited speed and mechanical response time proved to be significant weaknesses. Dek was able to evade attacks, exploit openings, and maneuver around the loader's bulk, while damaging its superstructure and circuits.

Super Power Loader vs. Kalisk

The Kalisk was one of the most dangerous native predators encountered on Genna and was regarded as an apex lifeform within the planet's ecosystem. It had already ripped through Weyland-Yutani bases and androids before, severely damaging Tessa. The creature intervened during the confrontation after Dek had befriended its offspring, nicknamed "Bud". The Kalisk's speed, resilience, and natural weaponry far exceeded what the loader was designed to counter. Even with its size and strength, the Super Power Loader could not withstand a combined assault from both Dek and the Kalisk.

Destruction Of The Super Power Loader

The Super Power Loader proved ineffective against the Kalisk, even with the added support of the Yautja shoulder cannon. During the attack, the Kalisk tore off the loader's saw-bladed arm and physically ripped the mech suit in half, rendering it inoperable. The creature then tore open the cockpit and swallowed Tessa while she was still attempting to fire the plasma cannon. Minutes later, Tessa deployed a Yautja cryogenic grenade from inside the Kalisk, killing it from within. She subsequently emerged from the creature, but was stabbed in the neck by Dek. At the same time, Bud tore off Tessa’s head, bringing an end to Weyland-Yutani's presence and threat on Genna.

Similarities With The P-5000 Power Loader

The Super Power Loader shared a direct design lineage with the P-5000 Power Loader, an earlier industrial exosuit used extensively for cargo handling, construction, and logistical support in off-world colonies. Both systems relied on powered arms, hydraulic actuators, and manual control interfaces to replicate and enhance human movement. While the P-5000 was equipped with a welder, the Super Power Loader came with a built-in saw. In previous incidents, the P-5000 had been used in improvised combat situations despite its lack of weapons, relying entirely on mechanical strength and leverage. The Super Power Loader followed the same design philosophy but on a larger and more reinforced scale. However, the P-5000 remained intact while fighting an Alien Queen, while the Super Power Loader was cut in half by the Kalisk.

Other Big Mech Suits

In contrast to the Super Power Loader, several mech suits within the broader Alien and Predator universe were purpose-built for combat roles, mostly employed by the Colonial Marines. The Berserker MAX armor was a heavily armored exosuit designed for direct confrontation with Xenomorphs and other hostile organisms, even offering acid-resistance. The MOX combat armor focused on mobility and integrated weapon systems, allowing operators to maneuver quickly while engaging multiple threats. Both the MAX and MOX operators were jacked up on drugs to gain better reflexes and integration with the armor's systems. Other platforms included acid-resistant frames for hive operations, mechanized assault suits equipped with heavy firearms, and specialized containment or extermination units. These designs differed fundamentally from the Super Power Loader, which lacked integrated weapons and battlefield systems.

Behind The Scenes

Early in pre-production for Predator: Badlands, concept artist Benjamin Last was brought on to develop visual designs for key elements of the film’s world. His work included the Yautja spacecraft and the Weyland-Yutani Super Power Loader. Last explored multiple iterations of the Super Power Loader's overall form and structure. His early sketches showed different approaches to the mech's stance, proportions, and mechanical articulation. These designs were refined through several stages before the final on-screen version was selected. These concept studies presented the loader with an almost organic silhouette, suggesting influences from animal movement and limb arrangement.

Conclusion

The Super Power Loader was an industrial mech suit designed primarily for heavy lifting and hazardous operations, including the transport of large crates containing dangerous wildlife from Genna. Piloted by the android Tessa and supplemented by her use of a Yautja shoulder cannon, the loader was forced into combat situations far beyond its intended function. It was ultimately destroyed when Dek and the Kalisk attacked it together.

Tag Categories: Predator: Badlands Lore