Nice review!
Spoiler
Just finished listening to the podcast - thanks you guys for accompanying me on my errands this morning
Really appreciate the work you put in to getting these podcasts to us.
This series really is a testament to how Predator is intriguing and entertaining on its own, without AvP snaked in there.
First, love the artwork throughout the comics. Each issue was just gorgeous and fitting in its own right. The gore was great, the shots of the Predator were masterpieces, especially some of the closeups in the last chapter.
I liked Atal's role. The disability, his friendship with Swain. He was written well, very empathetic and not a chore to read, not in the least. I wished just he wouldn't have stayed behind in the end.
Oh, and I second Ridgetop. I thought it was implied that the two were sort of an "item" at the end (Jaya and Artemis)...
So looking forward to Hunters III
Regarding some stuff that was mentioned in the podcast...
I sort of waffle back and forth between the team up idea. On one hand, it has the potential to easily end up being a cheeze-fest. However, if done well, it could add so much to the story and open up a lot of possibilities. I like the way it was done in Lebbon's trilogy. It was reluctant, and believable. It kept with the traditional portrayal of Predators and how they behave, fight, etc. I would even be excited to see an emissary-type or "police"-type figure participate in a team-up without it being reluctant. It'd just have to ensure that the Predators remain in character. Keep their separate psychology, their way of thinking distinct from ours.
I also wish we'd get some recurring Predator characters in the main Predator series. I know it's been mentioned in other threads that it'd be hard to have the whole human cast killed off in a movie and still keep the audience's sympathy... but a comic would probably be the best medium to experiment with that type of storyline. Makes me think I should pick up If It Bleeds. If only I had more time