Summary
John Schaefer, the brother of Dutch from the original Predator film, returns to Predator canon and may be on the Yautja’s side in Predator: The Last Hunt #2. The cover art for the upcoming issue shows John holding a Predator spear to the back of Theta’s skull, suggesting a potential conflict between the two characters. John’s mission is to find and bring back his brother, and he may be willing to sacrifice anyone who gets in his way, even if it aligns him with the Predators.
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Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Predator: The Last Hunt #2!John Schaefer is making his official return to Predator canon, which marks one of the most significant developments in the current series, as it’s the first time 20th Century Studios’ Predator has included a character from Dark Horse Comics continuity. However, there seems to be a fairly dramatic change to his character, as the preview for this upcoming Predator issue indicates that Schaefer may actually be on the Yautja’s side.
In a preview for Predator: The Last Hunt #2 by Ed Brisson and Francesco Manna, fans are shown the cover art for the issue along with the official solicitation. The cover art is done by Cory Smith, and it features John Schaefer, Theta, and a Predator. However, what they’re doing on this cover is assuredly not what fans would expect – especially those who know Schaefer from previous Predator stories.
THE RETURN OF JOHN SCHAEFER! What is Dutch’s brother doing on a Predator’s game planet in the far reaches of space?! And more importantly—will he get in Theta’s way? The lifelong refugee has revenge to serve up—and she is not about to let it get cold. Ed Brisson and Francesco Manna’s epic adventure continues!
The cover shows Schaefer holding a Predator spear to the back of Theta’s skull, with the Predator seemingly cheering him on in the background. The solicitation teases that John may get in Theta’s way on Theta’s mission to rid the galaxy of Predator life, and this artwork reaffirms that potential plotpoint.
Related Predator Is Done Playing: Super Predator vs Ultimate Hunter Promises the Franchise’s Most Consequential Fight Theta, the Ultimate Hunter, is about to battle a Super Predator to save the lives of thousands. Check out the preview for Predator: The Last Hunt #1!
Who Is John Schaefer? The Older Brother to the Original Predator Killer, Explained
Every John Schaefer Appearance in Predator Lore (in Chronological Order)
Creative Team
Predator: Concrete Jungle (Dark Horse Comics)
Mark Verheiden, Chris Warner, and Ron Randall
Predator: Cold War (Dark Horse Comics)
Mark Verheiden and Ron Randall
Predator: Dark River (Dark Horse Comics)
Mark Verheiden and Ron Randall
Predator: Hunters III (Dark Horse Comics)
Chris Warner and Brian Thies
Predator: The Last Hunt (20th Century Studios)
Ed Brisson and Francesco Manna
John Schaefer is the older brother to Dutch Schaefer, aka Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character from the original 1987 Predator film. He was a New York City detective who had his own encounter with a Predator after the Yautja made New York its hunting ground in Predator: Concrete Jungle. After that, John became aware that these alien creatures were the reason for his brother’s disappearance, and he made it his life’s mission to find Dutch and bring him home.
John went so far as to retrace Dutch’s steps in his mission to find his brother, even seeing the site of the original Yautja’s wrist-nuke explosion in South America. However, even after the many encounters with Predators on his never-ending mission to find Dutch, John Schaefer still hasn’t found him. But now, he has a chance to continue that mission – and perhaps it’s Theta who’s in John’s way, and not the other way around.
John Schaefer Has Every Reason to Hate the Predators, but 1 Reason to Help Them
Predator: The Last Hunt may pick up where Predator: Hunters III left off!
The outfit John Schaefer is wearing on the cover of Predator: The Last Hunt is similar to the one he was featured in during his last Dark Horse Comics appearance in Predator: Hunters III, indicating that The Last Hunt could be a direct continuation of his storyline!
Right now in Predator canon, Theta’s working to free the countless people who were kidnapped by Predators throughout history, kept in stasis, and used as prey in their hunting preserve. This means that John Schaefer is likely one of those kidnapped individuals, and perhaps so was Dutch. Dark Horse Comics’ Predator: Hunters III showed that John was continuing his mission to find Dutch. If his backstory carries over into current canon, then it’s possible that Dutch was abducted by Predators after the events of the 1987 film, and John’s only way to get to him was to be abducted himself.
While it seems like John’s mission should align with Theta’s, that’s not automatically the case. John only cares about finding his brother, meaning he’ll gladly sacrifice anyone who might prevent that from happening. Perhaps Dutch cannot be saved, and John can’t handle that. Or maybe the Yautja tells John to kill Theta with the promise of getting his brother back afterward. Whatever the case, John Schaefer has officially made his return to Predator canon, and if he is on the Yautja’s side, it’s only so he can complete the mission he’s been on for decades.
Predator: The Last Hunt #2 by 20th Century Studios is available March 27, 2024.
Predator: The Last Hunt #2 (2024)
Writer: Ed Brisson Artist: Francesco Manna Cover Artist: Cory Smith
Predator
Summary: From the outer reaches of space to the small-town streets of suburbia, the hunt comes home in Shane Black’s explosive reinvention of the Predator series. Now, the universe’s most lethal hunters are stronger, smarter, and deadlier than ever before, having genetically upgraded themselves with DNA from other species. When a young boy accidentally triggers their return to Earth, only a ragtag crew of ex-soldiers and a disgruntled science teacher can prevent the end of the human race.
Release Date: 2018-09-14
Cast: Olivia Munn, Keegan-Michael Key, Trevante Rhodes, Alfie Allen, Thomas Jane, Sterling K. Brown, Boyd Holbrook, Edward James Olmos, Jacob Tremblay, Yvonne Strahovski
Director: Shane Black
Genres: Sci-Fi, Action
Rating: R
Writers: Fred Dekker, Shane Black
Runtime: 1h 58m
Budget: 88 Million
Studio(s): 20th Century
Distributor(s): 20th Century
Sequel(s): Predators
prequel(s): Predator 2
Franchise(s): Predator