As a kid, I was enamored with movie creatures even though I wasn't exactly permitted to see the movies. This didn't stop me from buying the action figures, and this Predator (Attack Mode) is a most welcome addition to my toy stash. I like the big, chunky Kenner Predators of the 1990s, and this will go with all of my 1980s stuff - and of course the ReAction Alien figure. If you're looking to buy one, note that all the Predator packaging looks quite similar - so be sure you squint at the head before heading to the register, or just order online. I looked at the SDCC Predator a few months back, and I liked it - and this is basically the same figure, but decorated differently and with another head sculpt. There are 5 Predators with 3 unique heads between them - 3 are helmeted, 1 has Attack Mode, and 1 has closed mandibles.
Funko has really gone all out with head variants - Jack Skellington shipped as random variants, with 4 total heads including Comic-Con. The Predators are each separate SKUs, so there's no real "chase" here - just order the one you want.
As always, the figure is based on one pose that seems to be the basis for all ReAction figures, which makes sense given what seemed like a rapid development cycle. The good news is that the figure basically looks kind of skinny, and like a guy in a suit. That's also the bad news - the figures tend to have similar poses, with feet out at an angle, similar elbow bends, and so on. I guess this is consistent with the likes of the old Kenner Chewbacca, who was designed without a neck joint. The Predator has a neck joint, but the hair prevents it from actually moving.
As many have mentioned, a 1987 movie done as a retro toy line would be more at home as a G.I. Joe-styled figure - plus it would give us an in for Billy, Dutch, Blaine, and the rest of the crew. Instead, you get a 1987 movie in a 1977 style - more or less - with a paint job that's a little more modern. The figure is molded in a yellow plastic with brown highlights, silver armor, and some pink, white, and yellow for the face. At a hair over 4-inches tall, he does tower over other figures slightly - which is exactly what you want here. I kind of wish he was more beefed up like Bigfoot, but hey, it's still pretty good. The detail is pretty light, with small skulls and the open fanged mandibles you know and love. The armor feels very lively thanks to the silver paint, and I would argue this makes it look better than a true retro figure. One of the tricky things to remember - and execute - is that those things kind of suck in spots. This one is largely pretty good. The head is big and expressive, but there's always the issue of "prior art." In the Predator's case, that prior art is the Alien which largely departed from many of the Kenner design cues of its day. The Alien is much larger, wider, and generally more fearsome - while the Predator is, proportionally, a tall guy in a mask, really. Beefing up his limbs, spreading his legs a bit, and giving him a weapon would have done him a lot of good - but let's take it for what it is, and what it is, is a fun little figure that is worth ten bucks.
Of the ReAction figures I've opened so far, it seems Funko wins best when there are no human skin tones or eyes to decorate - aliens and monsters and masked things come out best. The green splatter is a little silly, but for a special edition debut deco? I dig what they did here, especially since it's not so incredibly awesome that you'll cry if you miss it. (Like, say, Mal's coat, Jayne's hat, or Sloth's shirt.) Funko picked the right exclusive and did a nice enough job with it that I would suggest you chase it if the price is right, which may be tricky as Entertainment Earth blew through their allotment in a few days and now it's eBay, Amazon, or bust. Given that the regular, unsplattered one is $10 I'd say that might be the better way to go.
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