Back when Kenner was producing Predator figures, they offered a cool mail-away exclusive figure. That was the Ambush Predator. It was cast in clear plastic with black paint around the eyes, while the eyes were bright green. The figure included body armor, a chromed mask and two massive arm blade weapons. After 22 years, NECA has recreated the Ambush Predator figure, which fits in fantastically with their Predator Series 13, Kenner inspired, figures. The figure, which reuses their excellent Viper Predator mold, includes two masks and new blade weapons inspired by the original figure.
The Ambush Predator was available as part of their Summer Exclusives during San Diego Comic-Con 2015. NECA sent one along and we have a full high resolution gallery and review. Read on to check it out.
San Diego Comic-Con 2015 Ambush Predator
Pros
- Nice use of clear plastic
- Wonderful and welcome homage
- Excellent accessories
- Solid joints
- Plenty of articulation
Cons
- None
Overall
Fans of NECA’s Predator figures were pretty excited for the release of the Ambush Predator. After getting my hands on it, it’s easy to see why. The figure comes on the same type of card back as their Kenner Predator’s from series 13. It features nice artwork, a bio and shots of the previous Kenner inspired figures. It’s sealed on the cardback, so you have to cut the plastic to free it.
Included are a chromed mask, a newly painted Viper Predator mask and two massive blade weapons. The figure is cast in mostly clear plastic. Some of the joint pieces use a stronger, solid white color, plastic as clear plastic can tend to be more brittle. The Viper mold features about 25 points of articulation. The joints themselves are all nice and tight. I feared the figure may wind up being loose, but I had no such problems. The hands hold onto the weapons nicely and the masks swap out easily.
While I don’t own the original Ambush Predator, looking at pics online, and I see this is a spot on homage. The chromed mask and weapons are fantastic. The paint around the yes is clean and the haunting green eyes pop. The clear plastic is solid, and I had some fun with my color shifting light, which you can see in the photos below. This is a superb figure that is absolutely worth tracking down.
*NECA provided the figure for this review.
See a few select photos below and the full gallery after that.
NECA Ambush Predator - Toyark Photo Shoot
Awesome set. Love the colored light hitting the clear plastic.
I got this guy a couple of weeks ago and I also extremely dig him. He looks amazing under a black light. Something I noticed about the packaging is interesting, the illustration is the same on the back and on the front insert. Previous Kenner tributes with removable masks (Nightstorm, Viper, and Scavage) would have both looks present in their box art with unmasked on one side and masked on the other. I speculate it's because Ambush is a con exclusive so they didn't want to commit more time than was necessary to do the job.
Damn. I wasn't sure about this figure, but I think your gallery just sold me on it. I hope Toys R Us still has a few left.
Whew, I dodged a bullet. TRU had one left.
I'm extra lucky, actually, because the TRU near me actually re-stocked all of NECA's convention-exclusive stuff after the first batch sold out. Otherwise, I would've had no chance to get this thing.
I'm extra lucky, actually, because the TRU near me actually re-stocked all of NECA's convention-exclusive stuff after the first batch sold out. Otherwise, I would've had no chance to get this thing.
I'm extra lucky, actually, because the TRU near me actually re-stocked all of NECA's convention-exclusive stuff after the first batch sold out. Otherwise, I would've had no chance to get this thing.
Yeah, it's swell nabbing the last one. The only thing better would have been if TRU had gotten in the new GI Joes as well.
Incidentally, they also had gotten in Funko's convention-exclusive (but not really) Reaction Bloody Jaws/Quint set, so I grabbed that for my girlfriend, who's been wanting one badly since SDCC. Made her night.
Full Thread: Toyark Gallery - NECA Ambush Predator
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