The ABCs of 31 Days of Toy Terror: N is for Nightstorm Predator from Predator by Kenner

   We've had an alien already so now it's time for a Predator! Today's installment of The ABCs of 31 Days of Toy Terror is Nightstorm Predator from Kenner's 1990s Aliens and Predator line. I definitely liked the Aliens stuff more as a kid but I had a few Predators in my collection. This wasn't one of them, though. The Nightstorm Predator came out in 1994 and was a repaint of the series one Predator figure Scavage. Kenner definitely reused molds and they did it frequently in the Alien and Predator line to make more figures. Ready for a look at another Predator? Then join me after the break...

The Facts:

Height: 5 1/4ths inches

Articulation: Swivel hips and swivel shoulders.

Accessories: Mask, twin turbo baster, and harpoons

Year of Release: 1994

Original Retail Price: $5-$7 dollars

The Positives:

* The Predators we see in the movies have some pretty intricate costumes and while Kenner went with "inspired by" rather than "based on" for their designs, they had a lot to work with and created some pretty nifty looking Predators. Nightstorm has the same sculpt as the series 1 Scavage but his skin his is black and he's sporting a mixture of rust red and gold colored armor. There's a lot of detail on the armor with a mixture of technical detail and the jagged looking primitive hunter details of the Predator culture. 

* Nightstorm's mouth is open showing off his teeth. He looks pretty pissed, too. He's got some long dreads flowing down his back, too.

* There's also one of those lethal little plasma cannons sculpted onto the Nightstorm Predator's shoulder.

By the way, do you think Nightstorm is just a title or designation for this guy or do you think his name is really Nightstorm? I always assumed that Cracked Tusk and Scavage were the names guys from the first series, but could this guy's name really be Nightstorm (or at least the Predator translation of it).

* He's also sporting a very long, very nasty claw on his right hand. This thing is sweet!

* Here's a shot of Nightstorm's back so you can check out his dreads and the backpack powering his plasma cannon. 

* And here's a shot of his legs, showing off the impressive detail on his greaves and waist armor. 

* The mask is held on by a mixture of simple friction and his fangs fitting through four small holes in the front. It's a very cool mask that matches most of his armor. I love the tall, rabbit ear or insect-like antennae on top of the mask. 

* The Nightstorm Predator comes with a staff that looks like it's topped with a human skull and spine. That's pretty wild for an accessory for a 1990s kids toy! There's a grip for him to hold it, allowing him to beat someone with their own skull if he wishes.

 "This doesn't seem physically possible!"

* The Nightstorm Predator has the same massive harpoon launcher that Scavage had, but his is molded in black with white harpoons. It's definitely more interesting looking this way. The skull staff fits in the middle and the harpoons have a string connecting them, firing like a bola to ensnare the Predator's prey.  

* The Nightstorm Predator's head doesn't really turn at all as it's blocked by his hair and the cannon. His arms and legs move, though, and they're plenty sturdy. 

The Negatives:

* Unfortunately, due to the way his legs are positioned there really isn't much to do with his guy. He looks good in only one standing pose and he doesn't look the best sitting down, either. 

* The skull staff functions as a support post for the cannon, keeping the front end up while the back of the cannon clips around the Nightstorm Predator's waist. There are handles but the figure can't grip them at all, so that's pretty lame. Truth be told, this isn't my favorite weapon from this line at all. It just doesn't work well with this figure. It's actually a retooled accessory from the Batman: Dark Knight Collection Deluxe Crime Master Edition Batman with Blast Shield. That's a mouthful, isn't it?

   The Nightstorm Predator isn't my favorite figure in this line by any means, but he's still a very solid action figure take on the Predator. While NECA has been cranking out amazing Predators left and right for over a decade, Kenner started the trend and made some decent monster toys in a time when they just weren't that prevalent. While I'm not wild about the bola launcher, I love the color, detail, and skull staff of the Nightstorm Predator. He's a Great and a 1/2 figure from a classic toyline, so how can you really go wrong with him?

If you're a fan of the Predator, I've also reviewed some other Predators including the ReAction Predator (Thermal Vision), NECA's Jungle Hunter and City Hunter Predator 2 pack and their vintage styled Berserker Predator, Kenner's Alien versus Predator 2 pack, Lava Planet Predator, and Cracked Tusk, and the Aliens: Hive Wars Night Recon Predator.

For more figures from Kenner's Aliens/ Predator line check out the following:

Alien versus Predator 2 pack
A.T.A.X.
Cracked Tusk
Lava Planet Predator

Series 1 Space Marines and the Power Loader
Series 1 Xenomorphs