Figure Review: Play Arts Kai Variant Bone Predator

He'll feast on your flesh and chew on your bones...

An ugly MoFo who's chock-full of calcium

Picture this: A wounded samurai, you walk down a dark and dank cave passageway, alone and desperately searching for a seemingly elusive exit. The stench of death and blood fills the air, penetrating your nostrils. As you pass through the nightmarish landscape, you step over the skeletons of the unfortunate souls who never found their way out. Suddenly, you hear a noise from behind you, and feel more than smell a foul breath on the back of your neck, instantly sending shivers down your spine. You stop dead in your tracks, reach for your katana with a weakened hand, and turn. Then you see it. It is huge. It is hideous. It is hungry. The demon - an otherworldly predator - wants your blood, and it is ready to feast on your flesh until you're nothing but a pile of bones laid on the ground...

...WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO??

Finally, the second half of Play Arts Kai's extraterrestrial duo has finally arrived, and I surely am glad to own another great rendition of a sci-fi icon. PAK's first offering was the classic/American Predator (a.k.a. Ahnuld's nemesis), which is, in my opinion, the best representation of the Yautjan behemoth's movie incarnation. The second one is what I'd call its 'Japanese counterpart', as it has repeatedly been referred to as the Oni Predator. The word 'oni' refers to a kind of humanoid yokai (supernatural monster) which has usually been portrayed in Japanese folklore as a hideous, gigantic ogre-like creature with wild hair, sharp claws, and two long horns sitting on top of its head. Moreover, it is also depicted as sporting a loincloth and wielding an enormous club known as the kanabo. Such imagery leads to the expression 'oni with an iron club', which means to be 'indomitable' or 'indestructible'. Indeed, these elements comprise the figure itself, which I will discuss in further detail.

Nope, this isn't the guy who had a few days to kill in L.A. back in '97 

When I first saw the figure's prototype in last year's San Diego Comic Con (SDCC), I honestly thought (and expected) that it was the one from Predator 2 (specifically the 'Warrior Predator'), mainly because of the figure's skin tone and that it was standing next to the prototype of the classic version. However, I eventually saw that it was lacking the signature weapons such as the combi-stick and the smart-disc, and that's when I realized that this was another variant. Despite an unmet expectation, I'm certainly in good spirits that the guys over at Play Arts came up with this figure, which is officially known as the 'Bone Predator'.

A gloomy and bloody packaging

Let's start with the packaging. The Bone Predator's box is much wider as compared to the other offerings of Play Arts Kai, which is both good and bad - 'good' because it is more of a unique type of packaging, and 'bad' considering that it could take up more space should it be displayed within a cabinet. The packaging has a red and black motif, which complements the figure inside. Furthermore, the style of the Predator's name on the packaging is much simpler as compared to that of the classic version.

"Why me?"

 Figure description:

"An Alien Race That Lives to Hunt

Lone alien hunters originating from a culture based entirely on aggressive tracking and combat, the Predators are equally feared and respected throughout the cosmos. Their existence is only rumor but their presence is intimidating. Merciless yet honorable, they have no code of good and evil -- just kill or be killed. Utilizing advanced weaponry and technology, they can adapt to any and all terrain or prey. The hunt is on...

Bone Predator
Even routine hunts can go wrong... The origins of the Japanese monster myth

While exploring a world in the beginning stages of civilization, an errant Predator is left stranded and nearly weaponless on a rocky deserted island in the archipelago of Japan. With survival as its primary goal, the alien hunter adapts, heading into direct combat and making itself even more fearsome to the natives. It covers itself in bones from fallen prey and wields makeshift weaponry. From this lone warrior springs the tale of an infamous ogre... Ancient Japanese folklore is full of legends of this creature. Believed to be demons from hell, they are said to hunt down sinners on earth, crushing their bones and peeling back their flesh to make them pay for their sins. It was said that they had an insatiable appetite for human flesh, an unquenchable thirst for human blood. Those who claim to have laid eyes on the monster all described a similar silhouette: horns atop its head, long sharp claws, skin red as blood, wild hair, carrying a massive gnarled, thorny club. The Predator survives by feasting on human flesh, hunting down anyone wretched enough to land on the rocky shores of its home, from samurai warriors to sea-bedraggled fisherman. Those unlucky enough to come in contact with this Bone Predator would have to make a deal with the devil himself to survive the encounter..."

Breathing in that new action figure smell...

The Bone Predator almost has the same dark plastic mold with the classic Predator, except that it has its own distinct accessories. It's also interesting to note that there are only three additional replaceable hands for the figure, whereas the classic one has four.

...

Then there's this one. 'Nuff said.

For the Bone Predator's accessories, he's got the following:

(1) A primitive-looking bio-mask:

It's horny

(2) A removable mandible/mouth piece:

Extraterrestrial pie-hole

(3) A pair of open hands and a semi-closed one:

He's probably a biker back at home

(4) A removable three-pointed claw:

Good ol' Jimmy ain't got nothin' on him

(5) A bone club:

Got soup?

Moving on to the core figure:

A calcified alien

Just like the classic version, the Bone Predator sports some neat sculpting. He stands around 11 inches tall, and has over 20 points of articulation. One thing that's notable is that the figure's aesthetic design looks more primitive than the other, which suggests that he could either be an ancestor, or simply someone who shared almost a similar fate with Tom Hanks who's been forced to go into 'survival mode'. He's quite 'bony' from the bottom to the top, which justifies the package description stating that he covers himself in bones from his unlucky victims.

They're getting prettier by the minute...

When it comes right down to it, the Bone Predator is another ugly MoFo. He has the same facial structure with his distant cousin, save for some horns on his noggin. Also, his mouth basically has the same style as the other one, with the exception that he's got bigger teeth and mandibles since he's the carnivorous-type based on his description - more of a monster than a hunter, so to speak.

"Mi gat big hair, mon!"

The Bone Predator also has the signature alien dreadlocks, which are long, hair-like appendages on its head set into its skull. As compared to the classic Predator's dreadlocks, he's got a thicker mane with a black/red hue and semi-translucent tips.

Bony dud

Looking at the torso area, the Bone Predator, as his name suggests, is composed of a red/yellow bony armor. He's got that primeval look, devoid of any weapon or armor plating, and I'd picture him as someone who prefers brute force over fancy weaponry. He's got a couple of hinged shoulder pads which can be moved upwards and downwards. Moreover, he wears a codpiece on the crotch area and a Tarzan-like loincloth covering his high-knee.

Jurassic tootsies

For the lower limbs section, the Bone Predator sports a hinged hip armor on both sides that can be slightly moved upwards and downwards. He also sports a black/yellow leg armor, which serves as shin guards. Furthermore, he has the same feet as his American counterpart, which resembles that of a dinosaur's, specifically a T-Rex.

All he needs is a sword... and a bottle of Sake.

The Bone Predator also has a couple of neatly sculpted bracers/gauntlets just like his counterpart. However, his bracers are more of the armor-type than technological, which works well for the figure. 

Now for some cool poses:

He's in the mood for boxing

Snikt!

BP's ready to go clubbin'

And here he is posed with the classic version:

Hats off to these bad-ass Predators!

Final thoughts: Now, you might be wondering why there's no picture of the Bone Predator wearing his bio-mask. The reason for this is that his removable forehead has been inserted snug tight, which is really a tough nut to crack when it comes to taking it off. I'm still figuring out how to remove it without chipping the paint or surface, and perhaps I'll just update this blog post once I've successfully set the helmet in place. That nitpick aside, I consider myself lucky to own this excellent figure from Play Arts Kai, especially since I'm a big Predator fan. The Bone Predator has got a superb sculpt, a cool body armor, some nifty weapons, as well as an archaic yet flamboyant ogre-like design. Despite the undeniable steep price tag, it's absolutely worth every penny considering the overall package!

He's happy with his new souvenir    

Would you like to see more Predator figures from Play Arts Kai? Sound off in the comments below.