Different...but the same!
So way back in 1996, KB Toys reissued a number of Kenner Aliens & Predator figures in new colors. This was a common practice with KB; release figures in new color schemes or with new accessories exclusively thru their stores. They were famous for it with the Toy Biz Marvel/comic book action figures. By the late 90's every major action figure line had some sort of KB Exclusive. Toys R Us had exclusives as well, but nothing like KB.
Today we're looking at not the Kenner Aliens but rather the Kenner Predator line. These figures were the sister line to the Aliens line of figures ( the topic of lines, series, etc. will be discussed in the future). Originally released in 1993 thru 1994, the Predator line consisted of a total of 10 figures: Cracked Tusk, Scavage, Stalker, Spiked Tail, Night Storm, Lava Planet, Renegade, Ambush, Lasershot, and Clan Leader ( 3 were repaints already before the KB exclusives - Lava Planet, Night Storm, and Ambush).
More Aliens and Predator figures were planned for 1995, under the banner of Hive Wars, but Kenner cancelled the line before then. KB was very good at moving product, so they bought and sold all remaining inventories of the Aliens and Predator figures. In fact, KB was able to convince Kenner that there was still money to be made with these lines and worked with them to make exclusive figures for 1996 thru 1998!
In 1996, KB offered up 4 repaints: Scavage, Stalker, Spiked Tail, and Renegade predators. Three of them having names starting with "s" is kinda weird... Anyway, obviously Lasershot was nixed (batteries? Too expensive!), as well as Clan Leader (integrated moving parts? Denied!) Part of KB's strategy was always cost mitigation. I'm surprised that they still included Scavage & Stalker predator's weapons with springs and string and what not. But nonetheless, some of these repaints worked really well.
My favorite was the green Stalker, with the purple Renegade a close 2nd place. Worst color choice was the flesh colored Scavage predator. He looked horrendous, like a Predator albino.
For the past 20 odd years, these figures were fairly common and inexpensive. Or so I thought. I recently started trying to collect carded samples and I have to tell you: these do not come up for sale! They have been extremely hard to find, and when they do come up the prices are crazy (relatively speaking). Thank god I still have my original loose figures. Same for the Aliens repaints, though they seem a wee bit more common. Needless to say, these are RARE! 12 months and I've seen just one Spiked Tail repaint.
I remember when I was younger that many of the Aliens & Predator figures were easily found at KB Toys, especially towards 1994-95. I even purchased my Queen Hive from a KB Toys.
In addition to these Predator figure repaints, KB also did a few different runs of Aliens repaints: individual Aliens figures, the amazing Alien vs Marine 2-packs, as well as the amazing Aliens: Hive Wars figures!
If it wasn't for KB Toys showing how strong the Aliens & Predator lines could be, our collections would be much smaller today. No repaints, no Hive Wars. Not even a goofy 12" Alien vs Hicks 2-pack.
Thank you, KB TOYS.
