Barbarian Predator Mythos Bust Review
Posted by Darkness on February 27, 2024 (Updated: 27-Feb-2024)
Sideshow has been releasing their Mythos line of collectibles across a few franchises in recent years including Star Wars. As Sideshow states, ‘the Mythos series are fine art collectibles that allow the collector to imagine what could have been, but maybe never was. Myths meant to be initiated by the eye and completed by the mind. Sideshow’s Mythos series captures the limitless possibility of fan-favorite franchises by emphasizing core concepts and introducing unique new ideas to popular fictional universes’.
In recent years, Sideshow have released the Alien Warrior Mythos Maquette, Xenomorph Parasite Mythos Bust and Alien Queen Mythos Maquette. What we’re looking at today is the Barbarian Predator Mythos Bust that was released in 2021. When the Barbarian Predator was released, it retailed for $650 in American and upwards of £750 in the UK. As is the case with Sideshow collectibles, they are limited in number. I believe the Predator Barbarian was limited to 300 units worldwide and my Barbarian was number 191.
As already stated, this collectible isn’t based on any of the Predators we’ve seen in the films, though. It’s a completely fresh design.
Barbarian Predator Box
As you can see, the box is absolutely massive (44.4cm x 55.2cm x 61.6cm) and features the Barbarian Predator in the artwork. The artwork goes all around the box and it’s in the Predator thermal vision. You can make out a lot of the Predator symbols around the sides too. It took about 10 minutes to get the Predator out of the box. There were lots of polystyrene. There were three bolts that were holding the Predator to a baseplate. I have heard of some people’s Predators being broken when they arrived but I’m pleased to say that my Predator is in perfect condition.
Barbarian Predator
The Barbarian Predator is 19″ tall, 17″ wide and has a depth of 13″ with a hefty weight of 7KG. It’s not quite a life-size bust – it’s what Sideshow call ‘Legendary Scale’. The polystone bust was designed and sculpted by artist Paul Komoda while Joe Dunaway and Anthony Mestas painted the beast. The Barbarian Predator is very different to Jungle Hunter. He definitely looks more sinister and menacing. The most striking differences are the spikes. You can see the additional spikes on his chin and the bottom of the mandibles. The spikes even appear on the Predator’s shoulder pads and armour too. I am a little disappointed we don’t get the iconic Shoulder Cannon but it’s understandable as this is a different Predator.
Barbarian Predator Crown
The crown is very different to what we’ve seen before in terms of colour and texture. Again, the spikes appear along the sides of the crown down to his mandibles, in a similar way to the Elder Predator from Predator 2. The crown is definitely more rugged and ridged compared to the smooth head of Jungle Hunter and City Hunter. The colouring is a unique blend of beige and brown.
Barbarian Predator Dreadlocks
You can see the lovely silver tubing details on the neck area. You usually find the various bone necklaces and straps with skulls on Jungle Hunter but they’re absent on the Barbarian Predator. The dark brown dreadlocks include three beads at the top, middle and bottom. The dreadlocks look like they are individual strands but they are actually molded in place so unfortunately you can’t move them around.
Barbarian Predator Base
The grey metallic-style base of the bust matches the Predator’s armour and extends around the back with some spikes on the side. It looks as if parts of it could have come from a Xenomorph. It is very reminiscent of the armour and sleek technology that we saw in Alien vs Predator, particularly on the Predator Mother Ship.
Barbarian Predator
It really is a magnificent collectible with lots of great details which is what I expect from Sideshow Collectibles. I do have the mass-produced Alien Egg Alien Anthology Set from Sideshow which I love but the Barbarian Predator is really my first proper Sideshow Collectibles piece. As much as I’d love to have more Sideshow pieces, they are really expensive.
One of the advantages of the Mythos series, is with that artistic freedom the designers have, the bust doesn’t have to be 100% identical to a monster we’ve seen in a film. It’s something original. At the same time, I guess having that artistic freedom, you could risk straying too far from the license and what came before it. But I think they’ve done a great job with the Barbarian Predator. It fits in quite well with the Predator canon and at the same time, offers something new for fans to enjoy.
Special thanks to AvPGalaxy fan Alex for sending us this piece to review.
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Such a cool piece! If I had unlimited duckets I’d buy the shit out of this!