A series of nickel N-methyl-pyridylethynylporphines were synthesized and their electrochemical and absorption properties were studied. UV-visible spectra of these complexes show that the absorption red-shifts of the nickel porphyrins are as significant as the zinc analogues. Although the reduction potential shifts caused by the electron-withdrawing substituents are not as large as the zinc complexes, the first reduction potentials of the nickel porphyrins are more positive than those of the zinc counterparts. In addition, the redox behaviors of these nickel porphyrins are similar to those of the zinc analogues.