TOYARK have posted a full review and image gallery of NECA’s 40th Anniversary 7 inch Ultimate Big Chap action figure due out soon. They seem to like it. This version of the figure features updated sculpting, improved articulation and some accessories such as the egg, facehugger and chestburster. It all comes packaged in a nice, neat ALIEN poster themed gatefold box with a window displaying the figure when opened. Look, I think it’s just easier if you go read the review, alright?

Thanks for the appraisal, TOYARK. I’ve always loved your work.

-Windebieste.

For today’s Facehugger Friday reveal, NECA released some images on Facebook of  mock up packaging of their upcoming tribute to Kenner’s 1993 Rhino Alien figure.

NECA had this to say about this item “The Rhino is massive and his beautiful packaging is being worked on now.” I must say, I am expecting a larger than usual figure for this item to scale appropriately in NECA’s 1inch REEL TOYS range of figures.  This thing will be a brute! Rather than being packaged on card or in a clam shell, the Rhino will be in a box.

-Windebieste.

For Christmas NECA have revealed on Facebook their package tray mock up of their upcoming 7 inch Ripley action figure.  Here’s an unpainted test shot with a few accessories.

Accessories with this item look like a great range including a flamethrower, cat box, motion tracker and a space marked “cat”, which could only be Jones.  Of course it’s Jones.  Here’s what NECA have to say about this item, “Incoming: new accessories, a new head sculpt, photo real printed face deco, kenner homage packaging & more.” I will be interested in seeing which of the Kenner themes they will adopt for this packaging.  I’m guessing it will be another blue box as this is still the 40th Anniversary of the release of ALIEN along with the original Kenner product line; but possibly with a gatefold.  Nice stuff.

The new cat box and motion tracker look super neat, too. I’ve always loved the icecube tray stuck to the side of the tracker and it’s obvious here. lol. The “printed face” feature sounds like it will be an upgrade over previous painted figures.  Photographic realism on an action figure?  It sounds like a trip down uncanny valley to me.  I’m hoping this technoloby is also applied to NECA’s upcoming Parker and Brett figures as well.  Am I looking forward to this release?  Yes.  I am.  Merry Christmas NECA.

-Windebieste.

NECA’s Facehugger Friday released new versions of their ALIENS Visual Checklist.  NECA has had a long running annual tradition of updating this guide for ALIEN characters in their popular 7 inch REEL TOYS ALIEN range during the week leading up to Christmas.  This checklist only lists ALIEN figures in this scale.  NECA have made more ALIEN product than is documented in this image – a LOT more, actually.  Further more, this guide can’t be considered complete as it lacks multiple creature and arsenal packs.

Here’s what NECA have to say about this updated digital Christmas present to the world “We’ve got more Alien​s! We’ve updated our visual guides to include all announcements & releases to date. Both versions include all figures, with the second showing the updated card backer art! Each is available as an extra-large, 300 dpi JPG.”

High resolution versions of the Visual Checklist are available from NECA in 2 different flavours. Here’s a link to download the standard version. Plus another link to download an alternate version featuring packaging art from each series.  Have fun with these!

-Windebieste.

It’s Facehugger Friday! As part of the continuing 40th Anniversary of the release of ALIEN, NECA have released packaging images of their upcoming Ultimate ALIEN action figure on Facebook.

It’s a nice looking, black gatefold box with the iconic ALIEN egg logo on the front and a mirrored image of the figure inside the gatefold.  This 7 inch scale offering includes an open egg, a facehugger and a chestburster set of accessories. This looks excellent! Not a great deal of information as to when it will be released other than “early 2020”.  Not long now either way.  Here, have some more images of the box.

-Windebieste.

It’s Facehugger Friday; and everyone knows what that means, right?  On Facebook today, NECA revealed packaging for their upcoming quarter scale ALIEN figure.  This box is very much a tribute to the box the original Kenner toy was released in 40 years ago.  So much awesome.

Here’s what NECA have to say about this item “The final packaging for our Quarter Scale Alien Big Chap is a tribute to the 1979 Kenner Alien figure. You can look forward to this figure shipping out to retailers on November 20th!” 

No price is available just yet but this does look fantastic. It’s even packaged with the wire core tail coiled between its legs.  At around 2 feet tall, it will be larger than the original Kenner item by around 20-25%.  I wonder if there will be a poster included like the Gentle Giant figures from a few years ago had; and what’s the age rating on this item?  I bet it won’t be rated AGES 5 AND UP.  That would be bold, hilarious and probably illegal now. And the fantastic use of the logo featuring the figure’s head is great, too.  Just like the original – except with the ‘gruesome details’ uncensored this time around.

Here’s some more images.

-Windebieste.

It’s Facehugger Friday and today NECA have revealed on facebook the packaging for their upcoming Classic Series Neomorph figure.  It appears NECA have brilliantly adopted and utilised the classic Kenner theme of mounting the figure on a blister covered card.  This looks amazing to say the least.

The emulation of the card, both front and back is a terrific homage to the Kenner ALIENS toy range released during the 1990s.  Details of how the extending jaw works revealed on the back of the card is very welcome information.  We now know the operation of the mouth is controlled by the manipulation of the right arm.  Of course, the card back also reveals previous NECA tribute items of figures originally released by Kenner in the 1990s.  Here’s NECA’s statement on this item “The final packaging photos for the Alien and Predator Classics are in. The Berserker and Neomorph are expected to ship out on November 20th!” Continue reading →

After today’s full reveal and pre-orders announced of their tribute Kenner Rhino Alien figure (see below) NECA have released this image on Twitter of another upcoming Kenner tribute item, smartgun wielding Space Marine, Drake.  Here’s the new NECA item compared to the older, original vintage Kenner release from the 1990s. NECA have this to say about the upcoming Drake figure, “I think we need some new Kenner inspired Marines to help fight that Rhino. How about you?“.

No other information, release date or pricing is currently known but it’s simply a matter of time before Drake joins the already released Space Marine Apone and Space Marine Ripley in their eternal battle against weird shaped things (xenomorphs) with lots of teeth from outer space!   Oh, it makes my head giddy just thinking about it.

-Windebieste.

Big Bad Toy Store has announced pre-orders are now open for NECA’s upcoming figure based on the figure Rhino Alien, a classic Expanded Universe toy Kenner released in the early 1990s.

Here’s what BBTS have to say about this item “Inspired by the classic Kenner Expanded Universe of the early 1990s, prepare to be bowled over by the Ultimate Rhino Alien from Neca. Neca’s team took inspiration from the original design, and then transformed it into an all-new modern behemoth featuring all of today’s detail and articulation.Rhino Alien measures approximately 10″ and has a massive ramming horn for attacking its unlucky prey. The packaging is an homage to the classic Kenner art, featuring custom illustrations.”

This brutish creature looks ready to bowl over Ripley and Apone! It’s estimated release date is May 2020.  The recommended retail price is US$39.99.  You can wait until May next year if you like; or can Pre-order this item right now and receive a 13% discount. It can be yours for only US$34.99!

-Windebieste.

Over at Bloody Disgusting, a set of images has recently been posted featuring NECA’s upcoming Batman vs Joker Alien 2 pack figures.  Quite a pair here; and a great follow up to NECA’s previous DC/Fox crossover, Batman vs Alien. This one time rumored to be cancelled mash up will be exclusively available to October 2019 New York Comic Con. Here’s a brief description of the two unlikely antagonists, “The set includes two brand new, comic book based figures, both with over 30 points of articulation. Batman features a fabric cape, and the “Joker” Alien has a bendable tail.” Sounds good so far. Continue reading →

NECA have released images of their upcoming Ultimate Dog Alien action figure.  This updated figure will include a pair of chestbursting Queen accessories.

This release will mark the 6th time this popular ALIEN 3 character NECA has released. Here’s what NECA have to say about this item, “Back by popular demand and better than ever, it’s the Dog Alien from 1992’s Alien 3! The canine Xenomorph has received the deluxe treatment, with an all-new sculpt featuring improved articulation (over 30 points!), including an extendable inner mouth and bendable tail. The Dog Alien is over 9” long, and comes with a coiled Queen burster with stand and a chestburster. Display-friendly window box packaging with opening flap.”

This item is expected to ship to retail in October, 2019.  Just a few months away.

-Windebieste.

NECA have released official images of their upcoming ‘Big Chap’ ALIEN action figure.  This one quarter scale, 22 inch tall action figure is expected to be released around November 2019.NECA have also stated this item will be packaged in “a special tribute to the 1979 Kenner Alien figure!”  I guess that means a big blue box with windows in front and on top.   Here’s what NECA have to say about this item, “1/4 Scale Action Figure – 40th Anniversary Big Chap. … We’ve given a deluxe upgrade to the Xenomorph known to fans as “Big Chap,” with an all-new sculpt standing over 22” tall. It has a hinged jaw that opens, revealing an inner mouth that extends for realistic movie action. It has over 30 points of articulation, including double knee joints and a bendable tail, and extra attention has been paid to all the eerie details that made H.R. Giger’s designs for Alien so mesmerizing. The packaging is a special tribute to the 1979 Kenner Alien figure!”

I am interested; but will it include a double sided B&W poster that will be worth over US$100 in 40 years time?

-Windebieste.

Today is Facehugger Friday.  Yippee! 🙂 I always like Facehugger Friday.  It may not always have facehuggers.  …and sometimes gets skipped on occasion.  But not today!  Today NECA released images of their Series 14 of ALIEN Resurrection Action figures in packaging.  Not just one; but two figures. Bonus situation!  Here they are, Ripley 8 and a Cloned Alien Warrior from the 1996 movie, ALIEN Resurrection.  Good stuff. NECA has pledged these will be available soon.  Here’s what they have to say about this upcoming release, “Announced back at Toy Fair, Alien: Resurrection Ripley and Warrior from Series 14 is packed up and will be shipping to retailers in the weeks to come!”

-Windebieste.

Facehugger Friday once again brings a welcome reveal from NECA on Facebook.  Once again they are blessing us with final packaging for merchandise in their upcoming ALIEN Resurrection line.  This time, it’s their new deluxe variant of the Queen Alien in a stunning windowed box presentation. Isn’t she beautiful..?

While this item isn’t expected to be a completely screen accurate version of the Queen from the movie (unless it includes an external uterus accessory) it is expected to be an updated brown version of their previously released excellent Queen Alien.  We shall see.

This is what NECA have to say about this imminently released item “Get ready for more Aliens this summer. The Alien: Resurrection Deluxe Queen Action Figure is packed up and will be ready to ship out to retailers in the coming week!”

Here’s a couple more images of the package design.  Nice:

-Windebieste.