Review : Space Marine Ripley NECA, Kenner Inspired Wave/Series : one off release, Alien Day 2016 Released : limited release April 2016 / then again June 2016
£22.99
2016 saw the first ever "Alien Day" held on the 26th of April and supported by a variety of Alien licencees. One of the key releases on the day was from NECA who released, albeit in limited numbers in the US, a Kenner inspired Space Marine Ripley. This figure was based on the 1992 release from Kenner, where Ellen Ripley was re-imagined as a Smart Gun toting Space Marine.
Ripley arrives in a standard clam shell package, in line with all of NECA's Alien releases to date and the header card uses the Aliens movie blue electric logo. Under the logo and running down now into the card back is a more comic book inspired Alien Xenomorph head and a green background that mirrors the cards used by Kenner in 1992.
Ripley herself is clearly visible against this green backdrop, and is packed independently of her Smart gun which is strapped at the left hand side (as you look) of the blister. The character name comes in on an insert that straddles the bottom section of the front blister and wraps round the two sides. Again a comic book artistic approach has been used to replicate Ripley who is shown firing her Smart gun up into the blister itself. Her name is presented in a militaristic silver flash with red trim - another nod to the original Kenner packaging.
There are no side art panels, but down the right spine as you look at the front you will see a folded comic book which we will talk about a little later. Round the back and NECA's homage to 80's and 90's toys continues with a checklist affair of their own figures from the Alien and Predator series. An actual image of the Ripley figure sits in the top left underneath which is a very basic bio of Ripley followed by a small yellow text panel that sets up the Space Marines in the Kenner universe.
Once open then you will find Ripley and her gun in the usual perspex inner tray, and tucked down one side is a folded Dark Horse style mini-comic. The comic is reasonably decent with a Dark Horse Comics cover and an inner cover that positions the story. There are then 14 pages of 1990's style comic artwork that tells a short story that sets up a confrontation between Ripley and her Space Marines on a remote farming world. My issue with the comic is the bizarre choice to fold it and stuff it into the side of the blister rather than packing it flat at the back of the card?
So onto the figure, and I should be clear at this point that Space Marine Ripley is simply a repainted version of the Series 5 Aliens Ripley. The only thing that has been changed sculpturally is the addition of a neckerchief.
Being based on the S5 Ripley, the facial and head sculpt is really good. However, unlike S5 Ripley the choice has been made to paint this figure, rightly so, in a comic book rather than realistic style. This means a very glossy single skin tone only broken by a blush colour towards the jar. There are then very defined and bold eyes and simply painted lips and eyes. It works and is actually not much different to how say Hasbro paints human figures in their Star Wars 6 inch line. However, stick it next to any other movie figure from the NECA range and it starts to look out of place.
From the head you go down into a simple T-shirt painted in a flat burgundy shade, although that being said there is plenty of folds and creases. Across the T-shirt are two straps containing flares, and then slung over this is the ammo belt. Around the neck is the cream coloured neckerchief. Both the outer ammo belt and the neckerchief are loose to the body and you could remove both if you wishes - although the head would have to come off to remove the neck piece.
The legs are the closest in colour to the original S5 figure with a blue colouring. This is a flat colour though and unlike the S5 version does not pick out any depth to the cloth. Neither is there any detail on the zips or straps, which are picked up in the S5 version. The boots are a huge contrast to their original look, painted in a gaudy yellow with blue soles - finishing off the outfit as a direct match to the colours used in the 1992 Kenner version.
Articulation is overall very strong, with little in the way of "bulk" to block movement in any of the limbs. The head fully rotates and looks up and down. The arms move out to a full 90 degrees on their ball joint and can also rotate to go up above Ripley's head. The elbows bend to 90 degrees and will also rotate at the same joint. Both wrists will rotate, but are on very fragile pins so watch out for these popping out.
There is a waist joint and this allows a movement of about a cm to either side. The hip joints are also ball jointed and sit under this semi flexible crotch area that NECA are using a lot recently. This means the legs can get out to the side and in front without looking too unnatural "rounded". The knees are single jointed and bend to 90 degrees and like the elbows also rotate. Like most modern NECA figures the knee joint is also beautifully integrated into the sculpt so is as unobtrusive to the looks as possible. The legs end with rocker ankles.
The sole accessory is the Smart Gun, an accessory that will be better received in a few weeks when Vasquez is released. The original Kenner Ripley came with a much bulkier weapon, but it was a sensible choice for NECA to stick their newly sculpted Smart gun into this release rather than commission a whole new piece. Thanks to the arm articulation and that waist movement Ripley can be posed with and hold the Smart gun with both hands, although not as firmly as I would have liked. Sadly the Smart gun is quite fragile and mine has already snapped after a very minor tumble forward. One to watch on here and when Vasquez arrives.
The movement into Comic book, and Kenner inspired figures, is a move I do applaud NECA for as it will please many many fans - as it did when they took the same approach in their Predator series. It also means sculpts can be reused or re-imagined, which in the bigger scheme will allow NECA the funds / resource to expand the range. As a figure it is true to its purpose, an homage to the original Kenner version, and because of this it does make compromises in paint applications to mimic a comic book look as opposed to a more realistic style you expect of NECA. That makes Space Marine Ripley difficult to score.
We gave the S5 Ripley a 5 out of 5 when she was released, and you would argue this is the same figure. It is difficult to argue marking her down due to the paint as the paint job is specifically flat and garish to meet the homage brief. The weak wrists are an issue, and in hindsight are the same on the S5 Ripley. In the end its two issues that cost this figure the same 5 out of 5 mark. First off is the potentially weak plastic on the Smart Gun. And secondly it's the frustration over packing in a beautiful mini comic, but then folding it in half and stuffing it out of the way. This leaves Kenner Space Marine Ripley entering the archives with a 4 out of 5 score.
