The NECA 40th Anniversary Series of figures were released in 2020 and made up of three waves of three figures from Alien (1979). Series 2 was a Summer 2020 release and brought us the first figures of Brett and Parker ever to be released in the line, along with the Alien itself with a new bloody decor paint job.
Packaging 4.0
The Alien line from NECA has predominantly been packed in clamshell packaging to date, with a few recent Ultimate items then boxed. The 40th Anniversary line changes direction from both of these with a window box based on the original Kenner packaging from their 1979 Alien release. This uses a blue background with a black trim and the same logo from the Kenner box with a Big Chap on a red shaped background above a white text ALIEN logo.
The figure window is bordered on three sides and wraps the top flap of the box. The Alien log cuts into the base of the window and below this is the character name and the NECA logo, and this too is inspired by the Kenner logo.
The right hand spine carries the 40th Anniversary logo and character name, while the left hand has an image of the figure topped by the Kenner Alien logo and with another 40th Anniversary logo beneath the image. There is a further figure image on the back along with some generic background text for the movie - rather than the figure.
"IN SPACE, NO-ONE CAN HEAR YOU SCREAM"
"IN A REMOTE REGION OF THE GALAXY, THE UNITED STATES SPACE TUG, NOSTROMO, CARRYING A CARGO OF MINERAL ORE, MAKES ITS RETURN JOURNEY TO EARTH. THE SHIP'S CREW - FIVE MEN, TWO WOMEN AND A CAT - ARE AWAKENED FROM THEIR HYPERSLEEP CHAMBERS WHEN MOTHER, THE ON BOARD COMPUTER, MONITORS A STRANGE TRANSMISSION. ACCORDING TO COMPANY LAW, THE CREW MUST INVESTIGATE ANY SIGNAL INDICATING POSSIBLE INTELLIGENT LIFE. WHAT STARTS AS A ROUTINE SEARCH MISSION QUICKLY ESCALATES INTO A NIGHTMARE OF UNIMAGINABLE TERROR WHEN THE CREW DISCOVERS AND BRINGS ABOARD AN EXTRATERRESTRIAL LIFEFORM."
Under this background text sits a checklist of the other 8 figures in the 40th Anniversary series. These are shown as head shots of each figure but are not shown in a Wave order.
The figure sits against the red inner colour of the box, there is no cardboard insert. The tray slides out by means of the top flap. The Alien is bent over at the knees to fit into the box, with the flexible tail wrapped up and round so it almosts meats the head. A number of twist ties will need to be tackled around the arm and legs to free the Alien from the packaging.
Paint & Sculpt 3.0
We have had a number of Big Chap Alien figures from NECA over the year, most recently the updated Ultimate Big Chap from early 2020 and the 40th Anniversary is a re-use of that figure.
The head sculpt is amazing with the usual attention to detail over the physical aspects of the Alien from the ridged sides of the head to the smooth clear dome, which is fogged and teases at the physiology underneath. The jaws are lined with tendons and muscles and the teeth almost a metallic silver.
The body for the 1979 Alien is very much an actor in a suit, and the sculpt reflects this with an initially upright pose when unpacked fully. The chest is an exposed rib cage while the arms and legs have a mix of smooth armour and exposed ridged segments. The hands end in elongated 6 fingered hands, while the fet have a four toed front and a spiked piece behind.
The body is cast in a glossy brown/black plastic with dry brushing of brown over the top to add depth to the sculpt. The glossy finish gives a slick wet look all over. This version of The Alien is the bloody version and to achieve this an amount of red paint has been added to the mouth, rib cage and hands - with further splashes on the dome, arms and neck. The blood colouring is a touch too bright for me, especially on the chest. We don't see the Alien covered in blood to this extent in the film, and it more remind me of how as kids we would add blood to figures with red poster paint than anything else. As a concept it is fine, it perhaps needed dialling back a little.
Accessories N/A
Our Alien comes with no accessories of any sort.
Considering here in the UK at least the 40th Anniversary line is comparable in price to the Ultimate version - it might have been nice to see NECA add some further value to the set with the inclusion of one or more of the Ultimate accessories like the egg or facehugger. Or have included a scared Jones the cat.
Articulation 3.5
The new Ultimate body sees some substantial improvements on articulation to the older body. The hips are now more ball jointed than simple swivels, the knees are double jointed and we have both ankle rocker and toe pivot joint included. This all adds up to 20 point of articulation.
Head : ball joint neck, opening jaw, extending inner jaw
Body : ball joint chest, tail rotation, flexible tail with wire armature
Arms : ball joint shoulder, single rotating elbow, wrist pivot
Legs : ball joint hip, double joint knees with rotation ankle rocker, toe pivot
The arms are fully mobile and can be extended for striking poses or brought in close to the body. The legs, even with the new additions, are less extensive. While the double joint knees and feet articulation allows full movement - the hips remain somewhat blocked by the rubber groin piece.
The tail doesn't feel as secure in the inner armature as other alien figures and struggles to hold its shape once posed. As usual, it can and needs to be used as a counter balance point for some posing.
The head articulates on a ball joint at the top of the neck and can be moved back and forward - alhough backward is blocked by the extrusion at the base of the neck. Watch this piece too as it is an individual plugged in piece with no apparent glue and it falls out far too easily.
We have the articulated jaw, and this is brilliant in the way it pivots open and the sculpt moves with the jaw on the sides. Inside we have the inner jaw piece. This is very loose and rather than shooting it, it seems to flow out and hang as though not properly connected in the head.
On arrival and unpacking, the Alien has a number of seized joints and has to be coaxed into life. A hot water bath is the easiest way, don't try and force anything as they will be liable to snap before they become free.
Summary
The Alien feels like a filler to Series 2, as did the Concept Alien in Series 1. And of course we look to be getting the same figure again in Series 3 without the blood splatter. We also had the identical figure as an Ultimate in early 2020 and as a glow in the dark SDCC exclusive, so in one year we will have five versions of the same figure base in circulation.
Like most NECA Alien figures, the sculpting and execution of the looks is wonderful as is the paint finish up to the addition of the blood. The blood itself as a concept is fine, they've just been a little too heavy handed and a touch too bright with the colour.
Articulation is certainly improved on this Ultimate body, but not quite to the level we have seen on other Xenomorphs like the AvP version or the recent Resurrection Warrior.
The box design is more apt with this figure considering the original Kenner Big Chap figure from 1979 on which the packaging design is based. But I would still have preferred something more aligned to the movie.
I score the Alien with bloody decor from the Alien 40th Anniversary Series 2 a total of 3.5 taking into account how often NECA are trying to make us dip on the same figure.
About Me : As a child of the 70's and 80's I grew up in a golden age for action figures and in my youth bought and sold myself through collections of Star Wars, G.I. Joe (Action Force) and M.A.S.K. while also dabbling in He-Man, Transformers and Ghostbusters. Roll forward and I am now reliving that Youth with the action figures of today and am a collector and fan of the larger 6-8 inch figures from my favourite movie and TV licences - including the ones mentioned above, but also the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Who and the Aliens. I launched The Mephitsu Archives in 2015 with a view of creating a UK focused site or these figures where fans can pick up the latest action figure news, read reviews and get information on where to buy their figures and what is currently on store shelves. I hope I am delivering that to you guys...
action figures, reviews, review, articulation, NECA, Alien, Ridley Scott, Big Chap, Xenomorph, Nostromo, Ripley, Parker, Brett, Dallas, Lamber, Ash, 40th Anniversary Series