If you bought the original version then you know what to expect out of the Alien (with Metallic Flesh)
creature. The mold is more or less the same, except now it has a
completely clear colorless dome, a very nice metallic black skin, and a
wonderful white skull paint job that looks a lot like the original 1979
Kenner giant figure. It has the same sliding tongue, and much like the
previous release it doesn't glow in the dark.
We've been doing some talking about "gag figures" lately, and this is sort of a "gag playset." The joke of the Alien Egg Chamber
is that a little girl and a little boy are playing with a breeding
ground for murderous parasites and seem to be having a great time - and
that it looks like something that was a cheap toy in 1979 which is in
fact a very expensive toy in 2014/2015. The first release was a heavy
resin and sold on-site at Comic-Con last year, the market for which
softened quickly and the $100 super-limited item is (at press time)
about $120-$130 on eBay. Not being able to get in line at the show, I
pre-ordered online (there were credit card problems) during the show,
which got me a black box and a plastic base. I would say this is a
piece for vintage toy fetishists only, and it's a real curiosity.
The idea of doing Pulp Fiction
action figures is both outlandish and makes perfect sense. Director
Quentin Tarintino's oeuvre tends to appeal to a group that also collects
action figures. Also, the 1990s were packed with kid toy lines based
on R-Rated movies. Mia Wallace makes all kinds of sense as an
action figure thanks to her distinctive look and the general appeal of
the movie to aging toy collectors. The Kenner 1970s look works well
with the look of the movie, so if you're into this stuff it's a good fit
for your toy box.
I guess one advantage of time-traveling naked guys in the Terminator franchise is it really opens the door to costume changes. The Terminator (Tech Noir Jacket)
had 4 different figures in the first wave if you include the skeletons,
which shows just how popular the character is and how nifty those
costumes were.
About
a year ago we all got our first look at ReAction Figures from Funko,
born out of a Super7 idea to recreate (and create) new Kenner-style
action figures for a modern collector audience. The resulting products
are all over the place - while the quantity is nothing short of
impressive, quality is all over the place. A lot of these figures are
going to get a bit of a pass, because the likes of Marty McFly and Sarah Connor
are pretty scarce as toys and collectibles go. No kid-driven Sarah
Connor action figure was ever made, and she was completely left out of
the original Kenner toys for Terminator 2: Judgment Day despite
being one of the biggest badasses in the movies. This version goes
back to the 1984 original film, complete with the appropriate hair and
costuming.