News and activity regarding announcements and releases of new ALIEN goodies has been a little thin on the ground of late. In lieu of such activity, I will take this opportunity tos update a section of HIDEOUS PLASTIC with some new entries dedicated to prototypes and product development samples of Kenner ALIENS toys. Now added to the growing section is 
New additions to the growing list of rare Kenner production relics from last century includes:
1. Queen Alien play set figure.
2. Proof samples of backing cards for Series 1 ALIENS action figures.
3. Hardcopy prototype of Space Marine Vasquez.
Special thank you to Steve Dwyer for his kind permission to use these images.
-Windebieste.
It’s important to note this sale is accompanied by a “Good News and some Bad News” caveat. Firstly, the “good news”. The tail is in excellent condition with very little to no issues. Importantly, the blunt spiked tip of these pieces can be broken.This one is fully intact and that’s great. What’s just as important is the presence of the serrated metal washer attached to the other end of the tail. As this item is needed to fit the tail onto a figure, it’s inclusion here is very welcome – and uncommon – so it’s more than a bonus. Loose tails like this one for sale usually lack this metal ring. Having it included in the sale means the tail is easily attached to the figure without the need for any improvisation. I say that’s definitely “good news”. 
I’d like to thank Caesar V. Jacquez for kind permission to publish these photos. I’m always looking to post more prototype items to document on HIDEOUS PLASTIC. If you would like to share such items and have images added to this significant repository of Kenner ALIEN(S) action figure prototypes online, please contact me.
Just completely disregard the seller’s claim this was made by Hasbro. It’s true Hasbro did own Kenner Products at some point but that ownership transfer from Tonka didn’t occur till late in Kenner’s life, in 1992. It happened long, long after these toys were produced in 1979. Sadly, Hasbro was the final owner of Kenner and the world renowned toy maker would eventually be closed by Hasbro in 2000. Boo. Hiss. Hasbro.You shut down an institution that gave joy to several generations of children.
Nonetheless, as the demand for these old toys continues unabated price rises can be expected. What’s unexpected is how many of these discontinued toys were made back in 1979 and still survive to be sold on secondary markets like eBay more than forty years later. This one is missing its head dome, it is dusty and is incomplete. It doesn’t even include a box or poster. At least it has all of its mouth parts in situ and the ever elusive dorsal crest mounted between its shoulders is present. …but starting a bid at US$750?! Yeah. That’s kind of an astonishing expectation and I will be surprised if it actually sells for that impressive amount. Complete figures in boxes sell for around that price – and that’s considered cheap not loose, dusty samples missing one of the critical parts that actually makes these old toys valuable. Then again, as I like to say about these old figures, there is nothing normal about this toy. So who knows? In all actuality, it’s only worth what it gets sold for.
It appears to be a decent piece, a little dusty but easily cleaned with some warm soapy water and an old toothbrush. Mind you, the head dome is missing and the glow in the dark paint work appears to display minor scuff marks. Significantly, the provided photographic material doesn’t reveal if the frequently damaged slot on the figure’s back is whole or not. Nonetheless, we have been assured by the seller this old toy still “Has big back spine accessories.” If you plan to purchase this item, make sure you inquire about how well that valuable albeit frequently absent item is in situ and whether it’s an original piece. There’s a poster included in the sale, too. You might like to ask about it’s authenticity. No box is included. It’s a solid average piece and probably won’t remain listed for long once offers are made.
He’s almost all there and only missing the dome that sits loose upon the head. He’s still in some need of repair as both arms are broken from the figure and need to be re-attached. It’s not a hard task, actually. I’ve done it many times. Take the figure apart, slap a 3mm bungee cord inside the torso and voila! he’s all fixed. Done. OK, so there’s a few additional steps required but it’s an easy repair. The dorsal crest is also provided and can be re-attached. Jam a piece of foam rubber in with the pegs to hold it in place works wonders and can’t be any simpler. Right now, US$250 is a reasonable price for this item. Grab him and make him whole once again.
He’s a lovely sample, too. Complete with all parts present and only minor scuffs here and there along some dust that mar his otherwise “perfect composure”. The dust can be cleaned off with some some warm water, mild detergent and a toothbrush. The value is all there! That is, if you think US$600 is an appropriate price for a grotesque toy that was discounted to under US$5 in order to clear unwanted stock nobody wanted and wouldn’t sell in 1980. No box, poster or small child unable to sleep at night included. Make an offer.
He appears to be a little dusty and worn about the edges. Certainly, his glow in the dark head paint appears to be worn and the legs are likely to be very loose as a display stand is required to hold the figure upright. His arms have been re-stringed but his mouth parts are fully functional and all of his appendages are present on his back. This is a reasonable and average condition vintage toy but this is a high starting price for a figure that is incomplete and clearly a long way from optimum condition. This is a price you would expect to see on Kenner ALIEN toys in a substantially better condition. Nonetheless, prices on these old toys have been climbing dramatically of late and US$300 may yet become the new benchmark for incomplete and used Kenner ALIEN toys. Will this fellow sell at US$300? It only takes one bid to flag it as Sold.
One of the attractions here is the claim this figure is fastened to the insert card and being held in situ by zip ties. This can mean the figure has never been removed from its box and as such can considerably ramp up the value of the toy. What about figures that have been removed from their box and then fastened back in place with replacement zip ties, is the toy still valuable? Sure. But it also means the figure has been removed from the box and as such it is considerably reduced in value.
These Q&A sessions are a lot of fun! I’m going to have to do more of them, I think.
This is one of those examples where the very canny seller on eBay has realised people might pay any amount of money to own one of these toys. So, he’s listed it for a ridiculous price and added Make Best Offer option to the sale. The “best offer” option is significant because he’ll keep the item listed until he receives the amount he feels will be the highest he will get. Patience is the game here. It’s a selling technique that functions a little like an auction, but without the timer. Surely, this item will eventually sell and the person making the highest offer will score this prize. How much will it actually sell for? Only the parties involved in the transaction will ever really know as the sale will only reflect a “best offer accepted” acknowledgement along with the original listed price.
He’s a little worn around the edges and his glow in the dark paint shows some scuff marks but his average condition still makes this sample a good, welcome find for someone. Figures in this condition are relatively common and frequently appear on eBay. They can sell for any price, typically starting around the US$100 mark. Despite this being the case, the US$325 price tag on this item is somewhat high and is usually expected on complete figures. On the other hand, prices on these forty year old toys have been climbing. It’s nothing new.
Let’s take a closer look at what’s on offer with this listing. While all of the figure’s parts are there, not all of them are original. The dome in particular is a notable reproduction. While it does provide the vintage figure with some claim to completing it, the presence of the part is no match for an original piece the toy would have possessed when first purchased, either in value or presentation. While the dome is a facsimile, it’s easily replaced and discarded should a genuine piece be acquired. I would also extend suspicion to the two halves of the tongue as these may also be replacement parts inside the mouth.
Significantly though, US$450 is the price point you can usually expect a box to be included in the sale. Nope. Sorry. No such luxury packaging is present here and the listing is solely for the toy. Mind you, it’s a very good quality item. It could do with a clean. That’s about it. That’s really the only area of improvement needed on this action figure and it is easily achieved with some warm soapy water, a toothbrush and some patience. It’s all that fine detail these toys are blessed with that trap dust motes and these vintage toys aren’t affected by mild kitchen detergent soap and a good rinse down with clean water. A good bath, and this sample will be the pride of someone’s collection.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen one of these valuable pieces hit eBay. This one looks good and tidy. Nonetheless, high demand for these items will ensure this one won’t sit for long on the service. It’s not unusual for these items to sell for around US$100. What is unusual is how many of these loose pieces are still around after more than forty years since the toy was released. I’m thinking that’s possibly due to the more than 100,000 samples of the toy being made in the US and these parts are poorly implemented in terms of being attached to the figure means they simple fall off. What’s more, the number of these toys made by Kenner may possibly exceed 150,000 when factoring units made in Canada. Which by the way, were made in smaller numbers than in the US with the domes made from different material, fall off just as easily and are simply more rare.
This is clearly a good condition figure for its age. Certainly, it’s not mint condition but nonetheless completeness of all critical parts is one of two of its great strengths. Its other strength – and this is important – is the seller has commenced bidding at the low, low price of one dollar. This is important because once this sale is completed, multiple prospective purchasers will have thrown in their bids. To what height will bidding on this item escalate to? It’s hard to say. Complete figures in similar condition easily sell for over US$250. A final value of US$350 isn’t out of the question. Reaching an even higher price is well within its ability to do so.
While none of these items can be considered to be in pristine condition, it’s unusual to note that boxed Kenner ALIEN toys currently for sale on eBay outnumber loose samples without any packaging. Not bad for an action figure that’s more than forty years old. All of these samples are US pressings of the toy and most are being sold in the US with Japan also being represented. Recently, one listed in Argentina was also available (but this selection was a quick search result and for all I know it may still be available). So, at least seven are available as of this writing. This will change rapidly as these eventually sell. 