UPDATE: Sold for US $48.38. Just a little shy of my minimum expectations.
Here’s something you don’t see every day, although it does feel like these loose Kenner ALIEN dorsal crests appear on eBay with monotonous regularity. It’s been a few months since one of these pieces appeared on the service. This one is for auction right now and bidding commenced at US$5. It’s a safe bet this item will sell for more than ten times that amount despite the fact it is damaged. Yes. It is damaged. 
It’s an original piece, alright, and that will go a long way to contributing to the final value of this item when sold; easily exceeding US$50 at the end of the auction. Keeping this in mind, though, it’s true value may not be reached as one of the two tapered pegs needed to fit the part onto the back of the forty year old toy is missing. The point of breakage isn’t made clear in any of the photos provided and it is certainly not documented in the brief description provided by the seller. Nonetheless, this is still a valuable piece that will help complete somebody’s vintage ALIEN toy. They may need to rely on improvising a method to reattach it to the figure. This item simply will not remain in situ without that upper peg to secure it in place and it will simply fall out without additional care.
-Windebieste.
Not a lot of details accompany the reveal except NECA’s brief statement, “
Of course, there’s no indication of what this pair of figures will be; and certainly, there’s no time frame of their release. Even “done” could simply imply sculpts and prototyping is now complete and much, much more work needs to be completed before retail items hit store shelves. Either way, one of these figures is ready to be revealed. I’m wondering what it could be? I’d be happy to see updated versions of Kenner’s Boar Alien and/or Cougar Alien represented in NECA’s updated 7 inch scale range of figures. Maybe one is a Space Marine..? We’re watching you, NECA, with great interest.
Here’s NECA’s brief description of this item, “
These items are expected to be released in May, 2021. Here’s what NECA have to say about this upcoming release, “Wave 4 will include previously released fan favorites Ripley(Compression Suit), Lambert(Compression Suit), and Giger’s Alien, with various upgrades and improvements. Both Ripley & Lambert will feature photoreal facial deco of Sigourney Weaver and Veronica Cartwright! Giger’s Alien features new paint deco based on HR Giger’s original concept artwork.Each figure will come packaged in a 40th Anniversary Kenner inspired window box to commemorate the occasion.”
This is a much more biomechanical finish to the creature and the ambience does appear to suit it much better than the original tangerine of some time back. Here’s what NECA have to say about this upcoming item, “Prepare to be bowled over by the newest addition to NECA’s Kenner Tribute line! The Rhino Alien is back and better than ever with brand new paint deco based on the variant release. Our team took inspiration from Kenner’s classic design and 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. Comes in all-new deluxe window box packaging.” Sounds very promising. This item is scheduled for release in January, 2021.
I’m a sucker for glow in the dark stuff. I have to admit I do like this treatment of the figure. It sure is a creepy lookin’ critter when presented like this with luminous green features and black pits where eyes would normally be, hey. Glow in the dark features on ALIEN toys and action figures date back forty years to the original 1979 Kenner ALIEN toy. These things sure have come a long way. This new NECA item features the new updated seven inch Ultimate ALIEN sculpt, a chestburster, a facehugger and an opening egg as accessories. Oh, my! I love it.
This is the first time either likeness has been used by NECA for these characters. NECA’s brief description tells us, “
Importantly, we finally see Parker and Brett finally being released in this format. Neither of this pair have ever been done before by NECA! Their release is not only welcome but exciting. I can’t wait to see the photos of fans dioramas after these are released. Brett and Parker will be released soon. Here’s what NECA have to say about this upcoming release, “Final packaging of Alien 40th Anniversary Series 2 coming to specialty shops everywhere soon.” Yeah! Parker and Brett, baby. Right. They both appear to have some neat accessories, too. A flamethrower and cattle prod for Parker and another cattle prod and motion tracker for Brett. These are all round good choices for both characters but I might have liked to have seen Brett have Jones as an accessory. 
The glow in the dark figure is a re-purposing of their recent Ultimate ALIEN Big Chap figure. It will be packaged in a similar window box with gatefold and this time will feature appropriate glow in the dark themes. Here’s a few words from NECA, “NECA continues to celebrate the original Alien film from 1979 with the release of the Glow In The Dark Ultimate Big Chap! Standing over 9″ tall, the Big Chap has over 30 points of articulation including a hinged jaw that reveals the inner mouth when opened. From its large dome down to the feet, the Ultimate Big Chap is painted in an eerie fluorescent green that will radiate your collection when the lights go out. The glow in the dark effect even extends to the accessories, which includes an egg with base, facehugger, and chestburster. Comes in a glow in the dark display friendly window box package with opening flap.” 
Not much information accompanies NECA’s post but here is what they have to say, “
You can purchase this item from NECA’s 
Drake is now available from NECA’s 
Space Marine Drake is another NECA tribute figure based on the old 1990s Kenner toy of the same name. He looks neat even if he more closely resembles Pvt. Hicks rather than Drake on the packaging art. Anyway, here’s what NECA have to say about the imminent release of this item, “The 7″ scale Kenner Homage Drake Action Figure is packed up and ready to take on the Rhino Alien! You can expect this figure to start shipping on April 14th.” Personally, I’m not all that interested in the human ALIENS characters NECA are releasing but this does look sweet and just a tad ludicrous with the double bayonet mounted smartgun. lol. Have fun with this when it is released in a week or so.
