Unauthorised PROMETHEUS ‘Bubble Gum’ Cards.

Posted on 31/12/2019 by windebieste

Sometime in 2016, I made a set of fake ALIEN Isolation bubble gum cards. I have always wanted to follow that little project with something along similar lines and recently created a complete set of 114 bubble gum cards created from screen images of PROMETHEUS. As the movie takes place between Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve 2093, I figure now, New Year’s Eve, 2019, would be an appropriate time to release these into the wild for the general public to enjoy.

These things are purely unauthorised, unlicenced and not the real deal. Just a fan art project I had some with. You can download these items in a single zip file from this page along with the older ALIEN Isolation cards I made 3 years ago. Have fun with these. Have a great New Year while you’re at it.

-Windebieste.

eBay – Mexican Knock Off Aliens.

Posted on 29/12/2019 by windebieste

Normally I like to hunt for 1979 Kenner ALIEN stuff on eBay. Today, I found something else. Much more hilarious and definitely a lot weirder. Knock off Aliens made in Mexico. I love this shit – and so should you. Check ’em out. The “wrong is strong with this one”:These lurid pieces of weird junk are great. I love them. I own several of them so I can vouch for their overtly unconventional take on the popular Alien form. Stuff made in Mexico breaks a lot of rules and these things are no exception. I have no idea who makes these things. There is no maker’s mark or any date of manufacture printed on the figures. Identities as to what kind of Aliens these ludicrous things are intended to represent is always at a loss. This weird junk from Mexico is at once outstanding and crappy all in the same breath and is simply the Best of the Worst. Continue reading →

NECA Reveals Rhino Alien Package Mock Up.

Posted on 28/12/2019 by windebieste

For today’s Facehugger Friday reveal, NECA released some images on Facebook of mock up packaging of their upcoming tribute to Kenner’s 1993 Rhino Alien figure.

NECA had this to say about this item “The Rhino is massive and his beautiful packaging is being worked on now.” I must say, I am expecting a larger than usual figure for this item to scale appropriately in NECA’s 1inch REEL TOYS range of figures. This thing will be a brute! Rather than being packaged on card or in a clam shell, the Rhino will be in a box.

-Windebieste.

Walmart Exclusive Lanard Toys ALIEN APC.

Posted on 27/12/2019 by windebieste

UPDATE: Looks like several items comprise this announcement. Images added below.
UPDATE 2: These items have been released and now available at Walmart.

Lanard Toys has had a 4th item in their ALIENS Collection toy range revealed; a Space colony defense Alien Battle set to help combat those pesky Xenomorphs. This space marine and APC is exclusive to Walmart. Pre-orders for this item are now available.

Here’s the product description from Lanard Toys, “Space colony defense – Alien Battle set. Articulated figure comes with Advanced-APC Vehicle and accessories. Advanced-APC vehicle with rotating top cannon. Top loading cockpit that holds up to 2 figures.” Price is US$14.92/each. Availability will be sometime next year. (Only about 4 days away, now). Continue reading →

1979 Kenner ALIEN Poster and Derivatives.

Posted on 26/12/2019 by windebieste

Kenner released their nefarious ALIEN action figure in 1979. Inside the bright blue box the toy itself attached via laddered zip ties to a red insert card that kept it stable within the package. Also inside the box was a paper inclusion. This double sided printed item served both as a rudimentary black and white instruction sheet with the reverse side serving as a poster. Today, these loose items can fetch upwards of over US$100 apiece when sold on eBay. It’s also been emulated multiple times by companies who have since created their own versions of the poster as inclusions within their own ALIEN products.

This blue version of the poster can be found in Super7’s more recent iterations of the older Kenner Products toy. Printed blue on white paper, it’s a modern recreation of the older inclusion. One side featuring the instruction sheet closely resembles the original 1979 publication in all critical design elements but given a 1986 update. It is a neat inclusion and can be found in all of Super7’s SuperSize ALIENS tribute figures, excepting their very first ‘prototype’ figure which contains no such inclusion. As such, you’ll find one in each of their ‘Classic Toy Edition’ (2017), ‘Acid Green Edition’ (2017) and ‘Marine Ambush Edition’ (2019) ALIENS action figures.

Continue reading →

NECA Reveal New Ripley Figure.

Posted on 25/12/2019 by windebieste

For Christmas NECA have revealed on Facebook their package tray mock up of their upcoming 7 inch Ripley action figure. Here’s an unpainted test shot with a few accessories.

Accessories with this item look like a great range including a flamethrower, cat box, motion tracker and a space marked “cat”, which could only be Jones. Of course it’s Jones. Here’s what NECA have to say about this item, “Incoming: new accessories, a new head sculpt, photo real printed face deco, kenner homage packaging & more.” I will be interested in seeing which of the Kenner themes they will adopt for this packaging. I’m guessing it will be another blue box as this is still the 40th Anniversary of the release of ALIEN along with the original Kenner product line; but possibly with a gatefold. Nice stuff.

The new cat box and motion tracker look super neat, too. I’ve always loved the icecube tray stuck to the side of the tracker and it’s obvious here. lol. The “printed face” feature sounds like it will be an upgrade over previous painted figures. Photographic realism on an action figure? It sounds like a trip down uncanny valley to me. I’m hoping this technoloby is also applied to NECA’s upcoming Parker and Brett figures as well. Am I looking forward to this release? Yes. I am. Merry Christmas NECA.

-Windebieste.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, 2019.

Posted on 25/12/2019 by windebieste

Merry Christmas to anyone visiting this site today and for my own celebration I spent Christmas Day with my family at my Mother’s house. Here I am with my mother, Shirley Wlodarczyk, posing by the Christmas tree with a Kenner ALIEN toy.

It was on this day, exactly 40 years ago, she gifted to me my very first Kenner ALIEN.

Of course, I wasn’t the only person to receive a Kenner ALIEN toy on Christmas Day, 1979. Many children, younger than myself, were also recipients of this astonishing toy. Recommended for children “AGES 5 AND UP”, many of these figures became the proud possessions of kids around the world.

40 Christmases have passed since then and I’ve had the pleasure to talk to many people now in their late 40s or older who received one of these on that day as a child. I have also seen around half a dozen photos of youngsters posing on Christmas Day (or soon thereafter) with their proud possession. This image is to honour those kids, now adults; and also for my mother who was kind and understanding enough to grant me one of these weird things on Christmas Day, 1979. I was 17 years old at the time and this was probably the last toy she gave me.

Thank you, Ma.

-Windebieste.

NECA Kenner Tribute ALIEN Now Available in Australia.

Posted on 23/12/2019 by windebieste

NECA’s large 22 inch tall ALIEN action figure is now available in Australia. This is the latest version packaged in a large box that pays tribute to the notorious 40 year old Kenner ALIEN children’s toy.

Finally, this item is here, in this country! This item is now in stock at the local Australian retailer for all your space monstery goodness, POPCULTCHA for AU$229.99. A reasonable price considering we live on the other side of the world and have to pay for importation of goods, Australia Tax, Goods and Service Tax, Income Tax, Tax, Tax, Tax and More Tax just for enjoying the luxury of living in isolation on the ass end of the planet. Plus, POPCULTCHA offer free shipping within Australia for purchases over AU$100. Nice.

I’ll probably be getting one of these enormous brutes inside a pretty blue box sometime on the other side of the New Year. The box looks great; and so does the figure and POPCULTCHA are a favourite retailer. NECA seldom disappoint when it comes to detail and articulation on these things. So, yeah. I can see myself with one of these in my life sometime soon. Cheaper and Bigger than a real Kenner ALIEN toy, too. That’s got to account for something, right?

-Windebieste.

NECA Updates Their ALIENS Visual Guide.

Posted on 22/12/2019 by windebieste

NECA’s Facehugger Friday released new versions of their ALIENS Visual Checklist. NECA has had a long running annual tradition of updating this guide for ALIEN characters in their popular 7 inch REEL TOYS ALIEN range during the week leading up to Christmas. This checklist only lists ALIEN figures in this scale. NECA have made more ALIEN product than is documented in this image – a LOT more, actually. Further more, this guide can’t be considered complete as it lacks multiple creature and arsenal packs.

Here’s what NECA have to say about this updated digital Christmas present to the world “We’ve got more Aliens! We’ve updated our visual guides to include all announcements & releases to date. Both versions include all figures, with the second showing the updated card backer art! Each is available as an extra-large, 300 dpi JPG.”

High resolution versions of the Visual Checklist are available from NECA in 2 different flavours. Here’s a link to download the standard version. Plus another link to download an alternate version featuring packaging art from each series. Have fun with these!

-Windebieste.

How About a Kenner ALIEN Toy for Christmas?

Posted on 20/12/2019 by windebieste

40 years ago, the 1979 Kenner ALIEN action figure was released to the public. It was available this time of year for Christmas shoppers to purchase as gifts for children “AGES 5 AND UP”. These toys were in abundance, everywhere. They were often stacked high in pyramids and prominently displayed at aisle ends throughout the US and other countries. The exact number of ALIEN toys Kenner made is unknown. No actual sales or production target figures were ever released to the public. We know one thing is certain. They made a lot. …and I mean A LOT.

Kenner made so many of these toys, you can still buy them today, 4 decades later. Sure, many of them a little worse for wear and you may have to pay more than US$14.95 which was their recommended retail price when new, but you can still purchase one on eBay. Each of these items pictured above are all for sale right now. Continue reading →

ALIEN-MAN Fan Art is a Real Thing.

Posted on 14/12/2019 by windebieste

I’m a big fan of custom work and there’s nothing out there quite like ALIEN-MAN. What’s more, you know when your custom ALIEN action figure starts appearing in fan art it’s become something special. As has been the case of Spymo’s ALIEN-MAN created by Xevi Soler. Here’s a few of images I found on the ‘net while looking for something else. It turned out finding ALIEN-MAN fan art was more interesting than what I was originally looking for. ALIEN-MAN fan art is a real thing, apparently.

ALIEN-MAN fan art (Left). Original custom made Spymo ALIEN-MAN action figure (Right) was an amalgam of a Tsukuda Hobby key chain ALIEN head and a Scooby Doo glow in the dark villain torso. The perfect organism? Maybe; certainly the perfect combination. Continue reading →

NECA Reveals Ultimate ALIEN Packaging.

Posted on 14/12/2019 by windebieste

It’s Facehugger Friday! As part of the continuing 40th Anniversary of the release of ALIEN, NECA have released packaging images of their upcoming Ultimate ALIEN action figure on Facebook.

It’s a nice looking, black gatefold box with the iconic ALIEN egg logo on the front and a mirrored image of the figure inside the gatefold. This 7 inch scale offering includes an open egg, a facehugger and a chestburster set of accessories. This looks excellent! Not a great deal of information as to when it will be released other than “early 2020”. Not long now either way. Here, have some more images of the box.

-Windebieste.

Super7 Reveals More Wave 3 ALIEN ReAction Figures.

Posted on 13/12/2019 by windebieste

UPDATE: These items have indeed been released as part of “Super7 Days of Christmas” and are now available direct from Super7’s webstore.

Super7’s latest Supercast – Episode 19 – reveals upcoming ALIEN Wave 3 ReAction figures. This release will see the bloody Alien with its tongue extended, Dallas in screen accurate colours and Ripley with Jones appearing on snappy, blue cards.

Each of these figures were released in a range of 3 box sets of 3 figures apiece some time back. Furthermore, each of these characters have been released previously on blue cards as part of original Wave 1 variants. So, unless you want to complete an entire set of Wave 3 ALIEN ReAction figures that was partially released earlier, then these items will duplicate what you already have and they may not be of great interest to you. Do you really want 4 different versions of the ALIEN just because it’s on blue card? …hhhhmmm… Continue reading →

eBay – Empty Kenner ALIEN Box for Sale.

Posted on 12/12/2019 by windebieste

UPDATE: This listing has ended, presumed sold.

Are you looking for a genuine Kenner box to display your 1979 ALIEN action figure? Look no further! One is currently available on eBay right now for only US$299.99. CHEAP!

This item is empty and does not include the actual toy or the potser. It does include the red insert card the action figure was originally fastened to when first distributed. It also includes one of the original zip ties that held the figure in place. It looks reasonably good and clean despite being 40 years old with the usual wear you would expect from something of this vintage. …and yes, this item is now 40 years old.

These empty boxes aren’t exactly rare – but without the figure inside like this does make this item uncommon. They do fetch a healthy price when they do become available. At US$299.99, this item is reasonably priced. A ‘Make Offer’ option is available on the item but I wouldn’t waste time on that. Just buy it outright. Kudos to the vendor for posting images of all 6 sides of the box, too. It’s my guess this item won’t last long on the service despite it being just the packaging. This will be a good purchase for someone, that’s for certain.

-Windebieste.

Super7 Tease New ALIEN Release.

Posted on 11/12/2019 by windebieste

On Facebook, Super7 have announced “Super7 Days of Christmas” and for the next week will be making never seen before items become available on their online store. The first item on the list, the Acid Rain Toxic Avenger is already available. As you can see, a new ALIEN figure is slated for Friday 13.

What will this figure be? A new ReAction figure is likely, but it could be anything. Some speculation is the new item may be the blue carded Ripley figure that was missing from the NY Comic Con 6 set of figures from a year ago. Maybe a new sparkling glitter ALIEN? That would be nice! Maybe something bigger. Maybe a new lurid 18 inch tall translucent purple glow in the dark SuperSize Kenner tribute ALIENS figure..? Am I just exercising some outlandish wishful thinking, here? For sure; but I know people who go nuts for that!

We’ll have to wait until Friday 13 to find out. Maybe it’s an ALIEN in a hockey mask brandishing a large kitchen knife..?

-Windebieste.

MegaConstrux Blind Box ALIENS Soon

Posted on 11/12/2019 by windebieste

Megaconstrux have been releasing a series of images of their new blind box ALIENS series of figures on Facebook. These items look like they’ll be a lot of fun!

Here’s what Construx has to say about this upcoming release, “Coming in early 2020, three new Aliens Eggs! Each one includes 2 Xenomorphs in different colors as well as 2 Facehuggers and lots of slime. They come packaged in their own ”Ovomorphs”(aka Eggs). More pictures coming soon. So, who wants more Aliens for their collection?” Yes. More Aliens in my collection is not enough.

No pricing details or distribution information is available just yet. Nonetheless here’s some more images for you to drool over, including box shots.

-Windebieste.

Broodlord X-Rex Pre-order at BBTS

Posted on 11/12/2019 by windebieste

Big Bad Toy Store now has pre-orders open for REBOR’s upcoming Broodlord X-Rex, a semi articulated figure that appears to be based on Xenomorph Rex, the work of Oliver Pabilona who created the original mash-up design in 3D using Z-Brush.

What is this thing, exactly? It looks like a cross between a Tyrannosaur and an Alien. There’s no real information beyond it being a ‘What if?’ piece inspired by the idea of a dinosaur falling victim to a facehugger. Wow. Someone finally made one. It had to happen sometime, right? Anyway, here’s some details about this curious item: “From Rebor, the Broodlord X-Rex measures about 17 inches long and has been painted with a metallic finish. The Broodlord X-Rex has been made of solid PVC.” and it appears the figure also features limited articulation restricted to the tail, arms and a removable tongue. Continue reading →

HIDEOUS PLASTIC Book Update.

Posted on 09/12/2019 by windebieste

As today is the first day of HIDEOUS PLASTIC’s 4th year online, I’m taking this opportunity to update the current status on the book, HIDEOUS PLASTIC – In stores everyone can hear you scream. A lot has happened since I last openly discussed the status of the book and excellent News is to be shared.

The short version is this unique full colour, near 300 page volume dedicated to the 1979 Kenner ALIEN toy will be available next year and we now have a clear path to publication.

Here’s a quick rundown of recent activities. The final manuscript has been locked down and complete for some time now. In October, proof copies of the book were created. 5 of them, to be specific. The purpose of these early copies is simple. They are for evaluation, correction, peer review and legal advice. These tasks are absolutely necessary and unavoidable. They are behind me now and a clear path to publication is now open.

Significantly, my final round of assessment and discussion with my legal advisor took place in November. He was impressed with the book as a whole and gave the current manuscript a complete Pass without any changes necessary to any text or image content. This means despite being an unauthorised/unlicenced product, the book is now good to publish and still be compliant with copyright laws. My legal advisor is a copyright attorney with 35 years experience in corporate level Law. His credentials are solid. I am more than pleased with his valuable guidance and feedback as this now complete process provides me with security to proceed.

Now the legal concerns have now been dealt with, corrections have become the priority. There’s been a few small changes since the proofs were run off and a thorough testing of the index and contents pages is the current big task. So far, these are looking good and accurate with any changes themselves being nothing substantial. Minor grammar, layout details and image content has been adjusted. That’s all.

As to when the book will become available for purchase, I am working to follow a tentative pipeline and if all goes well, it is intended pre-orders for the book will open in late January. I anticipate actual printing will take place in February with copies posted in March. With a little luck, they should arrive on doorsteps in late April. Just in time for ALIEN Day, April 26. That’s the current plan. Notwithstanding unexpected delays (Oh, I know all about those!) this proposal is achievable.

Either way, it won’t be long now before we pay a visit to the printer next year. The final round of legal advice has been completed and proof copies in hand, we are on the last stretch to see publication. Next year will be a very Happy New Year, regardless.

If you want more information, I have also update the book’s About Page.

-Windebieste.

Happy 3rd Anniversary, HIDEOUS PLASTIC.

Posted on 08/12/2019 by windebieste

Today marks the third year of this web site being live. I started HIDEOUS PLASTIC to support the book I’ve been writing regarding the 1979 Kenner ALIEN toy. The site has grown somewhat in size since then. It’s now a substantial repository of News, reviews and other articles relating to ALIEN action figures in general.

A lot of my time has been spent keeping HIDEOUS PLASTIC updated with regular posts on the front page. I’ve also added a ton of material to various sections around the site. Take a look. They are accessible from the main menu under the site banner:

Collated Works is a collection of miscellaneous articles and features. Around 20 articles and links to external videos and other content.
Reviews explores a lot of ALIEN action figures I have had in my possession over the years. There are no less than 48 written appraisals here of a wide variety of products.
Galleries contains some very specific content. Here you’ll find repositories dedicated to ALIEN action figures and other related products. The 1979 Kenner ALIEN and his growing family can be found here featuring information and photos of the dozen variants of the figure. Prototype Kenner ALIENS products also reside here, ranging from 1979 to 2000 and include test samples of familiar product and unique unreleased toys never seen on retail shelves. Finally, this is also where you will find a generous archive of unlicenced bootleg and knock off product – many of dubious origin and value; all of it remarkable stuff.

Many of these features are accessible from the sidebar on the right. Go check it all out. My publisher will be happy to see the visitor numbers continue to climb.

Finally, this previous week I have been looking to the past and posted 7 days worth of articles featuring vintage print media content regarding the 1979 Kenner ALIEN toy. That was a lot of fun and research. As we have now reached our 3rd Anniversary, it’s time to change things around and start looking forward to print items of the future. In this regard, tomorrow, I will posting information about the upcoming book about the 1979 Kenner ALIEN toy I have been writing. I haven’t posted any updates in a while so it’s going to be great to share the progress with the world.

Anyway. I’d like to thank everyone who has visited this site during the past 3 years. The feedback and encouragement has been positive and very, very welcome. I’ll be keeping up with News of ALIEN action figures and toys as they are released in 2020. I may even have time to add some new content to the Reviews section. That would be great. This Community is fantastic! I’ve been part of it for 40 years now and it’s only becoming more diverse as the years roll on and that’s something worth celebrating. Let’s see if I can keep up with the pace and go another 40! That’ll be something, hey.

-Windebieste.

1979 Kenner Christmas Catalog.

Posted on 07/12/2019 by windebieste

On our seventh and final day of investigating vintage print material featuring the Kenner ALIEN toy we take a look at the 8 page, 1979 Kenner Christmas catalog.

The large articulated ALIEN toy was originally anticipated to be Kenner’s next big thing following their line of Star Wars product. It didn’t turn out that way and Kenner were left with a problem – how do you promote thousands of stock items that are unsuitable for the market they were intended? You understate it, that’s what. Let’s take a look at how this grotesque toy was promoted by its manufacturer at Christmas in their very own end of year product catalog. Continue reading →