UPDATE: Sold for US$56 (4 bids.) for a generally lower than usual price.
Here’s another Kenner ALIEN body part for sale on eBay. It’s a piece from the figure’s back and bidding starts at US$49.99. How long will it take for someone to bid on this used piece of old plastic? Well, someone already has. 
One of these things hasn’t appeared on the service for a month or so, now. So how much will this loose item sell for? It’s hard to say except these pieces are in high demand. Today, many samples of the vintage toy are missing this particular piece and people will throw money at them. As to how much cash someone will spend in the middle of a world wide health crisis accompanied by global economic downturn? Now, that’s an interesting question. Regardless, this forty year old piece of plastic will most likely sell for upwards of US$80. Considering it’s basically already sold at this point, that figure may even be a conservative estimate. It was up until recently.
-Windebieste.
Of most importance, this piece is damaged. The shaft that fits into the figure’s torso is broken away from the base of the neck and the severed stump is not included in this sale. This is important because if you want to affix this item to a torso, it will be difficult to do so. If the severed stump was included in the listing, you could screw the matching pair of pieces together and make the head whole again. This is quite easy to do. Unfortunately this loose piece is not included in the listing so you’ll need to use some other less reliable method to re-attach this noggin to a headless body. Aside from this notable major issue, it’s a decent sample only missing a couple of other frequently absent pieces and suffering from one other common cosmetic complaint. 
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. 
Okay, so they’re not that sexy, either; but this mundane pile of packaging is actually very important. Essential, even. Copies of the book will be sent across the globe to people in the US, Europe, UK and even closer to home, in Australia and New Zealand. Elsewhere, too, if you want one. Either way, these mailers will need to cover a lot of territory which they must do so safely and securely. To do so, the packaging must be capable of withstanding long distances and potentially rough handling. Being robust and protective of the contents is mandatory. These mailer items will do the job perfectly. This will ensure customers receive their copies in immaculate condition.
NECA have previously produced each of these pieces as part of their regular REEL TOYS range. They have now revisited them with fresh sculpts and details for this and upcoming figures in this range.
As this item will be about 4 inches tall, it will no doubt be comparable to Super7’s 4.75 inch tall ALIEN action figure in size but appears to outstrip it in all areas ranging from styling, detailing and articulation. Here’s some word from Hiya Toys “The one who started it all! Hiya Toys presents from Ridley Scott’s 1979 film Alien, the original Xenomorph, the Big Chap! This inhuman creature, designed by H.R. Giger, comes to life with a figure captures the creature’s iconic look with a fully posable body and detailed paintwork at a 4 1/2-inches tall!” This item is scheduled to be released mid next year as noted above and expected to cost US$19.99, around the same price as a five points of articulation ReAction figure but with superior movement. Then again, the retro themed ReAction product line serves a different market, emulating toys made – and should have been made – forty years ago.
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.” 
While the presence of the dome is welcome, even that comes with a caveat. It’s a little blemished and scratched. Imperfect, to say the least. Much like the rest of the figure. It will raise the value of the toy but US$445.99 really is top dollar. For that kind of money you can purchase one in perfect condition and if you are lucky, one in a box. This figure unfortunately falls well short of that lofty price tag. Let’s make a closer inspection of this old toy. He’s still a wonder to behold, after all. 
Some work still needs to be done here as these all still need to be shrink wrapped with information backing sheets. Nonetheless, 500 copies will soon be available for purchase. Existing pre-orders will be the first items processed and sent out the door. I will get around to that task sometime soon as I am still awaiting the arrival of backing sheets.
These vintage B&W items are relatively uncommon, appearing on eBay once a month or so. As such, these double sided posters tend to fetch prices much higher than this item advertised for US$60 and frequently do break the three digit ceiling. Fetching an excess US$100 isn’t unusual or unheard of for a copy of this single sheet. In which case, why is this sample so (relatively) cheap, then? 