As a counterpoint to my post immediately below, here’s another 1979 Kenner ALIEN toy for sale in Australia. At only Au$500, this one is a considerably better consideration, and for more than just the monetary benefit, too. Not only is this old toy cheaper by a keen Au$300, it’s considerably more complete. Both tongue parts and the dorsal crest are present; and importantly, all are original pieces. The only body part missing from this sample is the dome on the head. Everything else is present. There’s a small stress fracture in the location of the dorsal crest where it attaches to the body and three of the four the “weird tubie things” on its back appear to be broken at the base and rotate freely. Nonetheless, this is a reasonably easy fix can be made to get them back into situ so it’s not too much of a problem.

The real bonus here is beyond any concerns for regularly missing parts being present. This item is one of the rarer samples of the toy, made in Canada. The subtle differences here compared to one made in the US are not obvious in photos. Nonetheless, at Au$500, the seller is considering offers for this almost complete, four decades old vintage item.

-windebieste.

A relatively common find in the US but outside that country can be a challenge, this average condition Kenner ALIEN toy is available for purchase in Australia on eBay. The seller currently has it listed for Au$899. In anyone’s book, this is a high price but considering the rareness of these forty year old vintage toys and the demand they commonly command, it’s not surprising. It’s simply unfortunate that significant features on this sample are not up to the price being asked.

This is a good, average condition figure. It’s clean with a few knocks and marks here and there but what really hurts it’s value are the multiple reproduction pieces that populate this item. It’s the same typical four items that often go missing on these old toys that are lacking and have been replaced here. The head dome, both tongue parts and the crest mounted between the shoulders are all reproduction parts.

Had all of these been original pieces rather than facsimiles, then the asking Au$800 wouldn’t be unrealistic. At least one complete sample ALIEN sold for around the Au$800 mark about three months ago. It’s not an isolated instance, either. Mind you, that piece was a rare sample made in Canada. Canadian made ALIEN toys were distributed internationally outside of the US, including here in Australia.

The sample being offered for sale here is the commonly found US version of the figure. There are subtle differences between the US and Ca product runs and most people won’t care for the minor discrepancies between them. Especially here in Australia where a Kenner ALIEN toy for sale is a truly rare find, at any time. Nonetheless, it’s still a highly sought after vintage toy regardless of the reproduction parts being present and the seller will probably move it before too long. Maybe a little longer if this price is maintained.

-windebieste.

I am slowly filling in holes in the section dedicated to Kenner ALIEN(S) toy product development samples, prototypes, test shots et al with at least one sample of each figure Kenner produced. Kenner’s Mantis Alien is now represented with this gorgeous sample. Photos courtesy of Matt Porter. Thank you for permission to use these images.

This section is gradually being fleshed out with almost every released ALIEN item Kenner made. Along with some curios that never saw a production run. I’m still looking to post samples of the Scorpion Alien and few others. It’s taken me more than a couple of years to build this repository of Kenner “prototypes” and it’s slowly nearing as complete a stage as I could have ever hoped to achieve. For now, Mantis Alien is represented here.

Thank you to all the contributors who have helped to make this a possibility.

-windebieste.

If you are looking for some parts to help bring your Kenner ALIEN up to more complete condition, it looks like another handful of loose parts have become available on eBay. These are being sold individually by the seller. Up for grabs are both legs, a tail and an unbroken set of “those weird tubie things on its back”. The tail appears to be neat, clean and tidy and also includes the serrated circular clip to hold it in place. The quad appendage piece appears to be a little rough around the edges but is otherwise complete; and both legs display no breaks but do appear to have been touched up with silver painted highlights on the toes and other areas of the lower leg. These pieces are priced thusly:

• US$74.95 – Quad appendages still attached to plate.
• US$84.95 – Tail and circular clip to hold it in place on the figure.
• US$94.95 – Right leg with silver painted highlights.
• US$94.95 – Left leg with similarly painted highlights.

Sure, these prices are somewhat high even by today’s inflated metrics but Best Offers will be accepted. I am going to have to “ummmm & aaaaah” ’bout that tail, though. I could use one of those.

-windebieste.