1979 Kenner ALIEN toys are coming out of the woodwork, all over the place lately. This one is listed for auction on eBay right now. It’s not exactly in premium condition but it does include the box. Mind you, the box itself is a long way from being in a desirable state, and that’s obvious. What’s not so obvious are the other concerns this four decades old vintage toy may possess. Let’s get in close to see what’s on offer here.
The first issue of note is the dome seated on the head of the figure. This body part is a reproduction piece being included in this listing. So while the figure is “feature complete”, it’s not 100% original. The figure also had work performed on its arms. The aging rubber anchors holding the limbs in place on these old toys have weakened during the past four and a half decades, leaving arms frequently hanging limp by its sides. To be able to hold its arms forward in a grasping pose this item is capable, these anchors need to be replaced. The old rubber anchors just won’t support the weight of the limbs extended like this.
The box is original but in a severely battered state and the problems with its condition extend well beyond being populated with creases and heavy wear. Some print details are absent from the upper front section of the box. On a closer inspection, it is missing the “AGES 5 AND UP” recommendation on the upper right. This is due to the upper front portion of the window and hinged top being torn away and lost. A replacement top has been fabricated using corrugated cardboard and colored with marker pens to match the rest of the box. Like the figure included, the box itself features replacement parts. No B&W instruction sheet poster is included in the listing.
The final item to call to a potential buyer’s attention is the fact these old toys are not rare. Scarcity is not an issue with these toys. Right now, there are more than a dozen of these old toys available on eBay in a wide variety of conditions. This has been the case contiguously for many years, now. This fact alone is testimony to these items not being rare. Don’t let such claims influence you. Do your own search on eBay for “1979 Kenner ALIEN” and find out for yourself. You’ll be surprised how many there are. You might want to look elsewhere before settling on bidding for this item.
-windebieste
Clean and in great shape, this figure has all parts present. Maybe a little worse for wear being a forty four year old toy not intended for this kind of longevity. These old toys were originally sold prior to Christmas in 1979, landing on store shelves sometime in October of that year. This sample lacks a box and poster but the commonly missing parts are all present and are 100% original. You’ll find no facsimiles or reproduction parts on this item. While US$750 appears to be a lot of money for one of these forty year old toys, the high asking price isn’t an anomaly. Even in this complete condition, Kenner ALIEN toys are not rare. They’re just so damned cool and carry such a freight of reputation the demand for them is only growing. It’s amazing then that any time, you can find at least a dozen of them on eBay at any time. This not only true, but has also always been the case for as long as I can remember. At least a dozen. 
This one is missing the head dome; and the dorsal crest mounted between its shoulders is also absent. Other than that, it’s relatively complete. Oh, yeah. The left arm is severed – but that’s an easy repair, if you’re prepared to disassemble the figure. Not a difficult proposition and I’ve repaired dozens of these old toys over the years. The mouth parts, including both halves of the tongue are all present and the figure looks to be complete without any other breakages. I’m sure this average condition figure will sell.
He’s mostly all there, too. Mostly. The head dome and dual tongue parts are missing but all the other body features are present and intact. He’s clean and looks well presented. There’s a strong likelihood the shoulders are loose and he won’t hold a pose. It’s also possible the hips will also be considerably loose. These are common flaws these four decades old figures often possess. The much sought after dorsal crest mounted between the shoulders is also present. There’s no damage to the tail and no cracks or other major faults that I can detect. He’ll definitely make some lucky owner very happy. It’s just a matter of how much attention he garners while up for sale and what the final bids are when they inevitably mount up. A great pick up for some lucky buyer. As to what he ultimately sells for? That’s worth watching just to find out.