If you are looking for a 1979 Kenner ALIEN along with a box – but you don’t care too much about the box condition or whether it’s genuine or not – one has become available on eBay. The seller has started bidding at US$49.95. While this listing does include all three critical components – the ALIEN toy, a box and a poster – it’s important to note that only the figure itself is original; and even that item is significantly removed from being in perfect condition. Let’s take a closer look at what’s on offer.
Starting with the figure, because it’s 100% the real deal without any reproduction parts present, it does display a variety of flaws but the welcome presence of critical features such as the dome and the dorsal crest add significant value to the figure regardless of any problems it may have. But these flaws are definitely present and it’s worth being mindful of them.
Both arms have been re-attached using rubber bands. Such improvised methods to return severed arms to the toy are common. Here, the attempt is obvious as the rubber bands are clearly exposed on the shoulders. It’s an undesirable finish and could easily be rectified. The quad appendages on the toy’s back are out of alignment which indicates they are loose and internally broken. Once again, this problem is relatively common but easily fixed. The dome is unfortunately damaged with an unsightly crack along the middle of its left side. Unfortunately, such damage cannot be repaired but the fact the dome is present is significant. Taking into consideration up to 90% of these old toys now lack this feature means having it included as part of the listing is a blessing, regardless of condition. The left shoulder appears to have pry marks along the joining of both front and rear torso halves which indicates this figure has been previously dismantled. No doubt, these artifact marks are the result of the figure being previously repaired.
The box itself is definitely a reproduction item as responsibly declared by the seller. Obvious multiple telltale printed “watermark” notations appearing on the box support this claim. Appearing throughout the package is the word “REPLICABOX” indicating this box is definitely not an original item. If this blatant detail wasn’t enough other anomalies exist. For example, the front window lacks properly radiused corners. Instead of being evenly rounded, all four corners display evidence of being cut by hand rather than die cut in factory.
Nonetheless there’s an important note to be made here. Reproduction boxes do exist and there’s no denying it as demonstrated with this item. There’s arguments for and against them but the primary problem is important. It is one of deception. Reproduction boxes that are identical in every way to Kenner’s original packaging are too easily passed off as legitimate items and can falsely add value to a sale. The best option to avoid this problem if you do make reproduction packaging is the creation of facsimiles that are clearly not intended to be confused with genuine, four decades old packaging. In this case, annotating the box with “REPLICABOX” is a worthy albeit somewhat ugly way of doing so.
There are other methods as well just by using some creativity. Remove the name Kenner from a reproduction and add your own name, instead. I’ve seen the word “ALIEN” written in Japanese on the logo appearing prominently on the box. As Japan never enjoyed their own domestic release of this vintage toy, there’s no confusing a Japanese reproduction package with an original. There’s no shame in creating reproduction items – just so long as it’s clear they’re not an attempt to be passed to someone else with the intent to be misleading. That’s blatant counterfeit production, an intenion to deceive. No one likes to be out of pocket of a thousand dollars for the sake of an immaculately emulated fake. Now that’s shameful.
It’s a mixed bag this listing. The figure is 100% complete and original but demonstrating serious flaws; while the box and poster are 100% reproductions. At the starting price of only US$49.95, this figure will still sell. The imitation box and poster are merely bonuses.
-Windebieste.
