Product line: ALIEN
Manufacturer: Super7
Number of figures in set: 0. This item contains no figures but served as a pre-order kit for the then upcoming release of a five item set featuring Ripley, Kane in his compression suit, Dallas, Ash and the Alien.
Package: Large light card envelope printed on both sides.
Inclusions: Light card display backdrop with various perforated attachments and sticker sheet.
Released: San Diego Comic Con, 2013.
Price: US$100
This pre-order strategy for ALIEN ReAction figures Wave 1 took inspiration from Kenner’s attempt to manage overwhelming demand for Star Wars toys in Christmas 1978. This largely empty item served customers as an “early bird package”. Purchase of this item entitled the purchaser to a full set of five ALIEN ReAction figures upon release. The large flat envelope included a fold-out backdrop display stand with photo stills from the movie, a membership card for a non-existent “SPACE CLUB” and a sheet of ALIEN themed stickers. No action figures were actually included with it at the point of purchase.
The Early Bird Package was exclusively available from Super7’s booth at San Diego Comic Con in 2013. Once purchased, it was a pledge on behalf of the manufacturers, Super7 and Funko, to deliver a complete set of five ALIEN action figures to purchasers. While only five figures were intended as part of the pre-order, six figures were actually delivered to buyers with the extra item being another version of the Alien recast in translucent plastic.
Additional Notes:
– Other promotional material was also available at the Super7 booth during the SDCC 2013 event. A free twelve page product catalog promoting the upcoming 3.75 inch ALIEN ReAction figure line was provided to attendees. The catalog is published in its entirety below, highlighting the then soon to be released product line along with a number of other licenced ALIEN merchandise items created by Super7. Once again, the layout design and themes present in the catalog mimics similar such promotional material Kenner released for its toy lines of the 1970s.
– A right hand belonging to Kenner’s 18 inch ALIEN toy reaching for one of the glasses is visible on page 10, indicating the close association and direct connection of the 2013 Super7 product line with the original ALIEN toy created by Kenner in 1979.
