Product line: ALIEN
Manufacturer: Super7 & FUNKO collaboration.
Number of figures in set: 0.
Package: Packed into a box. Some easy assembly required.
Inclusions: All parts necessary to assemble the play set plus a page of simple instructions.
Released: 2014.
Price: US$100 each.
Super7’s ALIEN ReAction figure Egg Chamber Play Set was first announced as a limited edition to be available at San Diego Comic Con 2014. The Play set is a stylised representation of the egg chamber found by the crew of the Nostromo beneath the Space Jockey remains inside the derelict ship that appears in ALIEN. It was intended for use with Super7’s range of 3.75 inch action figures and will accommodate ReAction figures other than ALIEN.
Soon after the announcement was made, Super7 revealed the ALIEN Play Set could also be pre-ordered from their web site for the duration of the convention and be delivered to purchasers 3-7 months later.
Much like the earlier 2013 Wave 1 and 2014 Wave 2 ALIEN action figure items, the Play Set was heavily inspired by blue vintage Kenner package designs and themes. It was swiftly followed up with Super7’s repurposed take on the design with their black card design philosophy. Attendees at Comic Con were rewarded with the exclusive blue box version of the box. Online customers ordering a Play Set received a black box version.
The blue box version.
This version was exclusively available at SDCC 2014.
The black box version.
Availability of the black box version via Super7’s web site coincided with the running of SDCC 2014 and were made in a quantity as determined by pre-order numbers.
Aside from the differing box colours, the contents of both blue and black box versions are largely identical in most ways. The single major difference of the contents was the manufacturing process and materials used to cast the main base plate for the Play Set. The blue box version was made in hand cast resin while the black box version was injection molded. Small pegs placed throughout the Play Set base aid in securing ReAction figures into the egg chamber scene. No action figures were included in either release.
The components of the Play Set.
Base, “egg silo” backing card, a pair of connective card supports to fasten both pieces together and instructions.
Some details of the base.
Shipping case for the Play Set.
Purchasers received the Play Set in a sturdy, ALIEN themed box.
Additional notes:
– The exclusive SDCC 2014 blue Play Set was limited to a production run of 250 boxes.
– The two children appearing on the box art are the son and daughter of Brian Flynn, the owner of Super7.
– No additional ALIEN Play Sets have been released since 2014.
– No action figures were included in the package. The compression suit figures appearing in package art images are prototypes of the then upcoming Nostromo Crew Member 3 pack, mimicking Kenner’s use of prototypes on their own packaging from last century.
– Much like the rest of the ReAction figure range of product, the instruction sheet design mimics similar Kenner product line documentation.
– Other design choices such as children appearing on the package are a tribute to original 1979 Kenner ALIEN product toys such as the 18 inch ALIEN toy, ALIEN board game and ALIEN TERROR movie viewer; each of which featured children on their packaging.
– The card backdrop shape is based on a piece of unused HR Giger movie concept art featuring the proposed design of an “egg silo” where the eggs were originally intended to be discovered by the Nostromo crew. The unused egg silo motif was adopted by Kenner Products as a prominent design component in their ALIEN product line logo.
