• Manufacturer: Spymo
• Release Date: Unknown.

One of the more famous and notorious bootleg items purloining the ALIEN property is the ever ambiguous 5.5 inch tall Spymo ALIEN-MAN.  Until recently, not many samples of ALIEN-MAN were known to exist and the reasons for the figure’s exceptionally low availability may be attributed to a number of reasons, rumors mostly, that suggest an ominous fate no matter how you look at them.

Some Collectors will tell you most of the retail stock was sunk, the result of a shipping container lost at sea while being transported from Hong Kong. Another rumor suggests almost all stock was destroyed in a factory fire in Mexico. Other rumors persist as well, suggesting the figure was merely a wildly imaginative art project created by a resident of Vietnam. The stories surrounding the figure are varied and the truth is difficult to determine. Maybe it will never be discovered.Nonetheless, speculation regarding the oddity known as ALIEN-MAN has reached legendary proportions in recent years as fans and Collectors mused about this curious item.  Images of it constantly recur online and its regular appearance on forums, Reddit, Facebook and elsewhere have only served to fuel additional interest in this peculiar figure. These nebulous ruminations suddenly became manifest in late 2017 when the opening of a locked port side storage unit in Los Angeles revealed the welcome discovery of a pallet of unopened shipping crates stamped ‘Spymo’.  The contents surprised everyone.

Inside the shipping crates were a(n undisclosed) number of ALIEN-MAN figures, all mint condition and all complete – and importantly – still secured in their blister packed backing cards. While it’s not been revealed exactly how many of these treasures were uncovered during the clean out of the unit, it has since been reported samples of the figure could be counted in the hundreds. A welcome archeological find for all concerned!‘Archeological’ is an appropriate descriptor for these recently unearthed sought after artifacts as no one knows exactly when ALIEN-MAN was actually made. The retro inspired packaging of the classic Kenner variety suggests they were manufactured sometime during the late 1990’s or possibly as recently as 2010. The figure is without a doubt a bootleg item – and a cryptic one at that – such niceties as date stamps, production information, copyright data and licencing details are absent from the card backing or the figure itself, making a definite production date difficult to determine. Such is often the trend of semi legitimate (at best) bootleg products of this nature.

The sample I’ve managed to acquire certainly attests to this ambiguity as very little information is present on the packaging. There’s nothing on the figure itself in the way of date stamps and the only identifier is ‘Spymo’ logo – an enigmatic manufacturer – that lacks any substantial information other than the fact their range of action figures were clearly intended to be marketed at fans of popular properties – yet without the legitimacy of any form of licencing power whatsoever.This makes ALIEN-MAN a fine example of what defines a bootleg item – and a curious one at that. The figure itself is a solid vinyl casting in the format of a robust 5 inch figure featuring a well detailed depiction of the 1979 ALIEN head with its tongue fully extended while the rest of the tailless ALIEN-MAN is cast in a glow in the dark finish. Articulation on the figure is simple but effective. The head, shoulders and hips each rotate on a spindle at those points while elbows and knees move appropriately upon hinged joints.

This makes 9 points of competent articulation present on the figure and their movement doesn’t extend much beyond serviceable in their basic implementation.  In particular, the rotation of the head on its neck is very restricted.  Nonetheless, the figure’s movement is adequate overall and significantly, ALIEN-MAN is capable of the all important ‘crab walk’ pose – leaning backwards and ‘walking’ on his hands and feet. A pose made famous in deleted scenes from the movie that more detailed and better articulated ALIEN figures cannot themselves accomplish.Paint work on the figure is restricted to the head.  Detailed features are largely limited to the mouth parts and creature’s brain visible beneath the translucent carapace. The torso and limbs are unpainted as they are cast in raw, unpainted glow in the dark material. There are no accessories to be included with the figure, sadly. On the other hand, ALIEN-MAN probably does not need any; and if they were present they would only serve as a distraction. As expected, no display stand is included with the figure – but it stands confidently on its own without assistance.  Which is welcome because the figure lacks a tail to aid in holding it upright and the solid, oversized head can threaten to topple it if not carefully balanced.

Importantly, there’s a high ‘WTF?’ component to this item that makes it immediately attractive. Artwork on the front and back of the card depicts the 7 foot tall actor, the Late Bolaji Badejo, who played the creature seen in the movie.   While the artwork on the card fails to match the figure in any way, it is this glaringly obvious anomaly that imbues the dubious bootleg item with a charming sense of misdirection as the card depicts the Alien movie suit fully covering Badejo except for his head; and the figure itself features the inverse – the body of a man capped with the crescent shaped Alien head.I’ve been very fortunate to acquire this sample; and it’s only because I responded quickly to its sudden and unexpected online availability that I have one. You too may be lucky to purchase one of these amazing figures if you’re quick and hunt around on the usual various online services. Dozens of samples of the figure have recently been discovered floating around online secondary markets. These items are no doubt in extremely limited supply and will not last long as enthusiastic Collectors become aware of the restricted availability of ALIEN-MAN figures and snap them up, fast. If you want one, you better act. Now! Don’t delay!

Would you like to know more? I bet you do. Everything known regarding this unusual bootleg ALIEN figure has been gathered together in one place.  Make sure you explore this page for more information regarding this strange ALIEN action figure.

I’d like to thank Xevi Soler and Cameron Petersen for additional input, information and assistance in writing this review.

Thanks, Guys; and Happy April 1st everyone!

SCORE: 10/10

Too awesome.  Lurid, strange and unexpected. This is a mad genius item created by an obscure manufacturer and no serious ALIEN action figure Collector can afford to be without one!

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