MPC, ALIEN model kit. (1979)
Strictly speaking, it’s not an action figure; but the original MPC ALIEN model kit was the first 3D representation of the creature commercially available in stores. It predates the much more famous 18 inch Kenner toy by a few months and was released soon after the movie commenced showing in cinemas in May, 1979.
It’s a great sculpt for the creature and has been re-pressed multiple times since its original release, repopulating hobby store shelves in 1984, again in 1999 and more recently in 2013. This item is definitely a collectible now, especially the original 1979 pressing. 2 repressings (1984 and 2013) used the same watercolor box artwork and at a glance are all exactly alike. Only the details immediately below the title discern which pressing is in hand and identifying them is important as the older items are more valuable than the recent 2013 pressing, which lacks any publishing details at all on the front of the box.
Clearly, this is a piece that continues to make a comeback to retail shelves . I am guessing sometime in the coming years we’ll see yet another variant of this under appreciated Classic model kit.
