Alien (Plastic) Resurrection

So, the toy company Funko has released a series of action figures based on Ridley Scott's Alien.  This in itself is not anything special.  Alien is a classic and there are now many collectibles based on it and the other movies in the series.  What's awesome about the Funko line is that it is based on the cancelled Kenner action figure line from the late 1970's.

When Alien was released, the toy company Kenner briefly entertained the idea of creating an figure line to accompany it. After all, Star Wars  had just been released and the toy makers at Kenner were making a fortune on the 3 3/4" line of action figures and vehicles.  So they designed some action figures based on Ridley Scott's space movie as well but the problem was the R-Rated Alien was not as toyetic as Star Wars and the action figure line never got past the prototype stage.  There was only only one Alien toy released and it was the rather...imposing 18" Alien action figure.

Now, Funko has released a small line of action figures based on what the Kenner line would have been.  These are simple 1970's style action figures that would look right at home with your vintage Star Wars collection complete with five points of articulation, soft sculpts, and vague likeness to the characters on which they are based.  They are packaged in old-school blister cards which (mostly) feature illustrations of the characters on which they are based.

Normally, I don't go in for toys which rely so heavily on nostalgia appeal but there is something clever and witty about the intense R-Rated body horror of  Ridley Scott's movie being distilled into these simple 1970's-styled child's playthings.  Take for example the multiple figures of Kane, who not only comes in the toy-friendly astronaut version but the facehugger and bloody chestburster versions, complete with placid "closed eyes" like he's taking a nap.  I am an opener but with these, I feel a lot of the appeal in in the very spot-on 70's packaging.  And, to be honest, the action figures themselves are pretty simple and are not necessarily great in and of themselves.

So far the line has included two waves of Alien  figures (although the entire ReAction line has encompassed a lot of other retro properties) including a couple of versions of the Alien and Ripley as well as Dallas and Ash.  I hope for another couple of waives with versions of Lambert and Parker. Maybe a Brett figure with a gaping headwound.  It would also be great to get a dedicated egg and version of Jones the cat.

The idea that people actually considered a children's toy line based on Alien  is hilarious.  I mean, I would have gone crazy for them but these toys might have traumatized a generation of kids.  Now, they serve as a neat and clever throwback to a classic movie and a series of unique and fun collectibles.