Packaging - ***1/2
This is another big package, about the same as the Predators HT have already released. We all know the routine now, metallic/pearlescent slip over sleeve and large flap fronted box. Tons of full colour photos of the model, some blurb on the movie and production credits. This is another great bit of packaging and fits nicely with the stuff so far. When you open the flap you’ll see a series of die cut windows, so yet again a little construction is needed, but we’re talking seconds to put together rather than the hour it can take to build a Pred or Marine. He’s basically lying on his side, the tail one arm, one hand, one leg and one foot are already in place, you basically just snap on his back mounted breathing tubes his other arm, leg, foot and hand…job done! 
It’s actually refreshing that for once the pics on the box of the prototype AREN’T as good as the figure. It would seem the photography and packaging was put together before the final product was ready. The detailing on the head is much better on the actual figure especially around the mouth.

Sculpting - ****
I know not all were that enamored by the AvP movie, though I have to admit I was a fan of the Dark Horse original comic and enjoyed the film. It kind of did exactly what it said on the tin. People + Predators + Aliens = carnage. This was no way near the sophistication of Ridley Scott’s original, but it was fun!

So now we’ve got that out of the way we all know this is an AvP Alien and it is freaking great! Every inch is sculpted. The arms and legs are rigid plastic with the knees and elbows being covered in a rubber sheath to disguise the joints. The hands and feet are tough rubber with wires running inside for posing. And the ‘piece de resistance’ is the torso and head. Underneath there seems to be a series of ball joints toped off with a shaped rigid head. This whole thing is then covered in a rubber/silicone-sculpted body suit. All the sculpting here is immaculate. His rigid breathing tubes have to be pushed into holes that match up under the rubber suit and once everything is in place it is awesome…not a word us limeys bandy about lightly. The tail is also very detailed and has a strong wire running throughout again, it’s strong enough in fact to hang him from should that take your fancy.

The head is a total work of art. The smoked translucent dome covers the Aliens brain and under the right light or with some flash photography you can see all the detail that most of the time is hidden. The opening jaw and extending tongue feature is just totally the dogs bollocks as well. A small lever under the back at the rear of the head can be pushed forward. As you do so the detailing on the silicone around the cheeks of the mouth stretches and as it clicks into its final resting place (should you choose to display this way) the jaw drops just a little more (the ‘Aliens’ that is, though yours probably will as well). I wish I could include a little mpeg to run on the site but you’ll just have to trust me…or better still go buy one. 

There are also some nice little touches like the way the tendon at the back of the knee moves as you bend it. So I’d say all in all this is a great bit of sculpting made all the better by some innovative and solid engineering, an ugly thing of rare beauty.

Paint - ****
Most of the detailing seems to come to life by the way light and shadow act with the sculpting, so pretty minimum paint ops are needed apart from some washes to enhance the relief of the sculpt. The teeth are picked out in a metallic steel colour and the brain, though barely visible has a lot of details picked out as well. So to recap, not a lot of paint but perfect for this figure.

Articulation - ***1/2
As I said above this is a very innovative body, and instead of bringing any preconceived ideas about making a suit to fit a basic figure they have totally designed it from the tips of its claws right up to his shiny domed head, so why not full marks? Well as poseable as this figure is and believe me it is absolutely fantastically poseable, there is some restriction at the knees, elbows and shoulders, and I feel that because of the nature of the Aliens physiology it should have been possible to disguise a cut joint in the thigh and upper arm. That said, it can be put in far more interesting poses because of all the added articulation that we’ve never had on a 1/6 figure before. The series of ball joints running up the torso into the neck means it can twist its spine to arch its back or bend right over till its head is between his legs…can’t think why he’d wanna do that? It can also arch to either side. The neck also delivers an amazing range of movement, meaning the head can tip right forward or tilt right back when in an all fours pose, you can also tilt the head to either side for that classic inquisitive Alien look.

I’ve included a diagram to try and show what I can feel under the soft silicone covering, I obviously haven’t taken the covering off, so it’s an approximation based on what I can feel underneath. 

Accessories - N/A
Not a bean, not even a stand, there was a picture of an Alien egg in some of the promo shots and even one on the box, but you don’t get nutin! 

However if you go for the SST exclusive you get a face hugger, though I already have a couple at the right scale from the McFarlane version….that doesn’t mean I don’t want the brown one as well, cos I do!

Outfit - N/A
A big ol’ bupkis again, but what did you expect, a smoking jacket and Fez.

Fun Factor - ****
This has shot to the top of my favourites right now, I just can’t stop posing the damn thing, and I now live in hope we will get this treatment given to all the Alien movies…….and having seen how ambitious Hot Toys can be, and I know it’d cost a lot, but these guys could even deliver a devastating Queen Alien. The box needn’t be much bigger than the ED-209 one, and if it was in kit form….and lets face it it’d have to be , it could be done!

Value - ****
At $120 to $140 it’s admittedly an expensive figure, but when I hold it up alongside the other high-end figures I’ve bought recently I think this is bang on the money. Once posed this looks every bit as good as some of the way more expensive statues out there, with the added bonus of not having to look at the same pose all the time. In fact I defy you to leave this guy in the same pose for more than a week.

Things to Watch Out For - 
Be careful and firm when snapping together.

Overall - ****
Even with those articulation issues, I feel that for this money at this time there is no better Alien figure out there! No I do not have shares in Hot Toys….I wish! 
But I am blown away by this figure, however this is only my opinion, I’m sure some folks will have issues with it, but I love it!

SCORE RECAP:
Packaging - ***1/2
Sculpt - ****
Paint - ****
Articulation - ***1/2
Accessories - N/A
Outfit - N/A
Fun Factor - ****
Value - ****
Overall - ****

Where to Buy - 
It’s just released and though popular doesn’t seem to be moving quite as fast as the ED-209’s, so most specialist Hot Toys suppliers should have one. Side Show still have them on pre-order () for $129, and also a brown exclusive version () at the same price.

I ‘as usual’ got mine from Charles on eBay who you'll find under Charlesay and Kidultgarden, he sent it with ED209 (reviewed last week) well packed and shipped fast. Cheers Charles!