Review : Xenomorph NECA, Alien Covenant Wave/Series : Alien Covenant Released : July 2017
£25.99
Pros : the shiny translucent dome and the ghostly skull underneath Cons : some slightly loose joints on the arms & legs
2017 saw the release of Alien Covenant, the sequel to Prometheus and the next installment in the Alien saga. As master licence holders, NECA confirmed they would be making figures from the movie. As it turned out, only two figures would be released by NECA along with an accessory pack. There would be no human characters, just the two key Alien forms from the movie - the Neomorph, and the figure we are looking at here - the Xenomorph.
The Covenant figures come packed in a window box rather than the more familiar blister packs we are used to. The design of the box is fantastic with a matt black feel only broken by varying shades of grey. On the front the window is shaped around the skull of a grayscale Xenomorph skull that wraps round the side spine and onto the reverse of the box. Under the window we then get the Alien Covenant logo - with just a hint of green in that Covenant text.
The second spine, to the right, contains more spectacular artwork - this time the Xenomorph head is face on with mouth open.
The back of the box is just as impressive and is quite a distance from the usual NECA design basics. The figure name, Xenomorph, heads up the box and under this the film bio - but rather than the film plot it starts with "Ridley Scott returns to the universe he created..." so it feels more like a tribute than plot bio.
Under the text are three individual images, again in grayscale. The two smaller ones to the right are replications of the artwork we find on the two side spines. The larger image is a picture of the figure itself and put through a black & white filter with some border effects to look like a damaged photograph.
The figure is accessed via either the top or bottom flap, which are taped shut in the factory. There is a bit here that finally reflects that Alien collectors may want to replace their figures in the packaging and the box design does offer this vs the finality of having to cut open and destroy that blister packaging we've had for so long.
The figure is securely strapped with twisty ties into its inner tray. It sits, and this is a detail you don't really notice until unpacked, against a grey inner tray that carries a faded illustration of an Alien egg.
Out of the box and for anyone that collects and/or owns Xenomorphs from the main Alien range will find the Covenant Xeno a little spindly and thin compared to its bulkier nest-mates.
The figure is a completely new sculpt to match the onscreen Xenomorph from Covenant. The head is the usual focal point with a an opaque dome through which you can see that hollow eyed skull we know so well.
The rest of the figure contains the usual wealth of detail that NECA realise so well on their figures - particularly the Aliens. There is the exposed skeletal parts like the rib-cage, and the sinewy tendons and muscles down the arms and legs. Those arms and legs are much thinner than a normal Xeno but are longer.
The tail still utilises the rubber material over a metal armature and that makes it pliable in any direction and once posed it does hold its position.
Paint wise and the figure is a brown tone overall with plenty of darker washes and some areas of grey dry brushing. All of this brings out every nook and cranny of that horrific design. The paint also has the "wet look" we expect from Xeno's. The only extra paint detail is found on the teeth which are a metallic silver.
Another carry forward from other Xeno's is the articulated jaw. This opens really wide and from it you can pull out the inner jaw which comes shooting out by some distance.
This is arguably the most articulated Xenomorph to date with the arms sitting on ball jointed shoulders and supported by double jointed elbows that also rotate. The hands are also on a rotating pivot.
The head articulation see's the whole head and neck mounted on a ratcheted joint. This allows the head to lean forward, to the point the mouth is touching the chest area. The real bonus though is to push the head back so that it is looking almost upwards.
Couple this head movement with a wide ranging torso joint and you can finally see the potential of this Xeno in terms of being able to get him into a four legged pose rather than be limited to a bipedal pose.
These poses are helped by the very flexible legs which include ball jointed hips, double jointed knees, ankle rockers and articulated toes.
The legs can therefore be splayed out behind the Xeno, or bent unnaturally back in on themselves to create that spider type look. As you do this you can adjust the hands and toes to be flat against the floor allowing the Xeno to stand in this position easily. Take away a hand and the remaining three joints will eventually sag.
The Xeno can be stood on its two legs also, and when it is it stands nearly 9" high. There is no stand included to help this pose, but you can use the articulated tail as a counterbalance to keep the figure standing.
This is a figure that has very few flaws in terms of what it sets out to replicate. It also teaches a few of its older cousins from the main range a thing or two with articulation. The paint is good and I love that clear dome and the skull being visible underneath. The packaging is also one of the most visually stunning that NECA have designed to date and feels like a real tribute to Ridley Scott. The only thing that stops this release getting our highest 5+ accolade is those weak joints which are already a touch "floppy".
I award the Covenant Xenomorph 5 out of 5.
Comments