Review : Private Ricco Frost NECA, Aliens Wave/Series : Aliens Series 9 Released : October/November 2016
£19.99 - £22.99
On Alien Day (April 26th) 2016 many had already predicted the announcement of Vasquez joining NECA's 7 inch Alien range, what was a surprise was the announcement soon after that Private Frost would also get a release.
Due to the nature of merchandise rights of older movie's like Aliens, every likeness that NECA want to make has to be negotiated with the actor concerned. It was therefore brilliant news to find out that Ricco Ross had signed up to allow Frost to bolster the Marines in the Aliens series.
Like Vasquez and the Albino Xeno from Series 9, and all releases to date in the Alien range, Frost arrives on the standard blister card, headed up with the Aliens logo in electric blue. The electric blue lighting theme continues down into the card back and blends into a corridor backdrop from Hadley's Hope. At the base of the figure, positioned on the front of the blister, is the name card. This starts with the circular 30th Anniversary Logo and then the name Private Ricco Frost. In the movie Frost was only ever referenced as R. Frost - the actors first initial used on the head up displays - later the name Ricco would be made canon via source material like Aliens : The Weyland-Yutani Report
The side spines of the Aliens figures - apart from wave 6 and 7 where they went AWOL - are always superb and Series 9 is no exception. The right hand spine replicates the monitor screens from the APC, with three screens each showing an atmospheric head shot of Frost. The other side is a full length image of the figure in one of NECA's stunning diorama settings. The rear of the card has a further image of Frost, full length with his flamethrower against an Alien nest diorama backdrop. Over this shot is a text overview of Frost. starting with some brief military details and then a paragraph of expanded universe text that expands on Frost's background.
The card back is finished off with a bottom section of "also available" here you get three headshots of the three figures who make up series 9.
Out of the pack and within the inner blister you will find Frost, surrounded by a variety of gear and weaponry. Now let's be clear at this stage that the only new item on Frost is the head sculpt and the shoulder strap & belt everything else appears to be recycled from previous Alien figures. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this, it is a clever use of resources and keeps the cost low for collectors. The body of frost is taken directly from the Sergeant Windrix figure from series 2. The flame thrower is also from Windrix, while the helmet looks to be a re-use of the one packed with SDCC Newt.
Starting with the head sculpt, and this is a good likeness for actor Ricco Ross. The sculpt has gone with the more serious look of Frost, very apt considering this figure represents Frost just before he gets roasted by friendly fire in the Alien nest. The eyes are particularly intense, while the crew cut does square off the head a little too much making it look angular. The paint job for the skin tone is a matt finish, and you do wonder what the glossier plastic that they used on Vasquez would have added to Frost in terms of making him look clammy and sweating.
Despite being a re-use, the sculpt on the armour is fantastic and is a mix of fabric camouflage gear with rigid armour plates on top. Where the cloth sections sit, like the arms and legs, the sculpt is detailed with the folds and creases of the fabric. The armour sits on top of this with the large chest panel clipped in place with shoulder pads and clasps round either side that connect to a rear piece. The decoration is fantastic and with so many layers. It starts with the camouflage pattern itself, a little lighter and varying to the one used on Hicks, Hudson and Windrix. Over this are the various decors and decals.
There is the name FROST printed on the top of the chest plate. There is then the heart motif that Frost had painted on his armour with an arrow through this and the name Heath written across the middle. Round the back is another quote "1 universe ride or die, Arnjmm Forever!" this is decal printed and applied. Above this, but hidden when the shoulder light is clipped in, is a tribal illustration of a side on female face.
The strapping that comes from the shoulder pads and down over the chest and then clips into the belt is new. It is a sculpted rubber with a ribbed pattern built in. There are ammunition rounds clipped in at either side, with some painted with a red cap and other blue - this is film accurate if you look at stills from the movie, well done NECA. The belt holds a couple more ammunition clips, painted in grey, and round the back are a couple of pouches.
The first item we will add to the figure is the shoulder light. This, as on all Marine figures to date, is a fiddly affair as you have to line up the hole on both the armour and the body underneath - only when both are aligned will the shoulder light clip slide in securely. Once in place this sits nicely up over Frost's left shoulder. The lamp is cast in a black plastic, with a white painted lens. It comes with a wire attached that connects the back plate to the top piece, this is not a rubber material and is quite brittle and snapped on our review copy too easily for my liking.
The helmet is a nice addition, and fits remarkably well. It is a harder plastic than I expected, but this allows it to hold the textured detail that is clearly visible under the camouflage pattern. A camera sits on the right hand side, painted in black. A neck protector hangs from the rear and this is positioned so it slides down neatly onto the figure without clashing with any of the body armour or the shoulder lamp. The straps for the helmet hang down at either side and are ribbed like a standard fastening for a helmet. You can leave them hanging loose, or if you want to secure Frost a little more ready for action the clasps do actually hook together under the chin - albeit you will need little fingers to get the two parts connected
Frost comes with a hand gun, which fits into his right hand. This is a cast black plastic and is quite a plain design. There is a touch of silver paint just above the barrel, but this isn't enough in itself to bring out any detail. When not being fired the gun slots neatly into a holster on Frost's right hand hip and this holster clips shut with a rubber peg and hole.
Frost was of course the marine tasked with collecting all the ammunition from the squad when they were ordered not to use their pulse rifle rounds whilst exploring the Alien nest. Frost the figure comes with this same bag, a new sculpted item, which is cast in a rubber material and can be slung easily enough over either shoulder. Despite being soft rubber, it holds some neat details like defined clasps and side pockets.
With Pulse Rifle slung, the Flame Unit that Frost wielded became a crucial weapon in the Alien hive. We've seen this sculpt of weapon before with Windrix, and it's a direct re-use for Frost. The detailing of this weapon is really good, the best of the accessories so far, and the sculpt is further enhanced with a wash over the army green. I could never get Windrix to hold the weapon all to well, and the same can be said of Frost. The arms aren't quite manoeuvrable enough to get a two handed firing position.
The arm articulation is made up of a ball jointed shoulder and single jointed rotating elbow. It is this elbow that doesn't go far enough to give Frost that two handed weapon pose he screams out for. The head is ball jointed so rotates round to either side as well as looking up ever so slightly. This all still works even with the helmet in place.
There is a waist joint that sits hidden behind the armour. This moves really smoothly and allows the legs to be swung round to the side so Frost looks like he is twisting to the side to check out some movement. All Marine legs to date haven't added much more than the ability for wider stances, and Frost is no different. The ball jointed hips bend out by about 45 degrees. This wont allow crouching, but you could pose Frost with his foot raised on a step or similar. The knees are double jointed, hidden behind a knee pad, and these will bend almost back on themselves. This will let Frost kneel on both knees if you feel the need, not that this is a particularly impressive pose for a Marine. The final joints are in the feet, with a rocker joint and an articulated toe section. These leg joints feel much improved, stiffer and robust than the Series 1 and 2 marines - and I have had no issues in getting Frost to stand.
The sheer determination from NECA to chase down and get us another Marine character is to be applauded. And the re-use of parts is innovative and works well, this doesn't feel like a tweak or a repaint. The likeness is good, the paint job excellent and the articulation is about what I expect from any NECA figure - nothing staggering as this would ruin the look of the figure, but enough to add character to your display when posing him. For circa £20 you won't find a better figure, and he looks awesome alongside Vasquez - and if you have them Hicks, Hudson and Windrix (checkout the upcoming 2-pack of Hicks & Hudson if you missed these first time round). I score Frost a 4 out of 5, let down by the fragile wiring on that light and the clunky way he has to hold the flame thrower.
Here's to more Marines from NECA!
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