Category: Alien

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NECA’s Ultimate Alien Warrior: A Deep Dive into the Xenomorph and its Collectible Counterpart

The Alien franchise has terrified and captivated audiences for decades with its iconic creature, the Xenomorph. This nightmarish extraterrestrial has become a staple in science fiction horror, and its popularity has spawned countless collectibles, including action figures. Among the most sought-after is NECA’s Aliens Ultimate Brown Xenomorph Warrior Action Figure. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the history of the Xenomorph, explore the Alien franchise, and take a closer look at this impressive collectible.

About NECA

Before we dive into the Xenomorph itself, let’s take a moment to appreciate the company that brought us this incredible action figure. NECA (National Entertainment Collectibles Association) was founded in 1996 and has become a leading manufacturer of collectibles, with over 60 licenses encompassing films, video games, sports, music, and television¹. NECA is renowned for its meticulous attention to detail, often recreating characters and creatures with incredible accuracy and articulation². Their dedication to quality has earned them a loyal following among collectors, who appreciate the company’s commitment to bringing beloved characters to life in three-dimensional form.

The Xenomorph: A History of Terror

The Xenomorph’s chilling design is the brainchild of Swiss surrealist artist H.R. Giger, originating from his lithograph titled Necronom IV. Giger refined his creation for the first Alien film in 1979, and Italian special effects designer Carlo Rambaldi brought the creature to life on screen with practical effects³. This creature was initially referred to simply as “an alien” or “an organism.” ⁴ It wasn’t until James Cameron’s 1986 sequel, Aliens, that the term “Xenomorph” was first used by Colonial Marine Lieutenant Gorman⁴. The Xenomorph’s biomechanical aesthetic and predatory nature make it a truly unique and terrifying creature.

Origins and Biology

The Xenomorph’s origins remain somewhat mysterious, with various theories circulating within the Alien universe. Some suggest they evolved naturally on a distant planet, while others point to the Engineers, an advanced alien race, as their creators⁵. The Prometheus and Alien: Covenant films introduce the android David, who conducts experiments with alien genetic material, potentially playing a role in the Xenomorph’s genesis⁵.

One of the most striking aspects of the Xenomorph is its lack of eyes⁶. This unsettling feature adds to its mystique and raises questions about how it perceives its surroundings. Some speculate that Xenomorphs navigate using alternative methods, such as echolocation or sensing electrical impulses⁶.

Regardless of their origin, the Xenomorph’s biology is fascinating and disturbing. They are endoparasitoids, meaning their life cycle involves implanting larvae inside living hosts. These larvae, known as “chestbursters,” erupt from the host’s body after a short incubation period, mature rapidly, and seek out new hosts³. This gruesome life cycle, combined with their acidic blood, which serves as a defense mechanism against predators⁷ and deadly physical attributes, makes them a formidable threat³. The Xenomorph’s acid blood is reminiscent of some Earth parasites, highlighting the creature’s connection to real-world biology while amplifying its horror⁷.

Evolution of the Xenomorph in Film

The Xenomorph’s role in the Alien films has evolved over time, showcasing the creature’s adaptability and the filmmakers’ creativity in presenting new iterations of this iconic monster. In the first film, Alien, audiences were introduced to the Xenomorph in its nascent form as Ovomorphs, the eerie eggs that housed the Facehuggers⁸. This initial encounter established the creature’s life cycle and set the stage for the horrors to come.

Ridley Scott’s return to the franchise with Alien: Covenant introduced a new twist on the Xenomorph’s life cycle with the Bloodbursters⁸. These creatures emerge from their hosts in an even more violent and disturbing manner, bursting through their backs or even their mouths. This evolution demonstrates the Xenomorph’s terrifying potential for adaptation and reinforces its status as a relentless and unpredictable force.

The Xenomorph’s life cycle has had a significant impact on the horror genre, influencing countless films and games with its disturbing and visceral imagery⁷. The creature’s ability to adapt and evolve ensures that it remains a source of both terror and fascination for audiences.

Variations

The Xenomorph species exhibits a variety of forms, each with unique traits and abilities. These variations are summarized in the table below:

Variation	Description	First Appearance
Ovomorph	The egg stage, containing the Facehugger.	Alien (1979)
Facehugger	A spider-like creature that attaches to a host’s face and implants an embryo.	Alien (1979)
Chestburster	The larval stage that erupts from the host’s chest.	Alien (1979)
Drone	The standard Xenomorph warrior.	Alien (1979)
Warrior	A larger and more aggressive Xenomorph.	Aliens (1986)
Queen	The massive, egg-laying leader of the hive. Approximately 15 feet tall.	Aliens (1986)

The Xenomorph’s appearance and characteristics can also vary depending on the host. This adaptability allows them to thrive in diverse environments and makes them even more unpredictable³.

Bringing the Xenomorph to Life: The Actors Behind the Monster

Bringing the Xenomorph to life on screen has required the talents of various performers throughout the franchise. In the original Alien, Bolaji Badejo, a Nigerian design student, portrayed the creature, his tall and slender frame perfectly embodying the Xenomorph’s unsettling physique⁹. In Alien: Covenant, Australian dancer Andrew Crawford provided the motion capture performance for the Neomorph, a pale proto-Xenomorph with enhanced agility and speed⁹. These actors, along with the creative teams behind the films, have contributed to the Xenomorph’s enduring presence as a cinematic icon.

The Alien Franchise: A Cinematic Journey

The Alien franchise has expanded significantly since the first film’s release in 1979, encompassing sequels, prequels, crossover films, and other media. The franchise stands out for its successful blending of science fiction and horror, creating a unique and enduring cinematic universe¹⁰.

Films

The core Alien film series, presented in chronological order within the franchise’s timeline, is as follows: ¹²

• Alien vs. Predator (2004): (21% on Rotten Tomatoes) ¹³ A group of humans becomes caught in a battle between Xenomorphs and Predators on Bouvetøya Island in Antarctica.
• Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007): (12% on Rotten Tomatoes) ¹³ The fight between the two species continues in Gunnison, Colorado.
• Prometheus (2012): (73% on Rotten Tomatoes) ¹³ Explores the origins of humanity and introduces the Engineers on the moon LV-223.
• Alien: Covenant (2017): (65% on Rotten Tomatoes) ¹³ Continues the story from Prometheus and delves further into the creation of the Xenomorph on the planet 4.
• Alien (1979): (93% on Rotten Tomatoes) ¹³ Introduces the Xenomorph and follows the crew of the Nostromo as they fight for survival against the creature.
• Alien: Romulus (2024): (80% on Rotten Tomatoes) ¹³ A group of young astronauts encounters Xenomorphs on a derelict space station.
• Aliens (1986): (94% on Rotten Tomatoes) ¹³ Ellen Ripley returns to face a hive of Xenomorphs on LV-426.
• Alien 3 (1992): (44% on Rotten Tomatoes) ¹³ Ripley crash-lands on the prison planet Fiorina 161 with a Xenomorph on board.
• Alien Resurrection (1997): (55% on Rotten Tomatoes) ¹³ A clone of Ripley is created 200 years later, and she must battle a new breed of Xenomorphs.

It’s worth noting that the Alien vs. Predator films and the events of Prometheus and Alien: Covenant have created some inconsistencies within the franchise’s timeline¹².

Television

An upcoming television series, Alien: Earth, is set to premiere in 2025¹⁰. Developed by Noah Hawley for FX on Hulu, the series will serve as a prequel to the original film, taking place in 2120¹⁴. Alien: Earth will explore the Xenomorph threat on Earth, focusing on a group of soldiers who encounter a crashed spaceship and face the planet’s greatest threat¹⁵. The series is expected to delve into the Alien universe’s exploration of synthetics and AI, examining the complex relationship between humans and artificial intelligence¹⁵.

Video Games

The Alien franchise has also spawned numerous video games across various platforms. Some of the most popular and critically acclaimed titles include: ¹⁶

• Alien: Isolation (2014): A survival horror game where players must evade a Xenomorph on a space station, relying on stealth and resourcefulness to survive. The game features DLC content that expands the story and gameplay.
• Aliens: Colonial Marines (2013): A first-person shooter where players battle Xenomorphs as Colonial Marines, experiencing intense action and iconic weaponry from the films.
• Aliens: Fireteam Elite (2021): A cooperative third-person shooter where players team up to fight waves of Xenomorphs, offering a thrilling and challenging multiplayer experience.
• Aliens: Dark Descent (2023): A real-time strategy game where players command a squad of Colonial Marines against Xenomorphs, requiring tactical decision-making and resource management to succeed.

These games, along with many others available on platforms like Steam, offer diverse gameplay experiences and allow players to immerse themselves in the Alien universe¹⁸.

NECA’s Ultimate Brown Xenomorph Warrior: An Action Figure Masterpiece

NECA is renowned for its highly detailed and articulated action figures, and their Ultimate Brown Xenomorph Warrior is no exception. This figure captures the creature’s iconic design from the 1986 film Aliens with incredible accuracy¹⁹. NECA’s dedication to detail and accuracy is evident in this figure, as they have meticulously recreated the Xenomorph’s biomechanical aesthetic and menacing features²⁰.

Features

The Ultimate Brown Xenomorph Warrior stands over 9 inches tall and boasts over 30 points of articulation, allowing for a wide range of dynamic poses¹⁹. The figure’s articulation includes a diaphragm joint, double-jointed elbows and knees, and ankle pivot, providing a high degree of poseability and allowing collectors to capture the Xenomorph’s fluid movements²³. The figure also features a bendable tail for added realism¹⁹.

Accessories

NECA has packed this figure with accessories, including:

• Facehugger: A detailed replica of the Xenomorph’s first stage¹⁹.
• Chestburster: A small but gruesome representation of the Xenomorph larva¹⁹.
• Egg: A Xenomorph egg that can be opened to reveal the Facehugger inside¹⁹.

These accessories enhance the display options and allow collectors to recreate scenes from the film.

Variations

NECA has released several variations of the Xenomorph Warrior figure, including:

• Blue Xenomorph Warrior: Features a blue color scheme based on the original Alien film²⁴.
• Battle-Damaged Xenomorph Warrior: Includes battle damage and blood effects²³.

These variations offer collectors even more options for building their Alien collection.

Reviews and Reception

The NECA Ultimate Brown Xenomorph Warrior has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from collectors and fans. Customers praise the figure’s impressive sculpt, articulation, and paint applications, noting its faithfulness to the creature’s on-screen appearance²⁴. Some reviewers have mentioned minor issues with the figure’s sturdiness, particularly with the tail, but overall, the reception has been overwhelmingly positive²⁴.

Where to Buy

NECA’s Ultimate Brown Xenomorph Warrior can be purchased from various online retailers, including BigBadToyStore ²⁵, Amazon ²⁴, and NECA’s online store ²⁶. The figure is also often available at local comic book stores and specialty toy shops.

The Future of the Xenomorph and NECA

The Alien franchise shows no signs of slowing down, with new films, television series, and video games in development. This continued popularity ensures that the Xenomorph will remain a prominent figure in pop culture.

NECA continues to expand its line of Alien action figures, with upcoming releases including an Ultimate Feral Predator based on the Predator from the film Prey ²⁶ and a Life-Size Facehugger Foam Replica²⁶. NECA’s dedication to detail and quality suggests that their future Alien figures will be just as impressive as their current offerings.

Conclusion

The Xenomorph has earned its place as one of the most iconic creatures in science fiction horror. Its terrifying design, unique biology, and enduring presence in the Alien franchise continue to fascinate and frighten audiences. NECA’s Ultimate Brown Xenomorph Warrior Action Figure is a fitting tribute to this legendary creature, capturing its essence in a highly detailed and articulated collectible. The figure’s impressive sculpt and articulation, along with its faithful recreation of the Xenomorph’s on-screen appearance, make it a must-have for any Alien fan or action figure enthusiast. NECA’s continued dedication to the Alien franchise ensures that collectors can look forward to even more impressive and terrifying additions to their collections in the future.

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