“Kenner’s Alien Model” for $4.97
The 1979 Starlog appearance of Kenner’s Alien toy isn’t your only chance to see the history of this unexpected giant action figure. I took a chance on the Google newspaper archives and uncovered this 1980 newspaper ad in which the toy is offered for 1/3 its original price. That’s a pretty damn dramatic reduction in price for a toy that was less than a year old. I guess it didn’t sell all that well for the Two Guys store in Reading, Pennsylvania.
Related articles
- 1977 Sears Newspaper Ad Featuring Kenner’s Bionic Man (battlegrip.com)
- Take this monster home, courtesy of Kenner Products. (battlegrip.com)
- “Kenner banks on action figures” in 1989 (battlegrip.com)
Ugh, what I wouldn’t give to have this toy back in my life! When I was eight, back in 1982, my family moved out of our house for the first time, and this guy got left behind along with my 12 inch c-3po. When I started seriously collecting back around 1990, this guy was already selling for about $500 on the secondary market. Even now, he’s too rich for my blood. Loose examples usually have a missing dome or broken/missing inner teeth, and they still sell for way too much for a busted toy. Recently, I got my hands on the NECA 1/4 scale Alien, and it’s beautiful! I messaged NECA on Facebook, and after I complimented them for this beautiful toy I suggested a second release in Kenner colors. I’d definitely buy a second $100 Alien if it was all black with glow-in-the-dark paint under the dome and vac metal teeth! You should review the NECA toy as a companion to all your sweet Kenner Alien write-ups! Cheers!