Collection 421: Kenner Alien and How to Collect Monsters

Welcome to the second installment of 421 Collection, a space where I write about collecting and "objects of power". Today we're talking about Alien, one of cinema's great horror–sci-fi franchises, which spawned countless collectibles –including what many fans call a "Holy Grail". I'll also expand on why we collect and share a few tips for enjoying the hobby.

A Spectacularly Designed Alien

The Alien xenomorph is one of film's most spectacular monster designs. Created by H. R. Giger from his illustration Necronom IV –published in his 1976 art book Necronomicon– it fuses insect, machine, and human biology, with unmistakably phallic bones and features. When Alien (1979) premiered, Kenner –fresh off its era-defining Star Wars line that essentially invented modern toy collecting– released a 12-inch xenomorph figure.

Hoping for another gold rush, Kenner licensed Alien and released the "Big Chap" figure –the on-set nickname for the creature– with glow-in-the-dark head details and the iconic inner-jaw mechanism. But parents expecting a space adventure balked at a genuinely scary movie; Christmas returns piled up. Kenner pulled the toy in under a year and canceled a planned 3.75-inch line. Ironically, that failure made the 1979 Big Chap one of the hobby's most coveted pieces: complete examples list on eBay around USD 2,500; loose, depending on missing parts, roughly USD 500–1,000.

Here's where I shift to a few collecting notes –from experience–that can help you get more out of the hobby.

How to Start Collecting Monsters

Some items, by sheer rarity, achieve "Holy Grail" status. Rarity blends build details, production variants, and countries of manufacture –but above all, scarcity. How do you learn this? How do you spot expensive pieces versus fakes? The answer is simpler than it seems: study. Books and collector videos teach the history; as G.I. Joe says, "Knowing is half the battle". Talking with sellers and fellow collectors is invaluable –we love to share what we know.

When you dig beneath the IP, you find meta-information –the truly valuable stuff: makers, hallmark logos, year stamps, even plastics. These skills are learned and open doors to things you didn't know existed. Today, the internet (and tools like Google Lens) is a massive shortcut compared with the magazine-and-book era.

All the Xenomorphs, the Xenomorph

After the Big Chap debacle, Kenner paused. Nearly a decade later, Aliens (1986) set the stage –though the figure line didn't arrive until 1992. With the film's military focus, the "Space Marine" concept took hold, and to avoid past mistakes Kenner backed the toys with a Dark Horse comic series expanding the lore –starring Ripley, Apone, Drake, Hicks, and Bishop– and introduced xenomorph variants born from hosts like gorillas, bulls, and even a scorpion.

Fan favorites include the original Xenomorph, the Alien Queen, Ripley, Hicks, and the iconic yellow P-5000 Power Loader. In Argentina, the line arrived via Jocsa (which also handled Terminator and Rambo). Today, Kenner Aliens turn up at fairs and specialty shops; many start around ARS 15,000, while the top pieces run ~ARS 40,000–60,000 depending on condition.

Today the license is shared across U.S. and Japanese companies, but NECA and Super7 have led the modern revival. NECA's 7-inch figures are highly articulated with realistic sculpts –covering films, comics, and a Kenner-tribute sub-line. Super7's standout ReAction figures lean retro, with sharp card-and-blister presentation –almost too pretty to open. They're widely produced and relatively affordable.

Chap Mei: Kings of Alien Bootlegs

I can't skip the bootleg world without crowning Hong Kong's Chap Mei, which issued its Xeno-style "Space Monster" in the Stellar Force (1994) and Space Quest (2000) lines. They're essentially the same assortment under different names –mixing these knockoff "Aliens" with a Hicks look-alike and some unlicensed Power Rangers-type figures.

Personal Favorites

Of all the lines, I'm most drawn to Kenner/Jocsa –the pure "play" feel is gorgeous, especially the Aliens with working features, from the classic inner jaw to grabby claws for snagging Marines. And every so often my brain cues up those Jocsa TV spots in unmistakably Argentine voices.

Hope this Sunday read hit the spot –and that it helps on your next fair crawl. Who knows –maybe you'll spot a Big Chap lying around.