For the 30th anniversary of Aliens, NECA has been releasing and re-releasing an assortment of figures to commemorate the iconic film. While we’re now onto the 31st year since the release of the film, a few newer items are still making their ways to stores. Among them is the Aliens Hicks and Hudson Colonial Marines 2-Pack. This set features re-released versions of the Hicks and Hudson figures with updated paint apps, new skin colored plastic and swappable head sculpts.
Toyark sponsor Dorkside Toys sent along the set. We have over 45 photos and a full review of the figures. Read on to check them out.
Related Dorkside Toys links: Alien Queen Reissue, Ripley and Newt 2-Pack, All NECA Aliens
NECA Aliens Hicks and Hudson Colonial Marines 2-Pack
Pros
- Second chance at two fan favorite characters
- Lots of accessories
- Nice tight joints
- Includes head sculpts from single and original 2-pack releases
- Updated paint apps on the armor are a nice improvement
- Hicks head sculpts really benefit from new skin colored plastic
Cons
- Hudson’s original painted unhelmeted head sculpt looks a little better
Overall
As someone who only owned one version of the original Hicks and Hudson releases, I was looking forward to getting this 2-pack. Swappable head sculpts and more Colonial Marines accessories are always welcome. Getting all of that for two figures in a single release is even better. The Colonial Marines 2-pack includes slightly updated versions of the Hicks and Hudson figures. The figures include the head sculpts from their original single figure releases as well as the head sculpts that were included with the Marines vs Aliens 2-packs. The set includes pulse rifles, motion detectors, shoulder lamps, welding torches, a shotgun and a shotgun carrier for Hicks. The figures are packaged in a blister card similar to many NECA 2-packs.
Fans have long requested for re-releases of both Hicks and Hudson. Releasing them in a 2-pack made a lot of sense. Adding the alternate head sculpts and all of the accessories essentially makes them feel like Ultimate versions of the characters. Using the skin tone plastic for the figures has its positives and negatives. The translucent look gives a very life-like appearance to the head sculpts. Hicks really benefits from this, as the head sculpts now showcase the likeness far better, especially in the helmeted head sculpt. Hudson, though, I feel looked a little better in the original release. I only have the original unhelmeted version in hand, but that versions seems to look more like Bill Paxton to my eye. Regardless, the head sculpt is still detailed and unmistakable Hudson.
Overall, the sculpts and paint work are still great, with a lot of nice details. The figures have some updated paint apps throughout the armor. These updates are more minor refinements than additions, making lines cleaner, adding depth to the sculpt and helping to differentiate them a bit from the original releases. What really helps to sell this set is the accessories. Here you get pulse rifles, shoulder lamps, trackers and welding torches for both figures. Hicks also includes his shotgun and a holster for it. The weapons are cast in a harder plastic, greatly reducing the chances for them warping or bending.
Long time fans who own both of the original releases may not see enough here to upgrade. Those who jumped into the Aliens line a little later will absolutely find this set worth picking up. Check out some highlight photos below and the full gallery after that.
Sector 09 backdrop by Extreme Sets.
NECA Aliens Colonial Marines 2-Pack – Toyark Photo Shoot
Nice shoot, nice review, as always Joe.
How about a side-by-side comparison of the previous releases and this one? I'm still on the fence if I should upgrade or not.
How about a side-by-side comparison of the previous releases and this one? I'm still on the fence if I should upgrade or not.
Thanks for pointing them out to too-tired-because-of-the-*&&%$&-snow-storm ol' me...
Well, the skin-colored plastic looks better to my eye than the painted ones. The armor camo is much more to my liking too. Add to that all the accessories, weapons, and extra heads - I'm sold. Pre-ordered at Northmen Collectibles!
Going to sleep now after shoveling snow all morning. Ugh.
They finally gave Hicks eyebrows!! That was the one thing that bugged me about the original figure
Their screamy faces look nothing like the actors, but the standard/freak out faces look absolutely fantastic.
I came across five of these at my local comic store with the intention of buying as I never had Hudson, and Hicks is still one of my favorite figures. I ended up not buying it because every single pack had terrible QC issues -- warped/distressed joints, and awful paint mishaps (the normal Hudson head on one had an inverted Mohawk thanks to the paint problem). I haven't seen that many issues with NECA figures in years, and now I'm not even confident enough to order online, totally blind. Some one please tell me this has not been the norm for this pack, and that Midtown Comics just got REALLY unlucky.
What size are these?
i blindly ordered from tru online and miraculously the set i got was perfect in every way.
i actaully disagree with the reviewer here, i think the hicks likeness is better on the painted first release and the hudson likeness is better on the new unhelmeted head.
My local TRU had like 8 of these when I got my backup set (in case my online order looked bad) and only two of them were really bad, the rest were okay or decent and then the one I picked up was great (I'd say almost perfect but I'm sure if I went into a scrutinizing search I could find some flaws). Later then when my initial online order showed up it was just decent like the other sets my TRU had, the big issue with it was that the paint on Hudson's "game over" head was off a bit on the mouth so his teeth were lip-pink and his upper lip was teeth-white.
Overall this is a set I'm all too happy to have in my collection since these are both characters I've wanted but didn't want to pay the going prices of the original releases on the after-market. I said it back when I got mine but I'll definitely second Joe now that he's said it, this is pretty much like getting two ultimate figures at once.
Yeah, major props to NECA for putting out this set. I previously only had the single release of Hudson so this really was a welcome opportunity...when I walked into TRU last week they had just packed out this series and the new Predator wave (Serpent Hunter FTW!). Plus, I then turned around and sold my old Hudson on ebay for MORE than price of this complete 2-pack, so yay for me!
Going with the flesh-colored plastic was the right way to go. It not only makes the sculpts look way better (I think the likenesses look much better on these new figures than all of the original painted sculpts), but it also separates the releases for collectors (and allows me to sell my old Hudson for $50+). All the previous accessories included, tight joints, improved paint apps...this release is a fucking home run, man. I even found figures with zero QC issues! And I've already got Hicks and Hudson hanging out with Vasquez...
BTW, there was one Hudson on the peg that appeared to have...something...in his mouth. It cracks me up since it looks like she's screaming because he's got a mouthful of shit, lol.
"I GOT SHIT IN MY MOUF HARRRGLLLGGHHHH!!!!"
I'd have liked a more neutral expression for Hudson, that is my only gripe about this set
He had neural expressions in the movie?
Full Thread: Aliens Hicks and Hudson Set - Photo Review
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