NECA Aliens Hadley’s Hope – Carter Burke and Concept Alien Warrior 2-Pack – Toyark Photo Shoot

With the upcoming Aliens – Hadley’s Hope Deluxe Figure Set, NECA continues to get great mileage out of the Aliens license. For this release, they package together the slimy weasel Carter Burke, a concept version of the Alien Xenomorph Warrior and a Hadley’s Hope diorama sign. The Burke figure features the authorized likeness of actor Paul Reiser. The concept Alien is based on the original plan to use semi-translucent domes for the Xenomorphs in the film, much like the Big Chap in Alien. The translucent domes were abandoned early on and replaced with a the ridged dome-less head designs seen in the final film.

The Aliens Hadley’s Hope – Carter Burke and Concept Alien Warrior 2-Pack set is scheduled for release in October. NECA has provided us with an advanced production sample for review. After the jump, you can check out my thoughts on the set, as well as a full gallery.

Aliens Hadley’s Hope – Carter Burke and Concept Alien Warrior 2-Pack by NECA

Pros

• Burke has an excellent likeness of Paul Reiser
• The expression on Burke is hilariously perfect
• The Alien Warrior uses new Ultimate Alien Warrior body
• New articulation is great on the Alien Warrior
• Paint work is very strong on both figures
• Diorama makers will love the Hadley’s Hope sign

Cons

• Restricted ankle articulation makes Burke hard to keep standing

Overall
Packaged in deluxe clamshell packaging, the 2-pack fits right in with similar style 2-pack releases for the Aliens line. Unfortunately, you will need to cut open the packaging to remove the figures. There is nice artwork used in the design as well, featuring Aliens 30th Anniversary markings and great photos of various Aliens figures depicting scenes from the film. The set includes the Burke figure, an Alien Warrior and the Hadley’s Hope sign. No additional accessories or weapons are included.

The Burke figure is based on his appearance on LV-426, at the Hadley’s Hope colony. He sports his ridiculous vest and a plaid shirt. The expression given to the Burke figure was a solid choice, as it can be used in recreating scenes of shock or fear. The likeness is pretty much spot on to actor Paul Reiser, and the use of the translucent skin plastic here works quite well. It doesn’t feel as shiny as that plastic tends to be, and the sculpting work really shines through. Burke has about 25 points of articulation, with single jointed knees and elbows. The range of motion, though, is solid. The only point where it’s an issue is in his ankles. The sculpted pants prevent the feet from moving much, which can cause stability issues when trying to stand him in anything but a straight leg pose. The paint work on Burke is very strong and does a great job of highlighting the sculpted details. On the head sculpt, the eyes are clean, with no misalignment issues. Burke features a paint wash to mimic a 5 o’clock shadow, and it’s probably the best they’ve ever handled that. It’s very subtle, but noticeable up close and doesn’t feel too dark. The plaid shirt could have been a nightmare to properly paint, but the lines are mostly clean with only minor bleed due to the heavier texturing on the outfit.

The Concept Alien Warrior, at first glance, could be mistaken for a standard Alien release, or even an Alien with the wrong head sculpt. Once you examine the figure a bit, you can see a lot of changes have been made to the Warrior mold. The most obvious change is the new dome covering the ridged head sculpt. While translucent, the dome has a black paint covering the interior. It doesn’t completely block out the translucency, so you can still see the ridges underneath. The more interesting updates happen on the new Ultimate body style. Those who skipped out on the Arcade Warrior Alien will be checking out these additions for the first time. The added range of motion in the upper body allows for more fluid poses, allowing the figure to look less stiff. Added articulation, such as the new hands are also welcome additions. The tail has been adjusted as well, offering more flexibility, making it easier to use it for support in standing. The paint here is mostly black and a dark, slightly green-ish gray. The metallic tan highlight washes still bring out the great sculpt work.

Carter Burke was a figure that was often requested of NECA. For a long time, it sounded like there was no real desire to create one, as they didn’t expect sales to be strong enough to justify it. By packing the figure with a Concept Alien Warrior and a Hadley’s Hope sign diorama accessory, I believe it makes the set a much more desirable purchase for more casual fans who will see it as a a cool overall display piece. More dedicated Aliens figure fans will see another great addition the their 7″ human figures from the movie, and a chance to get the new Ultimate Alien Warrior body style in traditional colors (as it was previously used on the Aliens Arcade Warrior Figure). The Hadley’s Hope sign is a great bonus item to sweeten the deal. You can check out some select photos of the set below. After that, you’ll find a full gallery to look through.

The backgrounds in some shots comes from Extreme Sets. Use code TOYARK at checkout for 15% off your order!