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Packaging - ***
Each bust comes in a sturdy, well designed box with graphics showing off the
individual busts. They foam packaging is well done, but there's no COA.
Each of the busts is numbered both on the bottom of the figure and on the bottom
of the box.
Sculpting - Queen Alien ***1/2; Predator ***
The difference in the score here is probably due to my own preference for
the design and overall style of the Queen Alien. She's one mean looking little
lady, and you wouldn't want to find her next to you some cold morning.
There's an amazing amount of detail, particularly for such a small scale, and
they did a terrific job of shrinking down the larger mini-busts and not losing
the look.
The Masked Predator is well done in that regard as well, but he's not my
favorite of the series at twice the size. With the mask on he just loses
so much personality, and I'd rather have a micro version of the exceptional
unmasked version, or perhaps the defeated Predator.
Still, you can't complain about the level of detail and quality in the
smaller sculpt. Looking at the photos you can see that if you didn't get a
scale comparison, you couldn't tell this smaller bust wasn't the larger version.
Paint - ***1/2
The paint ops on both these busts is terrific, with lots of detail, and very
clean application. I'm particularly impressed with the bronze metal
appearance of the Predator's mask, and the silver teeth of the Queen.
Of course, the Stealth Predator has no paint ops, but I love the clear
approach nonetheless. I've always been a big fan of clear figures, and I
can remember how happy I was when I got my clear Predator in the mail from
Kenner. God, my life is dull.
Design/Quality - ***1/2
I love the design and quality of these busts, but there's nothing really new
here. If you saw the larger versions, then you know exactly what you're
getting in terms of design on these.
The scale might throw some folks though. When you think of something
being half as big, you don't realize just how *small* that really is. I
was pretty surprised when I opened up the first one, but when I had them with
the larger versions, I realized they really are about half the size. I
think it's that the whole bust is half as big, and we have a tough time
visualizing that.
I've included a bunch of scale comparison photos for just that reason.
Now you won't be quite as surprised!
Value - Alien, Predator **1/2; Clear Predator*1/2
At the much higher price point of $45, you just knew that the clear version
wasn't going to do as well in this category. This is a micro bust that's
really only important to the completist. If you really like the 'stealth'
idea, you might want to skip the regular version to save yourself some green.
At $50, I think the larger versions are a tad expensive. At $60, they
are **1/2 star values. Therefore, these micros really shouldn't be more
than $25, and you can probably find them at that price with a little looking.
Get them for $25 or less, and add another half star.
Overall - Queen Alien ***1/2; Predator ***
If you've avoided the regular Alien and Predator mini-busts because a)
they're too expensive or b) they're too big, then these micros are a great
choice. They take up far less shelf space, and yet look just as amazing as
their big brother and sister. I hope we see the Warrior Alien, Defeated
Predator, and others in this same format.
Where to Buy -
I'm betting on-line is your best opportunity for these. The clear Predator
is only available right now as an exclusive through Action
Figure Express. The others can be found on-line:
- Killer Toys has the Queen for $30,
and the Predator for $23. That's a great price for the Predator!
KEEP SCROLLING DOWN FOR LOTS MORE COMPARISON PHOTOS!
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