So, Alien 3.

If there was ever a better example of a divisive film in a beloved series (other than Freddy’s Revenge), this would be it. Granted, director David Fincher was undermined and handcuffed by Fox from the get-go. On top of that, the film’s pre-production was a mess. Still, I enjoyed it for what it was worth, and the Assembly Cut took a bit of the sting out of the studio’s meddling. As part of their eighth series of figures in the line, NECA has released four figures based on Alien 3, one of which is a take on the barely-seen Weyland-Yutani Commando. And man, does it look awesome.

Packaging:

The figure comes housed in the same standard clamshell packaging that the rest of the line has come in since its inception, this time sporting the “Alien 3” motif for the backdrop. The sides of the package have shots of the Commando in various poses recreating shots from the film, while the back has a small synopsis of the film, with shots of the other figures in the series.

Sculpting/Paintwork:

Really, this is outstanding work by sculptor Alex Heinke. As previously mentioned, we never see much of the Commandos, so basing the sculpt off of the few scenes that they were in, along with behind-the-scenes photos, could’ve been tricky. Luckily, what we got was an insane amount of detail for a 7″ figure. The helmet and facemask are replicated exactly as they were in the film, along with the bulky armor that has that look of football padding (which in itself is armor, when you think about it). Wrinkles, zippers, grenades, and even the two different-coloured gloves worn by the Commandos are here. NECA even went so far as to paint and sculpt the face behind the mask (which is partially covered by a scarf), giving the figure that much more. The backpack (yes, they wore backpacks) is also nicely sculpted, and fits seamlessly with the rest of the sculpt. Truly an outstanding job. Also outstanding is the paintwork, which not only captures every all of the metal materials such as zippers and buckles, but also has a beautiful wash over the entire figure. What would’ve been plain white and tan is now appropriately dingy-looking. Definitely an exquisite job.

Articulation:

The Weyland-Yutani Commando has just over 30 points of articulation, however the sculpt hampers the movement. The head is on a balljoint, but is restricted by the facemask and the sculpt of the jacket. It can move up and down slightly, but almost no left and right movement. The arms are on pin-and-socket joints, but again can’t move outward because of the armor (particularly the figure’s right side). The figure’s left arm can move forward and back reasonable well, but the right side is again restricted by the shoulder piece. The elbow joints are nice and tight, and can bend the arms to 90° and rotate easily. The hands are on balljoints, and can easily move and rotate with no issues. The upper torso has a cut joint that swivels left and right, with no issues with the backpack “arms”. Great job by NECA to have those pieces move freely to allow as much range as possible. The legs are on pin-and-socket joints, and allow the legs to move outward quite far, and rotate at the hips. The knees allow the legs to bend at around 45° (again, because of the sculpt), as well as rotate. The feet are on balljoints, and can rotate all the way around and offer some pivot, but again are restricted by the sculpt. Again, while the sculpt does make for some hindrances, it makes sense given the bulky nature of it the armor, and hides the joints quite well.

Accessories:

NECA has come up with a couple of surprises for this figure. For starters, given the anonymous nature of the Commandos (and the incentive to buy multiple figures), we get two different eyepieces to display with the figure: One set is fully down, while the other is flipped up. Secondly, there is a little sticker sheet with decals for the backs of the helmet and backpack (or whereever you choose, really).. And yes, there are photos that show that the Commandos have their names on the backs of their helmets. Unfortunately, my sheet was stuck to the bottom of my package, and as a result one of the names is folded over. Still, it’s a nice thought, and for you army builders, it’s just another optional piece. Also included is a pulse rifle. A great sculpt, it fits in the figure’s right hand, and does allow for two-handed posing. The last accessory is a small combat knife that sheathes in the figure’s left boot. While it’s nicely sculpted and painted, the figure has trouble holding it in either hand. Along the same lines as the grenades on the front of the figure’s jacket, it’s really more for show.

Overall:

Regardless of how you feel about the film, this figure is visually outstanding. NECA have done an exquisite job of cramming every detail into this figure, and have made it possible to buy more than just one of them. Really, I’m totally fine with the articulation shortcomings, as it fits in theoretically with what this character could do in the film. Definitely something you weren’t expecting to get from Alien 3, and is definitely one of the best figures in the series.

Big thanks once again to Northmen Collectibles for making this figure available.